I know most of you have probably heard already, but yes- we're getting a hot tub. Hurray! I am ecstatic! Very excited to try it out. Bob has (apparently) been planning on getting one for us for some time, but this last week he let me in on a secret- he was going to one for me for Christmas! Only "problem" is that the ground will be frozen by then, and it would be really hard to install. So... we started looking. And this is what we found.
We can't have it delivered until Nov. 7, but in the mean time, Bob has a new project of creating the pad for it to rest on and implementing the electricity and plumbing needed.
So if any of you are nearby- feel free to come visit. I feel completely spoiled to have such a generous gift, and want to share it! :)
P.S.- to those Kyles reading this, who happened to see pics if they followed the link- is this the same as Jerry and Patti's? It looks pretty close...
10.26.2010
10.17.2010
"Daddy, don't hit me!!"
Tonight at the video store, I witnessed the most tragic scene. A family of four wandered around the store, the parents discussing video options. Two little kids, a boy and a girl, solemnly followed behind. The boy had a knit cap on, as well as his hoodie. Strangely, the dad was holding the hoodie up over the boy's forehead. Suspicious, I watched the family. Something didn't seem right. As the parents became more engaged in their conversation, the little boy ran off. When he came back, his hoodie slipped back enough for me to see two large bruises on the side of his face. Holding back tears, I struggled to maintain my composure. While I "browsed", I tried to figure out what to do. Picking up "She's the Man", and pretending to read the back, I heard the boy say, "Daddy, don't hit me!" and then he was hushed. My suspicions confirmed, I thought of what I might do. I couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Bob soon joined me and I told him what I'd seen and heard. As we walked around, we heard the boy's plea again. There was no hitting, but it was obvious that it was a common occurrence. We checked out, and then decided to wait in our car to see which car the family left in. I hoped that I could catch the license plate number. After waiting for twenty minutes, we saw the family leave the store. As they walked through the parking lot, we soon realized that they didn't have a car there. We followed them for a few blocks in our car, then realized that we couldn't anymore because they were headed away from the busy shopping area and they would see that they were being followed.
I still wish I could have done something more for those kids. I didn't know what I could have done. I wish I'd had something I could have given the woman... something that could have encouraged her or given her some resources. What I really wanted to do was to take that little boy home with us. This reignited my desire to one day be a foster parent to kids who need a safe place to be between their unhappy homes and their future adopted home situation. I feel such a strong pull to work with these kids. Perhaps after I've finished school and before we have our family, we'll have the opportunity to take in a child and provide a safe loving home for them. We'll have to see. :)
Bob soon joined me and I told him what I'd seen and heard. As we walked around, we heard the boy's plea again. There was no hitting, but it was obvious that it was a common occurrence. We checked out, and then decided to wait in our car to see which car the family left in. I hoped that I could catch the license plate number. After waiting for twenty minutes, we saw the family leave the store. As they walked through the parking lot, we soon realized that they didn't have a car there. We followed them for a few blocks in our car, then realized that we couldn't anymore because they were headed away from the busy shopping area and they would see that they were being followed.
I still wish I could have done something more for those kids. I didn't know what I could have done. I wish I'd had something I could have given the woman... something that could have encouraged her or given her some resources. What I really wanted to do was to take that little boy home with us. This reignited my desire to one day be a foster parent to kids who need a safe place to be between their unhappy homes and their future adopted home situation. I feel such a strong pull to work with these kids. Perhaps after I've finished school and before we have our family, we'll have the opportunity to take in a child and provide a safe loving home for them. We'll have to see. :)
10.12.2010
When it Rains it Pours
First off- I've gotta say this is an amazingly beautiful brisk fall morning. A nice break from the grey skies we've had lately. Don't get me wrong- I love rainy grey weather, but it's definitely nice to see the sun shine through as well.
Lately I have been SO stressed. We've been preparing for the last month now for a practicum that is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I am not as prepared as I would like to be, but fortunately I have done quite a bit of prep work leading up to it. Today I just need to put all the pieces together for the scenarios.
