Wordless Wednesday~OMG!

Geriatrics Rotation: Never a dull moment

This month I have been with two other Pharmacy students, and we have worked together, bounced ideas off of /learned from each other, and generally supported each other through a pretty trying month. With great expectations, come great rewards....so I do feel fortunate that I have learned a great deal this month.

It does help that the residents there are as sweet as can be, and they never fail to make me smile, or laugh, or sometimes wonder if they actually meant to be inappropriate (there's a story there...more on that on another post).

It can't be all work and no play! As part of our group project for the month, we had to plan and host a booth for a health fair that was recently held. We decided to do a medication review/summer fun booth. We made it bright and cheerful by going with a summer/Hawaiian theme. Here are a couple of pics.

Jon, Tracey, Heather (hard at work)

May 2010

Geriatrics

We kinda went with the summer theme and ran with it. The residents loved our colorful, festive look. So many of them came by and reminisced about the time they went to Hawaii...

Several men asked if we were doing hula dances too...UM, no. lol.

All work and no play.....makes for a very dull girl.

Wonderful weekend

We had a great weekend that included all the of following small reasons. 

1. We got to sleep in once. Happy happy Joy joy!
2. We had date night with alone time! We had the best indian food AND uninterrupted conversation. Oooh la la.
3. I got a new digital camera! with like a gazillion mega-pixels~Yay~Will post some new pics soon. I love it!
4. There was one showing on our house with great feedback! Now if only we would get an offer!
5. Plans were made for our road trip to OHIO this coming weekend. To see our next house! Can't wait. :)

How was your weekend?

Bragging Rights

Hey!!! I know I have been MIA lately. Life has reached another level of busy and crazy, but we are here and alive and well.

I am having a delicious Saturday morning. We slept in, and I had the rare treat of waking up beside my sweet husband. He is home for the weekend, and his visit feels like perfect timing. After a quiet breakfast, we are spending some time looking at the pictures of our future home in OH, making plans....talking about paint colors, fireplace mantles, and fences. It has been 10 months since he left to work in another state, and it feels so good to be "making plans" for when we are all back together again in a few short months. I can't wait. I also can't wait for tonight, because we have a date night planned too. YAY!

My rotation is going well. I could pretty much write a book about all the funny and quirky things that come out of the mouths of the sweet elderly residents there. It has truly been a joy, and going into my last week there... I know I will truly be sad to leave them. I do feel like I have learned a ton, and I had a great midpoint evaluation. I promise to share more indepth details about a few experiences very soon.

The kids are doing great!

I have to apologize for not having any recent pictures of them to share. Our digital camera suffered a severe and fatal blow during a recent trip to the zoo. Sadly, it did not make it. LOL~ So, we are in need of a new camera, but right now that is at the bottom of my TO-DO list. Plus, Chris is the "electronically savvy" part of this tandem that is our marriage. He is extremely anal detail-oriented and wants to check out all the "new technology" and make an "informed and well thought-out decision" before we get a new camera....LOL, OK...so I am going to leave that to him! I am the kinda girl that would walk into Target and say, "Awww, how SWEET is that hot pink camera?! I'll take it!"

...and THEN when I get home....Chris would be all like "how many megapixels" or something or another...and I would say "Mega-WHAT? I don't care cause it was just too MEGA-CUTE!"  Anyhoo, we have decided to let HIM be involved in purchasing the next camera. Tangent over.

Back to the original thought, the kids are GREAT. Please allow me to brag just a little bit.....

Image from:http://www.udel.edu/PR/bragging/images/bragging.gif

We have had such a trying year, but I am happy to report they are doing well and even thriving. I knew Dylan had grown alot, but I was shocked when we went to his 10 yr well check-up and found out he was 5 ft 2.5 in TALL and is 95% in height and is projected to be 6-3.

 I KNEW he was eating 24-7, (seriously, he eats more than me and Karsen put together) but it was a bit shocking that this child-o-mine was so BIG! When did this happen? He also started karate this past February and has really enjoyed it. This past week he got to test for and qualified for his yellow belt in karate.

GO, DYLAN! 

It was a very happy day for him, and I was very proud. Also, his first of 4 EOGs (end of grade tests) was this past Thursday, and he passed "with flying colors" (his teacher's words!) too. He has awful test anxiety, and almost got sick before his exam! So, we were really happy to hear that he did well. I just had to brag!

I am mostly proud of him for other reasons.... he has really grown up and matured alot this past year. I think he has taken the brunt of his Daddy working out-of-state 95% of the time, but he has handled it well and has taken on more responsibility for me here at home. I am really looking forward to later this summer when he is back with his Daddy and does not have to deal with a house full of estrogen all the time.

Dylan loves his Daddy! Right now, they are actually doing what he does best; playing the XBOX360 and Dylan is basically in hog-heaven.

