It was so good to just be home today! I slept in because Lani didn't wake until 8:00 -- a miracle from God! What a beautiful, wonderful, lovely thing...I love just lying in bed and feeling the warmth of the fleece sheets (just had to bust them out before we left town last week because I was just too cold with the regular cotton sheets), the weight of the down comforter and the blankets that I pile on top of that: one from my mother-in-law (it is really heavy, plush, warm), one from long ago that I bought to be a throw for my couch (heavy chenille), and one from my dear friend Sara that is one of my favorite colors, a gorgeous, muted teal (a lightweight chenille with a basketweave pattern). Sara gave me the blanket when I was going through my cancer ordeal (now 7 years ago, I think). It was the perfect gift because I was always cold at work and I could wrap it around my legs or sit in my office chair and wrap my whole body in it if I needed to warm up. I just love to snuggle down into bed when it is cold outside and I can just stretch and wake up slowly. It is a treat.
I also got to go to yoga today, so I am an especially happy camper. Got my haircut this afternoon and while my mom was working on it, I tried to convince her to join me tomorrow and give yoga a try. I hope she does, because I think she will enjoy it. She cut Jon's hair, too, and then later, Dartagnan's. I think D got about 3 inches cut off and it is now out of his eyes. I kept telling him he was going to give himself whiplash because he was always jerking his neck to flip his hair out of his eyes.
Didn't study today...that is bad. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow. Test coming up early next week in PNS, I believe. Also, must put together the rest of our group presentation in Toxicology (3 more pages, single-spaced) and then from that have to create the PowerPoint presentation...should only take about 30 min. or so. Ha ha! Right! I wish!
Jon finished reading his Dan Brown book, "The Lost Symbol," that he borrowed from Win. He really wants me to read it. I told him I probably won't be able to until the PNS test has passed because I need to focus energy to that. He understands.
While we were out of town, I did a bit of shopping, but I was unable to find a dress coat to replace my very worn Banana Republic black peacoat I bought in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on my very first recruiting trip at my previous job. It is about 9 years old. I stayed behind to shop in Peoria while Jon brought D and Lani back home yesterday. I was just preparing to leave Peoria (without having found a coat I'd fallen in love with) and had stopped by Panera to get a sandwich so I could eat and drive home, when I was sitting at a light, waiting to go to the interstate. I was munching on my sandwich and waiting for the light to change and suddenly, I saw a red Dodge Durango spinning around in front of me and another red Durango looking like it was pushing the other one and they were both headed right toward me. There was nothing I could do and nowhere to go, so I just thought, "Oh, no, I'm going to get hit." I tensed up a little, and thankfully, the two vehicles began to lose momentum as they approached my car and then one hit my Honda Civic on the right front quarter panel and smashed it up. It stopped and two men jumped out and ran away. Very strange behavior. The other Durango came to rest right in front of my car, as though I was in line behind him at the light. Three people were taken away on back boards and I hope they are all OK. I was fine except BP was a little elevated, as was pulse. Jon's dad, Jeff, and Mariola, his wife, both came to see me from their ballroom dance lesson. Jeff checked out the damage and said it would be OK to drive after he bent out a piece that was rubbing on the tire. I'm glad I could get home, because I was really tired of being gone at that point. I finally arrived home by 9:00 and couldn't wait to fall in bed, but Jon and I had to unpack the car, which held our food and other bags that we split between his van and the car for the trip.
While we were in Peoria, Jenni, Jon's stepsister, gave Lani an ice-skating lesson. Jenni teaches at the local rink and is quite an accomplished figure skater. Lani loved it! I expected she might be on the ice for 15 min. or so, but she was out there the full 45 min. available and didn't want to quit when it was time. She's so fearless! We took pics and I am quite certain she is one of the most beautiful, fun kids in the world!
I still need to call my friends and catch up with them, but just felt like I needed a "decompress" day to myself first. I'll be on the phone tomorrow to return phone calls and e-mails.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Country Farmhouse Christmas
We have spent the past few days in the country, outside of Peoria (Jon's hometown is Brimfield, a small town just outside Peoria). We have been sharing a beautifully restored/updated farmhouse with Jon's mom and stepdad. It is really a great place; I'll try to link in photos if Judy, Jon's mom, has time to show me how tomorrow (I'll have to remember to ask, because she is really computer savvy! She sends us electronic greetings for every holiday that are so clever and beautiful.).
We had been debating about whether to drive to Florida for Christmas or not because Jon doesn't get to see his mom nearly as much as I get to see my parents. The situation worked out very well, though, when he located this great farmhouse on a home vacation rental site. It has only been in use as a vacation rental a very short time (beginning of November) and so is still in its "new" stage. The people who bought it live in California, but grew up across the street and always loved this house. When it went up for sale recently, they bought it and updated the things that needed it (the two bathrooms have new fixtures, tile, etc.) and restored the things that needed it (the hardwood floors are gorgeous). It is very nicely furnished: the rugs are beautiful and thick, most of the beds are super comfy with that memory foam on them, warm and cozy bed linens, including thick and soft blankets under pretty quilts.
We have really been enjoying all the family that have been to visit and dine with us here. Judy has been baking and cooking non-stop since she and Win arrived last Tuesday night from Florida. She is an excellent cook and baker and we have eaten quite a bit of delicious food. Quite a bit! I'm so thankful that we didn't need to make that drive to Florida after all and that we came here instead. It is really quiet and peaceful out here, and when there was a fresh snowfall last Thursday, it was just magical. I don't love snow; in fact, I want to live someplace that rarely to never sees snow, but I must say that I do really love when the snow is coming down, so gently, in big flakes (which are really clumps of snowflakes stuck together), especially when landing on evergreen trees, which surround this house. No matter which window you looked out on that day, it was just pastoral. It made me feel very much like we had just moved here when the house was built, over 100 years ago, and that we were very far from "civilization." I don't normally like that feeling of isolation, but it was actually nice for those two days.
