True Life: I'm a college student.

Hey there!

Number one: I'm ready to be done with school. I'm SO over witchy *ehm* teachers.

Number two: my search for grad schools has begun. Goodness, I'm ready to be done. The only thing getting me through is the thought of what I will be doing and the pay check. Hey, that may be terrible, but I do love the finer things in life. But, in all seriousness, I am so blessed to have picked a profession that will allow me to better someone's quality of life.
I absolutely love Speech Pathology.
I've changed majors 7 times. This one feels right.

Number three: This weekend, I attended church here in Columbus. I went to First Baptist Columbus and I really liked it. It has been a long time since I've been to church so, walking in to a place where I've never been, not knowing anyone, and having not been to church in years, it was a bit daunting.... But, I really enjoyed it. The service was very contemporary and was what I needed. I'm going to the college and career class tomorrow night and I'm super nervous about it. But also super excited about it. I haven't met many people at all since I've started school, so hopefully maybe I'll make some friends.

Number four:Pinterest is my new obsession. If you don't have a Pinterest, I'd gladly invite you! Everyone should have one. Just send me your email address and I'll hook you up! I have a wedding board entitled "Best Day of my Life" for my future marital blowout, I have a shoe board entitled "I <3 cute shoes." because we allll know how much I love shoes, I have a future home board entitled "Swanky Home Ideas" so when that time does come, I'll know exactly what I want, I have a board that is titled "I NEED THIS!" and it's basically everything I see that my heart desires, I have a "Caitlyn's Crafty Crafts" which is exactly what the title says... Can I get my Masters Degree in Pinterest?!?!?! Heck, I'd be top of the class.
(We all see where my passion is, don't we? haha....)

Number five: As a few of you know, I will be going through some serious changes within the next few months. So, thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated as I move forward with my life.
You know, I could sit here and complain about how my life is terrible and question why I was cursed with PTC and all...but in reality, there is ALWAYS someone else who is worse off than you. Even in the worse of my sickness, the spinal tap that I thought was gonna kill me, the endless doctors appointments, the mounds of medicine I take daily,there was and IS someone else in the world who is worse off than me. And THAT is a very humbling thing to think.
I am so blessed.


Alright friends... I need to go study.

love.
caity.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.

I hope everyone is doing grand.

While I write this, I can hear my roommate in the living room, swoon over her "new man".

"You're wonderful-er, and sweet...." blah, blah, blah.

*Vomit*.

ha-ha.




When people ask me how school is going, I usually say...

"It's going well. It's pretty challenging, but I really enjoy it."...

That's on a good day...


The Truth?


School is hard. I cry almost everyday from the pressure and the competition in this program.

It's cut throat. You're swimming with sharks.

You think I'm kidding?

ha. no, I'm not.

Elementary Education is starting to look better and better as the weeks go on...



But, let me just say, I love my major. LOVE IT. I love the material, I love the clients, I LOVE
observations, I love it all.
That's what is keeping me going and studying and sacrificing life;

to work with these people who need my help because they cannot communicate their needs.

Gosh, I can't wait to have my degree.


This is what I'm living for:

“…a career in speech-language pathology challenges you to use your intellect (the talents of your mind) in combination with your humanity (the gifts in your heart) to do meaningful work that feeds your soul… I am proud to be a member of what I consider to be the best profession on earth.”

I'm ready to be done so I can do my job.
In time, in time...

Switching gears....


I was invited to attend a "panty party" for my friend, Ashley McGee, who is getting married
veryyyyyyy soon! AHH! We met up at Ash's house and had a wonderful time visiting and laughing at
the crazy gifts she received. It was definitely a fun, fun night....

I am so happy for this sweet girl. It's crazy to think that just 3 years ago, I was a freshman and she
was a super-sophomore showing me the ropes of ICC....Crazy how time flies!


Being around all of my friends whom I don't see very much, it made me realize how different I am
now that what I was 3 years ago... I am a totally, completely changed person. People who I
graduated high school with are graduating this year from college and going to work. How crazy is
that?! They are in serious relationships and getting engaged and married. Change is happening all
around me.

This weekend has been an eye opening one for me.

I apologize for the awkward spacing... My blog is acting weird and I can't correct it. :(

I hope y'all have a wonderful week.

caitlyn.

Perfect Timing.

When you hear the phrase... "Everything happens for a reason", most of us take it with a grain of salt and don't think another thing about it.
I know I do.


But, really wrap your brain around that...
Everything that is happening in your life is happening for *some* reason.

