My new title is...

Well, it's official! I am now Rachel Taylor, C.P.N.P.!! I passed my nurse practitioner boards today and boy does it feel GREAT!! Such a relief has been lifted off of my shoulders, and I actually don't have to study anymore! Like, ever again that much!!! Such a wonderful feeling! And, Chris is excited because he won't be banished from a room where I'm studying and he doesn't have to be quiet =). He's been such a good sport through all my studying! The test was allotted 3 hours (175 questions) and I finished in 1 hour and 20 minutes! I am not a speedy test taker, but some of the questions were super easy and obvious! While I am extremely grateful that the results are available after completing the test, the following shows how spoiled we are in today's world of instant scoring, etc. After finishing and submitting the test, I had to complete a survey before viewing my results. So I've got in earplugs and I can literally hear my heart pounding! After I did the survey, the screen says thanks for taking the test, and your results will print. Well, the place I took it at is a H&R Block office, so they're busy with tax season. So I had to wait about 10 minutes before someone could get my printed results. I thought I was going to die!! However, I survived!! Thanks to everyone for their prayers, well-wishes, and brain power sent my way! I truly appreciate it!

And the doc says...

Well it seems like the current journey I will soon be beginning, again, is that of yet another knee surgery and rehab! My left knee has never been the same since my first surgery back in 2001, and recently it has become so unstable that I've fallen, with no warning. It simply gives out. After a visit to ortho and a MRI, I am having (just) an arthroscope to remove any scar tissue, adhesions, and if there's any little cartilage. This will also allow the doc to "play" around with my knee cap more and test it, since I will be knocked out I won't feel the pain or discomfort. While I am by no means looking forward to this surgery, I hold onto the hope that this will alleviate some of my plaguing problems and allow my knee to rehabiliate more completely. I am bummed about it, especially the fact that I'll be out of running for a bit as well as my daily morning trips to the gym. I do plan to still lift weights, so I can make use of my monthly membership dues at the gym! I feel that this is the best time to have this surgery as I have not yet found the right PNP job. This way I have the time to let myself heal and rehabilitate without the stress of a new job! Hopefully by March I'll be back to normal (whatever that is!) and life can continue! I know God has this all planned for me, and I'm continuing to trust His will and timing! Chris will be here to help when I need it, but I'm sure he'll miss my homecooked meals for awhile! And, having to sleep on the sleeper-sofa since I don't want any bed partners for a while!! The surgery is Weds, Feb. 4th so say a little prayer that day for me, the doc, staff, and my recovery!

What a week!

This past week was my first week of "no school" and I hoped things would settle down and I would be able to begin studying for boards, which are looming over my head! However, that was not the case...

Monday Chris started back to school after his two-week vacation. He seems pretty excited about his new classes and students, and is working hard on the fundraiser he is sponsoring thru his Key Club. He working on getting a Sadie Hawkins dance approved....I wonder if I am allowed to "invite" him to go with me?! Tuesday was his first day with his new students and he is pretty pleased so far! He's teaching US History and Geography (which he taught last fall) and Government. So he really only has one class to totally prepare for and he is editing lessons from last fall for the other classes. We've had some pretty crazy weather here this week, and Wednesday his county was closed due to flooding! This would have been wonderful news for Chris, if we had had power that day! A huge tree fell at the bottom of our hill and we lost power for around 12 hours! And, as Chris spends his free time watching movies/playing xbox or wii/playing computer games, what was he to do without power?! Well, he decided to watch movies all day on our portable DVD player, and when the battery died, he moved to the car and used the car charger to continue his movie marathon!! Such a nerd!!

Here is Willie in his raincoat...love it! But he actually will walk in the rain now and with as much rain as we have had, he needs it!! =)
I had a busy week as well...I had an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon regarding my knee. Long story, but it has become increasingly unstable these past few months and it has given out on me a few times. Usually I am near someone/thing and can grab on. But last month I fell all the way down our stairs after it gave out--I call it a sniper attack because I had no warning signs! It was not fun, I twisted my ankle and it scared me to death. So I called Cameron Sears (who did my 2 previous knee surgeries) and he said to come back into them to have it re-evaluated. After much manipulation, my new doc said he thinks there is cartilage in the knee joint and that can be causing the instability, popping, grinding, and give-outs. I've got a MRI this coming Monday and if that is what it shows, I will most likely be having arthroscopy to clean out the knee and get rid of scar tissue. So not what I want to do, but if it needs to be done then I need to do it!