I am not someone who can stay cooped up for a very long time, however, so today, Dartagnan and I headed out to take back the gloves I bought him for Christmas because they are not the pair he really wanted. We ended up buying him a winter coat to replace the one that has been lost, a pair of dress shoes (his first pair since our wedding three years ago), and some t-shirts (everything was on sale!). I went to lunch with him at Longhorn and my carnivore had an order of chili cheese fries, a 9 oz. steak, and root beer float. The loaded baked potato and mac n cheese side dishes were too much for him to finish, so we brought them back here with my baked sweet potato (yum!). I had a strawberry pecan salad, and we shared their warm, fresh bread. It was so good! After lunch, we headed out to the other mall (started at Grand Prairie and ended at Northwoods), and got a few more things. One of the funny things that happened was that I purchased perfume at Macy's and when I unwrapped it to show Jon tonight, found that it was not the scent I intended to buy: I wanted Eau Tranquility by Clarins and instead got something very similar, but not that. It turns out that I really love this new scent too, so I'm keeping it. That was a good "mishap!"
Well, I am absolutely wiped due to all the walking today, which felt so good to get out and move around more, so I'm headed to bed. Getting up early tomorrow morning to make fruited oatmeal in the rice cooker and have to get the towels out of the dryer in the basement to fold and put away.
We had been debating about whether to drive to Florida for Christmas or not because Jon doesn't get to see his mom nearly as much as I get to see my parents. The situation worked out very well, though, when he located this great farmhouse on a home vacation rental site. It has only been in use as a vacation rental a very short time (beginning of November) and so is still in its "new" stage. The people who bought it live in California, but grew up across the street and always loved this house. When it went up for sale recently, they bought it and updated the things that needed it (the two bathrooms have new fixtures, tile, etc.) and restored the things that needed it (the hardwood floors are gorgeous). It is very nicely furnished: the rugs are beautiful and thick, most of the beds are super comfy with that memory foam on them, warm and cozy bed linens, including thick and soft blankets under pretty quilts.
We have really been enjoying all the family that have been to visit and dine with us here. Judy has been baking and cooking non-stop since she and Win arrived last Tuesday night from Florida. She is an excellent cook and baker and we have eaten quite a bit of delicious food. Quite a bit! I'm so thankful that we didn't need to make that drive to Florida after all and that we came here instead. It is really quiet and peaceful out here, and when there was a fresh snowfall last Thursday, it was just magical. I don't love snow; in fact, I want to live someplace that rarely to never sees snow, but I must say that I do really love when the snow is coming down, so gently, in big flakes (which are really clumps of snowflakes stuck together), especially when landing on evergreen trees, which surround this house. No matter which window you looked out on that day, it was just pastoral. It made me feel very much like we had just moved here when the house was built, over 100 years ago, and that we were very far from "civilization." I don't normally like that feeling of isolation, but it was actually nice for those two days.
I am not someone who can stay cooped up for a very long time, however, so today, Dartagnan and I headed out to take back the gloves I bought him for Christmas because they are not the pair he really wanted. We ended up buying him a winter coat to replace the one that has been lost, a pair of dress shoes (his first pair since our wedding three years ago), and some t-shirts (everything was on sale!). I went to lunch with him at Longhorn and my carnivore had an order of chili cheese fries, a 9 oz. steak, and root beer float. The loaded baked potato and mac n cheese side dishes were too much for him to finish, so we brought them back here with my baked sweet potato (yum!). I had a strawberry pecan salad, and we shared their warm, fresh bread. It was so good! After lunch, we headed out to the other mall (started at Grand Prairie and ended at Northwoods), and got a few more things. One of the funny things that happened was that I purchased perfume at Macy's and when I unwrapped it to show Jon tonight, found that it was not the scent I intended to buy: I wanted Eau Tranquility by Clarins and instead got something very similar, but not that. It turns out that I really love this new scent too, so I'm keeping it. That was a good "mishap!"
Well, I am absolutely wiped due to all the walking today, which felt so good to get out and move around more, so I'm headed to bed. Getting up early tomorrow morning to make fruited oatmeal in the rice cooker and have to get the towels out of the dryer in the basement to fold and put away.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday/Funday!
Had so much fun with the girls at lunch! We went to Los Agaves and had margaritas and delish Mexican food. They were so kind to create a vegetarian version of chilaquiles verdes that I love. It was truly savory. The bell peppers and mushrooms were sauteed, but not overcooked and the flavors were such a wonderful compliment to the salty sweet Jose Cuervo margarita. Was fun to laugh about school, talk about where we are headed over break, where we might practice, funny things our children do/say...a very pleasantly passed two hours. Yep. Two hours we were there. And it didn't seem like it at all.
I came home and took a little nap. Really didn't feel like working on my Christmas present project, mainly because I blogged too long before going to judge the contest, so I didn't have time to get the things from the garage that I need. So Jon agreed to help me bring in the items needed in the morning so I can work on it first thing tomorrow. Not that either one of us is going to be excited about going out in the cold to carry things in from the garage in the morning any more than we were excited about the prospect of doing it tonight!
Lani has been coughing in her sleep. I hope she's not getting sick. Today she got pinched by another little girl at school. I told the director that I can't blame the other kids for wanting to get back at Lani because she can be so mean to them, hitting and kicking them. I didn't feel sorry for Lani, that's for sure! Maybe a pinch is what she needs so she knows it doesn't feel good to be on the receiving end of the abuse.
Jon is worn out. This week has been really stressful for him and I think he's relieved that it is over. When I came home from my restaurant outing, he was vacuuming the living room. I was so happy to see that! What a man I have!