Good or bad. Perfect or imperfect. Happy or sad.

It's HAPPENING. Whether we like it or not. It is happening.



(terrible) Examples:



Today, I wore some flip-flops that I don't usually wear and while I was walking in the rain, I stepped in a huge puddle of water. If I would have been wearing my $50 Rainbow flip-flops, I would have been upset. But for some reason I decided not to wear them. They were right there next to the door. But, instead I put something else on. I didn't have any reason to wear different flip-flops. I just did.



I am really learning to love MUW. At first, I was definitely skeptical about being in Columbus, alone with no family or best friend, but God knew exactly what he was doing when He put me here. It feels....right. I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be in this phase of my life.



I have had some pretty amazing people come into my life recently. They have helped me, encouraged me, made me happy when I was having a rough go of it, made me smile after a long day, and have been listening ears when I needed to vent. I am oh-so thankful for these people.




These, I know, are ridiculous but it's the best I could think of.
I've just come to the revelation of what ever burden or happy thing that is going on in life, it is happening to me for some reason. I can learn some "life-lesson" from it and can/will become a better person from it.



This was on my heart tonight.



love.

ck.

Amen.

Do you hate me?

I'm sorry, I'm just not very good at this "blog" thing...

I apologize.

Welllllllll, since it's been a while since I've updated, I guess I should fill you in on life from my end.

I've started "Big Girl" school.

I'm at MUW studying Speech Pathology.

It's only made me cry once so far.

But, seriously. It's hard. I'm not even gonna lie.

I miss ICC like crazy. Not only the people, but the ridiculously easy classes...

ICC people, prepare. "Big" school is hard!

I pray I make it though the next 4 years.

I have my first test this Thursday. It is in Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing. I'm not ashamed to ask for prayers. Because I will need it. It's one of the hardest classes in the program. (supposedly)

Let's see...

What else has been happening...

-I've moved into my new apartment with my two new roommates. So far, it's going swell. Nothing too terrible has happened... :)

-I'm slowly exploring Columbus... It's definitely not Pontotoc. Or Fulton.

-I've made new friends who have the exact same emotions towards the SLP program as I do. And I am so thankful I have people to vent to. Oh so thankful.

-I recently turned 21! That's right. I'm legal now. ;)

-Adele is my favorite artist right now. Don't ask me why, but I'm obsessed with her. When I've had a really stressful day at school, you can find me in my room, blaring some Adele.

-As some of you already know, in the last few weeks, a lot of "firsts" have happened. And I am so so SO excited about it. That's all I want to say right now. Maybe there will be a blog about it soon. :)

-And saving the best for last, I received an excellent Dr.'s report on my pseudo tumor issues! PTL!

Well, I really need to get back to studying.

love.

ck.

Today.

Today.

Today, I leave my best friend. Oh, how I've enjoyed visiting with her these past 2 days...

Today, I am stressed about my future. I look around and things aren't happening like I would like.

Today, my heart jumps at the thought of moving to Columbus. Away from my family, away from my friends, away from everything I've always known.

Today, I'm feeling bittersweet towards the future. Scared, nervous but excited and ready.

Today, I do not understand somethings in my life. But, am I supposed to understand everything?

Today, Facebook has gotten the better of me and essentially, I have "stalked" too much.

Today, I am realizing the "newness" that is about to overcome me. And, I'm scared.

Oh, today... Please be nice to me.

caitlyn.

Pseu-Pseu-Pseudo-Tumor.

Hello everyone.

So, I know alot is circulating out there about me and I just want to clarify. So, here is just whats going on...

If you don't know me too well, you didn't know that this past semester in school was the hardest for me. I was taking 24 semester hours, working 2 jobs and babysitting 3 days a week. I was stretched thinnnn. So, of course, all of my health problems I just gave up to stress and sleep deprivation. Looking back, I wish those would have been my only problems.

In April, I began to lose my vision. I was very very dizzy. I had ridiculous headaches. But, of course, I chocked up all up to stress.

Until the day I had my wreck....

Scariest experience of my life.

I wasn't sure if I had blacked out when it happened- I couldn't remember.

This is when my sweet mama began to worry...

Within the next few days, my health went from bad to worse. It was Easter weekend and I couldn't even go to church on Easter. So, Good Monday rolls around, and I am first one in the doctors office. He immediately sent me for an MRI and ran alot of tests on me.

As I look back on that day, I remember seeing the distress in my mama and daddy's faces as I was taken back. It was rough.

