Presenting in Dallas

As some of you may remember from an earlier post, I mentioned a few months back that I was submitting a few abstracts for review to see if I might have an opportunity to present some of the SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) research I did with a rehab doc and another OT at Jefferson during my schooling there.

While the abstract for my personal research project was not accepted to be presented at the conference (the qualitative study I did for my final research project), two of the other abstracts that I submitted with the Rehab Doc from Jefferson were accepted!

What does this all mean?

Hopefully, if all goes as planned, I will have an opportunity to present in Dallas, TX at the Congress of Spinal Cord Medicine Conference (September 23-26, 2009). I will be presenting and publishing alongside the rehab doctor that I worked closely with during my last year at Jefferson. In the next several months we will be communicating long-distance to create a final presentation and a publication. I am thrilled to have an opportunity like this so early in my career and hope to maintain these types of connections throughout the years ahead.

I apologize if anything mentioned above is incoherent or difficult to understand. I am very tired from work! This week I have had 13 visits each day and I am loving my job. My patients come in all shapes and sizes and I enjoy them very much.

Have a great week!

A history lesson for Edgar

Many of you have asked if Edgar ever goes outside and I have always replied, "no no! What if a hawk swooped him up!?"

Yesterday, Josh thought "it was time" for Edgar to get a little history lesson (i.e. learning what it's supposed to be like to be a guinea pig so that he will learn to appreciate his posh lifestyle all the more).
Guinea pigs travel in large families in Peru and they are heavily preyed upon animals (by animals and humans alike).

Although we did not share this piece of information with our little guy, we thought it would be fun to expose him to the great outdoors (very carefully, I might add).

Don't let the aerial view deceive you- he is a very large guinea pig

(Josh coaxing him onto the grass with a green bean)

(Edgar seeking security behind Josh's legs and under the chair)

(Can't I go inside now? What did I do wrong to deserve this?!)
Edgar did take a little nibble on the small amount of grass we have in the back yard, but he was not impressed ;)

(Did I do that??? Only kidding...it's some spilled potting soil)

I can't believe it's March!

Time sure does fly. Although Edgar may disagree with this fact being that Mom and Dad are gone most of the day....our seedlings seem to be growing like weeds! (Yes, we purposefully put the cucumber plant nearest to Edgar or the window- depends on one's perspective)





























A few updates from the Cradle of Naval Aviation:

I have been working at my new job for 2 weeks and some change now and love it. I am surrounded by some great therapists, the patients are neat, and the facility has some great resources. So far I can actually say that I come home and feel like I can relax! A feeling I have not been too familiar with over the last 5 and a half years. It may take some getting used to.

Josh continues to await news of when he will begin flight school or "class up". Rumor has it he may be starting up on March 20th.

We are anxiously awaiting Matt's arrival on his Birthday (and Heidi's Birthday for that matter)- March 16th- yippee!

This weekend we hope to explore a new part of town toward the "Pensacola Beach" area if it is nice enough to walk around.

That's about all I can think of for now :)

Thanks for visiting!