One more challenge down

I know it's nowhere close to over yet, but I'm going to enjoy the relief and elation for at least the next three hours. I got an A in organic chemistry!! I was starting to have a few concerns after the my shoulder was doing poorly for the final and there's large blocks of time that day that I don't remember, including part of the final. I really need to learn how to just trust God more. However it's confusing how that looks when studying and working your butt off is part of being faithful. Hopefully I'll figure it out before August 22nd for the mcats. Now it's onto O Chem II class...challenge number 2. And if you see Ross, the temporary hermit, don't forget to send him the same blessing for his USMLEs next week.

A Bittersweet Milestone

Today is exactly 100 days since shoulder surgery. So for the last 3 months ('plus a little'--which is very important to me) I have not been allowed to lift even the weight of my own arm. Personally I believe this is why I'm having muscle spasms, but of course the doc can't say that. Finally at my appointment today he gave me permission to lift something that is attached to me and I have to take everywhere anyway. Sounds silly. He even signed the physical therapy prescription for it! Woohoo, victory!!

...and then the bomb dropped. If the muscle spasms don't stop in a couple months he's going to go do surgery again and cut my biceps off from the top of the humerus. Yeah, not too funny. He didn't talk about reattaching it anywhere...just said he didn't do it initially because I'd still need it for 60 years or so. And now I don't?! My first reaction was "first you've got to get me to consent and that's not going to happen" Fortunately, I didn't tell him that because I can't live my whole life with these spasms and really don't want to be a jerk. However I think having surgery again and removing more stuff is nothing short of drastic. I think and hope that my muscles will be a little less spastic and cooperative now that they are actually allowed to do something. Maybe they're just bored. Sounds better to me.

Bragging rights

Actually they'd be my sister's bragging rights, not mine, but I still have a right to be baised toward my only niece. I thought I'd post a picture for you guys. Her name is Arica Leanne and she's around 8 months right now and absolutely adorable. Looks identical to the pictures of Tabitha at that age.


See, I told you she was precious, a bit precocious, and into everything. I've got five bucks that says my sister is going to have her hands full. (Actually I lied, I don't have 5 bucks yet, but I bet I can find someone to front me it for a safe bet like this...and then I'll have 5 bucks.)

summer school status

Just a quick little note...In June 1998 I learned a very important lesson that I remembered until just this year. That was, DON'T TAKE SUMMER CLASSES!!!! But in my defense I really didn't have an option unless I wanted to lose another full year and not start med school til I was 30. Now that might be a worse fate.

I don't know how God always works. Our last organic chem test on Monday was brutal (my mind's still so shot I can't spell) I think half the class is dropping and that is of the ones that were still left. I didn't do that great on it either, maybe I did good by O.Chem standards but not mine. Fortunately (and I say that extremely hesitantly) the majority of the class did much worse and I ended up with an A from the curve anyway. Was that God? I don't know...I would hope that God wouldn't fail that many people so I could maintain an A and get into school. Then again that class has a reputation of failing people constantly anyway. Two more tests to go!! Thanks for the prayers

If Only Icy-Hot made bubble bath...

Today was a good day...there was a bunch of work this morning which is good when it has been scarce for a while. However, the initial estimate looked like I had 30 hours to do in 2 days and still make it to class, study, fire dept, and maybe sleep? Not sure about that last one. I cut out eating a couple days ago and that helped with the time management. Thankfully, my boss cut me loose an hour early with the promise of working late tonight so I could go study for my organic chem test that I had by no means spent enough time on. I was just on the verge of panic.

But the test went well, God's so cool. I'm glad my study partner invented organic chem. I know I said that about Biology too, but what can I say he is busy AND talented! At the end there was only one question I wasn't quite sure of. Afterwards all my potential hiking partners bailed, but that was fine, I really needed to get some work done anyway.

Back at work...I just flew through all of it. It's still got to go back for comments and then I'll do the final touches, but if stuff really collapses (not the structure of course!) the first run through will suffice for now. I even made it home just before 1am. I took the dogs for a walk, baked breakfast for tomorrow morning (Yes), and even washed some dishes (if you remember from up top those are at least 3 days old, eeeew.) And that leaves me where I am now, studying (with a short break) and wishing that icy-hot would make a bubble bath for my pathetic shoulder. That would just make today end perfectly.