It's On & Poppin!

February 26, 2009

Had an email from Peace Corps telling me my Toolkit had been updated. Sure enough it says that I'm medically cleared (sweet!) and that I have a letter coming in the mail that is going to give me more details. I wonder what it's going to say? I know the woman at OMS gave me a few suggestions and things to do before I leave (check-ups and what not) I'm thinking maybe it's going to reiterate that notion. I see I'm back to updating everyday, so I'm probably obsessing again, I had cooled off for awhile, but I'm extremely eager to know where I'm going. Since I'm nominated for August, I understand that the chances of me knowing anything before June are slim... So why don't I just chill out and have a seat....I'll do my best.

UPDATE!!

Holy Cow, I was just about to starting to stalk people's pages again and was obsessively checking over my toolkit. I appeared that it took approx 2 weeks for people to get a placement officer, so I was trying to calm myself down. THEN I received another email from the Peace Corps...open it up... WAHOO!! I have been assigned a P.O.! hoorray.

The email tells me to send updated resumes, transcripts and work or volunteer experiences. THIS apparently where it gets competitive. Who knew? (sobbing softly). The letter informs that there are approximately two people nominated for each stop. That does turn up the heat a little bit. The good news is if I send these assessments early (March is early to have med clearance if I'm nominated for August departure) I am at a bit of an advantage I think. There could be something I'm more qualified for that opens up earlier...or later... either way I don't think I will be flat out rejected...I think my worse case scenario is that my assignment will change a little bit. I wish I had been studying spanish so I can send her a certificate or something, like BAM advance spanish baby! Not so much. I can see what I can do when I go home. I'm going to include that I took a class at the end of last year.

Other items I'm going to update.
1) I started working full time with youth (that was an issue during my nomination because I wanted Youth Development, but only volunteered with youth)

2) continued doing volunteering with youth

3) took Spanish in the fall last year (it was with my church, I wonder how they'll view that...it's not accredited in anyway...)

4) Hmm, Oh I am a Certified Empowerment Coach. That has to be good for the Youth Development programs.

I think that's it for now.. I'll see what else I can think of. I'm trying to put anything I can..they shouldn't have told me it was a competition!

I heart OMS!

February 25, 2009

The lovely lady who I have been in contact with just called me and said that I have successfully jumped through every hoop and my medical screening is over! YAY!! I still have to receive an official letter and I need to see my tookit updated. Until then I won't believe anything. I'm SO happy and excited. The next step is I will be getting assigned a Placement Officer. (P.O.). That's when we start talks of departure dates, locations etc. I really need to get home so I can get a job real quick and start paying off things and putting some money away! I hope March throuhg July is enough time!

Daily Update Sheesh....

February 20, 2009

So I had ANOTHER update email from Peace Corps. It no longer says on hold, and that they are reviewing my information. What I think that means is they received the fax from my STL Dr. office and they are going over that. I'm sure I'll be BACK on hold when they have completed that, and are waiting on my blood work. I'm going to the Dr. office this afternoon, so I'm sure I'll get the lab back sometime next week. Fingers crossed. I should probably eat breakfast...not sure what I can do now to help my poor little blood cells get it together...

Update

Went to the Doc's office, stuck again...Ugh I hate needles. My Doc was like your levels weren't THAT low this hardly makes sense... So he did it, said the lab will be ready tomorrow (he probably doesn't realize it's Friday....) So at least I'll have an answer soon...

Hold up...Wait a Minute...

February 19, 2009

Spoke with the fine folks at my STL Dr. office and the lady just wanted to make sure that I wanted paper work from 2003 cause that's all she had. Whew, I thought they were gonna say they did have any records for me. She is going to fax that information over.

Now then my Dr. office here is so bout it, I called just to set up an appointment thinking it would be awhile before they could see me. Yeah how bout tomorrow. I am hesitant for a few reasons...like how am I gonna pay for the visit, getting stuck again, and going in w/o even having the paper work. They are mailing it from DC, but it's clearly not going to be in before next week.

So I called my girl (yeah she's my girl now since we talk everyday) at OMS and she said I can go in and I just need to request a "repeat CBC" and if my Hemoglobin levels are still a bit low, then the Dr. need to write something up about what is being done to correct that. If there is an upward trend then we will have no issue what so ever.

Fingers Crossed!

Oh and I had an email saying that my Toolkit had been updated... Sure enough there is a Medical HOLD on my account. It feels scary even though I know exactly why. In addition, it's a good sign because they are really going through my medical stuff and once this is over, it's only a matter of time...

Minute by Minute Update

February 18, 2009


I was going to write the other day that I called OMS to see if they got my updated blood work. I received a call two days ago that they did indeed get my medical info and a nurse is reviewing my file.

UPDATE

So this morning I just got a call from an OMS nurse saying she had some questions about my file. I called back but got a voicemail..hope she calls back today.


