They Say It's Hard, But Never Say It's Fun

The first week before vet school was actually vet school 'orientation'. They call it COLE- Cougar Orientation and Leadership Experience. We had lots of fun games, communication lectures and team building exercises. I had a ton of fun and really learned a lot. We were 'camping' (sleeping in cabins is really not camping) on the Spokane River in Post Falls. It was great to help us get to know each other, all 99 of us first year vet students. Plus second and third year students were there as our mentors and talking to them really helped to settle my nerves.

Then there is this first week of actual school. My class list is as follows:

Small Animal Gross Anatomy
Microscopic Anatomy
Cell Physiology
Principles of Surgery
Animals, Society and Vets (Continuation of COLE through our 3rd)
Animal Handling and Ag. Animal Orientation

Electives:
International Vet Medicine
Colic Team

So far in anatomy we have studied the bones of the thoracic (front) limb. Today we started dissecting our cadavers. We are working on learning the origin and insertion of the muscles of the thoracic limb.

In micro anatomy lab we spend our time looking under a microscope. This week we have been looking for parts of the cell in different tissues.

Cell physiology has no lab. In class we are learning about DNA/RNA replication, transcription, translation, etc.

Principles of surgery is once a week with a lab every other week. I have not had my lab yet, but my classmates have said the lab was fun working on gowning up while keeping sterile, suturing and learning the various instruments.

Animals, society and vets is an interesting class. It is kind of a break from all the intense vet learning and focusing on important topics in veterinary medicine and working on our communication skills. We start various readings next week.

Animal handling and Ag. animal orientation sounds like great fun. We basically had an introduction to what the class is and we start labs next week. We have labs within the various clinical areas such as Small Animal, Equine, Ag animal and veterinary teaching hospital orientation. We get oriented to the hospital because we have badges which allow us total access to all the buildings of the vet school.

Today I watched a student put a catheter in a calf, nothing new for me to see, but good to see how they do things differently around here.

The International Vet Med class is pretty fun. It is during our lunch hour so we pretty much listen to a lecture on opportunities abroad or Animal-Human issues abroad while eating lunch.

Tomorrow I have colic team for my lunch elective. We will see what that entails. I hope we do have some colic cases this semester so I can learn from them, but then again any colic cases is a bad thing because someone has to go through that experience with their horse.

Tomorrow is also the club BBQ where I can sign up for clubs and see just how busy I can be this semester!

All in all I'm enjoying every minute I am here. A little sleep deprived, but not too much yet. Once I get my schedule down I will be working hard but loving it!

The Start of the Vet School 4-Year Run

I WILL be better about posting, especially since I will hopefully have some great stories going through school! First post has to have this weird video that the vet school e-mailed to all the students. It's not really funny, but it is interesting. Enjoy!

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6868901/

Update!

1. I'm in vet school, barring some disaster where I fail Biochem. I've only received one packet from them, so not sure if I should be worried or not lol.

2. I am working part time for the 4-H extension office as a "Clerical Assistant III" AKA anything the rest of the staff doesn't want to do...yeah that's me. I've determined I'm office or "four walls" claustrophobic when it comes to working. Plus who wants to be inside on such beautiful spring days?

3. I am again working for Ore Grade, Inc. I've got to work with manners on a two-year-old gelding and the two yearlings (foals last year) that I halter broke. I've also got to retrain a quarter horse that is off the track. Should be an interesting experience.
I've got to come up with a nickname for the yearling. He is light on his front feet (basically he likes to rear and/or strike).

That's all for now!

The Crazy Life

So I forgot the most important part of why I posted last. Thanks Christy for reminding me! I have an interview with Washington State University for vet school. This process has been so long and I've still got a long way to go, but this is a nice little boost. The whole thing starts in October, applications are due the first week of October. I had heard from three of the other schools (Colorado State University- will know about an interview the end of this month, University of California-Davis - will know of an interview in February, University of Pennsylvania - can be notified of an interview two weeks in advance all the way through March) but I had not heard a word from WSU until I got the letter the other day.

