Big news

Before I get to the news of the week, I wanted to give an update about the kids. Raymond has started doing The Little Gym, which Beka started about the same age. He seems to really enjoy being able to crawl around with the reckless abandon that can only be seen in a 10 month old. He also seems to like the interaction with other kids. Raymond has also come down with a little cold this weekend, so we are hoping it doesn't turn into an ear infection. Beka is still doing Little Gym as well, but she has started dance class now. She is so excited to be doing dance and to be able to wear her leotard, tap shoes, and ballet shoes. She actually pays attention and does what the teacher asks. I guess her ADHD only comes out when she is bored, unlike me where it's present all the time. We are also probably going to send her to school full time soon instead of only 3 days per week like now. She says she really enjoys it and she seems to be learning a lot there.

Our air conditioning went out this past week which was no picnic. Thankfully we have a home warranty so it covered the cost to fix it. We had about 24 hours without working a/c and in south Alabama, this was horrible as the heat was absolutely miserable. Although, it wasn't as bad as it had been the week before where heat indices were in the 110's. So I guess we should be happy it was "cooler" than before, but it was still hot as heck. We had to sleep only one night without a/c, but it was not fun. I have a lot of trouble sleeping if it is too warm, so I didn't sleep well at all. Tossing and turning all night trying to find a cool position to sleep in wasn't my idea of a good time. Oh and the sweating. Lots and lots of sweating. Gross I know (and probably way too much information), but if you know me, you know I perspire quite a bit even when the a/c is working. Having the a/c broken only made this much, much worse. Once we got it fixed, we were glad to be cool again to say the least.

So onto the news I spoke of above. If you haven't heard yet, I am leaving my current position at Auburn University. I am going to be taking a clinical position with my practice site. I have not only made a positive impact on patient care there, but also on the psychiatrists and other staff I work with. I am very proud of the work I have done there and my new position will enable me to further advance psychiatric pharmacy in the area. I'll also be able to start a PGY-2 residency in psychiatric pharmacy within the next few years.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Auburn and I have a learned a lot that I'll be able to use in my future career. I will especially miss the easy and continuous interaction I have with the students at the pharmacy school. While I have been their teacher, I have learned so much from them. I'll also miss my coworkers, but since I'm not moving to a different area, I should be able to still see them. I'll still take P4s on rotation with me since I think they will learn a great deal about psychiatric pharmacy and what pharmacists are capable of doing in clinical settings. I will also take a more active role with the medical students and psychiatry residents. Thankfully, I will be able to do research at my clinic and continue to produce publications. I am excited to start this new phase in my career and I appreciate all that Auburn has done for me.

For my new position, I will basically have the same job I've always had, but without the multitude of teaching responsibilities and with more time for clinical practice. As I said, I'll have a bigger impact on patient care, but I traded that for less time with students. At the end of the day, I got into clinical pharmacy because I enjoy clinical pharmacy, not because of teaching. I enjoy teaching, and I think I am fairly good at it, but it's always been an added bonus, not the goal of my career. It wasn't an easy decision to leave Auburn, but now that I have made it, I am glad I did.

I am enjoying having more time in clinic over the past few weeks and being able to use that time to teach my P4s. I feel like having more time in the clinic will make me a better clinical teacher and the students will enjoy the rotation more, especially those that are interested in psychiatry. It's nice to teach students who are interested in your topic area, but definitely not required, since I can probably mold the rotation to make it applicable to any student's future practice. So now that I will have more time in practice, I'll have the time to continue to improve my clinical teaching skills, resulting in a better experience for whatever students I have, be it pharmacy, medical, or nursing.

Well, now that I've gotten everything off my chest, I guess I am done writing for now. Have a good week!

Weekend warrior

It was a busy weekend on the home front. Jen didn't have to work, so we were able to spend some time together as family. Jen's mom and dad came for the weekend to visit the kids (and us I guess), but Saturday before they got here I had to mow the lawn. We've had a good couple weeks of rain and even though we are still in a drought, the yard was starting to look ridiculous. I honestly don't mind mowing the lawn. It was always something my father and I did together and I even though I complained (like I do now) it was a bonding experience. I guess he instilled in me a love of taking care of your own property. I am sure Jen would disagree because she usually has to threaten me to do it, but I really do feel good taking care of the yard, at least when it's done. Maybe I can instill the same begrudging love for the lawn in Raymond. Don't get me wrong though, if I could afford to pay someone to do my lawn for me, I would. Anyway, it was only 84 degrees when I mowed the lawn at 7:30 AM with a heat index of 91, so it was nice and cool compared to what it would be later in the day. After that was done it was time to take Beka to her gym class and Raymond to a birthday party.

The pool party was for a friend's son who was turning 1, so he had no idea what was really going on. It was a good time especially once I got into the water with Raymond. It was so hot outside and the sun was scorching so it was nice in the pool. Raymond really enjoys the water and being able to splash. It's funny though that he doesn't really like the bath tub all that much. I don't know what's different for him other than in the pool no one is trying to scrub him down. Raymond had sunscreen on, but I didn't. I know, I know. I should have had it on, even though I was only out in the sun for an hour, especially finishing an antibiotic which makes you sun sensitive (poor judgment for a pharmacist, of course). So I got a little burn. It wasn't really that bad and it doesn't hurt now, but it was somewhat uncomfortable that night. Raymond even got some ice cream, which he REALLY liked (I guess this proves he is my son...).

When Raymond and I got home after the party Jen's mom and dad had met her at Beka's gym class and then come back to the house with her. I guess they had shown up at our house before I left for the party, but didn't stay. Jen, Beka, and Grandma went to the mall to see if they could find Beka some shoes for the wedding we're going to in the next few weeks. They ended up being out for quite a while, during which Jen's dad and I sat in house and did nothing, except read, watch TV, and look after Raymond. We had Mellow Mushroom for dinner so it was a good afternoon and evening.

Beka has been doing well at school and we are thinking about sending her 5 days a week, instead of only when Jen is working. She really enjoys it and she would probably get a lot more out of it, but the cost may be prohibitive. We'll see. I think Beka is going through a growth spurt since she is eating everything in sight so hopefully she still fits into her flower girl dress for the wedding.

I guess that's all the updating I have for now. Have a good week.