2 months and counting

Exactly 2 months from tomorrow, I will be walking across the stage at Northrop Auditorium and accepting my diploma. I might also need to throw my hands up in the air and let out a cry of joy/exhaustion/relief.

I can't wait.

Yet....there are a million and one things to do before then.

I have been so busy lately and so tired, but the thing is that I am really enjoying most of the things that are taking up my time. I really like working at the skilled nursing facility -- the old folks are great. It's sad sometimes (especially the other day when one of my former patients passed away...), but it is also great to see their successes and help improve their quality of life. Other than that, I've been studying for comps (coming up April 9) with a friend twice a week, and that hasn't been too bad. There's just a lot to know, but it's been nice to talk everything out with another person rather than just study by myself. And then there's work and two classes (both of which are about assessing and treating people who are bilingual -- super interesting and relevant here in MN, where we have really high numbers of immigrants and refugees!).

So, yeah....life has been busy lately, and I am feeling like I'm ready to graduate and be an SLP! I am leaning toward working in a school setting, so keep your fingers crossed that I get called for an interview soon!

So, let's do some highs and lows for the past couple weeks, shall we?

Highs:

• Getting called for my first interview at a pediatric clinic
• Feeling like I am getting a handle on how to treat adults with swallowing, voice and cognitive disorders, along with Dementia
• Buying our rowing machine (I need to get on that thing more frequently!)
• Seeing the sun for the past week and actually noticing that the snow is melting (so I can no see over the snowbanks at the end of our driveway when I'm backing out)
• Visiting with Miss Finn last weekend for a bit. She walked over to my chair and held her arms up, like "pick me up!" She's a doll. And I love that after taking a drink, she goes "ahhhh."

Lows:

• Finding out that a patient died on Thursday morning. So sad...
• Having wayyyy too much to do for school before Spring Break and wondering how I'm ever going to finish it all.
• Being sick last week with a stomach flu and not getting to go up north on a snowshoe/cabin adventure. 
• Having to get Indy some anti-seizure meds. We're starting them today.

Well, that's about it for now. I hope to provide more frequent updates about fun projects around the house (crafts, gardening/yard remodeling, etc.) after May! Stay tuned...

Mindful highs and lows

For my MBSR class, I was supposed to keep track of pleasant and unpleasant experiences this week and document if I was fully present for the experience, how it felt, how it feels to reflect on the experiences, etc. Ummm...well, I didn't document them, but I did try to mentally keep track. So I thought I'd try to jot them down here as my usual highs and lows of the week.

So, here goes....

Highs:

• Getting my hair cut! I got about 5-6 inches cut off, and now I'm sassier than ever. :)
• Taking a quiz on Tuesday in class. I know...taking a quiz? What is wrong with me? I felt very smart and like I knew my stuff about how bilingualism affects academic development. 
• Skyping with my dad and Beth last night and hearing my dad tell me about how he stopped in the lobby of the hospital where he works (as a director of a department) to stop and compliment the nice man playing piano. He then went on to sing All the Way by Frank Sinatra with the man. That made me happy that I have a dad who just seizes the day like that. More people (especially big shot directors and managers) should do that. 
• Meeting some neighbors while shoveling my driveway and helping this woman get unstuck from the alley. I love our neighborhood.
• Sitting in the living room and chatting with my husband for about an hour last night. Just me, him and Indy catching up on life. 
• Doing yoga before bed once this week. I know I was supposed to do it more frequently. Well, the one time I did it, I loved it! Listening to a CD that guides you through the poses is way better than trying to a) do it on your own or b) watch a DVD. Love the CD. Love it.
• Getting two books in the mail from Amazon. I love ordering books, even if they are for school. (Nerd!) The books: The Late Homecomer, which I will read for fun and for school (I have to do some cultural awareness activities for one of my classes, and this will count) and An Advanced Review of Speech-Language Pathology, which will help give me some structure for studying for comps and the Praxis Exam (which is a requirement for getting my SLP license).

Lows:

• Having to shovel twice this week due to more ridiculous amounts of snow. 
• Being worried about being towed due to Minneapolis changing their snow emergency parking rules. So to avoid any confusion and a potential towing bill, I parked in a pay lot today. Boo. I hate paying to park on campus...even if it's only $3.75...the cheapest lot around.
• Still not being able to go back to my practicum site after the Office of General Counsel at the U of M has sat on my contract for two weeks and not signed it or approved it. Frustrating. While it has been nice to not have to drive to Hopkins every day, I would like to learn some things about treating adults with dementia, dysphagia, TBI, etc. before I have to take comps in April. 
• Finding out that comps (our comprehensive exam that I have to take in order to graduate) is earlier than I thought it'd be. It's probably April 2. Less than two months to study!

Highs and lows

This has been a busy week! Here are my highs and lows:

Highs:

• Giving my presentation in class on Thursday - felt so good to get that over with, and the prof said I did a great job!
• Baby-sitting Finley last night and watching her play the maracas (video to be posted later)
• Turning in my two patient reports, which brings my practicum to a close
• Meeting an old co-worker (Deborah) for lunch on Monday and catching up with her
• Going out for Halloween last weekend as Carmen Sandiego with Eric as Waldo - we were a hit (pictures to be posted later).
  

Lows:

• Working all day Wednesday and half day Thursday on school and practicum assignments - being holed up in the basement and staring at a computer screen and lots of papers was no fun
• Driving to campus Thursday to give my presentation and realizing as I got to my exit for campus that I forgot my jump drive with my presentation on it at home. Had to drive back for it and get to class 20 mins late. Luckily, my professor is super nice - no big deal, just stressful at the time!
• Getting puked on by Finley and then watching her puke on her mom about 30 minutes later. Poor gal! Turns out she has an ear infection. :(

What were your highs and lows of the week?

*Little-known fact: In my friend Emily's family, it is a tradition to share your highs and lows of the year every New Year's Eve. True story. I even got to participate with the whole fam when I visited them in college. Her brother would come up with one high/low for each month. :) I think it's a great thing to ponder year-round.

Thursday's thrills

Here are things that have made today thrilling:













1. I got to observe a couple of the deaf/hard-of-hearing classrooms at Como Park Elementary today. Aside from the kids being adorable with their cochlear implants and ASL use, the most fun was getting to watch them rehearse their dance to "Thriller" in the gym. That's right, a bunch of deaf/hard-of-hearing elementary school kids are dancing to "Thriller" and performing it for parents, etc. tomorrow (with the help of a local dance troupe that choreographed it and dances alongside the kiddos to help them stay with it). It was hysterical and so cute. What a way to start the day!
















2. Listening to The Swell Season on my ipod. The two musicians from "Once" formed a new group, and their new album rocks. I've been listening to it at work. Love it.





















3. Just knowing that I get to go home and watch the Thursday night lineup on NBC of Community, Parks & Rec, The Office and 30 Rock.

What makes this Thursday thrilling for you?