Three things...

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Hmmm, point taken. Got some good advice from my counselor yesterday. She advised me to just concentrate on three things for the next four days.
A) School work
B) My kids
C) Sleeping

So far, I've done pretty well. I even took her advice to heart during my root canal this morning. Slept through it. THANK YOU GOD for Nitrous Oxide.
I DO think I might have taken it a little far when I slept through part of Algebra class however. Oh...and sleeping for ten minutes in the car while picking up a friend from work.

Gonna have to work on that.

OFF to struggle through my philosophy of Religion homework.... SIGH

WANTED...
Kind Generous soul to help irresponsible student with textbook purchase. Rewards include everlasting gratitude, repeated thanks and humble adoration.

How it's goin' here...**UPDATE**

Well, I didn't do perfect on my state EMT certification yesterday...
But I didn't foul out, either.
I have to go back and re-do "trauma assessment" in about a month.
I think I forgot to treat for shock. DUH! That's what trauma is all about.
I'll do better next time. I watched some students foul out (flunking 3 out of the 6 stations and having to retake ALL the tests). I watched some ace it first time around...and several were in my catagory. "not quite there". Also known as "performance anxiety".

Got two home "sick" today. It's really amazing how they mysteriously "get well" about 9am. I know, I know...but the minute you DON'T believe them and force them to go to school, you get a call about an hour later that they hosed the school nurse (also known as the school secretary, the school crossing guard, the school attendance lady, the school cashier, the copy lady and the principals executive secretary...I live in a small town remember?). I have seen this poor womans' face when this happens and you can tell that right at that moment, she just really would rather move to Hawaii and never see another child as long as she lives.
I wouldn't want her job. She qualifies for sainthood...

Getting behind already in my Chemistry, Algebra AND Medical terminology 2. You'd think I could keep up in at least ONE subject. But not me, I like to live dangerously. Plus I still haven't found an algebra book that costs less than $110. Highway robbery!!
Don't have an excuse for being behind except for the biopsy, the all day EMT basic testing, four kids, housework, coffee with a friend, creating a powerpoint presentation for church worship, rewiring and replacing my washer and drier and, OH WAIT, Sleeping!
That's ok, I'll hit it hard and get caught up by the end of the week.
Should also know if I have cancer by the end of the week.
Funny thing is, I don't really care! God has taken such good care of me. How could I not trust Him with this, as well. If it happens, He will get me through. It's an easy type to "get rid of" - not like my friend "Especially Heather" or the kidney failure dear Kelly is going through.
And, as long as we are discussing health challenges, please pray for my friend Debbie. She sings with me on praise team and is a daycare provider. SWEEEEEEETEST woman you have ever known. She had a bought with breast cancer last year. Beat it! All her hair grew back fluffy, blonde and curly.
Then the hip pain started. Had some tests. Discovered spots on her sternum, pelvis and one femur. She is heartbroken. There will be some more tests this week, but it looks like bone cancer. She and I are almost the same age. She has two kids in college. My heart grieves for her. So lets' wrap her up in the love of God. She needs courage and strength.
Thanks, my friends, for all your prayers. "Where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them" He says. I think He smiles when we come together in prayer and take Him at His word.

Have a great week, ya'll. I'll write when I find out the "test results".

*************************************************************

Well, talked to the dr. this afternoon.
It's "kinda sorta" good news.
Not cancer, but not normal either. I guess there are three levels of abnormal...
minimal, moderate and severe and it seems I'm at moderate.

Moderately abnormal...that's me all over!

Anyway, I digress. Minimal is when they just leave it alone and "follow up" in a year.
Moderate is when they do something about it, such as resection and/or cryosurgery.

You know, I have that tub*l lig*tion actually scheduled for the 18th still. I'm supposed to call the "specialist" tomorrow to discuss options and I may just request he take it out as long as he's in that general vicinity and I'm done with the procreation anyways. IF the insurance will cover it and IF he'll do it and IF it would be for the best.

I'm leaving it up to God to work out His way. I'm just glad they found it before we went into the "severe" stage, ya' know what I'm sayin'!?!

FINAL GRADES

OK...THIS did ALOT to lift my spirits!
Final grades came out today...


EMT 152B CR EMT Basic, Part 2 A
HM 120 CR Medical Terminology 1 A
HPE 295 CR Health and Fitness for Life A
HUM 259 CR Death and Dying A

Term Totals (Credit)
GPA Current Term: 4.00
Cumulative: 3.80

YEP, I feel REALLLLLL better now!

In case I forgot to mention...

I love trucks. Most people drive down the freeway looking at the Mustangs, Porsches and Beemers. I drool over Peterbilt, White-GMC, and Kenworths. I saw this one in my little bitty town yesterday and snapped a pic with my cell phone. He pulled out Reeeaaaallly slowly so I could get a good shot. And he waved. WOW. And I thought I would share a picture of my Airway Model Project for EMT Basic class. It had to be 3-D and created out of anything we chose. Some people used car parts, sponges, styrofoam, clay and leftover Halloween candy. I sewed. Cuz that's what I do as a rule. The epiglottis was a little piece of leather lacing that I applied by hand and the vocal cords were gold sequins. The instructor asked if she could keep it for her private collection in her office. I said "Sure!" but not before I snapped a few photos with my phone.

