It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas*

Tucked snuggley into bed under the tree Madeline, is awaiting Santa's visit. It has been tradition for her to sleep here on Christmas eve.

Every year, I buy her an ornament that she gets to open befor bed. I started this the year she was born. The plan is when she grows up and has a tree of her very own, she will have a tree full of ornaments that she has saved over the years.

The process (backwards of how it happened)
OUR TREE:

It looked so much smaller before we cut it down.

Good News... Bad News

The good news is that I am still in school.

I haven't been slacking on my blog because of my identity crisis depression but rather, I have been extremely busy studying for my final exam.

The Friday post about my identity crisis was no small exaggeration. I truly believed the fat lady was singing. In fact, I had come up with an alternate plan over the weekend. On Monday morning, I was almost ready to leave the house when I got a call from the school and was asked to bring in what medical release I did have, and they would try to work with me. Shocking? It was for me, too!

I called the Dr. right away and was able to get a release with the only restriction being that I should not lift my arm to a 90* angle while applying pressure. Okay, who does that?

Although not nice about it, the director of the program said she was willing to let me back into clinical. However, she will need a "no restriction" release by February. Gee, I hope my Dr. can give me one by then. Plus, I have to make up 30 hours by the 3rd of January.

So, I took my final yesterday and scored a 90% on it. I finished the the first 1/3 of the program with an 88% overall average. I'm TOTALLY okay with that.

Now, for the bad news...

All of the clinical make-up time is when my sisters are going to be in town, and I will not get to spend as much time with them as I would like. Sorry Rachael and Lori. I am planning to spend the weekend with you guys though. I should be out to Mom's by Friday, early evening.

Identity Crisis

So, now what? I just found out that I will not be able to finish this semester at school because of my shoulder injury. In order to go back to clinicals, I had to get a "no restriction" release from my Dr by today and my Dr. could not do that. When I left her office earlier this week, she had promised to call the director of the program I am in and explain that she can release me with a "limited restriction" but one that she felt I could do clinicals with.

Well, the director made it clear today when she called me at home. She would not let me into clinicals without a full medical release and she would not discuss the situation, my grades or any medical concerns over the phone with my Dr. I will bring in the full release or I will not complete this semester.

BTW: My shoulder injury happened a month ago and it is as good as it is going to get. I have almost 90% range of motion back and unless I elect to have surgery, it isn't going to get any better.

Guess I'm not a student any more. Now what.

Someone Has Hairy Legs!

Tonight at dinner, Madeline, was rubbing up against my legs with her foot. She didn't know it was me, though.

"Oh, someone has hairy legs."

"No", I said. "Those are my socks."

"No they arn't. Those are not socks. These are hairy legs."

As I'm mentioning that they are socks (my alpacka socks), madeline looks under the table and says...

"Those really arn't daddy's legs. Are they?"

At least she didn't think they were mine like I thought she did.

Nothing new, just updates

It has been just over a week since returning from our vacation to MI, for the Thanksgiving holiday. It was a fun visit with all 4 of my sisters who I don't get to see as often as I would like to. Lori is cute as a button with her big round belly that is due to expire today (her official due date), Rachael was busy with her new found hobby of sewing, Francie was generously filling my car with things she has decided to retire and Natalie shared her pottery so we could all paint together. There was more to the long weekend, like eating, shopping, eating, and... Well it did snow on Thanksgiving day. (I really hope I am not offending anyone here.)

Madeline spiked a high fever the last night we were there and it was the strangest thing. Uncle Adam stopped by Walgreen's and picked up some Motrine (and a stuffed dog, a barbie, a pretend cell phone)... let's hope he has boy's Natalie, or you might go broke, ha. Once Maddy took the medicine, she started to feel much better and by morning, you would have never guessed she was ever sick. The strang part is Jack did almost the same thing 2 days later. Only his started at school and lasted just 4 hours.

Yesterday was our first weather related day off from school this season. At first I was thinking how much stuff I was going to get caught up on. Then I remembered that Madeline was off from school too and I had a Dr. appointment for my shoulder injury.

I didn't get much done around the house because it took forever at dr.'s office; not including the time it took me to get myself and Madeline dressed for the weather, and clean off the car with one arm. She played in the snow at her cousins while I found out that the chances of my shoulder dislocating again is about 75% unless I have surgery. Yikes! Sucks for me. Thats another post though.

I hope that I get a call from my sister Lori today that tells me the baby is on his way. It is her 2 year wedding anniversayr as well as a special day for my sister Rachael. A year ago today, St. Petersburg, Russia, marks the anniversary of when she met her 6 year old soon-to-be daughter for the 1st time. Katya is such a special niece.

I do plan to post again soon. I just gota get going here before the big girl gets home or I'll never get anything elce done today.

And, its snowing again!!