Four weeks later....

SO, now that four weeks have passed....let's just see!

I AM DONE WITH SCHOOL! Hooray! We finished off today with a fabulous party in the classroom, one that was very much deserved. Our clinical advisor gave us all presents and it was a very lovely ending. The last week, I haven't had any school work to do, and it's been a very odd feeling. I've been reading non school books and LOVING it!

I have a new job! I'm still trying very hard to get used to it, and I think it will take awhile. I really miss taking care of my kids on the floor, but am loving seeing all these kids every week. I have an office, which I share with 2 other women, but I have my very own section with a LOT of room to decorate! Ideas anyone? I've got business cards coming, along with my very own lab coat! Aren't I official? I've had to jump into my job a little faster than I'd like, seeing everyone in heart transplant but me is at conference this week! We still have a baby on the waiting list for a heart, and part of me just hopes it doesn't happen quite yet!

NESSIE IS HEALED! If you don't know who Nessie is, you absolutely need to spend more time with me. Nessie's my car...and she had a nice big dent in her bumper...but no more! She's beautiful and shiny! I did have to drive a piece of junk Sentra for a week (it's horrid to go back to a car after having a SUV!), but now I have her back and am HAPPY!

Wardrobe? Well, we're getting there. I really despise shopping for clothes, although I find it less and less annoying the smaller I get. I've got some clothes. Thankfully, I can wear scrubs on Wednesdays (clinic day), so I've got less days I have to plan for. I'm now always going to be on the hunt for a bargain. Anyone know any?

RETREAT! What a blessing! Jennifer, Tammy, and I stayed at the Gaylord Texan and learned all about JOY! I desperately needed this soul "makeover" as I know I've been a crabby and not so nice person this semester. We also got to hear Joy Williams's beautiful voice, and I'm now so addicted to her music! What an amazing message she has to share!

Four weeks ago, I was hoping more would be different in a month. Now, I'm kinda glad there's nothing else! I need some normalcy in my life! I'm not sure that's going to ever come!

Friendships are forever.

I was all prepared to write how crazy my week was going. My new job is tiring, but I haven't completely decided what I think about it yet! I'm sure I'll enjoy it once I figure out what's going on!

My grandma (dad's mom) experienced a great loss tonight, her best friend of 60+ years. Grandma and Katie met in nursing school...and dated cousins. They eventually married cousins and both moved from the midwest to Texas. They shared the births of their children, the empty nest, the passing away of their husbands...and remained friends through it all. They vacationed together, shopped together, grew old together. Pray for my grandma...and for Katie's family...which is my family since we're all cousins! I think the funeral is on Saturday, which is a rotten excuse to see my family, but oh well. I need to be there to support my grandma. What a wonderful example of friendship I have in front of me!

Let's see....aside from being at work, I've pretty much been doing a LOT of non school reading and watching Dancing with the Stars/The Bachelor. Doesn't that sound productive? I just have to give a presentation on Thursday and then I'm done!!!

I saw one of my most favorite kiddos today in the clinic. She was here for a well check up...and she looks amazing! I've really bonded with her family and it's wonderful to see how far she's come! She was my first very VERY sick baby when I was just off orientation. I took care of her when I was on night shift and her mom and I spent MANY sleepless nights worried about her! And now she's almost 2! Her mom always brings me pictures to put on my name badge! She's such a miracle baby!

Well, must be going...I've got lots of kids to see in clinic tomorrow, so today should be faster than today! I forgot to explain that ALL the heart transplant people are in conference in San Francisco this week...and I mean all! The transplant doctor, the surgeons, the other coordinator! So, I get to see all these kids by myself...but thankfully I have a really great manager who has promised to see them with me! Today, I didn't see ANY kids and was so freaked out by the quiet I had to go steal a friend's IPOD (I'd love one, by the way!) so I had SOMETHING to listen to!

Okay. Now I am gone. Adios!

Prayers lifted

Well, I've started my new job...and it's going fine.

But all seems small to the burden that is heavy on my heart...for a precious 16 year old patient of mine. He's very VERY sick right now, and really needs your prayers. Thanks to our ridiculous government, I can't say much about him...but I can say that he is a SWEET boy that loves the LORD and is very very sick. I visited him in the ICU yesterday after his surgery and he was SO sleepy, but tried to still do his secret handshake with me. And now he's sick and we're not even sure how bad the damage is. He needs a miracle.

