tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207106802024-03-12T23:30:08.591-05:00Oy, With The Poodles Already...I mean, think about it. You never hear the word oy and not smile. Impossible. Funny, funny word.....In fact, if you put oy and poodle together in the same sentence, you’d have a great new catch phrase, you know? Like, oy with the poodles alreadymarissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-80373579864864800692009-10-22T15:02:00.002-05:002009-10-22T15:12:19.545-05:00Been aWHILE since an update.....I'm now in my junior year, still in nursing school and its quite a challenge (go figure). I'm actually avoiding studying for my cardio exam to type this post..hehe<br /><br />I have realized this semester which depts. i DO NOT want to work in when i graduate and they include med surg, diabetic unit, transitional care, and oncology....ALL of which we are working on right now...yay...I've had patients ranging from boring (only in for knee surgery) to psychotic (today). But the class is still the hardest thing...I've never had such a hard time with any class before but im really learning what nursing is all about and the more i get used to the tests the better ill do i think. We'll see monday!<br /><br />I'm still in physical therapy...my ankle is 99% to normal according to my therapist but my knee is still far from where it needs to be so we are trying some different treatments/exercises mostly to help the pain so that i can exercise with less and less pain and get my strength back in my right leg.<br /><br />Chris and I have almost made it to 2 wonderful years as a couple (as of next month) and I can't wait to see what the next 2, 3, 4......years will bring us! He has been an incredible encouragement to me over the last 10 months and I've been truly blessed for that....and for his effortless ability to make me laugh and relax when I'm stressed out with school.<br /><br />I feel like I've been spending more time with my mom lately too (maybe i havent but it feels like it)...we have had some really good conversation and I'm learning many things about life from a very wise woman :) I can't wait for our next coffee date!marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-24104913251219707592009-07-27T11:46:00.003-05:002009-07-27T12:02:38.666-05:00I Made It!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEc1T92esdx8PmqnTptkK-FLhrXNWRFV2qTxaHtPUzf17hCYmBh6U5Am__BcKE-x84xBjJOltGuGRv6qGyXHsBqSjqYG3-59P7Fnhk-qzbe3eNsHk4AZvObLJh6roNs2yX6iR/s1600-h/4931_101887482351_592787351_2507572_7546504_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEc1T92esdx8PmqnTptkK-FLhrXNWRFV2qTxaHtPUzf17hCYmBh6U5Am__BcKE-x84xBjJOltGuGRv6qGyXHsBqSjqYG3-59P7Fnhk-qzbe3eNsHk4AZvObLJh6roNs2yX6iR/s400/4931_101887482351_592787351_2507572_7546504_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363186442236216434" border="0" /></a><br />10 looooong weeks but I did it! I couldn't have done it without several things though..<br />1) everyone's prayers<br />2) my encouraging parents and boyfriend<br />3) the incredible group of girls i was placed with<br /><br />I have made so many friends this summer and had such a blast even while working very hard. The girls are closet nerds just like me that love to slip nursing/medical terms into everyday conversation...we have a blast just talking to each other!<br /><br />I was very encouraged by my instructors' comments to me during my final evaluations...they had both talked about me during a meeting together and told me that they knew i was going to be a great nurse and would not be a floor nurse for very long (meaning that they think i will excel quickly to a more specialized area). It almost brought me to tears because there were several times during this summer that i just wasnt sure if nursing was for me...between the paperwork (which i know every job has) and the new ways i had to learn to apply information and the emotional pull that i felt to each of my patients when i had to leave them last week...i just wasn't sure. But hearing those things from my instructors made me realize that i can not only do it, but i can be great at what i do if i keep working hard.<br /><br />i ended the semester with two B's, an A and an A- (believe it or not the A's were in my nursing classes!) I don't mean to brag but i AM proud of myself :) My goal was just to pass with C's but all it took was a little time management and a significant slice out of my social life! haha<br /><br />Wednesday I will be moving home for awhile until fall semester starts. I have another surgery on August 3rd. Please pray for a quick recovery as I am a bit nervous about this one. Once they remove the 11cm plate from my ankle i will have 6 holes in my very small fibula all very close together...i guess my biggest fear is that all the recovery i have had over the last 3 months will feel wasted and that ill need to be back on my crutches for a bit...my ankle has felt so good the past few months and im just not looking forward to the pain returning.<br /><br />Well today is my first monday without class in awhile so OF COURSE im going to the mall with one of my friends :)marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-90159575061365351302009-06-09T13:51:00.002-05:002009-06-09T13:57:18.546-05:005 Minute UpdateDecided I was bored with writing my ed. psych. paper ...<br /><br />The last month has whizzed by so quickly! I've been in classes for 4 weeks and let me tell you, it is so much harder and more time consuming than I thought it would be! I'm taking an educational psychology course that is 5 weeks long (usually 16, so we cram in all the info in 5!), a nutrition course (10 weeks long through USI), and two nursing courses that are normally 16 weeks crammed into 10 and include two 9-hour lab days each week and two 4-hour lectures each week. Not how I hoped my summer would be, but at least I have the chance to catch up...this IS after all what I had been working towards!