So it is that time, my finals are approaching! I have 2 weeks until my official end of semester, but my first final is due next Wednesday I also have 3 tests between monday and wednesday as well and two tests finals week. All that and i'm only taking 3 classes!
I wouldn't say the stress of finals has set in yet, but i'm definitely starting to feel the burn.
I haven't been able to work out in the past 3 weeks because I've been on IV antibiotics. It's really hard to work out when you can take showers regularly.
Tomorrow I have to go to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to have my port needles changed. My port is in the right side of my chest! I'll pull my needle early to put my numbing cream on first and take a regular shower! I also have to get my blood drawn from the vampires! Okay not vampires, but that does make it sound like a better story.
I also have to go in and send off my passport paperwork! my passport expired at the beginning of February and you never know when i'll want to head off to a foreign land for an adventure!
Speaking of Adventure I have two planned out so far!
I am going to make a return visit to my College in Iowa in April for my old choirs spring show! And to see my friends of course!
In June I am heading to LAS VEGAS!!!! My mom promised me years ago she would take me to Vegas when I turned 21 and this is the year! I can't wait to hit the strip with my best friend and see what this drinking thing is all about!
Wish me luck,
Marissa
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Vlog!
So I made this blog video the other day, it is the first of many to come!
It will go farther than being just about CF but since CF if a big part of my life i thought i would start there!
Check out my video and tell me what you think!
Also today is my first day off bed rest! Thank goodness I was going mad! And so far so good, i've been feeling a lot better and I can walk farther than 4 feet without feeling out of breath! Which is the first time in a long time!
It will go farther than being just about CF but since CF if a big part of my life i thought i would start there!
Check out my video and tell me what you think!
Also today is my first day off bed rest! Thank goodness I was going mad! And so far so good, i've been feeling a lot better and I can walk farther than 4 feet without feeling out of breath! Which is the first time in a long time!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Bed Rest: Day 1
I was in bed all day. Okay not quite ALL day but I didn't leave the house, unless you count stepping out onto the porch to get the dog to let go of a dead bird.
I am bored and tired. I haven't seen sleeping at all at night maybe a couple hours but not in a row. Sitting in the house all day has me bored more than anything.
My grandfather is coming up tomorrow though so hopefully that will chip me up a bit!
Wish me luck!
Marissa
I am bored and tired. I haven't seen sleeping at all at night maybe a couple hours but not in a row. Sitting in the house all day has me bored more than anything.
My grandfather is coming up tomorrow though so hopefully that will chip me up a bit!
Wish me luck!
Marissa
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
bed rest?
Well i'm on bed rest until i go to class Monday. I had an appointment with my doctor today and he's really concerned with my health i am not to be getting out of bed unless I absolutely need something.
What am I supposed to do in bed for four day?
I admit I have been super tired lately so the rest will probably do me good.
I start IV antibiotics tomorrow, i am on a different medication so they want the home care nurse to "teach" me how to infuse it and watch me to make sure I don't have a bad reaction to it. I'll be on them for 2-4 weeks depending on how I feel each week, and I'm not rushing it! Normally i try to get off them as soon as possible, but not anymore!
My PFT was lower than it has been in a really long time it was 33%, which is down 8% from the last time I was sick in December. My PFT's haven't been this low since i was 7-8 years old and after that my Doctor sent me to a lung transplant doctor in St. Louis. I was taken off the lung transplant list 2 years ago, hopefully I can stay off it! It's made me nervous but I am sure all will be well!
Wish me luck!
Marissa
What am I supposed to do in bed for four day?
I admit I have been super tired lately so the rest will probably do me good.
I start IV antibiotics tomorrow, i am on a different medication so they want the home care nurse to "teach" me how to infuse it and watch me to make sure I don't have a bad reaction to it. I'll be on them for 2-4 weeks depending on how I feel each week, and I'm not rushing it! Normally i try to get off them as soon as possible, but not anymore!
My PFT was lower than it has been in a really long time it was 33%, which is down 8% from the last time I was sick in December. My PFT's haven't been this low since i was 7-8 years old and after that my Doctor sent me to a lung transplant doctor in St. Louis. I was taken off the lung transplant list 2 years ago, hopefully I can stay off it! It's made me nervous but I am sure all will be well!
Wish me luck!
Marissa
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Phone Interview!
