I love Western Medicine...

Today we learned about a pain management technique called Therapeutic Touch. It's based on the idea that we all have energy fields around us and when we are ill or experiencing pain there is a disruption in our energy field. Therapeutic Touch is designed to smooth out the energy field and help us heal. I have no problem with that, I believe we do have an energy about us, but since I couldn't "feel" my field one of my classmates volunteered me as a subject. Perfect, I had a headache (like always) and my back hurt (from sitting on a stool for hours on end) so hey, I'm game. So our instructor waved her hands around me and I didn't feel anything - which believe me was not what I was supposed to say. We kept practicing and by the end of class my little headache was a full-blown, I hate the inventor of light and please stop making noise I might vomit, bad headache. Assuming it was a sinus headache I prescribed myself 2 Sudafed and waited. Nothing. Called mom - going to die - Nothing. So I took a couple, okay 4 Ibuprofen and 2 (never take more than 2 at a time if you want to keep your liver) Tylenol and a bowl of Cheerios (never take that many drugs on an empty stomach) and, hey, 30 minutes later I feel fantastic. Might even be ready to tackle my neuro assignment. So while I think this "natural" stuff is lovely and makes my heart warm, when I hurt - give me the good stuff.

Oh, and the good news is... I will be spending my Vulnerable Populations rotation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I can't wait.

I've been running like a crazy women since coming back to Tucson. My old roommate Risa was here when I got back and was able to stay a day. We went exploring up on Mt. Lemmon and ate at my favorite restaurant Oregano's. I started school a few days later and it's been INSANE! School is always crazy but this semester we fit an entire semester worth of didatic into two weeks. That's everything you ever wanted (or didn't want) to know about psych and vulnerable populations. Now we're going to spend the next couple of weeks in lab learning how to not kill our critical care patients. Yea. Of course my life is never simple so I couldn't set up my wireless internet and in the process of trying killed my roommate's land line, ran out of printer ink thereby partially printing on 50 pages, crashed Adobe Acrobat and had so many printer issues I want to cry everytime I have to print anything. Oh, and I was sitting in class 8 hours everyday. So my first weekend back Karen came to visit, which I loved, and we went exploring on Mt. Lemmon. One of the Search and Rescue teams was practicing and asked if we'd like to "play" to which we smiled and giggled and then kicked ourselves for not going along with. My new roommate Keri is amazing. I love coming home because she's so pleasant and she goes and does stuff with me and she makes me go work out with her (very good). She kind of balances my tightly wound personality and is literally keeping me sane. I also started my new diet. It sucked the first week but then Keri offered to cook my dinners (and the leftovers I eat for lunch). Keri is in a master's program that's mostly online and hasn't found a job yet so she gets very, very bored. And she loves to cook. So good for me. I do the dishes, take out the trash and anything I can possibly think of to keep her happy. My diet is going really well - 10 pounds down today! That turns out to be about 3.3 pounds a week. I can handle that. Still no guys in Tucson but I registered for the mid-singles conference in Huntington Beach so I'm trying to be optimistic. In Feb Ryan, Karen, Andrea and Kristen are coming out to run in the Ragnar Relay - so excited about that. Even if Ryan has started calling me a "neurotic worrier". I really don't think I was being irrational. Someone in his car wanted to leave after classes (which finished at 3pm) I told him I didn't think it was a good plan to leave that late for a 12 hour drive when he would be up all night the next night and then have to drive back another 12 hours. I could just picture what he would look like in the trauma bay at UMC. Okay, maybe a little neurotic. They're leaving at 9am. I doubt any of that had to do with my concern. I can't wait to see my friends. So, as you can see, my brain is all over the place and slightly chaotic but I'm hanging on and enjoying almost all of it (I'm still scared of my printer).

What's in a name...

***What Julie Means***


You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.
You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries.
You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. I'm pretty sure that's all true.

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way.
And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life.
You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. Me? Lucky? You've got to be kidding me. Greedy, yes. Lucky, definately not.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. Relaxed??? Chill??? Only when sedated. And even then...

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. Sooo true.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. I like "friendly, charming, and warm." Yes, that's definately me.


What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Recipe Challenge

By way of explanation:

I just began a new diet. It's a pretty rigid diet but I am confident I will be successful with it and the long term benefits will far out-weigh the sacrifices. But I need help. I am required to eat lots of veggies and you all know I'm not the biggest veggie fan. So here's the challenge: please post/email me your favorite veggie recipes and prep tips. There are a few requirements: there are specific veggies I'm supposed to eat so please limit your veggies to those. You may use any spices but no oil of any kind. Vinegar is allowed.