<br /><br />My ankle and knee are doing better every week...I'm a little sore today because i played volleyball for an hour last night (felt so good to play though!). My final surgery is going to be sometime in August, once I finally get around to calling my surgeon.<br /><br />aaaaaand....now I should get back to doing homework so there is at least a possibility for some exercise and relaxation a little later!marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-61573982087772804892009-05-14T10:34:00.009-05:002009-05-14T10:44:04.395-05:00My New Hizzity-HangAs most of you know, I recently moved back to muncie and am living with 3 of my friends in a little house close to campus. We are all finally completely moved in so I took some pictures to share with you all!<div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv9qjwblov2-EuITSekdq2OYXlgUTafsZphmpvcL0FYR1NtwQ3cRuCSXh3-qThhVVf4VDSZbz0mnpp7zV24BS_5sNntgsAHLYBGke4Vz38sbRiuwkOHmRvCeM7a3ALidp50Ux/s400/DSC03079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335705723001892674" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeL_rRncdudvaVRYf3q0IS-MzXQcBrhqggUtQ2yYf4R8w5y9SRnKETOdoATSV5_RsgCO3Mlt2XWupnDPruNGNeRTCGWOYremfXXBKmSqPv6ug5CDo0_4VQpZsig-1F81gvVPU/s400/DSC03078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335705510413264162" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOBPKmsrEWFk7Wkl0h0_MbeYeVBNl9f8DTrd1SCLhHAmwyiBg3e9TZ0VjIwyi3DQMTZqdflV36UN93rgg0U79qJIOlH-7GrpDvLhoMv3Ehn5OTjPC2fujLF_6itY0YS32RWsd/s400/DSC03077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335705389869946738" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVI4ln3uvpIMRK91_V13dTncIPY9RP2xtAhL7sdLzXa5ZrPnVrHO2b1t8iWe_luHAFUFqFasqhalvxoKRyxdCs17b9uoW-A3go5u13sW9KdtLi7at7lmK4J8Und_a7ICjJUosc/s400/DSC03085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335705252307201874" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAaoVZ_K-VP9EeeYS2NkzB4KzBUOMhZb1VYjMnK1b9RBmR6JobVNpWXvi_ZV4ovTgwr1gjm9RT_6O4wt452V04-IPglGg7KPcJ1shm7FNRc5O6M27CH86czolUjKw5a6uLUyi/s400/DSC03086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335705027018570530" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m9PPE3mhhRfzPOMoHET4oZlD8V4riPQrGzHB52-nCvTeFbOLzFHefqOvgypdOBI9Wb48fSCiFZ-zPR6mZXfAAKPibiaFNDElBvWiGKYHOxACLPuRc00hxN6GzozM0SPDm_pS/s400/DSC03084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335704857572894482" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRcY2r8aLQFPFSeADk05xIZHVJtEHcK-crcYDlpMwGEH0MtXDhOnXL-aaOeo1-NrtoZfksnUCFsGAIxWrL9BXBoHp6sYyWTiv7iwhxBWjaeaCqTIsy9g8AW1_O3kAryRtD6zf/s400/DSC03080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335704549256014882" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKYpazjNG1Xv2NJVo7zX5ihvBGLm0fwaw-nBdydKEqDMn58Rl6iet6Gd3t6NYlaP3GwY-w11xxvAdGPCWj1AFoOjUEGjCqLOdKn7zd0gOPgioHy3hb0xgfYweQsVB9ggi1ZOa/s400/DSC03081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335704249831989890" /><div> </div><div> </div></div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-31490733966595596432009-05-08T10:20:00.002-05:002009-05-08T10:23:00.242-05:00Coming Soon...Once we get our internet set up at the house, i'll be posting some picture of it now that we are all settled in...right now we are mooching off our neighbor's internet and it cuts out every 1 to 2 minutes...not much time to get a whole blog post in! So I promise soon I will have them up..as long as my roommate remembers to call about it today!marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-45362171361141281072009-04-30T11:58:00.002-05:002009-04-30T12:21:27.078-05:00Thoughts before leaving home...The last few days have been pretty emotional for me...though ive tried not to show it. I've just been thinking about leaving home and all the things that I will be "leaving." It just that over the last 4 months, I've relied on a lot of things and people to get me through the hard times. Not that I haven't relied on God because there is no way I could have made it through all this without Him, but I DO get to "take" Him with me anywhere I go, but other things I cannot. <div><br /></div><div>First are my parents. They sacrificed so much for me and served me in so many ways when I felt helpless. My mom sat with me while I cried many times and always brought home little surprises to help cheer me up.. and my dad did everything he could to make things easier on me...from making my lunch everyday for weeks to building me a lap desk to do my homework in bed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next came Chris, the one who slept on the floor of my hospital room and only went home so he could take a nap and come back as soon as he could. He came to see me almost everyday since i've been home and all it took was a hug from him to make all the bad parts of my day go away. He has shown his love for me in so many ways and I hate the thought of being even just 50 miles away from him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there's suki...I haven't been so attached to a pet since my cat, Sassy, that we got when I was maybe 6 or 7 years old. Suki would nap all day with me, amuse me when i was bored, cock her little head when i talked to her as if she were really listening, and just sit on my lap and watch a movie with me so i didnt feel so alone. I actually get very sad when i think about not having that adorable little puppy around all the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>And every sunday, I loved going to church. Seeing everyone so excited to see me and every step of my progress and hearing how many people had been praying for me..and still are...was such an encouragement. I will definitely miss going to Grace every sunday.