I also am stressed out about something that happened in the last week. In the process, I believe I hurt a friend's feelings. Though I have apologized, I'm still not convinced things are better, and I feel bad about it. I need to think before I speak.
I am also dealing with continued chronic pain. After 2 weeks of tingling/burning/numb sensations in my right leg and arm, I went to the chiropractor today. After a number of assessments, he is quite sure that I have a slipped disc. Oh joy. As if my back doesn't have enough going on. So he said that if I guard it, the likelyhood of it healing on its own is fairly high. However, if I am not careful, surgery could be in my future.
Boo... I am too young for this. Only 23. I have so many active things in my future. He is writing a letter today to the student disability support services of EWU. This will enable my professors to work with my fieldwork sites so that they will be required to accommodate for a lifting restriction (no more than 20 lbs). This leads me to question what area of OT I can realistically go into that won't require this lifting. It's discouraging. Areas that I am interested in may not be reasonable.
What about other areas of life? I want to take my dog on a walk- but that risks re-injuring my still healing impinged rotator cuff, or twisting my back to injure my disc. What about motherhood? Even though that's quite a ways down the road, I do think about it. Pretty sure that requires lifting more than 20 lbs. What about the pregnancy itself? That's some major strain on the back.
Well I should be getting on with my day. Though I feel like I've hit a wall, the world still keeps moving and I need to catch up. Back to studying for the practicum. Thanks for listening, friends. :)
Lately I have been SO stressed. We've been preparing for the last month now for a practicum that is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I am not as prepared as I would like to be, but fortunately I have done quite a bit of prep work leading up to it. Today I just need to put all the pieces together for the scenarios.
I also am stressed out about something that happened in the last week. In the process, I believe I hurt a friend's feelings. Though I have apologized, I'm still not convinced things are better, and I feel bad about it. I need to think before I speak.
I am also dealing with continued chronic pain. After 2 weeks of tingling/burning/numb sensations in my right leg and arm, I went to the chiropractor today. After a number of assessments, he is quite sure that I have a slipped disc. Oh joy. As if my back doesn't have enough going on. So he said that if I guard it, the likelyhood of it healing on its own is fairly high. However, if I am not careful, surgery could be in my future.
Boo... I am too young for this. Only 23. I have so many active things in my future. He is writing a letter today to the student disability support services of EWU. This will enable my professors to work with my fieldwork sites so that they will be required to accommodate for a lifting restriction (no more than 20 lbs). This leads me to question what area of OT I can realistically go into that won't require this lifting. It's discouraging. Areas that I am interested in may not be reasonable.
What about other areas of life? I want to take my dog on a walk- but that risks re-injuring my still healing impinged rotator cuff, or twisting my back to injure my disc. What about motherhood? Even though that's quite a ways down the road, I do think about it. Pretty sure that requires lifting more than 20 lbs. What about the pregnancy itself? That's some major strain on the back.
Well I should be getting on with my day. Though I feel like I've hit a wall, the world still keeps moving and I need to catch up. Back to studying for the practicum. Thanks for listening, friends. :)
10.05.2010
Frenzied Thoughts of a Busy Student
Let me start by just saying: I was sorely disappointed this evening to receive a soy latte after ordering a pumpkin-spice tea latte. They're very different. And, unfortunately, this means that I will likely be up late tonight. Very late. But- on the flip side- this does mean more time to study for the ominous practicum that is happening a week from tomorrow- yikes!
Lately I've been thinking more about my career as an OT. It isn't that far away! A year from this December I will be DONE! It's crazy to think how close that is- I don't feel prepared, but I am confident that I will be by then.
Today I received confirmation that I will have my level 1 fieldwork at the Portland VA this fall. I am so excited! And my fieldwork educator is allowing me to choose from which area I want experience in: inpatient/SNF or outpatient/polytrauma/hands. I don't know what to choose! SNF and hands are both areas I am interested in.
