Happy Easter!

I helped organize a neighborhood Easter egg hunt this year. We were in charge of filling plastic eggs with all the candy donated by our neighbors. My girls were so great--they help fill about 2000 eggs for the hunt. Several people asked me how I found the time to do it, and my answer is that I have super great kids that help me a lot! :) What a wonderful event it turned out to be. I hope everyone's Easter weekend was as wonderful an mine!

Spring Break is Over

Well, Spring Break is over and it is back to the grind for me. It's Wednesday of the first week back to school, and I'm doing all right. Sleeplessness has set in nicely and I've filled my calendar right up, so I guess that's what life is all about these days.

Yesterday, I got to spend the day in the operating room watching whatever surgery was going on. I got to observe a total knee replacement, a kidney stone manipulation & removal, two cholecystectomies (gall bladder removals), and a tummy tuck. Now you'd think that a tummy tuck would be the least crazy of them all, but it was the most crazy procedure! I mean, a person is literally skinned alive, the skin is trimmed off and everthing is laid back down and sewn back together (not to mention, belly button reconstruction). I mean, totally cool, but OUCH!

The girls' Spring Break ends today and they will be back in school tomorrow. I feel bad for them that the weather has been cold, rainy, snowy, and windy the entire time. Also, their poor mommy has had to be in school while they were on break. We'll just have to plan something fun for the summer.

The Sweetest Little Guy

This are some pictures of my sweet little nephew. His name is Elias. He was born last fall with several birth defects. The first time I saw him, shortly after he was born, I could feel his awesome spirit and new that this little boy was going to bless our lives. Today he is at Primary Children's hospital having open heart surgery to fix a large hole in his heart. I just wanted to share this picture with you all so that you could maybe feel his sweet spirit, too. Please keep this little guy in your prayers--faith can move mountains!!

Kids Grow Up Way Too Fast!

Last Saturday was Abby's 8th birthday, and she got to be baptized on her birthday. It's crazy that she is growing up so fast. It was such a wonderful day! We filled the font room to overflowing with the most supportive family and friends. We are truly blessed to have you all! I teased Abby a little about how they might have to let out some of the water or she would be baptized just by walking into the baptismal font. That wasnt' the case--she was just a few inches taller than the water :). Notice that the smallest clothes were WAY too long for her shorty legs. It's no wonder her nickname is "Littles." We love her!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that she also had to get glasses last week. She looks way too grown up now!



Also this week Jayde got her braces put on. She looks so much like a little pre-teen now. About 3 hours after she got them on, she wanted very badly to have them taken off. The next morning I had to convince her that she would still be able to eat. Today she is doing much better--the orthodontist gave her a water pic that she used last night. She said it felt like a massage and made her mouth feel so much better. I never wore braces, so all I can do is hug her and tell her I'm sorry it hurts. She'll get through it--she is super tough. She told me, "Mom, it really hurts to be beautiful!" What a silly kid!

Hurry Up Spring!!!

Holy Cow, I am so ready for Spring!! There's nothing that can compare to the warm sunshine blanketing my back as I nap on the trampoline. That will be the first thing you'll find me doing when the weather gets warm here in lovely, cold, and snowy Idaho. I guess it's always good to have something to look forward to.

So, earlier this month I got to go on a mini vacation with 7 other girls who are going to school with me in the Rad Science program at ISU. We hopped a flight to Las Vegas to attend the ACERT convention for Rad Techs, teachers and students of Radiographic Science. We literally shopped, walked, and ate until we dropped. Oh, yes, and the classes at the convention were nice, too. :) A couple of days, however, was just enough of Vegas for me to handle. It's always a good thing to come home!!

Me & a few of my "Rad" Friends

Our super good looking waiter that took great care of us and got my friend's phone number as part of his tip!!

Our Hotel

Some more "Rad" friends and our Irish King(in the middle). We loved him!

The Excaliber where we attended the "Tournament of Kings"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I don't have a lot of time to blog because I've been messing around and wasting too much time, but here are a few new pics for you all to enjoy. I hope eveyone has a wonderful new year!!


P.S. Don't forget to vote on my new poll----------------------------->

The Hip-Hop Queen of the Dance

Abby in her "Kung Fu" dance costume

Yes!! That is her foot above her head! Ouch!

All 3 of my lovely little dancers did such a great job!!

And here is the Ballerina Princess

MERRY CHISTMAS (Break)!!!

Hurray!! It's finally Christmas break! There comes a time when a person's mind and body can do no more. This semester I have gone to classes on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (in Pocatello which is about a 45 minute drive); to clinicals in the radiology department at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) on Tuesdays & Thursdays; to work at EIRMC's emergency department as a registrar 3 or 4 times a week; and I have 3 little girls who are very active in dance 3 days a week. Needless to say, my brain and my body need Christmas vacation!

Life may have been very busy this semester, but it has truly been worth it. I wish that I could share just a fraction of the amazing and wonderful things I have learned. The world of Radiology is a fascinating place to live. The advances in technology just in the past 5 years are crazy! Some facilities have what's called Direct Digital Radiography (DR) where you shoot an x-ray and the image appears instantaneously on a screen. There's no film or film-type medium to develop. Voila--and the x-ray is ready to be read by a radiologist. I know...I know. I'm sounding a little nerdy now, but come on. I mean, I get to take pictures of the INSIDE of people--how cool is that?!

I may not even know a tenth of the things I will learn in my career, but I can take an x-ray of any one's chest, abdomen, fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, humerus (upper arm), shoulder, clavicle (collarbone), or scapula (shoulder blade). And I am learning to assist on various barium studies and other fluoroscopy procedures.

This is the very first x-ray I took. It wasn't a real person's hand, it was of a phantom hand, but it was a great experience. I've taken x-rays of quite a few real people now, so the phantom isn't quite as fun anymore. Next semester, I will get to do a rotation in surgery, so hopefully I'll have some very cool things to share.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas and a wonderful New Year! And for all of you who get to have a true "Christmas Break,"--ENJOY!