Well, It's official...I GRADUATED!!! I have a Master's Degree!!! I am now a Speech-Language Pathologist!!! Unemployed, but an SLP nonetheless!!

Class of 2011!! =)

Without these two, I'd be nowhere!!

The "Kids"

My Love.

Lisa and I! We finally made it!

I am so excited to be done. I really was worried there for a while. I am now free of studying, tests, and unpaid practicum!! While I do not have a job yet, I am looking forward to having time to do whatever I want. I'll probably get bored soon but that's okay!!!

More updates/posts to come.

Hello Non-Existent Readers...

Well, it HAS been a while since I last updated this thing...and a lot has happened. I finished my last 2 summer classes and just finished my first off-campus internship. Let me tell you about it...

I was placed at a "Rehabilitation and Medical Center" here in town. I was extremely nervous because each client, patient, resident was an adult. I had worked with 2 adult clients while on campus, but this still scared me. I never thought I wanted to work with adults. I always thought I'd be better at working with children because of the whole coloring, games, Play-doh, etc. thing that I always enjoy. If I haven't said it before, I'm like a seven year old. Anyway, this placement was such a great experience and an eye-opener. I liked working with the old adult population. Most every patient was great. There were a few that were extremely tough to work with for one reason or another. I overall enjoyed it. I think I could see myself working in a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility). Especially since they make such great money...ANYwho...One of my favorite residents was a Mr. A. He has aphasia and he gets frustrated easily when he's trying to ask you something but you can't figure it out. But mostly he had good days and was enthusiastic about participating. We finally got him a Lingraphica device to try out. I had used this device on-campus with my other aphasic patient. And Mr. A. was, and hopefully still is excited about it. I think he will be able to use this once he gets used to it. It was so sweet on my last day, he shook my hand. Even though he couldn't say good luck, thank you, or whatever he wanted, I got the jist. I wanted to cry. I think I'm going to miss him most of all. I wonder who  which student from ODU will be working with him in the fall. This place pretty much has a student every semester.

I got my placement for my child internship. I'm super excited about it! I'm going to be "working" for free...at the elementary school 5 minutes (by foot) from my house. I am ecstatic about that. It's going to be so nice not having to drive to ODU everyday and not having to drive very far at ALL! While this fall semester is going to be tough, I'm going to enjoy it, I think....IT'S MY LAST ONE hopefully.

OH yeah! Keith put me on his phone plan so now I have a super smart phone and I love it! I get to take pictures of Ellie and her antics all the time (I know...like I didn't have enough already...) Here are some of my favorites.

Ellie sleeping like a human in Gma's bed.

This was on Father's Day...She was going to see her Daddy.

From her perch...she likes to look out the front door.

Her new toy, Flipper, which she has already disemboweled.

I love her.

We bought her an ewok hood from Talk 2 The Trees. She's pretty gifted!

Her crazy beast growl yawn

Isn't it adorable? She looks just like an ewok!

 

 

 

OK. I give up.

Sorry, but I've just been super busy with life, I haven't been able to complete my 30 days of whatever it was. Since I wrote last...well, really wrote...a whole month ago...
- Keith and I went to a Washington Capitals game!!! One of the THE best sports experience of my life. The fans/crowd were amazing. They chanted and cheered and it was just great. Our seats could not have been any better either. Here are some pictures. Oh yeah. They WON!

-Here are a few things I learned from that day trip to D.C. -->

1. I will never live near or around D.C. especially in Springfield. That place was terrible.
2. I still love the metro.
3. The Verizon Center is really nice.
4. Washington Capitals fans are unbelievably amazing. The spirit in that place was incredible.
5. Hockey is even better to watch live in person. It is now my new 2nd favorite sport.
6. Ovie really is that Great.
7. The Capitals deserve to win the Stanley Cup.
8. I love Chinatown after a Caps win. Everyone was so excited. Just an overall amazing atmosphere.
9. A GPS is obsolete if you have a smartphone.
10. Potomac Mills is HUGE and amazing. I WILL be going back after I get money.
11. There's no place like home.



- I finished my last on-campus therapy sessions. I'm really going to miss my fluency and aphasia clients. I got really lucky this semester with my clients. Even if I didn't get to color or play with playdoh. I am super glad its (almost) over however. I'm going in tomorrow to "move out" all of my therapy crap. Then I'll have my checkout appointment on Tuesday. I'm really going to miss the ladies I've been in Clinic with for the past year...Here's a picture from our last day, all together.

  When I came into the Clinic yesterday, I found my desk looking like this...

I finally got pranked. All the cups were filled with water. Took me 5 trips to the bathroom to empty all the water out.

I'll have a few more days off here soon, so I'll try to keep you updated...if anyone actually reads this.

Later yo.

P.S.- stay safe from those tornadoes out there...

Days 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12...

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh. It's a tie.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most. - Mis padres!

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with. -Ms. Melissa

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

Day 7

My most treasured item...

Days 5 (oops) and 6

Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.

