My first Level I Fieldwork: Pediatrics

I am happy to announce that I have completed my  first Level I fieldwork. I honestly love the learning process. I choose to complete my fieldwork a week before class started. It was a great fit for me. I just emailed a friend that I met at the recent AOTA conference about my experience, and I wanted to share some of my insight that I emailed her about with you. 

I wrote, "I went to (Blank) Children's Hospital for a week and I really enjoyed seeing a variety of diagnosis and treatments. I was able to see constraint induced therapy, which I really liked. I learned the true meaning of Psycosocial and how it applies to practice. I was able to lead a session while there, and boy was I ready to break down and cry like my two year old daughter. I felt that my fears of not knowing what I was doing took over and I froze up. My fight or flight really took over that session. However, I learned a very valuable skill since coming home... "fake it til you make it!" (as long as no one is getting hurt). By doubting myself, I prevented my ideas to flow. I had heard my teachers say that OT's are able to succeed from trial and error. When I was in that hour session with that child, I complete forgot that key point. I was actually on the right path because until I get more knowledge in practice, I will be trying what works and what doesn't. Even when I have years of experience, I will still continue to enhance my clinical reasoning skills. So for my next level I, which starts on the 30th in Neuro Rehab, my goal is to accept the challenge of feeling lost and try more interventions with confidence that I am on the track for "something", since it may be the wrong intervention initially. However, I would still be on track for my own personal learning and growth. I am really excited to start my next level I to continue to grow as a therapist. "

After coming home, I learned how to improve during my next Level I. I found this great article titled "Top 12 Things You Should Know for Your Fieldwork" by Miss Awesomeness that addressed everything that I felt that I could improve on. Reading the article made me feel better  about my "learning curves" from my first Level I because now I know that I am not the only one who makes these mistakes.  Please visit her article:

http://missawesomeness.com/top-12-things-you-should-know-for-your-fieldwork/ 

Another point that I realized in my pediatric course, is that some of the information I learned carries across the ages. Such as the proper head postural for feeding a child and an adult would be a slight chin tuck to prevent aspiration. Food thickness also applies across the ages in reference to feeding.

Even though I have 5 kids, I do not believe that I want to work in pediatrics. As far back as I can remember I babysat and worked as a bus monitor for a Pre-School. Then when I turned 16, I worked in Montessori and daycare facilities. I worked in daycare facility until I had my oldest. When I had my oldest, who turned 12 yesterday, I said that I wanted to enjoy being with him. I did not want to work with kids all day and then come home and not fully enjoy my baby. I am not saying that it can not be done or that people do not do it everyday, it is not something that I wanted. Since then, I have not worked with kids, but I never know, I can always change my mind.

Overall, I had a great session and I am going to take the information that I learned about fieldwork to enhance myself for the next one. 

Thanks for reading my post. I am hoping the best for all of you! HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why every student should attend an AOTA Conference**Pics included**

My top reasons why every student should attend an AOTA Conference:

1. It is the ultimate prep rally because you see how we are impacting the lives of others! MOTIVATIONAL!
    During the Welcoming Ceremony,at the 94th AOTA conference, we were given the pleasure to hear from three soldiers who lost limbs in the current war due to bomb accidents. I want to apologize for not being able to remember all of the soldiers name. Travis, was quad amputee, Tim, lost both lower limbs and servery damaged his right arm, and the other gentleman, lost both lower limbs and one of his arms. All of the soldiers talked about how OT gave them their lives back.
   Travis said that when he had his accident, his wife just had their first baby and he wondered how was he going to be able to hold his daughter and how was he going to be an active father. He mentioned, thanks to Assistive Technology, he only needs his wife for 2 seconds each morning to put on his legs and he does everything else. He said how happy he was that he was able to DRIVE from Texas to state on the east coast (I forgot which state it was). He said that OT taught him everything he needed to be able to live a life that he did not know was possible.
    Tim mentioned that after his accident, he thought his life was over. He said all his dreams went down the drain; however, with OT he found that he has a really loves singing. He said that he has opened many concerts for quite a few famous bands such as Pink Floyd! He said not only did OT give him his life back but OT also saved his life because it helped him find a purpose.
    To hear these three men talk about how OT has been with them every step of the way made my heart jump out of my chest. I thought, I knew it! I am special. I am in a career that is helping someone who has no limbs to drive across the country, a career that gave a man a voice, a career that is helping a person who does not look like everyone else on the outside to feel amazing like "a regular person" on the inside! Man! OT's and their(the patients) own motivation got them there. WE ARE A PART OF THAT! I just feel thankful for being able to hear those testimonies.

This is my photo bomb with the soldiers and their OT. 

    Also, I learned how important it is to remain a member of AOTA. AOTA can only take legislative concerns to Capital Hill for their members. For example, if there are 130,000 OT's and only 1,000 of those OT's are members of AOTA, then when AOTA representatives go to Capital Hill, they can only speak for 1,000 members. There is power in numbers. Just think if we could have 35% of OT's registered with AOTA, how much more of an impact we will have to help patients get the services that they need.The numbers given at the conference for OT's were larger and the number of AOTA members were SMALLER. On a uplifting note, the president announced that a percentage of our membership fee will now go towards research.

