Validation

I passed my first ultrasound credentialing milestone: I passed the Physics Registry exam! YAHOO!!

Wow. I'm half-way through my first quarter of full-time clinicals. My site instructor came and observed me scanning, and I passed my evaluation. YES! I also had my first "seminar," which is a day set aside for all the classmates to come together, share stories from our sites and present cases. I presented a pelvic case on Adenomyosis, and got 50 out of 50! Can I get another "YES!" I have learned so much and come so far in these four weeks. So many things that I have learned in class make so much more sense to me now. My skills have have grown each day, and now I can pretty much perform a full pelvic exam, both transabdominally and transvaginally. Yes, I do that. I can also pretty much perform a full renal exam as well (we look at aorta, kidneys, bladder...). I am getting there with my full abdomen exams. I'm still slow, which is to be expected, but I am learning how to sweep through organs, and train my eye to notice the abnormal, subtle things. ...

So, I was thinking about how much effort went into parenting Amanda during her senior year, and I thought I would share some of the things I learned. There were many things I didn't expect, and wished someone had told me, so hopefully this will be helpful to someone else! I learned.... 1. A lot of money goes out for senior year stuff. All I can say is: save money for the senior year. For example: announcements, postage, cap/gown stuff, tickets to graduation ceremony, senior pictures, gifts for other seniors, college application fees, prom, accumulating items for the future dorm like bedding and laptop, etc., etc..... 2. Start preparing in the junior year. Its good for the student to study for SAT test, student as well as mom/dad should research colleges and narrow down choices, buy books and learn about college application processes, research scholarships (buy books and/or go online for that), learn about the FAFSA (federal application for financial student aid), talk to lo...

Yesterday we held an open house in honor of Amanda's graduation. It was so much fun having people float in and out of the house. I wished I was ten people, so I could have spent more time with each person. Amanda enjoyed seeing lots of friends and even teachers who stopped by....It was an awesome day... My sister Stephanie's husband, Ryan, Diego the dog, me, Samantha and Stephanie Samantha, little Anna (Stephanie's daughter), Stephanie and me Anna, Stephanie and Samantha Mark (friend from our high school past), Rhonda Marsh (Amanda's violin instructor) Dean (Joe's buddy) and his son, Caiden Jenn, Adam and Amanda (long-time friends and old neighbors) The "crew" Amanda and her private violin teacher, Rhonda Paige and Amanda. They became friends in second grade when we lived in Federal Way for a year. They have kept in touch ever since... Amanda's buddies The spread. A couple of my ultrasound classmates stopped by. These are my prayer buddies, Olga ...

I'm wondering about church growth engines. Having been burned out in the past by buying into the "cause" of church growth, I am skeptical and suspicious of things (i.e., events) that are designed to bring more people into a church. I really wonder about the reasons for doing such a thing - is the core, true, heartfelt desire to reach as many people as possible with the gospel? Or, is the real agenda to "build" an entity, an organization into a mega-one - sort of like building a business? And why would the desire BE to be a mega entity? More pay for staff? Get bigger and better buildings with more fancy stuff? Feed egos? Be "known?" I know its very cynical of me, but I can't help it. I've seen it, experienced it and burned out because of buying into a growth agenda. I've been wondering if it is possible to be part of a church and follow only the agenda God has for ME, and not that of others. I've been feeling something all too...

My week off is coming to an end. I am feeling really relieved and proud to have finished one year of the ultrasound program! I received a 93% or above for each of my classes, and I give all the glory to God for providing me with this success. I am also feeling a little anxious and excited to start full-time clinicals on Monday. I wonder how our family is going to adjust and how I'm going to do with more expectations placed on me by the sonographers. I've been reviewing a lot of information during my break, so I will be ready. I will take my physics registry exam next month, which will give me half the title of a sonographer. :) After my year in clinicals, I will take my Abdomen and OB/Gyn exams which will allow me to put an "RDMS" (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) after my name. Woo Hoo! Joe got "bumped" out of his position at work, which means crappy hours and less pay. We're trusting the Lord that He has some sort of great plan for t...

I am still here. Here's what I've been doing: Going to school Monday through Friday Going to school on Saturdays to practice scanning and complete projects Going to Ben's baseball games Attending end-of-year school concerts and youth symphony concert Mailing graduation announcements Buying flowers to pretty up the yard for upcoming graduation open house Applying for scholarships for myself for next year Going to the hospital once a week for my clinical time Studying Studying Studying Making sure Amanda's college paperwork is done and mailed off Thinking about when I could possibly get my hair done Thinking about how I am going to pull off said graduation open house Going to AWANA derby car race Going to AWANA awards night - Ben got Sparky of the year! Checking my Facebook before I go to bed Studying before I fall asleep Studying in my sleep Thinking about what it will be like to have my didactics done and start clinicals full time in about THREE WEEKS!!! Yeah. That...