Totally Random

It's late and I'm still up. I just thought I would give an update on my thyroid nodule.

There is no update. I will meet with my endocrinologist next week on Wednesday. We're going to go over the images together and decide what to do. I think its going to be cool to talk with the doc about my images, because I will actually know what I am looking at and what he is talking about. I love being smart.

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Do you remember that scene in the Breakfast Club where the principal said something about "cracking some skulls?" Yeah. I use that phrase when I am mad at someone, or if my kids are in trouble. So today I am mad at someone and I would REALLY LIKE TO CRACK SOME SKULLS!!!!!

I know this is all totally random, but it makes me feel better to say it. Plus, I'm really tired and loopy.

Good night.

Ultrasound Conference

Are you ever doing something and you start thinking about writing about it later on your blog? Today, I was at an ultrasound conference and was thinking about just that.

I was sitting there enjoying some herbal tea and fascinated by watching a presentation on hernias. I don't think I ever would have thought that hernias would be so interesting, but today they were. We watched a video of a real-time sonogram showing how to detect hernias. I got some really good information! We also heard presentations on pelvis abnormalities (adenomyosis, ectopic pregnanies, etc.), medical legal issues, preventing spread of infection, pre-natal echocardiography and pre-natal testing for birth defects and developmental abnormalities.

It was very cool for me, as a student, entering into this sonography world for a day. I realized that the terminology we are being taught is really spoken in real life - AND I actually understood it! I also got the chance to see some of the gals who allowed me to observe in their imaging center before I got accepted into my program. They remembered me, which felt nice, and we got a chance to talk about the program and how it is going. I also met some other sonographers who gave us some tips and tricks of the trade, so to speak.

All in all, I really enjoyed myself and am so excited about this field!

Now I'm Scared Again

OK, so now I'm scared again to be a sonographer. The other day, we learned about Thoracentesis. The procedure itself isn't what scares me - it's a draining of fluid from the chest (with a needle and tube). What scares me is that MY job is to scan the patient's back, and mark their back with an "X." This "X" is what the radiologist uses to stick the needle into. If you get the spot wrong, the doc could stick the needle into the lung on accident, and the patient has a pneumothorax (collapsed lung). Greeeeaaaaaat......Last night, I looked up Thoracentesis on YouTube, just to feel better about this. There was an entire educational video on the whole procedure! I guess you can find anything on YouTube!

But, I'm still scared.

Amanda's audition

Spokane was great. Our flight was only 50 minutes, and when we arrived there was snow piled up everywhere - they must have gotten a LOT of snow! We got a rental car and drove to our hotel, which left a lot to be desired. Plus, they didn't give us the right room, so we shared a bed. Oh well - Amanda doesn't snore. :) We went out to dinner, and poked around Target before heading back to the hotel to study a little bit.

The next afternoon was Amanda's audition. We killed some time getting coffee and shopping before heading over to the college. I did not go into Amanda's audition with her, but she was very pleased and proud of herself when she finished!! Yay Amanda!!

We drove around the Whitworth campus and she showed me where everything was (she and Joe toured the campus back on October). It's a nice, small campus with wonderful students. Amanda wants to go there so badly....

I am praying for Amanda to receive a hefty, if not a full ride scholarship there. We have not been able to save for her college tuition, and since she wants to become a teacher, I'm sure it's a good idea for her not to have gigantic student loans to pay back. I have seen God lead her to this school in so many ways, and I believe that it is His desire that she attend there. So, I have to believe that He is going to provide for her. It's what I am asking Him for.....

Spokane

Amanda and I are flying over to Spokane tomorrow afternoon so she can perform in a college music scholarship audition. Pray for our safe travels and success for Amanda! :)

Boobs and fake testicles

We started scanning breasts in our lab today. I know this is crass, but decided that I really like scanning boobs. I had one of mine scanned. I have a lot of fat in it, but this is because of my age. I scanned all ages and sizes today. The smaller ones are not as fun as the bigger ones. But, you can see the chest wall muscles really well with small ones. That was cool. I asked my lab teacher what she would think about scanning breasts all day. She said something about wanting to kill herself or something like that. I don't know if I could ONLY scan breasts all day long everyday - I might get sick of it, I guess, but I really liked it today.......

Our lab teacher made fake testicles and a penis out of water balloons today. She tied them to one of my classmates with a nylon. This was done to show us how to position the male genitalia for a scrotal exam. I'm sure that the first real scrotal exam I perform will be awkward for me, but I intend to think about doing the best exam I can - just as I would want for my husband, son or grandfather.

While both of these types of exams will be somewhat awkward, I think about how life-saving they can be. Men and women die from cancers in these areas of their body, but when they are found early, it makes all the difference in the world. I look forward to getting good at what I do so I can find these abnormalities and really help someone.

The thing is, school is so intense right now that it feels like FOREVER before I'll be good at my job. It's amazing what I can do already, but I know there is still so much MORE to learn and do. In about a month, I will begin my clinicals one day per week. So, it really isn't so far away that I'll begin scanning real patients. It's just so HARD right now and I'm TIRED. I'll never be tired enough to give up, but I sure am TIRED......

Please pray for me.

Midterm Update

I did pretty darn good on my midterms - yes, pretty darn good. A couple of A's, a B and one not-so-good-grade that they're giving us a chance to make up because most of the class did badly, too. I'm not worried. I'll do the make-up work, get back in good standing and keep working my little hiney off. Good stuff, I tell ya. Good stuff.

I Scanned A Baby!

I SCANNED A BABY! A pregnant lady came into my class on Friday and I got to scan her belly. I found myself smiling the whole time. It was SO much fun.