2. It was soooooo INFORMATIONAL.

    I was able to attend many short courses and seminars. I really liked the Health Literacy seminar that I attended. I learned that there are standardized test for health literacy. Some test are long and others are short. One test that I thought was interesting was reading a nutritional label. The label includes mathematics and reading, which are both needed for health literacy. I read labels a lot, but when it came to doing the math, such as a person can not have 2 gr of sodium, and having to break down the portion size then do some other stuff, I thought wow! I can see how a person can become overwhelmed and not complete reading the remaining part of the instructions for fear that the rest will be just as frustrating.

    I learned that when writing documentation for patients, we should make sure to check the reading level. We should make sure that the reading level is no higher than 8th grade, since most people drop out of school in high school and some of those people may not be able to understand 8th grade reading level. The seminar encouraged us to ask questions to assure the client understands what is going on; however, when we ask questions we should put the burden on ourselves. Such as, "Did I explain everything clearly? What can I explain better? Can you help me understand what I can explain better?" We should make sure to ask question so that the client does not feel inadequate or feel embarrassed for not understand.

    I also appreciated how the conference helped tie in the concepts that I was learning in class to practice. I heard the words like "Occupation based", "Psychosocial", "Research", and "Ataxia"over and over again. When I thought I would never have to do anything with research again, I heard about finding the mean, showing significance in almost every seminar. I did not feel lost. I was like, OOOOH this is why it is important to pay attention in class because the numbers really do mean something. LOL. Then I thought about my Neuroscience class when another seminar was talking about the cerebellum, limbic tagging, and sensory. I was thankful that my school did a good job in instilling concepts in the first part of our course. I did not feel as lost or confused as I may have if I had not had those classes. I have learned to appreciate the learning process even more, thanks to the conference.

3. The Expo was FUN. FREE STUFF!

    The Expo had so many vendors, employment agencys, schools, Assistive Technology, food, and more.  It was like a little OT smoorgish board. Too much fun. Plus good networking.

All the items I received from the conference. Including 11 bags, 3 shirts, a roll of dysim, a weighted spoon handle, a tube of bio freeze, hand strengthening tools, an auto graphed key chain from Claudia Allen (the inventor of the Allen Cognitive test) and much more. By the way, none of my clothes are in the suite case.

My imaginary bubble bath. The ball pit had lights the light up on the bottom. Very since for sensory. On the sensory profile I am a Seeker, SO I loved this!

The NBCOT booth hired this amazing man who made balloon animals. You should have seen the line. I was to receive one. He was only there for one day!

3. The COST.

    As a student we get a lower rates on the conference entrance fee.

Overall, I had a blast. I am soooo thankful to have had the opportunity to attend this year's conference. I have hoping to be able to attend next year's conference. I have started some fundraising to help with the cost. If you are interested in helping me attend my last AOTA conference as a student, please go to http://www.gofundme.com/8o6qgs . Every little bit helps. I deeply appreciate it. 

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

I am hoping the best for all of you!

My last day at conference. I volunteered as a Room Monitor in two seminars.

Visualize Success

Guess what today is????? It is the last day of my Movements class. From what I have learned by speaking with other OTS, is that it is the Kinesiology class in other schools. I am so thankful that my teacher for the class has amazing energy. He was balance with being entertaining and professional. I just loved him. He already has our final grades up for the class. I am soooooo bumped that the information that I learned in this class just seemed to click. In my other classes, I left like I had to work really hard. This class felt like my cup of tea. The book explained concepts in "occupation based" terminology. I was able to see why it was so important to know about proper shoulder ADDuction and scapular protraction, etc. When I think about it, a client cannot reach across their body to turn the page of a newspaper if they do not have the proper ROM, range of motion.

To be honest, I am not sure if it is just because I loved the class or if it is because I visualized my success in the program. Like I have mentioned in other post, my Anatomy class was very challenging in a good way. The teacher I had for the class was very thorough. I can see how the information that I learned in that class carries over into my Movements class. I feel that if I had not had a good foundation from her class, I may have struggled in this class. The two classes go hand in hand. First I learned about the muscles and what they do. Then I learned about how those muscle allow clients to function in their daily life. When I finished my Anatomy class, I told myself that I am already a graduated OT. I figured if I could pull through that class with all the studying and application, then I must have it. I started visualizing myself putting on my cap and grown and saying my appreciation speak to my husband. I feel like I am good to go now. I am not saying I think the remainder of the program is going to go as smooth as this session has been for me, but I am saying I feel more confident that I will make it to graduation and I will be a great OT. I can do this. WE CAN DO THIS. I see it in my minds eye and I feel it in my heart. To think, in 3 more months I will have one whole year of OT school under my belt. Man that feels good.

On Monday, I will be heading to Columbus, OH for my first Level I which is Peds. This will be the only time that I will be able to travel out of state to do a whole week of Fieldwork opposed to going on every Tuesday. I am excited.  YAY! I made it to LEVEL I!