So pray for him. He's such a sweetie.

The countdown.

Don't you hate when something exciting is about to happen and time just almost stands still? Then, when the exciting thing occurs, it goes by SO quickly that you don't even have time to stop and think? This is how it is seeming to go for me! I am starting my new job on Monday, and the time is just CRAWLING by. I really want to just get it over with...the anticipation, the nervousness, all those crazy emotions are killing me!

I've got busy weeks ahead of me...and I'm not sure how to handle all the excitement! Of course, my new job starts Monday...and then the following Friday, Tammy, Jennifer, and I are going to a Women's retreat! Hooray! I also just found out that I'm being inducted into the nursing honor society for school, so I have that induction coming up in a few weeks, as well as the end of school!

I've been thinking lately about the possibility of buying a house. I'd like to see my rent money go somewhere more significant than a rental, so I'd really like your prayers on that. I know I'm getting a pay raise in my new job, but I don't know if it is the most financially responsible choice. Any suggestions? Advice?

Oliver and Liberty are doing well, and currently curled up in a big pile on/next to my leg. With the weather being nicer, I am sad they don't have a yard to play in, but they get to be outside a lot as I keep the patio door open most of the time. They spend a lot of time curled up in the sun out there. Oliver really loves to bark at people outside, but I'm making headway with that nasty habit by squirting him with a water bottle each time he does it. He hates it.




Other than all that mess, things are going well. I'm preparing myself to start a "regular person" job...and don't even know how to do that. I've always had odd hours...School teachers are there from 7:30-whenever they are done! For me it was always past 6 or so because I was coaching. Unit Secretary? 3-11. Not really hours conducive to any sort of life! Nurse? 7a-7p 3 days a week. Killer hours, but nice to be there only 3 days. Now..I have no idea what my hours will turn out to be. I'm sure during orientation they won't be idea, but I think they will settle out once I'm done and the 2 person job is actually being done by 2 people.

Enjoy your day!

April 15

I have a start date! It's amazing, but true! Starting April 15th, I will report to a different department, carry a pager, have an office and a phone line, and work a normal work day. I am excited, but nervous! :)

4 weeks from today

4 weeks from today...I will be done with school. Isn't that the most beautiful thing you've ever heard? Well, it's beautiful to me! No one will have to listen to my tales of woe involving this horrid adventure I call the last 9 months of my life. Will my life suddenly destress because this part is over? Absolutely not, but it might seem a little easier! I hope in four weeks I'll start seeing the benefit of all this torture...but not yet!

I'll have a new job 4 weeks from today. A new set of co-workers. A group of beautiful friends from a past job that will still love me and support me in my new job.

4 weeks from today my car will be fixed. I won't have a big dent in the back constantly reminding me of my stupidity.

4 weeks from today, I will have acquired a new wardrobe. My beautiful collection of scrubs will hang in my closet as a reminder of the carefree wardrobe I used to require. My closet will consist of grown up girl clothes, which I should have acquired long ago...but never have.

I will have attended a women's retreat...which my soul desperately needs. I will amazingly not be working weekends, which will allow me to regularly go to church, something I haven't been able to do in quite awhile. This going every other week thing is for the birds.

What else will be different in four weeks? Only time will tell.

And the beat goes on...

Well, I'm still in limbo about my job. I'm sure the guy who is supposed to fix the whole budget thing is back from vacation...but now my manager is out. So who knows? The manager of the solid organ transplant program says that I'll be on call when my fellow TC is at a conference, but I'd like to know what I'm doing before then! That would be nice right? :) I've gotten so many encouraging words from my friends and family about this new endeavor, and that's really a blessing to me to know that all those people think I'm going to do great! The patient that I saw transplanted actually went home yesterday (EIGHT days after transplant!), and I was able to do all the discharge teaching, so it's great practice for me!

Other than that whole job thing, I'd REALLY covet your prayers about my school situation. I've got five weeks left, and they are going to be really hard. I've got a lot of papers and projects due, but thankfully no more tests! :) I'm so burned out right now, and it is taking all of my strength and determination not to just give up now! But I CAN'T! I'm SO close to being done!

That's pretty much it at the moment. Trying to figure out what's going on...both with work and school!

First official duty!

