Day 2 - So far so good

I will not report such things from each and every day of my 16 months of nursing school, but I've decided that my utter shock at being back at school with undergrads, welcome events and the modern amenities of modern higher education is worth a post or two.

My classes are excellent so far. My professors are cool -- we're supposed to ask questions, reading is critical and organization is even more important. Books are expensive but everything seems to be working out swimmingly.

The scene here at Loyola is different from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Tufts University, Truman College and most other schools I've visited during my nationwide tours of colleges.

• Loyola is urban -- seriously urban. Crossing Sheridan Road (which is what Lakeshore Drive turns into this far north) is a challenge. The CTA Red Line tracks weave through the edge of campus and I got a U-Pass (free CTA!),'
• Undergrads are as ridiculous as ever. They smoke (!), wear silly outfits, line up for odd happenings, suggest laminating their U-Passes (no!), and using cell phones constantly. I guess I'm an undergrad too, but not so ridiculous as all of these youngsters. My silly outfit, however, is maroon scrubs with all-white shoes. Egads.
• The Illini Union Bookstore has spoiled me for all other bookstores. The Loyola University Bookstore doesn't have a million types of pens, an acceptable variety of university-themed notebooks or cool bright orange bags. It's a Follett bookstore and I'm an IUB girl -- what am I to do!?!
• The library here is, however, superior to the underground Undergrad of my favorite alma mater. It's a big glass building, with windows facing the (tiny) quad area and the lake. Beautiful. In fact, I think I'll spend much of this afternoon staring at the lake and reading Pathophysiology.
• It's nice to go home -- I'm lucky to have a sweet B, a non-undergrad apartment, my own kitchen and my setup to come home to. Our new apartment has plenty of study space, a kitchen I love to cook in and just the space we need right now. Hooray for peace at home.
• Living the undergrad life is pretty sweet.

This photo is the Loyola Library -- fancy! It does cast a shadow though, not on any experiemental corn fields, but still... a shadow!

Lesson #1

Should have listened to my dad's wise advice years ago and not brought books to class.

They're heavy and probably unnecessary. And even if I need them, they're still heavy.

Good news from campus -- I rode my bike here successfully along Chicago's beautiful lake path, picked up my U-pass (free CTA!), and found my way (at least a little). Now, awaiting my first nursing class.

Weird news from campus -- the guy next to me has two cell phones, connected to each other, and is hunt-and-peck-typing as he surfs eBay. The library has come a long way. He's also wearing slippers, socks, basketball shorts and Marc Jacobs sunglasses inside. Where am I?

No bad news from campus yet -- except for that I'm older than almost everyone I see, under-dressed compared to most people and a little lost. But I've got my trusty map -- it's cool to carry a map around, right?

School supplies

I love back-to-school shopping. I don't love the heaps of pencils and folders appearing at Target after July 4, but I do love the act of preparing for a new year.

New pens, new notebooks full of crisp college-ruled lines, new folders for new sylubi, and new supplies. I've become a re-purposer lately -- using freebie highlighters instead of new ones, using Clinique Bonus containers to hold all my pens & pencils, keeping a stack of stuff I need to read in my folder so I can make use of downtime during class. I've been in school long enough to know what I want and what I need to succeed:

• College-ruled notebook with tough cover (usually plastic, making it easier to carry everywhere I go). College rule rules.
  
• A backpack with tons of pockets.
• Good pens. Right now Precise V5 Extra Fine Pens in Blue (B uses black -- we can't share because I "press too hard." Hrmph.
  
• Post-its, notecards, and odd-sized paper.
• My Moleskin Planner to note important dates.

Now that I'm about to start nursing school the supply list has become a little more involved. And the things I'm looking for are making me realize I'm really, actually going to nursing school and I'm going to be a nurse - for real. Yesterday I got word that I need:

• A stethoscope.
• A blood pressure cuff.
• Bandage scissors.
  
• A white lab coat (!).
• A uniform including wine-colored pants and top with pockets (for all my supplies).
• All-white-shoes (what?!? Hopefully I can get these at Kohls.) And all-white socks! I might have to buy some bleach and start washing "whites loads."
• Wristwatch with second hand -- ordering this!
• Penlight.
• Pocket-size notebook.
• Black Pen (oh no!).
• Simple calculator.

Better get shopping. This nursing thing, it's actually happening.

Diabetes & Being a Rockstar

B calls me a diabetes rockstar. Especially when I get news like the news I got today:

My Hemoglobin A1C (a picture of what my blood glucose levels have looked like for the past three months) is 5.7 percent. Below 7 is awesome for someone with insulin-dependent diabetes. Below 6 is what people without diabetes expect.

5.7 (with a 6.1 a few months ago and another 5.7 before that) is awesome. It's no small feat, though. I don't want to make this a diabetes blog, but I will say that we work really hard at this -- B and me.

B is my backup -- reminding me to take insulin 20-30 minutes before we eat, helping me respond to highs and lows reasonably (especially when I want to rage bolus), and being a good diabetes cheerleader.

Among the many things we've been doing to rock out the diabetes, just to prove this is worthwhile hard work:

• Eating a spoonful of peanut butter with breakfast to slow down notoriously spikey breakfasts like cereal.
• Using lots of whole grains like whole wheat pasta and whole wheat flour in zucchini muffins.
• Taking walks.
• Packing lunches (and sometimes dinners) so that I know what I'm eating, and so B also gets a hearty meal mid-day.
• Cooking more.
• Testing more.
• Waiting more.
  

Sorry to toot my own horn so much, but this is too awesome to be quiet about. Diabetes is a jerk sometimes, but my diabetes team and I aren't letting it get me down.

Pictured -- the starting lineup for my diabetes team. Go team!