I have not forgotten to tell you all about my first AOTA conference. I am really hoping to write about it this weekend!

Hoping the best for all of you. I am thankful that I feel confident about my education right now. What are you thankful for about your OT journey?

I'm going to my first AOTA Conference

YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Today I took my last practical for my anatomy class. Guess what??????? I nailed it. I got a 45/50. I am so thankful. Again, thanks so much to my lovely reader Jennifer, who recommended that I get the Netter's flash cards. They were awesome. They were the same pictures that my teacher used for her power points. My visual memory is really good, so the cards were a life saver. I am so thankful to make it though this session. I end up getting a B in the class. BAM! Many people struggled this session, but WE DID IT! THANK GOODNESS!

Some advice when taking an anatomy class:
First, I found it very helpful to use "The Anatomy Coloring Book". I actually bought two. I bought both books used on Amazon. The first book I purchased was the first edition. From the reviews that I read, medical students use the book. The book it EXTREMELY detailed. I had to make sure my colored pencils were sharp when I colored the plates (illustrations). Each plate comes with information on what you are coloring, attachment sites, what impairments can occur in the area AND where and how to palpate on yourself.  I was amazed. I lost the first edition in my disorganized mess, so I bought another one. I bought the third edition this time. I liked the first edition so much, I wanted to know what could they have improved on. They improved the organization of the book. It had the bones together, skeletal muscle together, etc. In the first edition, it had sections broken into upper limb, lower limb, thorax, etc. Depending on your learning style, that might matter to you. I just loved the book. I said each muscle's name as I colored them.  I read out loud. I had to use ALL of my senses to get this information to stick.

Secondly, I would recommend the Netter cards. The illustrations were great. Along with the origin and insertions and nerve innervation.... the whole kit and kaboodle. Loved those cards.

Lastly, rewrite or type the teacher's power points or presentations along with your notes. I rewrote my teacher's power points and notes onto flash cards. Everyone has different learning styles; however, if you can use as many senses as you can to help you retain the information, i.e using different color pens (because the brain LOVES COLOR), then do it.

I made it through. Thanks goodness.

On to my additional excitement! I will be attending the 94th AOTA conference in Baltimore, Maryland. I signed up to be a volunteer and I was chosen. My university requires each student gets 30 volunteer hours during the course of our 30 month program. I thought it would be a great opportunity to get in some hours, so I signed up in January. I received an email about two weeks ago asking if I could volunteer on Saturday. I still have to pay for my own trip and getting into the conference, but I will be fulfilling some course requirements and learn some good information. I am excited. I found a roommate, bought my plain ticket, and bought the 4 day registration. Plus, I get a little away time. HA! I have reviewed the programs for each day. I plan on going to the Mindfulness workshop. I really believe that mindfulness is very beneficial activity that most people can do, especially with practice and dedication. Needless to say, this is an area in my life that I am still working on. Sometimes I forget that I need to practice mindfulness in high stress times.

I am on break for the rest of this week and start taking only one class next session. These are our fieldwork classes. YES! I MADE IT! My next class is Movements. I hear it is very similar to my anatomy class, so I will be reviewing all of the information that I learned over the last 6 weeks this week to help me prepare for the next class. Time is going by so fast. I honestly forgot that it was just last session that I had Neuroscience. I knew I had it, but I feels like it was months ago.

I appreciate you for sharing my journey and I hope the best for all of you out there!

New Beginnings

Don't you just love the fact that every session is a new beginning to start all over and try to learn from the challenges that you have over came? I do! I feel that each new session is another chance to learn how to remain calm and pace myself. Monday was our first day back to class; however, we had a snow storm come through here so our first day of class was canceled.  On Tuesday I was able to have a surprise baby shower for my classmate. Sadly, this is the last session that she will be with us before having her baby. She was really surprised and really appreciated it. I was very happy.

This session I have anatomy and a condition class. Yesterday in my Anatomy class we were able to see the cadaver. Due to HIPPA, I cannot say anything more than that.  With my sessions being 6 weeks long, the class moves at a fast pace. We have already covered the muscles of the face and neck in two days. I bought a coloring book to help me retain the information, but class moves so fast that I have not been able to get into it because we have a work book that goes along with our course book that I fill out nightly. I not complaining about the class. I know that anatomy is one of my weak areas. If the class was slower, I would still think it was fast. I think this will be a great class. I like that the teacher has a sense of humor. It makes the class a little easier.

Today was actually my first day of the conditions class. Today we mainly went over the syllabus and talked about what we are going to cover in the class. We will be really getting to know conditions that our clients deal with, people first langue, and ADA. I am really excited about this class because I want to really know what my clients are facing.

I am about to read these two chapters for my Conditions test tomorrow. I am hoping the best for you. Goodnight!