Well, I'm really not in my new job yet...but yesterday, I sure got to act like it! I was minding my own business, sitting in Employee Health doing my Community Health clinicals. (ICK!) I saw my fellow coordinator coming down the hall, very purpose driven! Well, it turns out that a transplant was set to occur that evening and she sought me out so I could be a part of it. See, we don't always have someone waiting on the list, and even though this was the 6th transplant this year, they don't normally happen so often! It's important for me to see how it all works, so she wanted to let me in on that. It's such a long process! I found out at 1200 and we didn't end up actually getting to the OR until 6pm! I watched the whole thing...and what an amazing experience! The native heart (the heart the patient had to start with) continued to beat, even after it was removed! It just sat there in the preservation liquid and kept on going! Finally, it figured out that nothing was happening and stopped...but what a sight! To see a new heart, pulled from ice and VERY grey, be sewn in, warmed up, and start pumping blood all on its own! How amazing! And I got to be a part of that! :)

I am not in my official role yet, as there are some budget modifications that have to be done, and wouldn't you know...everyone is on vacation! That's okay though, I'm content to just finish out my days on the floor with my friends. That's gonna be the hardest part! Those women are my family and it's tough to say goodbye...although I really don't have to! I'll still interact with them on a daily basis, but is strange knowing that I'll be there and don't have those same responsibilities. That's my first nursing job, and it's weird to think I'm not doing it anymore. I'm so thankful for the almost 2.5 years of experience I have! This new job is absolutely a God-send! Who knew that they'd take someone without a masters with only 2 years of nursing experience! Hooray for me! :) I'm not sure when I'll actually start...but one would hope they will let me know SOON!


Okay, well seeing as I didn't get home last night until 1:30 and had to be up early this morning for work, I am EXHAUSTED. I will happily sleep...until 6:30....but that's a long time from now! :) HOORAY!

It finally happened!

Today, I got the call...and it's official! I'm the new heart transplant coordinator! AMAZING! More details to come...mostly cause I don't know much yet...but I'll let you know as soon as I know! HOORAY! :)

6 classes left!

After today, I only have 6 classes left! HOORAY! Of course, those classes will be filled with one test, about four papers, and endless hours of droning on by the most boring teachers around, but hey, I am still looking UP! I'm sitting outside the classroom right now, waiting for everyone else to finish today's test. I think I have another one in two weeks...then that's it for the testing! I turned in my "graduation application" today...which is just another fancy way that UTA steals money from me. I love that...you have to PAY to graduate, as if you haven't already given them every blasted cent! Alright, so Children's has given them all the cents...but whatever. You see my reasoning. :) Let's just say that 2 months from Saturday, I will officially be Stephanie Emerson, RN, BSN...and OH SO HAPPY!

I have been in SUCH a horrid mood the last couple of days! I guess it's because I've been at the hospital 9 out of 10 days, either working or doing something else class related. I'm finally done with my management clinical hours and am moving on next week to Community health. I'll be slaving away for free in the employee health office, so that is just fun. ICK. My teacher keeps saying that I need to do my clinical hours somewhere I am interested in, but that's just not going to happen. I am all about getting stuff done. At this point, I just want to be finished! :)

I think that's all that's been going on. Work. School. Puppies. That's it. It's just Oliver and Liberty playing together lately, and poor Lib is missing her sister...but she can get over it. This morning, someone delightfully puked in my bed. EW. Disgusting. Now I have to go wash my sheets when I get home. Nasty.

Tomorrow, I am goign to get my car serviced (Oh so fun!), then back to work for skills day AGAIN. If I could only get away from that place :). I haven't heard anything about the job, although I did have two more interviews last week. I'm FINALLY done with those, so I'll hear sometime either end of this week or early next. I did call the Transplant manager, just to make sure. I didn't want to bug her, but I have a right to know, right? This stupid thing has been going on for a blasted MONTH! It's been long enough! :) At this point, I just want to know. If I am supposed to have it, then WONDERFUL...but if not, I'd like to just get on with my life.

Well, I suppose I should go back to my classroom now. I think everyone's done with the test, although we have a bit before class starts! Have a wonderful day!

Comparisons!

SO, here are some pictures of my trip! I thought the first couple were crazy! Look at the differences in weather! These pictures were taken 2 days apart!


This is looking down the mall towards the Capitol building. The building on the right is the Smithsonian Castle.






And the Washington Monument...in the snow picture, you can hardly see it!

Stranded!

