Way back on September 12th we started school. That was definitely an interesting week, not the best of weeks. I had waited all summer for school to start and then when it finally did I wasn't all that excited about it. The first day of school was good, slow, but good. I had a very relaxed ease into school from my long summer break. Then the second day of school I went to my morning class and then had to head down to Idaho Falls to have a biopsy done on my hand. (I know, not the best timing, but it was the soonest I could get in). For those that don't know I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in February 2011. August 31st I found out that I needed to get a biopsy done because of some bumps that were occurring on my hands. The doctor thought that they may have been rheumatoid nodules, which would mean that my medication isn't working and would need to switch to something stronger. But don't worry it ended up just being a cyst of some sort is is perfectly fine. In fact once I had my largest cyst removed the rest disappeared.
Anyway, had to go to the dermatologist to get it removed and miss the first day of my advanced nutrition class. I had already talked to my teacher and I was his TA when I was diagnosed so he knew about everything that was going on. I was even hoping to catch the last part of the class, but my doctors appointment ended up being 2 hours long. That was NOT what I expected. For one, the rheumatologist said it wouldn't take very long and that they would just do a punch in my hand to get a sample of whatever it may be. Because of the location and how deep it was the dermatologist was wondering if they would even be able to do it. I was so happy that they did because I had had this appointment for two weeks and was missing class. But instead of just having a punch, they ended up cutting open and removing the whole cyst.
The procedure ended up taking 1 1/2 hours. I couldn't believe how long it took! They also had to give me like 5 numbing shots because it just wasn't lasting very long. Ended up getting three stitches, my first stitches, other than the ones that I have had in my mouth. Here is a picture I think about 6 hours after the surgery. It HURT all the first day! I lived off of Tylenol and was constantly holding bags of frozen vegetables.
Here is a picture right before I took the stitches out. Don't worry the PA gave me permission to. I had asked about going to Community Care to get them taken out so I wouldn't have to drive all the way to Idaho Falls for a 5 minute appointment. He then told me that I could just do it myself or take it to the vet tech program or nursing program. This was the night of September 24th. 11 days after the surgery. They said to take then out in 12-14 days. I was just itching to get the dang things out. Plus 2 out of the 3 stitches had ripped out because I stretched my hand out in my sleep and ripped them. So only one was doing any good.
When I took the stitches out my wound was obviously not healed because the stitches had ripped. Then took another week for it to close up all the way. I was so excited when that finally happened. I am taking a water aerobics class and I had been having to hold my hand out of the water, and I was finally able to put my hand in the water. The first week of it being healed I still had to keep it pretty easy because the skin was so tight and it hurt really bad to stretch it out all the way.Here is a picture on October 15th, just over a month after the surgery and two weeks since it closed up. Still can't stretch it out all the way, but at least it doesn't hurt. Just have scar tissue there, but otherwise healed!
The day that I had the biopsy done was not a good day AT ALL! My hand was hurting, I had homework to do in which I so desperately was trying to write with my left hand. At least the first week didn't have a lot of note taking. The day after the biopsy I was able to write a little bit with my left hand if I just took it easy and didn't have a lot to write, otherwise it would hurt. I also had to change how I wrote, and now I am back to the way I wrote before the biopsy.Later that Tuesday, when my hand was hurting and I just wasn't having a good day our fish Polly died. It was so random and out of the blue and one day after the two week mark of being able to return the fish and get a new one. It just wasn't a good day. I was so sad because of everything that had happened that day. Then Wednesday I found out that I would have to memorize 22 plants by being able to identify them, memorize the common name, scientific name, and family name by Friday in which we would have a test. This was all on the first week of school! It is safe to say that test didn't go so well because it was just too much for one week and two days.
That Saturday I spent relaxing and not worrying about homework (haven't had a weekend like that since). We also went down to Idaho Falls and got two new fish to add to the tank. We have now had then for a month.
Here is a picture of Shark Bait our Otocinclus (algae eater). In the picture he is doing what Chris and I refer to as "Mad Skills." He hangs onto things with his two fins, it is CRAZY how he does it. Even in a strong current and he is such a tiny little fish and often hard to find, but really fun to watch.
Here is Plucker our balloon bellied molly, aka fat bellied molly. It was kind of weird not having a Polly with the Rolly but Plucker seemed to fit him. He picks at EVERYTHING! He has really pretty colorings.
I also finally got a good picture of Rolly that we had gotten with Polly. He is our other fat bellied molly. We also have Mr. Clean our peppered cory (he is my favorite, but don't tell the other fish that), Apollo our guppy, and Titian our platy.
So yeah, that is the recent update of what has been going on. The semester is going good and we are going into midterms. I have to have 112 plants memorized by the 26th. Also going to be going down to Southern Utah in a month for my range plants class so I don't have to take the final. Then the last week of November Chris and I will be going to the Range Beef Cow Symposium in Nebraska. We are pretty excited about it because we have never been to Nebraska and we will be doing some networking to hopefully get some jobs after graduation in April. The school is taking a bus and we will be stopping at Colorado State University to tour for grad school and vet students. Along with stopping at a meat packing plant to do a tour. Pretty excited!
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