I wanna be L.A.Z.Y

Good evening!!!!!!!! I am super excited because I am on break from school this week. I finished Neuroscience and Psychosocial last Friday. Our University had a Vision and Action Conference that Friday. At the Vision and Action Conference, the graduation class chooses a topic from their Level II fieldwork that they would like to research more, such as Fibromyalgia. Then they give interventions, causes, prognosis, and statistics for the diagnosis. Practitioners from the communicate are able to attend the conference to receive CE credits. It was really amazing. My cohort had to make Mind Maps based on Eleanor Slagle articles. The impairments that was in my group's article was Schizophrenia and TBI. We had to incorporate what we had learned from Neuro, to what we read in the article. Our article mainly talked about the benefits of OT in the mental healthcare settings, which went hand in hand with what we had learned in our Psychosocial class. From what you will see in the picture below are the major concepts we learned in Neuro and then branches that go into specific details about each topic.

During lunch at the Vision and Action Conference we presented our boards and the information from our article to by passers. Our board received many visitors. They said that they loved the colors, which is another thing we learned in Neuro, that the brain loves color. That was another bonus that we were able to include into our presentation. Neuro was a very interesting class. I can tell you that I loved my brain before, but now.... I REALLY love my brain and I am really thankful for it and want it does. Another successful class.

I have to start off by saying that I LOVE PSYCHOLOGY! I feel that Psychology is a very powerful field. My Psychosocial class was really amazing as well. We were able to look at mental health through the eyes of an OT. Each week we had a different group present a condition, tell its prognosis and perform an activity with the class that would work on a specific impairment. My group had Eating Disorders and our impairment was self esteem. We preformed a skit of an eating disorder group talking about anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating (eating disorder-NOS). Our activity was called "I am..." were we had the class break into small groups and list 5  I am's about themselves. The purpose of the activity was to give affirmation that would remind them how great they are. Then we asked different people questions like "Was it hard to come up with these  I am's? Do you think differently about anyone in the group after they shared? etc."

Overall, I find myself each session in the same place each we and that is FREAKING OUT! LOL. At times I feel overwhelmed because I go to class from 8 am to 2:30 pm. I pick up the baby from daycare then come right home and have to be at work from 4 pm to 10 pm, just to go to bed and do it all again. I also work 6 days a week. I worry if I studied enough? Does my kids know I love them? Did I get enough rest? The questions go on  and on, but at the end of every session, AFTER it is all said and done, I look back and think, "Why was I freaking out because I did just fine?" I am learning to not create so much stress in my life because I come through every semester passing my classes. My teacher who taught my Psychosocial and Research class was a student at my school a few years ago. He always reminds me that everything will be OK. In those moments, I do not see it as that, but in the end...... he was right. It always works out.

So this week..... I have been laaaaaaaaazzzzzzyyyyy. The baby and I have been laying in the bed watching cartoons all day. I have been able to help the kids with their homework, which I have not been able to do for a while. I have also been reading Bible stories to my daughter at night. I have to admit that being lazy feels sooooooo good and I like it. It is not just any ordinary lazy either. My lazy is Loving, Amazing, Zealous, and enjoYable every minute because I love being able to spend this time with my family!

I am thankful that I made it through another session. I did it! YAY! Thank you for taking out the time to read my post.

I am hoping the best for all of you out there!

How are classes you ask?

First off, I need to tell you how excited I was to be able to attend Beyonce's 100th show in Louisville, KY, on the 12th. I have been a die hard Beyonce fan since I was 15!.15 years of loyalty! I am also critical of her too, so I feel that I look at her with a human lens opposed to a stalker lens. I went with my hubby and we originally had nose bleed section seats that I paid $144 for each, but we were able to talk a guy into giving us wrist bands to be on the FLOOR! I was standing so close to her that I felt her fans blowing my hair! MAN! I am thankful again! I have had these tickets since they went on sale back in July. I was really looking forward to that night. It was great. I was able to get some solo time with the hubby and I was able to see my favorite singer of ALL TIME! Queen Bey.

My neuro class has been pretty interesting. It is a lot of information. I have so many questions, but since we are in six week session we are not able to get to EVERYTHING that I want to know. Most of the topics we are covering are sensory, such as vestibular, somatosensory, vision, etc. I am starting to be able to put the pieces together about how our body if full of receptor sites that allows our cortex to perceive what is going on in our environment. We have smaller receptor sites for areas that receive more detailed information and larger receptor sites of other areas where we integrate information. I thought it was very interesting how vision is a big part of balance. I may have heard it before; however, when I am learning it for a skill, it has a whole other meaning. We have talked a lot about neural networks, how our brain is very plastic with an emphasis on if we do not have our clients use their skills then they will lose them. Oh, another aspect that I found very interesting was about when peripheral nerves grow back, one of the main task of sensory integration is to desensitize the nerves because the new pathways are highly sensitive to a point where the client can be sensing pain or discomfort. The is the best part of learning is that we always creating new neural pathways and are constantly become better person.

My psychosocial class is........... abnormal psych. We did read a book called "A Curious Dog in the Night Time" which was awesome. It was the story about a teenage boy who has autism. He strives to write his own mystery and tries to be placed in an A level math class. The book did a really good job on capturing the behaviors and thought patterns of someone on the autism spectrum. It is a good read. Other than that...... it is another abnormal psych class.