SO, I was supposed to be on my way to the airport right about now. Unfortunately, this morning, DC got about 6 inches of snow dumped on it in about 3 hours or so! While it IS beautiful, apparently planes don't like to take off in it. Michael and Jen's plane was cancelled too...so now we are sitting in a hotel room, getting ready to watch the Oscars. My plane leaves tomorrow at 6:40ish and theirs leaves in the afternoon...so we'll hopefully all be home for dinner...or at least to pick up our puppies from the Pets Hotel! This morning, I got a call from Becca while walking through the INSANE amount of snow...she's in Fort Lauderdale in 80 degree weather getting ready to leave on a cruise. It's a horrid comparison...me in my 32 degree and big giant snowflakes and her and the sunshine and 80 degrees! Ah well...so I guess my idea of vacation involves lots of snow...at least this time it does!

I've had a really great vacation, and I'm still not ready to go back to work! I guess I should be...but I'm not! I have not heard about the transplant coordinator job yet, although I really wish I would know something. It's been almost 3 weeks since I interviewed, and I am SO impatient! I know that patience is always something I need to be working on, so I PATIENTLY wait...and hope.

It's finally stopped snowing, but the snow piles are still much bigger than we EVER see at home. Please pray that the runways will be nice and clean tomorrow so I can get home to my precious puppies! I'll post some pictures as soon I get home and find the cord!

Awake...and not happy about it!

EW! It's 4:48AM, and with the exception of about 30 minutes, I have been awake since 10AM yesterday morning. I'm currently sitting at the airport, unhappily blogging away while I listen to Desperate Housewives on ABC.com. I have no idea why I couldn't sleep last night. I tried all my tactics...TV, silence, and then by the time I figured out those weren't working, it was too late to take anything to put me to sleep. I thought that sleeping through my alarm and missing my airport shuttle at 3:15 this morning would not be a good plan. SO. I sit here. Awake. And tired. I did make a split decision to upgrade the long leg of my flight up to "business" class. I have no idea what this means, only I am sure it means a bigger seat. And maybe some food that's more substantial than the typical cheddar whales. I will NOT fall asleep and miss this opportunity. Guess I can fall asleep on the way to DC from Atlanta.

That's pretty much the extent of things going on here. I took Oliver and Liberty to doggy day care on Friday to get them used to the place they will be boarded next weekend. I was SO paranoid that Oliver was going to attack other dogs, but he was SO good! They said he did not snarl, bark, or even growl at other pups. I was so happy! This means that when he goes next weekend...he will behave! :)

Okay, well, they are getting ready to call my row. I'd better go. Bon VOYAGE to me! :)

No work for 2 weeks!

Hooray! I don't have to work again until the 28th! This makes me HAPPY! :) I've had a really rough couple of days, with the precious patient on the verge of death (who told me I was his Valentine yesterday...but I think he told everyone that!) and a really terrible intern I am trying to train. I'm really glad to be given this break...and hopefully I will have a brighter outlook when I return. I have to do two leadership clinicals before I come back...and that does put me at the hospital, but I'm not going to go up to the floor or anything. I need a clean break! :) Sometimes, it just gets like that! I LOVE the people I work with, and it's not to be rid of them...but mostly just away from the day to day routine! :)

I haven't heard whether I got the new job yet, but I do know they are still interviewing and will make a decision by the end of next week. I'm really at peace at this point because I know I did the best job I could. I don't believe I left anything out, and I think I effectively communicated my love for transplant! I'll just wait peacefully to find out and if I don't get it, I'll go back to work without a regret because at least I TRIED! :)

Sunday morning, at the ridiculously early hour of 5:34AM, I am flying to Virginia to go play with Kimberly for a couple of days. I'll be with her at her newly purchased house until Thursday, then drive back to DC to hang with Michael and Jennifer at their fancy Ritz Carlton for the next couple of days. I LOVE Washington DC and am so excited to go again! It's a lot of walking, and it's sure to be cold, but that's okay...museums are heated! :) While at Kim's, I won't have access to internet and my cell phone service probably won't be the greatest there...so it will be interesting! :) BUT, I know my sister wants to show me around her new life, and she's worked really long and hard to get a bunch of overtime hours so we can have fun in the afternoons! :) Liberty will be having tons of fun with her brother and sister at Becca's house for the first part of the week, then she'll go with them to the PetsHotel to be boarded so Becca can leave for her cruise. I'm sure they will be a WILD trio when I pick them up Monday afternoon! I'm kind-of afraid of what they will do to me!

