My desire to become a midwife stemmed from my desire to educate and assist women in their pregnancy, labor and birth. I still desire those things, but life has been throwing out massive roadblocks in the path to midwifery.
First, my college lost their nursing accreditation. The only other path to nursing was to spend a year at an extremely expensive college taking classes I really didn't need in order to qualify to get into the downtown Spokane nursing school I wasn't guaranteed to get into at all. I thought, "Well, get thee into a direct midwifery course!" But Seattle School of Midwifery merged with Bastyr University (good!) and dropped their distance learning course (BAD.) and there's no way I'm going to be able to move to Seattle since we bought our house.
So I did what I rarely do. I asked for a sign, dammit.
I went to Seattle in August to A) check out Bastyr (just in case), and B) attend a DONA certified doula course (required to get into Bastyr's midwifery program). I was floored by the love and sense of community of the women on the West Side. As they put it, there are more doulas than Starbucks in Seattle! There are groups and support and community and classes for just about anything you can imagine - cesarean awareness, labor coaches, midwives, childbirth educators, even placenta encapsulation, if you can believe it. It was awe-inspiring.
And then I came back to Spokane.
I looked around - there's not a lot of support, and the support that's out there is hard to find. I went to a BBQ with a friend's family and there were at least three pregnant women, two of whom were chain smoking. It killed me to see that, and I thought, "Do they know what they're doing to their unborn children? Do they care? Have they tried to stop smoking and just couldn't do it? Do they not have the support they need?"
There was my answer.
I want to get involved with my community. I want Spokane to know there is someone (or more than someone, if other people get involved) that cares about them and their well-being. Someone who can provide them with education, point them in the direction of help they may need, and do it so no matter what their financial or educational or social situation, they will get the help they need.
So I'm shifting gears. Instead of getting my direct transfer associate's degree, I will get my Business Associate's degree. I will learn all I can about running a not-for-profit type business. I will get my DONA doula certification, my childbirth educator certification, my lactation consultant certification, and I will provide all my services on a sliding scale. I will find others like me - people who care about the women of Spokane. We'll form our own damn community, thank you very much. We will provide doulas for moms who need someone but don't have anyone - single mothers, military wives, whomever asks for our assistance will receive it. I will conduct childbirth education classes in places they can reach even if they don't have a car, or a partner, or a babysitter. I will let people know what I do and meet them where they are at to provide them with the best options, no matter who they are.
I'll twist some arms and get the paper, or even the local news station!, to do a story about our humble group. I'll throw Get To Know Your Doulas nights at the library. I'll get out into our community and open eyes and hearts.
It's time, Spokane. Watch out! I'm comin' for ya! :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Decisions, decisions...
When I first started my midwifery journey, I had no idea what I was doing. I figured I'd get into school, get my pre-reqs done and things would just fall into place. My tentative plan was to get my Associates Degree in Nursing from Spokane Community College, get a Bachelor's degree in *whatever* at one of the four-year colleges (while working as a nurse), and then go on to get my Master's in Midwifery from the University of Pennsylvania.
That plan has totally fallen apart.
Spokane Community College lost their accreditation for their nursing program. "No prob," I thought. "I will just get my direct transfer associates degree and then get my Bachelor's in nursing at the downtown WSU campus."
Turns out, though, that it's a hard school to get into. They only accept 60 students twice a year, and you have to have a year of schooling at one of the four years to be competitive. (WSU, Eastern, or Whitworth.) That's pretty inconvenient because they're either A) far, far away, or B) hellabombastic expensive. And I only have a little over a year before I get my direct transfer A.A. anyway so I'd have to apply and get accepted and get my financial aid all figured out, like, yesterday.
Going through school and listening to the people who work in the medical field already made me realize - I don't want to be a nurse! I want to be a midwife, dammit! My passion is women, helping them create a loving and joyful birth experience!
I have been tearing myself to pieces trying to figure out what to do when suddenly I got an email from Bastyr University. They were one of the midwifery schools I had gotten info from ages ago. They're just north of Seattle and specialize in a more holistic approach to medicine. I rejected them, though, because at the time they didn't have a Master's program in Midwifery. Well, guess what? They now have a combined Bachelor's/Master's program!
