Finals. Nearly Finished.

Thank goodness that I have only two finals left, first thing, back-to-back, tomorrow morning.  Really looking forward to being DONE.

So far, from the grades that are posted, I've passed Toggle (I was so worried about that one! And the test was a booger!), Nutrition (My best grade.  Yea!), Public Health (Did better than I thought I would), and Renal Physiology (Did better on that one than I thought I could, too.).  So I'm currently at one A, two B's, and one C. 

Grades for PNS will be posted tomorrow...really hoping I did well enough to pass.  Praying for a curve that includes me in the passing portion of the class.  The test was hard, especially the regular multiple choice section.  I really struggled with about 6 of the questions.  The only way I could pass the class was if I missed 3 points or less (each question is worth only 1/2 point), provided he does NOT decide to curve the class (although half the class went into the final failing, so I'm hoping for a curve).  With a curve, I have a greater possibility of passing.  When I got to my car, I looked up the diagram for the ear that was on the test and found I'd labeled 3 things in reverse.  I could remember a smaller cutaway and thought I was applying it correctly to the larger diagram, but I was not.  So that was really distressing to discover.  That's a possible 9 missed questions right there.  So I'm very nervous to go see the posted grade tomorrow.  I might not look.  I might have Jon check it next time he's on campus so I don't have an anxiety attack.  Wow, it is getting me a little uptight right now just considering it.

Took the Renal exam this morning and stayed up late studying (to 11ish, which is now late for me) AND got up early to review some more.  Left the house early this morning (THAT never happens!) so I could get to the testing center and study some more before the test.  Was nice to arrive early and review a bit more.  So glad I spent all the time on it that I did.  I'm sure that helped get me the better grade than I was expecting.

Came home and was just so tired.  Have been studying so much and not keeping my regular sleep schedule.  Studied Rad II for about two hours, until about 11:00 am, and then decided I needed to rest.  Planned to only sleep for about 1 1/2 hours, but could not get up when the time was up.  Reset my cellphone alarm and went back to sleep until 3!  Obviously, I needed some sleep!  Got about two hours of study time in until I had to go pick up Lani from daycare.  She fell asleep in the car.  No nap for her today at school.  I had planned to drop her to my parents so I could have some more quiet study time, but since she was asleep, brought her home.  She slept in my arms as I talked with my old neighbor & long-time friend, Paul, who was stopping by his now-rental house to check on something.  We caught up and he checked out the work Jon was doing: pulling the siding off the house.  We took delivery last week of our new windows and front entry door, and Jon is prepping the house for us to begin window installation and new siding in the next week during our "break" from Palmer.  "Break" is not really what it is for us this time!

I got Lani settled in with a movie, "The Velveteen Rabbit" and prepared some organic mac-n-cheese (doctored with some sweet potato puree-yum!) and peas for her dinner.  She was very whiny and told me her tummy hurt.  She wanted me to "rub it."  When my kids have had tummy aches that I suspect may be due to constipation, I massage their abdomens in a clockwise motion to help move things along.  Lani's iron was low at last week's WIC visit (was only 9.8 and bottom of range is 11 & her previous visit 6 months ago was the same), so I started her on a liquid children's iron supplement this morning.  Iron supplements are notorious for causing constipation, so I may have to start giving her the supplement in juice (which she hardly ever gets!) or just making sure she drinks more water.  She already has plenty of actual fruit and veggies in her diet, so the fiber is not the issue.

She ate and made a huge mess.  Was crying and upset when I went in to clean her up.  Got her a bath right away and Jon got her ready for bed.  He tucked her in and after I dealt with a "wardrobe issue"--she didn't like the footed pj's she was wearing and had unzipped them and asked me to rub her tummy again, so I put on some really soft fleece pj's without feet, that I found at a garage sale last Saturday, and that made her more comfy.  Covered her back up and she was asleep very quickly.  I hope she is feeling better in the morning.

I love garage sales!  My mom and I went last Saturday.  I needed a break from studying and have been finding that Lani's t-shirts are a little short (she has a long torso like her daddy).  Didn't find any t-shirts.  Found other great stuff, however.  A beautiful pair of earrings that are signed by the artist on the back and have real semi-precious stones, an Abercrombie & Fitch shirt that I saw at the store last year and liked, but wouldn't pay that much for (was a steal at $2 at the garage sale!), a Gymboree winter coat for Lani, two sets of pj's for her, some long-sleeved t-shirts  and stretch pants for Lani, some Thomas the Tank Engine pieces for her collection, a Melissa & Doug wooden "paperdoll" set where you dress the dolls in clothes (there is a magnetic component that makes the clothes stay on), many little books for Lani, and my favorite: a Melissa & Doug wooden Noah's ark with animals for Lani.  I have wanted a wooden Noah's ark for Lani since before she was born and couldn't find one that was reasonable and kid-friendly.  Got this one for $10, which was high for a garage sale, but I'm thinking it probably cost at least $50 new, so was still an excellent deal.  Very happy with it and Lani loves playing with the animals.  Two days before, I had stopped at a garage sale and bought a Hurley sweater hoodie for me (only $3!).  It is oatmeal-colored and looks great with my Uggs.  Warm and comfy, too.

Dartagnan went to the freshman football game at the high school tonight.  Gabe, his cousin, was playing.  It was an exciting game and Gabe made a touchdown, so that was really wonderful because it was the last game they play this season.  I bet his mom, Tonya, my cousin, was proud of him.