Last night we hung out with my parents after classes and opened gifts. Was a really pleasant evening hanging out with them. My mom made tacos. They were excellent, as most everything she makes. She also found some brie infused with BLACK TRUFFLES! I love truffles and it was quite the treat! Lani wanted some on a cracker and ended up eating the brie off of the cracker and left a soggy cracker on her plate.
I spent time tonight looking at penny round tile pics online. Trying to find a color that is either a gray or brown/tan that would look good downstairs in that bathroom that we'll be building/remodeling very soon. Want to get some ideas...saw some things I really liked. We will probably put a white subway tile on the walls, about halfway up around the wet areas (wall and backsplash that the sink will be on) and all the way to the ceiling in the shower area. I am sooo looking forward to another bathroom in the house. Since the basement flooded/sewer backed up in '08, we've been without a basement bathroom and it wasn't much of one then; a toilet room/water closet (WC) in the European sense, a sink in the laundry room adjacent to the WC, and a shower that I never used, nor would have used next to it. Scary, not finished, cement. The WC wall's were some flimsy pieces of board that had been painted and weren't even framed in well. The plus is that Jon was able to demo the old stuff for hauling out pretty easily. Jon has already completed the busting up & moving things under the concrete floor in there. The perimeter drainage line hasn't been completed yet in the media room, but we'll get to it this Spring or sooner. I might spend part of this break down there digging up rock to bring up and haul outside. We'll see. It would be nice to get some projects done over break so we can move on to the next things on Jon's very long list.
Since I'm getting up early to work on the presents, I probably should head downstairs, put the load of laundry I washed earlier this evening into the dryer and start the load of dark colors/jeans, so my menfolk have something to wear this weekend on our visit to Peoria.
I came home and took a little nap. Really didn't feel like working on my Christmas present project, mainly because I blogged too long before going to judge the contest, so I didn't have time to get the things from the garage that I need. So Jon agreed to help me bring in the items needed in the morning so I can work on it first thing tomorrow. Not that either one of us is going to be excited about going out in the cold to carry things in from the garage in the morning any more than we were excited about the prospect of doing it tonight!
Lani has been coughing in her sleep. I hope she's not getting sick. Today she got pinched by another little girl at school. I told the director that I can't blame the other kids for wanting to get back at Lani because she can be so mean to them, hitting and kicking them. I didn't feel sorry for Lani, that's for sure! Maybe a pinch is what she needs so she knows it doesn't feel good to be on the receiving end of the abuse.
Jon is worn out. This week has been really stressful for him and I think he's relieved that it is over. When I came home from my restaurant outing, he was vacuuming the living room. I was so happy to see that! What a man I have!
Last night we hung out with my parents after classes and opened gifts. Was a really pleasant evening hanging out with them. My mom made tacos. They were excellent, as most everything she makes. She also found some brie infused with BLACK TRUFFLES! I love truffles and it was quite the treat! Lani wanted some on a cracker and ended up eating the brie off of the cracker and left a soggy cracker on her plate.
I spent time tonight looking at penny round tile pics online. Trying to find a color that is either a gray or brown/tan that would look good downstairs in that bathroom that we'll be building/remodeling very soon. Want to get some ideas...saw some things I really liked. We will probably put a white subway tile on the walls, about halfway up around the wet areas (wall and backsplash that the sink will be on) and all the way to the ceiling in the shower area. I am sooo looking forward to another bathroom in the house. Since the basement flooded/sewer backed up in '08, we've been without a basement bathroom and it wasn't much of one then; a toilet room/water closet (WC) in the European sense, a sink in the laundry room adjacent to the WC, and a shower that I never used, nor would have used next to it. Scary, not finished, cement. The WC wall's were some flimsy pieces of board that had been painted and weren't even framed in well. The plus is that Jon was able to demo the old stuff for hauling out pretty easily. Jon has already completed the busting up & moving things under the concrete floor in there. The perimeter drainage line hasn't been completed yet in the media room, but we'll get to it this Spring or sooner. I might spend part of this break down there digging up rock to bring up and haul outside. We'll see. It would be nice to get some projects done over break so we can move on to the next things on Jon's very long list.
Since I'm getting up early to work on the presents, I probably should head downstairs, put the load of laundry I washed earlier this evening into the dryer and start the load of dark colors/jeans, so my menfolk have something to wear this weekend on our visit to Peoria.
Break!
I was reluctant to get out of bed this morning. Yesterday my ribs were aching so much that I had to breathe shallowly. I slept OK, but really just wanted to snuggle back down under the down comforter for some more zzz's instead of going to PNS. I'm very glad that I did not snuggle back into my bed because we ended up getting a 2 point quiz in PNS today! That is really unusual. Dr. Schmiedel's past pattern is to give the quiz in the week before the upcoming exam. We just had our exam the first Friday of December and won't have the next until the second Tuesday after break. So we were very surprised and over half the class wasn't there. Two of my friends missed the quiz, sadly, because they are re-taking the class, too, and could have used the points.
I stopped by the Clinic after class to get adjusted. It took several attempts and methods, but my thoracics, which had subluxated anteriorly, finally cooperated. I am feeling better now, but am still craving a little more sleep...
I went to Wallace's Garden Center afterward and picked up a few of their Christmas items that were marked down to 20-40% off. I love going in there and just browsing for when I have time (which is not often). They have such creative people on their staff who put together beautiful displays. After blogging, I'm going out to the garage to pick up the things I'll be using to put together the gifts we'll be giving this year and I'll get that set up on the dining room table before I leave to head back to Palmer to judge the Admissions contest.
The prizes for the contest are great! One is a day off work, others are an overnight stay at the Radisson, half days off work. I wouldn't mind winning any of those and I'm sure that everyone who decorated her/his (more ladies than gentlemen in the department) cubicle will be delighted to win. It will be fun to be part of it!
Once the judging is over, I'm headed out with my friends Trine, Sheila, and Jen to celebrate Christmas, Jen's Birthday, the Break and some time off school. We are very much looking forward to hanging out together and having some girl-chat over Mexican food - yum!
