Went for the interview...

Just time only for a quick note to say that the school interview was on Friday. There were 12 of us there and I was there until 1:30pm (started at 8am)

I felt very confident when I left that the interview went great. The program director was a laid-back kind of guy and the other faculty there was a co-worker of mine for the past 7 years.

I knew walking in that I had the most experience at the table and was probably the oldest one there.

The interview was basically about them asking why I wanted to go into anesthesia and how was the support system. It all flowed quite smoothly.

They will let us know this week - I'll write to let you know when I hear anything.

1070!!

That is my score for the test today. Overall, it is just better than half as the total points you can get is 1600. But the college only requires me to get a 1000 and I was over that.

It was a three hour test and I spent the majority of it looking at a computer screen and thinking I was going to do poorly.

At the very end, I was convinced I didn't do well and the computer asks you if you want to know what you got...I have to say yes and when it gave me the score I was shaking.

Keeping my composure was hard, too, was I shaking as I wrapped up the test and tried to get out of the testing center.

What a relief. Next step is an 8 hour interview for me on Friday from 8-4pm. I'll have to let you know how it goes, but after today - I feel pretty good.

More paint drying...

Under the threat of bodily harm (from Bryan) if I don't put away that book, I'm sitting here now watching TV for the first time in a month.

Honestly, I don't know what I'll do with my time after I won't need to be studying that GRE book anymore. I guess I have to actually pick up my pharmacology book and notes to prepare for our first test in a couple weeks.

I have several friends that took this test and told me, like Bryan did, to put the book down today. They say it helps the brain relax.

So, I put it away after dinner and just finished a Khalua and cream. Yummy.

The next time I put log onto here, I'll have a score to share.

Think of me at 9am... send off warm thoughts.

Sunday night...

Isn't waiting for this GRE test to come up like watching paint dry? It is taking FOREVER to get here - yet I don't feel like I'm ready.

I should take that back... I'm as ready as I'll ever be - I just hope it is enough to get me over the top.

I have thought about the gravity of NOT getting the 1000 for a score and how I'll feel when I tell everyone who has been on this journey with me.

You know what? I hold my head high!

Here's how I feel about this whole thing in a nutshell...

I intend to go for the interview regardless of the score. I feel like this is a one time shot for me and the GRE score is NOT an example of how good of a person, nurse or my intelligence.

I plan on walking into the interview and telling them (on Friday) that I'm a great candidate for the program because even though my children are young - they are all easily contained.

I don't have teenagers discovering boys (or girls), I don't have kids dealing with proms and colleges. I don't have kids ready to drive or go out with their friends.

I DO have a great support system of family, neighbors and friends who are all willing to back me up.

I'm lucky to have 4 healthy, robust, and just awesome kids. Living across the street from a child with cancer, I know that me and my family have it good.

If the most I have to REALLY worry about is 'what's for dinner', then I've had a wonderful day, right?

I say that this program doesn't start until August and that they could give us another shot to pass the score... that would be up to them, but they will never know unless they meet me.

I honestly feel like the test score doesn't matter... but it sure would be nice to have it over and mission accomplished.

You can bet on me posting the score here on Tuesday! Please think of me (in prayer) and send off good vibes on Tuesday morning at 9am!!

Two days to go until the big test

I know I'm losing it. I don't think that I've ever studied so hard for a test before and I don't know if it is making any difference.

I have many books and programs for the computer that allow me to practice the test and I have said that I have gotten over 500 for the past week. So, I've been feeling much more confident.

Then, last night at 11pm, I decide to pop in the hardest cd into the computer and take the math portion. I was up until 12am and you know what I got? (remember I need to get 500 points).

I got 300! I don't know if my brain was just fried or if I just don't get this stuff, but now I don't know what to think.

I knocked myself down a few notches on the confidence scale.

All I can do is just in there and do my best. If it isn't good enough - well, lets not discuss that yet!

I just love a good night's sleep.

I have to tell you, that ever since Meredith (#2) was born, I am truly grateful for each night I get a full night's sleep. Since there have been two babies behind her, you know that that isn't often.

There is always someone who needs to get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, or had a bad dream... that I need to put back to bed.

It never fails that the one awake is loud and wakes up any combo of the others and I spend a few minutes each night threatening the ones awake about what will happen to them if they wake up the others. And then I can't fall back asleep.

But last night was quiet in this house. Not a peep was heard!! I slept from 10 to 5:45am. Now I'm enjoying coffee and watching the morning news ALL BY MYSELF!

It just doesn't get any better than this.... I'm grateful.

Finally some winter photos...

Well, not really winter, but it is January!

Meredith finished her soccer season. Life is on hold until after I take that test on Tuesday and go for the interview on Friday.

Finally downloaded some photos.

