I feel like a real person

I wrote this a few weeks ago, but am just getting around to posting it. This quarter has been another intense one in the ultrasound program. That said, I am more and more loving what I am doing. Plus, by the grace of God, I keep doing well. I just got back mid-term scores and I am sitting pretty. It is only because of Him that I am where I am today. I am just amazed at how He is empowering me to accomplish this stuff. He is so amazing. OH! AND! I initiated a little prayer group with some girls (they're 21, 25, and 23, I think) from my class, and WHAT a blessing it is to be around them. They are truly a gift from God. They are incredible examples of young people following Christ with their whole hearts. I am in awe of them. Their walk with God has blessed me beyond words. You would think as the "older" woman in the group, that I would have something to add to their lives - well it is really just the opposite. God has been SO good to me.....

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my clinical site. They're allowing me to do a little bit more each week and learn the ropes. I've seen all kinds of interesting cases and realize how well I've been taught in my program, because I'm understanding SO much. I love the job, I love the people I work with and I love the patients. Did I say that I LOVE ultrasound? Well, I do. This once a week thing is exactly what I needed to help me keep my eye on the prize while I hammer out all of this studying and work. Pretty soon, it will be June and I will transition to full-time clinicals and no more classroom time. I can hardly believe it.

Anyway, here's the post I wrote a few weeks ago. Its how I feel every time I leave clinicals:

I had an incredible day at my clinical site today. I wish I could blab all about it, but because of privacy laws, I am not allowed to. I CAN talk about my feelings, though.

So I will.

Today I "diagnosed" something in my mind during a scan, and afterwards my "diagnosis" was confirmed by the sonographer. I was right! I kept this to myself, but I was feeling very smart. I also got to assist in scanning today, which meant running the machine while the other sonographer scanned a difficult patient. Kind of an unusal thing to do, but hey - I was game, and I did it! I worked the buttons, measured body parts, annotated and everything! I was so proud of myself. I also stayed a little late, so I could watch a scan I had never seen before. There was something funky going on, and I offered my ideas as to what was going on. It felt so GOOD using my brain, figuring things out and coming up with thoughts.

I left on a high. I love this. I totally love this. I feel like a real person (if that makes any sense at all to you - it does to me). I love using my brain, analyzing, deducing, investigating, thinking, postulating. I feel alive.

CWU

I'm going to be a CWU Mom! Yahoo!!

He is Risen!!

Happy Easter!! He is Risen!!

Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)




1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

Philippians 3:10-12
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)

Senior Pic Day

Amanda and I went down to Pt. Defiance Park and Owen Beach for her senior photo shoot today! I must say, it was gorgeous and sunny, which made for magical pictures being taken. Our photographer, Crystal was awesome, and I can't wait to receive our disc in the mail of all the pics she took!! Don't worry. I will post some!

I also started planning for Amanda's graduation open house celebration! We nailed down the date, and sent our preliminary emails to most friends and family....

I can't believe I have a senior!!

First Day

I had my first day at my clinical site today. It was awesome. There were some sad moments with patients, some happy ones and some interesting ones. It was a great day, overall. I really felt like I knew what I was seeing as I observed and THAT was a VERY satisfying feeling.

I got a little emotional as I drove to the site this morning, thinking about how hard I've been studying and pushing myself - and now to be going to my first site. Whew. Its such a cool experience. This one day a week experience is coming at just the right time for me, as it will probably be the inspiration I need to keep pushing myself. Its a little taste of the real thing, I guess. A reminder of the goal - the end prize for all this intensity....

Today I wanted to grab up one patient and hug them, but as an observing student, it isn't my place to provide patient care. I did go into the restroom and shed a little tear and said a little prayer for them. I hope that I don't become too desensitized to the experience of patients. I know its inevitable that this will happen, but I hope that I can always show compassion and concern for whatever their situation might be. If anything, the medical field is a definite opportunity to pray for people, even if its behind the scenes and they don't know it....