I will return to class on January 6 to finish my last 3 weeks of class. I am looking forward to this two week break. I will more likely try to do some reading to be prepared for when I return to class next year! Time really flies. I am still learning how to take one day at a time and enjoy every moment with my family and to try not rush for graduation because that would mean that my time with my kids is gone. I am just appreciating everything as it is. I have to remember that when I am freaking out about class. LOL

I am hoping the best for all of you!

Back in Session

I hope everyone had a good Gobble Gobble Day! We had a blast. We stayed in and watched movies all day. Well... I fell asleep on some of them. I was tired. LOL. Today is my hubby's birthday. I am really blessed to have this man in my life. I did not have a stable father in my life. He is an amazing husband, father and friend. I have never been loved the way this man loves me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GISBY!

Class started back on Monday. I have a really good feeling about this session. I have Neuroscience and Psychosocial. This week was an introduction to the classes. I did learn what FAOTA means. It is a person that has earner a high regard in the OT community. They have to be nominated for some achievement that they have made. My school has 3 of those members on staff. My teacher, Dr.Laura Strickland is one of the members. She was one of the people who opened the OT program at Spalding University. Her husband, who is the Dean of the program, is a member along with another teacher on staff. Dr. Laura LOVES her some neuroscience. You should see her eyes light up as she talks about the class. I am looking forward to learning from her over the next 7 weeks. My first neuro quiz opened online tonight. I have to complete that by Monday. Our second test is next Monday. I have been making a list of my readings that I need to get through. Dr. Laura recommends not read the text like a novel. She said to skim it to get the main points. She also had us complete a learning style assessments so that she can accommodate everyone in the class. I really appreciate that she takes a real interest in my learning. It makes me feel like she want me to succeed in the program. Oh by the way, in January, ACOTE is coming to do our accreditation. My teachers had to make sure to fit our course material around them coming because I take it at they need the teachers on those 2 days.

In my Psychosocial class, we have been watching documentary's on mental illnesses. I am looking forward to seeing how this class will turn out because I really like Psychology and this class seems very close to Abnormal Psychology.

That is how my week has been so far. I am still feeling so thankful to be in this program, but I am on count down to my first Level I Fieldwork which starts in May!

Hoping the best for all of you!

OT School is NO JOKE!

I finished my last session on Thursday. This has been a very rough session for me. I have had some emotional break downs, some body changes, fear, anxiety, you name it I had it. And to think this is only my second session out of 18. My teachers were really great supporters. They encouraged me and reassured me that I was not alone in what I was feeling. I can thankfully say that it is over. I can breath and give thanks for making it through. When I say last session was ROUGH, IT WAS ROUGH. I'm telling you that I FAILED 2 TEST! I never recall failing a test in my life! Due to some chemical imbalances.....my body went on auto pilot the first half of the session. I left like I was completely losing myself. Then on top of that, my job decided that they are no longer going to work with me on my school schedule. They basically told me that by December I need to decide what I am going to do. School or work? That was a very hard decision because my income is the highest in my household. I was hoping to keep working until January 2015. Sometimes life does not go as planned. I have to be honest with you... I flipped my wig when that happened too. I thought, "I have 4 kids, a house, a husband, and school feels I need to take care of. What am I going to do now? What about insurance for the kids? How are they going to eat?" After talking it over with my teachers and my spouse, I have to put school first. School is for a bigger vision, not just something short term which work would be. I would be leaving at some point anyways. I just do not know what I am going to do about health insurance when the time comes because I have a little baby. Hhhhhh...... I have to let the higher powers take over from here. If someone had told me that I would have this MUCH change in a short 6 week period, I would have never believed them. I have to say again... I am thankful that I made it through. Thankfully in the last two weeks I was able to pull everything back together. I was able to get back to myself. I was able to ace both of my finals on Thursday. The test are very challenging. Because my teacher had questions on there where ALL of the answers were correct, but I had to chose the best answer. Man that was difficult. I still do not know which one was that best answer. I pulled through with B's in both classed. My Theory's and Research classes. In case you were wondering.... in my program you can only get 1 C. Not like I want one. I about flipped my wig when I got B's. One of my amazing teachers told me that when I go for my NBCOT it would not matter if I got an A or B because what matters is that I know the material and I pass. A light bulb went off. He is right. No one really knows my grades but me. My employers won't know. Nothing says I have to have an A to sit for the NBCOT.  So I strive for an A and to learn the material, but if I get a B, I am thankful I was successful because a B is still a success!

Overall... I have to say this over and over again I am thankful that I made it through. I am more amazed with myself as I go through this journey because I keep learning more and more about myself. When I was younger, I thought that by time I would be 30 I would know myself and would be at a point in my life where everything would be smooth sailing. I have found out other wise. I am always changing for the better and I am always willing to learn something new about what this world has in store for me.

I appreciate you for sharing in this journey with me. I am hoping the best for all of you out there!

Occupational Therapy Student 1st session complete!