</div><div><br /></div><div>But on the other hand...im so excited to be living with three wonderful ladies in our newly painted, beautiful little house, right across from two other friends whom i have known for years. I'm also excited to continue with school and feel like I'm actually getting somewhere!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-29748720193324702002009-04-23T09:56:00.002-05:002009-04-23T10:07:04.948-05:00As if this wasn't hard already...Ball State seems to enjoy making it as hard as possible for me to start their nursing program...thoughts of transferring...again...have definitely crossed my mind but right now I'm too far into the process to go back. The first big obstacle was convincing the director that I could handle clinicals....she tried putting me in the fall nursing class several times and each time I firmly said NO...I could do it this summer. Then I find out that I need two classes as prerequisites for the fall that I have not taken...they waited until NOW to tell me this? So I frantically went looking for online programs at BSU so I could get them done (way more expensive, but at least they'd be done). BSU doesn't even offer one of the classes that I need during the summer...not online...not on campus. SO...with my FRESHMAN advisor (because my nursing advisor is never of any help) I searched schools all over Indiana and Ohio for an online nutrition course that would satisfy the requirements for the course at Ball State. I found one. Phoenix University. $1600 for one class. So I signed up..it was my last option. Now I can't get my nursing advisor to approve the class in a decent frame of time and I am now falling behind in the class at Phoenix because of it, and my chances to get my money back if it will not transfer are slowly drifting away with each passing day. <div><br /></div><div>Physically, the worst is over....but all this is actually proving to be more of a challenge than dealing with the pain in my leg ever was.</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-13406249883262954572009-04-09T13:45:00.003-05:002009-04-09T14:02:56.446-05:00From 0 to 60<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX_1TMOckXpUv7hXGPQfiusxhz3npqJ37RJCXMd55mmsZCe_53ypCGCJvirdAEsR_BdjzUm__EOctA2Q3klGaQzRzbPvdJMPfojAGB-usleWuB1ddrBrtBUswWJBf_EmsIHAv/s1600-h/Sprague_DX_Stethoscope.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX_1TMOckXpUv7hXGPQfiusxhz3npqJ37RJCXMd55mmsZCe_53ypCGCJvirdAEsR_BdjzUm__EOctA2Q3klGaQzRzbPvdJMPfojAGB-usleWuB1ddrBrtBUswWJBf_EmsIHAv/s320/Sprague_DX_Stethoscope.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322769136873279586" /></a><br />Wow my life has sped up the last week!<div><br /></div><div>I received my nursing information in the mail last week and saw that i had A LOT to do...background checks, CPR re-certification, health clearance physicals, shots, etc. Then tuesday night I went to Ball State and stayed with my roommates before my nursing meeting on wednesday where i found out all the ridiculous restrictions that they put on nursing students! NO jewelry whatsoever except for the watch (not digital, with 60 second markers and a second hand), NO colored clothing underneath the uniforms - must be white crew neck or turtleneck (even though our uniform is V-neck...go figure), NO fingernails longer than the nail bed and no nail polish at all, WHITE LEATHER shoes with closed heel and toe only, hair pulled back with PLAIN hair accessories, WHITE socks that cover the ankles, and if you have tattoos, they must be covered with bandaids and you must explain to every patient why you have bandaids on. Then the endless list of supplies that i have to purchase....a full page long....i cant wait to see the final total of everything i have to get...its going to be well over $1500 especially with the smart phone we HAVE to buy. Needless to say, im stressing a LITTLE.</div><div><br /></div><div>BUUUUUT....today i went back to see my surgeon, and he okayed me to drive, walk w/o my boot if i wanted, and he cleared me for clinicals! So everything i have done already for nursing will hopefully not be in vain...the only thing holding me back is ONE class</div><div><br /></div><div>The letter i received in the mail also informed me of 2 classes i needed to take this summer that i was not aware of....NOTHING on our schedule planner says that these two courses are prerequisites for NUR 330 Junior year. And only one of the classes is even offered at Ball State this summer....and i can't seem to get anyone over there to help me find a school that i can take it from....the nursing faculty are very "your problems are your problems" about things...</div><div><br /></div><div>BUUUUUT....i drove my car today...and it felt great</div><div><br /></div><div>now off to physical therapy!</div><div><br /></div><div>ps: i could really use your prayers about this class that i need....its the only thing holding me back right now and making me stress the most :(</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-50006858460123022192009-03-30T22:06:00.005-05:002009-03-30T22:08:58.050-05:00MY NEW CAR!!!This is my new baby...i get her this thursday!<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS2NaD3Y_6Ncv2XM2XkTXnEe9U5edsDqaUBKbH4-SzB-PD_RZX7p5ogBVLJnPWeNUCY2bl7zHbTHJFLcFCWAt7fnx6GdgXTMvZBT7tx_YyxxCyfvo1bP6Mpfoc0LtN8K_UZRV/s320/3nd3m23p0ZZZZZZZZZ93q2cb1b0bc09651f95.