BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD? PLEASE?

So I thought Week 7 kicked my butt, but Week 7 was child's play compared to Week 8. Monday was the EKG exam worth half my grade in the class. Have you ever read an EKG? Squiggles, squiggles, squiggles. I had nightmares about seeing stinking squiggles and the little, tiny boxes that I can barely see half the time on the paper which are pretty important. I studied all weekend reading EKG books, looking at practice EKGs online, and nailing down the criteria for various disorders. I wasn't entirely confident, because after all, it still looks like a bunch of squiggles, but I felt like I had a very loose grasp on the basic concepts-enough to not look like an idiot on rotations. Not bad for being introduced to EKGs five weeks ago. Some people take entire courses on EKGs, so I didn't think my progress was all too shabby. Let's say the test was a bit of a humbling experience, and the entire class felt the same way. Nobody turned in the test before time was up, and that says a lot. We have yet to get grades back...which is probably good. I'm not sure I'm emotionally prepared for that. That in itself was bad, but then I was so beaten, mad, tired, etc. from this test, that I couldn't study for my Pharm test the next day. Every time I started to study, I'd just get distracted and more mad, which in turn, made me even more mad. Evil circle of madness. So needless to say, that test could have also gone better. Arg. I had a nice little cushion from the first test, and I still have 3 more Pharm tests to even out my grade, so I'm not worried, but anyone who knows me knows that I don't like it when I don't do my best. And I basically didn't have an excuse, which only made me more mad at myself. Wednesday was fine, but I was still tired (and mad). Thursday was long and nothing seemed to follow schedule. Friday was glorious because it was Friday. We had an early class, but then I went to breakfast with the girls, which was a perfect start to the weekend. The best part-no tests next week! I just have to keep telling myself...2 weeks, then it will be spring break. I've made it this far, so surely I can tough out 2 weeks, right? I'm gonna have gray hair and wrinkles when I'm done with this program-add that to the sleep deprivation and loss of proper social skills I've already got going...

A FULL DAY

So today is going to be busy...and I get the feeling it might be interesting, too. First, Ryan started his new job as an Assistant Pro this morning! He's at a golf course around here that I think really has a lot of potential for him. Congrats again babe, I'm so proud of you and so excited for you! Second, I have an exam worth half of my entire course grade today. Please say a little/huge prayer for me...it is totally stressing me out. And lastly, this is something I've not yet seen...it's a TWO cruise ship kind-of day! Last semester, I finally got used to seeing the cruise ships in the bay on a weekly basis, and I got used to stifling my urge to see if they had any remaining tickets so I could just walk on. It has always been Carnival cruises, and it has always been one ship at a time. Well this morning, lo and behold there are two ships in the bay! Just parked right next to each other all cozy-like. One Carnival and one Royal Caribbean. Yes, I'm quite easily amused by this. Seeing as we have a few big things happening today, I'm counting the two-cruise-ship-uniqueness as one of those happy omens. :)

WHERE AM I? WHAT DAY IS IT?

There is no softening the blow on this one; week 7 kicked my butt. If it weren't for technology, I would not have known what day it was or where I was supposed to be and when. Monday was Valentine's day, but Ryan and I celebrated over the weekend by going to this yummy hibachi place nearby. Everyone at school was more enthusiastic about Valentine's day than I'm used to, but it was sweet. Tuesday, we had an extra morning class, so we had to be at school by 8 AM instead of the usual 1 PM...talk about jacking with my sleep schedule! And let's not forget to mention that I was in the hospital seeing patients until 7 or so, then I got to come home and keep cramming for the impending Patho test. Wednesday held our second Patho exam of the semester and what I'm pretty sure was the hardest exam he gives...ever...in any class or any year. It was renal, renal dysfunction, and pediatrics renal plus endocrine and endocrine dysfunction. Either of those could have easily had its own test, so the amount of material to study was just unbelievable. I did fine on the test, so I just counted my blessings and continued on my merry little way-don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right? Do you think I got any more sleep Wednesday night? Nope. I had to finish my patient write-up stuff from the hospital on Tuesday, which only took like 4 hours per patient. I attempted to sleep that night, but my body still thought we needed to run off minimal sleep, so it didn't cut me any slack. Thursday, I was a zombie. We were in class until 5, it takes me an hour to get home, Ryan and I ate dinner, and then I went to bed. I slept for over 10 hours that night, only because my alarm woke me up on Friday morning. I could have easily slept right through class, but Friday was Melanie's birthday, so of course we had to go have some fun! So Friday was class, lunch with the girls, came home and showered, Ryan and I went to Costco and dinner, then back to the island to surprise Melanie with a scavenger hunt! Great idea, Heather! We got in sometime after 1 AM, and I had a Surgical Society suture clinic at school this morning. That ran until 12:30 or so (Yes, needles were involved and no, I did not hurt myself! It was actually a really great experience.), and I get to spend the rest of the day studying EKGs! Wa hoo! Try not to be too envious now. Why, you ask? Because my exam on Monday that covers EKGs is worth HALF of my grade in that class. Then Tuesday, we have another exam in Pharmacology over medications relating to cardiovascular function-that's a pretty narrow window, huh?! (insert sarcasm) Sleep, who needs sleep? Apparently not me. :) Ah, the good life...