When I get home, I'll get to work on the Christmas present project & I might go ahead and wrap the things I picked up at a garage sale for Lani this Fall. I remember that one of the items was a Melissa and Doug wooden "paper" doll set. The dolls & their clothes are magnetic and they have multiple outfits. I know she will have fun with that. And I also found some more train cars and figures to go with her Thomas the Tank Engine train set she has. She loves getting it out and setting it up and driving the train on the track. I can't remember what else was in the bag; I hid it about 3 months ago.
I have to get the laundry done today, too, because we'll be headed to Peoria sometime tomorrow morning for our Christmas with Jon's dad and stepmom. Will be nice to see everyone and visit. Looking forward to going. Jon hasn't decided if we'll stay the night or not. It doesn't matter to me either way, but it would be nice to get to go to our church on Sunday morning. If we don't, we can always go to the wonderful church that Jeff and Mariola attend. We really like it, too.
Headed out to the garage...brrrr!
I stopped by the Clinic after class to get adjusted. It took several attempts and methods, but my thoracics, which had subluxated anteriorly, finally cooperated. I am feeling better now, but am still craving a little more sleep...
I went to Wallace's Garden Center afterward and picked up a few of their Christmas items that were marked down to 20-40% off. I love going in there and just browsing for when I have time (which is not often). They have such creative people on their staff who put together beautiful displays. After blogging, I'm going out to the garage to pick up the things I'll be using to put together the gifts we'll be giving this year and I'll get that set up on the dining room table before I leave to head back to Palmer to judge the Admissions contest.
The prizes for the contest are great! One is a day off work, others are an overnight stay at the Radisson, half days off work. I wouldn't mind winning any of those and I'm sure that everyone who decorated her/his (more ladies than gentlemen in the department) cubicle will be delighted to win. It will be fun to be part of it!
Once the judging is over, I'm headed out with my friends Trine, Sheila, and Jen to celebrate Christmas, Jen's Birthday, the Break and some time off school. We are very much looking forward to hanging out together and having some girl-chat over Mexican food - yum!
When I get home, I'll get to work on the Christmas present project & I might go ahead and wrap the things I picked up at a garage sale for Lani this Fall. I remember that one of the items was a Melissa and Doug wooden "paper" doll set. The dolls & their clothes are magnetic and they have multiple outfits. I know she will have fun with that. And I also found some more train cars and figures to go with her Thomas the Tank Engine train set she has. She loves getting it out and setting it up and driving the train on the track. I can't remember what else was in the bag; I hid it about 3 months ago.
I have to get the laundry done today, too, because we'll be headed to Peoria sometime tomorrow morning for our Christmas with Jon's dad and stepmom. Will be nice to see everyone and visit. Looking forward to going. Jon hasn't decided if we'll stay the night or not. It doesn't matter to me either way, but it would be nice to get to go to our church on Sunday morning. If we don't, we can always go to the wonderful church that Jeff and Mariola attend. We really like it, too.
Headed out to the garage...brrrr!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Cervicals update
I am typing this post on my new laptop Jon bought me for Christmas! I love it! It is a Compaq Presario and the screen is nice and wide and it is a really sweet gift! Yea! It is exactly what I wanted. Now I just need to figure out how to download to my iPod...
Anyway, today's Cervical practical was really nerve-racking. I was very nervous and afraid I'd not remember anything. I remember enough. I scored 30 out of a possible 36. When I'm under pressure in the practical setting, I just feel like I'm not going to be able to remember anything at all. I did remember quite a bit more than I thought I would, but tended to mess up the little stuff, like keeping my arm close to my body. I was the last one to leave. Had Christin for my partner and she was really easy to work with. She's very good and went before me, so I was really thinking about my listings, which are handed out at the beginning on a card, to try to think through what the set ups and motions would be. Christin and I stayed a little after class and talked with Dr. Swanson and expressed our opinion that the class could almost use another hour each day just for practicing set-ups and thrusts to get them down better and to have professor feedback so we know if we are performing correctly. She agreed that it would be beneficial because of the sheer amount of information covered in the class.
I'm happy that that practical is over. Tomorrow I have one class, PNS, at 7:30 & I'm thrilled because then I'm officially on break! Planning to help judge the Karen's Kris Kringle Kubical Kontest in Admissions at noon and then going out to lunch (& possibly margaritas!) with some of my friends when they get done at 1. I think we'll have fun!
Anyway, today's Cervical practical was really nerve-racking. I was very nervous and afraid I'd not remember anything. I remember enough. I scored 30 out of a possible 36. When I'm under pressure in the practical setting, I just feel like I'm not going to be able to remember anything at all. I did remember quite a bit more than I thought I would, but tended to mess up the little stuff, like keeping my arm close to my body. I was the last one to leave. Had Christin for my partner and she was really easy to work with. She's very good and went before me, so I was really thinking about my listings, which are handed out at the beginning on a card, to try to think through what the set ups and motions would be. Christin and I stayed a little after class and talked with Dr. Swanson and expressed our opinion that the class could almost use another hour each day just for practicing set-ups and thrusts to get them down better and to have professor feedback so we know if we are performing correctly. She agreed that it would be beneficial because of the sheer amount of information covered in the class.
I'm happy that that practical is over. Tomorrow I have one class, PNS, at 7:30 & I'm thrilled because then I'm officially on break! Planning to help judge the Karen's Kris Kringle Kubical Kontest in Admissions at noon and then going out to lunch (& possibly margaritas!) with some of my friends when they get done at 1. I think we'll have fun!
