I've finally found some time to update. This semester has been quite crazy! We had 10 weeks of intense classes, as usual and then I just finished 6 weeks of clincal rotation.
Starting in November, I began my clincial rotation. I was able to work in the clinici and learn and actually experience different patients. It was amazing and a great reminder as to why I'm enduring the crazy stress of school. I had the good fortune to work with some amazing physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and occupational and speech therapist. It was great! I learned so much new information and I was able to piece together information that I've been learning in school too!
I got to live at home for those 6 weeks which was really amazing. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with my family for a little while since I've been so busy with school the past few years.
I have truly been blessed this year with such a supportive family and friends. I could not have made it through this year or semester with out them in my life.
I am now relaxing in Austin, preparing for the holidays and trying to catch up with friends. I can't wait for Christmas and the New Year! Happy holidays to all!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Direct Access for Texas Physical Therapists
If you would like to allow consumers to access their physical therapists directly, please sign the petition at this link.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Surviving, Loving Life!
So, I know it's been a while since I've had the chance to update, so here goes.
The summer session was crazy and intense. It was a complete blur of 10 weeks. I'm not sure I learned a lot, but I was given copious amounts of infomration. My hope is that most of it stuck and that I'll continue to review and learn as I continue.
I had two weeks off between semesters, and it was wonderful. I worked at Splashway for a week or so and was able to spend time with my family. A little time off to relax and make a little extra money was wonderful.
The second week I had off, Casey and I took a road trip to New Orleans, LA. We had an absolute blast. I'm pretty sure we walked a million miles during the four days we were there. (ok maybe not that many, but close.) If you check out my facebook, there are some pretty awesome pictures. We had beignets and cafe au lait and we had lots of seafood and we walked everywhere!
The cemetery tour is a must for anyone headed to New Orleans as well as the self-guided walking tour. We had fun listening to live music and enjoying wonderful food.
By the time the trip was over, we were exhausted and ready to get back to Texas!! I look forward to another exciting trip sometime soon.
Speaking of... next May a group of 13 DPT students will be going to Cusco, Peru to help the local Physical Therapists in the hospitals. I'll be going with them! I am so excited! Now...we just have to raise the money for the trip. If you'd like to help us out, let me know and I'll get you the info to donate. We are going with IFRE which is a tax deductible donation organization. We'll be gone for 10 days. I guess I need to brush up on my Spanish!
Well, will try to get better about updating, but this semester is just as crazy as the summer since we're going on our 1st clinical at the beginning of November, wish me luck!
The summer session was crazy and intense. It was a complete blur of 10 weeks. I'm not sure I learned a lot, but I was given copious amounts of infomration. My hope is that most of it stuck and that I'll continue to review and learn as I continue.
I had two weeks off between semesters, and it was wonderful. I worked at Splashway for a week or so and was able to spend time with my family. A little time off to relax and make a little extra money was wonderful.
The second week I had off, Casey and I took a road trip to New Orleans, LA. We had an absolute blast. I'm pretty sure we walked a million miles during the four days we were there. (ok maybe not that many, but close.) If you check out my facebook, there are some pretty awesome pictures. We had beignets and cafe au lait and we had lots of seafood and we walked everywhere!
The cemetery tour is a must for anyone headed to New Orleans as well as the self-guided walking tour. We had fun listening to live music and enjoying wonderful food.
By the time the trip was over, we were exhausted and ready to get back to Texas!! I look forward to another exciting trip sometime soon.
Speaking of... next May a group of 13 DPT students will be going to Cusco, Peru to help the local Physical Therapists in the hospitals. I'll be going with them! I am so excited! Now...we just have to raise the money for the trip. If you'd like to help us out, let me know and I'll get you the info to donate. We are going with IFRE which is a tax deductible donation organization. We'll be gone for 10 days. I guess I need to brush up on my Spanish!
Well, will try to get better about updating, but this semester is just as crazy as the summer since we're going on our 1st clinical at the beginning of November, wish me luck!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Short Update
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Life's Little Adventures
Well... finals studying has begun (well sort of, still working on finding the motivation). I will be so happy to have my two weeks off in August!
