EMT test

Now that I have had a day to decompress, if that is what you call running a half marathon, I can begin to process the fact that I passed my EMT practical exam.

And I believe the rest of our class passed as well. 

(Brittany is updating her facebook status between stations.)

MSTC provided free pizza for everyone.  I chose to not have any.  Not exactly what I wanted to be eating the day before my race.  And I don't like pizza anyway.

Here are the four most beautiful almost-EMTs in central Wisconsin.

I PASSED!!

The practical portion of my EMT National Registry Exam is now in the books!  I am so excited.  The tension was almost unbearable this morning.  There were about 45 people sitting in the lobby of Midstate Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids, anxiously awaiting their number being called so that they could go to one of the six different stations that were set up around the campus.  I felt like the process took forever.  I prayed before going into each station that God would give me confidence and a sense of calm about the section I was going to test on.  After each station I felt that I did well.  I never felt that I had missed something or did anything wrong, but it still didn't alleviate any of the nerves I was feeling.  I was a sweaty, nervous wreck.  But, it is behind me now and the next step in the process is to take the written exam.  I am hoping to do it in mid-June, but I will need to check my work schedule to see if there is a day that works for me to take off.

After the test, I met Tim in Marshfield and we headed down to Madison.  I was really looking forward to the expo for the Madison Marathon.  It is my first ever half marathon and my first real expo.  There were a lot of people, a lot of vendors, and a lot of great products.  I could have spent several hours and many hundreds of dollars, but I managed to restrain myself.  I wanted to get some cool shirts, but the prices were a little steep.  I ended up getting some GUs and a couple Bondi Bands.  I've heard good things about them, and they are so much cuter than the bandanas I usually wear.

Now we are at my aunt's house about to have dinner.  I am hoping to eat and relax tonight.  I'm really excited about tomorrow and I can't wait to run my first half marathon.

NREMT practical exam

This morning I will be spending my time taking the practical portion of the test to get my EMT license.  I will be going through 6 different stations to prove my aptitude in different patient care categories.  To say that I am nervous would be an understatement!  I am freaking out!

I am trying to trust myself and I keep reminding myself that I know this information.  I just need to be able to perform in a very high stress situation.  Which, is not unlike what EMTs are called to do every day.  But for some reason, I feel more comfortable actually helping a patient than talking my way through a scenario with an evaluator.

I have been reciting the registry checklists in my head.  I go over them in the shower, while I'm driving to work, during down time at work, before I go to bed.  I'll go over them on my drive to the testing site. 

I am trying to put together a plan (hello, Type A!), but it is difficult because I don't know which station I'm going to have to do first.  I don't know how much time I will have between stations.  I don't know when I will be done with the exams.  It is very difficult for me.

Just remember....one thing at a time.  That will be my mantra for the day.

And, as soon as I get done, I can meet Tim and head to Madison for the race expo and enjoy the running part of my weekend.

Today's thoughts

It has been a while since I've shared my random thoughts.  Here are the things that are running through my head today.  Go ahead and fill them out.  I'd love to know your random thoughts.

What I'm thinking: A lot of the things I have been working toward for the last several months will come to fruition this weekend.  And I'm nervous about them.

What I'm reading:  Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

What I'm listening to:  Christian radio

What I'm learning:  patience and trust, but those are life lessons that I will always be working on

What I'm watching:  who knows?  Now that 24, Lost, Heroes and Flash Forward are all off the air, I'm going to have to find something to do with my time.

What's cooking: tonight's dinner will consist of nut butter coated parsnip fries, and something else that is still to be determined

What I'm buying:  hopefully a Bondi Band at the race expo tomorrow evening.  I know that there will be a ton of other things that I want, but I will have to exhibit some restraint.

What I'm thankful for:  all the training I put in leading up to my half marathon and all the studying I've done in preparation for the National Registry Exam

What I'm creating:  all sorts of vegetarian meals in my head.  I am really enjoying making meatless meals.

What I'm praying:  that all my studying will pay off during tomorrow's practical exam.  I am very much looking forward to being an EMT

What I'm planning:  my summer racing schedule.  I'm hoping to get a couple more half marathons, my full marathon and maybe a duathlon.  Stay tuned!

What I'm looking forward to:  crossing that finish line on Sunday completing my first half marathon

A picture to share:

 

Photo from Jaden's preschool picnic this week.  We had so much fun.

You're getting warmer...

It seems that everyday, when I look at the race weather for Sunday, the temps keep climbing up. 
71 degrees
76 degrees
82 degrees
85 degrees

It appears that it is going to be a warm one, folks.  I will be guzzling lots of water and I'm lucky enough to have a couple spectators who will be showing up at strategic points on the course to supply me with extra water.  After my 20K at the beginning of the month, I have learned not to depend on the water stops for sufficient hydration needs.

On the race website, they list all the water stops and what will be available: water, gatorade, GU, or bananas.  I am going to try my best to plan my race and my fuel and hydration needs appropriately.  But I know that things could always change.  I'm Type A, I need a plan.  I feel like I'm floundering without one.

I really hope that the temps don't get too warm.  Even though the race starts at 7:15, I know that it will warm up pretty quickly, especially with all those people running.  I've got my list started of all the things I need to bring with me.  My Garmin is charged and I've been working on my ipod playlist.  Now I just need Sunday to get here!!

But, first, I have to pass my NREMT practical exam on Saturday.  That is another issue entirely.

Hope you are all having a great Thursday.

EMS call

I went on my second EMS call in Colby tonight.  Obviously, I can't give any details, but I can say that I am learning more all the time and that the Colby EMT's are a good group of people.  I even got an offer for sponsorship for my running.  Of course, it was from a meat processing plant, and I'm a vegetarian; so that won't work.  :-)

I was really excited that the pager went off and I was able to go on the call.  It is frustrating to hear the call and not be able to go.  I've even stopped turning on the pager if I know I won't be able to go, because I will just be disappointed.  So, tonight was great.  I was able to finish dinner with my family and be home in time for dessert and some TV with Tim.

I got some great encouragement from the EMTs for my upcoming registry exam this weekend.  I am still going back and forth on what I should be more nervous about: my NREMT test or my half marathon.  I think I'm even nervous about being able to properly fuel while I'm stuck at the testing site all day Saturday.  And I'm hoping that Tim gets done with work early enough to meet me after my test to go down to Madison.

Preschool picnic

Today was Jaden's last day of preschool for the year.  I can't believe how big he is getting!
He was really excited to see me when I went to pick him up.

He knew it was time to go to the park for his picnic!  The other preschool that he went to this year, was having all the families get together for an end of the year party.  And the weather was perfect for it.  We met at Red Arrow Park in Abbotsford for food, fun and bubbles.

He found a feather when we got there and the first thing he wanted to do was to find his friend Josie and tickle her with it.

She's pretty cute.  I'd tickle her too!

Yes, I am wearing pigtails; as every self-respecting 32 year old mother should.  Don't judge me!  :-)

Jaden was very excited that daddy got done with work early and came to the park with us.

There was much bubble chasing!