Cervicals Practical
Today at noon is the Cervicals practical. I'm nervous. We have five set ups to perform, one motion palpation and we have to perform the thrust we would use in the air if asked. What happens is we are told a listing, and we have to set up a partner in position on the knee-chest bench, the cervical chair, the hylo bench, or the pelvic bench (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://gonsteadnj.com/images/img_2195a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gonsteadnj.com/VirtualOfficeTourGonsteadNJ.html&usg=__CSkDQ4M27QlnP0i_CU2XPRlCzO8=&h=420&w=560&sz=79&hl=en&start=5&sig2=7yt6NAWHDb71gJlzCFE5gQ&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=qY2zhye4VPloSM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dknee%2Bchest%2Bbench%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div&ei=1ioKTbXqI9DAnweam4H_Dg this website shows 3 of the items, if you scroll down to Treatment Room #1 and the hydraulic table pictured just below is a hylo). After we put the patient on the appropriate chair/bench, then we have to position them as though he/she were to be adjusted with the listing information given. Then we have to hold that position until one of the three doctors comes to check our work and then they quiz us with questions concerning the set-up, such as: "What is DS (doctor stance)? What is CP (contact point)? What is LOC (Line of Correction)?" and we have to answer. Just thinking about it is making my stomach upset...
I have Tox next hour and will head home to review my Cervical notes & practice my thrusts on my speeder board (here's a pic: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aecc-spinecentre.co.uk/system/cache/cms_site_products_images_3487-1-461_800_800_False.png&imgrefurl=http://www.aecc-spinecentre.co.uk/products/instruments-11/thuli-single-cushion-speeder-board-3487.aspx&usg=__WrQUU-MBfwV1caIWkzUmx70GMzs=&h=581&w=698&sz=454&hl=en&start=11&sig2=OWffWUpVJJ_wdXCUYWI-DQ&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=5HljEI1ClBqfMM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspeeder%2Bboard%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div&ei=RSwKTYeQCor_nAeUqKGCDw). What is different about Cerv class than Toggle is that we practice thrusting while holding the speeder board in the other arm/hand. In Toggle, the speeder board was on the bench, so we used both hands in the thrust. Also, with Toggle, you are taught to recoil quickly from your thrust, but in Cerv, you are taught to thrust and hold. It can be a challenging transition.
I have Tox next hour and will head home to review my Cervical notes & practice my thrusts on my speeder board (here's a pic: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aecc-spinecentre.co.uk/system/cache/cms_site_products_images_3487-1-461_800_800_False.png&imgrefurl=http://www.aecc-spinecentre.co.uk/products/instruments-11/thuli-single-cushion-speeder-board-3487.aspx&usg=__WrQUU-MBfwV1caIWkzUmx70GMzs=&h=581&w=698&sz=454&hl=en&start=11&sig2=OWffWUpVJJ_wdXCUYWI-DQ&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=5HljEI1ClBqfMM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspeeder%2Bboard%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div&ei=RSwKTYeQCor_nAeUqKGCDw). What is different about Cerv class than Toggle is that we practice thrusting while holding the speeder board in the other arm/hand. In Toggle, the speeder board was on the bench, so we used both hands in the thrust. Also, with Toggle, you are taught to recoil quickly from your thrust, but in Cerv, you are taught to thrust and hold. It can be a challenging transition.
Monday, December 13, 2010
A Lovely Weekend
We had such a pleasant weekend. Got plenty of time to study, went to a Christmas party, made cookies, had a friend over for dinner, and watched a hilarious movie.
Friday afternoon, I had a practical in Phys Di and it went well. I forgot to describe the outer lips, mouth, and nose and lost 5 points, but remembered all the other things I was supposed to do. I got the bonus point for looking in the mannequin's ear and noting the finding of a cholesteastoma, so that brought me back to 36 out of 40, which I am very satisfied with. The practical covered the head, neck, ears, eyes, nose and throat and there was a lot to remember. Today is the written exam and I feel pretty good about it. Going to review during my morning break after Tox.
Was able to study quite a bit Friday afternoon after the practical. My cousin Tonya took Lani with her and her two children, Hannah and Gabe, to movie night at her sister Becky's house. All the kids were getting together to watch Christmas movies. "The Polar Express" was one that they were planning to watch and Lani really likes that one. Tonya said the movie reminds her of her sister Cretia who passed away about two years ago because it was the last movie they all went to see together at the IMAX before her death. Cretia and I weren't particularly close, but she was a really warm person and I miss her, too, because she was an anchor of stability & peacefulness in our family. She always hosted Thanksgiving dinner out in Walcott at their farmhouse and it was great because the house was big and could comfortably hold our very large extended family. She suffered a lot in the last three years of her life with recurring bouts of pancreatitis and from Hepatitis C, which she contracted from a patient in the ER at Genesis Hospital, where she was a nurse. Cretia had just completed the interferon treatment for Hep C when she was hospitalized again for something else and she passed away while there, quite suddenly and unexpectedly. It is still very sad to me that we lost someone so young, (40 yrs. old) so kind, so full of life, so giving, so fun. She left behind a wonderful husband, an upstanding son, and two beautiful daughters who all miss her so. She was very close to her sisters and they miss her deeply, too. She was very active in her church (one we, the cousins on my mom's side, all grew up in). Her funeral was one to aspire to: the number of people whose lives she touched was huge. There were so many people who came that they had to extend the visitation hours. She had a life that made a difference.
On Friday night, Dartagnan had a "date" with his girlfriend, Michelle. They went with a group of friends to see a movie, "Fair Game" I think, that none of them ended up liking, so they talked through the whole thing. I told him I hoped they weren't loud and disturbing other moviegoers and he said they weren't. He had fun and spent the night with his friend Trevon, whose mom kindly drove them to and from the theater.
Jon and I went to the Palmer Student Christmas party Friday night and had a great time. Jon was still not feeling so well, but I really wanted to go and he acquiesced. I think he ended up enjoying himself, but he was ready to leave when we did. The band, BBI, hired by Student Services, was excellent and played great covers that spanned the past four decades. They were energetic and their lead singer is fantastic. I've heard them perform before for past Homecoming events here at Palmer and they always do a marvelous job. Jon actually danced with me to two songs! He hasn't danced with me in a very long time...so it was fun to be grooving on the dance floor with my handsome man!
