I'm taking a short, needed break from studying. 

It's been a pretty good week.  I went country dancing (first time in months) and loved it.  I wish I had more time to go.  It was great seeing some old friends and I just love being spinned around.  It was a perfect way to distract me from the upcoming OSCE's. 

I went to the dental clinic today and had my teeth cleaned.  Now my gums are sensitive and I have to get some teeth fixed.  At least it's a little cheaper since I'm a student.  What was I thinking, though, the week before finals?  Oh well, it only took like two hours and it needed to be done.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment - there is so much stuff for me to know and so little time to go over everything.  I can't believe the quarter has come to an end.  We had our last lecture yesterday and last lab today.  It has been a busy week with finals starting last Mon and OSCE's on Thursday.  Only 7 more exams to finish by next Wed.  But I was very relieved once the practical exam was over.  I have a hard time coming up with differential diagnoses and follow-up questions when I'm put on the spot.  All I can think about are the symptoms/signs the patient has revealed on the history.  I hope it comes more naturally with continued exposure to problems.  I'll have to bring my instruments home over Thanksgiving and practice!  

Today in lab we practiced putting in ear wicks, cleaning out cerumen (or foreign bodies), how to treat epistaxis (both anterior and posterior bleeds), obtaining throat swabs for office tests/lab cultures, and how to view the epiglottis and larynx.  Unfortunately, I didn't ever get to see the larynx on my partner - his were very posterior and I need to practice my technique.  Let me tell you, though, the numbing spray is disgusting.  It did prevent me from gagging when my partner pushed my uvula back against my throat, though - I didn't even know he'd done it.  But the taste was horrific.  The interesting things we learn at school, eh?  At least now I can inform my patients of the burn and taste.
 
I found out that my friend Brian is engaged.  It is definitely the season of my friends to get married.  I'm excited that he finally found someone to marry.  I remember when I first met him (like 8 years ago) that he was so anti-marriage.  So this is a big step for him.  She's cool and she had some good retaliation ideas when Steve broke up with me last February in UT.  The thought was nice :)

Gidget, my roommates dog, had a rough morning on Wed.  I guess she was convulsing like with seizures.  Tasha freaked out and rushed her to the vet.  Nothing was wrong, Gidget just hadn't been eating properly.  So...Gidget went back to the breeder for a few days to learn how to eat.  But she came home tonight.  Hopefully she'll be ok from now on.

I'm still waiting to get the phone call that Mary Ann has gone into labor.  I'm sure she is anxiously waiting to make that phone call.  I was getting so excited for my sleep over with Max, but I guess that will happen another time.  MA's mother comes into town, so they won't need me to come over.  I'm looking forward to the new little guy.  Hopefully he comes before I head home to UT for Thanksgiving. 

 I better get back to Pharmacology.  There are so many drugs with so many different names (chemical, generic, trade), indications, side effects, contraindications, drug-drug interactions, and any other miscellaneous information we need to know about each of them.  How is it all going to stay in my brain?  I don't know.