Starting Another Semester

I have started yet another semester of school in a desperate attempt to finish my pre-reqs for PA school. Once these classes are done I can finally start submitting applications. Ideally I'll be accepted into the program at the U but last year they had over 700 applicants for their 40 openings so I can't hold my breath for that one. But their are other school and I'm just 4 chemistry credits away from starting the process. So I have started what should be my last semester of pre-req classes.

I am happy to say (for the most part) that I am pleased that this last semester is in the books. The grades came out (online) today. Here is how I fared:
Psychology: A
Anatomy: A
Physiology: A
Microbiology: B+

CNA Skills Exam

In December I took a CNA course offered through OrchardCNA in Orem. The class wasn't very informative but it is a state requirement to take a class somewhere. I completed the class but didn't receive my testing vouchers until after school had started at UVU. Due to my heavy course load I didn't feel I had time to worry about taking the certification exams at that time. Now that the semester is over I figured I would take advantage of my "free time" to finish taking the certification exams.

Yesterday I headed up to Salt Lake City to take my skills portion of the CNA exam. I was nervous heading into the exam not knowing how the exam was going to be administered and how picky the examiner would be. However, once we got started I realized that the exam wasn't going to be difficult and the examiner was very amiable. I went first (we test is pairs) and very quickly completed my list of skills except for the vital signs, which should have been the easiest part of the exam since that is the only real thing we worked on in my CNA class. However, while doing the blood pressure the examiner had to explain to me that I was incorrectly interpreting the results! Not exactly reassuring words to this examinee. She explained that when you're taking a blood pressure, the first sound you hear may not be the sound you record. You have to wait for the the first sound of the regular pulsing of the heart. The other sounds, she expained, were simply background noise and was to be disregarded.

She indicated that I should try one more time. This time I listened very carefully for the first sound of the regular heart beat. The examiner seemed pleased with this new assessment and I breathed a sign of relief. However, I must still wait 7-10 days to receive my results (whether I passed of failed this portion of the exam). Now I just need a quick review and I can take the written portion of the exam (which I'll probably do on Wednesday). I don't anticipate any problems with passing that portion of the exam so I should be a certified CNA by next weekend (officially).

Semester is Over

This has been a long semester back in school. When you're talking about schedules, classes and what fits where it didn't seem like it would be so hard. But each class required so much extra work outside of class for homework. That wouldn't have been so bad except each class also had a lab which required almost as much work as the lecture but didn't give you any extra credit for the extra effort. So it felt like I was taking 7 classes instead of 4 (my psychology class didn't require a lab).

Although it was quite a struggle I felt like I was able to achieve a semblance of balance between classes until finals! My finals felt like all my tests were at one time and I just couldn't quite handle that much study and information cramming! To make matters worse, a large percentage of the class grades are based on the final exams (which are comprehensive by university policy). I really feel like I have tripped and fallen in sight of the finish line. I'm hoping that the rest of my classwork, previous tests and a generous curve will help to rectify my average performance on my final exams.

However, now that this semester is finally over I'm excited that I get to see my family again. Except for our family scriptures and breakfast in the mornings and FHE on Monday night I haven't really seen them this semester. Since I only have one more pre-req to finish (just 1 class) and work I should easily double my family time! Who knows, I may even get to practice Mario Kart (Wii) and be able to give David a run for his title as racing champion!

Hopefully, I'll also be able to catch up on a few highlights that actually did occur during this semester but which were never recorded and published due to my crazy schedule!

Anatomy Lab Final Looms!

Unlike most finals at UVU, the anatomy lab final cannot be offered in the CTC (testing center). I guess having cadavers in the testing center might affect the testing of the other students from the other disciplines across campus. In any case, the final is only being offered on one glorious day (strange that the mid-term had 2 days...). So, in order to beat the crowds a few of the die-hard anatomy students joined me for an early morning cram session starting at 7:00 am, just outside the anatomy lab doors.

Don't let the smiles fool you, we are not happy to be here and no real studying is going on. We are just so tired that we don't really know what we're doing. But our books are open and we reminisce about the glory days of the past semester and how much we won't miss the late-night open labs.
Darcy has been in line since around 6:30 am! Of course she was the only one with a really good reason for being early. Her friends were anxiously waiting for an early morning departure for Mexico! Just as soon as Darcy was out of her anatomy final...

The rest of us just want to get the test done so we can move on to other studies, other tests. I think there comes a point when enough is enough and you need a break. I know I have reach a certain point of exhaustion and just want to sleep.

