Kankles!!

I am very sorry to report that my ankles have officially gone missing! I hope they return soon...
(I actually really like my ankles)

28 Weeks!

Wow the time has flown! Can I already be in my 3rd trimester?
This week I have to go for the dreaded 1-hour glucose tolerance test.

BOOO!


I am also getting closer to the end of school. My last 6 week rotation started this week!
Here we come graduation! I can't believe I've been in PA school for...exactly 2years 1 month 2 weeks and 3 days! I am amazed at the things I have learned and experienced in all that time.

I've been on 9 rotations, currently on my 10th. I have watched amazing doctors save lives and had the privilege to learn from them. I have watched and participated in surgeries from C-sections to heart catheterization while someone was having a heart attack.

Probably some of the most amazing doctors are the ones that go to work everyday trying to make the difference between life style changes and serious health problems, such as a heart attack or stroke. Things that seem so easy like starting diet, exercise,and maybe starting new medications. How frustrating it is to watch the patients come back who didn't take the doctors advice and end up with severe life altering health problems.

One of the most important things is that I have a wonderful husband..who I think can do almost anything. He has slowly taken over all the chores. He does most of the shopping, laundry, he cleans the house, has almost completely taken over cooking, the bills (sorta), and all the other tasks that come up.
With all these new responsibilities, he still works various jobs (PMT, Life Legacy), is almost done with his Masters in Engineering, and is about to start his PhD in Engineering. He has been able to snag an amazing job (with benefits), that couldn't have come at a better time. It has come just as we are preparing to have our first baby!

We are so blessed. We couldn't have asked for more perfect timing if we had planned it ourselves. I graduate August 27th, 4 weeks later I take the boards (September 23), and 4 weeks later our baby girl is due. Definitely the work of the Lord. I am so thankful for a loving heavenly father who has blessed us in so many ways.

What is a PA?

The most common question I am supposedly asked by patients.
When I started PA school 2yrs ago, one of our assignments was to memorize the answer to this question. It goes something like this...

A PA is a Physician Assistant. They are mid-level providers that work under the supervision of a physician. They perform similar responsibilities as the doctor. They can diagnose, treat, perform procedures, and prescribe (write prescriptions).

I usually just say a Physician Assistant who works under the supervision of the doctor, performing similar tasks. The only thing they really can't do is be the actual surgeon in a surgery.

My new favorite description...I'm seriously thinking about using is...

A PA is a Physician Almost. I think that pretty much sums it up..don't you???

Hey! Watch it, Buddy! ... oh, nevermind. After you, sir!

Natalie and I were driving over to my dad's house yesterday. We were approaching a construction zone, where the left lane was closing, so everybody had to merge over. We change lanes, and as soon as we do a giant Dodge truck goes flying past us, pulls in front of us, and hits the brakes!

I grumble my usual grumble when annoying people do that to me, but when we got up to the light and got close enough to read his license plate, this is what we saw..


We started cracking up! He's apologizing up front for being a terrible driver!

Updates

I'm feeling pretty great these days, no big complaints!

My bump is now a a giant hill, I think I'm past the stage where you just look fat!

The babies nickname is "Spaz."
She earned this nickname by her CONSTANT(incessant) movement! She isn't always kicking hard but I rarely experience moments of the day when she isn't rolling around and poking various body parts out.
She enjoys the quiet noise of our house, this is when she is the wiggliest.
She also seems to like the warmth and hum of my computer fan that also sits on my stomach every evening. Kicking the computer and making it move is her favorite past time.
She doesn't seem to like large crowds and lots of talking. (Or she does and decides to take a nap:) For example, all the family parties over the fourth she was pretty calm and serene.

She is back to her old self this week. For the last few days she can't seem to decide which side she likes better. One day she spends the day on the right the next on the left. My stomach is quite lopsided all the time. Button-up shirts are the worst because the buttons don't stay down the middle!

Dallas thinks it is hilarious and likes to provoke her... She will run away from his hand when he pushes. This morning while I was sleeping he put his hand on my stomach and I guess she was doing somersaults! I'm just glad neither one of them woke me up!

I'm trying to get motivated to study so I can take the PANCE (PA board exam) before Spaz decides to come. It is extremely difficult! I have so many other things I want to do! Going shopping, sewing, organizing, and just generally being lazy in the hot summer heat. We bought season passes to Wet n Wild that is just down the road from our house and that is on my mind all day every day!
Any ideas for kicking my motivation into gear, feel free to share...