Earlier this evening I had my phone interview for the Disney College Program. I filed my initial application on Friday. I was really nervous in the morning because I woke up with a bad head cold. I was congested in my nose and chest so bad I couldn't breathe or smell anything! And I sounded like Chuckie Finsters dad, but I got it cleared up enough to sound normal by the time the phone rang.
Here's how it went:
My interviewer was Connie and she was a complete sweet heart! She asked my about my intentions with the Program and why I wanted to be apart of it and then continued to ask me about my top 2 roles and how my work experience qualified me for them. She also asked me a few questions about how I work and what type of working environments do I prefer and work best in.
At the end of my interview she asked me if I had any questions or concerns with anything and I expressed my concern about having Cystic Fibrosis and being allowed to have my medications in the housing that Disney provides. She assured me that is would be no problem and that I shouldn't even be questioned about it from the staff.
I felt really good about my interview. I was a bit nervous, but I felt good about my answers to her questions, we even had a good laugh about the weather. I am satisfied with my interview and at this point I just hope it was good enough to put me above the rest of the applicants.
Wish me luck!
Marissa
Here's how it went:
My interviewer was Connie and she was a complete sweet heart! She asked my about my intentions with the Program and why I wanted to be apart of it and then continued to ask me about my top 2 roles and how my work experience qualified me for them. She also asked me a few questions about how I work and what type of working environments do I prefer and work best in.
At the end of my interview she asked me if I had any questions or concerns with anything and I expressed my concern about having Cystic Fibrosis and being allowed to have my medications in the housing that Disney provides. She assured me that is would be no problem and that I shouldn't even be questioned about it from the staff.
I felt really good about my interview. I was a bit nervous, but I felt good about my answers to her questions, we even had a good laugh about the weather. I am satisfied with my interview and at this point I just hope it was good enough to put me above the rest of the applicants.
Wish me luck!
Marissa
Sunday, February 10, 2013
I have made a decision, a decision that will change my life hopefully for the better but we'll see.
I don't think I am going to continue with the college, at least not like I am it is not the most important thing in my life, and while I have tried so hard to make it, it will never be.
Maybe this is a reality check, maybe it's nothing at all.
I am really tired, and I've been very sick the past 5 months I've been on IV antibiotics and they didn't help, I spent a week in the hospital and nothing. I've been pretending i'm fine, that it was all nothing that it was going to go away, but It won't. I can't walk up a flight of stairs without needing a 5 minute break to catch my breath. I have spent a long time pretending but i think it's time to realize that I am sick, someday i won't get better, there will be no fixing me and I am grateful that it isn't today, and I'm done treating today like it's nothing.
I've decided that I will jump head first into the dreams I used to plan my life around, no matter how childish or unrealistic people think they are.
I sing. I love to sing, and I am SO lucky to have a voice.
I've lost friends, fellow Cystic's and I want to be their voice. I want to stand in front of people and tell them that I am a Cystic, but I am also lucky to experience life because some people never do.
I want to teach people that life isn't something to be quoted or stared at it's something to be experienced. Speak the words live in those moments you think are impossible because they're not.
You're not impossible.
Marissa Parks
I don't think I am going to continue with the college, at least not like I am it is not the most important thing in my life, and while I have tried so hard to make it, it will never be.
Maybe this is a reality check, maybe it's nothing at all.
I am really tired, and I've been very sick the past 5 months I've been on IV antibiotics and they didn't help, I spent a week in the hospital and nothing. I've been pretending i'm fine, that it was all nothing that it was going to go away, but It won't. I can't walk up a flight of stairs without needing a 5 minute break to catch my breath. I have spent a long time pretending but i think it's time to realize that I am sick, someday i won't get better, there will be no fixing me and I am grateful that it isn't today, and I'm done treating today like it's nothing.
I've decided that I will jump head first into the dreams I used to plan my life around, no matter how childish or unrealistic people think they are.
I sing. I love to sing, and I am SO lucky to have a voice.
I've lost friends, fellow Cystic's and I want to be their voice. I want to stand in front of people and tell them that I am a Cystic, but I am also lucky to experience life because some people never do.
I want to teach people that life isn't something to be quoted or stared at it's something to be experienced. Speak the words live in those moments you think are impossible because they're not.
You're not impossible.
Marissa Parks
I Confess!
Okay I admit it, I am a terrible Cystic. I am awful at taking my medications and treating my body correctly, but i'm working on it!
I get lectured all the time by my parents about not doing everything perfectly and honestly I know i don't but their comments and all that lack inspiration and really only make me feel bad about myself.
