Today we ran codes on the simulation dummy.

Charging. . . CLEAR! You know, that thing they do on TV? We did that on a "patient" with a real heart monitor. We read the strips and had to tell the "First Year Resident Doctor" what to do, what meds to use, and how much. All in real time. In a tiny room, with beepers going off and a "family member" asking questions. Go in, talk to him, assess his chest pain, he loses consciousness, and his BP drops and then he flat lines. The whole scenario as if it was really happening. Marina did compressions, Adama bagged him, I hooked up the defibrilator. We shocked "Mr. Jones" back into sinus rhythm. It was awesome.

Thing is, it didn't feel awesome. It was nerve racking. We did four scenarios, and we just had to figure it all out. I had a bad headache and couldn't remember much of anything we talked about yesterday in preparation. I was tired and worried I wouldn't be able to do much in the room. In fact, I didn't do much. 

And then, just now I got this email from my professor.

I kept hearing how great you all did in simulation today! The lab staff was really impressed. I think you all must have been some of the best in the class (but then again I’m a little biased).

Have a great weekend,

Prof. Fuss

Talk about something to pick you up after a long week! All joking (and moaning and whining) aside, I'm blessed to have the classmates and professor I do. And to learn.

Now, to get rid of this headache!  Happy Friday, all.

BUT. . .

. ..someday when I feel cruddy, I'll be able to do this-



Sorry about the ad. Just keep watching.
For the record, they're married- the ones talking about having a baby.

(This is the new NBC hospital drama now that ER's over. And yes, I have emotionally prostituted myself to the same extent as last year during season 15.)

"Who's idea was this, anyway?"... or "I need a mother very badly."

It has just occurred to me that life is not fair.

Take college, for example. What a splendid idea. Let's take a person and demand of them time and energy in focused study. Let's make them work to support themselves. Just when they're figuring out what they like and don't like but don't have enough time, energy or money to do anything about it. Let's watch them struggle through all kinds of relationships they're no good at yet. Better yet, let's make sure they go to a special ward full of other drained, lost, and confused young people and let them run it practically by themselves. (That'll be fun to watch!) That way they'll learn to fend for themselves, cook, clean, manage a household, all while dressing to impress employers, future employers, professors, people of the opposite gender. Laundry, you say? They'll figure it out just fine. After ruining what they can't afford to replace. And don't forget the tests! That take over the mind and soul every waking, and sometimes sleeping, moment. Tests that inevitably turn out to have nothing whatsoever to do with working in the actual field, evidenced by the fact that mentors and even some recent grads don't really remember what was on them, or that they were "all that bad." Which, incidentally, is where they get professors from. Two words: selective amnesia. (It makes them feel less guilty.)That's the stuff! Then we'll make sure to stress them out right before each and every holiday so they don't have time to think about the real meaning behind it, the people they love or what they could be doing for someone else.

Oh, and worst of all- make sure they get as little interaction with their mothers as possible. And when they do get it, make them feel horrifically guilty about liking it. And needing it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So there are some days that I don't feel like doing my dishes. Or three.

And every once in a while I don't bother to put the new roll of toilet paper on the dispenser.

And so what if I didn't actually wash my hair?

You mean I'm supposed to take care of myself?

But it's HARD!

That's IT! Next Wednesday I'm packing my bag and going HOME. To see my Mom.

PS I do still make my bed everyday though. That's something, right?
PPS Despite the pity party, I've actually had some really great help and support this week, and even been able to offer some in return. I just like being dramatic. Oh, and I love dissing on school!
PPPS You know I'm kidding, right? I'd love to be my own mother (though I adore mine). It's the school part I could do without.

Update

Some missing information-

Correction- I actually scored an 88 on the last test. They gave me back the point for one of my answers.

I got the coat for 50% off. Couldn't pass it up.

Santa might just be making my wish that appears below come true instead. We'll see.

And finally, Wendy got her archives job. And a start date. It's official. It's also official that we can't all be employed at the same time. I have no babysitting days this month. OF COURSE HR called her this week. Why didn't we think of that sooner?!?

