I had my 37 week appointment today and my doctor asked if I wanted her to check me. I told her I didn’t really have a preference (I was convinced that Aedan was going to be late and I would go past my due date so I wasn’t sure there was a need for her to check me). My doctor decided to check anyway and I think she and I were both pretty surprised when she found out I am 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated! My Dr said I shouldn’t worry about going past my due date. :)
-Lauren-
My last class was December 1st and I have been a graduate since December 18th, which means it took me exactly one month to break out my books, start up Microsoft word and start typing a study guide. Why am I diving back into my books and typing up a study guide just a month after I finished grad school? Well, let me tell you…
I have to sit for the BCBA exam. Its a 4 hour, 300 question test that I need to pass in order to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The test is only offered twice a year and I was hoping to be able to take it before Aedan comes, but it won’t be offered until April. I’m not sure I will be up for taking the test in April, but if I wait I can’t take the test until September.
I’m not going to worry about when I am going to take the exam, the important thing for me to focus on is that I am going to take it, and soon.
Lucky for me there is a group of girls, that I graduated with, who are also preparing for the exam. We have divided up the task list and scheduled a group study session every other Sunday from now until April. Having the task list divided up means that each of us is only responsible for about 25 tasks vs. over 100 tasks. Our plan is to work our way through the list and by the end everyone will have a study guide that covers the entire list.
Now I just need to make sure I get all my tasks completed before Aedan comes. :) Then, maybe then, I can put my books away and say that my studying days are over…
-Lauren-
When I got home Jon opened his Christmas gifts from my parents. He got some good stuff, including a new pedal for his electric guitar and some juggling size soccer balls so he and Hiro can play soccer in the house (sigh).
After I got everything unpacked we decided to take down the Christmas decorations. It went pretty fast and now our living room feels huge! We ran some errands this afternoon and then just napped the afternoon away.
Now we are home in our usual spots on the couch (including Hiro) and watching the first season of Better Off Ted.
I have to work for a few hours tomorrow morning and then I’m off again until Monday!
-Lauren-
Tonight was my last graduate class forever! It was sooo hard to get motivated to go to class. It was in the low 40s and rainy all day, and all I wanted to do was stay curled up in bed (I was able to take a nice nap before going to class). All I had to do was turn in my last research paper and the thought of driving 45 minutes in rain and traffic did not sound fun. However, I did end up going to class and turning in my paper. I am home now and feeling pretty good about almost being done with my masters! I have one last project to finish up and 2 more hours of observation to complete this week and then I can say I am officially DONE. My birthday is on Sunday, so I am planning on finishing up everything before then, just so I can say I am officially done! Can’t wait!!
-Lauren-
Tonight was my second to last graduate class! Unfortunately my drive to school was just about enough to make me never want to get on I35 again!
For the last 2 years I have made the commute from south Austin to San Marcos for class a few nights a week. While it is only about 20 miles south, I have to be at school around 6:30pm, just in time for rush hour traffic.
Tonight I made it through the typical heavy traffic in south Austin and thought I was good to go. I was wrong. A few minutes later traffic came to a stand still. I inched forward at a snails pace to find out there was an accident and the right lane was blocked. I passed the accident and thought I was good to go. I was wrong. A few minute later traffic comes to a stand still again! Sigh. This time it was because the left lane was blocked off in preparation for road work that was scheduled to be done tonight (according to the flashing sign). Okay, got passed the lane closure, surely I am good to go. Oh no. Not yet. A few minutes later traffic comes to a stand still again! This time, just a car pulled over and a police officer. Why does everyone feel the need to stop and check out what’s going on whenever there are flashing lights. I finally made it to class, 20 minutes late. Sigh.
At least I only have 1 more class!!
-Lauren-
This is the email I got today from the dean! Yay!
Lauren Dechiro,
It is my pleasure to inform you that you have successfully completed your
written comprehensive examination taken on October 30, 2009. I will submit
the paperwork to the Graduate College informing them of your accomplishment.
Congratulations and good luck in your future.
Dr. L. W.
Now I just have to get motivated to finish up my research paper and practicum work. December 1st is just around the corner and I can’t wait to be DONE!
I was hoping to be able to sit for the BCBA exam before Aedan comes, but its only being offered in April or September of 2010. I am thinking that I probably won’t feel like cramming for a big test during the first few weeks we have Aedan, so it looks like I am going to be signing up for the September test. It shouldn’t matter too much since I will be on maternity leave until the end of May or June and then I will be co-supervising a few cases until I take on my own cases.
Okay, enough about school. Check out what Jon and I made for dinner tonight.
Yum!
Here is the recipe (it’s from the Food Network)
Pierce potatoes all over with a fork. Place in the microwave and cook at 50% power, turning once or twice, until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. (Or, use the "potato setting" on your microwave and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.)
Meanwhile, brown meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Increase heat to high, add broccoli and water to the skillet, cover, and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the broccoli; add to the meat.
Carefully cut off the top third of the cooked potatoes; reserve the tops for another use. Scoop the insides out into a medium bowl. Place the potato shells in a small baking dish. Add 1/2 cup Cheddar, sour cream, salt and pepper to the potato insides and mash with a fork or potato masher. Add scallions and the potato mixture to the broccoli and meat; stir to combine.
