I am not looking forward to today’s five-and-a-half-hour drive to Michigan after work. We are attending my cousin’s wedding this Saturday at the hunt club, where we typically have our family reunions. My cousin and her partner have been together for as long as I can remember, and I am happy to be a part of their celebration. (Getting there is another story.)

When we reached Michigan, it would be well past eleven, and my mom invited some of our family over to play games and have pizza. I think everyone will have left by the time we arrive, which is okay because the drive is tiring.

We are supposed to have brunch with my family on Saturday, and I look forward to seeing my uncle and his kids. Overall, catching up with my family will be a great weekend.

I have a plan for my gallbladder. I am keeping a food log with everything I eat and my reaction to it. I spoke to my aunt about her history of getting her gallbladder out, and I am listening to her advice. If it gets to the point where I am in too much pain, I will be heading to the ER and telling them I do not have a regular doctor. (Not yet, anyway).

It’s better than nothing, I suppose, but I wish I had been an adult sooner rather than now. Better late than never.

At least I can dance away my troubles at my cousin’s wedding. My mom picked me up a black silk dress; I cannot wait to put it on do my makeup, and just have fun. (More importantly, I get to continue my coworker’s baby blanket – IT IS SO FUCKING CUTE) #TeamBoy

I’ve never been one of the popular girls that were naturally beautiful without any effort. It’s not that I don’t think I am attractive, I just think I am an acquired taste. Of course not everyone will think the same, I am sure to others my beauty is effortless whereas I see more in others.

My hair is always frizzy and sticking up at the top of my head, there are heavy bags underneath my eyelids, my teeth are crooked, and I carry more weigh in my stomach than I would like to. I’ve never been a show stopper, and I’ve always been insecure about my appearence.

But it truly does amaze me when people can just wake up, roll out of bed, throw clothes on and look omre put together than someone who got up a few hours ago and spent the majority of their morning gussying up.

This was my morning thoughts when I woke up early to get ready for work today. We had a photographer here photographing the new building and Dr. M asked that we look nice to be captured on camera. So, I go up extra early to run on the treadmill and shower before I curled my hair and did my make up.

Despite me getting up early and doing my make up, some of my coworkers rolled in with just their hair done, that looked more together than I did. I know this will get worse with age, but just know that I am bitter about it.

Every New Year brings a new revolution inside of my brain, much like everyone else I am anxious to say goodbye to the past year and welcome a new era of change. It’s good to also reflect on the things accomplished or goals reached in the past year. It’s easy to get swept up in the focus of the change, but recognizing how far you’ve come is just as important.

This year I:

• Became a wife to the man of my dreams. We got married in October with a small wedding, then traveled to Tennesse to stay in a cabin and spend the week with one another.
• Started a work out regimen and stuck to it. My biggest accomplishment was my arms this year. They went from thin noodle like things, to strong and toned. Curling a 25 pound dumb bell like it is nothing is HUGE for me since I have always been insecure about it. I even have the begining portion of abs I am struggling with the bottom currently).
• Visited Virginia for the first time since I left in a hurry. I took the trip to visit my best friend, and help her pick out her bridesmaid’s dress out. The trip just brought me closure on a chapter I had closed two years ago. I look forward to another trip.

I’ve done some reflecting on what I want for the New Year. I have always struggled with who I am, but this past year, I felt more like myself than I ever have. That’s the most important to me, I never want to revert back to who I was in Virginia and now I feel as though I never will. Which brings me a sense of comfort and satisfaction.

For my New Years Resolutions this year:

• Drink less alcohol or none at all. I haven’t decided just yet if I am going to stop drinking all together just yet or not. I want to drink more water, I want to let go of sugary drinks, and I want to see if it helps me on my health journey. I’ve been good about drinking 80 ounces a day on most days. I’ve even stopped drinking as much coffee, which for anyone who knows me, is a huge deal.
• Continue my work out regimen. My overall goal is to be strong, fit not obsess over the numbers on a scale or worry if I’m skinny enough. I do not want to be skinny, I want to be toned and fit.
• Write everyday. It doesn’t have to be a blog post every day, but I want to continue to write something. Even if it is a sentence. Writing brings me joy and it took me a while to get back to it.
• Read as often as I can. Most days, Monday through Friday I will pick a book up and read a chapter or so before I go to bed. Reading has alway brought me peace and has helped me sleep at night. So I am going to continue that as well.

Perhaps, my New Years Resolutions aren’t exactly new goals but they still remain just as important to me. I will continue on my self care and self love journey for the rest of my life. I just feel as though I am well equip. I have an amazing husband who loves me, two dogs that love me unconditionally, a family to will support me, and friends that are always there for me. What more could I ask for?

Today, I helped a lady with a Guniea Pig who had GI stasis and over grown teeth.

A brief summary for those who don’t know, Rodents like guniea pigs and rabbits have to keep their gut moving, which requires eating around the clock. When they don’t eat, their gut stops moving, and this can be very deadly to them. As well as, over grown teeth. Rabbits and Guniea pigs teeth continually grow throughout their lives. They maintain them by eating the correct diet – Hay – which keeps their teeth at bay. When they aren’t eating a proper diet, they can grow points in their molars and their incisors (front teeth) can be missaligned/overgrown.

This guniea pig, had a wonderfully anxious owner. This woman had been caring for it for 7 years (the life span on them is 6-8 years). She cared so deeply for this guniea pig, that she did anything she could to help him live a longer life, including force feeding him even when it didn’t go well. (That bill was almost a grand and she dropped that on just a random Tuesday after crying in the office).

Anyone else would have been annoyed by her emotions, pushed her off, and made her wait until tomorrow when her intial appointment was. (Her previous practice did just this). I like to think that I made a different in her day because I sat next to her and told her, “Whatever you need, we are here for you.” and when she couldn’t decide, I offered the best alternative. “Why don’t you stay here, we will assess your pig together with a doctor, come up with a plan, and then go from there?”

By the end of the day, she was so grateful for our help and that – that is what made my day. I helped a guniea pig today and I comforted his owner in the process, and that feels so good to do. This is why I love the Veterinary Field so much.