"B" is for Bear

This week at school we are studying the letter B. The kids got to make bear puppets today in my class and they loved it. I finally took a picture of some of them. Two were not here today. The kids that are standing up, from left to right are, Alise, Jack, Ashlyn, and Catherine. The sitting group from left to right are Trey, Caroline, Gideon, and Gabe. Alise and Caroline are best friends and Catherine is a lot to handle. Ashlyn is the healthy eater and Jack always takes his shoes off when he's not supposed to for some reason. Trey has a blue mouth because when I wasn't looking he wrote on his own face with a marker, and Gabe broke his collar bone at soccer practice last week, which is why his arm is in a sling. Gideon refused to wear anything to school that day except the green no sleeve shirt that he is in in the picture (it was 50 degrees when we came to school this morning). If you want a closer look at their faces you can click on the picture itself and it will zoom in. So that's a quick run down on my cute class! Here is also a picture of the salmon that I cooked tonight. David loved it and I was really proud of how well it turned out. Too bad about the side affects. :)

Salmon side effects

Rachel's fish tonight was so good!  Turns out, it has some funny side effects (see picture), even on little Sooie Rainwater.

This week has started off good. Today I went on one of my practicum visits...which means I only have one more time to do it. David is studying really hard this week. He had an anatomy test today and has a Histology test Thursday. He's studying so hard and it's going to pay off. Here's a picture of Sooie "helping" David study. She likes to be near him.

Fall Decor

This week passed really fast! On Thursday night our school had a little back to school singing program and it was hilarious. The parents loved it and there was about a million video cameras going the whole time. Trey and Jack from my class started marching like soldiers halfway through the program and Felicity walked off the stage. Overall it was funny. Afterward I had to rush off to class at 5:30. I only have two more classes for both my Wednesday night class and Thursday night class though. Last night David and I went to eat at this mexican place and then watched the presidential debate. We were able to use some of the tutoring money for a nice, relaxing date. This morning we went down to the plaza and met Nick and Caroline Rhoads, who were in town with some other friends for a concert, for breakfast. Afterward I cleaned the house and then went to the Hen House and got my first ever Fall decorations. I think they look pretty good! You can see Sooie standing in the window checking them out too!

Free Dental Care

Thursdays are my day to rotate around the different departmental clinics at the school to assist.  In addition to this, we are also required to make a visit to a local free health care clinic in town called KC Free.  Yesterday, another student, Matt, and I went to this clinic about 30 blocks EAST of the dental school.  Not such a great area, especially sense our professor told us to take the worst vehicle between us.  

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the receptionist and "head lady," Cynthia.  Cynthia gave us some paper work to fill out and then turned us over to a lady named Natalia.  Natalia did not speak very good English and spoke quieter than a wisper.  She informed us that she was previously a dentist in Russia, but was in America to come to a US dental school.  Amazingly, she was working in this clinic as a assistant just to learn English.  Apparently, there is a stark difference between America and the world when it comes to dentistry.  Anyway, Natalia immediately introduced us to the X-ray machine and processing of the film.  When she, Matt and I were processing the film together in the pitch black, it was funny.  I was glad to know how to do it though.  Afterward, the dentist arrived at the clinic and we began assisting.  It is sort of hard to do because you really don't know how to interact with the patient and the doctor.  You don't want to make the patient uncomfortable with tons of water pooling in their mouth, or even worse, water drooling out of their mouth.  Of course both things were going on while I was assisting.  You also try to keep out of the doctor's way at the same time.  After the dentist checked him out she instructed Cynthia to teach me to "clean this man's teeth."  Cynthia spent about 20 seconds showing me how to work the foot petal and handpiece, and sent me on my way.  Sweating bullets by this time, I would have been really nervous if it wasn't for the rap music playing in the background.  (Attn Tripp: The dentist was singing along to "stuntin is a habit") So I pulled up a chair and began with the back teeth and worked my way around cleaning his teeth, just like a hygienist does at the dentist.  I also flossed his teeth and gave him flouride. 

It was really fun, and I enjoyed it so much.  I'm sure the patient was just rolling his eyes because it wasn't any secret that I had never done this before.  Cynthia taught me sitting right next to him.  The whole experience was hilarious, but it was great to get a taste of what "real dentistry" will be like.  