GETTING THERE...

Well, we are surely getting there-today is the halfway mark of my spring semester! Yippee! And I'm still alive, so that's good. Sleep deprived, a little socially inept because I've spent more time with my textbooks than with real people, and still without my marbles...but I'm still here and doing pretty well. :) Oh, happy day!

ARE WE THERE YET?

Ok, longest week evvvveeerrrrr. At least so far since I've been in PA school. Monday was 9am-7pm not including drive time, which means I was up by 7, plus we got home at about 1:30 am Monday morning from out celebrating the superbowl. Not a good idea. Tuesday was longer than usual with a lunch thing and an exam review after classes ended. Wednesday was our first day this semester with an afternoon lab, so it was longer than we're used to. Add in the rain/freezing temps to sidetrack my mind on the possible ice on every one of the 12 billion overpasses between my apartment and school. Wednesday night and Thursday morning were spent attempting to keep track of UTMB's weather alert system thing, which was almost more confusing than it was helpful. Thursday held yet another new lab that lasted 4 hours. And how could I almost leave out a big exam? Yup, that was Friday. I studied a lot, but I still felt like I was underprepared. The test wasn't as bad as I expected, and I ended up doing well on it, so I can't complain there. This weekend I have the joy of devoting every waking hour to studying for our next Patho test and working on patient write-ups. All I can say is thank goodness I got ahead on some of the writing assignments, or else this might be stressing me out. I say that sarcastically, if you know me at all, because I'm beyond stressed out right now. But I'm still glad I did the writing assignments ahead of time. Anyways, back to Old Faithful, AKA my Patho book...

CRAZY TEXAS WEATHER...

I guess you just never know what to expect around here. Last week, DFW got slammed with ice, snow, more ice, more snow, etc...which ended up getting classes/work cancelled for nearly a week. My dad was supposed to go on a business trip and made it all the way to the airport (yes, through the ice and whatnot) before he was informed that the company finally did cancel the trip last-minute. The roads were in terrible shape and ice was falling off Cowboys stadium and hurting people, all just in time for a huge flood of visitors in town for the Superbowl. Yippee. We didn't get as much here in Galveston, but we did some good ice, so we got out of class for a day or two, which conveniently led into the weekend :). So we kinda thought it was over when it all melted and temps got up into the 50's and 60's. Apparently not. School was called off at 1 PM today because it's raining and freaking cold (and by freaking cold, I only mean the 20's and low 30's) again...which means: yay, more ice. Pretty sure we won't be in class tomorrow morning either. This is just craziness. The professors said this has seriously never happened before to another PA class. So the class of 2010 was known for hurricane Ike, and apparently we will be known for snow days. But hey, don't get me wrong, I'll take the cold over the heat and humidity summer will bring! Everyone be safe out there and stay warm!

UNEXPECTED

Week 5 was unexpectedly smooth! We had a pharmacology exam, and it went really well. Really well :). School was called off for half the day on Thursday and all day Friday due to the THREAT of inclimate weather. I deemed those built-in study days so I could remain caught-up/slightly ahead with my studying and assignments. Ryan took a trip to Austin that wound up being a little shorter than expected, again, due to the weather. So it was nice to have him home early! Ryan and I also celebrated 7 years being together on Thursday. Can't believe how quickly the time has just flown by! It's still crazy to me when I think about it, but crazy in the absolute best of ways. So as long as everyone can stay home, safe, and warm...this will have been a great week! This weekend, I have my cousin's baby shower, a surgical clinic, and of course, the superbowl. I guess that's about it for now. Yall stay safe and warm! And this is for Ryan...GO PACK GO!!!