Perhaps I should get back to class....or maybe not. :) I guess I should, especially since I'm learning about how not to be sued for malpractice! :) That would be HORRID!

Reaching deep inside

Have you ever cared for a dying individual...a person who truly is on their last days? I have cared for children that I didn't know were dying...and died suddenly. Those are always hard because it's like a cruel surprise. I've never been there, being the primary caregiver for a dying child. It is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

This child I have had the pleasure to care for this whole weekend is a child who is well known to me. I've known him the entire two years I've worked as a nurse...and it is hard to see him on what we know will be his last admission. It takes every ounce of me to not burst into tears every time I see him in his deteriorating condition. He's still the same sweet boy...who loves music and Beyonce...and yet it's hard for him even to speak anymore. He's so scared and nervous, and I have to be strong for him. He can NOT see how upset it makes me when I have to do EVERYTHING for him when I know that 2 weeks ago, he was doing this for himself. He says thank you every time I leave the room, and doesn't want to be alone...which I totally understand.

Death is not a journey I wish for any person's child. Parents should not have to outlive their children. As a nurse, I see the entire spectrum of grief...from all the family parading in to say their final goodbyes...to the mother who can't figure out how to say good-bye. I am expected to stay strong...and not waver. But that's just not possible. I am human after all. The last two nights, I haven't slept well...and am having all kinds of bizarre dreams. I find myself wanting to call up to work to find out how he's doing, both afraid of the bad news I'll hear but not wanting to be left out of the loop.

So, I sit and wait. And pray. Prayers for his family, prayers for his nurse today, but mostly prayers that he will cross into Jesus' arms without being afraid and without pain. I think that's the most we can offer any human, but especially a child.

My interview!

WELL, so most of you don't know that I applied for a new job this week. Since I started at the hospital, I've been really interested in the transplant program. I absolutely love taking care of our transplant kiddos...and have aspirations of one day being a transplant coordinator. That position follows the kids from before they are transplanted until afterwards and forever! It involves time in the operating room, the heart clinic, the floor, and the ICU. It is a really big promotion, but does take me away from the bedside. Well, a spot opened up as the heart transplant coordinator..and I took a leap of faith and applied! It was actually for a nurse practitioner, but the current coordinator told me that I needed to apply. Today, I had the marathon of all interviews. I had SIX interviews...lasting from 8AM until 6PM. I had a break in the middle of the day, but it was still the longest interview I have ever been on. I thought it was going to be just this little thing....and it turned into a huge thing! I thought it went really well, and I don't know when I'll find out anything. SO, after that long rambling paragraph...I'm gonna ask everyone to keep this situation in your prayers. I felt really calm about the whole situation, but I'm not exactly sure it's what I'm supposed to do...but I did feel at peace during the interviews. If I don't get the position, I'll still happily work on my floor because I really do love it. I'm not applying for this job because I don't like mine. I LOVE my floor, but this is a really big deal! SO...that's that.

Other than that, I am SO tired right now. I'm counting the minutes until I can go get in my bed...and I hope it is soon! :(

Winter weather continues...

Well, the cold snap has gone from a snap...to a forever long streak! Not that I mind, I would actually rather it be COLD than HOT! I just wish it would be cool, rather than cold! :) It's not all bad...even though my apartment usually feels like the Arctic Circle!

School is still chugging along. I have technically finished the class time for the first one...Nursing Research. EW. I have to turn in a paper tomorrow and then edit and comment on another paper due next Thursday. Now, I'm getting ready to start Nursing Leadership and Professional Nursing. Not my favorite classes, but I am SO glad that research is over that it doesn't really matter what the alternate classes are! :) I have to do some clinical hours for one of those classes, so I'm not really looking forward to that, but at least I can do it at my hospital. I'll be shadowing the manager of the Cardiology clinic...so at least I'll get to see all the kids I take care of!

Tonight, I'll be hosting a Mexican fiesta/Grey's Anatomy party for whoever wants to come and crash! I figure, I've been doing nothing but typing for the last two day (trying to finish papers!) and I have to work the next three...so the fun might as well happen tonight! I switched so someone could be off for the superbowl, but that puts me at three in a row...which everyone knows is my ABSOLUTE favorite! :) Oh well, it could really be worse. I could be doing five in a row! :)

Well, the teacher is saying something about actively participating in class...so I suppose I should actually pay attention...or something! :)

And life goes on!

