Rwanda Opportunity

So...I have an opportunity to go to Rwanda in March with Kanakuk Colorado!! The minute I heard about the trip, I signed up to be a chaperone because I was so excited. I have been praying about the opportunity, but still do not know if it is a wise choice based on how much this trip will cost. The trip works out perfectly with my Spring Break so that I would not have to miss any school/rotation work. I would be helping chaperone 30 kids on possibly their first international mission trip...and the best part is what we will be doing: working in an orphanage where Miss Gabby Braner (daughter of K-CO directors) was adopted from and helping to lay the foundational work for KAA - that is KIDS ACROSS AFRICA!! Yes, they are building a Kanakuk Kamp in Africa! So, as you can see, I am super excited about the possibility. Now to the possibly limiting part...I have to raise half of my cost by Dec 1st! And that just happens to be $2000. Now, I completely believe that the Lord will provide for me if He desires that I go. I am just not sure if it is wise for someone who is on student loans and has racked up over 100,000 of loans to be raising support and spending some of my loan money right now. I think it is an awesome opportunity and one I am dying to be a part of. So, please pray that I will bring this before the Lord continually and follow His lead - not my own desires. I am willing to sacrifice whatever necessary to make this happen - I'm just not sure what that looks like for me and my situation. I'd appreciate an insight or encouragement you have. Thanks for your prayers over this opportunity!

P.S. They also need one more Female chaperone - who wants to go with me??

3 Students and a Truck

My classmate, Jigar, came up with this yesterday as we were finishing moving all of Auburn/Dr. Kelley's stuff from Carraway to our AU pharmacy office in Vestavia. That phrase describes my last few weeks at Carraway - yesterday was the official last day of Carraway, the doors are closed, no more patients... So sad! We saw several patients this week who were extremely distressed to hear that the hospital where they were born at and have gone their entire adult life was closing its doors. They didn't know where they should go. They wanted to follow my preceptor, Dr. Kelley, but she doesn't know where she will be. It was hard to explain it to them and then watch them walk out the door, just hoping they will follow-up with someone and get adequate medical care. While my learning experience has been a little different than expected, it has been a good lesson on something that rarely happens! I'll spend the next two weeks seeing patients at Kirklin Clinic downtown and working on my platform which is Nov 11th!!

Back to my roots...

Literally! So, I've gotten a little more bold with my hair color and I am tired of being called a blonde (b/c I'm NOT!), so when I found a new sylist here in Birmingham, I asked her what color she thought would be best for me. She told me that usually, the color of your hair when you were age 2 or 3 is usually what looks best... So, that is what I attempted. Let's just hope my pre-mature gray doesn't come shining through too loudly in about 4 weeks! I've included some pictures of my early childhood to prove my dark roots.

TOP 10

Reasons NOT to vote for Obama (according to Sean Hannity - and I agree):

#10- Judgement
#9 - Media Darling
#8 - A hearbeat away (Biden)
#7 - Out of the mainstream
#6 - Consistency (lack of)
#5 - Too many Democrats
#4 - Divisive politics
#3 - Taxes and Spending
#2 - Foreign Policy
#1 - LACK OF EXPERIENCE!!

That's all for now...

My new favorite hobby...

SIPS N STROKES!!
12 of the girls in my class that are here in Bham went to Sips n Strokes last night for a little break from the school work. We had SO much fun!! I wish I could do one of these each week - while my Type A personality didn't allow complete relaxation, it was still great to get my mind off of school and turn on my creative mind. If anyone wants to go with me (aka...Kimmie) sometime soon, let me know!!

Carraway hospital is closing...

I'm sure you've all heard the news about Carraway Hospital here in Bham closing this week. It's quite sad and I think it has been coming for a while now...but the financial issues are finally reality. When I walked into work this Monday, to the Carraway Clinic where I am this month, I could tell something was different...only 1 person in the waiting room...receptionists looked sad...no doctor sign-in sheets...and the truth came out that they let all of their residents go at 8am and planned to close the hospital this week and the clinic by Oct 31. So, it has been an interesting few days to help notify some of our coumadin patients, help Dr. Kelley move all the AU equipment, etc. I know the other students, Dr. Kelley and I will all be fine because we are with Auburn, but I just feel so bad about all the residents and employees that now have to find new jobs and possibly move to a new city! It would be great if you could keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Sarah's Blog

Sarah has joined the blog world!! WAY to go!! Check out her blog at www.sarahgarner.blogspot.com
Kimber you are next...

This week:

I started rotation #4 this week. I am at Carraway Community Clinic - which is an internal medicine clinic associated with Carraway hospital (yes, the one about to file bankruptcy!) I am able to help with chronic management of Diabetes, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Coumadin/Warfarin monintoring, etc. So far it is going well! It is a big change from being in-patient on the last rotation (which I loved!)

Tuesday, Amy Pennington and I competed in the Clinical Skills competition back in Auburn for school. And we WON!! We also won last year and were able to compete at the national conference. We are going to nationals in Orlando this December and hope to win or at least place in the top 10. We know we are big dorks for being excited about this, but it is good to see all your hard work of studying pay off - we actually have learned something these past 3 years!

I also attended the Residency Conference at the pharmacy school on Tuesday. Many residency programs from all over the southeast came to recruit - I am planning to do an extra year of training through a residency next year - either in peds or general. At first, I thought I would stay in Bham at Children's Hospital for this, but now I am opening my eyes to a few more options - Nashville, Charleston, Chapel Hill....just to name a few. Where should I go?? We'll see...

Last night I went to the Michael Buble concert in Bham - it was VERY good! He is quite the entertainer...

Farmer in the Dell - Pumpkin Patch

This weekend in Auburn a few of us went out to Dr. Dell's pumpkin patch - it was fun! I got several unusual pumkins, rode on the tractor ride w/ Campbell and enjoyed seeing all the Crosby family!

Recent pictures

Pictures from my life lately...

War Eagle!