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.
Showing posts with label garage sales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garage sales. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Finals Countdown...
Only two more days of class left. There was an undercurrent of restlessness today in classes. People were getting up and moving in and out during the classes, taking calls, getting lunch/snack, etc. I think everyone is a little nervous, antsy, with anticipation of finals starting on Friday.
I nabbed an awesome parking spot today (really close to my first class!) and that almost never happens. I'm usually down Main Street hill and have to walk up about a block (it's not that bad, just uphill in the morning: a mini workout to get the blood pumping to my brain!). Many people were missing; probably already studying for Friday's finals. Many of the upper-tri classes have finals before finals officially begin or they have practicals this week and last. Some have only one or two to complete during the actual time of finals, which is nice. I went to classes because many profs give extra credit quizes when attendance is low, so it is a good incentive to show up. Most people can use the extra point or two!
We covered congenital dysplasias and "other weird stuff" in Radiology (Rad) I today. Very interesting. Achondroplasia (tiny/shortened limbs are a finding), cleidocranial dysplasia (missing/tiny clavicles are a finding), Marfan's syndrome (abnormally tall, with spider-like fingers: Abraham Lincoln had it), osteogenesis imperfecta (skeletal fragility with multiple fractures, blue sclera, telephone receiver sign: long bones severely curved), osteopetrosis ("bone within a bone" appearance on x-ray, bones are all dense: can look completely white/opaque on x-ray, brittle).
After classes were over at 1:45, I went to work for a bit. Worked an hour and started getting really hungry, so came home to have a savory Amy's Tamale Verde with Black Beans (note to self: MUST learn how to make similar so can freeze for quick meals). Had waited too long to eat and was warm, so felt woozy. Hands were shaking as I prepared it. Was a very long 4.5 min. for it to microwave (that sounds so silly, but it really felt that way!).
Went back to work for a while longer and left the office at 5:15 to pick up my daughter from her "school" (daycare, but we call it "school" so that she won't be afraid to start real school when the time comes; she'll already be used to that term) at Positive Parenting at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (PPAT), which is right next door to Palmer (so convenient!). Delaney loves her school. I have to say that my husband's brother, Josh, and Katie, his wife, did a thorough examination of the top daycares in the area and they picked it as one of their top three. Since Katie was a schoolteacher before coming to Palmer, I trust their opinion. We checked out three and liked PPAT the best. Very open, very friendly, very pro-chiropractic. They mix many different teaching/learning styles/theories for a great mix that will help any child to learn, no matter what type of learner the child is (this idea of children having different styles of learning I read about in: A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine). They have many opportunities for children to engage in different activities. There are rooms designated for specific activities, such as the Gross Motor Skill room, the Creative Play room, etc. It is a safe place for kids to be kids and get messy, dirty, wet, and have fun. (In case you are wondering, Josh and Katie had both their children in Skip-A-Long Preschool in Bettendorf, also an excellent facility and their first choice.)
Doing laundry and looking over notes...I must say that I find Oxiclean stain spray the best for getting out baby/toddler stains. I've been very impressed. Especially because Lani seems to be extra talented at getting her clothes covered in either food or paint at school each day. No problem. Oxiclean gets it out. Saves me money on buying clothes. Most of which I buy at garage sales and resale shops anyway, but when children grow so fast, you even hate to lose a dress or shirt to a stain. I try to not buy more than she can reasonably wear at present (however, I think I have already gotten all her fall/winter clothes from the 5 or so garage sales I've gone to that had great kid's clothes: Gymboree, Gap, Flapadoodles, Carters, Old Navy, OshKosh, Adidas, The Children's Place). I take great care of her things so that I can sell them when we are done with them.
I think garage sales are wonderful because you never know what you might find. I've been very fortunate: just about two weeks ago, I found 4 silver-plated chargers (go under the dinner plate in a nice table setting) at a garage sale for $8.00. The tags, still on the back, said each one was $10.00 new. I had stored my chargers up on a high shelf in our pantry and they fell out one night and woke us with the crash. We thought we had an intruder! Well, the fall broke about 4 of them (I had a mix of gold and silver chargers). So I was able to replace them for a price I could swallow. Yea!
I love to entertain. It has been hard not to do as much entertaining since being in school. Number one, it can be expensive, especially if you get any alcohol to share with guests; number two, it can literally eat up a lot of time, mainly because I insist on cleaning the whole house (or as much of it as possible) before a party, and due to food prep time. I really enjoy trying out new recipes when we have guests, so it takes longer to prepare because I've never done it before. I never estimate enough time (ask my husband-he's had to help pull me up to speed with his great prepping of veggies and such, more than once!). I just enjoy being with a group of great friends, especially if I can get an eclectic mix of people. Watching everyone interact and having interesting conversations is the best. Finding out something you didn't know about someone, like the fact that they are SCUBA-certified, or that they have horses, or that they dream of someday working for the Gates Foundation...these are all very intriguing. People are fascinating!