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319183361440716978" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFGe9UXTtgFVVKFEkw5MasoVAPr9z9FLMvqciLTw-E6QQsEZ7H-3Io4kwyaN9ntFxr_RkdVCBCUK0tiU9VvDC1f3MV9EzD2VFdgMNsV1d3odWhdXe9GNrIfCY0Wj87qcRaF-f/s1600-h/3m63o03l7ZZZZZZZZZ93qa2af4afe1d561c13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFGe9UXTtgFVVKFEkw5MasoVAPr9z9FLMvqciLTw-E6QQsEZ7H-3Io4kwyaN9ntFxr_RkdVCBCUK0tiU9VvDC1f3MV9EzD2VFdgMNsV1d3odWhdXe9GNrIfCY0Wj87qcRaF-f/s320/3m63o03l7ZZZZZZZZZ93qa2af4afe1d561c13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319183299058840130" /></a><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUiwKYJU7-xNEcJ8KNvRGLN7GEVnj6o037o2etgrxvCijrPOz2Zr3metE9nqleGBUpXYjhBav3gYZCI-wmqI0B6tZQmQocA491MteygG2ZeAd6RICjvVct8YCnP8k-2ZUZGfV/s320/3kb3m63ofZZZZZZZZZ93q840fc088aa1a1b8a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319183076582668818" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelQvmKAUYXXzmXX4AkMK-TTanWQRlMyL5bzqLenUsXu8ssRJp9WoXILD9wwkrFkX1UoXYLtdBmGQ7idxA1JfcPyErhYQuf6uaM2y7pYkoHdVhPDIHIpuu1O9bBmdHGdvMTB0T/s1600-h/3m03ob3peZZZZZZZZZ93q91b8dee25b361b23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelQvmKAUYXXzmXX4AkMK-TTanWQRlMyL5bzqLenUsXu8ssRJp9WoXILD9wwkrFkX1UoXYLtdBmGQ7idxA1JfcPyErhYQuf6uaM2y7pYkoHdVhPDIHIpuu1O9bBmdHGdvMTB0T/s320/3m03ob3peZZZZZZZZZ93q91b8dee25b361b23.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319183152896540610" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-13358709289236529672009-03-30T14:19:00.003-05:002009-03-30T14:26:18.530-05:00No longer a TEENager....'bout time!Well my birthday wish came true. Saturday was my 20th birthday and the first day that I went ALL DAY without my crutches! Now I am completely off crutches!<div><br /></div><div>Saturday chris drove me all the way up to Marion to see my friends from IWU and take me out to dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants and to my favorite coffee shop, Paynes :) My roommate, christina also drove from Munice to spend the evening with us. It was a great day except for the morning, when I received disappointing news that the car I really wanted would not be mine :( BUT, overall, a really great birthday! I actually feel older, its great...20 really isn't all that special except you get to leave the "teen" off of your age when you say it...that is my favorite part! So i really only feel older when i get to TELL people that I'm 20, but still...</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-55166925370574513132009-03-18T17:30:00.001-05:002009-03-18T17:31:32.205-05:00Ummm I walked WITHOUT my crutches today :)....nuff saidmarissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-10120652054960154452009-03-16T19:16:00.002-05:002009-03-16T19:25:03.591-05:00Post - Surgery #3Well 11 hours ago I went into my 3rd surgery...woke up around 1:30...and left the hospital feeling great! My mom and I went immediately to McDonald's where I got a double cheesburger, fries, and a choc. milkshake (and ate it in about 5 minutes!) Then came home and had about a 3 hour nap!<div><br /></div><div>I have been walking a bit with the crutches and my boot...the pain is very minimal and it is so much fun to "pretend" walk! My goal is to be off the crutches by my birthday, March 28th. I want to go out on a birthday date with chris with no crutches so I can actually hold his hand while we walk and people don't look at us like my big brother is taking his handicap sister out..haha</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to trying a little more everyday and uncovering my ankle tomorrow!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me the last few months!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-13545681039956109462009-03-05T16:34:00.005-05:002009-03-05T16:47:59.070-05:00This and ThatI have discovered that I have a talent for knitting simple things. Hats are my specialty and I have had so much fun thinking of new ways to make them...I have never used a pattern...I'm not very confident in my ability to follow one, so I just make them up in my head and see if they work. Right now I'm trying to make fingerless gloves...saw them in a knitting booklet but the pattern they have is waaaaay to complicated even for my grandmother who has been knitting since she was in high school. I'm about halfway done...we'll see how long it takes me to get the thumb hole correct!<div><br /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ_i4MCp_pYU-MuuRIdiXDydIIw8g7MBkYZB3pYX_Mk7OA-U-3aDoBP-s0ocW0SE6aorJspMxgy_nx_ojqBEaGLEO7d4gMEWSukVtAbuuEJSy3bchoTXmCHdiMkBNfrJabCAp/s320/00_aaacivic_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309823106338603106" /><div> </div><div>I also might have a car by this time tomorrow! I have been looking </div><div>alot the past 2 weeks and my dad and I went to test drive a car awhile ago and it seemed very good. Its a 1999 red Honda Civic EX coup....MANUAL, just like I wanted, and if I can talk the dealer down on the price, I'm going to get it!</div><br /></div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-83107943730811443232009-02-25T22:34:00.003-05:002009-02-25T22:57:45.303-05:00Not Feeling So StrongOver the last two months I have blogged about my progress - mostly the good things that have happened since the accident and the good things that have come of it. So many people have told me how proud they are of my attitude and the strength I have shown through this long process so far...