Stephanie Fowler

No picture today. I'm exhausted. Between December 18 and January 1, I will have worked 201 hours; one 48 hour shift, two 72 hour shifts, and one 12 hour shift. EMS is rough, but I wouldn't want to do anything else. I thank God every day for leading me to a career I love. 

Well, that could have been way worse. My husband had left to head to the church to start getting things ready for our Christmas lunch and came back in to get me to go outside with him. He took me around to where an old dead tree has been rooted for years. The storm last night uprooted it and it was leaning against the roof of our house. It looks like only minimal damage was done to the gutters and that's all. We couldn't see any damage to the actual house. Praise the Lord.

I am so proud if my class. We worked so hard to cross that stage. My school (as do most) does not do a graduation ceremony for the EMT-B classes because it is only one semester and it a certification program, not a degree. Our instructors do not a agree with this idea, and decided to hold a whole graduation ceremony just for us 13 students. We were so thrilled that our instructors would go out of their way for us like that. I am.the far left kneeling student. Our instructors are the gentleman standing to the far left and the lady standing to the far right of the kneeling row. I will miss them so much, butbas our services use the same trauma hospitals, there is a chance I will run into them from time to time. Plus, I have their phone numbers. I can call or text them any time. 

This is of me receiving my award for outstanding perseverance through adversity for pushing forward through the program even while dealing with my uncle's unforseen death, my dad being hospitalized for possible cancer and a confirmed pneumothorax, and having to work 48 and 72 hour shifts. I even had the second highest grade in the class by only 1 point. The girl with the highest grade had a 101 and I had a 100. 

It's graduation day, ya'll!! Let's go!!! 

Ok, really, I want to do this, I really do, but I can't find enough motivation to finish getting ready. I really just want to go back to sleep even though it is 3 in the afternoon. 

So, lots is going on. First, I have my skills exam tonight. I'm concerned about how I'm going to do. I'm trying to prepare, but I'm still concerned. Second, I'm not sure why I let my brother and dad get to me. I know they are jerks, but I still let their words upset me. I was so excited to get a letter from my sponsor child so I shared it with my family. Of course, my dad and brother had to berate me for sending money to her family to care for her. I just want to help her and her community. I'm still going to help her even though my brother and dad are jerks. 

So, I passed my final with a 103 giving me a 99.9 in the class. I'm told I'm tied for the highest grade in the class. I will do my skills exam tomorrow night, graduate Thursday, and sit the NREMT in 3 to 4 weeks. 

Work is going great. I just finished off a 48 hour shift. Ready to go home. Just waiting for my medic partner (my sister-in-law) to finish packing. 

I'm getting ready to go to my therapy appointment at 8:15. After that, I'm meeting up with some classmates to study for our Final tomorrow. It's going to be a long day. I hope they are not going to want to stay past noon. I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm so tired. 

I dunno. I'm super stressed about my final Thursday, my skills exam Monday, and then scheduling my NREMT if I passed both of those. It feels like too much.