the month in review

Wow, I haven't posted since August!

Quick update...

School is going really well. It's crazy insanely unbelievably busy, but it's great. I'm taking four classes, Adult Neurogenic Disorders, Language Disorders birth through preschool, Advanced Articulation and Phonology, and Clinical Ed. I also see student for two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a near by school system and also have clients at the clinic associated with Longwood for an hour on Wednesdays. We have clinical team meetings (since we all have such different caseloads, we all get together and talk shop) for an hour most weeks. I just finished up 60 hours of a graduate assistantship in three weeks (no more of that, thank goodness!) I've been doing screenings once a week at an elementary school as well. That assignment is also finished. Starting next week, I go observe/work in a severe to profound classroom in another school system. That also only lasts for three weeks.

Of course, because it's graduate school, there are at least ten chapters of reading a week (looooooooooooooooooong chapters) but fortunately, all of them are really interesting except one book. I'm at school until 8 on Mondays 9 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 6:30 on Wednesdays. I think my Fridays there are done for a while (again, thank goodness!). There are of course assignments in each class, usually about one a week for each (so four), some are just "jot keywords from this chapter" and some are "give an eval to a child, transcribe and write a report". A lot of planning goes into the the sessions with clients at the clinic and students at the high school, but all these hours are worth it. I know its a little early to make this call, but I think I will feel pretty prepared when its time to start my external placements.

I'm learning so so so very much. My clients on Wednesdays are working on Phonological Awareness which is really new to me, but I'm pretty fascinated by it, so I think in the long run it will be really fun. High Schoolers are definitely new to me, but I think I've got them figured out.

The other girls in my program are great. We're not super diverse, but everyone gets along really well and I think we learn a lot from each other, as well as the professors and clients.

Ok, to acknowledge the not so obvious fact that school is not my ENTIRE life, here's an update on the rest of things...
Mike's arm is cast-free and in the midst of physical therapy. It's going well so far I think, he says he can feel new ranges of motion each day. Long road ahead though. His band is scheduled to play again soon and he's been wrapped up in the wonderful world of hokie football. I'm hardly ever home, so he's been living a bit of the bachelor life, but he is so wonderfully supportive. Cooking, cleaning, asking how my classes and clients are going, helping me if I have a problem. I could not ask for a better husband.

Riley is doing great in his new home. He's been running with me every day (although not today, he's been gimping off his back feet a bit, I'm going to let him rest). He slips and slides from time to time around the hardwood floors and was scared of the stairs for a while, but he's all good now.

Families on both sides are doing well!

That's all I have time for...but one last thing, I'm so sorry to anyone if they feel neglected. I knew grad school would be hectic and time consuming, but I have to be honest and say I had no idea it would be to this extent. I think I'm getting the routine down and a better grasp of my weekly responsibilities (read: I can do them faster now) so hopefully soon I'll be able to call more, chat more and even visit! Just bear with me. Thanks for your patience ;) I sound like customer service hahahah

Can't Run Without...

I mean, I *COULD* run without these things, but I tend to get really irritated in those cases...

the specific combination of a pair of under armour socks over a pair feetures socks (M)

Ryder Salty Dog sunglaseses. even when it's overcast. after watching a bug the size of a mechanical pencil eraser lodge itself into Ben's eye while running one day, I've never run without them. they also prevent spiderwebs in the eyes...ugghhhh.

the 405. if only for the pacing. since I've started getting faster, I like to actually GO fast. but that's not a great idea on longer distances and I have a HORRIBLE internal monitor for my speed. plus I just really like to *KNOW* that I went exactly 5.62 miles (like this morning). without the 405, I would spend the entire day wondering if I actually went the full 5.5 and doubting myself.

two c9 sports bras.

a pair of sauconys. which currently need to be replaced. i've worn three different models of saucony, and one model of brooks. i hated the brooks. i'll enver betray saucony again.

a running skirt. this is the ONLY reason I'm sad for cooler weather coming. I love cold weather running, but I will miss my skirts.

body glide. if you don't know, you don't want to know. trust me.

dog spray and whistle. it's pretty much just mace. i dont' run anywhere unsafe, but I'm scared of dogs off leashes. and i'll tell you WHY i'm scared of dogs off leashes. because dogs off leashes are often scared of strangers running towards them. and when they are scared they bite.

the stick. well, i don't run WITH the stick. that would be awkward. but i roll out my muscles to warm them up before I go out.

