In anticipation of my test on Friday, I've been researching my grad school options so that I have a list of schools ready to receive my stellar scores.  And the list of options are:

#1- Ohio State

It's the obvious choice, and they just got accredited for the pediatric acute care option, which makes it practically a slam dunk.  (never mind that all my references will be coming from their con) classes are online, and I can do all my clinicals in Cleveland.

#2-Vanderbilt

Hmm, Nashville.  An interesting option.  Same time frame as OSU, online, with one or two visits to campus per semester on weekends.  More expensive, but a place I had planned on ending up at when I traveled, but never made it.  Their Children's Hospital is frickin phenomenal and their transport program is way better than ours, so it has a lot of potential for further career development.

#3-University of California-San Francisco

Probably the best program beside the one at U of Pennsylvania, but also the farthest from home.  I'd have to relocate, which I'm not adverse to, but would probably need to move in the near future and establish residency to get the cheaper rate.  If you work at UCSF they take 2/3's off the in state tuition rate, which would then make it a viable option. 

#4-University of Pennsylvania-Philadelphia

This would be my dream school, best ACPNP program in the nation, but also a total longshot for me.  Never mind that it is completely out of my price range.  It's almost $60,000, and it's highly recommended that you don't work while enrolled.  However, the location is key. I would totally move to Philly.  Sadly, the Ivy League price tag and I are not compatible.  Bummer.

So those are the options.  Feel free to weigh in with your opinions.  I'm still open to suggestions.  Guess I should end this study break and get back to the dreaded math section study guide.  Blech.

TGIF!!  I'm so over work this week.  Thankfully I don't have to go back until next Friday night.  What's a girl to do with all this free time?  Study, of course.  My GRE book and CD are with me wherever I go.  The weather has been great this week, fallish but still warm, so I've been out in parks studying and not feeling like I'm missing a lot since I'm not cooped up indoors.  Going out also has the added benefit of helping me stay focused.  It seems that at home I'm easily distracted. 

Today we did competancies at work.  Boring, but necessary.  We actually went to the sim lab and did our own pediatric megacodes.  Compared to Monday's debaucle with the Residents, we totally rocked our scenarios.  I guess that's good since it's what we're trained to do.  Our baby survived and will live to have another IO.  Our clinical instructor gave us our 'quarterly update', which was chock full o' changes, so the next few weeks should be interesting...

Work has seriously affected my ability to post in a timely fashion.   Since I can't access my blog at work, I'm reduced to blogging at home, and well, sleep trumps blogging.  Not a whole lot has happened in the past week anyways, I've been working way more than I should and studying for the GRE.  My test is next week!!  Agghhh! (edited for my younger readers) 

Today I was supposed to do a PR event at the NICU conference, however I opted to sleep in and catch up on TiVo.  If I hadn't worked the past three days I might have been more enthused about sitting in a hotel lobby for 8 hours, but I just couldn't make myself get up and get ready this morning.  Oh well. There were enough other people signed up that I hope they don't mind my absence too much.  Work has been rough.  Not gonna lie.  We've been on diversion and running lots of regionals interspersed with ICU trips as soon as a bed opens.  There's actually a waiting list to get transferred into our PICU.  How crazy is that?  Morale has been an ongoing issue with our team, and sadly we're at a new low.  We've had nurses and medics quit this month, and it seems like everyone else is looking for another job.  We're having a team 'retreat' next month.  Not sure how that's gonna go, or if anyone will actually show up.  I'm trying to just do my job and not get involved in all the shenanigans, and I'm doing better than I anticipated.    Week after next we go back to 24 hour shifts, which means one less day on campus each week, so I'm looking forward to that.

Talked to Tommy on Sunday.  After a week in transit, he made it safely back to Afghanistan.  They put him pack to work within 4 hours of his arrival, so he didn't have a whole lot to say.  Still sad that he had to go back, but he'll be home (hopefully for good) in just over six months.  It's hard to be so proud of someone, yet scared for them at the same time.   I think Afghanistan will end up being like Vietnam for the US, which makes it difficult for me to understand why our government insists on fighting a battle that has proved winless throughout history.  How is winning the war in Afghanistan going to improve life here in the states?  Why are we so worried about everyone else's livelihood, when Americans are struggling just as much?   To me, we're fighting this war for unclear reasons.  Does Afghanistan really pose that big of a threat to us as a nation, or are we just stuck with a fight we started years ago?    The war isn't front page news anymore, which should make it obvious to those making the decisions about whether we stay or go, that as Americans, we aren't really that interested. 