It's not a certified nurse midwife degree. It's a direct entry midwife degree, but I could always go back later for an A.A. in Nursing. It would cut a couple of years off my schooling. I'd have to travel back and forth to Seattle quite often but that's not too big of a problem. And I'd be doing something I love instead of getting through years of nursing school just to get to my Midwifery classes...
My biggest worry is that I have to go back and get my doula certification again, and a child birth educator cert from DONA. (My doula certification is from Childbirth International, not recognized by Bastyr, unfortunately.) That's going to cost a pretty penny, and hat with full-time work and full-time school already, I don't know when I'm going to be able to fit doula/CBE training in to my schedule.
My heart is saying Bastyr... My logical Virgo brain is saying I should probably get my nursing degree first. I'm not sure which way to go... Any thoughts?
That plan has totally fallen apart.
Spokane Community College lost their accreditation for their nursing program. "No prob," I thought. "I will just get my direct transfer associates degree and then get my Bachelor's in nursing at the downtown WSU campus."
Turns out, though, that it's a hard school to get into. They only accept 60 students twice a year, and you have to have a year of schooling at one of the four years to be competitive. (WSU, Eastern, or Whitworth.) That's pretty inconvenient because they're either A) far, far away, or B) hellabombastic expensive. And I only have a little over a year before I get my direct transfer A.A. anyway so I'd have to apply and get accepted and get my financial aid all figured out, like, yesterday.
Going through school and listening to the people who work in the medical field already made me realize - I don't want to be a nurse! I want to be a midwife, dammit! My passion is women, helping them create a loving and joyful birth experience!
I have been tearing myself to pieces trying to figure out what to do when suddenly I got an email from Bastyr University. They were one of the midwifery schools I had gotten info from ages ago. They're just north of Seattle and specialize in a more holistic approach to medicine. I rejected them, though, because at the time they didn't have a Master's program in Midwifery. Well, guess what? They now have a combined Bachelor's/Master's program!
It's not a certified nurse midwife degree. It's a direct entry midwife degree, but I could always go back later for an A.A. in Nursing. It would cut a couple of years off my schooling. I'd have to travel back and forth to Seattle quite often but that's not too big of a problem. And I'd be doing something I love instead of getting through years of nursing school just to get to my Midwifery classes...
My biggest worry is that I have to go back and get my doula certification again, and a child birth educator cert from DONA. (My doula certification is from Childbirth International, not recognized by Bastyr, unfortunately.) That's going to cost a pretty penny, and hat with full-time work and full-time school already, I don't know when I'm going to be able to fit doula/CBE training in to my schedule.
My heart is saying Bastyr... My logical Virgo brain is saying I should probably get my nursing degree first. I'm not sure which way to go... Any thoughts?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Acupuncture!
Had my first acupuncture treatment today. All of my preconceived notions went totally out the window, in a good way!
The room was lovely and warm and there were ocean sounds playing softly. Instead of solemn silence (what I expected) she was chatty and we had what amounted to girl time. We talked about school and boys and The Future. That was very cool. Then she put seeds in my ears. Really! They're taped there now! That makes me chuckle.
I lay face-up on the bed and she made me comfy and then STABBY! NEEDLES! Honestly, though, the needles didn't hurt at all. It felt like a little pixie punch - not sharp, nothing to worry about. She combined the acupuncture and seeds with moxibustion (sort of like smudging but less smoke).
The entire process was relaxing and lovely. I was worried about it being painful or stresful. I wasn't expecting to get any sort of result my first time in but... Wow. I feel so relaxed. The tightness in my shoulder is gone. I feel so refreshed, honestly, like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My "bad" endo spots feel not as bad - I went up the stairs without wincing! Seriously!
Okay, must go back to A&P studying. I have a test tomorrow over the digestive system.
Joy.
The room was lovely and warm and there were ocean sounds playing softly. Instead of solemn silence (what I expected) she was chatty and we had what amounted to girl time. We talked about school and boys and The Future. That was very cool. Then she put seeds in my ears. Really! They're taped there now! That makes me chuckle.
