Well I am halfway through my first clinical rotation.  So far it's been a pretty good one.  I started out a little bored because I was just observing more than anything.  Now i'm actually getting to do evaluations and treatments--just under supervision. 

I've seen a lot of patients with vertigo (sense of spinning).  I've enjoyed treating that because vertigo can be such a debilitating state to be in and sometimes can be treated in just one visit with one simple treatment.  Because they come in feeling so awful and leave feeling maybe 85% better--they tend to think I'm amazing when in reality it was just an easy fix. 

Other than that I have been working with some kiddos (19months to 10 years), some spinal cord injuries, strokes, and traumatic brain injuries.  These have been some of the most rewarding cases to work with.  It breaks my heart to see how much lives can change in an unexpected instant.  For example, car accidents, or falls off a porch, horse, or out of the back of a truck.  Everyday I am reminded as to how important it is to appreciate the little things in life.  It's hard to imagine losing your ability to walk, talk, eat, smile, shake a hand, etc. and having to learn it again or learn how to utilize the limited function you do have. I have met some of the most phenomenal people!!!  It occassionally brings me to tears to talk with them and see what they have been through, how far they have come and how strong hearted they are. 

Working with people you hardly know and needing to get so "up close and personal" is not always the most plesant experience.  However, I did figure out I have an incredible ability to hold back from gagging.

Tiny Marine

Caden on Veteran's Day with Cody's dog tags and cami's.  He's so lucky to have such a great daddy to be his hero!  Thinking of all those past/present who have sacrificed so much so that we may have all those things we take for granted.

Unidentified Halloween Infant

So what was Cade man for his first Halloween???  I honestly don't know... maybe a vampire?  maybe a bat?  a few people called him kitty (fyi I would NOT intentionally dress my son up as a "kitty"---something a little more tough like a lion maybe but no kitty for this boy), I even heard he looked like a polar bear with purple ears.  Truth be told, it was the quick, easy, and $15 costume from Target and who really cares what it is... he's still adorable! 

So what do you do in Seymour, America after eating a hamburger with the fire dept and taking the unidentified halloween infant to see family?!?!?!?!? 

Ping pong tournament--of course.

I'm back at it

I've started working again.  Except it's not really work or I would be getting a paycheck... I guess I should say i'm back to school/clinicals.  Luckily, this one is in Wichita Falls so I'm able to live with my husband and baby boy :)  I'm at North Texas Rehab Center and I LOVE it.  Everyone there is SO friendly and helpful.  This is considered my neuro clinical but I see a little bit of everything (neuro, vestibular, pediatrics, ortho, aquatics).  Being at this clinical really makes you learn to appreciate the little things in life... because it can all change in an unexpected instant.  Working with brain injury patients is SO rewarding but it sure breaks my heart at the same time.  So far I'm not treating patients by myself... i'm still working into it.  Next week I should have my own patient schedule.

This also means that I have had to start taking Cade man to daycare.  I trust and really enjoy the ladies that keep him but I am still working to adjust to this change.  Seriously, how can someone spend the majority of their day with my baby and I only get a couple of hours with him in the evenings before he goes to bed???  I'm so glad to be back doing the physical therapy thing and being able to interact with others...I just wish my clinical was part-time.  I sure do look forward to coming home to those chubby cheeks!

Best Friends

Andrea's Wedding!!

One of my best friends got married last weekend!  The wedding was amazing, the food was great, decorations were beautiful and she looked gorgeous!  Andrea and I met in the dorms our freshman year of college at Texas Tech.  We instantly became inseparable and ended up living together for 3 years until she moved to south Texas.  Even though we live miles apart and only see each other a couple of times a year, we are still as close as ever.  Andrea is one of those friends that I have fun with no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Cody jokes that he will soon have to warn Caden about what happens when his mom and "aunt annie" get together!  :)

Here are a few pictures from the weekend....

No, nerves didn't get the best of her.  She is brushing her teeth

And now starts the Caden photo shoot... Oh be still my beating heart!!!!

Daddy and his look-alike

 The poor baby boy was so sleepy through it all... until we got him back to the hotel room and we were ready to sleep.

Gigi and Pop made it to the wedding



LOVE. THIS. BOY.



Baby Butt

Caden-2 months

Cade man at 2 months old.  His appointment went really well.  I LOVE his new pediatrician (our last one was in Lubbock).  Caden weighed in at 12 lbs 3 oz. and was 23 1/2 inches long.  That puts him in about the 75th percentile.  He just recently started his social smile, does a LOT of cooing and is happiest in the mornings after he eats.  And he is still as squirmy as ever.  This kid is seriously always moving (just like he was when I was pregnant) and he always wants me moving when i'm holding him.

He's getting more fun every day and already growing too fast! 

Andrea's Bachelorette Party

I love Caden more than anything in the world, but I have been dying to get out and do something on my own that didn't revolve around him.  So Andrea's bachelorette party was the perfect way to do it!  I left Caden with Cody for the night.  The girls and I stayed at the Gaylord Texan hotel in Grapevine.  We ate at the steakhouse there (best steak I have ever had) had a lingerie shower for her in the room, and then a few of us went to a bar right next to the hotel.  Andrea is one of those friends that no matter what it is we are doing, we have a blast together.  She is a pharmacist in the Houston area so we don't get to see each other nearly enough.

 

Sadly, it's been a while since any of us have stayed up that late.  We made fools of ourselves had a great time! 

I sure was excited to see my little man when I got home!

Next few weeks with Caden

Caden's Baptism

Pastor Snyder, Me, Caden, Cody, and Caden's sponsors: Diana, Callan, Melanie, and Dusty

Caden and Audrey hanging out at our family's annual "dove hunt" weekend.

Bath time! 

  Caden's social smile started around 7 1/2 weeks.  The first time he really smiled at me was in the middle of the night when I was complaining to Cody about how Caden won't go back to sleep...blah blah blah... and I look down to see Caden looking at me with a huge grin.  Talk about melting my heart!!  I no longer cared that he was keeping me awake.  This is the best picture I got around that time that he first started smiling.

These first 2 months have flown by!