I am so thankful that we are out for a short break for a little while (4 days) for Thanksgiving! It has been so busy since I last blogged!
Today, I had a Cervicals practical & was very nervous. I read the material, but still didn't feel quite ready. The class I'm in is one where the prof expects you to read the material ahead and then be ready to apply what you've read, which is fine, but not all the profs are that way, so it is an adjustment. We start practicing the palpation, orthopedic-neurologic tests, and deep tendon reflex tests, as well as doing line analysis of x-rays to prepare for the practical today. We just went over it really quickly and it would have been nice to have a little more practice before being tested. I got 15 out of a possible 18 because I made some dumb mistakes.
I had a quiz, practical and exam in Phys Di last week. I keep forgetting to check my score on the exam. I'm happy to report that I received a 40 out of 40 on the practical. Yea! Definitely something to be thankful about!
This past weekend we went to Galena, IL, with our friends Paul and Sharon. We stayed at a historic property on the downtown Main Street, 305N (http://305n.com/). Was great! We dined at 111 Main (http://www.oneelevenmain.com/) & it was fabulous, as it has been in the past. I love walking along the Main Street and window shopping. One of the stores whose merchandise I liked best was "Sushi & Marley" which just opened in September this year. They carry great clothes by Tulle, Kind Like Love, and Free People. Also, the saleslady (possibly the owner?) knits great soft, thick scarves in bright colors, too. She was really helpful in recommending two restaurants for our next trip: Perry Street Brassiere and Fritz & Frites (we've eaten at the second one and really enjoyed it previously, but need to give the other a try next trip).
Really liked the great boho jewelry at Vintaj. Handmade. The encaustic paintings of birds on a wire in silhouette against colorful skies were really beautiful too. Oh! And I really liked all the handcrafted stationary, small journals, and notecards.
Slumber was another fave. Ended up buying for Delaney and me matching slippers. They are by Goody and are crocheted flowers in a bouquet on the toes. The stems are velvet ribbons and they are little beauties. Lani likes wearing hers, but her feet get warm, so she will wear them a bit and then has to take them off. I really loved their modal pajamas because they were both so soft and sustainable.
Stopped into Galena Candle & Bath and created an Eco Dotz candle (the wax is in little colored dots and you get an empty container with a wick to fill) scented with Petal, Ocean, Lilac, Egyptian Musk, and others...can't remember all the scents I put together! I liked the way the purples, blues and whites I picked looked and smelled together. Also picked up a Chocolate Cabernet candle that was marked down. I love a sale!
At Honest John's Trading Post (http://www.honestjohnsgalena.com/), I noticed Naot's (http://www.naot.com/cgi-bin/show_product.pl?yaleet_number=25021&cat=9 shown in brown; mine are black) in the window as we walked past and had to go in to check them out. I bought a pair at Tradehome last spring and they are some of the most comfortable and clinic-appropriate shoes I own. Ended up trying on a pair of Earth boots (http://www.earthfootwear.com/ourfootwear/ourfootwearproducts/tabid/65/language/en-us/p-353-lodge-2.aspx in caribou) and LOVE them! Will probably be wearing them every other day this winter! In fact, each one of us in our party bought a pair. Paul talked them into giving us a discount because we were purchasing 4 pairs! That was great! Jon loves his pair (http://www.earthfootwear.com/ourfootwear/ourfootwearproducts/tabid/65/language/en-us/p-353-lodge-2.aspx in black), and I think Paul liked his pair (http://www.earthfootwear.com/ourfootwear/ourfootwearproducts/tabid/65/language/en-us/p-345-junction.aspx)...Sharon liked her boots (we got the same design), but I think she was having a little buyer's remorse afterward. She's not accustomed to spending that much on shoes. But I told Paul when I saw him later on (he owns a property in my neighborhood and was over to check on it): divide the price of the boots by the number of years you wear them and it comes out pretty well. I bought a $250 pair of boots about 6 years ago and I have worn them quite a lot. They are some of the sexiest boots I own and they won't go out of style because they are beautiful but basic. Each year, at the end of winter, I take them to Bill's Shoe Repair and he re-heels them for me and shines them up. I put them in storage for the next season. They look brand new still. So that ends being about $50/year when you include cost of maintanence. I prefer to spend the $ on shoes if they are really great and get them re-heeled and shined professionally when needed.
They guys wore theirs until dinner and then couldn't hack it anymore because of the negative heel technology and the high arch supports that both found were really challenging their muscles. Sharon & I stuck it out. We were troopers in our boots...in fact, we kind of looked like storm troopers...
I am wiped & Lani finally fell asleep; she'd been fighting it, afraid she will miss something (normal 2-year-old stuff). Been doing laundry, washing dishes, tidying up, to get ready for Thanksgiving and will post again soon.
Just gotta say that I love Galena & Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
1st Weekend
I was very happy to receive a phone call yesterday from Dartagnan's grandpa in MN. He said he'd be coming through Rochelle, IL, if we wanted to meet him there and pick up some of D's things that he had left at his Aunt Steph's house. He went up and stayed with her and went to school in Minneapolis in the Spring for the 4th quarter of 8th grade.
Dartagnan and I got on the road to meet Dick around 5:30 pm and reached Rochelle by 7:30. It was our first time seeing Dick since he lost his wife to cancer this summer. It was good to see him. I think he really misses Dorthe and so do we. I think about her often and how sometimes certain people really are the glue that hold a family together and she was that for their family. She loved children. I mean, she loved spending time with kids and was really great with them, too. She preferred them to adult company. She'd been a foster mother to several children through Lutheran Social Services and many of the children were special needs children. She was just excellent with them.