I lay face-up on the bed and she made me comfy and then STABBY! NEEDLES! Honestly, though, the needles didn't hurt at all. It felt like a little pixie punch - not sharp, nothing to worry about. She combined the acupuncture and seeds with moxibustion (sort of like smudging but less smoke).
The entire process was relaxing and lovely. I was worried about it being painful or stresful. I wasn't expecting to get any sort of result my first time in but... Wow. I feel so relaxed. The tightness in my shoulder is gone. I feel so refreshed, honestly, like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My "bad" endo spots feel not as bad - I went up the stairs without wincing! Seriously!
Okay, must go back to A&P studying. I have a test tomorrow over the digestive system.
Joy.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Still here... Mostly.
School, work, buying our first house, maintaining a loving and healthy relationship, having a chronic and painful disease...
Man, it is wearing me down.
School is going well. I am not happy with my grades but as people keep pointing out a 3.5 is GOOD. I'm so hard on myself - I know I could be doing much better if it weren't for the extraneous BS.
I guess I should touch on the disease thingie.
I have endometriosis. For those not familiar, it means cells from the inside of my uterus have made a break for it. They've set up shop in my abdomen and do what uterine cells do: bleed. Since the blood has nowhere to go, it pools up into cysts. Somehow these rogue cells also manage to build up scar tissue, binding organs together unnaturally. For a good portion of women affected by the disease, the symptoms are insane bleeding and pain during their menstrual cycle, and infertility.
Two years ago I had surgery to diagnose my chronic abdominal pain. It hurt, but not all the time. During the surgery, they cauterized some spots of endo they found and broke up some scar tissue that had built up, fusing my right ovary to my uterus. It took me a couple of months to feel 100% again and I thought that would be the end of it.
Sigh.
It started like it had before - weird tweaks and twinges in my rightside lower abdomen. Sometimes it would ITCH unbearably, deep in my belly. Soon the tweaks turned into pinches which turned into stabs. Still, it wasn't daily, and for that I was glad.
The pain has been getting worse, especially over the last two months. It's daily now and my regimen of 1/2 of a narcotic pain pill in the morning just doesn't cut it now. I can't remember the last time I had a pain-free day. Fighting with my doctor is a nightmare - even though I haven't upped my pain prescription in TWO YEARS, he "doesn't feel comfortable" prescribing any more. I get exactly five pain pills per week. Yeah, I'm a total junkie. (/sarcasm) My last visit to my doctor was humiliating. He had a student with him, and the first thing he said when I came in was, "So when are you going to kick the pain pills?" I laughed uncomfortably, thinking, "When are you going to cure my disease?" He then said, "You know you're not going to be able to pop a hydro and go deliver a baby at a hospital right?"
Okay, first of all, I do not "pop" hydros. I take my prescribed medication for a painful disease. Secondly, the other treatment for endometriosis (putting myself in a chemically induced menopause for half a year) is something that's in the works. I can't imagine putting myself through that while working, in school, buying a house, etc. The plan is December. We'll be in our house by then and I'll have a month off of school to get accustomed to the fun side effects of menopause. Until then though...
Good grief, but it hurts.
Man, it is wearing me down.
School is going well. I am not happy with my grades but as people keep pointing out a 3.5 is GOOD. I'm so hard on myself - I know I could be doing much better if it weren't for the extraneous BS.
I guess I should touch on the disease thingie.
I have endometriosis. For those not familiar, it means cells from the inside of my uterus have made a break for it. They've set up shop in my abdomen and do what uterine cells do: bleed. Since the blood has nowhere to go, it pools up into cysts. Somehow these rogue cells also manage to build up scar tissue, binding organs together unnaturally. For a good portion of women affected by the disease, the symptoms are insane bleeding and pain during their menstrual cycle, and infertility.
Two years ago I had surgery to diagnose my chronic abdominal pain. It hurt, but not all the time. During the surgery, they cauterized some spots of endo they found and broke up some scar tissue that had built up, fusing my right ovary to my uterus. It took me a couple of months to feel 100% again and I thought that would be the end of it.
Sigh.
It started like it had before - weird tweaks and twinges in my rightside lower abdomen. Sometimes it would ITCH unbearably, deep in my belly. Soon the tweaks turned into pinches which turned into stabs. Still, it wasn't daily, and for that I was glad.