UPDATE!

She just called me back and needed a lab that I had taken a long time ago. So I am going to call my Doc in the Lou and see if they have the paper work she is wanted. She said that I can just have them fax her directly. Hopefully this something my doctors office can resolve today. Crossing my fingers... calling them now...

update..

So, I called my Dr. office in STL and they called back as if to say they couldn't find the lab. When got the message and called back the lady who was assisting me wasn't there, so I suppose I will hear something tomorrow. THEN my person at OMS called and she said they also discovered I have a low blood count and that I have to get blood work done, yet.again. ARGH

That's another shot for one, another visit and another LAB! Cha-ching!
I'm also worried about what this low blood count can even mean! I think they said as long as there is an upward trend I'll be fine, but there is really no way for me to manipulate that (so she said). (TMI ALERT) I was on my cycle at the time so I"m hoping that that played into it. Fingers crossed. I'm going to see if anyone was kept out of the Peace Corps before from a low red blood cell count...

Love is in the Air...

February 13, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day :) I'm feelin the love as I had a totally unexpected update in my inbox from Peace Corps. However, like in love at times, I felt a sense of longing as I logged into my Toolkit. It appears that nothing has changed lol. I think the "update" is that my application is now under medical review.

As I updated, I got my extra blood test taken. I picked up the results on Wednesday and faxed them in. I think the update is confirming that D.C. did indeed receive my fax of updated information. Thanks D.C. I'm feelin the love! Hopefully my medical review will go smoothly over the next few months and I will be right on schedule!

Peace and Love :)

Half Full...

February 6th, 2009

Having difficulty typing as my arm is wrapped up due to excessive bleeding that wouldn't stop after getting my blood drawn... I choose to view this cup as half full.

I was going through a lot trying to get my health insurance together...to no avail I might add... I had stopped my current insurance to get insured in Missouri, but I hadn't followed through all the way with that. Then I get the news in the mail that I need to go to the Dr. So as previous posts illustrate I was not so happy. Anyway, I tried to get short term insurance and it was WAY expensive...I figured it would be easier to pay out of pocket at my expensive !#@ Dr. in Beverly Hills! Secretly wishing a) they wouldn't charge me for a visit b) they wouldn't charge me for the lab that THEY screwed up...and c) while unrealistic hoping I could get this straightened out without having to get a shot!

Well, went today, came in no one asked for my insurance info..score! Dr. that I love love, acknowledged that mistake and said he'd do everything in his power to make sure they eat the cost...score for now! Roll out of the office w/o so much as a mention of a co-pay! Sweet! So that was great... I however DID have to get another shot (my doc is so good though) and even though he put a tiny band-aid over the spot I was stuck... my arm kept gushing out blood. Ick... so now I'm all wrapped up and I have a dance class to go to in a few...Ah well... I still take the good and the not so good and deem it...well...good....Half Full it is...

Grrrrr...

Called my Gen Phys and I totally need to get a whole vile of blood drawn
a whole 'notha huge hollow needle stuck in my arm...
a whole 'notha five days of my arm being bruised sore...
a whole 'notha $80 plus dollas to get the lab results
aaaand will probably have to pay for the visit...

Just venting...I'll be more positive in a couple of moments.

From what I understand this is just the non-medical review... to make sure everything is checked and filled out correctly.
THEN they are going to actually look at the content. I can see how this takes a year.

It's all good though, just buys me time to get my life in order.
I should call back and actually MAKE an appointment. I was so let down in the moment I just said "OK" and got off the phone, sigh. I'm so dramatic.

Touchdown!

February 2, 2009

Just showing my allegiance to the Super Bowl. My friends and I talked through most of the game including the commercials, but what fun we had! Super Bowl Sunday was also when I got a letter from Peace Corps. (clearly it came on Saturday but I didn't see it on the table until Sunday). Turns out I'm not as perfect as I thought. Man, I really thought my medical packet was air tight. I missed two things. One I needed certain things checked at the general physicians office that I was clearly getting checked with my OBGYN so on my medical form there are about 3 things I don't have checked off. I'm actually going to call them and see if a) I can just write a note by those boxes to refer to my OB papers or b) well I have a plan B in mind... lol..you can message me for that one.

The other big mistake is that I got a lab done for Hepatitis B AntiBODY opposed to a Hepatitis AntiGEN. It's the docs oversight I'm sure, but geeeeez if I have to pay for one more thing! That's gonna be drama.

It's okay though, I'm glad I know about this now while I'm here instead of having to deal with it in Missouri.

So plan of action

1) Call OSM and see about these boxes that aren't checked
2) Find out if the boxes can just be checked...or cross referenced with my OBGYN papers
3) Call my docta and see what up with this lab mix up... If I have to get blood drawn and pay for yet another dr. visit AND a lab that's not covered by my insurance...I'mma be sick...

Attempting Medical Clearance...the real fun begins...