It also seems to me that Dick has taken over her role of keeping communication going between everyone too. He calls and asks about Dartagnan now; something he didn't do much when Dorthe used to do it. He's really seemed to become more social and talkative, too. We had a pleasant time chatting at the diner there at the truck stop where we met.
We've been back in class now for 4 days, since Tuesday. I found out the first day back that I would not be able to take the classes I had planned to take because I failed PNS for a second time. So I am now on Academic Warning, which means Palmer limits how many credits I can take this term. This is fine, because I was a little nervous about the schedule I'd planned to take, thinking it may just be too much for me to handle, especially adding PNS back in on top of it. So I am enrolled in PNS, Toxicology, Cervicals, and Physical Diagnosis. My favorite so far is Phys Di. I have Dr. Littrell and she is making the material so interesting. Her teaching style is very engaging. The class is so interesting because we'll learn how to take vital signs, interview the patient, etc. Feels like really getting into the stuff of practice!
I've been wrestling with which thermometer to purchase. Jon had already purchased all of our diagnostic equipment last term, so I didn't need most of it, but we have only a thermometer that is not terribly accurate, so I was doing so checking this week to see which I wanted to get to replace it. Found one for $20 at WalMart that goes in the ear (a tympanic thermometer) and does not need covers (you just clean it with an alcohol wipe after each patient). Hopefully it is a good model. The Welch Allyn one I really wanted is $300 at the Palmer Bookstore and I'm not sure we are ready to spend that just yet on our office equipment.
Toxicology will be interesting. I like the subject and Dr. Ansari is so nice. I enjoy Dr. Schmiedel, our PNS professor, however, I really didn't want to take his class a third time. This time, I'm going to attend the PNS tutorial as well. Perhaps that will help me out this time around.
Cervicals is moving at a very brisk pace. I'm planning to attend the tutorial for it and to also practice palpation on my family so I can start "teaching" my fingers what to feel. I practiced on Dartagnan the other night and he loved it. Delaney loves it too, when we just palpate her. Both sit very still as both are used to seeing a chiropractor. Lani's first adjustment was when she was 1 hour old!
Today we worked hard on the house and yard. I painted siding in the garage and got about 28 boards painted. Jon worked on putting the siding up and Dartagnan caulked it. When D and I were done with our work, we worked on raking and bagging leaves and weeds because this is the last week of free yard waste pick-up in Bettendorf (normally, you must put a sticker on each bag and the stickers cost about $1.50 each). So tomorrow I want to get the rest of the yard tidied up as much as possible. We are planning to get up early and head to church and then work on the house and yard the rest of the day. Fun!
Time to go and read some Phys Di!
Dartagnan and I got on the road to meet Dick around 5:30 pm and reached Rochelle by 7:30. It was our first time seeing Dick since he lost his wife to cancer this summer. It was good to see him. I think he really misses Dorthe and so do we. I think about her often and how sometimes certain people really are the glue that hold a family together and she was that for their family. She loved children. I mean, she loved spending time with kids and was really great with them, too. She preferred them to adult company. She'd been a foster mother to several children through Lutheran Social Services and many of the children were special needs children. She was just excellent with them.
It also seems to me that Dick has taken over her role of keeping communication going between everyone too. He calls and asks about Dartagnan now; something he didn't do much when Dorthe used to do it. He's really seemed to become more social and talkative, too. We had a pleasant time chatting at the diner there at the truck stop where we met.
We've been back in class now for 4 days, since Tuesday. I found out the first day back that I would not be able to take the classes I had planned to take because I failed PNS for a second time. So I am now on Academic Warning, which means Palmer limits how many credits I can take this term. This is fine, because I was a little nervous about the schedule I'd planned to take, thinking it may just be too much for me to handle, especially adding PNS back in on top of it. So I am enrolled in PNS, Toxicology, Cervicals, and Physical Diagnosis. My favorite so far is Phys Di. I have Dr. Littrell and she is making the material so interesting. Her teaching style is very engaging. The class is so interesting because we'll learn how to take vital signs, interview the patient, etc. Feels like really getting into the stuff of practice!
I've been wrestling with which thermometer to purchase. Jon had already purchased all of our diagnostic equipment last term, so I didn't need most of it, but we have only a thermometer that is not terribly accurate, so I was doing so checking this week to see which I wanted to get to replace it. Found one for $20 at WalMart that goes in the ear (a tympanic thermometer) and does not need covers (you just clean it with an alcohol wipe after each patient). Hopefully it is a good model. The Welch Allyn one I really wanted is $300 at the Palmer Bookstore and I'm not sure we are ready to spend that just yet on our office equipment.
Toxicology will be interesting. I like the subject and Dr. Ansari is so nice. I enjoy Dr. Schmiedel, our PNS professor, however, I really didn't want to take his class a third time. This time, I'm going to attend the PNS tutorial as well. Perhaps that will help me out this time around.
Cervicals is moving at a very brisk pace. I'm planning to attend the tutorial for it and to also practice palpation on my family so I can start "teaching" my fingers what to feel. I practiced on Dartagnan the other night and he loved it. Delaney loves it too, when we just palpate her. Both sit very still as both are used to seeing a chiropractor. Lani's first adjustment was when she was 1 hour old!
Today we worked hard on the house and yard. I painted siding in the garage and got about 28 boards painted. Jon worked on putting the siding up and Dartagnan caulked it. When D and I were done with our work, we worked on raking and bagging leaves and weeds because this is the last week of free yard waste pick-up in Bettendorf (normally, you must put a sticker on each bag and the stickers cost about $1.50 each). So tomorrow I want to get the rest of the yard tidied up as much as possible. We are planning to get up early and head to church and then work on the house and yard the rest of the day. Fun!
Time to go and read some Phys Di!
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