The pain has been getting worse, especially over the last two months. It's daily now and my regimen of 1/2 of a narcotic pain pill in the morning just doesn't cut it now. I can't remember the last time I had a pain-free day. Fighting with my doctor is a nightmare - even though I haven't upped my pain prescription in TWO YEARS, he "doesn't feel comfortable" prescribing any more. I get exactly five pain pills per week. Yeah, I'm a total junkie. (/sarcasm) My last visit to my doctor was humiliating. He had a student with him, and the first thing he said when I came in was, "So when are you going to kick the pain pills?" I laughed uncomfortably, thinking, "When are you going to cure my disease?" He then said, "You know you're not going to be able to pop a hydro and go deliver a baby at a hospital right?"
Okay, first of all, I do not "pop" hydros. I take my prescribed medication for a painful disease. Secondly, the other treatment for endometriosis (putting myself in a chemically induced menopause for half a year) is something that's in the works. I can't imagine putting myself through that while working, in school, buying a house, etc. The plan is December. We'll be in our house by then and I'll have a month off of school to get accustomed to the fun side effects of menopause. Until then though...
Good grief, but it hurts.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Finally!
Fact: this quarter was TORTURE.
It never slowed down, not for a minute. I had about an hour and a half each day for studying and homework (30 minute lunch break and an hour after I got home from school). This was not nearly enough. I did well, though, all things considered.
MATH: 3.8
A&P 241: 3.2
PSYCH 100: 3.3
While I am disappointed that I didn't do better (or get on the honor roll this quarter *grumble*), I understand that if I had pushed myself any harder, my body would have completely rebelled. With work and school, I was out of the house fourteen hours a day, and then had to come home and do homework/study/make a half-assed attempt at housework/etc. I started having severe insomnia (thank god for Benadryl, melatonin, and Rescue Remedy), various body parts decided swell up whenever they damn well felt like it, migraines started coming back, and my endometriosis made me contemplate once more the benefits of a full abdomenectomy.
And, as always, I couldn't have done it without Phil. He has taken up everything I can't do anymore and he does it without complaining or asking for a reward. He made all my meals - brought me breakfast, packed my lunch, and had dinner waiting every evening. The kitchen was clean most of the time and he was not above pushing me out the door when I told him I couldn't do it anymore.
Okay, really silly reference, but you know that scene from Harry Potter where Dumbledore has to drink the poison water in the big cave? He tells Harry that no matter what, Harry has to make sure Dumbledore drinks it all. Phil's the one who knows that this will all be worth it in the end. He keeps me going when I am absolutely convinced I'm at my limit.
Next quarter shouldn't be as bad. I'm going back to day classes, so I'll only be out of the house twelve hours instead of fourteen. I'm taking the second Anatomy and Physiology class which I hear isn't nearly as hard as the first. Math 99 shouldn't be too bad - I've been catching on really quick in math so I'm not too worried. And Health 101 online. Heh. That shouldn't be too bad. Thirteen credits this time instead of fifteen.
Right now is spring break. We both took off work and are planning on playing all the video games we can handle. I'm surprising him with a trip to Lewiston, ID to a place called Effie's Tavern. Apparently they serve GINORMOUS burgers there. We've been watching a lot of Man vs. Food lately... Phil likes food.
Spring break, hooray!!
It never slowed down, not for a minute. I had about an hour and a half each day for studying and homework (30 minute lunch break and an hour after I got home from school). This was not nearly enough. I did well, though, all things considered.
MATH: 3.8
A&P 241: 3.2
PSYCH 100: 3.3
While I am disappointed that I didn't do better (or get on the honor roll this quarter *grumble*), I understand that if I had pushed myself any harder, my body would have completely rebelled. With work and school, I was out of the house fourteen hours a day, and then had to come home and do homework/study/make a half-assed attempt at housework/etc. I started having severe insomnia (thank god for Benadryl, melatonin, and Rescue Remedy), various body parts decided swell up whenever they damn well felt like it, migraines started coming back, and my endometriosis made me contemplate once more the benefits of a full abdomenectomy.