Electronic Card for Dad

We are disappointed that we could not join everyone in Fayetteville this weekend.  The first SEC game is always great.  We will be rooting the Hogs on from KC.   We miss everyone and cannot wait to see you.  Happy Birthday Dad!

Sickness Arrives

Well, my sore throat persisted all the way through today, which was miserable at school. I finally went to the doctor today and found out I have strep throat...as well as congestion and fluid on my ears. Nice. I've taken the prescription that the doctor gave me and I'm hoping to get to feeling better very quickly!

A Long Week

I am so glad that it is finally the weekend. It has been an extremely long week because of class and first aid training. David is currently doing community service with the Kansas City Chiefs and will be home to study for his two tests that he has this upcoming week. I am actually worried right now because I have about 2 million things to get done this weekend and I woke up with a really sore throat. We don't have a doctor up here yet, and it's the weekend, so I think I'm just going to have to wait it out. Yikes.

Freebies

Today we had our second test, which went okay, and a quiz as well.  It feels good to get the first few tests over with and now feel like I know more of what to expect. 

The best part of the day was that Proctor and Gamble came and brought lunch.  They distributed free electric toothbrushes and other dental goodies.  He said the toothbrush was their top of the line and a value of $150.  (Just so you can see how exciting this was.)  You can imagine how pumped everyone was to get their hands on a toothbrush!  He also informed us of great rates for "oral care" products we can receive at students. 

Rachel has a long night tonight and is staying late for First Aide training.  Everything is going well at work, and she is doing great.  Fall seems to be creeping in here, because it got to the low 50's last night! 

First test taken and new name given...

David had his first dental school test today and he said that it went great! He studied so hard and was truly prepared. When he got home tonight he really felt like he had done well. He has another test AND a quiz tomorrow, so he is studying hard again. Our newest member of the family finally has a name. She is going to be called "Sooie." We think it fits and will remind her that she is actually from Arkansas. :)

The Newest Rainwater!

What an exciting weekend this has been! On Friday evening we went to David's first "rush" party at this place in the ghetto. It turned out to be be really fun and we got to meet a lot of new people. We found out this weekend that there was a "sale" going on at one of the local shelters and that all of the cats were half price for the weekend. David surprised me and said that we should go down on Saturday morning and see if there was any of them that we wanted. I was so excited that I didn't sleep good on Friday night just thinking about it. We went down to the shelter first thing in the morning and found a wonderful cat! We haven't named her yet she's all gray, with green eyes and she's pretty big. She has acclimated very well and appears to be unbelievably lazy...which fits our lifestyle perfectly. The only mishap we have encountered so far is that on the way home from the shelter she pooped in her box. Yuck. I cleaned it up while David studied. David seems to like her a lot and asks me to bring her into the breezeway so that he can pet her while he studies. We feel very blessed and lucky to be able to get such a wonderful cat that immediately fit right in at the house. David has his first tests this week, so we will let you all know how they go. Here is our little no name cat! Let us know if you have any suggestions! P.S. You can't see it in any of the pictures, but she has on an adorable leopard print collar.

Finally Rushing

It has only taken me 5 years, but I have finally taken the plunge into the Greek world and decided to rush a Dental fraternity.  These groups are a bit different than college, in that they are full of dental students and that they are coed.  There are 3 on campus, although one contains pretty much Hawaiians, and students from New Mexico.  I do not really fit into those two categories so my focus is on the other two.  All this week, we are eating lunch for $10 and we had great BBQ today.  Pizza was yesterday.  It has been fun having a break from packing a lunch, and I wish the dental school did "rush" more often.  I am not sure which to join, because it feels like a shot in the dark.  I will keep you updated.  

Our first test is Monday in Anatomy.  

Meals ala Rachel "Ray"nwater

Rachel has been cooking the greatest meals these past two weeks, and I have been so very grateful. She is coming into being a wonderful cook and preparing new dishes as well as old favs. Tonight we had the greatest beef enchiladas with green beans, a staple, cheesy rice and fruit salad. There is no better restaurant in Kansas City. In addition to this meal, she has made all the following dinners.

Poppyseed chicken

Meatball Deluxe (no green peppers due to the famous food allergy)

Busy Day Chicken

Spaghetti

Wagon Wheel pasta

Jambalaya (with Burl's sausage mixed in)

I know there are probably others I have forgotten, but these are on the tip of my tongue. I just you to know how great she is doing, and how much I love it!