<div><br /></div><div>but there are really only about 3 people who have seen the bad times I occasionally go through...the times when I was angry at the girl who caused the wreck...the times when I was so sick of the constant pain...the times when I cried and yelled because I just wanted to get a few hours of sleep and couldn't...the times when I was literally bored TO TEARS...the times I would cry because my friends were going out without me...the times when I just wanted to be able to walk to the kitchen w/o my crutches...and so many other "times." Tonight I am having one of those times....just sitting here in bed wishing I was back at school with my friends, not falling behind in my classes...but mostly...just wanting to walk on two feet. My poor boyfriend sat at home tonight on the phone with me listening to me come up with some stupid reason to be upset with him when I was really upset because every time I went to get up the last few days, I wanted to throw my crutches about 100 yards and just WALK.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone has been so encouraging to me throughout this entire process. Jodi telling me the other day how whenever she feels sick from pregnancy, she thinks of me and stops feeling sorry for herself...charity telling me that she has me to thank for realizing how blessed she is to use two legs and shower in less than an hour... I think maybe I try to keep in so many of my emotions lately because I feel so guilty for having them. I KNOW that I am blessed to have gotten the halo off more quickly than the doctor originally expected. I KNOW that I am blessed to have my family to take care of me. I KNOW that I am blessed to have a boyfriend like chris who comes to visit me almost every day and a friend like chelsea who comes to see me almost every other weekend. There are more blessings than just those...but sometimes just knowing that they are there doesn't cure the boredom, or the awful feeling of waking up after the most amazing dream of walking to class at ball state, or the anger that sometimes overcomes me when I think of how my life has been put on hold. I really hate having these feelings, but I thought maybe I should let you all know...that I'm not always happy and smiling like I am at church...I don't feel like I deserve the attention and compliments on my attitude all the time. However, I still DO need the encouragement of my brothers and sisters in Christ to get through nights like these. So thank you</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-24869678474306780862009-02-22T22:45:00.002-05:002009-02-22T22:55:08.014-05:00Brief UpdateEven though I have talked to most of you who read my blog, I'll give a quick update on my progress, since I have nothing else to blog about!<div><br /></div><div>Not having the halo the last 10 days has been FABULOUS...friday night and most of the day saturday I was starting to regret the decision to get the halo off early and have 2 surgeries instead of one to remove all the hardware inside and out of my foot/ankle. However, I am now SO glad I did it. Reason number 1 being that I don't even have to wear the boot most of the time because most of the time I am just at home sitting or laying in bed...only when I am leaving the house do I really need to wear the boot. My knee is getting much stronger as well. I used to have to pick up my leg with my hands and place it on the bed, but now it is strong enough that I can get my leg into bed using my actually leg muscles...what is left of them anyway! I am also sleeping so much better now because the pain of moving around at night is so much less than it used to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>One concern my parents and I have though, is that I have lost about 7 lbs. since the accident, which puts me at a too-thin 100 lbs. My pants don't fit and I'm starting to look like an anorexic. We don't understand this because I eat the same amount if not more than I used to, and I do almost no activity during the day to burn the calories I take in. We are hoping to get some answers from the doctor this week to see if this is normal after surgeries or if I need to get in to get some tests done....again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well I actually had more to say than I thought!</div><div>I probably won't have anything exciting to blog about until I start walking so we'll see how much blogging I do before my next appt. in mid-March</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-49071841782367937782009-02-15T13:01:00.004-05:002009-02-15T13:30:27.785-05:00Bye Bye Bye!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_CnWTLYri6ZM8lVqG6RMqRIwChD86L4EAqFJ4DZocvbZq22vNBfQi4WNC28O2XkhTuDZifmRMbin-rvAjMFowcCLcC7LoWhzqi0hoOdl_UpbmMpFKoKciI4vCDR9OUPIUdmv/s1600-h/DSC03016.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_CnWTLYri6ZM8lVqG6RMqRIwChD86L4EAqFJ4DZocvbZq22vNBfQi4WNC28O2XkhTuDZifmRMbin-rvAjMFowcCLcC7LoWhzqi0hoOdl_UpbmMpFKoKciI4vCDR9OUPIUdmv/s320/DSC03016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303091771369346866" /></a>The halo is gone now as most of you already know...and since my mom already blogged on some of my progress since being home, I'll fill you all in on my time in the hospital on friday...<div> </div><div>I got to the hospital, answered some questions and then was called back to get prepped for surgery. I took a pregnancy test (standard procedure), and got hooked up to an IV, which the nurse missed my vein the first time :( ouch. Then my parents were called back and as my dad walked into the room he jokingly asked, "So they already took it off huh?" Then the conversation went like this</div><div>me: "yeah i was really surprise at how fast they did everything"</div><div>dad: "oh wow you are serious? It's off already? Wow!"</div><div>me: "yep they got my boot on and everything"</div><div>dad: "wow, thats great!"</div><div>me: "dad....."</div><div>mom: "(laughs) Todd...."</div><div>dad: "What?"</div><div>me: "I still have the halo on dad...did you really think they got me prepped and out of the O.R. in 20 minutes?"