So... last week I was able to get Friday off so that I could go to the beach to be with family. It was amazing! I think I was the happiest I've been in a while.
I left Thursday after class and drove to Corpus. I got there exhausted and ready for some sleep and some serious relaxation. Friday morning my dad and I got up and went for a morning run on the boardwalk at about 6:30am (which is early for vacation for me). It was great to be able to finally get some type of a workout in. Then we ate breakfast and gathered everything to go to the beach! Although I had to study briefly, it was less stressful since I could study by the water in a lounge chair with the sun shining (and a beer in hand if I decided).
It was so great to see my entire family for a few days and spend some time with my grandma for once. There was lots of good food and wonderful company. Two days on the beach were not nearly enough, but I'll take whatever I can get.
I drove back to Houston on Sunday and came home to a soaking wet apartment :(. A pipe had busted in the apartment above me and basically flooded mine as well. (What a wonderful present after vacation.) The ceiling in my bathroom was falling down and there was debris from the ceiling all inside my tub, needless to say the relaxation I had planned for Sunday evening did not happen. I spent my last day of "freedom" cleaning and attempting to get parts of the carpet dry!
Monday night I spent at a hotel because the carpet guys pulled up all the padding and sprayed some type of cleanser on the floor so I couldn't even get to my bed. Tuesday was a little better, and they had everything fixed on Wednesday, but my stuff is still in complete disarray. I'm hoping to get everything back in order this weekend! What a week! At least it was this week and not next week during finals or else I'd be a complete wreck! It has been quite an adventure this week, but I guess it keeps things exciting!
So... last week I was able to get Friday off so that I could go to the beach to be with family. It was amazing! I think I was the happiest I've been in a while.
I left Thursday after class and drove to Corpus. I got there exhausted and ready for some sleep and some serious relaxation. Friday morning my dad and I got up and went for a morning run on the boardwalk at about 6:30am (which is early for vacation for me). It was great to be able to finally get some type of a workout in. Then we ate breakfast and gathered everything to go to the beach! Although I had to study briefly, it was less stressful since I could study by the water in a lounge chair with the sun shining (and a beer in hand if I decided).
It was so great to see my entire family for a few days and spend some time with my grandma for once. There was lots of good food and wonderful company. Two days on the beach were not nearly enough, but I'll take whatever I can get.
I drove back to Houston on Sunday and came home to a soaking wet apartment :(. A pipe had busted in the apartment above me and basically flooded mine as well. (What a wonderful present after vacation.) The ceiling in my bathroom was falling down and there was debris from the ceiling all inside my tub, needless to say the relaxation I had planned for Sunday evening did not happen. I spent my last day of "freedom" cleaning and attempting to get parts of the carpet dry!
Monday night I spent at a hotel because the carpet guys pulled up all the padding and sprayed some type of cleanser on the floor so I couldn't even get to my bed. Tuesday was a little better, and they had everything fixed on Wednesday, but my stuff is still in complete disarray. I'm hoping to get everything back in order this weekend! What a week! At least it was this week and not next week during finals or else I'd be a complete wreck! It has been quite an adventure this week, but I guess it keeps things exciting!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Summer School
So I've been super busy lately with this whole summer school thing. I apologize for the time between posts!
Nothing major to report. I'm surviving PT school. We have had a pretty busy and somewhat stressful summer! We are taking 13 hours in 10 weeks, which turns into 6 different classes to keep track of overall. Yikes!!!
We have been going on clinic visits in small groups for a couple of our classes. That has been really neat. We went to observe wound care (yes physical therapists do wound care on patients in case you were wondering). It was pretty neat! I thought I'd be extremely grossed out, but I actually enjoyed myself, of course I wasn't actually touching the wounds, but it was neat to observe and realize that the pictures they show you and that are in our book actually do happen. It amazed me how quickly a person can develop an extremely large wound!
We also got to practice our interviewing skills in the clinic setting which was great. It is very different to role play with your classmates than it is to actually talk to your patients/clients in the clinical setting.
