20 June 2014

Year 2 of Grad School

I just got a video message from my graduate coordinator about my second year of grad school. The format for year 2 is a bit different. Instead of three semesters, there are four: Fall, Spring I (8weeks), Spring II (8weeks), and Summer. We are done with our required classes and now we're into our track and elective courses. This means that not every class is offered every semester. 
I am doing the editorial track with my elective courses coming from the design and technology tracks. All of those classes (15 credits) are only offered in Fall and the Spring terms. This means I will be done with my grad program by the end of April 2015.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm glad that I'll be done sooner. But I'm already feeling tired after having hardly any break between my classes. Now I'll be jamming through 15 credits in two semesters. I probably won't be able to do my choir again (which breaks my heart) and I might have to quit my job come Spring semester. I just don't see how I will possibly have time to raise my family, do my classes, and work. Never mind church responsibilities, personal health and wellness, or anything else. I prayed really hard about doing this program and now I'm looking ahead at what seems to be the impossible. I'm feeling a bit of despair about the whole thing. It started off as such a positive experience but it has become more of a trial. I'm sure I'll be grateful to have a master's degree when it's all done but for now, I'm just pushing forward one day at a time.

Seizures

I just watched my sister, Jane, have a seizure. She's on her way to Utah Valley Regional Hospital with my mom. She'll be fine; they just want to check her and make sure she doesn't have another one. 
About an hour ago Jane came to my mom and me saying she couldn't sleep. Her eyes were rolling around and her eyelids were fluttering. It was freaky. My mom told me that that's what my eyes look like sometimes.
For those of you who have known me, you know how my eyes sometimes flutter? I guess that's pre-seizure activity. Usually I can't tell when it's happening but after I had William it got worse. My eyes would flutter for so long it really freaked me out. Luckily, the more sleep I got as the days went on, the better my eyes got. 
I've never been tested for epilepsy. Both Nelson and Jane have it. I've thought about it but I'm afraid to find out the results. Especially because if you have a seizure your license is revoked for a period of time. In Utah, it's three months. In California, it's six.
I am glad that I was able to help my mom tonight and I am glad I now know what a seizure looks like and how to handle it. My brother lives with us and now I know what to do if he ever has a seizure.