And, as always, I couldn't have done it without Phil. He has taken up everything I can't do anymore and he does it without complaining or asking for a reward. He made all my meals - brought me breakfast, packed my lunch, and had dinner waiting every evening. The kitchen was clean most of the time and he was not above pushing me out the door when I told him I couldn't do it anymore.
Okay, really silly reference, but you know that scene from Harry Potter where Dumbledore has to drink the poison water in the big cave? He tells Harry that no matter what, Harry has to make sure Dumbledore drinks it all. Phil's the one who knows that this will all be worth it in the end. He keeps me going when I am absolutely convinced I'm at my limit.
Next quarter shouldn't be as bad. I'm going back to day classes, so I'll only be out of the house twelve hours instead of fourteen. I'm taking the second Anatomy and Physiology class which I hear isn't nearly as hard as the first. Math 99 shouldn't be too bad - I've been catching on really quick in math so I'm not too worried. And Health 101 online. Heh. That shouldn't be too bad. Thirteen credits this time instead of fifteen.
Right now is spring break. We both took off work and are planning on playing all the video games we can handle. I'm surprising him with a trip to Lewiston, ID to a place called Effie's Tavern. Apparently they serve GINORMOUS burgers there. We've been watching a lot of Man vs. Food lately... Phil likes food.
Spring break, hooray!!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Three Tips
Since this quarter has been SO rough, I'm going to write something useful and fun (for me). I present to you...
Katrina's Three Tips for Laboring Moms!
Tip #1 - Stay upright for as long as possible.
Gravity is your friend! When you're in the supine (on your back) position, the baby has to fight it's way down the birth canal. If you can stay up right, your hips are looser, and your body doesn't have to fight as hard. The baby's head is pushing harder on your cervix as well, which means it'll dilate faster and you will have a shorter labor. SHORTER LABOR. That's a good thing.
BONUS TIP: If you are absolutely dead set on having an epidural, ask for a walking epidural. It's a mixture of different medications that help with pain relief, but don't make you numb. Most women with a walking epidural are able to get up and walk around, helping your labor progress more quickly! And this way you can feel to be able to push when the time comes.
Tip #2 - Relax your jaw.
No, I'm not kidding. Concentrate on relaxing your jaw through contractions. Studies show this correlates with how fast your cervix dilates. And remember - faster dilation, shorter labor!
BONUS TIP: Make sure the noises you make during labor are low and rumbly. High-pitched noises tense up your body, making everything much more painful, and slowing down dilation. Growl, groan, moan, do what you must. I read a story of a lady who moo'd through her labor. She said people were trying not to laugh but it really helped her relax!
Tip #3 - Have someone there to advocate for you.
Whether it's your spouse, your mom, or your trained labor coach, have someone there for you. Someone you've discussed your birth plan with in detail. Someone who is as familiar with each procedure as you are and knows what you do and do not want. You're going to need someone to support you, physically and emotionally, through this process. They'll be the ones to remind you to relax your jaw for the millionth time. They'll be the ones to remind you to change positions, and remind your doctor you don't want this or that procedure. You're going to be in labor, for crying out loud. That's enough to concentrate on without having to argue with your doctor about cutting an episiotomy.
Katrina's Three Tips for Laboring Moms!
Tip #1 - Stay upright for as long as possible.
Gravity is your friend! When you're in the supine (on your back) position, the baby has to fight it's way down the birth canal. If you can stay up right, your hips are looser, and your body doesn't have to fight as hard. The baby's head is pushing harder on your cervix as well, which means it'll dilate faster and you will have a shorter labor. SHORTER LABOR. That's a good thing.
BONUS TIP: If you are absolutely dead set on having an epidural, ask for a walking epidural. It's a mixture of different medications that help with pain relief, but don't make you numb. Most women with a walking epidural are able to get up and walk around, helping your labor progress more quickly! And this way you can feel to be able to push when the time comes.
Tip #2 - Relax your jaw.
No, I'm not kidding. Concentrate on relaxing your jaw through contractions. Studies show this correlates with how fast your cervix dilates. And remember - faster dilation, shorter labor!
BONUS TIP: Make sure the noises you make during labor are low and rumbly. High-pitched noises tense up your body, making everything much more painful, and slowing down dilation. Growl, groan, moan, do what you must. I read a story of a lady who moo'd through her labor. She said people were trying not to laugh but it really helped her relax!