Ok, show and tell is over for the day.

Big smiles, everyone!

Don't forget Scribbits saturday giveaway! Her link is over to the right on my blogroll....

Owieee

Had to get my shots today.
MMR booster.
Hepatitis B (first in a series of three)
and
TB skin test.
Funnily enough, that one hurt the worst.

But I survived.
Sorta.

Waaaah!

OK, I need to know what's up with kids and clothing. I've never had this problem with any of my kids...but #4 seems to feel that clothing is optional. As soon as she gets home from school, church, anywhere - she strips to her underwear.

I guess at least I should be grateful that she doesn't do it in public.
*Sigh*

Tomorrow is "Prenatal Day"! WooHoooo! I love measuring tummies and visiting with all the pregnant ladies, recording vitals, finding FHT (fetal heart tones) with the Doppler and sharing their excitement as they get closer. We've got 4 due just within the next two weeks. I think I'm on board to assist at 2 of them. I just pray they go into labor when I have someone to stay with the kids! But....If I don't, I don't and I'll have to say no.
And Cry.

God knows! I just have to keep reminding myself. He knows I need the clinical experience before I can be certified. So I'll leave it up to Him.

Welllll, I'd better go do some text book reading and love up on my kiddos for awhile before dinner. Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers.

EMT woman

I just had to share. Cuz I look all professional and that...

Yah, I know they're little. The cell phone does that for some reason.

Everything is working out well. Just had to share.

I found a girlfriend in my little town who is in the nursing program...and she's taking MTH 70, too! So she let me borrow her book so I could catch up. YAH!

THEN today a highschool girl called and applied for the job of watching my kids Tues. and Thurs. Nights while I go to class.

And she's WONDERFUL! A true blessing. She starts Tuesday, so I'm just praying she wants to stay after dealing with my crew alone for three hours.

Hope your weekend is going as well as mine is.

Where's Larry Boy?

I don't know if there's a time stamp on this post...but it's 4am.
I've been up for an hour.
Argh!

Got some used pants at St. Vincent De Paul for $4.
Got a used shirt for $5. Had some shoes that would work.
Tah Dah! EMT for under $10.
My aunt said I look "very official". Great. I think.

Came home thinking I would catch up on my Math70 homework.
I got the WRONG BOOK!
Argh, again!

Checked my college email.
My Medical Terminology class got canceled.
And I just got the book yesterday!
DOUBLE argh!

Is college always like this?

So now I have to pick a new class AND drive to the college bookstore 45 minutes and $20 worth of gas away AND go to "Fundamentals of Public Speaking" this morning!

There.
I vented.
Now I feel better!
Thanks for listening. :D

WOW, I'll be glad when this week is over with.
AND when I find someone willing to hang with my kids on Tues. and Thurs. evenings while I go to class. Please pray with me that I will find someone. If only one thing this week were to turn out "right", I'd like this to be the one thing.

I need a hero...

Where's Larry Boy when you need him?

EMT Basic Thursday Thirteen

I know, I know...ANOTHER Thursday Thirteen already?

Two weeks in a ROW? WOW!
Next thing you know, I will actually be back to submitting Kids' Corner Saturdays over at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas. I've been slackin', ya' know.

Made it to and through my first EMT Basic (Emergency Medical Technician Level Basic) class last night.

Found out what is required. Sort of...

It was hard to pay attention surrounded by all those 20-year old hotties.

Sorry, I'm only human!

Then I found out WHY they decided to congregate around me. They needed a mother. I helped them fill out their forms because they were texting on their cell phones and not listening to the instructor when he explained which parts to complete. Discovered several of them have flunked the written State Certification test at least once. One red headed kid has flunked THREE TIMES.

Holy cow!

I think I'll sit in a different spot next class.

At least there were several older people in this class. And about 20% are women. OK...ummm, well....girls. That could be my daughters. Argh.

ANYWAY, on to the Thirteen...

13 THINGS REQUIRED FOR EMT STUDENTS

and, according to the instructor, these are NOT optional.

I have to have them by next Tuesday.

1) Stylin' blue shirt....

2) Black pants. They don't HAVE to be EMT pants with all the cool little pockets, but we'll see...3) Then, of course, you have to have a belt to hold UP the black pants.

4) And the black shoes to go with the black pants.

5) The logical progression would mean black SOCKS. Cuz I don't wanna look like a geek, ya'll. Which I will anyway. Cuz you have to TUCK in the Shirt...AND I just happen to have this HUGE belly flap left over from weighing 400+ lb.s. What am I gonna do with THAT? Roll it up? Maybe number 14 should be a GIRDLE!

6) Gotta have the school patch. OK, this one actually IS optional.

7) and the STATE patch.8) Books...Which I have, thank goodness! Well, most of them anyway.

9) Criminal background check.

10) Oregon / National Practical testing fee...

11) National registry WRITTEN testing fee.

