Work Hard, Play Harder

One of my favorite professors/people told me to work hard during the week and play harder on the weekend. I think I met my match this pass weekend.

Dane and I wanted to go home to visit my Gran because she made it home from MD Anderson in Houston on Friday night.

Friday after work/school we headed to Conway to make it to the Post Office to get our mail. We had let the mail back up so then we had to make to Conway during office hours to get the mail from the office. I got out of rehab early on Friday because our census was/is low so we made it in time. After we got the mail we headed to Jimmy John's for some sandwiches for dinner. I do not love Jimmy John's but Dane thinks it is the best sandwich you can buy. He finally admitted that he probably likes it because it reminds him of eating Blimpie sandwiches with his Dad. After we ate we shopped in Conway for a while because Dane had a ballgame at 8pm. I bought some new shoes (I really love shoes..). But they were only $20. Then we went to Dane's game at the Don Owen Sports Center. Well, first I talked to Beth on the phone. Then I went in to run (..jog...with rest breaks) on the track. The Center is very nice, a great part of Conway. I think that spending tax dollars on things like public places for people to exercise is a really grand idea. After the basketball game (which Dane's team won) we headed to Cave City to my parents house.

It was so good to see my parents! My Dad has been sick lately but he was recovering. We didn't get home until around 11pm so we went to bed after a few minutes with my parents. Saturday morning we woke up to mom cooking us breakfast! Nothing like a little bacon, biscuits and gravy, and eggs to make me smile. Dane too. My mom is a really good cook too. Then we showered and headed to Gran's house. Gran was doing well. Her sister and brother in law from Sarasota, Fl were there. We basically just talked and helped Gran a little bit. It was so great to see her because we are very close and she had a major surgery. It has been very difficult for me to get up and go to my clinical every day knowing that she was in the hospital. I just wanted to hug her. Dane went back to visit with his parents and I stayed at Gran's. We went for a walk and then Gran took a small nap. Mom made it to Gran's around 4pm. We all visited and then we ordered some dinner from the Burger Center in Melbourne. You can get a 4 piece fish dinner with beans, slaw, and hushpuppies for like $6.50. It's awesome. We got 8 to go orders for everyone to eat at Gran's. Mom worked at the Burger Center when she was in high school so it's fun for us to eat there. Sam and Julie made it back from a horse show and I was able to see them as well. Mom took me back to Cave City and I stayed the night with the Womacks. I had not seen them in a long time either so I was glad to visit some with them. We watched the Social Network.

Sunday morning we woke up at 6:00 and left for Plumerville at 6:30. We made it back to get ready for church. We started a study of Romans in Sunday School. We finished Genesis last week and I loved it. I am anxious to learn about this letter from Paul to the church in Rome, a church that he only knew of by it's reputation.

After church we headed to Little Rock to visit with our dear friends Chris and Susan and their precious 4 month and 6 day old daughter - Ava Lauryn. She was such a sweetie. It was great to see our dear friends. Susan looked great! It was amazing to hear her talk about her sweet daughter, she literally devotes every moment to caring for her. It was a true picture of selfless love.



Sunday night we watched the Oscars and we went to sleep early. We did not feel the earthquake. :)

Gran's Surgery and CSM

Gran had her surgery a week ago yesterday. She is recovering now in Houston. She should be discharged from the hospital soon and she will be headed to her apartment there with Pop and my mom. It has been a rough time for her. The surgery was painful and she has been through quite a bit. Her surgeon did not feel that he could proceed with the surgery as planned but was able to remove much of the cancer. She will be resuming her routine chemo as soon as she is healed. I know that she is very ready to get home and get some rest. I have been able to talk to her on the phone the last part of the week which was a huge blessing. It is so hard for me to be at my clinical site when she is so far away. I know that my Pop, mom and aunt have been taking great care of her (along with the excellent hospital staff) but I just wish I could be there some. I am looking forward to next weekend when she should be home and I will get to see her! I have been lonesome for her and have appreciated the prayers and kind words from so many of my dear friends.

Last week I was fortunate to be able to attend the American Physical Therapy Association meeting for the sections of PT (ortho, pediatrics, geriatrics, neuro.. etc) known as the Combined Sections Meeting. The meeting was in New Orleans. 9 students in my class were there are well as many students from the first and second year. UCA was also recognized for our recent accreditation of our pediatric residency program. More here. There are currently 6 credentialed pediatric residencies in the US. This is a great honor for our program. I enjoyed the conference and attended some great lectures on new pediatric diagnoses, wound care for patients with spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation for patients with strokes, etc. It was very inspiring. The therapists at the meeting (10,000 in all) are dedicated to our profession and want to progress our profession primarily to benefit our patients. I was very thankful for the opportunity to go. Dane never hesitates to support me as a professional (or wife or friend or whatever). I am very grateful for his love and encouragement.

I guess it is a sign that I am getting old because I could not sleep later than 7:30 this morning. Ouch! But it still earlier than my usual 5:45 (..more like 6:00 this week;) ). I have already started on laundry and organized my closet. I think it was the first time I have ever organized my closet (or maybe anything for that matter...).

Morehart shower

This has been a big weekend at the Womack house. Friday was a snow day at RHS. However, Dane drove me to Russellville for my clinical rotation at St. Mary's. I was very thankful because the road was questionable on the way home. We drove on to Cave City in the snow to see my Gran before her surgery next week. My sister came in from Nashville. She wanted to visit with Gran also. It was so wonderful to get to spend some time with Gran and Beth and my parents before Gran is away for a month or so in Houston. For more about that see the blog we set up for updates. I spent the night with Gran and Pop while Dane stayed with his parents. Then Beth and my parents came over in the morning for breakfast. Beth and I will be flying to Houston the week after Gran's surgery to see her (Mom will already be there). Our family is praying and preparing for the upcoming month. Her surgery is Friday.

Dane and I left Mt. Pleasant around noon to prepare for the Morehart shower. I have been very excited about the shower for a while! We got some great chicken salad from Oak Street Bistro and an awesome cake from Harps! Harps cakes are delicious. I was very thankful for Mallory and Merritt who helped host. Jenna and Tyler got some very cute and sweet gifts. We enjoyed our time with our dear friends. Their son Andrew Tyler will be born around March 31st. We are ready to meet him! Doesn't Jenna look great?!

Jenna looking adorable! We loved her plaid dress.

I think they are excited! ;)