Spring Break

It's Wednesday of Spring Break, and do you know what that means?

I'm going bored out of my mind.

Don't get me wrong - I love love LOVE sleeping in in the morning and not having anywhere to be... aaaand the whole no makeup and sweatpants thing really works well for me too, but after being conditioned to constantly be thinking and learning and studying I just don't know what to do with all of this free time.

I. Love. Taco Shop.

First Day of Spring Cupcakes

As I've said before I am a huge fan of making lists, so I had my "Spring Break To-Do" list made for over week before I got out of school.  So far, I've checked off everything I wanted to do while visiting Hays last weekend and barely anything I've wanted to do while in Manhattan or pertaining to school.  I've actually written two papers already and have now lost all motivation to do anything school-related.  Let's be honest, I'd rather do just about anything than study endocrinology right now.

Playtime with Uncle Go

Walking weather.. finally!

School ended for Spring Break on such a positive note and I couldn't be happier with where I'm sitting half way through this semester.  I've successfully not broken my "A" streak on any test since the "pink eye incident of 2013" which is such an amazing and wonderful feeling - although the effect it's having on my motivation isn't so great.

The plan for the rest of break?  Attempt to study and work on job applications tomorrow and Friday - and then enjoy a good relaxing weekend of doing nothing before school starts up again next week :)

Note: as I go through all of my pictures trying to find some to fit my blog post - I'm realizing that the only things I take pictures of are Little Bear, Eli, and food...  and I don't expect that to change anytime soon :)

Half Way There!

Has it really been almost a whole month since I’ve posted?  Where has the time gone?

Toilet Paper Digestive System Diagram

So where do I begin.. let’s start with school.  School is going SO GREAT!  I’ve had a ridiculous amount of tests lately including Immunology, Epidemiology, Bovine Theriogenology, Gross Anatomy, Integration, and Respiratory Physiology.  That included tests in all 4 of my core classes plus some.  The exciting part? I’ve gotten A’s on all of them :) …Now throw in a few lab quizzes (and a few A’s and B’s on those) and that’s really what’s been going on at school.  Who has time to learn when you’re studying all the time :)

This week in school I have my first Embryology test (it’s open book.. so shouldn’t too bad) and my Renal Physiology test.  A “wise” second year left us a note for the Renal Physiology test.. it told us to “Run like hell – get out while you can.”  Needless to say our brilliant teacher, doesn’t quite understand that we all might not be as brilliant as her.. so I get the feeling this test could kill my “winning” streak :/

What else is going on in my life outside of school? Not much considering school IS my life..

I dog sat for Cole and his family while they visited our new nephew Joel in Texas and I learned 3 things:

1. Life would be easier if I didn’t have tests every Friday and could pick up and go to Houston with the fam :(
2. I have no business getting a dog anytime soon – I think I need a backyard first.  Don’t they always say the best form of birth control is watching someone else's children?  I think that saying fits well with dogs too.. I had my dose of “puppy control” last week :)  -- Not that Gryff wasn’t a perfect dog all weekend :)
3. I have the two greatest nephews in the world :)

Mr. Eli

Baby Joel

I also put in a little time helping out with a good friend’s campaign for Student Body President (he won!) AND got to celebrate Valentine’s Day this past weekend (finally) by spending the weekend being lazy, eating yummy food, watching movies, and I even got a new flannel shirt :)

Campaign Kitty

That's it for now - hard to believe Spring Break is right around the corner and this semester is almost half way over.  It may even be flying by faster than last semester.. but that's a good thing - right?

Happy Monday and Happy Day Light Savings! (Sarcasm.. no one likes losing an hour of sleep, especially on a Monday.)

Sick days

How has this week gone?  Well.. it's one to remember that's for sure.  It's been a roller coaster of sickness... And despite getting A's on two quizzes while having a 101 fever, I just couldn't ace a test with one eye.  Yes.. that's right.  Yesterday morning I took my physiology test over the cardiovascular system only being able to see out of one eye. Needless to say, I'm hoping that Friday's test will be my worst grade of the semester.

Somehow this cold/flu that I've been fighting (and thought I was recovering from) turned into the worst case of pink eye I have ever had.  By Friday morning I couldn't open my left eye more than a slit because my upper eye-lid was so swollen.  Lucky for me, after hardcore antibiotics the swelling has gone down, because now my right eye also is infected.  Oh joy.  On the bright side, I've gotten to spend a lot of time at home with Little Bear and have become great friends with my new doctor in Manhattan :) -- and I think Cole enjoyed getting to postpone Valentine's day for a while :)

Thursday evening

Friday morning

Thursday night

Update on school? Still love Gross Anatomy and Epidemiology.. Physiology is a lot harder than last semester, but I don't hate it.. aaaand I still hate Immunology :)

This week in tests: my first Bovine Theriogenology test on Tuesday, a Gross Anatomy quiz Wednesday, and my first Epidemiology test on Friday!  Busy, busy busy!

Outside of sickness and school the excitement of the week is that Cole is an uncle AGAIN! His oldest brother and sister-in-law welcomed baby Joel into this world on Friday!  Just what this world needs.. another Grieves' man ;) We already love him so much and can't wait to meet him :)

Top 10

In case you were wondering – I’m a huge fan of lists.  So here are my top 10 observations from my first two and a half weeks of the semester.

1.       Gross anatomy is still my favorite class – even now that we’ve moved onto large animals.

Study Buddy!