I also heard some pretty awesome ultrasound stories from my teacher. She told of a day when a brain surgeon called her in to scan a BRAIN in the middle of a surgery to remove a brain tumor. She walked in and the skullcap was removed and there was this naked BRAIN. She had to scan it to see if they removed all of the tumor. Is that not AWESOME or what?! I wish I had been there....

She also told a story about how she had to scan a spinal cord of a patient who was lying on their stomach and their spine was completely exposed. "Fileted like a fish" was more like how she explained it. I wish I had been there too.....

After a couple of difficult weeks in my program, I got the inspiration I needed that day to renew my vision for becoming a sonographer. Ever since I started my pre-req's, I have tried to keep this vision of myself in scrubs at a hospital working as a sonographer. Keeping this vision in my mind helps keep me motivated. Today was a great reminder of the vision and the true enthusiasm I have for my future career. This is going to be such a great fit for me for so many reasons, and I get so excited when I think about the kind of person I am and how this job matches me (did that just make sense?). Anyway, it's stories and short experiences like these that give me this incredible desire to learn and fans the flames of my enthusiasm for what I'm doing......I usually come home and relay the stories to my husband, throw my head back with a groan and say "AGHGHGHG! I WANT TO DO THAT!!!"

Right Now, I Would Like to Be....

Right now, I would like to be out on a quiet, serene lake on a sunny day paddling a kayak and fishing.

Where would you like to be right now?

Morning Hugs

I was hugging and loving on my son this morning, and he said "How do you get such a good smell? Is it your makeup?" I said, "Maybe. How did you get so handsome? You must have got it from me." He says, "Yeah. You're so handsome. How did you get so juicy?"

Thyroid appointment

So, last Wednesday I went into my endocrinologist's office to discuss my recent ultrasound. I opted to meet with his partner, so I could get my results quicker.

The best laid plans of mice and men......

He only had the radiologist's report and not the images. When I asked my teacher about this, she said it was typical for doctors to do business this way. I think it's stupid. Anyway, after reading the report, this endocrinologist now wants to see the images. He said he would order them and see me in a month.

A MONTH?!

The whole reason I went to the imaging center to have my thyroid scanned in the first place was so I didn't have to wait until March to have my endocrinologist do it in his office! THEN, I made an appointment with his partner so I wouldn't have to wait to hear the results! NOW, I'm still having to wait until March!

My teacher says it only takes a day or two to get images, so I'm going to call the office back and be a squeaky wheel again. They're going to be sick of me.

Oh brother.

Scratch That

I would like to put a big "X" over my previous post. Here's how I am going to re-write it.

I had a difficult week. For the most part, I did the best I could. I messed up at times, but it doesn't define me.

My son was very sick. On one of his worst nights wheezing in the bathroom breathing shower steam, he asked me to pray for him. He cried out to God, "heal me!" I am amazed that he has somehow grasped from me the fact that God heals, and the first thing we should do is pray and ask for help. Good Mom.

I screwed up and did something spiteful that turned out worse than I intended. It was sin, but my soft heart was convicted immediately and I asked for forgiveness. I apologized to the person. I get to start over. Imperfect Redeemed Christian.

I thought I botched a test. Almost everyone else did, too. Come to find out, there were some points on my test that were not counted, and our teacher is also going to give us an opportunity to redeem ourselves. When I surveyed the class, and asked how many of them were already researching alternate career options. Everyone raised their hands. I realized I'm not alone. Awesome student.

I received my first ticket. Ever. I've never even been pulled over. My husband and daughter greeted me at home with laughs and hugs. It's going to be OK. I'll go to court and have it deferred so it won't affect my insurance.

Last night at church, I cried. There was something at church called "cardboard testimonies." About 50 people walked up on stage one at a time (some couples) and held up a piece of cardboard with a quick blurb about something negative that had happened to them in their lives, and when they turned the cardboard over, it said how God redeemed that situation. Then, our pastor continued a message on Nehemiah, and how Nehemiah didn't get initimidated by accusations/lies and stayed the course. Then, over 20 people accepted Christ. Then, there was impromptu baptisms. Our pastor said "some people just need to go home with wet clothes tonight." I would say that over 50 people were baptized - probably more. GOD REDEEMS.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland...." (Isaiah 43 :18-19)

GOD REDEEMS!!!

I'll Try

I was going to recap my rotten week for you and title it "Basically, I Suck." I have seriously had a horrible week, starting off with a very sick boy and not being able to stay home with him. Horrible mother.

This week I also made a decision out of spite, that turned out worse than I intended - it was basically sin that came out of a sinful attitude. I have been convicted to the core and ashamed. Horrible Christian.

THIS followed by a botched test. Horrible student.

THIS followed by my very first speeding ticket. Ever. I've never even been pulled over. When I saw the flashing lights, it was like I wasn't even surprised. I had been feeling so crappy that I almost half-expected that something worse would happen. And, thanks to the speed trap on River Road and my distracted brain, it did.

Today, I was feeling like such a sucky person, I cried the entire half hour to school, praying for the one hundredth time for forgiveness for my failures. I took my Physics midterm, and drove home.

But you know why you get the short version, and don't have to listen to too very much of my self-loathing? Well, because I asked the Lord to please, even though I don't deserve it - to please give me an encouraging word. Do you know what He did? As I got in my car to come home today, the radio was on and I heard a lady talking. She was finishing a story that sounded like she was sharing how God redeemed her life, etc. She said she wanted to share a verse, and here it was:

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland...." (Isaiah 43 :18-19)

Thank you, Lord. I'll try.

Please pray for me!

I have 5 midterms coming. 3 this week and two next week. Please pray for me! I would greatly appreciate it. :)