Saturday Jon made waffles (yum!) and we hung out at home. Got quite a bit of studying in; I had a lot of text reading to catch up on for classes; Jon was busy studying for his upcoming NMS II practical. Had fun playing with Lani, got some laundry done up, and got some housecleaning done. Also met with Jeni and Sheila to discuss our Tox project that will be due as soon as we get back from break. We divided up the work and I went and pulled some articles on our subject: Fosamax. Was at the Palmer library for about 3 hours. Had to run to WalMart to get a few things before heading home. Tried to put gas in my car at WalMart, but couldn't get the little door open because it was frozen shut (we had a blizzard warning). Oh well. Got home and cooked a risotto in my rice cooker and stirred in pistachio pesto my mom made with the last of her fresh basil at the end of summer, before serving the risotto for dinner. Was delicious with a glass of Riesling and a salad! My friend Janice, who recently graduated Palmer and is getting ready to open her practice in Rock Island, came for dinner after she got off work and we had a pleasant visit. Was really nice to catch up with her.
We watched "Despicable Me" last night and I have to say it was witty and that Jon and I were quoting it to each other after we watched it because it was just so funny. Steve Carrell's Russian/French? accent is hilarious and the way he leaves off words makes it even more funny. I definitely recommend it and we will definitely be buying it soon.
Friday afternoon, I had a practical in Phys Di and it went well. I forgot to describe the outer lips, mouth, and nose and lost 5 points, but remembered all the other things I was supposed to do. I got the bonus point for looking in the mannequin's ear and noting the finding of a cholesteastoma, so that brought me back to 36 out of 40, which I am very satisfied with. The practical covered the head, neck, ears, eyes, nose and throat and there was a lot to remember. Today is the written exam and I feel pretty good about it. Going to review during my morning break after Tox.
Was able to study quite a bit Friday afternoon after the practical. My cousin Tonya took Lani with her and her two children, Hannah and Gabe, to movie night at her sister Becky's house. All the kids were getting together to watch Christmas movies. "The Polar Express" was one that they were planning to watch and Lani really likes that one. Tonya said the movie reminds her of her sister Cretia who passed away about two years ago because it was the last movie they all went to see together at the IMAX before her death. Cretia and I weren't particularly close, but she was a really warm person and I miss her, too, because she was an anchor of stability & peacefulness in our family. She always hosted Thanksgiving dinner out in Walcott at their farmhouse and it was great because the house was big and could comfortably hold our very large extended family. She suffered a lot in the last three years of her life with recurring bouts of pancreatitis and from Hepatitis C, which she contracted from a patient in the ER at Genesis Hospital, where she was a nurse. Cretia had just completed the interferon treatment for Hep C when she was hospitalized again for something else and she passed away while there, quite suddenly and unexpectedly. It is still very sad to me that we lost someone so young, (40 yrs. old) so kind, so full of life, so giving, so fun. She left behind a wonderful husband, an upstanding son, and two beautiful daughters who all miss her so. She was very close to her sisters and they miss her deeply, too. She was very active in her church (one we, the cousins on my mom's side, all grew up in). Her funeral was one to aspire to: the number of people whose lives she touched was huge. There were so many people who came that they had to extend the visitation hours. She had a life that made a difference.
On Friday night, Dartagnan had a "date" with his girlfriend, Michelle. They went with a group of friends to see a movie, "Fair Game" I think, that none of them ended up liking, so they talked through the whole thing. I told him I hoped they weren't loud and disturbing other moviegoers and he said they weren't. He had fun and spent the night with his friend Trevon, whose mom kindly drove them to and from the theater.
Jon and I went to the Palmer Student Christmas party Friday night and had a great time. Jon was still not feeling so well, but I really wanted to go and he acquiesced. I think he ended up enjoying himself, but he was ready to leave when we did. The band, BBI, hired by Student Services, was excellent and played great covers that spanned the past four decades. They were energetic and their lead singer is fantastic. I've heard them perform before for past Homecoming events here at Palmer and they always do a marvelous job. Jon actually danced with me to two songs! He hasn't danced with me in a very long time...so it was fun to be grooving on the dance floor with my handsome man!
Saturday Jon made waffles (yum!) and we hung out at home. Got quite a bit of studying in; I had a lot of text reading to catch up on for classes; Jon was busy studying for his upcoming NMS II practical. Had fun playing with Lani, got some laundry done up, and got some housecleaning done. Also met with Jeni and Sheila to discuss our Tox project that will be due as soon as we get back from break. We divided up the work and I went and pulled some articles on our subject: Fosamax. Was at the Palmer library for about 3 hours. Had to run to WalMart to get a few things before heading home. Tried to put gas in my car at WalMart, but couldn't get the little door open because it was frozen shut (we had a blizzard warning). Oh well. Got home and cooked a risotto in my rice cooker and stirred in pistachio pesto my mom made with the last of her fresh basil at the end of summer, before serving the risotto for dinner. Was delicious with a glass of Riesling and a salad! My friend Janice, who recently graduated Palmer and is getting ready to open her practice in Rock Island, came for dinner after she got off work and we had a pleasant visit. Was really nice to catch up with her.
We watched "Despicable Me" last night and I have to say it was witty and that Jon and I were quoting it to each other after we watched it because it was just so funny. Steve Carrell's Russian/French? accent is hilarious and the way he leaves off words makes it even more funny. I definitely recommend it and we will definitely be buying it soon.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Upcoming Quiz, Tests, Practicals...