Yay! I completed my first session and as an OTS yesterday. The final was harder than all of his other exams. I have him again next session so I guess he is showing us what his "real" test will be like. He said that he graded down, which means to make something easier, in this class. He said next class he will be grading up, making something more difficult, to show us how test really our throughout our the of the program. This class was soooo fun and awesome. I am thankful to be in class with the ladies and gentlemen.

My meaning occupation activity that I did knitting, Boy was it difficult  to learn because there are times when you knit and the front and knit in the back. Then my needles came out of all the loops so I have to start over. Even counting the 2 Knit Stitch to 2 Purl Stitch I got confused. I missed counted then tried to fix it by only doing 1 of each stitch. Ha HA HA! That did not go so well. I learned to knot from YouTube. I thought it was a pretty basic tutorial for someone like myself, but then I found myself using other clips on YouTube just to understand what I was supposed to do. I can proudly say that I have completed my cowl and I am trying to figure out how to put my presentation on here for you guys to see.

My next classes are Research and Theory's. I am looking forward to learn more about this amazing field that I have gotten into,

I am hoping the best for all of you out there.

Here are the videos that I made to show my Meaningful Occupation Activity
My my knitting progress

My presentation video

Occuapational Therapy Framework

Good morning friends. It's cracking me up that I am blogging more since I am in school. I was REALLY relaxing when I had no classes over the summer. As week two of school comes to an end, I have been working on writing my first paper on the Occupational Analysis of rock climbing. It was indoor occupation. It was a fun  "Leisure occupation" and my classmate were awesome. It is Leisure according to the Framework because it was a spontaneous activity and only kids Play. I have to admit that I was really scared because the wall was so tall and I would only be supported my a bungee cord attached to another person at the bottom. I was not sure if that other person could hold my weight, etc.,  the list just goes on and on. Ultimately, my lesson was to let go and trust the process. I tell you, the next day I was soooore! My forearms, legs, and shoulders, but a good calorie burn.

Me going up!

These two were taken not to far from the ground. I did make it to the top and rang the bell. Coming back down was the hard part.

Monday is our first exam. It will be over the Framework, History of OT, and Therapeutic Relationships. Dr.Leder said that the test mainly consist of Framework since that is an important aspect of OT. I feel fairly confident about this test. He said that he will post grades the same day. I have attended 3 study groups. Since we like each other so much, we go off on tangents at times. I have to say something pretty load to get back on track. I love the study groups because it allow me to understand things we are learning from class in a different perspective. Our groups have been fairly large 5-10 people. Some people do not like large study groups. My thought is, as long as I'm studying and can look up and ask someone else a question about my concerns then, hey! I'm there. Well, I am going to get back to studying now. 

I am hoping the best for all you our there!

FINALLY GOT PICTURES UP!!!!

After 6 attempts to get my pictures to my email, they finally came through this morning.

 This was our first ice breaker we had before orientation. It was so awesome. We meshed so beautifully. First impressions are very important! This was a great one!

Me in uniform for first day of class/ orientation!

Our brackets we made during orientation to unit us!

I HAVE A NAME!!!!!! and OTS after it!!!! YAY!!!!!! 

Our second ice breaker before orientation!

Lunch after orientation!

Oh and guess what? We have 6 guys in our cohort! Dr. Leader said that this is the first time that they have had this many men in one cohort.

First week of OT school DONE!

This has been such a fun week. This week started off with orientation. We met our teachers for the next 30 months. One thing I like about OT is that you see people from all walks of life in this profession. As my teachers introduced themselves and explained when we would be in their class, I saw the "funny" teacher, the "calm" teacher, the "high energy" teacher, the "monotone" teacher and so on. I really like that OT's do not have one type personality. I love the fact that most of my teachers are still in the working field, they still have a full case load and are full time teachers. It is love when someone can work TWO full time jobs AND are passionate about both of them. We learned that our "journey" is like kayaking(teachers, education and peers) down the Ohio River(journey) where we encounter all kinds of obstacles, but the kayak has what we need to keep moving forward on the journey safely. We also made cohort brackets that was a class building exercise. Most of the people in our class had already met because we had already attended two get togethers to break the ice. After orientation some of us went out for lunch.

The actual lecture started on Tuesday. Our professor, Dr. Leader, is the "funny" teacher. He started us off right! We had our first group presentation on Wednesday. It was something that Dr. Leader did on the spot. He said he had never done this particular group presentation before. Each group had to present different parts of OT history. The catch was, which we did not know until we were going up to present, that our audience was a group of high school students that we had to keep engaged. We all started off rough, but once Dr. Leader showed us that he wanted a "theatrical" presentation, each group got better. Today we ended on OT framework. What I got out from that is that what we do,the framework, is based on how we bill the insurance company so we can get PAID! So I have this in mind, if I am wrong can someone please correct me because I am still learning.... Framework= Billable guidelines! Our first test in next Monday, and we already have 4 days of study groups set. We also delegated class representative.

