Week 9 of the study period and I have an essay due this Friday but thankfully have had an extension granted until Wednesday of week 10, so that gives me an extra 5 days. Trust me I wouldn't have asked for it if it weren't absolutely necessary!! And I most certainly will not be making a habit out of requesting them.
I have 3 assessments due within days of each other but so far I'm going ok with them. My second log submission is almost completed. I have a rough plan of attack for one essay and the other (major!) essay I am tackling this weekend and researching for it over the next 2-3days.
After these assessments I have a smaller thematic to do, a take home exam and then a final exam (not all for the one subject) and that's the end of my first study period.
In news of family life, I am now the manager of Tayla's netball team. I'm helping Turtle's class on a Wednesday morning with their sight words. I went back to the gym yesterday (and I am so sore today!) after a month of not going. I am trying to become more organised. I am almost caught up on washing (wonders will never cease!) The countdown is on for our July QLD holiday. Stress levels change daily.
And that pretty much covers it all for now.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Half way point
I've reached the half way point of my first study period. There are 13weeks to a study period with OUA and we're nearing the end of week 7 now.
I received my essay back for SGY110 a bit over a week ago and I was graded a C (Credit) with a numerical mark of 72. It's at the high end of a C but not quite enough to be pushed up to being a D but I am still very happy with that mark, especially as I never have enough time for that subject!
I will be better prepared for SP2 that's for sure! I am hoping to have better organisation and time management. I'm not entirely sure how realistic that is but I can try! I've also chosen my subjects for the next period. I'll be studying COM14 - Creative & Professional Writing and AUS11 - Images of Australia (1A). I'm combining an english/literature subject with a history subject which I hear, is a good combination as some history units require a lot of time. Both of these units are through Griffith Uni.
One good thing about studying with OUA is I get to study different units with different universities, although a vast majority will be just with Macquarie which is where I'll be obtaining the degree.
Life in general is coasting along ok. School holidays are proving testing to study time! That mythical concept of time management is beyond me with the kids home! Every 5 minutes I'm hearing "Mum! S/he hit me! Mum! S/he took my book! Mum! Mum! Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!" I'm considering a name change!
Posting is being cut short by the demands of being a mother........
I received my essay back for SGY110 a bit over a week ago and I was graded a C (Credit) with a numerical mark of 72. It's at the high end of a C but not quite enough to be pushed up to being a D but I am still very happy with that mark, especially as I never have enough time for that subject!
I will be better prepared for SP2 that's for sure! I am hoping to have better organisation and time management. I'm not entirely sure how realistic that is but I can try! I've also chosen my subjects for the next period. I'll be studying COM14 - Creative & Professional Writing and AUS11 - Images of Australia (1A). I'm combining an english/literature subject with a history subject which I hear, is a good combination as some history units require a lot of time. Both of these units are through Griffith Uni.
One good thing about studying with OUA is I get to study different units with different universities, although a vast majority will be just with Macquarie which is where I'll be obtaining the degree.
Life in general is coasting along ok. School holidays are proving testing to study time! That mythical concept of time management is beyond me with the kids home! Every 5 minutes I'm hearing "Mum! S/he hit me! Mum! S/he took my book! Mum! Mum! Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!" I'm considering a name change!
Posting is being cut short by the demands of being a mother........
Monday, April 7, 2008
Achievements all round
Tayla played in a 'round robin' netball competition yesterday. It wasn't part of the competition for this season but more of something her coach wanted the team to participate in so they had 'extra practice' so to speak. The round robin was part of a celebration of 50 years for the club hosting the day. All the players received a medal for their participation.
Saturday just gone Ethan sat by himself!! I sat him down on the floor at a friends house and gave him a toy phone to play with and he happily sat up for a good 10minutes before starting to get the wobbles. He can't push himself up into a sitting position yet so we're not at that sitting ability. But this is a milestone nonetheless. He sat again yesterday when we were visiting my parents with a bowl full of his toys in front of him. He thought he was so clever too. You should've seen the cheeky smile on his face while he was sitting and playing.
