I'm right now in San Antonio, Texas and it's been awhile since I've posted on this blog and I think the first time that I can actually put my location without getting in trouble. It's been 3 months since my redeployment from Afghanistan and the time has flown by. I'm now working in the emergency room and family practice clinic at my new duty station. I'm still working on my doctorate. I just finished 3 classes and it was very stressful because I was getting reaccustomed to being home with my family and doing homework on top of that along with starting a new work environment. Needless to say, I'm glad those classes are over. I have a two week break until I start my last two classes before comps and dissertation.
I'm elated that I'm back from deployment but a bit sad because now my husband is getting ready to go down range as well. It's so much easier being on the other end deploying because there is a mission to be done, now I can definitely relate to his frustrations of the spouse being left behind. I hope to make the best of it by taking care of the house, finishing my doctorate.... oh, and another great news... I'm pregnant so I will be busy gaining weight with a 2-year old daughter to keep me busy along the way. It is going to be a new set of different challenges that I'm looking forward to so that I don't miss my husband too much while he's gone.
I'm here in San Antonio for two weeks learning about emergency medicine. I am so glad I made it here because I'm learning so much and getting a lot of refresher training. I will definitely use the knowledge I learned here for my patients when I get back to my duty station. After this course, I will be going to Chicago for a colloquium (residential conference) for my doctorate. That will be hectic as well. I will have to talk to the corps chief here about my plans for my dissertation topic since I want to do it on soldiers and possibly on smoking cessation or medic training. I'm still not sure and I still have a lot of research and brainstorming to do.
This posting turned out to be more of just information than feelings but there is so much to write about. This is my first redeployment posting so I don't want it to be overwhelming.
Pinay Army Physician Assistant