</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>mom and i have had several good laughs over that since friday :)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>After my surgery was over and i woke up in the recovery room, they moved me into another room that was tiny and could barely fit my bed in it....the nurse then told me i </div><div>was to get out of the bed and sit in a large leather chair in the room....(by the way i'm still only half-conscious at this point)....so the nurse not-so-carefully moves me to the chair which does not recline and hands me some orange juice to sip on while i wait for my parents to come back. I got dressed and was on my way out in the wheelchair...still in tears from the movement that occurred between going from the chair to the wheelchair. But hey, I survived and the halo is off and right now i'm sitting here looking mostly normal because i'm not even wearing the boot! I have on a NORMAL pair of sweat pants and a sock on both feet! Just one foot is a lot larger than the other..haha</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The pain has subsided considerably since friday, but unfortunately yesterday i was feeling a bit nauseous and very tired </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6TMwWssyGvornFttm3T0RmYTN5DUtrKclOlIH3VCWrFd7RjSApc8BPhU8XWYsMhBnaFu3KHxdvQVIVV76UgTJ2MhWIeYHgqjxtYHLfbjUiR7boPS26g6W7faUz1sT1_KGYcg/s320/DSC03012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303093004501643778" /><div>so chris and i didnt get to do what we had planned for valentine's day...but it was still a go</div><div>od valentines day :) He brought me some pretty roses in a cute vase, some dark chocolate lindor truffles, and a card that still makes me smile even when i've already read it a half-dozen times since last night :) He also made notecards of how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds it has been since certain big events in our relationship and quizzed me on them over dinner at El Camino...i'm terrible at math and i only got close on one of them! I also made him a chocolate truffle pie, which was DELICIOUS...my mouth is watering just thinking about it...mmmmm yummy!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-71787473863559921722009-02-05T13:14:00.002-05:002009-02-05T13:21:25.255-05:00Frankenfoot dies on Friday the 13th!!Welllllllll......<div>i got the news today! I can now start bending my knee and wearing the immobilizer less and less as my knee gains strength....aaaaaaand the big news........(drumroll please)</div><div><br /></div><div>THE HALO COMES OFF NEXT FRIDAY!</div><div><br /></div><div>words cannot describe how excited i am to have this giant piece of metal removed from my foot! After the surgery i will be wearing a knee brace and a boot on my foot....and i'll have 11 holes in my foot and shin where the pins and screws were, but thats ok!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-4275966325591790022009-01-30T12:50:00.005-05:002009-01-30T13:06:09.975-05:00Miss IndependantI took a shower completely by myself...twice now!<div><br /></div><div>thanks to my wonderful parents getting a shower curtain for me (which i also get to take to my new house when i return to school if mom doesnt get too attached to it) i can finally take on the entire process of showering by myself!</div><div><br /></div><div>1. sit on toilet</div><div>2. remove clothing (hoping that only women still read my blog)</div><div>3. remove leg immobilizer</div><div>4. unwrap leg/ankle and remove gauze pads </div><div>5. put leg immobilizer back on</div><div>6. move my caboose over to the shower chair</div><div>7. put left leg in tub and lift right leg up and into tub</div><div>8. remove leg immobilizer...again</div><div>9. bathe</div><div>10. take towel #1 and dry off self, then place underneath me on the shower chair (for traction...trust me it is important)</div><div>11. put leg immobilizer BACK on</div><div>12. lift right leg up and out of tub while carefully scooting to the edge of the shower chair until i can place my foot on the floor</div><div>13. (hold your breath it gets complicated)...remove left leg from tub while left hand holds onto shower chair and right hand grabs windowsill and both arms push until i am in an upright position</div><div>14. put on robe</div><div>15. crutch it back to my room to get dressed and slather antibiotic on my foot (which the parents still get to do)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>wow, it sounds more complicated when i type it all out...but thats the gist! And it takes about 30-35 minutes to complete (not including the dressing of the foot)</div><div><br /></div><div>hopefully my next post will be full of good news from the doctor, who i will be seeing again on thursday!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-6059334741924807492009-01-21T14:40:00.002-05:002009-01-21T14:52:12.152-05:00The Post That Came From Having Too Much Time To ThinkSomeone asked me the other day after seeing pictures of my foot if it still shocks me every time we unwrap it to clean it, etc. I told them it had become so normal to me over the last few weeks that no, it wasn't weird at all to see pins and screws sticking out of my foot and leg with a giant metal structure surrounding it all. I actually began to think...how weird it is going to be when it actually comes OFF. I feel like it is going to be comparable to braces. They are super annoying at first and they hurt and you can't wait for them to be off from the moment you get them put on...and then when they are finally gone...its strange and unnatural not having them there...your teeth feel bare and there is almost