Camp 2009

Well camp is offically coming to an end in 2 days. (sigh) It was quite an eventful summer. Having a camper with lice, being sick, homesick campers, cranky staff, etc... But eventhough there were some bumps in the road I still had a good time. I made new friends, got a tan, and got to be at camp. There were some significant happenings that deserve to be mentioned.

This smaller than what is was originally.

Well Like I mentioned in my last post I went to the ER. They were having such a difficult time getting blood that it was decided to do an I.V. just in case they needed something else or I was admitted into the hospital. Luckily I was able to leave later that night but without concrete answers and a gigantic bruise. Soon after I went to camp and all the campers saw the bruise on my arm and it was a big thing that week so I thought it earned a place here.

My sister and I learning how to scuba dive.

I was my sister's counselor for the week that she was at camp. Normally my sister hates going to camp because she gets bullied alot. But the exact oppisite happened! She had a fantastic time! I was so glad that she made friends and got along with the whole group! She said that I was an awesome counselor because I didn't treat her any differently than anyone else and she had a good time because of that. (I think she also liked having a familiar face around as well.)

My sandals on the flag pole.

At camp we play these games where the campers have to find the counselors and do a task to earn points. Well one of the tasks that was given was to find where I was and steal my sandals. Then another group had to string them up on the flag pole. I thought it was hilarious and had to take a picture.

Shante' and Me trying to be pirates. (Shante' succeeded.)

We had exactly one themed meal at Singing Hills. It was a shipwreak dinner. It was pretty fun. We had a conoe in the middle of the dining hall and we ate with cooking/serving utensils instead of regular silverware. It was pretty enjoyable have this much fun at a meal.

Western Week at Northwoods

Shante' and I was asked if we could help out at Northwoods for a week because they were short staffed. We both accepted immediately. (We both adore Northwoods.) When we got up there we both wanted to stay because the staff was so nice and the camp was like home. I got to lifeguard and run waterfront during some points of the week. It was awesome!!! I love Northwoods so much!!!

My tent T.P. when I got back to Singing Hills

This past week some people went around during the night and toilet papered all of the staff tents. By this time I am so greatful that camp is almost over!!!!

Happy Fourth of July!

Hey! Sorry for not posting in a while. I have been working at a Girl Scout camp since June 3 and we have very little electricity and almost no Internet connection there. I have been enjoying a nice 3 day break for July 4th and I will be returning to camp tomorrow. I will be getting a group of girls specializing in scuba diving. This group will also have my sister in it. I'm hoping I can treat her just like my other campers!

Well a few things have been happening since my last post.

My sister Lacy got confirmed. I am so proud of her! She had to memorize verses and answer questions by the pastor. She has worked very hard and now she has done it!

Congratulations Lacy!

A couple things have been happening at camp that is not really desirable. I was denied soft foods. The camp director said that I had to provide my own food for myself. My first group of campers had five girls and out of the five three got sick. They were a good bunch of girls however and I already miss them! I did get certified in Lifeguarding so I am pretty excited about being a Lifeguard at the waterfront. Shante' is a friend of mine working with me at camp and she is such a support for me there. She has been helping me work through my pain and give these girls an awesome camping experience.

Shante' and Me during staff training

In one of my previous posts I said that I changed my major. Well... I did it again. This time I hope its for good. I got accepted into the Elementary Education program! So now all I have to do is take the classes and of course pass them.

Last night I spent about four hours in the ER. I am still having joint pain (a lot in my hands), getting rashes on my hands and arms, feeling really fatigued, and I'm just not feeling right. My mom is thinking Lupus. I'm thinking Lyme Disease. The doctor last night was thinking Mono or atypical Pneumonia. But I am back home and going back to camp until the Lyme test comes back and until I can see a rheumatologist.

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you enjoy this day and get to see the celebratory fireworks!

Deaf Linx

Hey, I just wanted to show you Deaf Linx.  This website is a great source for really anything to do with Deaf related topics.  You can learn about Deaf Culture, American Sign Language, chat rooms, and a lot more.  You can also find out where Deaf events are happening in your area and a source for you to connect with other Deaf people.

So Far So Good

I had my Lasik surgery Wednesday.  It went pretty well.  My dad's medical money card thing didn't go through so I almost had to go home but luckily we worked it out and we went on as scheduled.  I wouldn't say I was too scared about getting surgery.  I was a bit nervous though.  I depend on my eyes so much for lipreading that any problem that could cause me to lose my sight would not be good.  The surgery itself was short but pretty weird.  The worse part for me was when the doctor pulled back a flap he made in my cornea.  When that happened my vision got 100 times worse.  I was just hoping that the flap wouldn't tear or anything because I realised how important that cornea is to seeing things.  It turns out I was their best patient of the day.  They said that most patients can't help but move around a bit but I was still as a statue.  The doctor was pretty impressed with that.  I just didn't want to open any opportunity for accidents!  My sight is a bit hazy right now but getting better.  The doctor said this morning that I had close to 20/20 vision so I am pretty happy that it seems to be going well.

I am still in the process of finishing my take home test.  If anyone has read White Teeth by Zadie Smith let me know because I need some input.  Hopefully I will have all of the test done and turned in by Monday.

My pain level is no worse or better than my standard of normal pain.  I am still looking into going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and also someplace in the Boston area for any answers I can find.  I have a feeling that something is beginning to not be right.  I am getting random itchy rashes on my arms and some of my joints are beginning to hurt more and more.  I'm hoping it's just a bug going around but I may get it checked out if it persists. 

Finally Free from Finals

Woo Hoo!  I am finally free!  I just finished my last final.  I actually have a take home final that I haven't yet finished but I'm done with everything else!  It feels so great!  I'm hoping I feel this great when I receive my grades.  One of my classes, British Literature, was a killer class!  I'm hoping to pass it but I'm not expecting an A in that class (although that would be great!).   I decided that tonight I wouldn't do anything but relax.  I was at the testing center all day today.  My testing started at 10am and I didn't finish with all of my finals till about 5:30pm.  Whew!  It's over!

I signed up for classes yesterday.  Guess what one of my classes is... American Sign Language level 1.  I am already fluent in sign language and use interpreters in class but apparently I have to start at the bottom and work my way up.  Well at least it will be a nice and easy class.

I also changed my major.  Yes I changed it again.  Let's see... first it was Political Science.  Then I changed it to Global Studies.  After that I thought I would triple major with Education, Political Science, and Global Studies.  Then I was set straight by my friends that triple majoring wasn't a good plan so I thought Elementary Education.  Now yesterday I changed it back to Political Science.  Whew!  Did you follow all of that? :)  I know, it's a lot of indecisiveness.  I think I've got it now... hopefully.

My pain level today is hovering around a high 5.  I have been getting stabbing pains every once in a while but thankfully they don't last very long.

Tomorrow is the day that I get Lasik.  Today is the last full day I have to wear glasses.  Tomorrow after 1:30pm I will be glasses free!  I'm hoping the surgery goes well with no problems or set backs.  The doctor seems pretty confident so I am not too worried.  I will let you know how it all goes when I can.

Dad is OK

Well my dad seems to be doing fine.  He didn't have a stroke but he had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) which is kind of like a stroke but very short and it leaves no damage.  I read that people that have this is more prone to a very big stroke later on.  I hope that doesn't happen.  Thank you all for your prayers! 

Emergency Prayer Request

I just got word that my dad may have had a stroke.  He lost his peripheral vision.  He is in the ER right now trying to find out what exactly is wrong.  Please keep him in your prayers!  I am very worried and wish I were there to support him at the hospital but I am stuck at school studying for finals.  I will update later with information on how my dad is doing.