Last Weekend of "Freedom"

Last week, I had orientation at Longwood University for the full time 09 cohort graduate speech language pathology program. It was Thursday and Friday. Long days, but I enjoyed meeting my new classmates (one of whom is TWENTY YEARS OLD, WHAT?!?!?!) and my new professors. I learned the campus a little and was reminded was college textbooks are like (expensive and heavy). All that paired with an hour commute each way...I was ZONKED after those two days. Some friends sent Mike a PF Changs gift card as a get well gift, so we had a last minute date night.

I was almost disappointed when I discovered that the cucumber lemongrass gin drink was no longer on the menu. I don't remember what it was called, but fortunately the bartenders remembered how to make it. If you ever go, even if you don't like gin, order this drink. Its better than a mojito. We had a blast...people are not shy about asking what happened to Mike's arm, maybe because its safety cone orange wrapped in maroon ;)

Saturday, I got up early(ish) to run (4.5, not far) and then started working on the house. The new bedroom suite and mattress were scheduled to be delivered and I knew this would be the last weekend for a while where I could REALLY clean. So top to bottom we scrubbed this place (yes, we, I didn't MAKE Mike do anything, I think he's just really excited to be ABLE to help again). I also trimmed the giant unwieldy bush outside, long sleeves and gardening gloves and all...probably should've waited until it was 85% with 72% humidity and full sunshine, but oh well. The bush looks great now. The mattress and bedroom were delivered. But the company sent the wrong rails. So the bed is only half put together. The mattresses are on the floor, but sleepable. hmmm, sleepable is most definitely not a word. Oh well. The dresser and mirror and nightstands are set up. So it actually looks like a real bedroom now! After all that, we cooked steak and fresh green beans and rice. Holmes is definitely excited to be able to cook again (I am too, of course!). We started to watch freaks and geeks (we are getting the series from netflix) but ended up pausing it and talking and looking at old pictures all night. I'm so lucky. I can't express how wonderful it is to be married to him.

Sunday morning we went to church. On our way, Holmes wondered aloud how we were going to top the last two nights. It was a pretty fantastic weekend. Church was great, I'm really enjoying it. Then we found this new little barbeque place for lunch. I studied and ran errands the rest of the day. Holmes made chili and broccoli cornbread. See, I told you he is excited about cooking again!

Today I start school officially. I'm going to campus early to get my ID and parking pass, etc. Class is at 6:15. I also need to start knocking out my 68 graduate assistantship hours before the end of September. I'll be on campus a lot. My other classes are Tues and Thursday at 6:15, Wednesday at 9:15. I also have "clinic" hours. I'll be working with middle and high school students (NEW to me!!!) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in one of the nearby counties. There are some Weds at 5:30 meetings, seem to be once or twice a month. Three Mondays I will go work with a severe to profound class. I don't have many details on that. Tonight's class is an aphasia class, I'm thrilled to learn more about this.

I started my day with a run and some yoga, so my day should be ENERGY FILLED. ha. maybe.

New Cast (pictures!)

Mike got his splint off today! Wooo! It was quite a long appointment, but the PA was SUPERB, so I wasn't complaining. Pictures below are of the incision as soon as she took the splint off his arm.

Apparently it is an excellent incision that's healing well and shouldn't leave much of a scar. Praise God for such a wonderful surgeon. The next picture is of the new cast. She first showed Mike his options for colors...blue, red, yellow, green, pink, purple, black and white...no orange. Disappointment strikes. But he didn't give up, he asked the PA. Hmmm, she thinks she might have some in the back... What about maroon Mike asks? The PA is pretty much trying not to crack up laughing now... Uhhh, I don't think we have any maroon. Oh well, orange will do. Safety cone, hunting orange at that. (the nervous wife in me is super happy with that, noticeable, people won't bump into it, etc etc) She's almost done wrapping the orange and another assistant walks by. Lisa, our PA calls out, do we have any maroon casts? OF COURSE, for the virginia techies (her words not mine), I ordered some last week! Lisa tells us. Disappointment is wayyyyyyyyy gone.

Below is a picture of the xray. That odd shaped item in his arm is the prothesis (duh, I know). The long end is embedded down in the bone and the funny shaped part is what has actually replaced the bone they removed. It is made of stainless steel. Marcus started calling him Bionic Hokie and with this cast, I'd say that's pretty appropriate.