Also, last night I got to participate in the best family tradition. We pick a family in need and then do the "12 days of Christmas" to them. Last night was the fifth day so we did a couple of pineapples (they can be cut into golden rings :) ). I had to deliver last nights, usually dad and the young men do it because he is young men's president. Of course it is not easy, they have a window right by the door so I could only place it on the front porch. Plus they have a motion sensor light, but I think they are honoring our first night wishes to not try and catch your "pixie friends because they are small and their hearts couldn't handle a scare". Still gets your heart going when the light comes on!

Winter is here!

And I want out! I know people say they like four seasons, but is there anywhere where they aren't quite as extreme?! Granted we do not have the Wyoming wind, but snow, rain, freezing rain and sleet all in one day? Whew. So three of the Thoroughbreds are down in New Mexico, I'm not sure how they are doing, but I hope it's great!

I've posted some fun pictures, so enjoy!

McGee the Papillion, the picture is from last year, but it's festive


Two time Horse of the Year Curlin


Who totally would not want to stick their dog in a pillow case, it's only natural right?

Bad ear hair day for McGee, static and Papillions don't mix well

An elk I saw on the way to my grandparents, here they are a nuisance

We released these little gals (& guys?) in the spring on

Bet on the Bay, or little miss temper as I nicknamed her, she's still here in WA got hurt

The handsome devil Trigg. A Lapponian Herder puppy.

My horses are all becoming racehorses!

Only one of my four T-Breds that I broke was able to get on the trailer. I was not there and they had some problems (not on the horse end, more on the handler end). I have had to work with one of them because she is now afraid of the trailer. Anyways, the rest are leaving after Thanksgiving. Woohoo!

Got a notification that my little Devil Child (my favorite 'evil' foal from KY the first time) had his first official workout. Hopefully soon he will be racing! He will be three next year.

My life right now consists of a two hour round trip to school each day. I have not heard from any of the vet schools I have applied to in regard to an interview. Apparently I will not know until next year. I applied to four schools: Colorado State University, Washington State University, University of California-Davis and University of Pennsylvania. I am still working on a backup plan if I do not get into school!

The Latest and Greatest from the Lamest Life :)

I have neglected my blog! And just about anything that relates to a computer. Here is what is happening lately in my life and what I will give some updates on.

Last month (July) I worked at a horse camp. All girl camps for a week. My duties included: (before the camps started) riding horses to get them ready for beginners to ride, riding a horse that only had ten rides to help sell her for the elderly owner, (during camp) helping instruct the girls on grooming, saddling, riding, etc., giving horsmanship lessons on first aid, riding on the trail ride with them to insure safety and other various tasks (i.e. farm hand, landscaping, veterinarian, horse manager, baby sitter ... you name it I probably did it).

Some scary tales from the camps: Had to pony a pregnant mare that had grumpy horomones halfway up a mountain and all the way down the mountain...the whole time she was trying to bite/kick Sax who decided to be the weeniest pony horse that day, oh and console a scared/crying girl half the time. Had one girl on the same aforementioned mare, who is a very well trained reining mare that had her saddle slip on the side of the mare. The greatest part was the little girl just kept riding like it was normal, clip clop clip clop. Finally, same mare (Starting to see a pattern? Bad things only happen in three's right?) who belongs to a veterinarian began to colic, also known as life threatening stomach ache. This particular mare was one of the most painful mares, she would hardly walk without wanting to lay down and roll. Needless to say, was hauled to Washington State University veterinary school and avoided surgery.

At the same time as all this, in the evenings I was helping halter break some Thoroughbred foals for a gentleman that races in New Mexico. Then we hatched this crazy idea to break four of his horses to ride before he sends two of them in September.

And at the moment I am at my grandparents ready to go to a wedding reception tomorrow, so pretty quick deadline to get a couple of horses ready to go!

I'll keep y'all posted!