They are all from the last month... the one of Wade on his new bike is the one that Santa brought him on Christmas morning.

Meredith's soccer photos are obvious, but the one of the group of kids is at Joe's pizza for their pizza party. This is her whole soccer team and her coach (Pete) on the right. The other dad is Willie, who helped out on the field. Which was wonderful because it meant that we all didn't have to run around on the field, ever.

Otherwise, just showing off how cute Paige is.

Yesterday

Spent yesterday home with the two little ones. Neither was sick, I just didn't feel like driving them in.

Paige had drunk her morning bottle and then fell back asleep, which she has never done... so I let her sleep.

Decided instead to watch the whole President Obama thing. It was like watching paint dry... lots of waiting with the camera focused on a limo only to have him walk into the limo and drive off.

I have to admit, that I got choked up when he was being sworn in. Even though he didn't get my vote, it was still watching history being made.

His family looked beautiful, too. Speaking of family - I promise to post photos of mine soon.

Feeling a little better...

...not about the GRE - that is still a gamble (whether or not I'll actually break the 1000 mark.)

But I am feeling better about this schooling. I have a friend who is a CRNA now but we used to work together in the ICU 10 years ago.

I told her about the crazy school schedule the other girl told me about and she basically told me that it doesn't have to be so crazy.

She said that when she went through the program her children were 3 years and the baby was 7 months old. She said that it wasn't easy but that it was just like going to school. Sometimes you have homework but you can be there on evenings and weekends.

One week to go for the GRE. Wade had a sore throat and earache yesterday, so I may need to keep him home and take him to the doctor today. I have to go wake up the kiddies now, hopefully Wade won't be sick.

I really could use the day off to study and shop for clothes that Olivia and Meredith will be wearing for a hip hop performance on Jan 31st.

Gotta run....

Still practicing those tests.

I heard that by practicing the GRE practice tests, my score should start to go up... and it is.

Remember the possible score for each section (verbal and math) is 800 points each side - for a score of 1600. I need to break 1000.

So, the first one I took - I got a 370 on each side (score = 740) NOT GOOD.

Yesterday - I took the math side practice test twice and the verbal side twice.

My scores - math - 470 and 500.

My scores - verbal - 560 and 470.

I'm so close to that mark that I can taste it. It will be a big factor of luck on the day of the test. Luck that I know the words given to me on the verbal side.

One week to go.

What I found out about anesthesia school.

Went to a party this weekend. My friend was throwing an old ICU reunion party and even thought we didn't work on the same units she invited me and my hubby because we always crashed their floor's parties and why stop now?

So, one of the girls at the party was a nurse that used to work on the other ICU unit, who is now in CRNA school. She is in her second year and set to graduate in December of this year.

Of course, I had lots of questions, but mostly about the time that this training requires you to be away from your family.

She was very honest. She told me that for the first year you don't see your family 'at all'. She said that you go to school all day and then meet up with your study group at night until like 10pm

She said that on the weekends, you could meet your study group at 8 am and still be working at 10pm. She admitted that her children were not happy with her for many months.

However, she said that the whole first year is worth it because it does get better the second year. It becomes more like a job and you spend all your time in the hospital - usually from 6am to 6pm, but at least you are at home at night and most weekends.

I also found out that the rumor is that the whole CRNA program will become a doctorate program within the next few years. Which is bad news for anyone wanting to do this in the future, because it means longer schooling.

Any CRNA's already practicing will be grandfathered in.

I'm taking the GRE on the 27th of Jan. and interviewing for the program on the 30th.

It is funny that the next three weeks will predict the next three years in our home.

It is a door I am ready to walk through.... I just have to re-learn algebra for this damn GRE.

There is hope yet

I'm getting so tired of thinking, reading, talking about difficult math. I even had a dream that I was out with friends and started figuring out how long it would take to get somewhere - I actually was saying (in the dream),'Well, the distance is equal to the rate times the time.'

I woke up after I said that, it was enough to scare me that I'm doing too much to pass this stupid test.

Anyway, yesterday, I found a website called 800score.com that allows you to download lots of stuff, including 5 practice tests, for only $25. That is much better than the $600 that my friend spent over at the Kaplan place (tutor site)

I plan on doing that today. My poor Paige. It used to be that I would keep her home with me if I didn't have to work; but this is not an option now.

I need time alone to study. It may be our future.

Went last night to a pizza party for Meredith's soccer season... end of the year. It was nice, but she still has one more game this weekend.

I also have to go to Justice store for Girls to get the girls the shirts they need for a hip hop performance on Jan 31st. They are having a little thing at the school carnival that day and the girls are on at 12:30.

Figures, I have a class that day from 8-12. I'm hoping I get out early enough to make it.