This week has been sooo busy! Lani vomited at school on Tuesday. Thankfully, she waited until 4:45 to get sick. That may sound really calloused, but the less class Jon and I have to miss, the better. So he picked her up from daycare because I was still in the Cervicals tutorial until 5:00. Jon was still fighting a bug on Monday and missed classes that day. Since Lani couldn't return to daycare the next day (there is a 24-hour rule to keep the kids from spreading bacteria and viruses around), Jon missed class again on Tuesday to stay home with her. Dartagnan was feeling lousy Monday and Tuesday and he was home both days too.
Lani was fine all day Tuesday, so she returned to school yesterday and was very happy to go back (home all day when we can't play with her because we are studying is boring for a 2-year-old). Dartagnan was also feeling better and so was Jon. Everyone went to school on Wednesday.
My friend Laura, who I've not seen in about a month, came over to chat and share some wine last night. She brought a great bottle of pinot noir and we sipped and caught up on each other's crazy lives for two hours. Was good to see her and spend a little time with one of my favorite people. Was needed for my mental health!
Today I have a quiz in Phys Di and tomorrow there is a practical in there. I'm not too nervous about the quiz, but am nervous about the practical. I'll be practicing the items we'll cover today in class again on someone (anyone who will let me run through it with them after the quiz), and again tonight on Jon or Dartagnan or both. Lani doesn't like to sit still for the ear and eye exams (normal behavior for her age!), so I won't be practicing on her. On Monday, we have the test over Unit 2, which is Head & Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, & Throat. There is a lot of reading for it. I'm currently reading the Eyes chapter and will hopefully finish the next chapter before class this afternoon.
Tomorrow I have a written test in Cervicals. Nervous about that because I feel like we've really flown through the material and I'm pretty sure I have not assimilated it yet. It would be nice to have more practice than one or two set-ups for each type of adjustment. It is so much less practice than Toggle...so I will be reading Cervicals and having Jon quiz me tonight, too.
I'm so glad that we are not going anywhere this weekend! I really need a weekend at home. Our friend Janice will be coming to dinner Saturday evening when she gets off work and I'm really looking forward to catching up with her, too. That is one thing that has been really hard about Palmer; I feel like I don't get to stay in contact with my friends the way I would like to because of time constraints. If not careful, relationships can be damaged due to it.
Time to head to Tox!
Lani was fine all day Tuesday, so she returned to school yesterday and was very happy to go back (home all day when we can't play with her because we are studying is boring for a 2-year-old). Dartagnan was also feeling better and so was Jon. Everyone went to school on Wednesday.
My friend Laura, who I've not seen in about a month, came over to chat and share some wine last night. She brought a great bottle of pinot noir and we sipped and caught up on each other's crazy lives for two hours. Was good to see her and spend a little time with one of my favorite people. Was needed for my mental health!
Today I have a quiz in Phys Di and tomorrow there is a practical in there. I'm not too nervous about the quiz, but am nervous about the practical. I'll be practicing the items we'll cover today in class again on someone (anyone who will let me run through it with them after the quiz), and again tonight on Jon or Dartagnan or both. Lani doesn't like to sit still for the ear and eye exams (normal behavior for her age!), so I won't be practicing on her. On Monday, we have the test over Unit 2, which is Head & Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, & Throat. There is a lot of reading for it. I'm currently reading the Eyes chapter and will hopefully finish the next chapter before class this afternoon.
Tomorrow I have a written test in Cervicals. Nervous about that because I feel like we've really flown through the material and I'm pretty sure I have not assimilated it yet. It would be nice to have more practice than one or two set-ups for each type of adjustment. It is so much less practice than Toggle...so I will be reading Cervicals and having Jon quiz me tonight, too.
I'm so glad that we are not going anywhere this weekend! I really need a weekend at home. Our friend Janice will be coming to dinner Saturday evening when she gets off work and I'm really looking forward to catching up with her, too. That is one thing that has been really hard about Palmer; I feel like I don't get to stay in contact with my friends the way I would like to because of time constraints. If not careful, relationships can be damaged due to it.
Time to head to Tox!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Wisconsin Dells
So we spent the weekend in the Wisconsin Dells. Thought we'd be doing quite a bit, but we found out when we arrived at the time-share that since we are not members, what was available to us without extra $$ was limited. That is OK, since we really just wanted to lounge and relax anyway.
Dartagnan ended up spending time with his father at another resort. His father also brought along Dartagnan's cousin Thomas and one of their mutual friends, Jacob. The boys had fun on Saturday at the indoor amusement park at their resort. They stayed up until 3 am goofing off and Dartagnan couldn't sleep so he was up again at 5.
It was very kind of Dartagnan's aunt to rent us two cabins with her time-share points for Dartagnan's 15th birthday, which was Saturday. The cabins were really nice, spacious and had a fireplace, flat-screen TV, DVD player, an equipped kitchen and two bedrooms.
Since it snowed while we were there, a beautiful blanket of snow covered everything when we woke up Saturday morning. The tall pines surrounding our cabins and the hilly landscape were so quiet and peaceful. I got Lani bundled up and took her for a walk. She had a blast stomping in the snow and busting up the large snowballs left by the plows. Lani wouldn't keep her gloves on, and kept grabbing the snow in her excitement, then giving me her hand to wipe off, "It's cold! Cold!"
Dartagnan and my mom stayed in the cabin next to us and walked over the next morning. Mom made yummy pancakes (D's and Lani's favorite) for us and then she walked back over to get D's birthday present. On her way back, she fell (it was still icy on the road between the two cabins) and hit her head really hard. That was scary. I'm still not sure if she is really all right, because her left eye has been watering the last two days. When I talked with her this morning, she was at the optometrist and I told her to tell him what happened. I've not heard back from her. When she fell, her glasses fell off her head and we found them later in the snow. Unfortunately, one of her lenses had fallen out, so she will be getting new glasses (hers were over two years old and she needs a new pair).
Got to head to Physical Diagnosis, which is officially my favorite class this term.