I have taken a little time to relax, but there is not much of that. Studying at the pool seems to be the best solution, or on the treadmill. I am headed to Galveston with some girlfriends this weekend for a mini day staycation :) and to the beach with my mom's family next weekend! I'm so glad it worked out and that my classmates were willing to switch lab groups and class times with me. I'm glad that we support eachother!
I am also extremely lucky to have such an amazing support system! My family and friends have been amazing! I know they don't always understand the stress and "drama" that I throw at them, but they always talk me through it and support me no matter what! Well... I'll do my best to keep this a little more current, but no promises... the fall is pretty much the same with 10 wks, 14 hours, and then our 6 week clinical rotations (which I can't wait for.)
Well.... I'm going to go shut my brain off for a day or so since we've finally made it through the evil midterms! Then next week it'll be back to prepping for finals already! Man how time flies!
Nothing major to report. I'm surviving PT school. We have had a pretty busy and somewhat stressful summer! We are taking 13 hours in 10 weeks, which turns into 6 different classes to keep track of overall. Yikes!!!
We have been going on clinic visits in small groups for a couple of our classes. That has been really neat. We went to observe wound care (yes physical therapists do wound care on patients in case you were wondering). It was pretty neat! I thought I'd be extremely grossed out, but I actually enjoyed myself, of course I wasn't actually touching the wounds, but it was neat to observe and realize that the pictures they show you and that are in our book actually do happen. It amazed me how quickly a person can develop an extremely large wound!
We also got to practice our interviewing skills in the clinic setting which was great. It is very different to role play with your classmates than it is to actually talk to your patients/clients in the clinical setting.
I have taken a little time to relax, but there is not much of that. Studying at the pool seems to be the best solution, or on the treadmill. I am headed to Galveston with some girlfriends this weekend for a mini day staycation :) and to the beach with my mom's family next weekend! I'm so glad it worked out and that my classmates were willing to switch lab groups and class times with me. I'm glad that we support eachother!
I am also extremely lucky to have such an amazing support system! My family and friends have been amazing! I know they don't always understand the stress and "drama" that I throw at them, but they always talk me through it and support me no matter what! Well... I'll do my best to keep this a little more current, but no promises... the fall is pretty much the same with 10 wks, 14 hours, and then our 6 week clinical rotations (which I can't wait for.)
Well.... I'm going to go shut my brain off for a day or so since we've finally made it through the evil midterms! Then next week it'll be back to prepping for finals already! Man how time flies!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Summer Break
Well... I have completed two semesters of the DPT program!! So exciting! I am 1/4 of the way there. Only 6 more semesters to go.
After 3 weeks of insanity with finals and practical exams and presentations, some of us celebrated by going to lunch and having a few margaritas!! The best way to end the semester. I am so glad to be done for a few weeks.
We get 3 and 1/2 weeks off and then on June 7th is it back to school for 10 weeks. It is going to be a tough summer session, but I'll survive that too.
I spent the first few days of my break in Austin hanging out with friends. It was great to relax and hang out for a few days.
Last Sunday I headed to Hallettsville to spend a little time with my family. I ended up working at Splashway the entire week. Oh how I miss those amazing people. It was so much fun!
I am headed back to Austin for a few days. Trying to float the river at least once this summer and then I'll be headed back home to work some more. Gotta make a little money while I can.
I know I've been pretty bad about updating this thing, but I promise to get better. I hope everyone is doing well.
Well that's it for now. Have a great week!!!
After 3 weeks of insanity with finals and practical exams and presentations, some of us celebrated by going to lunch and having a few margaritas!! The best way to end the semester. I am so glad to be done for a few weeks.
We get 3 and 1/2 weeks off and then on June 7th is it back to school for 10 weeks. It is going to be a tough summer session, but I'll survive that too.
I spent the first few days of my break in Austin hanging out with friends. It was great to relax and hang out for a few days.
Last Sunday I headed to Hallettsville to spend a little time with my family. I ended up working at Splashway the entire week. Oh how I miss those amazing people. It was so much fun!
I am headed back to Austin for a few days. Trying to float the river at least once this summer and then I'll be headed back home to work some more. Gotta make a little money while I can.
I know I've been pretty bad about updating this thing, but I promise to get better. I hope everyone is doing well.