Guess that's enough ranting for today, should get back to studying...

As promised...a summer recap

When we last encountered our fearless heroine, she was in the midst of finals and on the verge of graduation.

 Ellie made it through finals and graduated from The Ohio State University!

Annie actually did a really great post about graduation and has family pics posted.  Her blog is up to date, which is way more than I can say.  Anyways, we had a great time in Columbus and I can't thank all my family and friends enough for their support and encouragement while I stuggled through school and clinicals.  Still haven't ruled out grad school, I'm taking the GRE next month, so the griping about school might become a feature segment on this blog as well. 

After graduation, it was back to work as usual.  Nothing too exciting or notable that I can recall.  During this time I did start working at our major competitor down the street.  My job in the Peds ER is great.  I've been enjoying it despite how exhausted I am after a shift.  I've missed doing a lot of the bedside care and patient education that I get the opportunity to do in the ER.   Annie, Liz and I did spend a night out with my co-workers.  They throroughly enjoyed meeting the two of them.

In July, it was once again time for a family vacay. This year we headed out to Cape Cod to vacation with the Kennedy's. Sadly, the weather was terrible, and we didn't get a lot of beach time. Plenty of shopping and indoor entertainments, but no brown sugar tan for me. Oh well. Once again, I'll refer you to Annie's blog for lots and lots of photos and a full recap of our activities.

On our way home from the Cape, Annie and I stopped on the American side of Niagra Falls.

August came and went way too fast.  We had a crazy heat wave that made the middle of the month that was almost unbearable.  Let me just say that flight suits do not breathe in 90+ degree heat.  It didn't cool off at night and I was tempted to turn on my A/C, but fought the power and sweltered with the rest of Ohio.   It finally cooled off, and Tommy got sent home for a visit.  Not sure about how the USMC decides who gets R&R visits, but whatevs, our Tommy got to leave the desert and my diet went on hiatus as well.  Yes, Annie and I are still on WW.  Annie is still winning, and she'll tell you that "I suck at WW", which for most of the summer has been true, but on the bright side, I'm maintaining and that's half the battle. 

We had lots of fun family times during Tommy's visit and all the cousins got to spend a weekend causing chaos at grandma's.  Good times. 

Made a batch of cookies with my nephews.  Not an experience I'll attempt again soon.  The cookies were great, the mess, not so good.  When the kids were over the other day, Elliott asked me to make cookies.  I kept distracting him with toys. 

Tommy and I drove out to South Bend to meet up with Charlie, Rachel, C4 and Sarah at Notre Dame.  We spent a day wandering around campus and then went to the ND/Nevada game the next day.  Games are so much more fun when the home team wins.

Tommy had to go back to Afghanistan on Sunday morning, hoping he got back ok, he's probably still in transit, but we should here from him soon.  He'll be home for good sometime in April, and we're all looking forward to him being safe and stateside. 

Think that's all for now.  Not a super detailed recap, but you get the gist.  Hopefully now that I'm up-to-date, I'll post more frequently. This week has been crazy already with work, class and a cold that just won't go away.  Hope you're all doing well. 

After Monday's debaucle in the ER, I should have known better than to go back, but I'm a glutton for punishment.  It was crazy busy once again.  I blame the change in weather.  It's getting cooler and more fall-like, so all the asthmatics are flaring up and filling the er.  How is it that every asthmatic does not know a) what their triggers are and b) how to take their medicine?  Despite the craziness, I picked up a shift next week.  

Tonight is the Steelers season opener, so far it's not been too exciting.  Can't somebody score already? Perhaps we need to break out the eye black...Go Steelers!!

New & Improved...

Yeah!! I'm finally back in the blogosphere. You may be wondering about my absence. It's an interesting story. Well, not really, but here it is. During a mandated weekly meeting with my boss and an administrator I was given a 'cease and desist' letter from my employer in regards to my blog. Apparently I had two posts that contained images that, "negatively portray the mission and image of the(anonymous employer) and must immediately be removed from public view." So my blog went on hiatus while I came up with a new title and format. Not totally in love with the new title, but it definitely reflects the content of most of my blog posts. Lots has happened this summer, so I'll be posting pics and updates soon.