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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Swine Flu

H1N1 is called the "Swine flu" here. The media has totally blown up this issue. Just keep in mind that over 700 Americans die every week from the flu. No, not the "swine flu," but that average seasonal flu that we are used to having. The flu that we are used to having is resistant to Tamiflu. The "Swine flu," however is not resistant at all meaning that there is some sort of treatment that can be used for this virus. Yes, this is a new virus that we don't have immunity to yet, but we do have immunity to other influenza A viruses.

You cannot get the "swine flu" from eating pork. Remember that we get the flu from other people coughing and sneezing in close contact with us. This flu is no different.

Wash your hands and stay away from people who are sick. If you get a fever and body aches call your doctor. Most importantly, don't panic!

PS. The little boy that died of the swine flu here in Houston was from Mexico City. He was visiting family or friends in Brownsville, Texas where he started getting sick. He was admitted to Texas Children's hospital here in Houston when he was in serious condition. He had previous health problems that made his susceptible to any kind of illness. None of his family members are sick.
Thanks for reading,
Amy

Monday, April 27, 2009

Flooding!

Two weekends ago we had a huge thunderstorm come through Houston. We watched the parking lot to our apartment flood. Then, the fire alarm started going off. I though OH GREAT! Where are we going to go? So, we drove in Lance's truck to the front office and learned that there wasn't a fire, they just couldn't get the alarm to go off. The street we live on was flooded and there were two girls sitting in the front office. Their car was drowning in front of them. Lance offered to help push their car out of the water. As Lance walks out there in the pouring rain, the water goes up all the way to his waist! He helps push the car and then realizes that the water was almost up to his doors on his Ford 150 4X4 truck! The creek beside our apartment flooded along with the water retention pond across the street flooding the road we live on and the interstate.

Fast forward to this past Saturday. Lance and I decided to go to Katy and watch a movie with friends. My car didn't have gas so we decided to just take Lance's truck. After the movie we go back to their house and saw on the news that Southeast Houston was flooding. I said we need to get home. As we arrive closer to our apartment the interstate was shut down and we could already see lots of cars stalled trying to go down the road we live on. It was about 11 at night. We parked in the Walmart parking lot and just waited. The rain let up and when it was about 12:15 I said lets go! And Lance said okay..... Thank goodness we were in Lance's truck because the water did get into his doors. We waited in a line of cars that were blocked because of all the stalled cars in the standing water. After waiting about 30 minutes Lance decides to jump the curb, drive down the median passing the stalled cars and turn into our apartment complex. We got to bed finally at 1:00 am. If we were in my car we would have had to spend the night in my car in the Walmart parking lot!

So today I am studying and I see that we are now in ANOTHER flood and tornado watch!!!! Lance is currently in Louisiana finishing up a project. He plans to leave soon. I hope he travels safely. He is in a small rental car so if our road is flooded, which it will be, he won't be able to get back. I guess I can get in the truck and pick him up at Walmart! Needless to say, Lance and I decided that we are NOT going to live in Friendswood when we move!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

meatloaf magic

Amy: What time are you coming home?
Lance: I don't know. I have to get a handle on all this work first.
Amy: Well, what time do you think it will be?
Lance: Um, another hour or more.
Amy: Well, I just put the meatloaf in the oven.
Lance: (In a hurried voice) Okay. I'm on my way home right now.

And that is the power of meatloaf!!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Amy's Rotation Schedule

My rotations start the last week of June! I am excited that all of these finals are wrapping up and I get to learn more skills over the summer and head out on rotations. I feel like I have learned so much! I never thought I would be able to learn so much in a short amount of time.

  • 6/29-7/22 Texas City, TX with a cardiologist
  • 7/27-8/19 Bay City, TX for internal medicine
  • 8/24-9/15 Galveston County 4Cs clinic (this is a clinic for the indigent population)
  • 9/21-10/28 Katy, TX for Ob/gyn
  • 11/1-12/8 LONGVIEW for pediatrics
  • CHRISTMAS BREAK
  • 1/4-1/27 Tyler, TX for inpatient primary care
  • 2/1-2/24 Anahuac, TX for primary care
  • 3/1-3/23 Alvin, TX for primary care
  • 3/29-4/22 Galveston, TX UTMB gen. surgery
  • 4/26-5/20 College Station, TX for ER
  • 5/24-6/16 Houston VA for plastic surgery

After every block I have to return to UTMB to take an exam. That is why there are a couple of days not accounted for between the rotations. I am really getting thrown in there starting with cardiology!!! I am excited though, I just wish I had primary or internal medicine before cardiology.

EDIT: I now have housing in Bay City. I am being housed by AHEC. They house medical and PA students in the area.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

3 finals DOWN!

I survived my 3 finals. I know I got As in the first two classes, but am on the line for the third. I don't know when my grade will come in for that. I feel that the more patients I see the less nervous I am and the more natural the history and physical go. I still have my presentation this afternoon and my write-up to do, but it has been getting easier every time I have to do them.

I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend with Lance. I abandoned him last weekend to study so I am excited to spend lots of time with him. Poor Lance. I am thankful for a supportive husband.

I plan to post my rotation schedule on here soon to keep you updated.

Mom called me this week and told me Dillards called her to tell her that we had a Wedding gift to pick up. Come to find out Dillards had stashed a gift in their storage room for almost a year now!!! A sweet older couple bought us a nice griddle and never got a Thank You note for it because we didn't receive the gift. I can't believe that Dillards had kept the gift that long without even notifiying me. Oh well, it makes for a nice anniversary gift.

Happy Easter.
Amy

Friday, April 3, 2009

ready set go

I've decided to start a blog. With our crazy busy lives right now, I hope to make time to update this so others can keep up with our lives!

Just to update you:

Amy- Please pray for me to get through these 3 finals this next week. I also have my last patient write-up to do. These are typically 18-22 pages long and take me hours to complete.

Lance-Pray that he will continue to enjoy his job. Pray for his patience with me. (I typed patients first...oh PA school.)

-Amy