Dartagnan ended up spending time with his father at another resort. His father also brought along Dartagnan's cousin Thomas and one of their mutual friends, Jacob. The boys had fun on Saturday at the indoor amusement park at their resort. They stayed up until 3 am goofing off and Dartagnan couldn't sleep so he was up again at 5.
It was very kind of Dartagnan's aunt to rent us two cabins with her time-share points for Dartagnan's 15th birthday, which was Saturday. The cabins were really nice, spacious and had a fireplace, flat-screen TV, DVD player, an equipped kitchen and two bedrooms.
Since it snowed while we were there, a beautiful blanket of snow covered everything when we woke up Saturday morning. The tall pines surrounding our cabins and the hilly landscape were so quiet and peaceful. I got Lani bundled up and took her for a walk. She had a blast stomping in the snow and busting up the large snowballs left by the plows. Lani wouldn't keep her gloves on, and kept grabbing the snow in her excitement, then giving me her hand to wipe off, "It's cold! Cold!"
Dartagnan and my mom stayed in the cabin next to us and walked over the next morning. Mom made yummy pancakes (D's and Lani's favorite) for us and then she walked back over to get D's birthday present. On her way back, she fell (it was still icy on the road between the two cabins) and hit her head really hard. That was scary. I'm still not sure if she is really all right, because her left eye has been watering the last two days. When I talked with her this morning, she was at the optometrist and I told her to tell him what happened. I've not heard back from her. When she fell, her glasses fell off her head and we found them later in the snow. Unfortunately, one of her lenses had fallen out, so she will be getting new glasses (hers were over two years old and she needs a new pair).
Got to head to Physical Diagnosis, which is officially my favorite class this term.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Chest Pain
Two nights ago, I had a little scare. I started bathing Lani, which requires a lot of bending and reaching, in spite of the fact that I'm rather short, and my chest started hurting. I thought it was just the positions I have to contort myself into to reach my squirmy daughter to actually wash her hair and body while she obtinately insists on playing. Lani doesn't like to stop what she's doing to give me her arm or leg or head. She can't be bothered with what I would like for her to do. She still gets shampoo in her eyes because she won't put her head back when I rinse it because she might miss something with her toy boats in front of her. Bath time is fun!
After getting her out and dried off, Jon got her ready for bed. My chest was still hurting. The pain was on my left side, just above the xiphoid of the sternum and was concentrated around the ribs that attach there.
I checked out what I could find on-line, but I really already knew that we should probably head to the Emergency Room to get it checked out. The pain wasn't changing at all and I waited 40 minutes before I told Jon, "I think we better head to the hospital." You are only supposed to wait up to 5 minutes. I know it is possible to have a heart attack at a young age, but you just never think that it may be you.
We got there and they took me right back and ran an EKG right away and gave me baby aspirin in case it was a heart attack. Then they put in a hand catheter. My skin was being lifted 1/2 inch off my hand. It was very painful and I couldn't really believe how badly the nurse did. Once it was in, she did the saline push and that really hurt too. It just sat there. She tried to draw the blood they needed to check everything to make sure I hadn't had a myocardial infarction, but the blood wouldn't flow back through the catheter, so she was unable to use it. Next, got chest x-rays, P-A and lateral. Back to the room and an actual phlebotomist came to draw the blood. She was very good at her job and she minimized how painful it could have been.
Dr. Irving came in to see me intermittently, did heart sounds and lung sounds exam. He eventually came back & told us that all was fine, except for having borderline anemia (which is the norm for me, even before I became a vegetarian), and that my diagnosis was costochondritis, inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs join the sternum.
So, it is just a painful condition and nothing to be too concerned about. That was good news.
Got adjusted last night and almost every rib was out. Glad to have been in to the Clinic because I felt a lot better afterward.
Need to head over to Phys Di, so I'll write more later. By the way, it is snowing. The first snowfall. Big flakes, very delicately swirling in the slight breeze. Almost makes me like it a little. We are headed to the Wisconsin Dells for Dartagnan's 15th birthday this weekend, so a little snow will be fun on the snow tubing hill at the resort. I think he'll have a great time.
After getting her out and dried off, Jon got her ready for bed. My chest was still hurting. The pain was on my left side, just above the xiphoid of the sternum and was concentrated around the ribs that attach there.
I checked out what I could find on-line, but I really already knew that we should probably head to the Emergency Room to get it checked out. The pain wasn't changing at all and I waited 40 minutes before I told Jon, "I think we better head to the hospital." You are only supposed to wait up to 5 minutes. I know it is possible to have a heart attack at a young age, but you just never think that it may be you.
We got there and they took me right back and ran an EKG right away and gave me baby aspirin in case it was a heart attack. Then they put in a hand catheter. My skin was being lifted 1/2 inch off my hand. It was very painful and I couldn't really believe how badly the nurse did. Once it was in, she did the saline push and that really hurt too. It just sat there. She tried to draw the blood they needed to check everything to make sure I hadn't had a myocardial infarction, but the blood wouldn't flow back through the catheter, so she was unable to use it. Next, got chest x-rays, P-A and lateral. Back to the room and an actual phlebotomist came to draw the blood. She was very good at her job and she minimized how painful it could have been.
Dr. Irving came in to see me intermittently, did heart sounds and lung sounds exam. He eventually came back & told us that all was fine, except for having borderline anemia (which is the norm for me, even before I became a vegetarian), and that my diagnosis was costochondritis, inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs join the sternum.
So, it is just a painful condition and nothing to be too concerned about. That was good news.
Got adjusted last night and almost every rib was out. Glad to have been in to the Clinic because I felt a lot better afterward.
Need to head over to Phys Di, so I'll write more later. By the way, it is snowing. The first snowfall. Big flakes, very delicately swirling in the slight breeze. Almost makes me like it a little. We are headed to the Wisconsin Dells for Dartagnan's 15th birthday this weekend, so a little snow will be fun on the snow tubing hill at the resort. I think he'll have a great time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)