The best news is that the pathology report is already back and showed that it is a giant cell tumor. The treatment is removal. So treatment is done! There are recurrences with this type of tumor, but the chances is decreased greatly when the affected bone is completely removed (we had the other option of 'scraping' the bone to remove just the affected portion). So after four weeks of this cast, he gets a removable splint and starts therapy. Not sure how long therapy will take, but once that is finished he will be back to steel arm normal!

This is really fantastic news. Thanks to everyone who prayed, called, sent cards, cooked dinner and sent good thoughts and vibes Michael's way. God is an amazing Father and we are so grateful for His work in all this!

Overdue Update

Oops, sorry for the lack of updates!

Friday, Mike decided to try to go longer between doses of pain pills. Then he decided to just not to take any that day at all! He said he wasn't having any bad pain anymore. It was GREAT news. The cast still made it difficult for him to get around and be active, but coming off the painkillers was a great first step to recovery.

Friday and Saturday, he got out of the house for a bit...he just ran a few errands with me, unfortunately nothing fun. Saturday night, we had a few friends over, just to give him some company. It was supposed to be our housewarming, but there were a lot of scheduling conflicts for folks and having a *party* while Mike was still not quite 100% didn't seem like the best idea. Since Mike had been off painkillers for two straight days, he finally got to have a Fat Tire that his Mom brought for us the week before! Sunday, we didn't do much again...I think Saturday night took more out of him than he expected. So we missed church again but fully expect to make it this week. (Mike is half expecting to be able to play bass this weekend, but I'm not as optimistic).

Since Mike is a little more self sufficient around the house, I've been extra busy just kind of catching up on life before I go back to school. I got everything done for my name change...but have nothing to show for it! Everything is being sent in the mail. I also started prepping for my grad school orientation tomorrow and Friday. There were manuals and forms I had to print...I went through almost a ream of paper and I'm not exaggerating. It's slightly ridiculous. I'm getting back in the running routine groove, trying to keep myself at a 10% a week increase, even though I want to do more. I've also been trying to do yoga four times a week. I always realize how much I miss it when I haven't done it in a while. I have to get my grad school schedule under control before I can really nail down the work out routine.

Today we head back to Mike's doctor, hopefully for a new smaller and better cast. And by better I mean maroon and orange. But they don't have those color options, we go with white and I get artsy this afternoon. Josh and Kristina bought him maroon and orange paint pens, just for that!

This weekend is the last weekend free until, well, mid December. Ok, this time I am exaggerating. Definitely until October though... Friends are visiting the 29th, we head to Atlanta for college football kick off over Labor Day, then three straight weeks of football in Blacksburg. I'm not sure if I'll go to every game, it will depend on my courseload for school.

I've rambled enough. Hopefully, I'll follow up with pictures of Holmes' new cast!

Professional Wedding Pictures!!

Click Here to see the professional wedding pictures

the password is holmes

Enjoy!

p.s. you can leave comments on the pictures

Rants. Short Version

I could write two very long rambling ranting blogs about the following two subjects. But I will cut it short.

There is like a 10% chance that Michael Vick will become a panther. Shhhh. John Fox publicly stated that he was not saying yes or no. That is how he rolls. On every topic. So cut the speculation. Sheesh. Also. For every fan of every team saying, I'll never cheer for (insert your team here) again if they sign Vick, SHUT IT. The man did his time. End of story. There are numerous other felons in the league. Some of which committed crimes against HUMANS.

Personally, I do NOT want Michael Vick as a panther. But not soley based on the dogfighting. He's an idiot. He does not make good choices. The man was on probation and still thought "I bet I could make it through this airport security checkpoint with this weed". Fox and Hurney don't put up with delinquents, so I'm not concerned.

Next rant. Time Article Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin
Reading this article made me angry for a few reasons. First of all, it's common sense. Work out, then eat a large fast food french fry, you won't lose weight. SHOCKING. Second, they use studies done on children to prove the point. Slightly different from weight loss issues with adults. Third, the spin is horrible. The focus of this article should be on the fact that when you get hungry from working out, you should eat healthy food. Instead, it spins all the information to tell people what they want to hear. Excuses to be lazy. Who actually *reads* an entire Time article? I only did because we started getting the subscription for free. Most people just pick it up in a doctor's office. Ok, I have to cut myself off or this blog could run REALLLLLY long.

Rants finished. Excited about pulled pork tacos tonight!