Well that's it for now. Have a great week!!!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Long Time
I guess I should update! I've been extremely busy studying and in class so I've neglected my blog lately! So sorry!
Since Spring Break I feel like it has been non-stop action in school. This semester is difficult, and was a bit overwhelming at times, but I think I've got things more under control. I've got 2.5 weeks left of classes and finals and then I'm off to Austin, then home and so on to relax and recharge!!!
Lots of group projects and mini assignments are keeping us busy and at school constantly. I'm learning to cope with the new level of stress. I'm also readjusting my priorities to make things work while I'm in school. Slowly but surely things will fall into place.
After my last final, I will be successfully through 1/4 of the program and basically have finished on year of PT school, INSANE!!! It seems like I just started last week. This journey is going to fly by. Then I'll have to get a real job and not have Spring Break or 3 weeks off here and 4 weeks of there. SCARY!!!! :) I think I'll survive, but for the next few years I can live in a happy school world where I can believe that i'll always get a month for Christmas break! :) Don't ruin my delusion just yet, please!
These next few weeks are jam packed and I'll be at Starbuck's and Einstein Bros Bagels quite a bit trying to remain focused and study my little tail off. Wish me luck!
Looking forward to heading to Austin after finals to float the river and see friends and then headed home to hang with the parents and work a little at Splashway. I can't wait. It'll be a much needed break before summer session of insanity begins! (15 hours in 10 weeks, what?!?!?)
Well, not much of an update, but I'll do my best to be more detailed and have more regular updates.
Since Spring Break I feel like it has been non-stop action in school. This semester is difficult, and was a bit overwhelming at times, but I think I've got things more under control. I've got 2.5 weeks left of classes and finals and then I'm off to Austin, then home and so on to relax and recharge!!!
Lots of group projects and mini assignments are keeping us busy and at school constantly. I'm learning to cope with the new level of stress. I'm also readjusting my priorities to make things work while I'm in school. Slowly but surely things will fall into place.
After my last final, I will be successfully through 1/4 of the program and basically have finished on year of PT school, INSANE!!! It seems like I just started last week. This journey is going to fly by. Then I'll have to get a real job and not have Spring Break or 3 weeks off here and 4 weeks of there. SCARY!!!! :) I think I'll survive, but for the next few years I can live in a happy school world where I can believe that i'll always get a month for Christmas break! :) Don't ruin my delusion just yet, please!
These next few weeks are jam packed and I'll be at Starbuck's and Einstein Bros Bagels quite a bit trying to remain focused and study my little tail off. Wish me luck!
Looking forward to heading to Austin after finals to float the river and see friends and then headed home to hang with the parents and work a little at Splashway. I can't wait. It'll be a much needed break before summer session of insanity begins! (15 hours in 10 weeks, what?!?!?)
Well, not much of an update, but I'll do my best to be more detailed and have more regular updates.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
13.1 miles!!
We did it!!! Last sunday we ran the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon!!! It was great! I was not as prepared as I had hoped to be, but it was still fun! I managed to finish in 2:34:29 which was 13 minutes faster than my last 1/2, so I feel that is an improvement. What a great way to start Spring Break!
I hung out in Austin for a few days and then I headed home to hang out with my family. What a great relaxing week, now back to the grind, but I'm glad I got to recharge my batteries!
I hung out in Austin for a few days and then I headed home to hang out with my family. What a great relaxing week, now back to the grind, but I'm glad I got to recharge my batteries!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Spring Break!!! Half Marathon!!
It has been a while... I've been busy studying and so on!
My first clinical rotation was great! I learned a lot and got to see some stuff that I had never seen before. Neurological injuries are just so fascinating to me because they are all different, and nothing is ever text book. (not that many are). I really enjoyed watching the patients progress and improve over the few weeks that we were there. At this point, I think that neuro may be an option for me, but then again I really don't know what I want to do in the end. There are so many areas that PTs can go into these days, it is amazing and overwhelming. I hope that by the time that I graduate I'll have a better idea of where exactly I want to focus my energy!