2.       I really, really enjoy my epidemiology class – the professor is great and everything we learn makes complete and logical sense.
3.       Physiology just got way more confusing – but I got to perform an ECG on myself (or maybe I should say my lab group performed it on me).

ECG time

4.       Immunology is the worst class ever – so boring, so long, and the professor always lectures into our lunchtime (easiest way to make me cranky is to prevent me from eating).
5.       Dissecting large animals is much messier and smellier than dissecting small animals – if I have mutant children it’s due to the large amounts of formaldehyde I’m being exposed to
6.  Scalpel blades are sharp.  It is best to keep them away from your thumb.  This experienced helped to remind myself once again that I handle animal blood much better than my own :)
7.       I have a much shorter attention span than I did pre-break.  I also require much more sleep at this point in my life than I did last semester.  Both are problems in my life right now.

My new friend, Dalton

8.       If you’re looking for another good blog to read check out bloggingfoodforthought.blogspot.com – I just posted last week on a “cow-wash” :)
9.       No tests yet this semester – I could get used to having my Friday’s off! Unfortunately, our first test is coming up this Friday.
10.  Last, but not least - just because we haven't had tests doesn't mean I haven't been putting my knowledge to work.  We now have 20 point quizzes every other Gross Lab period - and I am constantly amazing myself and how much easier it is to learn structures on the horse that I learned in the dog.  They really are very similar and it's such a great feeling to pull info out of your head you forgot you even learned the first time around  :)

That's all for now!  Happy Tuesday :)

New Semester, New Beginnings

Six days left until my glorious Christmas break finally ends, and as much as I'm going to regret saying this I'm so ready to be back to school.  However, the two things I will miss most when school starts are 1) Sleeping in and 2) My daily routine filled of watching How I Met Your Mother -- of course it's no Big Bang Theory, but I still love it.

I have a whole new set of classes this semester and am looking forward to most of them.  We have four core classes this semester (last semester we only had three) - I'm also in two hours of electives.

Here's the rundown on my core classes:

Gross Anatomy II - basic anatomy of cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, and lab animals.  Also includes large animal dissection, which will be a whole new experience for me.

Physiology II - digging deeper into the functions of the cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, renal, digestive, reproductive and thermoregulatory systems.  This class will also focus on the criteria necessary for evaluating an animals health.  This class also has a lab period (something that Physio I didn't) so it will be interesting to see what exactly we do in this lab.

Immunology - learning and understanding the immune system and its role in fighting diseases.  Basically we'll hear the words "antigens" and "antibodies" about 50 times a class period - or so I'm guessing :)

Epidemiology - this is a new word for me.  After skimming over the class syllabus I've learned that we'll be learning about describing diseases, disease transmission, diagnostic methods and tests, and population health management.  I can't say it sounds like the most exciting class this semester, but hopefully I'll find some parts of it interesting.

Aaaaand here are my electives:

Comparative Embryology - learning about developmental anatomy and normal structure and function of the anatomy as it develops.  It also covers developmental diseases.

Bovine Theriogenology - this class is focused on cattle reproduction. 

So here's a little explanation for the electives... we basically had four options to choose from and I chose the lesser of the evils.  Neither of them are exactly what I would choose to learn more about, but hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised and maybe I'll even develop a new love for cattle.  However, I wouldn't bet on it - I think baby cows are cute and I like steak, but that's as far as our love goes.

So that's what's in store for the next 5 months!  Hopefully they will go as well as the first 5 :)

Christmas Break

Surprise! I'm alive!

I know, I know.. it's been a while.  But after finishing up with finals sitting down at a computer and having to use my brain just didn't sound appealing. 

So what exactly have I been up to since school has ended?  Well, after reveling (that's a word, right?) in the fact that I GOT MY A in Gross Anatomy - I decided I deserved a little time off.  I have successfully been quite possibly the laziest person in the world over break.  It's been absolutely wonderful.  Here is a list of things I've checked off my "to-do" list:

1. Slept in
2. Snuggled with Little Bear
3. Snuggled with my favorite little boy, Eli
4. Sang Christmas music at church
5. Got an espresso maker from Cole and am becoming a barista (or trying to)
6. Read "The Help" -- and watched the movie, but the book is much better
7. Started reading "Water for Elephants" (a gift from Cole's parents) -- movie will follow :)
8. Spent some time in Topeka with the Grieves fam
9. Spent some time in Plainville with my Grandpa
10. Spent some time in KC with the Addison fam
11. Worn sweatpants almost every day

So as you can see, my days have been very busy and I've clearly had no time for blogging :)  Okay.. that might be a lie.

Just keep swimming...

SO CLOSE!

In 48 hours I will be completely done with my first semester of vet school.  Friday afternoon can not get here soon enough :)

So far I'm very, VERY happy with all of my grades...  A's in the electives and B's in the core classes (Physio and Micro) - Friday's final is in Gross Anatomy and could potentially be my only core class A, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Little Bear has been a very supportive study buddy with me at my parents house, although he'd be even better if he could bring me some Starbucks.  Cole has been so supportive as well, but he'd be better if he brought me Starbucks too (hint hint!)

This past weekend my family and Cole's family got together to celebrate Cole graduating from KSU.  As of 4:00 today he was all done with finals and officially a college graduate! I couldn't be more proud :)  - aaaaactually... I could be more proud if I had some Starbucks :)

Bear helping write some notes...

Bear helping pack my bookbag...

Bear learning how to use a stethoscope...

College of Business Graduation :)

That's all for now - more updates to come after this ridiculous week is finally over!