Then my class went out for lunch again after class. Unfortunately I had to work, so I did not get so go.  I have already seen pictues of the fun they had. They also started a softball team tonight too. They named themselves The Regal Eagles. They went out for diner again after their game. THEEEEEEENNNNNN...... we have made a schedual to start running on the weekends together. I am not a runner soooo we will see how that goes. Right now, we are one big happy family! I am thankful for being here with all these amazing people.This was a great way to kick off my OT education.

I am hoping the best for all of you out there!

P.S
I'm still trying to get the pictures from my phone to my email so I can post them!

I'm Loving IT!

Hello dear friends. I started back to school on Monday. All I can say is that school  IS AWWWWEEESOME! I am so thankful to be going through this journey. Let me tell you, when I received my bill from school this summer with the amount of tuition that was still due, I freaked out because I did not know how I was going to come up with that money. I thought my journey was about to come to a fast halt. Like a night in shinning armor, my husband cashed out his 401k to pay for my college. He said to me , "Na' (that's what he calls me) this is no joke! You are going to have to get serious and succeed at this!" I wanted to cry because I did ask him to do that nor did I know he was going to do that! I have to say how blessed I am to have a MAN who literally would give the world to make my dreams come true. So a big shout out to my husband for making sure that I continued on my path of success.

I want to quickly remind people to make sure that they give back to their community in any way possible because I am thankful that I received an scholarship from the Paul Olge Foundation here in Indiana (I wrote a blog entry on the amazing organization last year. If you have the time please read it because the history of the foundation it truly incredible.). I also want to thank the Catherine Spalding Foundation for their scholarship this school year. Enough of the Grammy Thanks You's.

I have been trying to upload pictures from my first day as an Occupational Therapy student; however, the email isn't posting to my blog. Hopefully I can get those pictures up soon for you to see how fun it was! I must say I have also been blessed to have fun, focused, and successful people in my cohort! One of my classmates said to me that we have already did the hard part with trying to get in the program, now we need to start feeling like each and everyone of us deserve to be here because we were chosen out of hundreds of people. That's when a light bulb went off! She was right! I tend to freak out about if I am good enough to stay in the program since I have heard that people get dropped for grades? After watching that TED Talk broadcast of Fake it Til You Become it (it's one of my blog entries if you would like to watch it), I feel like I am getting some good energy everywhere I turn now. It's like BAM in you face! BAM in your face! THIS IS YOUR JOURNEY! THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE! All I can say is how thankful I am that I am keeping my eyes wide open and I am willing to receive all great opportunities in my life! Have you ever felt just so thankful for something that your heart just feels moved by every great opportunity that comes your way? I just feel too blessed to be stressed. Literally! I did some studying last night. Normally I panic about making sure I remember it all for the test, but I just feel like everything I am learning is meant to be. So why should I stress about the test when I should be enjoying this moment right now?

I know this was a long post but I had soooo much to say. I want to THANK YOU for reading this and those who have followed me, THANK YOU for believing in me. Even though I may not know you personally, you gave me good energy to succeed too. THANK ALL OF YOU!

I am hoping the best for all of you out there!

Fake it til you become IT!

Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are #TED : http://on.ted.com/hgno

I did not know anything about TED talks until my Communication class I had a few sessions ago. Since I have had the summer off, something has been calling me to watch it. Today I took the time and watched some videos. I am the type of person who believes in the meta-physical world, which is, we create our lives by our belief system, the conscious AND the unconscious. Watching this talk, something clicked within me! "If I believe I create my world, why am I not confident about my decision? Why am I  doubting myself and my path?" Boom! Because that is how I am ACTING! By no means am I saying to someone that you nor I deserve bad things. I am saying if I don't like the way it is now why don't I change it? I thought to myself, "because I do not know how to act differently." These behaviors are basically habits that I have created. So know that I realize this, I know something has got to change.

Needless to say...... I'm about to fake it til I BECOME IT! I do deserve self confidence, which for me is a foundation for everything else that I want to personally achieve. It's a great talk!

I hope you enjoy it and I am hoping the best for all of you! ; )

Summer Off

I finished my last bachelor classes on the 17. Thank goodness. I will have no more classes until I start the program August 26. I ended with a B in both classed. All these B's are affecting my GPA. From what I calculate, if I want to graduate with a GPA over a 3.6, I need to have A's in 85% of my OT classes. So here is to hoping.

I finished my CPR certification last Saturday. All I need to do is to complete my Medical Terminology course. I am hoping to get to it next week. I still have my last Hep B shot to get in October; however, I can load my titre results and other shot records up to school. I need to join my school's OT association and get  shirts that have my schools logo on them. I met two students in K.I.T.E this week that said they will give me their shirts to use. So I am happy that I am saving money on that.

This week I am volunteering for K.I.T.E again. K.I.T.E is a program that my school's enTech offers kids with disabilities throughout the year. I am actually working with two kids. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. My kid in the morning has autism and my afternoon kid has ADHD and sensory processing disorder. Both of the kids are soooo smart and loving. My afternoon kid told me yesterday that he loves me so much and kissed me on my shoulder. Then he asked me, "who is my big girl?" I said, "Me." Then it hit me.... why did I just answer this 6 year old? I was in shock at my  reaction. I just answered this little kid. He is the sweetest kid! I find myself not wanting this week to end. :(

I am hoping the best for all of you out there. If any of you have an instagram and would like to follow my journey, you can make a request to blaquedimondgmailcom.

