Houston - Eat, Pray, Don't Love Just Yet...

This coming week will be my last week of level II fieldwork in at Grace Care Center in Tomball, TX. It is also my last week living in Houston. I haven't updated my blog since I left Ohio, so here's a quick recap of my time here:

Grace Care Center at Northpointe is a skilled nursing facility, which, as I stated before, is in Tomball, TX (a 40 minute drive northwest of Houston). The rehab team there acts like a family. They truly care for and support each other on a personal level, which is something that I have not seen before in a working environment. They accepted me into this family immediately. I was greeted on my first day with hugs, and I'm sure I will depart with the same.

My first week, I felt thrown to the wolves, which forced me to learn the ropes, and fast. It took me some time to warm up, and I felt like a measly student for a long time. I lacked the confidence to speak up in weekly meetings, and was fearful of voicing my opinion on the progression of treatment for those patients on my caseload. However, during my midterm evaluation, my OT assured me that I was knowledgeable enough to do those things and more. Now, especially in the last 2 weeks, I have felt more confident in making judgements and decisions based on my knowledge of the patient and his or her abilities.

I learned so much from this rotation:

• Nursing homes are not for me in the long run.
• It is so important to work in a non-stressful environment; although I don't like working in nursing homes, I never dreaded going to work.
• You can't always count on other staff to follow through with your recommendations, suggestions, or requests.
• Organization is KEY in the healthcare business.
  
• You need to find someone you can count on for support in all departments of a facility.
• Motivational quote boards, while they may seem cheesy, have the potential to appear to the right person at the right time, staff and patients both.

This experience has been extremely valuable to my learning experience, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work at Grace Care.

My time in Houston outside of work has been an experience, as well. I have lost almost 10 lbs. I have found a love for running, somehow. I have fallen in love with almost all seafood. Museums, aquariums, and zoos are totally my thing. So is drawing, and crafting, and making anything with my hands. I bought a new camera, a reeeeeaaaally nice one. I really missed ice skating. I met a boy, dissed him for another, then found myself unhappy with my decision, just a little too late, of course. I STILL love Sports Camp, and God found a way to get me there, yet again. I'm learning to find God in my everyday. I'm learning to accept and love people for who they are. I'm learning to be myself, and to stand up for myself.

And, although I'm miles away from all of my best friends and family, I've found my relationships with them deepening. I'm so proud of myself for taking this leap of faith - picking up the clothes on my back and moving to Houston, TX. And I'm so happy with how it has all panned out. And now it's on to the next one...

...I could not be more excited for what Nashville is about to bring.