Week in Review - Sept. 23, 2011

I haven't done a week in review blog since February - so I figured I might as well get back to doing it.  It's nice to look back on the week and mull over the various events, both good and bad. 

Back To Work:  Even though I officially never took the summer off, my work schedule was very sporadic and light.  I got used to sleeping in, working two days a week and those days really never amounted to more than 2-3 hours of work.  Although our checking account suffered, my mental state improved quite a bit and I was able to spend more time with my family.  This week is the first week I've had a real work schedule - which basically means working every day during the hours the kids are in school.  Now, I'm sure many of you will think I have a cushy job since I don't have to go to work til after 9 a.m. and I'm usually done by 3:30.  But between dealing with all the issues each patient has, last minute cancellations, new evaluations and mounds of paperwork, I was feeling a little overwhelmed about halfway through the week.  Fortunately, most of my patients are lovely to spend time with (except the one who keeps yelling and swatting at me) and I'm finally getting a real paycheck, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. 



Sweet Penny - our expensive but healthy dog

 A Very Expensive Bladder Infection:  We spent over $700.00 this week to learn that our dog Penny has a bladder infection.  Yikes.  Since when does diagnosing a bladder infection cost seven hundred FREAKING dollars?????  Due to some weird symptoms the vets ran all these other tests because they thought she had a strange, possibly fatal disease - but it turned out all she needed were antibiotics.  I told Jack that if he ever decides to get a dog he needs to have a steady income because there is no such thing as a free pet.  I think I might have to look into pet insurance - this is unbelievable.  Also thinking I'm in the wrong profession - vets must make a killing.  Think about it - most people will do anything for their precious pets.  I'm sure most people do not have pet insurance, so of course they pay all these costs out of pocket.  Even human doctors don't have it this good - they're tied down by negotiated rates and Medicare caps and rarely actually get paid what they bill.  I'm thinking that when I was six years old and told everyone I wanted to be a veterinarian, I was on the right track.  Well, thank goodness our precious Penny is ok - that's all that matters.

The Rules of School:   Ok, so I'm sitting here writing this blog and I just heard the funniest conversation between John and Ella.  She was explaining the school rules to him.   "No guns, no drugs, no medicines are allowed.  You can't wear 'tink tops' or really tiny shorts and if you break any of the rules, you will get disqualified.  If you bring electronics to school, you have to stay home for one day.  And if you shoot someone, you can't come back to school at all."  She's in first grade.  I'm a bit speechless right now, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

On that note, I'm off to work.  Three patients on the schedule and I should be home by 1:30.  Life is good.