I had 2 assessments due on Friday of last week. The learning log I submitted 2 days early as it was finished. My essay I submitted 1 day late without penalty. Both have been graded already! Our tutor is really on the ball with this subject. I still haven't received my grade for my first essay of my other subject and that was submitted at the end of week 3! (we have been told though that they'll be mailed out mid-April). Anyway back to the assessments from last week. For my learning log I recieved a Distinction (D), and for my essay I received a Distinction + (D+). I am more than happy!! Particularly with the essay seeing as I did struggle a bit with it and I will admit that I knocked it up in the space of a few hours. Besides a couple of small things, I did surprisingly well with it.
Note to self - don't leave things so late! Second note to self - don't assume because you think your work isn't 'good enough' that someone else will think that! Third note to self - confidence goes a long way!
Saturday just gone Ethan sat by himself!! I sat him down on the floor at a friends house and gave him a toy phone to play with and he happily sat up for a good 10minutes before starting to get the wobbles. He can't push himself up into a sitting position yet so we're not at that sitting ability. But this is a milestone nonetheless. He sat again yesterday when we were visiting my parents with a bowl full of his toys in front of him. He thought he was so clever too. You should've seen the cheeky smile on his face while he was sitting and playing.
I had 2 assessments due on Friday of last week. The learning log I submitted 2 days early as it was finished. My essay I submitted 1 day late without penalty. Both have been graded already! Our tutor is really on the ball with this subject. I still haven't received my grade for my first essay of my other subject and that was submitted at the end of week 3! (we have been told though that they'll be mailed out mid-April). Anyway back to the assessments from last week. For my learning log I recieved a Distinction (D), and for my essay I received a Distinction + (D+). I am more than happy!! Particularly with the essay seeing as I did struggle a bit with it and I will admit that I knocked it up in the space of a few hours. Besides a couple of small things, I did surprisingly well with it.
Note to self - don't leave things so late! Second note to self - don't assume because you think your work isn't 'good enough' that someone else will think that! Third note to self - confidence goes a long way!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Surgery
Surgery on Monday (31st) went well.
I was in theatre for just on an hour and the Dr didn't encounter any problems. The grommet was removed and when I woke up in recovery a nurse handed it to me inside a container! The worst thing about waking up in recovery was I was half awake when they took the tube out of my mouth *eww* Thankfully it's not a "clear" memory but rather a "fuzzy" one. Still *eww* though!!
I was very tired and off balance after surgery. I was sick twice on the way home (again *eww*). I couldn't hear properly out of my right ear because it was packed with a 'plug' (gauze coated in ointment and much like a wick).
Tuesday I felt like I had a hangover the entire day. I was still a little off balance, fuzzy and headachey. I went to see my specialist to have the plug removed (that didn't hurt being taken out) and he was happy with how everything went and how my ear looked.
Today I again went and saw him and again he's happy! My ear canal isn't "stenosing" and the ear drum (while it still has a hole in it from where the grommet was) looks good.
I go back a week from Monday for my next post-op check up.
I was in theatre for just on an hour and the Dr didn't encounter any problems. The grommet was removed and when I woke up in recovery a nurse handed it to me inside a container! The worst thing about waking up in recovery was I was half awake when they took the tube out of my mouth *eww* Thankfully it's not a "clear" memory but rather a "fuzzy" one. Still *eww* though!!
I was very tired and off balance after surgery. I was sick twice on the way home (again *eww*). I couldn't hear properly out of my right ear because it was packed with a 'plug' (gauze coated in ointment and much like a wick).
Tuesday I felt like I had a hangover the entire day. I was still a little off balance, fuzzy and headachey. I went to see my specialist to have the plug removed (that didn't hurt being taken out) and he was happy with how everything went and how my ear looked.
Today I again went and saw him and again he's happy! My ear canal isn't "stenosing" and the ear drum (while it still has a hole in it from where the grommet was) looks good.
I go back a week from Monday for my next post-op check up.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Two days to go....
Surgery has been confirmed for Monday. I am to be at the hospital at 1:30pm and I am #3 on the list. I can have a light breakfast before 7am, and a small amount of water before 9am but nothing after. (There goes my idea of sneaking in a pump and rpm class in the morning!!)
Am I worried about the surgery? The actual surgery no. I have complete faith and trust in my doctor that we're doing the right thing and I wouldn't have signed the forms if I had the slightest doubt in his ability or his recommendation. What I will admit to be worried about is losing my hearing, or damaging it further. But let's face it, that's a risk with any kind of ear surgery. I will just think positive and what happens will happen. My doctor isn't predicting anything because he said he really doesn't know til he gets in there (my ear) and has a look around. Again making it sound like there is "all this room" inside my ear!!
