Tag Archives: school

Final semester

It’s hard to believe that I started the journey to becoming a registered dietitian just two-and-a-half years ago.  And what a journey it’s been!

2015 — Fall Semester
After I decided to go back to school, but before classes start, life takes a big turn when Gabriel breaks his leg.  After a rocky few weeks, he is on the road to recovery and I am once again a college student.

Sometime during the first couple of weeks of my new school commute, I bike past a property that we had had our eyes on, and notice a “For Sale” sign.  The next couple of months involve sealed bids, working with cash buyers, and lots of holding our breath.  Finally, in November, we find out that our cash buyer got the house, which meant that, eventually, we would be buying the house!

The semester ends with surgery to remove the pins from Gabriel’s leg and lots of house limbo.

2016 — Spring Semester
We do not own the house because we’re waiting for the original owner/seller to close with our cash buyer so we can buy the house in a more traditional way from the cash buyer (confused yet?).  In the meantime, we are anxious because we cannot get a clear answer on whether a) the heat is running or b) the house was winterized to protect against pipes freezing, and we’re worried about additional costs we may incur if the pipes burst and there is damage.  (The house was not winterized, but the heat was on — no burst pipes for us.)

The first sale finally happens, allowing us to proceed with buying the house in a second sale.  We take a lot of measurements, especially of the kitchen, and begin to plan our remodel / renovations.  For three months, we work as general contractors for the remodel, coordinating many moving pieces.  Finally, it is [mostly] ready, and we move in June.

2016 — Fall Semester
I’m expecting smooth sailing.  I have two semesters under my belt, including the whole home buying-renovating-moving thing.  Not so fast!  I may be used to MY routine, but Gabriel is starting a whole new school, and the transition is not easy.

There is also a lot of work going on outside the house, including a lead-remediation ordeal that it appears I never wrote about and Matthew’s work installing a big ol’ fence, plus general planning and scheming for the garden.

2017 — Spring Semester
I completed my practicum this semester, which required quite a bit of juggling my usual school, home life, paid work balance.  With the garden at our own house for the first time, this was also the first semester that I didn’t have the benefit of the “commuter garden Saturday.”  For the previous three semesters, nearly every Saturday from March through November, Matthew and Gabriel would head to my MIL’s for a day of gardening, leaving me with a nice, quiet house where I could do homework AND catch up on housework.  Losing that was a big deal.  Ultimately, I cut the hours of my paid job to make everything fit.

2017 — Fall Semester
Course-load and homework-wise, this was my most challenging semester yet.  Things were going well, but the stress finally caught up to me in mid-October, when the ear infection from hell totally knocked me on my ass.  I managed to keep swimming (figuratively, because actually swimming would be not so great for the ear issue) and made it to the end of the semester, but I only made it one week into winter break before I started having issues with my ear again.

2018 — Spring Semester
So here I am, with ear issues not fully resolved.  SIGH.  On a positive note, I’ll be carrying my lightest course-load yet this semester: one in-person class and one online class.  Things will be a bit intense until I complete and submit my dietetic internship application (mid-February at the latest; sooner if I can manage).  Then I sit and wait until match day, April 8, when I will learn my fate.

For those of you not in the field, the process of getting a dietetic internship is very competitive — nationwide, there are only spots for about half of the applicants.  You must complete a dietetic internship to be eligible to become a registered dietitian.  The application and matching process for the internship is similar to what medical students do to find a residency.  Unlike a medical residency, in almost all dietetic internships, you pay tuition for the privilege.

Lest things get boring, Matthew and I signed up to perform in our first aerial student showcase, which is in early April.  While we have built a lot of strength in the last three years, and know a decent number of tricks, the choreography and artistic aspect of performing is completely new to us, so we have a lot of work to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midterm report

It seems like just yesterday that I wrote about going back to school, but here we are, already at midterm week!

School is cool
My classes are going well, and the subject matter is most definitely something that holds my interest, which is a good sign.

So far, my decision to not buy a parking pass seems sound, as I have yet to use the car to get to school (while I’m highly motivated to bike for its own sake, my decision is also reinforced by hearing my classmates complain about how hard it is to find a spot in the parking lot).

On the bike
Speaking of biking, I broke my streak after thirty-two days.  It’s rather a shame, because other than the weekend of September 19-20, I have been on my bike almost every day.

A couple of weeks ago, after a few shorter outings on Apple Jack, we (with G’s input) decided that he/his leg was ready to make the switch from passenger on Big Blue to pedaler on Apple Jack for the school commute.  On Tuesday, I biked with Gabriel to school for the first time (Matthew has been super-bicycle dad for the past month).

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G’s leg
This week also brought another check-in with the orthopedic surgeon.  (It’s always a good sign when you’re well enough to bike to a doctor appointment!)

Since starting back to school the second week of September, G has made huge progress, from more confident walking to running (but not jogging — he is very clear that he doesn’t like to jog) and jumping.  He still walks with a slight limp, but that is expected.  The doctor was pleased with the progress, and everything looked good on the x-ray.  We are tentatively scheduled to have the nails removed in early December.

Speaking of school, time to run!  Last day of classes before a little fall break 🙂