I miss you guys

I have been seriously slacking the las few weeks. There has not been a thought in my mind that I have forgotten to blog and to keep my fellow friends update. I do have some really food news. I received two Scholarships that will help me pay for my $29,0000 tuition for new year. I felt and am so thankful for that . All together I receive $7200. Just typing it makes me want to sing praises. I am so thankful for that. I have also reached my loan age rate limit so now it have to really get my credit together now. Because I am calculating another $52,000 to finish the program. I am praying that me goal in becoming a Occupational therapist is in god's will.

I just rescued a cane corso for the shelter and I am planning to make him a therapy dog. His first train to be a good citizen is next week! Yey Jimmy. He is 7 and has the best temperament. My 18 month old lays on him. He is as sweet as what ever your favorite sweet thing is.

My classes this session have been soooo fun. I have been able to look at English in a way they want I would not have thought of before with my Textually class. Poetry and smooth writing in same story. AWESOME! Very nice and entertaining. Then my art class, which I thought would be art has turned into a performance class. Boy do I love drama and skits. It has been so fun. Next week is the last class for art and next  Monday the last class for my English class. I have to admit.... I love this journey that I am o ,and I am thankful that I get to experience this with the ones I live, my family.

Hoping the best for all of you out there.

THE END OF MY BA CLASSES!!!!!!!!

I finished my last session with a B in my Dram class and an A in my Communication class. I felt like I need to pick up my pace a little, so I started a new aromatherapy regimen called Brain Power from the Planet Therapy series. I have dibbed and dabbed in aromatherapy and I really like. I need to stay consistent with it though. I do it for a week and then get bored of doing it and then I am ready for the next adventure, a new change, even though I resent change. LOL. I know that in my new profession I need to become more focused so that my patience will be focused in their therapy and get the results that I would be looking for. 

This session I am taking Time Based are, which was very interesting last. We talked about conceptual art and how it was time based. Then we got our first assignment of making a flip book or an artist book. I think I am going to be making the artist book. I was thinking of using film I have in the kid’s keep sake box to represent how fast time goes by. Not just in the age of technology but also with growing into adulthood, just a thought. I am also taking Intro to Textuality which has no clear definition about what it is. The stories we are reading are interesting. I know I have to get an A in both of these classes because these B's are lowering my GPA and I can’t have that! No! No!

I started my Medical Terminology course that I need for the program. I am a note taker. There are lots of notes that I have for the 11% that I have completed. The goal is to get to 100% by Aug. 10. I do not see that as a problem. I go take my second Hep B shot tomorrow. My last one will be in Oct. I have to mail out this money order for my CRP class that I am dragging my husband in to take with me. I was thinking," Hey, he is a soccer coach and works are people all the time. He needs to know how to preform CRP if necessary." He just gives me the "Yes honey" Look. LOL

Oh and I realized how much school is going to cost for me….. $35k for 1 year. I only have $19k in aid. That includes the $7000 worth of scholarships I have gotten. I was denied a loan thought Sallie May and now do not know what I am going to do. L Any suggestions PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks all the updates I have for now. Oh and I have decided to start do yoga, looking forward to getting that on crack n'

I am hoping the best for all of you out there. Make sure to take care of yourself first because there is only one you! ;) 

I was all over there place

I have no idea what was up with my last post but I have corrected it. I want to apologize to my readers because that was not like me. I sincerely apologize.

This is my last week of Intro to Drama and Conflict Resolution classes. I must admit that I am enjoying both classes. I though the drama class would not be interesting but is was. I like Oedipus, Twelfth Night, and Lysistrata. AWESOME! The conflict class is allowing me learn now to handle conflict in a healthier way. So that's an A+ in my book.

I went and got my Tetanus shot, my 1st shot for my Heb B. I got those a week ago and I am still swollen. I go back next month to get my second Heb B shot. Then the last shot will be in October. I did my TB skin test.. About to sing up for my CPR class, making my husband take it too because you never know and he is a soccer coach. Sad knew my baby broke her wrist. She will have to be in a splint for 3 weeks. I am still thankful because it could have been worse.  Her big brother was trying to put her on his shoulders and missed. We some good new. I TURNED 30 on Thursday. Welcome new year, new day, new second.

I am pledging for forgiveness on that last post I have no idea what was going on there. NONE. :(

I'm back to myself now. Thanks for still reading and sharing my journey with me. Hoping the best for all of you..

Reiki I Practitioner

I am now official level 1 Reiki practitioner  My teacher Robert Feuston is a "traditional" Reiki methods Master III. He does not recommended reading  from books on Reiki because  90% of them will not be correct. My definition  of Reiki," it is a self healing practice that allows us the heal others as well. I see so many way this can help our patient.
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