Our first vacation together...just us! =)

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Nina Dobrev...because she gets to hang out with these guys on a regular basis. Yum.

Day 4

Picture of my favorite person.

This is me with my favorite person!!

Day 3

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

I love Smallville. I've watched it since season 1 and I'm very distraught that it's the last season =(

Day 2

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you used to be close with.

 All of these people...minus Keith...lol we're pretty close.

Day 1

One of my facebook friends is doing this on Facebook, but I thought I'd do it on here! It's a 30-day challenge...let's hope I can stick to it!
Day One - A picture of yourself with fifteen [I added a bit more] facts.
*Hi...My name is Carrie...I'm a loser
*I'm a Caribou .
*I'm an ODU Monarch for life...and No, its not a butterfly
*I'm an APPLE Snob...I have never owned a PC (piece of crap)...and NEVER will.
*I was a mac before it was cool...way back in 95.
*I went to Salem High.... Class of 2005!!!
*I have a bachelor of science degree in Speech-Language Pathology
*When I graduated, I had the highest GPA in my college.
*I'm currently working on my Master's in Speech-Language pathology @ ODU. (December 2011)
*Green is the best color...not pink
*I'm a real big cry baby...
*I'm proud to be PALE! It is the new tan, ya know.
*I love goofy boys!!!
*I doodle hearts!
*I have arachnophobia
*I'm still working on that whole "delivery" thing...
*Music is part of me...I'd die without it
*I LOVE the beach...but I never go
*I like taking pictures...
*Summer afternoon thunderstorms are great!
*"Forever" by Acted Out is my favoritest song ever! YES! I said favoritest!!
*...Followed closely by "I Don't Care" ...The unedited version of course!!
*I've lived in Virginia Beach my ENTIRE life
*I have this thing for paper, notebooks, markers, pens, crayons, etc. Only CRAYOLA though...everything else is crap!
*I'm short and proud of it!!
*I'm obsessed with hearts
*I don't eat pork, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, etc.
*I love speaking Spanish
*PWTs, P!ATD, and the beach...started with me...believe what you want...they did
*One of the few things I feel really STRONGLY about...I'm firmly against going tanning. I think it's dangerous and stupid.
*Old Navy tank tops are the best...EVER!!
*I'm bound to sprout feathers and grow a beak ...
**I LOVE the smell of Old Spice...=)
*Yes...I FIX dinner...even though its not broken
*I like writing in IPA
*I love Jet Noise!
*My favorite words are Y'all and toxicological...oh and otolaryngologist.
*I hate clothes and food
*Gilmore Girls is awesome
*I LOVE football!!! GO REDSKINS!
*I love the water!
*I'm not funny at ALL...ask anyone
*I wanna get married!!!!!
*It's so sad to see my oldest friends turn out the way they have...
*My mom was so right - "You've never had much luck with girl friends"
*I'm always confused...
*I wish serendipity was my friend
*I love driving...especially taking long ways on dark winding back roads at night

*~*Things That Make Me Feel Good*~*
**Ellie! Unless she's biting me
*The Beach...at ANY time
*Chocolate
*Laughing
*My BOYS!!
*Swinging
*HOT, fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts
*Handel's strawberry ice cream
*Hugs
*Hamsters
*Cheese Doodles!
*Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Psych and Supernatural
*Slurpees
*Pillows
*Snow
*Fruit Roll-Ups
*Dark roads, windows down, loud music
*Singing as loud as possible when alone in my car
*Prisms
*My bed
    

Since last time...

Comps.

     They were alright. I felt that I was prepared for most of the questions. The voice disorder question was confusing so hopefully that went ok. Audiology is pretty tricky usually but I think I did okay on that one. We'll see in about a month...*fingers crossed*

Thesis.

     I have one! YAY! I spoke with the professor I want to work with yesterday and she said she's got plenty of ideas and she said I could do something with data she already has (which will save time since I'm late starting it...). It has to do with emotion words in children and adolescents who stutter. Should be interesting and I can finally stop responding to "When will you graduate?" with "December...*fingers crossed*" I can now say..."December!!"

Sick.

     I woke up yesterday with a sore throat. That was the first sign. I got up and took an advil and felt pretty much better. Then during therapy, of all times, my nose started running (and no, I didn't have to go catch it...wah wah). Then, yesterday afternoon, I started feeling pressure in my head/sinuses. Not cool. I didn't sleep very well last night and thought my head was going to explode. Anyway...long story short...drugs and Krispy Kreme made me feel better. HOPING I'll feel better tomorrow so I don't have to cancel and reschedule therapy...

Here are some pictures of Ellie for your enjoyment... 

She sits here and whines. That's where we keep the snacks.

Sleeping with daddy.

Not sure why she hopped in the chair and laid like this.

Goofball.

Her adorable little boy-friend.

On the way to the beach!

FINALLY got one of these pics!

She's totally a big deal.

She was pouting because we wouldn't give her a treat.