Having afternoon surgery fits in better with the kids as well. We were worried how we'd juggle getting everyone to school and taken care of at the same time as getting myself to the hospital. But it would appear that the afternoon will be the issue now, more specifically picking me up to come home. That should be easy enough to work around though with some help from my Mum. I think the plan is whenever it's time for me to come home, the kids will go down to my Mum's and then come home.
I worked a bit on my learning log today. I had to change 2 words in my glossary entries as I had picked words from my other subject (SGY110) and not the subject of the assessment (SSK12). That was easy enough to fix because one reading had 2 unfamiliar words so I used both of those.
I now have 2 reading reviews to complete, one in a mind map form, the other written - and the learning log is finished. I haven't yet started the 1200word essay but I'm not envisioning any problems with that.
I have unfortunately totally neglected SGY110 this week! I shall give it some much needed attention tomorrow.
Obviously still trying to work out that study balance!!
I put in a bit of extra effort this week at the gym with pump, 2 circuit classes, boxing and for the first time - yoga. I am sore to put it politely! But it's a good sore! It's the kind of sore that will make up for me not going at all next week (on advice from one of the trainers) after surgery. I wouldn't exactly say I'm losing weight at the moment, more like I'm yo-yo'ing because of the inconsistent gym schedule I've had the past few weeks. It seems like I can fit in a good week there but the next week something happens, or someone gets sick, and I can't get there at all.
Hopefully after next week off, everything settles down and I can get back to what my original (planned) schedule between home, study, gym was supposed to be!
We took some gorgeous photos of Ethan today. We had him out the front while the kids were playing and put him on a blanket with a few toys. Daddy was a bit 'snap happy' with the camera but we have some absolutely gorgeous photos. (of course that's just my bias opinion shining through there). I took a cute posed picture of Ethan sitting up. It was more of "Daddy quick sit Ethan up, let go, *SNAP*, topple over" but it was worth it! Ethan's almost but not quite sitting on his own. He's also a caterpillar! Head down, bum up, pushes forward, bum down, head up, head down, bum up, pushes forward, bum down, head up - and repeat! Very cute to watch! We saw him rocking on all 4s today - please let him NOT crawl for just a little bit longer!! I like being able to put him down and he stays where I leave him! (or close enough, seeing as he does tend to roll all over the place of late).
Wow. What a novel this turned out to be!
Signing off for tonight!
Am I worried about the surgery? The actual surgery no. I have complete faith and trust in my doctor that we're doing the right thing and I wouldn't have signed the forms if I had the slightest doubt in his ability or his recommendation. What I will admit to be worried about is losing my hearing, or damaging it further. But let's face it, that's a risk with any kind of ear surgery. I will just think positive and what happens will happen. My doctor isn't predicting anything because he said he really doesn't know til he gets in there (my ear) and has a look around. Again making it sound like there is "all this room" inside my ear!!
Having afternoon surgery fits in better with the kids as well. We were worried how we'd juggle getting everyone to school and taken care of at the same time as getting myself to the hospital. But it would appear that the afternoon will be the issue now, more specifically picking me up to come home. That should be easy enough to work around though with some help from my Mum. I think the plan is whenever it's time for me to come home, the kids will go down to my Mum's and then come home.
I worked a bit on my learning log today. I had to change 2 words in my glossary entries as I had picked words from my other subject (SGY110) and not the subject of the assessment (SSK12). That was easy enough to fix because one reading had 2 unfamiliar words so I used both of those.
I now have 2 reading reviews to complete, one in a mind map form, the other written - and the learning log is finished. I haven't yet started the 1200word essay but I'm not envisioning any problems with that.
I have unfortunately totally neglected SGY110 this week! I shall give it some much needed attention tomorrow.
Obviously still trying to work out that study balance!!
I put in a bit of extra effort this week at the gym with pump, 2 circuit classes, boxing and for the first time - yoga. I am sore to put it politely! But it's a good sore! It's the kind of sore that will make up for me not going at all next week (on advice from one of the trainers) after surgery. I wouldn't exactly say I'm losing weight at the moment, more like I'm yo-yo'ing because of the inconsistent gym schedule I've had the past few weeks. It seems like I can fit in a good week there but the next week something happens, or someone gets sick, and I can't get there at all.