I want to go to there.

                      +

(click me)

+

 

Maybe I still can. . . we'll see. Who wants to come too?

To do

I got on a while ago to say that I'm one huge semester project away from buying my Christmas tree. Any wonder that I'd be blogging instead of just getting it done?

Nope. No surprise.

I turn it in Friday, but if it's done before that I'll let myself go get one. We need it early this year for a couple of reasons. We're hosting a bridal shower this Saturday and it'll make for a nice cozy decoration. A couple of us are going to be leaving earlier in Dec for trips and such. We need a whole month with a tree!!!

I'll let you see it when it's done.

Cozy Cozy

When my little brothers were being tucked into bed as toddlers they would ask for someone to "cozy cozy" them. That honor was usually my mother's but in the case of an older sibling visiting from college, it was automatically assumed they would be asked to fill in. Bots (bottles) and Barneys (stuffed animals) and a couple of songs and then they were asleep.

This week it rained every single day. It got worse as the week went on. Winds, dropping temperatures, dark evenings, soggy leaves stuck to everything. . . the works. Hello November!

Until today.

The sun was up before me. And it was 70 degrees this afternoon. Someone forgot to tell Maryland that it's almost Thanksgiving!

While I rejoice in the mild temps and happy sunshine, it was kind of a treat to have a few days to find my cozy cozy spot under a chocolate brown fleece blanket and my lap top (which doubles as a heating pad) enjoying some classic girl cinema. Little Dorit and While You Were Sleeping made the cut.

Now, don't be fooled. I worked hard this week. I got back on my game by scoring an 86 on a test, had all of my assignments in on time and even got to participate in the following evening events: Running the activity at Family Home Evening, participating in a lesson with the Elders, attending a fireside where Russell M. Nelson addressed medical professionals, help a friend stuff her wedding invitation envelopes, picked up a couch from my parents' house, hosted Meagan in return for my lovely Charlottesville trip, and caught up with a couple long distance friends who are up to great things lately. Today I came home and played the piano for a while, until Wendy fell asleep on the couch.

Not really sure why I'm giving such a detailed account of my week.  I'm endeavoring to capture the coziness of the fall that may end up being rare this season.

But I have to be a little more detailed to really get the point across. Last week I realized what it is about being in school that I hate so much. The selfishness. You have to place YOUR homework and YOUR responsibilities first. Everybody knows that helping other people gives you warm fuzzies. And the cold crusties of focusing on yourself can make a rainy week rather intolerable. I really grappled with the seemingly mutually exclusive options of being diligent and responsible versus thinking of others.  For example, I wicked wanted to make some cookies, and wanted to share them. So I did. I thought of my clinical group, how half of them would be presenting their huge semester projects the next morning and we'd all have a chance to celebrate. And then I stopped to consider that I might be judged for spending time making cookies (frivolous, unwise, and irresponsible) instead of studying.

Somehow this week (after praying for help) I was able to do what I needed to do and still accept invitations to serve others. I know that me needing those experiences is somewhat selfish in and of itself, but how ever it works, I had a lot of chances to look back on my day, as I lay in bed, and feel. . . well, cozy.

May I suggest. . .

Do you ever find bugs in your walnuts and have to start a recipe over so that you end up having about 2/3 of a cup of pumpkin left over? Well, don't worry. I can help you put it to good use.

Grab your favorite oatmeal. (Instant pre-flavored packages work great!)

cook as directed

add two heaping tablespoons pumpkin.

Enjoy!

If you are using straight up oatmeal, add cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar.

Why didn't we think of this before?

Remember these babies?

They have a new friend.

Don't worry about me this year, Santa.

How do you spell Victory?

I spell it 52-0

And 9 miles. I'm running one for the field goal that they didn't end up counting. 

  

 

Photo shoot post sacrament meeting musical number with the "roommates" 

Slideshow of game highlights courtesy of the BYU Website: http://photo.byu.edu/video.php?cat1=Slide%20Shows&cat2=Sports&cat3=2009&cat4=09FTB%20vs%20WYO