We had some friends and family over on Thursday for the big OU/FL national championship game. Obviously, the game didn't end as we would have liked, but it was fun to visit with everyone! I made some yummy foods and sugar cookies and the food was gone pretty quick! Guess I didn't make enough, or plan on Chris eating half of one of the dishes!!! =)

I had another interview yesterday, this time in Sevierville, TN. (Close to the mtns). I really liked the doctor, the job/work I would be doing (including rounding on newborns at the hospital, and learning to resuscitate newborns, and seeing pts. in the office). The pay and benefits are great, the only downside is the long drive. It took me 45 mins to get there, and I really need to decide if that much driving, everyday, 5 days a week is something I can handle. Otherwise, I think I would take this job in a heartbeat. I am still trusting and praying that God will place me where I need to be...this potential job seems a little fuzzy as to whether it is right or not! I've got a little time to think about it and get back with the doc in a few weeks...so time will tell!!

Holiday Happenings!

Christmas has come and gone, and again, I feel like I missed the most important reason of the season! I get so busy in preparing the house, shopping, and everything else that I tend to forget the real reason for the season. We did an excellent sunday school class, The Purpose of Christmas, at church this December and it definately helped remind me the true purpose. But I feel that the last week leading up to Christmas I let that purpose slide right by me! Things got a little hectic and busy...

Chris' parents and older brother came for a week...they drove in from Oklahoma the Saturday before Christmas and left the day after Christmas. Seven days of house guests can get a little overwhelming, regardless of who they are! We did have a good time visiting with them however. We went to the Biltmore for a day in Asheville and I loved seeing the house all decorated for Christmas. I would have loved to see it at night on the candlelight tour, but maybe another year! After a day at the house, we went to the winery and tasted/bought some wine. We then went to my favorite art gallery, New Morning Gallery and I found some fun pottery for Mom for Christmas! We ate a yummy dinner at a cute restaurant in Biltmore Village before heading back to Knoxville. It was a long day but worth it!

Christmas Eve, mom, chris' mom, and I spent an afternoon baking sugar cookies, cakes, and more cookies! We had our traditional "mexican fiesta" dinner at Tim and Anne's for the Schmid family Christmas. The Taylors came and were able to see our crazy traditions and gift giving! The big hit was the Wii...all ages were playing downstairs before dinner! We took a great Schmid family picture this year, and I've already got it framed in the house! We got home about 10:00 and I helped Mom put together our casseroles for brunch on Christmas Day! Chris and I went to the 11:00 Christmas Eve service at Westminster, then came home to wait for Santa to come!!!!

We slept at my parent's house, since Chris' had our bedroom for the week. We woke up, took our traditional picture by the tree and mantle in our pj's, then headed to our house to do Christmas with the Taylors. My dad had to work days at the ICN, which worked out so that we could do Christmas with Chris' family in the morning, then have brunch with Mom and Laura back at their house. We hung out and waited for Dad to get home from work before doing Christmas there. We got lots of goodies from Santa, including a new (small) digital camera, and Chris got a new flat-screen monitor for his computer! I guess we were pretty good this year...!!! =) After presents, Eric, Chris and I went with Laura out to the barn to take care of the horses (feed, bring them in, etc). We came home and had Christmas dinner and then hung out a little more! It was another long day, but it was a good one! The Taylors left the next morning to go back to Oklahoma, and we were on the road to go to KY to do Christmas with family up there! By the time we got home Sunday night, I was exhausted....after not being in my own bed for a week and a half, I sure was ready to curl up in bed and sleep!


It was a busy week leading up to Christmas, and, as much as I love the Christmas season and all the celebration and traditions we have, in a way I am glad it is all over and life is beginning to return to normal!