just as much adjusting to getting them off as when you first had them put on. When I finally get this halo and leg immobilizer off, i think its going to feel awkward...first of all my leg is going to be pounds lighter...my balance may even be thrown off for awhile...I'm going to have to get used to seeing the holes in my foot and shin where metal rods used to be..not to mention the strange sensations (and painful ones) than bending my knee again will bring. I can actually now move my knee cap by flexing my muscles...and watch it move...despite the fact that I still have no feeling in the lower part of my knee...and may never again. I can also flex my gastrocnemius muscle and watch it move too...its weird, I know, just to sit here and think about all this...but really...what else do I have to do...marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-46323126057972631182009-01-14T11:14:00.002-05:002009-01-14T11:46:05.309-05:00Thoughts on day 16Well I have finally started my online classes so I have something to do other than watch Gilmore Girls all day. Still a pretty boring life, but hopefully soon I will be learning how to knit. I asked Chris the other day if his mom knew how to knit and his reply was, "what is knit?" Mom and I got a kick out of that one. But Kris Osterbur is hopefully coming over this week to teach me! Yesterday Patti Jetter came to keep me company while everyone was at school and she brought me a disney princess coloring book :) Mom thinks I should color some pictures for Rachel Wright...I say Rach should come color with me sometime!<div><br /></div><div>My mobility and independence are increasing everyday...it is wonderful! The hardest part is trying to carry things while using my crutches. But yesterday I did manage to use my "grabber" to reach the guitar, take it into the living room, hook up the PS2 to the TV and play some guitar hero! I was very proud of this. Now the thing that probably still bugs me the most is not being able to shower in the shower everyday. I hate sponge bathing and not being able to wash my hair as often as I like...I also get annoyed with waking up to awful back pain during the night and every morning...I was always a side sleeper so sleeping on my back is doing quite a number on my lower muscles.</div><div><br /></div><div>My greatest fears right now are that I will have some kind of permanent deformity of my foot that will affect my walk, and the thought of getting behind the wheel again...I burst into tears last night talking to my mom about those things and I'm trying so hard to give up those worries to the Lord...its just more difficult than I thought it would be. Our discussion about those things was interestingly interrupted since while i was crying, instead of normal body fluids coming out of my nose, it erupted into a fountain of blood literally pouring from my nose into the trash can...not pretty...hopefully that wasn't too much info for ya'll :) </div><div><br /></div><div>On a positive note, this accident is saving me about $14000 on school since all I have to pay for are my online classes this semester!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also have to mention that I probably have the best boyfriend I could hope for. Not only did he sleep on the floor of my hospital room for three nights in a row...he learned to know exactly what I needed/wanted him to do by me simply looking at him and then looking at what I wanted him to get/do. He also very carefully helped me out of bed every time I needed to use the bathroom (which was about every 2 hours since I was drinking about 4 liters of water a day) by putting one hand under my ankle, which was gross from all the fluids draining from it, and the other hand to support my knee. He has only NOT visited 2 nights since I have been home and he brings me whatever I am craving that day. Yesterday was mint choc. chip ice cream. Sometimes I fall asleep while he is here, sometimes I cry, and he sits there through it all...comforting me when I need comforted, rubbing my head until I fall asleep...I really can't imagine going through all of this without him. I'm such a lucky girl!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-34713808148670121282009-01-11T13:03:00.002-05:002009-01-11T13:07:53.522-05:00Progress!I found a way to get out of bed by myself! I was so excited when I did it for the first time yesterday. Now I just need to figure out how to get back IN bed. I also washed my hands in the sink in the bathroom STANDING UP rather than reaching over while sitting on the toilet lid. I did hit my big giant foot on the cabinet though :( The dumb thing is so hard to maneuver. Basically I'm just really happy to have SOME small sliver of independence back...and someday soon i WILL figure out how to get back in bed on my own...thats the next step...marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-46432096745784344182009-01-08T14:53:00.002-05:002009-01-08T15:06:12.231-05:00Settling InI'm starting to get used to my new routine. Get up around 6, drink my breakfast, go back to sleep till my next pain pill at 9, wake up, take all my medicine, give myself a shot, and wait for dad to come home and clean my foot at 9:45. Then after he is done, i eat lunch and usually get on the computer for a bit and then take a nap for an hour or so. Now, i'm back on the computer/watching Gilmore Girls (which i watch all the time now), waiting for everyone to get home from school. I'll probably take another nap around 3:30 or 4 so i can eat dinner and prepare for visitors. <div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, however, i DID take a shower all by myself! Well, after my mom helped me undress and get in the tub...but other than that i was on my own and i didn't pass out, AND i got all the way back to my room without being carried! It felt very good...but i was COMPLETELY exhausted afterwards and i still had to sit through my foot cleaning and two sets of visitors...needless to say, i slept very well last night. </div><div><br /></div><div>It seems like everyday someone does something to make me feel so much better about my situation. The other day, charity brought her kids over and rachel gave me a necklace she had just make...it didn't quite fit over my head but i have it hung on the lamp next to my bed to remind me of the sweet gesture. I just want to again thank everyone who has made time to visit or send a card or email...they mean so much to me...and thanks also to all those who have been praying for me...each day is a little better than the last.