Week 3

I have decided that the best way to keep up with this blog is to do weekly updates on Sunday. Here is what I can remember from this past week:

Our first Physiology Exam was on Monday. It went well. I put a lot of time into to studying for it and it must have paid off, because I passed. Then Tuesday we had a Genetics exam that was pretty easy (compared to Physiology). It was mostly review from previous biology courses in my undergrad.

We had a Phlebotomy lab on Wednesday, where we learned how to draw blood. I was able to get one real stick and was fairly successful. My "patient" didn't have any serious side effects from it. I also got stuck and my partner did a great job. Prior to doing the actual draws we practiced on a fake arm that had veins full of a red liquid. I was actually a little surprised at how simple it all was. The hardest thing about it was remembering the order of the tubes.

We had a couple of days that we were done early this week. It was nice to have some extra time to study (although I didn't take full advantage of it).

Friday we went over the ears and eyes portion of the physical exam. We were able to use our $500 scopes and look in each others ears and eyes. It is definitely going to take some practice until I feel comfortable using the equipment. I was told that I have very good vasculature in my retinas.

In Anatomy lab we dissected the eye so that the occulomotor muscles were visible. The lab before us had dissected out the Pharynx/Larynx (voice box) and we further dissected it to view the cartilage and muscles associated with it. We also further dissected the next to expose the internal jugular vein and the carotid artery.

I have been trying to get into a good study routine the past two weeks. I study from when class gets out, until 5:00 (that is if class is out early), then I drive home and study until dinner. After dinner I study until 8:30 or 9:00 when it is time to get the girls in bed. Ashley does a great job of having them all ready for bed, so we say prayers and I read Eliza a book, tell her a story, and sing her a few songs. Then I study until 10:30.

As proof that I do take a break every now and then, I took half of Saturday off and we went to the first Duke Football game of the season. We were able to get a spouse card for Ashley for $5 so she can get into all the games for free. We parked next to the Duke Clinic and walked down to the stadium, so parking was free. It ended up being a completely free night. Their team is not too great. They ended up losing to Richmond (a D-II school), so it is a lot like being back at home watching Utah State. We watched the first half and then went home for ice cream and the second half of the BYU game (which was awesome). Here is a picture of me and Eliza at the game. Eliza loved it and was a big hit to the people sitting around us. She was cheering and giving high-fives and spotting the Blue Devil. Sarah did very well, too.This coming week we have two exams (Physiology and Anatomy). Then Friday we begin the three day Graduate Student Campout for basketball season tickets. Basically, all the grad students that want to go to basketball games (who wouldn't want to) have to camp out on campus for three days, in order to be put in a drawing for a season ticket. Out off 2000 or so students they give away 700 season tickets. Oh, and the tickets aren't free. You have to pay $150. Most people camp as a group, combine all of the tickets that are drawn from that group, and split the cost and the tickets. The tickets are divided based on whose name was actually drawn, they get first pick (most likely the UNC game on MARCH 6th!). So, I really hope that my name is drawn. That goes from Friday at 5:00pm to Sunday at 7:00am. However, I did file a petition to be exempt from camping on Sunday. I will find out later this we week whether or not I get out of it. Full details will come next week. Stay tuned.