Last week we started our second block of clinical education, and I am now at the VA hospital. This is also very interesting but a definite change from TIRR. There are amputees and a lot of orthopedic patients with hip fractures and knee replacements and so on. I am enjoying my time so far, but since we are there in the afternoon and they see patients mostly in the mornings, we have not had a lot of patient interaction yet, but this will come. I really enjoy the atmosphere, everyone is so friendly and helpful and just goes out of there way to make you feel welcome.
We had our first medical neuroscience test this week. That is the main reason I have taken so long to post another blog. I've been in Neuro land for the past few weeks and I still don't know if I did well on the exams we took. Well... I guess there is nothing I can do about it now. Wednesday we had a written exam worth 35% of our grade and then a practical exam worth 15% of our grade... so I earned 50% of my grade in one day on two tests! What!!???!! That is just silly... oh well, I guess that is grad school. (prepping for the boards i guess)
Best of all... SPRING BREAK!!!! I get a spring break and it starts tomorrow at noon! I will be headed to Austin and then up to Dallas for the half marathon on Sunday morning! Wish me luck (and Casey too)!! I am so ready to have a break and just relax and take a breather for a little while! I know I won't have these types of breaks for very much longer so I am going ot cherish every moment of this spring break.
Well... I guess that pretty much sums up the past month...study, clinical, class, study, repeat! I love it though! I am learning a lot, sometimes I fear the information just goes in and really does just ooze out of my ears, but I think I know more than I really think I do anyway. Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I'll post after the race!
My first clinical rotation was great! I learned a lot and got to see some stuff that I had never seen before. Neurological injuries are just so fascinating to me because they are all different, and nothing is ever text book. (not that many are). I really enjoyed watching the patients progress and improve over the few weeks that we were there. At this point, I think that neuro may be an option for me, but then again I really don't know what I want to do in the end. There are so many areas that PTs can go into these days, it is amazing and overwhelming. I hope that by the time that I graduate I'll have a better idea of where exactly I want to focus my energy!
Last week we started our second block of clinical education, and I am now at the VA hospital. This is also very interesting but a definite change from TIRR. There are amputees and a lot of orthopedic patients with hip fractures and knee replacements and so on. I am enjoying my time so far, but since we are there in the afternoon and they see patients mostly in the mornings, we have not had a lot of patient interaction yet, but this will come. I really enjoy the atmosphere, everyone is so friendly and helpful and just goes out of there way to make you feel welcome.
We had our first medical neuroscience test this week. That is the main reason I have taken so long to post another blog. I've been in Neuro land for the past few weeks and I still don't know if I did well on the exams we took. Well... I guess there is nothing I can do about it now. Wednesday we had a written exam worth 35% of our grade and then a practical exam worth 15% of our grade... so I earned 50% of my grade in one day on two tests! What!!???!! That is just silly... oh well, I guess that is grad school. (prepping for the boards i guess)
Best of all... SPRING BREAK!!!! I get a spring break and it starts tomorrow at noon! I will be headed to Austin and then up to Dallas for the half marathon on Sunday morning! Wish me luck (and Casey too)!! I am so ready to have a break and just relax and take a breather for a little while! I know I won't have these types of breaks for very much longer so I am going ot cherish every moment of this spring break.
Well... I guess that pretty much sums up the past month...study, clinical, class, study, repeat! I love it though! I am learning a lot, sometimes I fear the information just goes in and really does just ooze out of my ears, but I think I know more than I really think I do anyway. Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I'll post after the race!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Clinical Education!!!
Today was my first day of our preliminary clinical experience. We get to go to the clinic for half a day once a week for the next 12 weeks! My first rotation is at TIRR, Memorial Hermann (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) and it was such a great first day! I wish that we had either two days a week or a full day so we could really get hands on experience. My clinical instructor is great, and I believe that working with neurological patients will be a great experience, and very different than other physical therapy settings that I've seen.
School is going well. This semester there is going to be a lot of work and studying. I feel like we are starting to get into the nitty gritty stuff of PT which is great, but I really need to know what is going on in my classes. So, if I don't update as often I am probably studying (or maybe tending to my farm on facebook :) hehe ).