Evenly divide the potato mixture among the potato shells and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Microwave on high until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
Vegetarian variation: Replace the ground beef with a soy-based substitute or omit the beef altogether and increase the broccoli to 1 1/2 cups and the cheese to 1 1/4 cups.
***This was so easy and it taste great. We thought it was a little dry so next time I think I will add more sour cream. We did add a little butter on the top (we won’t want this to be too healthy, right?).
-Lauren-
Well I should find out how I did on my comprehensive exams this week. I had a meeting with one of my professors over the weekend and she let us know that everyone was supposed to be finished grading the questions by this morning. Each question is graded by 3 professors, if at least 2 pass you then you pass the question.
My professor said that the dean will be going through and figuring out who passed and who failed today. This afternoon, he is supposed to email the people who have failed a question (or more) and are graduating. So I guess if I don’t hear anything from him this afternoon, that’s good news. :) If I did fail a question, I will get to go back and retake it on the 20th, so at least it is not a complete all or nothing thing.
I feel pretty good about all my answers, but you never know. All the questions have multiple right answers and a lot depends on opinions. I guess I’ll just keep hoping not to get an email today.
-Lauren-
***Update***I just checked my school email account and I didn’t get an email from the dean. Hopefully that’s a good sign! :)
Last night in class we went over our class calendar and decided not to have class the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (ah the joys of having a cool professor and a class of 10 people). Since we will be cancelling class that week, I only have 3 more classes until I will be DONE with graduate school!! I can’t believe I am that close to being done for good.
I have few more little projects to complete for my research class and about 15 more hours to get at my practicum site (which I should be able to knock out before Thanksgiving). By December 1st I will be DONE!
Once I graduate I need to sit for my Board Certified Behavior Analysis exam…sigh. I am hoping to take it before Aedan comes, but it is only offered in March next semester, so it may be close. Before I am allowed to sit for the exam I have to earn 1500 therapy hours. I have been doing ABA therapy since May of 2006, which means I have earned way more than 1500 hours. Unfortunately I can’t count any hours I did before starting graduate classes in January of 08. Yesterday I finally added up all the hours I have accumulated since starting school and currently I have 1425. I should get another 85-90 hours before December 18th, which means I am going to meet my goal of 1500 hours before graduation! Yay! Now I just have to study for the exam…I am pretty sure I won’t worry about that until January. ;)
-Lauren-
I am snacking on these
And blogging.
So as promised here are some belly shots
13 weeks
And 14 weeks
As far as how I am feeling…Tuesday was a little bit of a rough day, but I think it was mostly because I was exhausted from the weekend. Wednesday and today have been pretty good, I haven’t had to take any medicine which is great! I have been getting headaches every afternoon/evening, but nothing super bad.
Okay, now I am really going to think about getting to my lit review and comps study guide…fun, fun.
-Lauren-
Last night I had my last first day of school forever (well unless I decide to get my doctorate degree, HA!). Its great to be so close to graduation! My only regular class is a research class, which shouldn’t be too bad. I am also taking a practicum class, where I have to volunteer my time to do some ABA in the public schools. It should be a good experience, I am just hoping I get into a good school with a knowledgeable teacher.
Other than school starting, it has been a pretty typical week around here. I was going to try to make it up to Plano this weekend for Labor Day, but I am still not feeling too great, so I think I am going to pass. I think I may spend some time this weekend shopping for some new clothes…mine are getting on the tight side! :)
I know I am so behind on posting belly pictures, but we have been taking them, so I will eventually get around to plugging my camera in and downloading them…I am so lazy!
-Lauren-
I took my last final yesterday! It wasn’t bad at all, except we had to take it on the computer in class. My computer only messed up once and thankfully I was only on #25 out of 100. I needed a 79 to make a solid A in the class and I got an 89 on the exam so I should be good to go. :) Tomorrow night I have to go to my other class, but I just have to sit and listen to other groups present. Jon says I can’t really celebrate being done with school until tomorrow night, but I consider myself done already.
Last night after our final, my friend Jesse and I celebrated with margaritas at Trudy’s. We had a blast. Next week we are planning on getting pedicures to start off our summer.
Tonight since I didn’t have ANY studying to do I decided to try out an outdoor yoga class. A couple of weekends ago when I was walking around Town Lake I saw a group doing yoga and I picked up a flier. Apparently the instructor leads a class every weekday evening and weekend mornings. Its free for anyone to come a join, she just asks for donations. Tonight was the first opportunity I had to try it out and I LOVED it. I am going to try and go twice a week and maybe some Saturday mornings over the summer. The class meets on a pier that looks over a pond with a fountain. It across from Town Lake so it’s not as crowded. I have never done yoga outside before, and it was definitely great.
Another highlight for the week…Jon and I have caught up to season 5 of LOST. In fact we are going to be totally caught up just in time for the season finally next week. :)
Wii Fit is amazing! It analysed out weight and BMI then it helps you set goals for yourself. It tracks how many minutes you exercises and it has fun balance games. I love it! This is going to be the perfect addition to my weekly walks. :)
for a night. We stayed there during our honeymoon and it was amazing. Here is the view from our room. Can you imagine living somewhere like this? I remember driving from a winery one day and we pasted a school where kids were outside practicing soccer with the mountains in the background. Amazing! I am looking forward to our second vacation as a married couple. :)