Once Lani laid down, Jon and I had some leftover curry and chili for dinner.  He quizzed me on Sys Path, which is my first final tomorrow morning.  That was good.  Helped.  I still need to study/review for that class more.  I feel better about it than I do Rad II and because I did so badly on the 2nd exam in Rad II, it is imperative that I do well on the final so I can pass.  Classes that are considered to be essential to chiropractic are graded on a higher scale than foundational courses.  Rad II has the higher grading scale, so you have to do better in it to get a good grade. 

So, now that I've taken a little break from studying, I think I'll get back on it, because I'm pretty sure I'm not going to last until 11 tonight and I' pretty sure I'll be waking up early (between 4:30 and 5:00) to get some more reviewing in before the tests.

And 4th Tri Continues...

I have been wanting to take Lani swimming all summer. Specifically, I wanted to take her to the really fun municipal pool in Bettendorf, Splash Landing (http://www.bettendorf.org/department/?fDD=29-0). So, when I got out of Systems Pathology yesterday, I planned to pick her up and take her there. One thing after another happened (Jon asked me to bring his shoes & socks back to Palmer for his adjustment - wearing flip flops for an adjustment is not helpful to your doctor, Dartagnan was texting me about what he was up to & might need a ride, I forgot the swim dipes & had to go back to our house for them, etc.) and by the time I arrived at Splash Landing, it was already 3:45 (pool is only open until 5:00), and guess what? It was already closed for the season! It usually is open until Labor Day, so I was surprised. Apparently, though, all their lifeguards headed back to college/university already, and all the schools around here started last week, so, they closed early this year. I was really disappointed because it was such a beautiful day and I just wanted to play with her in the zero-entry level pool and water features, maybe take her down the mini waterslide there.

Classes are going well...with the exception of PNS. Only scored 8 (out of 30) on my first exam and that is really bad. So, I am considering contacting the local DC that tutors for the course...Dr. Tonya Rogers. I've heard she really helps people understand and do much better on the tests and Boards.

Rest of my classes are good. I did well on my first Renal and Rad II exams (currently getting B's in both). Did OK on my X-Ray Analysis Test in Toggle, but ROCKED the Atlas Practical - perfect score! Very thrilled with that because I've not had a perfect score until that one at Palmer. It gives me hope. I don't feel as dumb because of it (and trust me, my idea of my intelligence level has taken a beating at Palmer). Took the first test in Nutrition today and should have spent more time reviewing the equations and how to find BMI, TER, BM, and also the signs of nutrient deficiencies. Still think I did pretty well on that and went into it with an A from previous quizzes and our Nutrition Lab assignment. Tomorrow I have my first Public Health test and think it will go well. Nervous about the Axis Practical in Toggle next week. Will practice set-ups on Jon and Dartagnan this weekend so I feel more confident. Fortunately the Axis adjusting is similar to the Atlas adjusting, so it is not like we have to learn a whole new set of information for it, which really helps.

Last weekend I hardly left the house. Just spent a lot of time studying. Did a lot of reading: Extremities Trauma for Rad II; Renal (NaCl & H2O Resorption); Fats, Sports Nutrition, and started Water-Soluble Vitamins chapters in text for Nutrition; Public Health (had to read a chapter about Environment's Impact on Community Health and do report); Toggle (Instrumentation). I wanted to go to church on Sunday, but we woke up late and also had to be at a birthday party for twins we know who turned 40 last week out in Walcott by 12:30, so ended up just getting ready to go to that & did a little house cleaning before we left (changed sheets, vacuumed). Only stayed at party for 2 hours and had to get going because it was WAY past Lani's naptime then and she was getting manic. Was sad to go because at least half the people were my relatives and friends and always like to catch up with them and see what is going on in their lives and get to see their kids growing so fast.

Jon & Dartagnan were out of town the previous weekend to Atlanta for a PI (Personal Injury) Seminar. On the way down, they stopped in Chattanooga for a little tourist activity: Ruby Falls (http://www.rubyfalls.com/). Because they had parked on an incline, Jon set the parking brake on my little Honda Civic. When they left Ruby Falls, he forgot about it, which is normal because we never use it. As they were traveling down Lookout Mountain, the brakes overheated and failed. Jon used to sell Nissans and took many driving courses as a salesperson. Thank goodness! I'm sure those courses helped him to safely plow the car into someone's berm instead of the telephone pole or their mailbox that flanked the berm. Fortunately, Jon and Dartagnan suffered no immediate ill effects and the car was not damaged. Unfortunately, he began having neck pain the next day, while completing the drive to the seminar. The irony of his getting whiplash on the way to a PI seminar was not lost on him.

Have recently watched, with Lani some really good movies: "Bolt," "Monsters Vs. Aliens." Lani loves both. The hamster in "Bolt" is hilarious. I like the blob monster in "Monsters Vs. Aliens." He falls in love with a jello mold! It is so silly. The reptile-like monster reminds me of one of our friends, Mo, especially when he is first introduced and does the little karate bit. Also Jon and I watched "Alien" and "Aliens" with Dartagnan this past weekend because they are classics. I forgot how much I enjoyed the movie "Aliens" and it has been long enough that I couldn't remember all of it, so it was suspenseful. While Jon and D were out of town, I watched "The Young Victoria" and it was excellent.

Jon just got home with Lani. Great news! She went potty in the big girl potty today at school - TWICE! Yippee! She's not done that at school before. She's not peed in the potty at home yet. Very exciting! A new chapter in potty training is launched!

Time to head over to dinner with my parents and my sister-in-law and two nephews who just arrived from California yesterday.