Speaking of estrogen...ahem....Karsen is great! LOL~ She really has had a wonderful year in the 2nd grade. She still LOVES gymnastics, and she actually just got moved up to level 3 yesterday! I am so proud of her. She just started gymnastics in February, so she really is moving along nicely. According to her, it is her most favorite thing ever!

Karsen (left) with her cousin, Leah, at gymnastics (they are both PROS at "striking a pose")

She also worked extremely hard on her reading log this year. Here in their school, they have the Reading Olympics, where if you read more than 3,000 pages during any given school year, you get recognized at the end of the school year by Congressman Bob Etheridge. Lots of awards and medals and applause and such......Well, Karsen read her little heart out, and ended up winning 2nd place for the 2nd grade by reading.......drumroll, please.....

13,809 pages this year!!!

WOW!

GO, KARSEN!

Again, I was so proud of her, I coulda just busted! The most gratifying thing for me was to see her get the award after being here with her and watching her read night after night after night. She loves to read, and she diligently documented everything single book she read week after week this past year.

I could just cry if I think about all the upheaval and change that we have gone through and are still in the midst of this past year. It makes me so happy to know that despite all this, the kids are still doing so well. I am one thankful and very proud Momma! Thanks for letting me brag a bit. Enjoy your weekend! :)

WW~Dylan's 1st fishing trip with Grandpa~2004

You're the "berry" best Mom...

 (A Mother's Day card (in the shape of a strawberry) from Karsen Grace)

You're the "berry" best Mom because...

1. You buy me my clothes.
2. You snuggle with me.
3. You cook for me.
4. You clean my room.
5. You teach me manners.
6. You buy me toys.
7. You are just like me.
8. You nurse me when I hurt.
9. You play with me.
10. You sing with me.

You rock, Mom! You are awesome.
Love Karsen Grace

Wordless Wednesday~With Daddy

Wordless Wednesday~Mommy's Makeup

Introspective Moment

One of my favorite quotes.....about fear, inner struggles, and self-doubt.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson

Rotation #1, Geriatrics=Men Never Change

I have officially started my P-4 rotations! YAY! The first three years of Pharmacy school are didactic; all classroom work and exams. The last year consists of 9 month-long rotations at 8 different sites (Internal Med is 2 months long). It is basically like working for free, or rather paying to work because I will still be billed for tuition (ouch!). Although, it is an essential part of my education before I am allowed to take the Boards and get my Pharmacy license. WOO-HOO~

May is my Geriatrics rotation. It is at a very nice Long Term Care Facility. Actually, THE nicest LTCF around these parts, and I had no idea how nice it was until I got there this morning. It is like the Hilton or Waldorf-Astoria of rest homes. No kidding. There were 5 different dining room with menus and linen tableclothes and full silverware settings at each seat. WOW! I almost forgot where I was! 

It seemed like the perfect enviroment considering it was a LTCF. Women were sitting around knitting afghans, playing bingo, laughing and quilting. I wanted to sit down and join them!

Image from http://www.chkennedystudios.com/

Native American Tribes of NC

Men were playing pool on a Monday morning, doing water aerobics, and playing corn hoe toss. Every once in a while we would pass a lounge of someone playing piano for a group that was enjoying an impromptu game of karaoke. Everyone seemed happy to be there. It really warmed my heart and made me look forward to working with these patients during this month.

My first interaction today was with a man that was cruising by at about 55 mph on his scooter (seriously?! clear the hallway, people!)

He stopped in front of my preceptor (the boss) for the month and the 3 of us students. Then he looked at me and said, "Are you from another country?"...I answered him and said "No, sir, I'm not??" and then he said "You look Indian or something or another". This cracked me up, because although I am bi-racial, no one ever knows that until I tell them. My sisters and my mom obviously look ethnic, while I have always "blended" more....because of how close this particular comment "hit home" with me, it just made me chuckle, and I told him with a smile that I was Indian, Native American actually.

He says, "I knew it! I can't half-way see, but I can always spot em'!"

Then he spins his tires on his lil scooter and takes off around the corner. It was very funny (and random)! I was left wondering about the fact that if he couldn't "half-way see", then maybe his scooter driver's license needs to be revoked! Gotta love lil' old men! Still driving fast and checkin' out women even when they're 90+ years old. Bless his heart, men never change.

Guess where we are going?

Hint #1: "Tim McGraw"

Image from http://www.devilgraphics.com/

Yes, I love him, but no, we are NOT going to see him tonight.

Hint #2 We are feeling FEARLESS.

 Image from www.polyvore.com/.../thing?id=8362025

Hint #3 Karsen loves country music, just like her Momma!

Image from http://images2.layoutsparks.com

Any guesses?

Anyone?

Drugroll.................We are going to see TAYLOR SWIFT, "FEARLESS" Concert in Raleigh tonight!

Image from http://kristyeng.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/taylorswift_fearlesstour1.jpg

I think I may be just as excited as Karsen. Santa brought Karsen two tickets, and she has been patiently waiting for May 1st. Kellie Pickler is opening for her. Did I mention we are SO EXCITED!!!