Here's the new skill for the week. Here I am intubating a baby today in class...I'm praying for all breathing patients please! Blurry phone picture, but it was really fun to see the "blue" areas in the baby change colors once oxygenated, oh technology.
So yesterday was a fun (but long!) class day for me. We learned all of our skin biopsy techniques as well as suturing. We did all of the biopsy stuff on chicken legs, and I must say that I will never look at a chicken leg the same, as I practiced anesthetizing it, and cutting out an excision to remove the "lesion." I think my favorite was the cryotherapy that we did for if someone has a wart or skin tag that needs to be frozen off. It was VERY cold and leaves an ice ring around the specimen in seconds. My least favorite was the toenail removal...oh my sickness! Gives me the heebie jeebies, so future patients, just go ahead and do me a favor and do not get an ingrown toenail, yikes! So, we practiced our suturing on pigs feet and those were pretty raunchy to look at. But I learned single suturing, continuous suture, a mattress suture, dermabond closure, and even stapling! It was fun, and really made me feel like I was learning something useful. Don't get me wrong, I've learned a lot in the last year of school that I've been in, but this one is a little more meaninigful as far as experience goes. I am also starting in the hospital this semester and will be rounding with a PNP and a radiologist, so this will be fun and I'm excited to learn a lot!
No problem Mr. Chicken, I'll take that right off!
Amber and Maranda biopsying away- so thankful to have these two ladies in all my classes with me!.jpg)
Cryotherapy- Freezing!.jpg)
Patient #2.jpg)
Ta-Da!.jpg)
Seamstress at work.jpg)
We received a great Home Depot Giftcard for Christmas and for all of those homeowners, you know that this is Heaven on plastic! We knew just what we were going to use it on! Hardware for all of our cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. Yes, we've lived in our house for a year and a half and have been awkwardly opening the cabinets since then. But hardware is expensive when you multiply it by all the number of cabinets!! I was in charge of measuring and marking and Colby did the drilling and placement of the knobs. Followed by me being in charge of cleaning up all of the sawdust! I think they look great! The funniest part is that it's been hard to remember to use the knobs! I find myself still reaching underneath, ha! Thanks Aunt Linda, we love them!
Yes it took a couple of days between study breaks to get them all done
BEFORE:
Here's pictures from our fun dinner at Gloria's (yes-we're predictable) for Colby's birthday. Just can't resist those yummy $3 margaritas!
I had several people asking about the Holy Cow Cake that I made for Colby's birthday. Well, it gets its name because the second you take a bite, you think to your self, or say outloud, Holy Cow!
The recipe is from The Cake Mix Doctor. I sure do love doctors and I LOVE this book and recommend it to anyone! There are even several more versions out now. It is perfect b/c it turns boxed cakes into a cake that looks like it was made from scratch by adding other ingredients to spice it up. Well, I'm all for time saving recipes and "Fake it, don't Make it!"
Cake Needs:
Vegetable oil spray for misting the pan
1 package (18.25 ounces) plain devil's food cake mix
1 1/3 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil, or canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower (I use Smart Balance Omega- as it's better for you than vegetable, and olive doesn't do as well for me with baked goods)
3 large eggs
Topping Needs:
1 jar (8 ounces) caramel topping (I use about half- it's too rich!)
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk (Once again, I use the smaller one)
4 Butterfinger candy bars crushed (can use Heath bar, or whatever you like)
1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed (can get the low fat kind!)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature (low fat kind!)
Directions:
1. Place a rack in the center of the oven an preheat the oven to 350. Lightly mist a 13x19 inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray and set pan aside.
2. Place cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop and scrape down sides with spatula. Increase mixer speed and beat 2 minutes more. Batter should look thick and well blended. Pour the batter in the prepared pan and place in oven.
3. Back the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed (35 to 38 minutes). Remove and place on wire rack. Immediately poke holes all over the cake with a drinking straw or chopstick.
4. Prepare the topping. Place the caramel topping and sweetened condensed milk in a small bowl and stir to combine. Spoon the mixture over the warm cake so that it can seep down into the holes. Measure out half of the candy bars and sprinkle over the cake.
5. Place whip topping and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and blend with electric mixer on low speed until smooth and combined. Spread the mixture over the top and then sprinkle the remaining candy pieces on top.
6. Place the pan, uncovered, in the refrigerator to chill the cake for about 20 minutes before cutting into squares and service. *can store it covered for up to one week in fridge*
Yesterday, Colby joined me in the "oldness" and turned 27! He's been giving me a hard time the last three weeks, so welcome to 27 my dear! :) He is up to his ears in the Endocrine system right now. Not only is it hard starting back to school after a holiday break, but to be slammed with fast-paced and difficult Endocrine right of the bat has been hard with quizzes every other day and now a test coming up. Boo! So needless to say, he's been a little stressed. Our small group Bible Study is meeting at our house for the new study, so since everyone was coming over last night, how fun was it to surprise Colby and have a birthday cake! So I worked hard making the cake and even making Colby a special dinner. However, he almost ruined the plan! He told me he wasn't going to come home b/c he wanted to stay at school and study for the quiz today. WHAT?! Wrong answer I told him, he at least had to come home and eat dinner and then could go in the office and put in his ear plugs while we have Bible Study. I'm so glad he did, and then came out for a bit to enjoy some cake before returning for more studying. Studying on your birthday, whohoo, what a normal reality this has become for both of us. :( It's ok, it will all be worth it some day. I am so proud of his dedication and wish you a happy 27 my love!
Blowing them out for another year!
I love you Colb and am SO glad that God brought you into this world!
I worked New Years Eve and Day at the hospital so that was pretty uneventful. We did go over to The Gallers house briefly, but then I came home to go to bed. Colby started back to school today, so back to reality! We had a fabulous Christmas break and feel so fortunate that we got to spend so much time together and with family.
Grandpa and Paps
Colby and I with Grandpa last Christmas 2008
You will be greatly missed, we love you, and can't wait to see you again one day!