Tip #3 - Have someone there to advocate for you.
Whether it's your spouse, your mom, or your trained labor coach, have someone there for you. Someone you've discussed your birth plan with in detail. Someone who is as familiar with each procedure as you are and knows what you do and do not want. You're going to need someone to support you, physically and emotionally, through this process. They'll be the ones to remind you to relax your jaw for the millionth time. They'll be the ones to remind you to change positions, and remind your doctor you don't want this or that procedure. You're going to be in labor, for crying out loud. That's enough to concentrate on without having to argue with your doctor about cutting an episiotomy.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Busy... So busy.
I honestly meant to post after my first week of classes. Honest! The homework load, though, was so overwhelming that I didn't have time. "Surely," I thought, "Things will settle down in week two!"
...no.
Week three?
...yeah, no.
In my head I saw this quarter as being just as easy as last quarter. Enough of a challenge to leave me feeling slightly stressed but mostly proud of myself, but not so much that I wanted to fling myself into oncoming traffic. A nice, soft, teddy-bear squish of a quarter.
I opened my arms, prepared to embrace the squish and got mauled by a grizzly.
Ah god. The schedule is killing me. Having classes every other day is just stupid. We cover three or more chapters per night in Math and must complete the home work in two days, whilst keeping up with A&P studying/flashcards/quizzes twice a week, and Psychology discussion boards/Crazy-APA-Obsessed-Professor/reading/chapter tests. While working full time. I'm in school or at work fourteen hours a day.
This is the point in which you may imagine Our Heroine weeping in the corner, trying to set fire to her textbooks.
Okay, so I exaggerate. A little bit. But not much. I spend every waking (and evidently sleeping) moment trying to crowbar information into my skull - on my lunch break, the forty minutes I get between work and school, however long it takes me between school and bedtime. I wake up several times a night, gasping out anatomical positions or Algebra equations, depending on the day of the week. I give myself the time it takes me to eat breakfast to read the news, blogs and catch up with Facebook, but that's about it for "scheduled" free time. I did take last Saturday "off" from homework to watch Phil play Bioshock in preparation for Bioshock2 coming out, and felt guilty afterward.
Speaking of Phil... I know I've said it before, but I really honest-to-god could not do this without him. Without complaint he makes my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He's taken over the food-shopping duty so I have more time for homework. My one meager kitchen duty (unloading the dishwasher) has been quietly relinquished. I hate it passionately. There's nothing I can do, though. I simply do not have the time to take care of anything but work and school. I tell him constantly how much I appreciate him taking care of everything, and that dear man shrugs and smiles and tells me he'd much rather I study than fold laundry. He supports me 100% and I am so thoroughly blessed.
Quick rundown of classes before I have to go study a skull...
Psychology 100
This is my online class. The professor is, pardon the language, fucknuts crazy. I thought at first he was a nice man because he uses smiley emoticons. DO NOT TRUST THE SMILIES. He refuses to post what you need to know in an easy-to-find location. You have to hunt for every little nugget. And he highlights and italicizes random text so A) it's hard on your eyes, and B) you never know what is important because IT'S ALL RANDOMLY HIGHLIGHTED AND ITALICIZED. He marks you down if you turn in your assignments the day they're due, instead of BEFORE they're due. He nitpicks on APA format without telling you how your content was. I got a C on my first Psych test. C! Stupid prof. I keep telling people my goal last quarter was A's. My goal this quarter is to pass. That's all.
Math 92
Just like Math 91, I'm picking up on it really quickly. First Math test was a 92%. My good bud K from Math 91 just happens to be in my Math 92! We are conspiring to take 99 together because together we are UNSTOPPABLE. Math Prof is a nice, quiet little man who started out quite taken aback by K and I's antics. Now he just shakes his head and keeps going.