This has led me to wonder what area of OT I will eventually end up working in. I've always thought it would be children (either a peds clinic or school-based OT), but I am also drawn to the elderly. So maybe home health or SNF (skilled nursing facility)? But becoming a certified hand therapist would likely save my back from unnecessary lifting. And it pays well. But that would require working full time for 5 years to become eligible to sit for boards. What about our family? Can't put that off forever. ;)
Thankfully these fieldwork experiences will provide some insight and will hopefully aid in coming to a decision. Until then, I'll just have to be a sponge and take in all the info that is thrown my way. Which reminds me... I should be memorizing my innervations. :)
Any thoughts from my faithful readers? Is one area easier to picture me in than others?
Lately I've been thinking more about my career as an OT. It isn't that far away! A year from this December I will be DONE! It's crazy to think how close that is- I don't feel prepared, but I am confident that I will be by then.
Today I received confirmation that I will have my level 1 fieldwork at the Portland VA this fall. I am so excited! And my fieldwork educator is allowing me to choose from which area I want experience in: inpatient/SNF or outpatient/polytrauma/hands. I don't know what to choose! SNF and hands are both areas I am interested in.
This has led me to wonder what area of OT I will eventually end up working in. I've always thought it would be children (either a peds clinic or school-based OT), but I am also drawn to the elderly. So maybe home health or SNF (skilled nursing facility)? But becoming a certified hand therapist would likely save my back from unnecessary lifting. And it pays well. But that would require working full time for 5 years to become eligible to sit for boards. What about our family? Can't put that off forever. ;)
Thankfully these fieldwork experiences will provide some insight and will hopefully aid in coming to a decision. Until then, I'll just have to be a sponge and take in all the info that is thrown my way. Which reminds me... I should be memorizing my innervations. :)
Any thoughts from my faithful readers? Is one area easier to picture me in than others?
10.01.2010
Nerves
Hello Friends! I apologize for often complaining about pain. I know I'm not the only one that has it, so instead of it being the only thing I talk about all day, I thought I'd get it out here and then move on. :) Sound like a plan??
In the last couple weeks I've had weird tingly sensations in my legs. Not constant or anything, but definitely noticeable. Then on Tuesday I spoke about to my chiropractor about it and he was quite concerned, as any nerve-related pain past the knee or elbow may indicate a disc problem. Yucky. And since then it's gotten worse, actually. Both my right arm and leg have been alternating between tingly, burning, and numb feeling. All day, all night. It's strange. It's not awful pain, but the constant feeling wears me down and makes me tired. And honestly- I'm a little scared. It may be a disc, which isn't good news necessarily, but there's so many other conditions I've learned about in class whose symptoms are similar.
I don't know what to do. Should probably call the chiropractor and see if he wants me to come in for an assessment. But I don't want to be referred to a neurologist or anything again. Been there. Years ago. And it wasn't fun.
So- I guess unless something changes drastically I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. Hopefully I won't have any more dreams of snakebites and I'll get used to my heavy-feeling, tingly limbs.
In the last couple weeks I've had weird tingly sensations in my legs. Not constant or anything, but definitely noticeable. Then on Tuesday I spoke about to my chiropractor about it and he was quite concerned, as any nerve-related pain past the knee or elbow may indicate a disc problem. Yucky. And since then it's gotten worse, actually. Both my right arm and leg have been alternating between tingly, burning, and numb feeling. All day, all night. It's strange. It's not awful pain, but the constant feeling wears me down and makes me tired. And honestly- I'm a little scared. It may be a disc, which isn't good news necessarily, but there's so many other conditions I've learned about in class whose symptoms are similar.
I don't know what to do. Should probably call the chiropractor and see if he wants me to come in for an assessment. But I don't want to be referred to a neurologist or anything again. Been there. Years ago. And it wasn't fun.
So- I guess unless something changes drastically I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. Hopefully I won't have any more dreams of snakebites and I'll get used to my heavy-feeling, tingly limbs.
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