MRI=done.

Result=nothing. nada. nado. ziltch.

We were in a state of relief. Maybe the tests will reveal something? Hopefully.

I am sent home with a bag full of medicine and ordered to sleep.

The next few days after this are a blur of things...

Things really were not adding up and were not getting better so, my mother researched and researched until she found some answers.

She made me an appointment to see an Ophthalmologist who referred me to a Neurologist. She wouldn't tell me exactly what was going on, but she knew already what was wrong with me.

I was diagnosed on April 27, 2011 with a neurological disease called Pseudotumor Cerebri. Or, Benign Intercranial Hypertension. To explain, I have an excess of spinal fluid on/around my optic nerve(causing my loss of vision) putting pressure on the nerve and causing me all of these problems. My body thinks I have a brain tumor, but I really don't. Make sense?

To treat this, I am on several medicines to help the fluid to drain.

If the pressure doesn't improve and go down, I will sustain permanent vision loss.

I had an MRI on Monday, I saw an Ophthalmologist on Wednesday, I had a Spinal Tap on Thursday, thought I was dying on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The LP(lumbar puncture) was to confirm the diagnosis and also to relieve some of the pressure. And it was as terrible as it sounds. I really, honestly thought I was dying.

It has been about 2 months since the diagnosis, and my pressure has gone from the worst it can possibly be to better, but still not good. I am now facing surgery to prevent me from losing my vision. We will know at the end of July for sure if I need surgery.

Please, if you are a praying person, please pray for me.

And for those of you already praying for me, thank you, so much.

I have a long road ahead...

caitlynk.

Let's play catch-up!

First off, I would just like to apologize for not blogging religiously like I promised...

I got very, very, life threatening sick. But, Thank the sweet, sweet Lord I am going to be just fine. I had to have a spinal tap, which almost killed me. NO, I'm not being dramatic. It really did.

this is my back, after the spinal tapI don't really want to spill all of everything that happened out, but I will say that I lost my vision, had an MRI, and was on the operating table within 4 days.(oh, and it was the week of the Smithville tornado, very scary). It all happened very fast, and it was very scary. Especially for my sweet Mama. She had the worst time of all.(although, I SURE didn't think so at the time). She sat, and nursed me and did everything for me because I just simply couldn't. I am so very thankful for her. But, Im okay now, working on getting better, and I have a positive outlook on my new life.

I am so thankful and grateful for everyone who prayed for me during this awful time.
I am so thankful to be well.

OKAY! On a lighter note.....

I graduated from ICC! OH, it was glorious! And it just so happened that my Best, Elle-Pea, graduated from Ole Miss that same day... What a dilema! :)

It all worked out, though. I surprised her at hers, and she ended up coming to mine. I'm so glad we got to share that special day!

At Ole Miss graduation!

And this little lady just got a job! I am such a proud friend! She is the new 1st grade teacher at Horn Lake Elementary in Horn Lake, MS. She will be farrrrrrrrr away from me this fall. I'll be in Columbus and she will be up near Memphis. Sad stuff. Soaking in alot of time this summer with her. God has big plans for her. Gosh, I'm just so stinkin' proud for her!

Let's see...

What else has been goin' on?

Well, lots and LOTS of weddings. Sweet, precious weddings. And also, LOTS of engagements! My roomie from my freshman year at ICC, Ashley McGee got engaged! Precious. Her ring is bling blingin'.

Aren't they sweet?So happy for this sweet girl. She deserves all of the happiness in the world.

I gave in a got a feather.... I cannot believe I caved to this trend...

To end my catch up Blog, I am going to share something very sweet to me

My baby sister is IN LOVE with Justin Bieber. Like, IN LOVE, WE ARE GETTING MARRIED, OUR KIDS NAMES ARE CHLOE AND RYAN, IN LOVE. My house revolves around Justin Bieber and everything Justin Bieber. We live, eat, sleep, dream Justin Bieber around here. Get the jist? Okay, so, my precious baby sister wrote Justin Bieber a letter proclaiming her love for him, and she wants him to come on vacation with us, and all of this stuff that I SO wrote to NSYNC when I was her age. She sent the letter to his record company in New York City and insisted that he respond.

WELL. "Justin Bieber" responded. We got the letter today.

I know you can't read it well, but please try! It's worth it! The letter was post-marked New York and everything. And yes, we know who mailed it. ;)
Can't a little girl dream!?!

Love y'all.

Caitlyn