12) Current CPR card (they give us that class the first Saturday in October, so I'll be okay with that. My old one just expired on the 15th of this month.)

AND....TAAADAAAAH!

the THIRTEENTH THING an EMT student needs...

13) S H O T S !

better known as immunizations. Not like I'm not USED to shots. Heck, I give myself a huge B12 shot with a 3 1/2 inch needle once a month. But do I enjoy them?

No way, MAN! I'll probably at LEAST need a tetanus booster. Heaven only knows what else. I'm sure they'll let me know!

And all this so my homebirth clients will feel confident in my skills as a midwife. Sheesh!

To become an LDM

I must confess that I haven't been to the Oregon Licensing Board website in awhile to keep abreast of the changes in the licensing procedures.
Awhile as in...like, uhhh, 5 years or so. I decided to go check it out.
I got scared. Daunting, to say the least...

Here's what my state says about midwives...

A licensed direct entry midwife (LDM) supervises the conduct and labor of childbirth, advises the parent as to the progress of childbirth, and renders prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. Licensed direct entry midwives provide care in the home, in birthing centers, clinics, and as teachers at midwifery schools. Licensure is voluntary, and unlicensed midwives may practice in Oregon. However, Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 687.415 allows reimbursement under the Oregon Health Plan only if a licensed midwife provides birthing assistance. Only LDMs are legally authorized to administer legend drugs and devices.

Which means if you AREN'T licensed, you can't bill the Oregon Health Plan (which is about 50% of your clientele) and you can't carry O2 and some VERY helpful medications.
That being said.....

Here's the fee structure -
Duration of License: One year

License Fee
Application fee: $100
Original license: $1,500
Renewal fee: $1,500 (YEP, YEARLY).

and that's "US Dollars" not "Pesos".

WOW.

The website says that as of June, 2005, there are 39.

So here's what I have to do to be licensed...
An applicant for licensure must have completed the minimum core competencies adapted from the 1997 Edition of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) under 332-015-0040.
The applicant must have also participated in 25 assisted deliveries, 25 deliveries in which the applicant was the primary care provider, 100 prenatal care visits, 25 newborn examinations and 40 postnatal examinations under OAR 332-015-0010(2).
In addition, the applicant must possess current CPR certification for adults and newborns, required education (by April 30, 2004) in approved legend drugs and devices under OAR 332-015-0070, and a written plan for emergency transport identifying care provided to a mother and infant should complications arise during delivery.
Examination: A passing score on the written examination administered by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) under OAR 332-015-0050 is also required.Qualification requirements can be found in ORS 687.420(1) — Standards for licensing.

So now you know.
And I do, too.
Looks like I've got alot of work to do.

God, You know how daunting this task looks. Yet you know it is my dream. I'm begging for courage here, Father. In Jesus name...

I can't BELIEVE it!

Yesterday morning, I stood in my local little podunk IttyBitty Town post office and cried like a baby.

It's a good thing they know me or they might have called the "Nice" people in the white coats.

There in my hands was a letter from my local hospital Volunteer Guild.

After a HUGE paper application and a face-to-face interview...

"We know you have a difficult road before you to accomplish this dream and we are very happy to be able to provide you with one of our $2000.00 awards to assist you towards that end."

**WAAAAAHHHH!**

"Congratulations on being one of five recipients from a field of very well qualified and deserving applicants."

**Fanning self with the letter** I think I may cry again here!

God is so good!

God is so Good!

God is so good,

He's so good to me!

Johari window...

A Psychological peek at me...

Arena (known to self and others) adaptable, caring, helpful	Blind Spot (known only to others) able, accepting, bold, cheerful, clever, complex, confident, dependable, energetic, friendly, idealistic, independent, intelligent, kind, knowledgeable, loving, mature, nervous, organised, quiet, religious, responsive, searching, self-assertive, self-conscious, sensible, sentimental, silly, sympathetic, trustworthy, warm, wise
Façade (known only to self) extroverted, giving, powerful	Unknown (known to nobody) brave, calm, dignified, happy, ingenious, introverted, logical, modest, observant, patient, proud, reflective, relaxed, shy, spontaneous, tense, witty

All Percentages

able (18%) accepting (6%) adaptable (25%) bold (6%) brave (0%) calm (0%) caring (31%) cheerful (6%) clever (6%) complex (12%) confident (6%) dependable (6%) dignified (0%) energetic (18%) extroverted (0%) friendly (50%) giving (0%) happy (0%) helpful (37%) idealistic (6%) independent (18%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (31%) introverted (0%) kind (25%) knowledgeable (25%) logical (0%) loving (37%) mature (12%) modest (0%) nervous (6%) observant (0%) organised (6%) patient (0%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (6%) reflective (0%) relaxed (0%) religious (12%) responsive (18%) searching (12%) self-assertive (6%) self-conscious (6%) sensible (6%) sentimental (18%) shy (0%) silly (6%) spontaneous (0%) sympathetic (18%) tense (0%) trustworthy (31%) warm (25%) wise (6%) witty (0%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 21.4.2007, using data from 16 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view douglassmom's full data.