Anatomy & Physiology 241
According to Dr J, my A&P prof, they cram three quarters worth of material in to two quarters at our school. This, my friends, is killing my softly. Yesterday we were told to memorize all the bones and bone markings in the skull. Guess when we'll be tested on this? THURSDAY. One week to learn, in intimate detail, the human skull. When I looked at the list she gave us, I fought tooth-and-nail against a panic attack. This is crazy. I don't have time to give this the attention it deserves. My first practical lab test was an 82.5% - really good, according to everyone, but it makes me scowl a little. Dr J is a good teacher though so I am picking it up pretty quickly. One week at a time, Katrina...
So that's that. Now I'm going to kiss my man and sit down on the couch with a picture of a skull...
...no.
Week three?
...yeah, no.
In my head I saw this quarter as being just as easy as last quarter. Enough of a challenge to leave me feeling slightly stressed but mostly proud of myself, but not so much that I wanted to fling myself into oncoming traffic. A nice, soft, teddy-bear squish of a quarter.
I opened my arms, prepared to embrace the squish and got mauled by a grizzly.
Ah god. The schedule is killing me. Having classes every other day is just stupid. We cover three or more chapters per night in Math and must complete the home work in two days, whilst keeping up with A&P studying/flashcards/quizzes twice a week, and Psychology discussion boards/Crazy-APA-Obsessed-Professor/reading/chapter tests. While working full time. I'm in school or at work fourteen hours a day.
This is the point in which you may imagine Our Heroine weeping in the corner, trying to set fire to her textbooks.
Okay, so I exaggerate. A little bit. But not much. I spend every waking (and evidently sleeping) moment trying to crowbar information into my skull - on my lunch break, the forty minutes I get between work and school, however long it takes me between school and bedtime. I wake up several times a night, gasping out anatomical positions or Algebra equations, depending on the day of the week. I give myself the time it takes me to eat breakfast to read the news, blogs and catch up with Facebook, but that's about it for "scheduled" free time. I did take last Saturday "off" from homework to watch Phil play Bioshock in preparation for Bioshock2 coming out, and felt guilty afterward.
Speaking of Phil... I know I've said it before, but I really honest-to-god could not do this without him. Without complaint he makes my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He's taken over the food-shopping duty so I have more time for homework. My one meager kitchen duty (unloading the dishwasher) has been quietly relinquished. I hate it passionately. There's nothing I can do, though. I simply do not have the time to take care of anything but work and school. I tell him constantly how much I appreciate him taking care of everything, and that dear man shrugs and smiles and tells me he'd much rather I study than fold laundry. He supports me 100% and I am so thoroughly blessed.
Quick rundown of classes before I have to go study a skull...
Psychology 100
This is my online class. The professor is, pardon the language, fucknuts crazy. I thought at first he was a nice man because he uses smiley emoticons. DO NOT TRUST THE SMILIES. He refuses to post what you need to know in an easy-to-find location. You have to hunt for every little nugget. And he highlights and italicizes random text so A) it's hard on your eyes, and B) you never know what is important because IT'S ALL RANDOMLY HIGHLIGHTED AND ITALICIZED. He marks you down if you turn in your assignments the day they're due, instead of BEFORE they're due. He nitpicks on APA format without telling you how your content was. I got a C on my first Psych test. C! Stupid prof. I keep telling people my goal last quarter was A's. My goal this quarter is to pass. That's all.
Math 92
Just like Math 91, I'm picking up on it really quickly. First Math test was a 92%. My good bud K from Math 91 just happens to be in my Math 92! We are conspiring to take 99 together because together we are UNSTOPPABLE. Math Prof is a nice, quiet little man who started out quite taken aback by K and I's antics. Now he just shakes his head and keeps going.
Anatomy & Physiology 241
According to Dr J, my A&P prof, they cram three quarters worth of material in to two quarters at our school. This, my friends, is killing my softly. Yesterday we were told to memorize all the bones and bone markings in the skull. Guess when we'll be tested on this? THURSDAY. One week to learn, in intimate detail, the human skull. When I looked at the list she gave us, I fought tooth-and-nail against a panic attack. This is crazy. I don't have time to give this the attention it deserves. My first practical lab test was an 82.5% - really good, according to everyone, but it makes me scowl a little. Dr J is a good teacher though so I am picking it up pretty quickly. One week at a time, Katrina...
So that's that. Now I'm going to kiss my man and sit down on the couch with a picture of a skull...
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