Oh yes, joking at this early hour, just prior to this major exam, doesn't always go over well. I should just stick to subtle anatomy review.

Thanks everyone for studying with me through out this semester. It has been a long and hard bout with Shively anatomy tactics but we have survived to tell about it. And, more importantly, we have made some new friendships. I wish you the best in the rest of your endeavors.

Studying: A Preparation for Finals

The craziness of the semester is magnified as you get to finals. This semester my finals are all comprehensive. While everyone class expects you to remember everything that they have presented to you, this semester my teachers are planning to see if this theoretical expectation is true! So I've be confined to the library to try and recall all of the information from this intense semester.

I've been fortunate to have a great study buddy through this semester. Whitney Jensen has been in my anatomy class and my microbiology class. So we've had a lot of information to review. It has been a blessing to have someone willing to put in so much time studying all of this stuff. Admittedly, most of our time has been spent studying anatomy concepts, especially relating to the tricky testing proceedure of the lecture portion of this class. Another large chunck of time has been spent in the lab going of thousands of anatomical landmarks.

Lucky for both of us we've found some other dedicated friends along the way. Rachel Solter was another dedicated student who has spent many hours studying and reviewing for these exams. (I'm surprised we didn't get a study room named after us in honor of all the hours we've spent there studying this semester!)

I'm grateful for the patience of my study buddies this semester. Thank you for all your time and patience as we've worked through this tidal wave of information and exam preparation.

(Posted 7/24/10 - Update: I ended up with C's on both anatomy finals, lecture & lab; C on my microbiology final, A on my physiology final; didn't take my psychology final because I had aced the rest of the class and was exempt.)

David Starts Kindergarden

Today is the big day! David has officially started kindergarden. It has been a struggle for Michelle to decide which school he should attend. We had the choice of three schools: Farrer, Wasatch and Freedom Academy. Each school had its pros and cons.


Farrer was the closest school, most convenient and where most of David's friends will be attending. Wasatch has the best reputation in the area and isn't too far away (0.85 miles up 900 East). Freedom Academy is the best academics but they don't have the social and activity structure of the public schools (it is a charter school and we just found out today that he had the option to attend), and it is across town.

We decided to send David to Wasatch Elementary School. It is still relatively close, he's met the teacher, and there is a bus that drops him off after school about 2 blocks from our house. David is thrilled to be attending school and has be anxious all week but especially this morning. He has a post-it note on the clock to remind him what time we had to leave to get there on time; he's been checking the clock every 30 minutes, he had his backpack all packed last night, etc.

It was fun to watch David when we arrived at the school. He remembered right where to go and headed straight to class. Donovan and Michael tried to keep up but were so distracted by all the other school kids that they bumped into at least a half dozen students on their way to class. David hung up his backpack and began sorting his school supplies. When Michelle got there she helped David sort the rest of the supplies and paperwork. When we left David in his class Michael threw a minor tantrum because he wasn't going to be able to stay with David at school. We tried to explain that he had to be 5 years old and he is only 2 right now. Logic doesn't get you anywhere with kids!

Michelle has handled the seperation okay as she bid David farewell. I think that sending him to preschool last year has helped her transition this year. David was so cute giving both Michelle and I a hug and kiss before we left his room. It's amazing that he is growing up so fast!

The bird is the class mascot and has yet to be named.

Back to School Shopping

School starts for David on Wednesday! So naturally it is time for the back-to-school shopping. With 4 energetic boys just the thought of shopping can be daunting! But before we went to the store, at the store, and twice in the store we stopped our boys and talked to them about being good boys and behaving while we were shopping. And they we're almost angels. We only lost Michael for 3 minutes (when he wandered to the other side of the store, by accident?)

The highlight of the shopping trip was getting new shoes! The three older boys have successfully worn through their old shoes and needed new ones. Michelle made a thorough inspection of each shoe option to make sure it was appropriately rated for active boys (would crack, tear or wear out). The boys couldn't contain their excitement as they tried on each pair of shoes. The rest of the shopping trip seemed to pale in comparison to the first stop in the shoe isle.

This morning the boys couldn't wait for morning to get here so they could put on their new shoes. On their own initiative they got dressed and put their shoes on even before breakfast, scripture reading or family prayers! I figure if they are that excited about it, you just need to go with the flow. We're excited for the new school year and David going to Kindergarden!