passing.

In undergrad I used to get so upset when I didn't get at least a B on a test. Now when I get a test back and I got a high C. I'm happy. It's passing! I study as much as I can and I know the material it just seems like they start asking questions and I have no idea what they are talking about or I just flat out forget. Professors can't seem to just ask a straight forward question. This morning I had a physiology test. I studied a lot for it. I started taking the test and it seemed like all the little things just left my brain. So I made a 78.5. I could have done better, and it probably would have helped if I didn't have to get up at 5:40 this am, but it's passing. It's a terrible attitude to have but to stay in vet school a person just have to get a C. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't plan on getting all C's but I have decided I can't stress myself out about it. I already need to start taking blood pressure medicine because of how my BP gets when I have to get my Rabies shot. ha 

I really do feel like I am learning so much and can't wait to start applying it. I just can't seem to convey that information on test. We have a whole class basically on learning to communicate with clients, and it is so interesting. I just wanna go out and start treating animals. Patience is not a strong virtue of mine... 

I want to do this right now and know what I'm talking about. ha

I better go. The physiology test is over but now I have to get ready for the anatomy test and physiology quiz on Friday. It's never ending! Could someone please come clean my apartment? ha (hopefully I will get pictures of it up soon.) 

drinking from a fire hose.

A couple of weeks into school one of my professors was giving us a pep talk and he described the first year, at least most of the first year, of vet school as "drinking from a fire hose." The first few weeks the fire hose was drowning me. It has gotten a little better but it is still so overwhelming. They fire information at us so fast, it is impossible to keep up. I had every intention of blogging lots so that I would be able to look back at it when I graduate and laugh at myself, so I'm really going to try. Those first few weeks were just totally overwhelming!

The reason I'm putting myself through this. I have to remind myself every once in awhile. 

So far I have got to castrate a goat and learned to do a physical on a cow, along with some other cattle handling concepts. It definitely helped get me refocused! This week I have to be at the hospital, to do TPR's on the in house animals, every morning at 7:15 am. Plus a physiology test, anatomy test, and physiology quiz... yikes!

My friend, Julie, is actually castrating in this picture but I did part of it. 

She was a great patient!

I'm really going to try to update this with pictures and crazy vet school stories along with stories from life in general. It should help that my internet is way faster than it is when I am at home for the summer. :)

Fun fact: My friends call me pioneer woman. haha I don't know why because we are quite opposite but maybe it's because I got them all hooked on her blog. :) I also feel really blessed to have found some genuinely good people to be friends with. It will make these next four years so much more bearable and fun. They are already asking to come out to the farm. God definitely answered that prayer for me. It was really lonely being here with no real friends.

I have a physiology test bright and early in the morning so I better get to studying!

terrible.

Well I am obviously terrible at keeping up with blogging. I have been so busy this summer but have loved every minute of it. Things are slowing down a bit because we have had absolutely no rain. Which is NOT good at all. I have been riding horses a lot, picking veggies, stringing tomatoes, digging potatoes, picking corn, hoeing pigweed, mowing, mowing, and mowing some more. Now that things are slowing down I should be able to start posting some blogs to update on some stuff. Right now I just have time to post a pic of the sunset we had the fourth of July. We hoped that cloud would bring us some rain but no such luck...

Birthdays.

My dad and I almost share a birthday. His is May 1st and mine is the 2nd. We celebrated our birthdays this past weekend. My dad turned 50! My dad and I are a lot alike. I have some of my mom in me but am a lot more like my dad. I don't know what I would do without him. He puts up with all my animals and takes care of them when I'm not home. He loves animals as much as I do but sometimes he doesn't have much time to take care of them but he always makes time. He has always been there to support me and love me no matter what. He may not say it much but I know he is so proud of me and loves me very much. I am very proud to be his daughter and so thankful for all the things he does for me. Paying for my tuition, supporting my dream to become a large animal vet, teaching me to drive tractors and fix things, and the list goes on. My dad is so important to me! There are so many more things I could say about my dad and how great he is. I wish I had more time to share old pictures and memories but this will have to do for now. 

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you, and don't know what I would do without you!

Allyson

Easter.

