Christmas Vacation

I have loved being home for a white Christmas! We haven't had snow this early in the year in a while. Grace and Leah loved playing in the 20 inches we got over the weekend while they were here spending the night, and I'm glad that the snow came early enough that by today, the roads won't be too icy when I head into work.

I've had a decent break from arriving home from the end of the semester to getting back to the NICU. As always, I am excited and ready to get back! I am not scheduled to work Christmas (my last time saying that in a while) and I am off the day before (and day of) Mandy's wedding.

My trip to Dr. Brody's yesterday revealed a completely healed liver and bile duct! I got the complete work-up (meaning he used all of his machines on me :)) and he found that my heart, kidneys, and adrenals are the next up to be worked on. My adrenals were a 32 on his chart, which is the highest it can be, meaning that they are very fatigued. Those 4 years of having Mono with no immune system to fight it really took a toll on all of my organs! They each tried to fight it! The great news is that I will, at some point, be cured from all of these ailments, Lord willing! I am so thankful for two parents who are willing to take me to a doctor 2 hours away and pay for my treatment so that I can get better! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

... do the Master Cleanse Diet!

That's what I've been drinking for the last 10 days. A precise mixture of water, lemon juice, grade B maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, which I forgot to buy when I took this picture to share with all of you food-eaters.

This diet also includes drinking 2 tsp. sea salt in 4 c. water each morning and senna tea at night. It really wasn't too bad until 2 days ago, when I just couldn't get 'eating food again' out of my mind. I even made a list of the meals I want to eat when I am done this diet!

Today is my last day of the lemonade mixture, and tomorrow I spend the day drinking orange juice. Sunday I can have vegetable soup (drinking mostly broth), which I made on Wednesday night so I could feel like I was going to eat; it has been sitting in my fridge and it smells so good whenever I open the refrigerator door. Monday, my friend Kelsie and I are going out to lunch, and then I am heading home on Tuesday.... which means that Mom, Dad, and I (all 3 of us have been doing this diet together) are going to Chili's Tuesday night where we will become ravenous, and we won't apologize.

I finished my last final this afternoon. It was Nutrition, which I was most nervous about, and I got a 90%! Highest test grade in this class of the semester! I will pass :) My Psychology test went well this morning, and I have been enjoying not having to do any school work!

See you all soon!

Finals and Senioritis

I have all 3 of my finals this week. I actually took my first one today; Critical Care. It wasn't that bad! But I'm always careful to say that, because the outcome of the test is always a surprise to me. We were given a take home final for Critical Care as well, which I am half-way through. This test involves 3 patient scenarios and questions concerning their care. We are allowed to use our notes and books, and we have had a week to complete the 12 question packet.

Friday, I have my Psychology final at 8:00am, which I have yet to study for. I'll get a B in the class as long as I pass the final. My last final is in Nutrition, and I have to take it online by 5 pm. I am most nervous about this test! It has been the most difficult class for me this semester because of the way the teacher asks the test questions. It's set up like this:

What is.... blah blah blah?
a) one
b) two
c) three
d) A and B
e) A, B, and C

Ya get it? I can't stand it. I'll probably pass the class, but it won't be a good grade!

It's so hard to study! I just want to get home for Christmas!

I'm coming home on Tuesday and am looking forward to stuffing my face with lots of food.

Tennessee

Here are some pictures from my recent trip to Tennessee! I had a great time visiting with Laura and Logan and their precious little girl, Aydah.

Aydah is such a bundle of energy, just like Grace or Grae! I had fun playing with her and getting to know her more. She stops and stares at the TV whenever "Flo", from the insurance commercials, comes on; she loves her! Aydah would always wave bye-bye to me when Laura was carrying her into her room for a nap. It was adorable.

It was important for me to remind Aydah that half of her belongs in Maryland. She had no complaints after tasting her first Berger cookie while sporting her Orioles tee. Thanks to Laura's pregnancy hormones, she was liking chocolate and had a cookie too! And Logan is learning to deal with the fact that Maryland is awesome (just teasing ya, Logan!).

Aydah has a special smile for the camera:

While we were spending Saturday night and Sunday with Logan's parents (who made an amazing BBQ, sweet potato fries, salad, and home-made ice cream dinner), Aydah spent a few minutes saying "cheese" and modeling for pictures.

Monday we went to a pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin. It was a muddy day, but we had fun... and some more BBQ.

It was such a fun weekend! I was so thankful that I was able to spend time with Laura and her family after not seeing them for a while. Hopefully we will all be able to see each other again before long!