List of approved veggies:

Asparagus
Cabbage
Cauliflower (not broccoli - thank goodness)
Celery
Cucumber
Green Pepper
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onion
Spinach
Spring onions/Scallions
Tomato (no grape/cherry)
Zucchini
Squash

Recommended Spices:
Black Pepper
Curry (without starch)
Mustard (powder only)
Vinegar
Garlic (YEA!!!)
All Herbs
Cinnamon
Ginger
Cloves
Salt

I promise I will try each recipe. Thanks in advance for your help!

Lazy days

I am really enjoying my very, very lazy Christmas vacation. I really haven't been doing much of anything, well, I go to PT for my knee then take a nap, have something to eat... that's really about it. I'm determined to actually go do something tomorrow.

The Knee: My knee is healing well. For those who haven't already heard, I wanted to run in the Ragnar Relay race in Feb but thought I should have my knee checked out first. I originally injured my knee wakeboarding and had surgery a few years ago but shortly after that surgery my knee started catching then locking. It wasn't constant so I didn't worry about it. As it turns out a piece of cartilage had broken off the back of my patella (kneecap) and was floating inside my knee. Like an oyster, my body calcified it and by the time it was removed it was about 2 cm long or about the size of your pinkie knuckle. There was also cartilage damage and a "pothole" in my patella from where the piece came off. So the surgeon removed the loose piece and cleaned up the cartilage. The good news is if I don't aggravate it I won't need surgery again. The bad news is, everything but walking, biking and swimming will aggravate it. Eventually I will probably need another surgery to repair the patella but now is not the time. The Ragnar Relay is out of the question - as far as running it goes. My team will still get to run and I will be a driver and, hopefully, a pacer. We're allowed to pace night runners on a bike so my goal is to do that. Sorry for the very long story.

The move: I loved my former apartment but sadly it was far to far away from the hospital I work at (30 min in the AM and I have to be there by 6:30am - and anywhere from 30-90 min in the afternoon). I found a great little complex that's only 8 minutes from work and 5 minutes from school. It's gated and in the only neighborhood in Tucson that even remotely reminds me of home. I was a bit worried about the size (it's small) but I parted with some of my possessions and Dad helped create more storage and I think it will be lovely. I will be rooming with a friend from CA. She's coming out to attend grad school at U of A. I got to spend a few days in the new place before coming home and I think it will be wonderful. I'll post pictures when I get back.

School: I won't brag, but I'm a really good nursing student. I know none of you are surprised (because that's what everyone keeps saying) but frankly, I am. I fully expected to be a B student and I'm not. School can be very challenging at times and sometimes I think I might scream at my instructors but then I work with my patients and I love it. I know the Lord has blessed me tremendously with this goal and I am very grateful. Although sometimes I wonder if the Lord is just trying to protect his poor, defenseless children against beginners like me. Regardless, I love it.

So. Cal Trip: My one roadtrip of the semester was to Anaheim to visit with Bree and Karen, my two roommates from BYU days. We've stayed in touch over the years and they are still my best friends. We celebrated Bree's son's 1st birthday on Saturday with a big family/friend party and then had some time in the evening to catch up. Sunday Bree had some family obligations so Karen and I sneaked away to Disneyland for a day. It was fun but sadly I didn't feel well in the morning and Karen didn't feel well in the evening. Karen actually vomited (sorry) for the first time in something like 20 years. Sad but kind of impressive. Glad I could be there for such a momentous occasion. Crazy enough, I ran into my cousin Spencer while standing in line for Pirates of the Caribbean! He was there with his classmates on choir tour and his mom (my Aunt Debbie) was chaperoning. Sometimes prayers we don't utter are answered in the strangest ways. It was wonderful to visit with Debbie and, as always, she gave much needed support and advice. I often wonder why I get to be so blessed.

Oh yeah and I decided to plan a trip to England when I graduate and (if they have one) go on a LDS single adult cruise. Always have to be planning something... Can't wait!

I only have pictures from Disneyland - I really thought I had more... Enjoy!

I know it's been a really long time since my last post so here's a quick up-date. In the time since my last post I have been to So. Cal. for Bree's son's 1st birthday and a quick Disneyland trip, a Thanksgiving trip home, finished clinicals, had knee surgery, moved across town, finished finals and came home for Christmas! Been a bit busy. I have some pictures and some commentary but right now I'm enjoying being in my sweats at noon and watching Project Runway so I'll do it later!

Sometimes I just love Grey's Anatomy.