She hates when I'm on the computer...so she sleeps on it so I can't use it...

Hello Friends

Long time no see. I've been super busy with school and all! I've started therapy and this semester is interesting. I have 2 adult clients and one 11 year-old. They are all great, but it's kinda boring doing therapy with them. I feel like I'm all out-of-sorts and never do my work completely and get everything wrong. I have my midterm staffing meeting in 2 weeks and I'm super nervous about what my supervisor has to day. Oh well...anyway. Today's the last day of spring break and I haven't studied for comps as much as I planned. But it's so boring and I don't want to!! I've still got 2 weeks though! So...until next time, just know I'll be a school doing therapy and/or studying for comps!

Springs almost here!!

<3

Very productive day!

So this past week, I've been preparing for my first diagnostic session in the clinic. It's been pretty stressful with all the paperwork and the planning. Today was the day. We were super anxious because we had not heard from the parents about anything so we weren't even sure they were coming. They DID show up and we did the diagnostic. I was so stressed out people were starting to worry about me. I have the best fellow clinicians in the world. =) It was definitely an interesting experience. My client was super hard to understand because he primarily speaks Arabic. Too bad it wasn't spanish as I have spent years studying the language and would at least be able to understand SOME of it. Once you get past the Arabic and not understanding part, it was okay. I'm just glad its over. Now, I can write reports and analyze data and all the fun stuff.

Until next time...

<3

Beginning of year TWO!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my second year of graduate school. I'm actually kind of excited!! I'm going to be a clinic III, which is my last on campus practicum (internship)!! It's so weird to think I'm starting my last on campus placement. It feels like I just started grad school. My, how time flies. I am scared that everyone in clinic will be looking to me for guidance and advice. Yikes!!

The good news is that I do not have classes this semester. I just have clinic. Oh yeah and comps and my thesis to start...woo... I'll worry about that later.


On another note, it's going to be a long week with my "niece-dog" here...she drives me insane. Wish me luck...

Goodnight world.

Holy Smokes!!

ok. It's been a long time since I've posted on here. Before I get into all the details, let me just say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

24 feels just the same as 23...haha.

Anywho...

December was pretty eventful. I completed my 3rd semester of graduate school! yay! only one year left... On my last day of school for the semester, we got hit with a fast blast of snow. Now, don't get me wrong, I love snow. It was awesome. HOWEVER, when it starts snowing at 10:30 and snowing hard, and sticking to the roads, people get crazy. It took me over 3 hours to get home from ODU, when it usually only takes me 30 minutes. I was not amused. Here are a few pictures from that day...

See?! Crazy! Okay... so after that day, I didn't have a whole lot to do besides finish up a few (and I mean a few because I did all my shopping online) Christmas gifts. I was scheduled to work the 22nd and Christmas eve. Both of which were extremely boring and slow. 
 Here was our Christmas tree. We were so blessed to be able to buy so many presents for each other.

Christmas morning was a lot different this year. This was due to the fact that 1) Keith was here to spend Christmas with us (YAY!) and 2) Daniel and Amy were at her family's house until 10:30 (boo). But I managed to stay calm and not get (TOO) annoyed that we didn't open presents until 11:00ish. It was a really good Christmas.

I got this..

I've been wanting one forever! But they're so expensive!

Isn't it amazing?

.
 This was my Ellie, opening ONE of her presents...

I love her.

I was ALSO scheduled to work the 26th, but...we had this...

My Ellie is a Snow Bunny

She looks even tinier in this picture.

Yes. That's 14 inches of snow. Never seen that much before in my life!

The day after the big snow fall, Keith and I went out a little to explore...it was fun.

My car...hehe

This was a road. at least 1.5 inches of solid ice.

Kinda scary watching people drive on it...

Ellie enjoying a (short) walk.

Written on my car.

From inside my car.

Independence Blvd.

hehe..He sunk into the snow when he went over the invisible curb haha

not the best, but...

I love this pic.

My snow dog wanted to go out everytime someone was in the kitchen.

Backyard.

The snow was taller than she.

Cutie

Hopping like a rabbit.

This snow shut down Hampton Roads for about 2 days. The ice stayed on the road for more like 4.5. It was crazy. Luckily, it rained and all the snow and ice is gone. As much as I love snow, I was ready for it to go away. It was starting to just be a nuisance.

OH! I forgot to mention one present that I love. Keith got me the NFL training camp for the wii. It's super fun but super hard. It has workouts and you can definitely feel the next day. As much as I hate having to do them, I'm always glad I do because they make me feel better and I burn at least 100 calories each time I do it. I'm hoping it'll help be get into shape. I'm tired of being....not my ideal weight.

New Year's was pretty uneventful. I don't really even remember it. Which is fine. It was super hard for me to stay up until 12...I'm a grandma...haha. I worked the 3rd. The 4th was Daddy's birthday and....here we are.

School starts again on Monday. I don't have classes this semester so it will be cool to just have clinic. I love doing that. So. Until next time...