Things here have been a little nutty. Okay, so make that ALOT nutty! School is back in session in full force. My classes are blocks of time, so that we're only doing 2 classes at a time. Well, this semester, they start us out with a research class for the first three weeks. Then, we move on to doing the 2 at a time class thing. Well, I despise research. I always have. I am glad there are people who want to do it because it is NOT me. :) BUT, for this class, I have to pretend to be interested...cause if I'm don't, I won't be motivated! ANYWAYS, I have these two big critiques due on Thursday...so keep me in your prayers. Tomorrow, I'm planning to start the work...at least I have an article to critique now! :)

I've been so productive today! :) I've made a cake, been to the store, been to Weight Watchers (lost 1.6lbs!), decorated some brownies, and am now waiting for my hair to dry. I know, for all the people that have kids, that might not seem like a lot...but it certainly is for me...on my day off! :) I really need to tackle the kitchen and laundry...perhaps I'll do that later.

I'm making the cake for a girl at work's birthday party. I love parties. I really love the people I work with, so it's always fun to celebrate with them! I've made yellow cake...and am eagerly waiting to put chocolate frosting on it. I even bought that snazzy decoration frosting...hope the restaurant we're going to doesn't mind! :)

Puppies are well. I have Oliver for right now, and he's busy making Liberty's life crazy. He's always attacking her, or stalking her...or stealing her toys. She loves it though. The last couple weeks, I've noticed that if I'm in a room with him doing something, she'll be in the other room and start barking for him to come play with her. It's the same bark she does when she's been sentenced to bathroom time with the door closed and lights off. She's a nut.

In less than a month, I'm going to go on VACATION! :) I work Valentine's day...then not again until the 28th! :) This makes me very happy. I'm going to see Kimberly and her new house, then will meet Michael and Jennifer back in DC to spend the next couple days at the Ritz Carlton (and eating out of the mini bar!) and playing around DC. I'm sure it will be FREEZING, but I'm going to be prepared! :)

Anyways. That's probably more information than you wanted to know. Oh well. Happy day! :)

So interesting!

In 1977 (the year you were born)

Jimmy Carter becomes president of the US Most of the 10,000 Vietnam War draft evaders are pardoned by President Carter Singer Anita Bryant starts her "Save Our Children" crusade against gay rights Elvis Presley dies in his Graceland bathroom Congress creates a Department of Energy Anwar Sadat flies to Jerusalem in a dramatic gesture of willingness to discuss peace Orlando Bloom, Shakira, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liv Tyler, and Ludacris are born New York Yankees win the World Series Oakland Raiders win Superbowl XI Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Swedish music group ABBA passes The Beatles as having most records sold Star Wars is the top grossing film The Shining by Stephen King is published "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone spends the most time at the top of the US charts Three's Company premieres

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

And the cold continues....

We're currently in a winter weather watch at the moment. It's been about five days of less than freezing temperatures, and I've pretty much enjoyed it. The hospital went crazy over the weekend, buying hotel rooms for employees and feeding them...and then it didn't turn out to be that bad. Monday morning it was pretty icy, but was fine by that evening. Then, out of nowhere, I woke up to snow and ice this morning! My school was cancelled and it was 24ish degrees outside. It's still pretty cold, but Liberty and I are keeping warm. I've been organizing my stuff all day for school, and I'm getting pretty tired of printing things right now!

I'm spending the day watching movies and getting out of my electric blanket wonderland as little as possible. So far, I've watched Cars, Material Girls, and Cutthroat Island. I've got The Break-up too...so I'm sure the marathon will continue. That is, unless I decide that bed is more important...which I could very well do!

I have school tomorrow...BLECH! Thankfully, I also have therapy, which should take my mind off my brain pain! :) Therapy is actually going quite well. I don't enjoy it, but I have a really nice therapist and the facilty is full of great people. I recommend Baylor Plano to anyone who needs PT or OT! Next week is my last week, supposedly...unless the OT thinks I need more. My favorite thing she does right now is put my hand in this sawdust machine. It circulates warm air/sawdust around and is used to decrease the exitation of the nerves. I think it's really useful, and I'd love to have one at home! It's called fludotherapy..or something close to that!

Well, my movie is calling, and I must go turn up the heat. My hands are FRIGID! :)