</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-64600912546517846902009-01-04T07:50:00.002-05:002009-01-04T08:07:34.442-05:00Home AgainWell i am finally home after 6 days in the hospital. Walking on my crutches is still a challenge and i only made it from the van to the porch on my first attempt at home. Then ryan and my parents had to carry me into the house from there. It feels like i have taken a few steps back since being home, but hopefully as i continue to recover, i will be able to overcome the obstacles that come from living in my own house, like pushing myself into a sitting position rather than pushing a button that does that for me. However, home food is sooooo much better than hospital food! That will help me regain some strength too. Today will be a busy and exhausting day for me. I have to learn how to shower, then do my first cleaning of my foot/knee, then i have visitors for the rest of the day and into the night. Hopefully all the activity will allow me to get another good nights rest tonight though.<div><br /></div><div>Right now I've just been praying that God will help me see His purpose in all of this. I know He has one. Unfortunately, since iv'e been away at school, my relationship with Him hasn't been as strong. I am looking forward to using my recovery time to grow my relationship with Christ and make it strong again. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again everyone who visited, sent words of encouragement, etc. since the accident. They have helped tremendously!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-11315285389634684792008-12-31T16:39:00.002-05:002008-12-31T16:47:47.584-05:00My First Broken Bone(s)Well as most of you already know, i was in a car accident monday night at 8pm. My car is totaled and i suffered multiple fractures of the knee and ankle on my right leg. Thankfully, that was the only part of my body that was seriously injured, which is truly a miracle if you had seen the condition of my car after the accident. My full recovery should take about a year. Some ways that you can be praying for me are:<div>-speedy recovery</div><div>-trying to get through next semester at school</div><div>-learning how to be mobile</div><div>-and most definitely thanking the Lord for preserving my life during what could have been a fatal accident</div><div><br /></div><div>thanks to all who have called, visited, sent flowers/cookies/etc...they are very much appreciated and have been very helpful in boosting my morale...especially the cards from your kids charity!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20710680.post-25851869451485491462008-12-12T10:36:00.003-05:002008-12-12T11:36:45.692-05:00Another Semester Draws to a CloseFinals start today for me. COMM 210 tonight, ANTH 111 monday, and MATHS 125 on tuesday. Not too worried about any of them as you can see because I would not be blogging if that were the case. In fact, I'm bored! I'm loving that I took 17 credit hours this semester and things have been so easy! Next semester will be harder classes, but I still only have to go to class two days a week!<div> </div><div>I do however, have to move out of my room next week. My roommate was supposed to transfer and then this tuesday decided she wanted to stay. Paperwork had already been filled out for my new roommate, who i was so psyched to live with because she is als</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z8HBxIsW1lGjRZwTMs1u9hi3L2lJMsv9fr6AiKGbiDgihRxC4Yecxt4-gbKupgxU7PBBdJKHUOHS15m8_viM4FdTMUxOo4PmK5qHhnteaiU8sMisCL9Bop6D6TrL-fRKcaEI/s320/n627121959_1615920_7216.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278930459465750194" /><div>o my house mate for next year! BUT current roomie went to the RD and demanded she get to stay in our room, after she told me she was trying to just get a room somewhere on campus and it didnt matter where it was. Well, this was false, so i graciously, without arguing, accepted a new room and will move in next friday evening. Current roomie has been driving me crazy for the last month and I'm just glad I get to live with someone I WANT to live with (the picture is of me, christina, my new roomie, and her boyfriend shea)</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Now, I'm getting a big sloppy cold that gets stronger everyday and there is nothing that the benedryl, nyquil, and vitamin C that I have been choking down, can do about it!</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>but the best boredom pass-time i have discovered has been <a href="http://www.elfyourself.com/">www.elfyourself.com</a> where you upload pictures and make these little elves with people's faces on them do dances to christmas music! Charity, I hope Danny showed you the one I made of your kids!</div>marissa finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207732782125058052noreply@blogger.com4