Why I Need to Shave My Head

I would just like to start this by saying that I am a very vain person. 

I'm sure everyone is, in their own way.

But I'm a little worse than most.

So what I am about to write about: I am desperately scared of doing. 

But I'm doing it anyway.

I have joined a team for St. Baldrick's and in eight short days, I am shaving my head.

This, will all be gone

Guys, I'm scared.

Things I am scared of:

That my head is lumpy.

That my face is too round to make bald look cute.

That I have literally spent my entire life saying, "I am trying to grow out my hair" and now my hair is the longest it has been in a really long time and soon it will be gone.

That my husband won't think I'm as pretty.

That I will freak out my patient's parents.

That the kids I babysit will rub my head and think I look weird.

That I will miss my hair so much that I will lose sight of the bigger picture, making myself even more vain than I originally acknowledged myself to be.

But, there it is, the bigger picture I mentioned? 

Here's a secret.

I'm also excited.

Things I am excited about:

Getting rid of the split ends that probably take over half my hair.

Starting fresh.

Duck fuzz.

Trying out all the cute short hair styles I like, but haven't wanted to do because "I am trying to grow out my hair"

Helping kids who have cancer.

That right  there is why I need to shave my head. 

Because kids still get cancer.

And that really sucks.

And I may not be the person who cures cancer, but I can help by raising money and by joining these amazing kids in showing the world that bald is beautiful.

My fundraising goal is $300. Thanks to some really awesome family and friends, I am almost halfway there at $140. I will be making up the difference of whatever I don't raise so that I will reach my goal of $300, but if you want to help out too, I won't complain. :)

Let's kick cancer's ass.

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/650686/2013

Holy smokes, yet again I let time get away from me. I will try to stay more on top of things. In the meantime, I recap of what has happened since the last time I posted (almost a year ago! Eeps!)
 

We bought a house!

 Even thought it has been almost a year, we are taking our sweet time filling it up with furniture and other treasures. We are never moving again, so we have plenty of time.

We became furparents again. This is Cleo, a now two and a half year old rescued English bulldog. We love her probably more than most children are loved by their parents. It's a bit ridiculous (as I type, she is taking a nap on my lap, snoring crazy loud. Yes, I said on my lap, even though she is about 50 pounds).

I have continued working in the pediatric ICU. It's a job of very extreme emotions, there really is no middle ground. On good days, I love it and on bad days I hate it. This is really difficult to explain and I doubt anyone who doesn't work with sick kids can understand what I mean, but it is what it is. 

I am also enrolled in Vanderbilt University's Nurse Practitioner program, studying to be a primary pediatric nurse practitioner. I am just finishing up the spring semester and once that is complete I will be 1/3 of the way through my program and expect to graduate in August 2014. 

Additional things that have been going on: 

• I have been devouring books lately. Actually devouring them. It is very good for the brain cells and I have been learning a lot. I am always open to recommendations and will give anything a try.
• I am getting back into volunteering. So far, most of what I have done has been with the bulldog rescue group we got Cleo from. I have also been looking into helping with Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and an equine therapy group close to our house. Topics I am really interested in are animals, people with special needs, gay rights, women's rights and sex trafficking. Anyone who knows of groups or events that need volunteers in the St. Louis area, feel free to send me information.
• I have been cooking- a lot. I never thought of myself as overly domestic, but I love cooking. 

Some examples:

 Homemade bread

Vegetarian enchiladas

That's the last year in a nutshell. Pretty much everything is an ongoing process, just taking small steps in multiple areas of our lives to grow both as individuals and as a couple. 

Until next time, much love