Well, time for me to put in some more quality study time before I hit the hay. I can't forget to write the paper this week for Philosophy III class on pleomorphism and monomorphism, which is the final in that class. I'd like to get it done as soon as possible, but my work schedule is not likely to permit that...maybe I'll have time Friday after I take the Endo final.
I nabbed an awesome parking spot today (really close to my first class!) and that almost never happens. I'm usually down Main Street hill and have to walk up about a block (it's not that bad, just uphill in the morning: a mini workout to get the blood pumping to my brain!). Many people were missing; probably already studying for Friday's finals. Many of the upper-tri classes have finals before finals officially begin or they have practicals this week and last. Some have only one or two to complete during the actual time of finals, which is nice. I went to classes because many profs give extra credit quizes when attendance is low, so it is a good incentive to show up. Most people can use the extra point or two!
We covered congenital dysplasias and "other weird stuff" in Radiology (Rad) I today. Very interesting. Achondroplasia (tiny/shortened limbs are a finding), cleidocranial dysplasia (missing/tiny clavicles are a finding), Marfan's syndrome (abnormally tall, with spider-like fingers: Abraham Lincoln had it), osteogenesis imperfecta (skeletal fragility with multiple fractures, blue sclera, telephone receiver sign: long bones severely curved), osteopetrosis ("bone within a bone" appearance on x-ray, bones are all dense: can look completely white/opaque on x-ray, brittle).
After classes were over at 1:45, I went to work for a bit. Worked an hour and started getting really hungry, so came home to have a savory Amy's Tamale Verde with Black Beans (note to self: MUST learn how to make similar so can freeze for quick meals). Had waited too long to eat and was warm, so felt woozy. Hands were shaking as I prepared it. Was a very long 4.5 min. for it to microwave (that sounds so silly, but it really felt that way!).
Went back to work for a while longer and left the office at 5:15 to pick up my daughter from her "school" (daycare, but we call it "school" so that she won't be afraid to start real school when the time comes; she'll already be used to that term) at Positive Parenting at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (PPAT), which is right next door to Palmer (so convenient!). Delaney loves her school. I have to say that my husband's brother, Josh, and Katie, his wife, did a thorough examination of the top daycares in the area and they picked it as one of their top three. Since Katie was a schoolteacher before coming to Palmer, I trust their opinion. We checked out three and liked PPAT the best. Very open, very friendly, very pro-chiropractic. They mix many different teaching/learning styles/theories for a great mix that will help any child to learn, no matter what type of learner the child is (this idea of children having different styles of learning I read about in: A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine). They have many opportunities for children to engage in different activities. There are rooms designated for specific activities, such as the Gross Motor Skill room, the Creative Play room, etc. It is a safe place for kids to be kids and get messy, dirty, wet, and have fun. (In case you are wondering, Josh and Katie had both their children in Skip-A-Long Preschool in Bettendorf, also an excellent facility and their first choice.)
Doing laundry and looking over notes...I must say that I find Oxiclean stain spray the best for getting out baby/toddler stains. I've been very impressed. Especially because Lani seems to be extra talented at getting her clothes covered in either food or paint at school each day. No problem. Oxiclean gets it out. Saves me money on buying clothes. Most of which I buy at garage sales and resale shops anyway, but when children grow so fast, you even hate to lose a dress or shirt to a stain. I try to not buy more than she can reasonably wear at present (however, I think I have already gotten all her fall/winter clothes from the 5 or so garage sales I've gone to that had great kid's clothes: Gymboree, Gap, Flapadoodles, Carters, Old Navy, OshKosh, Adidas, The Children's Place). I take great care of her things so that I can sell them when we are done with them.
I think garage sales are wonderful because you never know what you might find. I've been very fortunate: just about two weeks ago, I found 4 silver-plated chargers (go under the dinner plate in a nice table setting) at a garage sale for $8.00. The tags, still on the back, said each one was $10.00 new. I had stored my chargers up on a high shelf in our pantry and they fell out one night and woke us with the crash. We thought we had an intruder! Well, the fall broke about 4 of them (I had a mix of gold and silver chargers). So I was able to replace them for a price I could swallow. Yea!
I love to entertain. It has been hard not to do as much entertaining since being in school. Number one, it can be expensive, especially if you get any alcohol to share with guests; number two, it can literally eat up a lot of time, mainly because I insist on cleaning the whole house (or as much of it as possible) before a party, and due to food prep time. I really enjoy trying out new recipes when we have guests, so it takes longer to prepare because I've never done it before. I never estimate enough time (ask my husband-he's had to help pull me up to speed with his great prepping of veggies and such, more than once!). I just enjoy being with a group of great friends, especially if I can get an eclectic mix of people. Watching everyone interact and having interesting conversations is the best. Finding out something you didn't know about someone, like the fact that they are SCUBA-certified, or that they have horses, or that they dream of someday working for the Gates Foundation...these are all very intriguing. People are fascinating!
Well, time for me to put in some more quality study time before I hit the hay. I can't forget to write the paper this week for Philosophy III class on pleomorphism and monomorphism, which is the final in that class. I'd like to get it done as soon as possible, but my work schedule is not likely to permit that...maybe I'll have time Friday after I take the Endo final.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)