I am still training for the half! I got 10 miles in on Saturday and it was 38 degrees outside, great running weather. After finishing I looked down at my watch and it had been 1 hr and 48 mins WHAT!!! I thought maybe I'd missed a mile or something, but nope! yay, I'm improving!!! After running 9 and complaining the whole way the week before with a friend of mine, I feel that my distance and time are pretty big steps! I love it! Only 6 more weeks until race day!!! yay!!! I can't wait! Well, I should go and study. Have a great week all!
School is going well. This semester there is going to be a lot of work and studying. I feel like we are starting to get into the nitty gritty stuff of PT which is great, but I really need to know what is going on in my classes. So, if I don't update as often I am probably studying (or maybe tending to my farm on facebook :) hehe ).
I am still training for the half! I got 10 miles in on Saturday and it was 38 degrees outside, great running weather. After finishing I looked down at my watch and it had been 1 hr and 48 mins WHAT!!! I thought maybe I'd missed a mile or something, but nope! yay, I'm improving!!! After running 9 and complaining the whole way the week before with a friend of mine, I feel that my distance and time are pretty big steps! I love it! Only 6 more weeks until race day!!! yay!!! I can't wait! Well, I should go and study. Have a great week all!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
8 miles!!!
Monday I finally got my 8 miles in that I've been talking about! It was great! 1 hour 33 minutes, not too bad. I am by no means a fast runner, but at least I'm trying! It has been so great to only have to worry about working out, and cooking for the family and maybe picking up my sister from school, etc. I don't have to wake up early if I don't want to; and I can take a nap if I feel like it! I love having a break!!
I leave to go back to Houston tomorrow. I am kind of ready, but not really. The madness of school is fun, but I also enjoy relaxing as well. Of course I may drive myself nuts if all I do for the rest of my life is "relax" :) so back to school it is!
Casey will be in town this weekend, so I'll let you know all the exciting things that we did, or wished we had done :)
School starts Tuesday, so we'll see how all the new classes are! I hope that I survive this semester as well. Wish me luck! Have a wonderful week all!
I leave to go back to Houston tomorrow. I am kind of ready, but not really. The madness of school is fun, but I also enjoy relaxing as well. Of course I may drive myself nuts if all I do for the rest of my life is "relax" :) so back to school it is!
Casey will be in town this weekend, so I'll let you know all the exciting things that we did, or wished we had done :)
School starts Tuesday, so we'll see how all the new classes are! I hope that I survive this semester as well. Wish me luck! Have a wonderful week all!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Break time!!
I am so glad that I am allowed such a long break from school! It has allowed me to really refresh and get my head back into the game. I'm almost ready for classes again (not quite yet though). I start back the 19th so I'm taking my time getting back to Houston.
Sunday I came back to my parents' and have been hanging out. I love it! I was able to do a 6 mile run (ok so I walked a little bit of it). I was reminded why I like to run in Houston, there are no hills, and no gravel roads. It was a bit more difficult to manuver the gravel and the ditches when a car came down the road and the hills are a bit steeper than in Houston. It was a great run though. Now I just have to work back up to my mileage. I am going to attempt 8 miles this weekend, but it is supposed to be really chilly, so we will see. I might substitute Wii boxing instead :)
I get to stay and be spoiled by my parents for another week. I don't think they mind since I've been cooking dinner most nights, so it works out. I don't feel quite as bad for mooching off of them. :) I'm a poor college student again; I can't help it!! hehe
Well, I guess all that is left to say is HOOK 'EM!!!
Sunday I came back to my parents' and have been hanging out. I love it! I was able to do a 6 mile run (ok so I walked a little bit of it). I was reminded why I like to run in Houston, there are no hills, and no gravel roads. It was a bit more difficult to manuver the gravel and the ditches when a car came down the road and the hills are a bit steeper than in Houston. It was a great run though. Now I just have to work back up to my mileage. I am going to attempt 8 miles this weekend, but it is supposed to be really chilly, so we will see. I might substitute Wii boxing instead :)
I get to stay and be spoiled by my parents for another week. I don't think they mind since I've been cooking dinner most nights, so it works out. I don't feel quite as bad for mooching off of them. :) I'm a poor college student again; I can't help it!! hehe
Well, I guess all that is left to say is HOOK 'EM!!!
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