Wow, where did the time go?  Since starting my EMT courses, time has been flying by.  I had to take CPR, Haz Mat and Infectious Control over the month of August and then EMT class started on September 4.  I was worried that I failed the Hazmat class, but I found out that I passed it and got my certification from the State!  :)  I also received my CPR certification.  The infectious control was basically an informational type course.  EMT is tough.  I didn’t realize how tough it would be.  Lots of reading, lots of review.  We had "practicles" on this past Saturday.  We learned how to take a pulse from different areas on the body and do blood pressure checks.  We had to listen to peoples lungs and practice loading and unloading an ambulance.  We had to practice putting people on backboards and stairchairs and carry them around.  It was a long day, from 8am till 5pm.  We were really working.  It was a lot of fun and I am glad I am taking the course.  I had my first test on Monday and received a 90%.  It should have been better, but I am pretty happy with that grade.  We were able to correct the test and bring it home for use in studying for the State exam in January.  Since completing the CPR, Hazmat and IC, that puts me inline to be categorized as a "red hat" at the fire station.  I will be able to ride the fire trucks and have fire gear, but not do anything but take pictures. lol Thats ok.  It will be a good experience.  The Chief is planning on having an ambulance at the station for me to use to practice different things and ride along on calls.  This will work out great since I have to complete 10 hours of ride along for the course, and I won’t have to go to a different station.

My son is doing pretty well in Recruit school.  He has gotten himself in a little trouble there with the Chief.  Nothing major, but lets just say, you do not want to piss off the Chief there.  Picture the most horrific bootcamp episode that you have ever seen, where the Seargant is screaming at a recruit and you will get the idea.  Oh well, it builds character.

Jess started back to school on Sept 4. She has a short school day since she is in a work/study program.  She leaves school at 10:30, reports to work by 11am and then comes home around 5pm.  Perfect.  This gives her time to do some homework, then if she wants to visit with her boyfriend, the will have time for that too.  This thursday, September 20, she will be going to one of her last orthodontia appoitments.  They will be doing impressions so that they can make her retainer.  Then in October, she will be getting her braces OFF!!  THANK GOD.  I still need to get her Senior pictures done, so as soon as they come off we can do those.  She will have a beautiful smile.

Back in early August, I was having pain in my back that radiated around to the front abdomen and then down into my upper thigh.  It was like a burning pain.  The pain was bad enough that I did not want to work out, but not bad enough to cause me to see the doc.  I also thought that maybe it was my herniated disk and that maybe the pain was radiating differently.  While I was in EMT class last week, we were talking about the organs.  The instructer was explaining that if you come across a patient that is complaining of back pain that it could be a couple of different problems.  Of which, kidney stones were described.  I know that kidney stones can cause severe pain, but I am thinking that I might have had a small one.  After about a week, the pain was gone and has been gone since then.  That is when I decided that maybe I need to have a checkup, it’s been years, so I had a physical exam the other day. Unfortunately, the doc wants me to get a colonoscopy and a mamagram.  I have had the mammagram before, but that was back in 1995 for a lumpectomy.  I always get so nervous about doctor appointments.  They took blood and urine, she doesn’t think she will see anything regarding the kidney and that if I have this feeling again, I must go to the doctor’s immediately so that it can be diagnosed.  Meanwhile, I have started drinking a lot of cranberry juice and water.

Well, I guess that is about it for now.  I haven’t been reading blogs much, but I will try to do better.