California

Brad and I had an awesome time in California last week.
As we were driving there I had fallen asleep in the car and woke up as Brad pulled over for a pit stop, and where were we? The General Patton Memorial Museum! He had this planned the whole time and took advantage of me being asleep to stop there.
It was cool to see where troops had been trained in the deserts of California.


We spent some time hanging out at the beach, enjoying the ocean despite the freezing water. Here is Brad skim boarding.

We had a perfect day at Disney Land! The rainy morning helped keep the crowds away and we were able to ride all the big rides within the first hour and a half!

This Far Side comic depicts people going into a ride and then coming out crying and sad.

Brad was reminded of this comic while on this ride, don't worry he really did enjoy it.


Is this mountain FRESH, FRESHER, FRESHIST or FRESHERSHIST? Confused? You really should see the Old Spice commercial.

Hygiene Graduation

I can't quite wrap my head around the idea of being done with hygiene school. For the last 2 years Monday through Thursday (10am-9:30pm), most Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays and Sundays I've been completely consumed by it. I still feel like there is something I should be studying or a project to complete, but no. It has challenged me like nothing else has, but has been totally worth it.

Here are some pictures from the Hygiene Graduation.



Here is a tribute to the man who has played a huge role in helping me through this journey. Brad was the one to encourage me to keep going when I wanted to back out of applying to hygiene school, because I felt I couldn't do it. He took on extra roles to allow me to just focus on school. He is always kind and listens to me when I go on about gum disease or hygiene politics. Brad was my very first patient, not my most cooperative patient, but a very good guinea pig indeed. I appreciate the sacrifices he has made on my behalf and love him very much.




Here I am receiving the unique and highly coveted "Golden Scaler" award. This award is given by the clinical faculty and goes to a student who has shown much improvement in the area of instrumentation and patient care. The instrument is a golden anterior 5/6 curet, for those interested.



Thank you to everyone that has been so supportive through this process.

The end is near...

...and I'm getting pretty excited! I'm going to miss all these lovely ladies though.

Scrub glamor shots :)


2 more weeks!

No more tangles!

This is for you Erin:) This is my latest project. I'm glad to have a place to hang up my necklaces and not have them getting all tangled up in a box, and I think it turned out pretty cool too.

The frame from Good Will $4.




A little paint, foam board wrapped in burlap, a few hooks.




Had some extra stuff, so I made another one.

Lisa is a Dental Hygienius!

Lisa would want you to know that she passed her National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, but I'll go further and brag about how well she did! She got a 91 (75 needed to pass) and was above the national average in every section of the exam. Her score puts her in about the 98th percentile nationally on the exam! Pretty awesome job, Lisa! I'm proud of you!

There's a lot of Love in those locks.

Today is my sister Brooke's birthday, who past away from cancer 18 years ago. She would be turning 28 today! I was only 3 when she past away so most of my memories are probably stories from people telling me, but I do have a few. I also have a brother, Scott, who is the oldest of my siblings, who also past away of cancer when he was three and would be 35 now. It's something I think about, where would they be now, what kind of lives would they have led. Though my memories of my siblings are limited I still love them and feel like I know them. One of the testimonies I gained at an early age is that our families can be eternal, and that we can all be reunited again.

So in honor of Brooke, who wore a wig while she was going through chemotherapy, my Sister Erin and her daughter Hailey and I have been growing our hair out to donate it. I'm going to give mine to locks of love and Erin is giving hers to the American cancer association through Pantene (they only require 8 in.). Yesterday was the big hair cutting event and here are some of the pictures.

Before



Hailey went first... this is her 3rd time donating. She has only had 3 haircuts her whole life and she is almost 8.

After: 10 inches

Erin went next

8 Inches!

After

My turn

All of the lovely locks!

After: Donating 12 inches!

From behind




I think we are all so excited to finally have our hair cut! It has taken a long time to grow it out, but it was worth it!

National Board

WHORAY!!!! I've been a little haunted by the words "National Boards" since I've started hygiene school.
"That will be on the National Board"
"You'll need to know this for boards"
etc, etc.....
SO after stuffing all the knowledge I could out of these..


I took the test and it was LONG, but I think it went well, and now I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Now I just have to wait for the results and bring on Spring Break!