I had a great long weekend home last weekend. Thursday I went and got a pedicure with my mom and we bought LOTS of plants, which I spent all day Friday planting. (It started pouring just I was finishing and didn't quit until I left home, so no pictures of my hard work. The rain is another story. Goodness...) I really enjoyed my day outside. 

Kody (and Gus) came over, and so did Brett and Emma, Friday night. Sabbath we spent the day at church, remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I sang "Why" by Nicole Nordeman. I will post the video but it's with a little apprehension. It was hard to get through. Everyone was crying, my allergies were TERRIBLE, and I was the most nervous I have ever been when singing in front of people. I literally thought I was gonna pass out in the middle of it. Haha I normally don't get nervous when I sing in front of people, especially my home church but this song has so much power. I guess that is what made me so nervous, the words are just amazing! Aunt Caroline and I cried almost every time we practiced it. Anyway, enjoy.

Sabbath afternoon was spent with family. :) It was raining so we all visited inside.

Saturday night was exciting. The kids decided they both wanted to sleep with me, both nights. Which was a little surprising, considering Emma is glued to my mom usually. Friday night went pretty good. They both talk in there sleep, which made me laugh a few times, but Saturday night was the fun night. It stormed really bad. About 3:00 in the morning the thunder got really loud. Every once in awhile it would be really loud and every time the kids would both sit straight up and yell "It's a tornado!!" It was hilarious. I would tell them it was just thunder and they would automatically be back asleep. One of the times Brett popped up and said "It's a tornado!! Don't worry I learned what to do at school." so cute.  It rained ALL day Sunday. We got almost 8 inches on Sunday alone I think. Or at least somewhere close to that much. It never quit! 

Our whole yard looked like this.

Our little pond was going over the spillway and spreading way out into the pasture. 

So, we spent the day inside. I braided Emma's hair. I was surprised she sat still that long.

We dressed Gus up. :) He still loves us. 

We dyed eggs.

Adam was quite creative. 

This is how Gus felt about it.

Since it rained ALL day, we hid eggs in the house. The kids still enjoyed it.

Gus is loved by all. :) He had so much fun running around everywhere in our yard and escaping. Sunday he had to stay inside because it rained so much. I don't think it hurt his feelings any.... he was worn out by the time the day was over. He had a blast following everyone around. 

It was so nice to be home and relax with family. This weekend is my dad and I's birthday weekend. I have to work, so my family came to see me. 

Well I need to put the girls to bed.

Hope everyone has a happy weekend! :)

belong.

This is where I belong. Every time I go home, I realize it even more. I know it's home and that it should bring up those emotions anyway, but this is just where I can be me and enjoy what I'm doing. The last few days, and actually the whole semester, have made me realize that I have chosen the right career. I have learned a lot at Ozark but I miss being outside and not having to deal with people all of the time. I know we are supposed to get out of our comfort zone, but working on the farm and being outside makes me happy. I feel like going to vet school is getting me out of my comfort zone but I still want to come back to the farm when I'm done. I have realized that when you are doing something you enjoy, even if it is work, it is still better than having to do a job you don't enjoy. Sounds cliche but so true. 

I'm ready to start my clinic, build a house, and start a family on the farm. Just skip the whole school part. :) 

gus.

This is Gus (or Clyde, or George, or Woody, or Dan) we can't decide. Gus has stuck the best. Kody and I got him from the shelter. I have been wanting a basset hound and when we saw him we knew he needed to come home with us. He lives with me most of the time. We have him on a trial for now but I have to take him back and fill out the final adoption papers today, so I have to decide if I can keep him or not. He is the sweetest dog ever. He lays around all the time and is glued to either Kodys or my side. I think he is afraid we will leave him forever. It has been a bit of a problem because I can't leave my apartment without him whining. It is getting a little better but is still a problem. This is why I can't decide if I can keep him. I can work with it here but when I go home, he can't be inside with me all the time. But, I just don't have the heart to not keep him. He is so much fun, and so lovable. He also doesn't need a lot of attention just as long as you don't leave him by himself. He just lays around all day as long as I don't leave him and he doesn't shed hardly at all. I'm in a bit of a predicament...