2018—#GoalCrusher

Hello Everyone!!!

Amanda here; it’s been a long time since I’ve taken the time to write on here. I’ve been preoccupied with many other things. So, I wanted to take the time to give you a recap from year 2018–it was by far one of the best years and it will be hard to beat it.

January 2018

• 29th Birthday
• • Received a beautiful blanket with pictures of my grandmother. Talk about the best gift for the first rich day without my grandma.
• • Celebrated with friends eating Mexican, obviously!
• Completed running 1, 324 miles and made goal to run 1500.
• Visited with the #SheWolfPack while Caitlyn was in town from Haiti.
• Went to the Child Life holiday party—best coworkers!

February 2018

• Lola had her first surgery and this dog momma wa beyond nervous.
• Attended Brad Paisley concert with my good friend, Lizzy!
• Celebrated grandma’s first birthday in heaven with the sweetest friends!
• Ice skated for the first time.

March 2018

• Watched my Texas Tech Red Raider Basketball team in the ELITE 8 for the first time in cool history.
• • Watched them play in the Big 12 Conference in KC at the Sprint Center
• Celebrated Child life week with the best coworkers—and best co-leader!
• Celebrated World Kidney Month by reminding patients that they are CHAMPIONS
• Received the best education tool ever, miniature hemodialysis machine.
• Remembered my grandma at the 1 year anniversary of her passing.

April 2018

• Received acceptance of my first ever grant—hemodialysis and exercise with a recumbent bike.
• Participated in Children’s Mercy’s first annual PROM! So fun to see these patients experience this essential life experience.
• Celebrated #DonateLife month by wearing blue and green.
• Participated in #WKND18 with my youth girls.

May 2018

• #SheWolfPack reunited while Caitlyn was stateside again.
• Received Great Catch award at the hospital
• Survived my first tornado warning with Lola LouAnne

June 2018

• Completed Whole 30. Changed the way I see food, eat food and prepare food.
• Participated in #KidneyCareDay at the hospital; providing continued education regarding their kidey disease—both dialysis and transplant.
• Went on several online dates—oh heavens they were entertaining.
• Celebrated the sweetest friend and her baby at my house.
• Celebrated 3 years at Children’s Mercy and in KC.
• Hosted #BigSlickKC in the dialysis unit

July 2018

• #CampChimer
• Continued online dating quest 😉
• Attended camp at Windermere with student ministry at #ConnectionPointChurch
• Roadtried to Oklahoma City on a quick vacation with mom
• Ran 5K with friends for the fourth of July
• Celebrated Nephrology department as #5 in the Nation

August 2018

• Visited mom and friends in Texas—vacation!
• Visited sweet friend’s baby girl 🙂
• Attended American Idol concert with good friend, thanks to Uncle John
• Updated Dialysis Unit—SO cool!!!
• Received August Employee of the Month award—seriously the BIGGEST honor!

September 2018

• COLLEGE FOOTBALL is back.
• Celebrated life of my grandpa with family.
• • Got to see family I haven’t seen since my grandma’s funeral.
• Attended Kidney Walk with coworkers from the hospital.
• Attended #MammaMia with the best nurse/coworker/friend
• Attended #BagsofFunKC with coworkers/friends

October 2018

• Celebrated Halloween with the BEST division—75 Uno staff members dressed up as Uno cards 🙂 Seriously, it was so good for the soul. Our patients are so lucky.
• Celebrated the sweetest friend and her baby girl.
• Had photo shoot with Lola LouAnne for her TENTH birthday 🙂 She’s pretty much the cutest.
• Went to worlds of fun with #CoolKidsOnTheBlock LIFEGroup!
• Had a roommate for a month—my landlord/friend was stateside for a month!
• Halloween sleepover/party with the kindest friends
• Was asked to be in one of my best friend’s weddings—can’t wait to celebrate with Lizzy and Brett!
• Submitted #DialysisandExercise to the Children’s Mercy IRB
• Made commitment to the Kansas City Chiefs—Patrick Mahomes!
• • There’s no plays like Mahomes
• • I loved watching Patrick in HS football and who he was for my Red Raiders. It only means that I would follow him wherever he goes.
• • #ChiefsKingdom

November 2018

• Said farewell and best of luck to the best and kindest coach at Texas Tech University—Kliff Kingbury
• Worked Thanksgiving—spent the morning with my good friend and her family.
• Hosted my first ever Child Life Intern—surprisingly fun experience.
• Celebrated my Lola girl’s TENTH birthday!
• • She is seriously the best dog a girl could ask for
• Decorated early for Christmas—thanks to the 6 inches of snow KC got.
• Attended Ben Rector concern with the best friends! 🙂
• • BEST CONCERT
• • Also loved introducing one of my best friend’s to his music
• Voted for who I believe to be the best candidate

December 2018

• Flew to Kansas City with Lola to visit mom and friends
• Celebrated first Christmas without family—thankful for the friends who are like family that I could celebrate with…still wasn’t quite the same.
• Got pied in the face by a patient since #CMKCPedsNeph raised over $325
• Participated in #12BarsofCharity with #CMKCPedsNeph to benefit #BagsofFunKC
• Celebrated #Christmas with the best Unicorn “ugly sweater” but in all reality it was anything but ugly!

So much happened in 2018–but what I gained is something that is irreplaceable. I gained my life back by learning to take care of my health. 2018 taught me to be a little selfish. To take care of myself so I can be the best me for those around me [family, friends, patients, coworkers, people in general]. I’ll be forever grateful that I took my YES to the next level. That yes has changed how I live my life in order to serve people better. I spend most of my hours in the week at work. I want to truly make a difference to those patients/families/coworkers I get to serve and I don’t think I was able to fully do that living the way I used to. Living a healthy lifestyle benefits so many around me and myself included. 

2019 is here and I will be turning 30. I remember when I thought 30 was old 😂 Here I am, heading into 30 as the best version of myself—and my goal is to only keep going and keep moving forward.

Year 30 Goal—stay healthy. #GoalCrusher 

During my 30th year–I want to do things I’ve never done before. So, please follow along with #APsThirtyandThriving It could be quite the adventure! 🙂