I should really consider myself lucky though, i take a bit of pills, but some people are on a lot more medications than I am. I just have a hard time remembering to do it. That sounds silly to a lot of people, yes I've been doing this for 20 years, but it's still something I have to remember to do. It takes a bit of time out of my day.
Just being random i thought I'd list all of my medications and when they're taken, maybe, hopefully this will inspire me to be better at taking me all
Morning
I get lectured all the time by my parents about not doing everything perfectly and honestly I know i don't but their comments and all that lack inspiration and really only make me feel bad about myself.
I should really consider myself lucky though, i take a bit of pills, but some people are on a lot more medications than I am. I just have a hard time remembering to do it. That sounds silly to a lot of people, yes I've been doing this for 20 years, but it's still something I have to remember to do. It takes a bit of time out of my day.
Just being random i thought I'd list all of my medications and when they're taken, maybe, hopefully this will inspire me to be better at taking me all
Morning
- Albuterol Breathing treatment
- TOBI breathing treatment
- 10,000 IUs Vitamin D (5 caplets)
- Prilosec
- Multi Vitamin
- CF Source Vitamin
- Vest (30 minutes)
- Rhinocort nasal spray
- Azythromycin (only Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)
- 5 Enzymes (if i eat)
- Ciprofloxacilin
Afternoon
- Albuterol Breathing treatment
- Vest (30 minutes)
- 5 Enzymes (if i eat)
Evening
- Albuterol Breathing treatment
- Pulmozyne breathing treatment
- TOBI breathing treatment
- Zantac 75
- Rhinocort nasal spray
- Azythromycin (only Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)
- 5 Enzymes (if I eat)
- Cirprofloxacilin
And I know i am missing a couple, so this will definitely be edited in the near future to include what I'm missing.
This list also doesn't include the medications that change monthly, these are just the ones i'm taking right now.
Oh and no matter how often I take my medications or for how long, i will never be able to spell them.
Wish me luck on this list!
Marissa
Friday, February 8, 2013
I've done it! I've applied!
So the Disney College Program applications went up this morning, and after having a miniature panic attack I managed to successfully fill out my application!
Now for those of you who don't know the Disney College Program is like an internship (without the title intern). Disney hires college students to take a semester and work for them. They provide housing and training and even offer extra classes like Disney History that some colleges will accept for their credits!
I have been planning on applying for the college programs since I first read about it in the summer of 2011, and I wanted to wait to apply until i was finishing up my A.A. degree but after transferring school last semester and starting a new program I was tired of waiting so I applied now!
It felt a little like this:
Step 1: The standard application. You provide you name address and social security number and information like this. Disney will also give you a list of roles to choose from and you rate your interest level on a scale of High Interest, Moderate Interest, Low Interest of No Interest.
Step 2. The Web Based Interview (WBI). The WBI is like a giant personality quiz it asks you how well you do things and how you like them. Questions such as working in groups vs alone, to how would you handle an employee doing something wrong? There is a scale such as Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree questions like that. Again very stressful because if the questions don't match up to what they want you can be rejected here.
Step 3. Phone Interview. This is when you will interact directly with a Disney recruiter. They'll ask a variety of questions about the roles you chose, your past work experience and all sorts of other questions! This is the last step that involves answering any questions.
Step 4. Your fate! You'll get an e-mail with the final decision. This decision can come after weeks of holding a pending status or just a few days of finishing step 3. But there's no doubt this step could change your life!
I am currently waiting for step 3. I have my phone interview scheduled for Tuesday at 3pm and I can't wait!
I am confident that I have what it takes to be a Disney CP but I just have to prove that to my recruiter.
Wish me luck!
Marissa
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Patience
So I went to class this morning, but I ended up getting really sick so i came back home. Now I have resorted to laying on the couch watching Kitchen Nightmares before I get the courage to start preparing dinner for my family. On the menu tonight Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta! One of my favorite dinners hopefully i'll be able to eat it.
On top of all that I am trying to be patient and wait for the Disney College Program applications. I have been waiting to apply for the program for about two years now after i first heard about it, and this is the right time for me to go off and work at Disney World! It is important for me to get this CP because I hope to work with Disney in the future so getting my foot in the door here is a great start! Rumors have it applications will be out sometime this week, right now everyone is expecting Friday since they haven't come out today (yet) but there is still hope for tomorrow!
I am ready to be living and breathing at Disney!
Just let me go!