Hopefully after next week off, everything settles down and I can get back to what my original (planned) schedule between home, study, gym was supposed to be!
We took some gorgeous photos of Ethan today. We had him out the front while the kids were playing and put him on a blanket with a few toys. Daddy was a bit 'snap happy' with the camera but we have some absolutely gorgeous photos. (of course that's just my bias opinion shining through there). I took a cute posed picture of Ethan sitting up. It was more of "Daddy quick sit Ethan up, let go, *SNAP*, topple over" but it was worth it! Ethan's almost but not quite sitting on his own. He's also a caterpillar! Head down, bum up, pushes forward, bum down, head up, head down, bum up, pushes forward, bum down, head up - and repeat! Very cute to watch! We saw him rocking on all 4s today - please let him NOT crawl for just a little bit longer!! I like being able to put him down and he stays where I leave him! (or close enough, seeing as he does tend to roll all over the place of late).
Wow. What a novel this turned out to be!
Signing off for tonight!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Plodding along
I received my result for my assessment from week 2. I was graded a 4/5 which translates into a HD (high distinction). I am quite happy about that! The assessment piece itself, like the first one, was only weighted as 5% of my final grade. Even though it is such a small weight, I'm still very happy with myself. Neither assessment piece was difficult as one was a library exercise and the other was a set of worksheets based on why are you studying, what are your goals and other similar questions. Still, to be graded as such for both pieces, I'm happy with that!
I'm currently working on my 3rd assessment for the same subject and I'm trying to get that finished early so I can move onto the 4th as both of them are due the same day. (Friday next week!)
In other news not related to study at all...
It is Rob's birthday today. We bought him a Parramatta Eels shirt because that's his football team. The girls baked him a (rather flat) mudcake after school and gave him a card.
Tayla received an award today for outstanding work in maths.
Turtle got through the day without whinging/crying/throwing a tantrum while at school.
And school photos were taken today. Rhiannah was in fits of giggles telling me she had to say "horsies" for her portrait photo, "puppies" for her photo with Tayla and the boys all had to say "stinky feet".
I can't wait to get their pictures! Usually takes 2months to come back so I will estimate we'll have them end May. I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if we received them back sooner.
Ethan has been an absolutely adorable baby the past few days. He's such a character already! He likes to pretend he's shy and then flashes his big blue eyes and grins like crazy! He also loves attention. He literally watches people until the notice him and start talking to him. Once they do, he flashes those eyes again, huge smiles and of course gets more attention lavished on him. Something tells me I'll be having quite a lot of teenage girls calling my house for him in future years!!
Anyway, I'm at the end of my tether this evening. All forms of tidying up can just wait til tomorrow morning.
I need sleep! (dozed off on the lounge this afternoon when I was meant to be reading!)
I'm currently working on my 3rd assessment for the same subject and I'm trying to get that finished early so I can move onto the 4th as both of them are due the same day. (Friday next week!)
In other news not related to study at all...
It is Rob's birthday today. We bought him a Parramatta Eels shirt because that's his football team. The girls baked him a (rather flat) mudcake after school and gave him a card.
Tayla received an award today for outstanding work in maths.
Turtle got through the day without whinging/crying/throwing a tantrum while at school.
And school photos were taken today. Rhiannah was in fits of giggles telling me she had to say "horsies" for her portrait photo, "puppies" for her photo with Tayla and the boys all had to say "stinky feet".
I can't wait to get their pictures! Usually takes 2months to come back so I will estimate we'll have them end May. I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if we received them back sooner.
Ethan has been an absolutely adorable baby the past few days. He's such a character already! He likes to pretend he's shy and then flashes his big blue eyes and grins like crazy! He also loves attention. He literally watches people until the notice him and start talking to him. Once they do, he flashes those eyes again, huge smiles and of course gets more attention lavished on him. Something tells me I'll be having quite a lot of teenage girls calling my house for him in future years!!
Anyway, I'm at the end of my tether this evening. All forms of tidying up can just wait til tomorrow morning.
I need sleep! (dozed off on the lounge this afternoon when I was meant to be reading!)
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