Off to wake up the kids - cold here now. They'll need to bundle up today. Meredith has a field trip to Flamingo Gardens. She have to dress warm.

No more tutor.

Lots of drama, yesterday, about the private tutor thing.

My friend went to the tutoring place, to take her diagnostic test like I did on Saturday. During the test, they interupted her, to let her know that the $$$ quoted for the price of the tutor was incorrect.

They wanted to up the cost to $500 each, original quoted $$$ was $300 each. She called me from the place upset and wanting to know what to do. I was leaving work and headed over there.

Bottom line, they don't have a tutor. They had this whole song and dance about how we really don't have enough time to get the whole impact of the tutor, but they really don't have anyone.

So, my friend spent $600 on their on-line tutor system. No way I can afford that (hello, 4 kids coming off of Christmas and December is when my tax, flood insurance and home owners insurance is all due). We are in the poor house and I refuse to add $600 to a credit card for a thing on the computer.

So, I'm out. I was upset last night... because now I feel like those extra 300 points are not mine to get, but I'm still gonna study and study.

I'll keep you posted.

More books...

Well, after scoring only 740 on a practice test, I decided to hire a private tutor to help get me over that hump of 1000 points on the GRE.

So, I go into the testing area to take another practice test so the tutor can know where I am and what they are dealing with... and my score was 1010!

Go figure.

I'm scheduled to meet with the tutor on Wed. and Thurs. of this week and next to get some coaching on this test.

The actual GRE is on the 27th and I'm scheduled for an interview on the 30th - all depending on my getting the high enough score.

I felt better after I took the second test. At least I know I'm capable of a 1000.

Meanwhile, Bryan is helping out around the house more than ever. I have to admit that he gets the house and kids whipped up and clean, rooms clean and dishes done, kids showered... all in about an hour's time. Show-off.

He's becoming a master at laundry... which is a big help alone. The biggest thing is that he has learned the trick of putting the clothes AWAY as soon as they come out of the dryer. That way I don't come home to two baskets full of clean clothes and him hearing me yell about how I never did that to him.

He is training nicely.

Gotta run... get back to the books - vocabulary, yuck!

study... study... study

OK, so the past few weeks have been filled with Christmas, New Years and books.

In whatever spare time I have, I have been tackling the books for this upcoming GRE exam.

If you are curious about the difficulty of this exam, just google 'GRE sample questions'... you'll see.

Anyway, I need to score at least 1000 out of 1600 to get an interview with the college for this anesthesia school.

After studying for a few weeks, I took a practice exam on the computer... just to see where I am.

I scored a 740! Not good. Took all the wind out of sails.

However, many people have told me that this is only the first time I tried to take the exam on the computer and, if I keep practicing, the score will only go up.

So I'll be doing it daily - I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Also, I started a Pharmacology class on Monday - actually the class will be switched to Friday, starting next week, so I actually have 2 weeks before we meet again.

More time to study for the GRE!!!

Starting school on Monday.

In anticipation of possibly getting in this anesthesia school this August, I let my friend talk me into starting school with her this week.

There are a few classes that we can take outside of the program and we have been advised to do as much as we can before the program starts.

My friend is already accepted. My application is ready (finally) and I'll be sending it out on Monday.

I was surprised at how long it took me to fill out all the paperwork needed for this application. It was 10 pages of questions and I needed to write out a letter of intent, plus a ciriculuum vitae, which is really just a very detailed resume.

When I wasn't typing this out, I've been studying for the GRE test.

I don't know for sure that I'm going to pass this test. It is super hard and loaded with stuff that I don't think I ever knew.

All I can hope for is that I'll guess write on the questions I don't know. I'm taking it on Jan27th.

I'll keep you posted, but after this weekend, I'll also have Pharmacology homework to be studying for, so I'll be busy.

Monday nights now will have me working from 8 - 4, then climbing into the car and heading down to Miami for this class 6-9. They do offer the same class on Fridays too, and we are hoping that the teacher will allow us to attend the Friday one.

We'll see... hope I remember how to be a good student.

Boys are so much different than girls

It is funny how throughout each day, I must think of a million of things to write about on this blog. Something the kids say or do will strike me funny and I make a mental note to write it here... and then I forget it.

So, I must share this...

Yesterday, after Wade took a bath (and was washed by both his sister, Meredith and myself) I was alone with him in his room getting him dressed.

As I'm bent over holding a pullup for him to place his feet in, he is busy looking at the tip of one of his fingers. I notice that there is a small, greenish ball on the end of his finger and he is rolling it around.

So, I say to him...'Wade, what is that?'

He says...'It's a booger.'

Thinking that I hadn't seen him pick his nose I asked him where is was from.

He answered...'From my butt'

I was like - EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Girls would never have done that. I don't think they enjoy picking things out of their behinds.

Boys are just so different.