Marissa
On top of all that I am trying to be patient and wait for the Disney College Program applications. I have been waiting to apply for the program for about two years now after i first heard about it, and this is the right time for me to go off and work at Disney World! It is important for me to get this CP because I hope to work with Disney in the future so getting my foot in the door here is a great start! Rumors have it applications will be out sometime this week, right now everyone is expecting Friday since they haven't come out today (yet) but there is still hope for tomorrow!
I am ready to be living and breathing at Disney!
Just let me go!
Marissa
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Bed time
Goodnight my friends,
Today was a long day, I've been coughing a lot more and my chest has been sore all day so hopefully I can make an appointment to see my CF doctor next week or the week after. See what he has to say about everything. I just finished IV meds the 15th of December so hopefully I won't have to be back on those for a while, but I feel pretty crummy.
It would be nice to feel good for a little while, I haven't really felt alright in a few months, which makes me a little nervous, but all will be fine I'm sure!
I had a lovely dinner out with my family tonight, and have lots of homework to get done tomorrow to be prepared for classes Monday and a presentation to prepare for.
Monday marks the half way point for the semester and I'm excited! But that also means I need to get started on the final report I have for one of my classes!
We'll see how well that goes over, I'm such a procrastinator!
Best Wishes,
Marissa
Today was a long day, I've been coughing a lot more and my chest has been sore all day so hopefully I can make an appointment to see my CF doctor next week or the week after. See what he has to say about everything. I just finished IV meds the 15th of December so hopefully I won't have to be back on those for a while, but I feel pretty crummy.
It would be nice to feel good for a little while, I haven't really felt alright in a few months, which makes me a little nervous, but all will be fine I'm sure!
I had a lovely dinner out with my family tonight, and have lots of homework to get done tomorrow to be prepared for classes Monday and a presentation to prepare for.
Monday marks the half way point for the semester and I'm excited! But that also means I need to get started on the final report I have for one of my classes!
We'll see how well that goes over, I'm such a procrastinator!
Best Wishes,
Marissa
Fashion
I'm not really a huge fashion forward person, in fact I have a closet overflowing with clothes, but I prefer to ware the same outfits every week (after being cleaned of course) but I was invited to do a Fashion Show at the Dakota High School in Macomb Michigan last week to represent the Rock Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, so of course I did!
I had the honor of getting my hair and makeup done which looked like this:
I was also given a Tony Bowls dress from his Paris collection to wear for the evening.
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I co-hosted the event with a girl who was from the school and I also sang "She Will be Loved" by Maroon 5 (Video not yet available). It was a wonderful event for a charity that is very near and dear to my heart!
It was the first time I stood onstage at a charity event and represent not only myself but the disease I have, it's something I hope to do more of in the future.
While the speech I gave that night could have been better, I am proud of myself for being apart of the event and so honored to have been invited!
The dresses was loaned to me from Joani's Fashions in Shelby Township MI.
The ladies there were nothing but kind and polite and helpful! I appreciate them for going out of there to support the cause and dress many of the ladies that graced the catwalk that evening!
I had the honor of getting my hair and makeup done which looked like this:
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It was the first time I stood onstage at a charity event and represent not only myself but the disease I have, it's something I hope to do more of in the future.
While the speech I gave that night could have been better, I am proud of myself for being apart of the event and so honored to have been invited!
The dresses was loaned to me from Joani's Fashions in Shelby Township MI.
The ladies there were nothing but kind and polite and helpful! I appreciate them for going out of there to support the cause and dress many of the ladies that graced the catwalk that evening!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Welcome to February!
A month or love and wonderful things! My favorite part of February is when winter starts to end and spring begins!
I don't have a monthly goal yet other than my long term goals. I will keep working out so I can jog the 5K in March, and I hope to keep my grades in a successful place so I can make the Deans list this semester.
I started a new college this semester it's Baker College of Flint it is a business college I am studying Business Management. I spent a year and a half going to Iowa Central a community college in Fort Dodge IA where I studied music and met some of the best people!
I can't wait to continue my journey into the month of February! It's going to be a great month!
Best wishes,
Marissa
I don't have a monthly goal yet other than my long term goals. I will keep working out so I can jog the 5K in March, and I hope to keep my grades in a successful place so I can make the Deans list this semester.
I started a new college this semester it's Baker College of Flint it is a business college I am studying Business Management. I spent a year and a half going to Iowa Central a community college in Fort Dodge IA where I studied music and met some of the best people!
I can't wait to continue my journey into the month of February! It's going to be a great month!
Best wishes,
Marissa
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