Dre and I just got back from taking Moby to the vet. He was going to have surgery on 5/5, but we noticed this big bulge, like a tumor, on his side. We thought it was his faulty kidney getting bigger, so we took him in. However, it turned out to be just a fluid filled sac under his skin. Nothing to worry about, but the vets are going to do his surgery tomorrow instead.

The vet said that had we not discovered this kidney defect now, Moby would have started experiencing signs of kidney failure at about age three. I still hate that he had to get hit by a car to give reason for his abdominal xrays, but glad we're getting this taken care of ASAP. It ain't gonna be cheap, but he's our pup, and we'd do anything for him.

So how's this for crazy?

Our little pup got hit by a car when I was walking him this past Monday, and we immediately took him to the animal hospital. After a bunch of xrays they found out that he has a fracture in his pelvis (which will heal on its own), and they also discovered a kidney defect. Somehow his kidney isn't emptying, so it's filling with fluid; this could be bad if it ruptured. He's probably had it since birth, but they recommend we remove the kidney, which is happening in a few weeks. If not for the accident this probably would have gone undetected, crazy huh?

Anyway, I am enjoying my new job. Some aspects of it are difficult; a few days ago there was a woman who'd had a stroke, trying really hard to tell me something, but all I could say was, "I'm sorry, I don't understand." I try to be as reassuring and kind as I can, which I think is what the residents need from me. I know that someday I'll be their age, and I will want the same respect.

In any case, despite my puppy being hurt, I'm feeling a lot better than I have in a while. I finally feel productive, like I'm getting somewhere. I have a plan for school, an income, jobs. I need those things to feel validated. I'm excited for the future: someday having my own classroom, someday buying a house, learning Spanish, but for now continuing to enjoy life with Dre and our kitties and pup.

So what's new? A few things worth mentioning. I was fortunate enough to be hired for another job, as an activities assistant at a long term care facility. I trained this weekend in their Alzheimer's unit (where I'll be every other weekend), and I got good feedback on my skills from the person training me . . . so that was encouraging. This job is part time, so it meshes perfectly with my other part time job; plus, it will work well with my school schedule come fall. Hopefully I can soon secure a summer school position, and my weekly number of hours worked will stay constant.

I took the PLACE exam this weekend, which is required for admittance to the Early Childhood SPED grad program at UNC. I think I did well; I'll find out in two weeks.

Now, for the main reason I thought to post anything. An awful thing happened today, and I still don't know exactly how it did. I was taking Mobius for a walk, and somehow the leash detached from his collar. How this happened I do not know. He ran out in the street and got hit by a car, going about 25 mph. We took him to the vet and he has no broken bones, and his blood work came back ok. They're just worried about his kidney, which looked out of place on the xray. It could be the way it was since birth, or maybe the accident knocked it out of place. He's staying overnight to be observed. Hopefully we can bring him home tomorrow. It's shaken us up a bit . . . say a prayer he'll be ok.

About a month ago I submitted an online application to UNC for grad school, including the application fee. Fast forward to now. Apparently the app never got processed/ printed off, and the receipt of payment wasn't recorded (despite the fact that it's on our credit card statement). Kind of strange.

Somehow I seem to remember I have my blog when it would be a good time for an update. First things first: I managed to get a job. I'm working in a preschool classroom, with kids who have special needs and those who are more "mainstream." I'm assigned to one student in particular who has some behavioral issues. I've been on the job three weeks and I can see him improving already, so that's encouraging. Overall, it has been great; so great, in fact, it's convinced me to change my course of study from Speech to Early Childhood Special Education. There is a Master's program at UNC for this, and I've applied and have my letters of rec on the way. I'm starting some teacher's licensure classes in the summer, and I should be finished Spring 2011.

Although I still have a huge interest in Speech- Language, I'm ready to dive into grad level work. The speech program required I take a year of undergrad leveling courses, THEN apply to the grad school. I'm so so anxious to devote myself to something career-wise though, and I've been told that I'm "good at" special ed. I've found I like preschool because the kids still have such a sense of innocence, and it's a chance for me (or any teacher) to make the ultimate good first impression of the learning environment. Besides, in the end I'll still be helping kids, which was my goal along. It's the right decision.

The other good news is I'm totally healed from surgery. I just survived a battle with laryngitis, two ear infections and two eyes full of conjunctivitis, so I'm feeling like a trooper health-wise. Dre and I are going down to Springs for Easter next week, and Moby will get to play with my parents' dog. Good times all around.