Ella’s senior project

 I wrapped up the last day of senior project getting ready for express fest. I completed my final review of the entire project and then I finished putting together all of my interviews and daily blogs. After putting all of those together, I finished up my presentation trifold poster board and practiced for tomorrow! Total hours: 4

 Today I started working on my express fest presentation. I first gathered all of my supplies and then laid them out on my floor. I started by putting a border on my trifold board. After taping that down I wrote my title letters and cut them out. I then taped those down. After spending way too much time on just that alone, I hopped on my laptop and started putting together my blogs and interviews. No pictures today. Total hours: 3

  In only a couple more days and I will be graduating which is absolutely crazy. The past two weeks have gone by so insanely fast. I have had so much fun learning with the kids and creating relationships with them that I know will last a lifetime. As much work as they are they are the sweetest and most loving kids I have ever met. This week alone they have given me so many flowers, shared their snacks, and have always been glad to see me and so sad to see me leave. Not only have they given flowers to me but classmates, parents, and the neighbors. They say hi to everyone they see and always brighten people's day. I also have become a lot closer with the mom and I'm super grateful for the experience to be able to spend time with this loving family.  Last week I was getting my blood drawn and my phlebotomist and I were talking about want kind of nurse I wanted to be. I told her I was thinking about peds and she was shocked and answered that she couldn't ever do such a thin...

 Today I was able to head over to Concord, NH to go to Micheals and target to gather supplies for express fest. I got a poster board and lots of different decorations and small supplies to create my vision. I want my presentation to be eye-grabbing but not overwhelming, and I want it to nicely represent everything that I have learned over the past two weeks. Sadly I don't have any photos but my total hours for today was 1.

Today I had the plan to go to Boston to the zoo but plans changed and so I just went up to Sunapee. We did the normal of playing and eating. We took a walk up to the harbor and played on the outdoor gym activities that they had on the way. Then we went and looked at the fish again from the bridge but also from the dock in the harbor. We headed back and ate some food and listened to some music. After eating Ryan insisted that he should water his plants, we grabbed the hose and he watered the newly planted seeds from the other day.  Total hours: 8

 Today I headed to Proctor for assembly to be able to sign the Ocean Classroom plaque. Then I headed to the library to knock out some work. I first took all of the pictures and videos I had accumulated and put them into a slideshow for Express Fest. After making the slideshow, I went onto the Red Cross Organization website and took an Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto-injector course. After passing the course, I then read a couple websites about concussions and seizures to expand my knowledge. Total Hours: 3

 Today started off with a meeting early this morning with Sue Sullivan. We talked on the phone and I asked her a bunch of questions about present healthcare. Mostly questions revolving around her and her career but also her thoughts on holistic and conventional healthcare. After my interview, I grabbed a coffee and headed to Sunapee. I kept all four kiddos entertained and then put Kay down for a nap. Then we ate some sandwiches and headed to the gardens to plant sunflower and pumpkin seeds. After planting lots of seeds we ended up taking a walk to Sunapee Harbor and watched all the fish from the bridge.  Total hours: 8 hed all the fish from the bridge.

 Today I had a day off from watching the kiddos. I spent the morning with my brother because I haven't seen him and then I sat down and did some work. I worked on my individual interview questions for the four people I will be interviewing. After about 3 hours of working on those questions, I then started to think about how I would be laying out my project. Then I signed up for a couple online medical courses to expand my knowledge. I think today was good for me to organize my week. After working on the logistics I headed to the gym and was finally able to clear my head. Sadly I don't have any pictures but I will be back with the kids tomorrow and will be able to put up some super cute pictures! Total hours: 4

       Today I headed over to see the kiddos at 7:30am to get there at 8am. I hung out with the four kids until 12 when the younger two went down for a nap. We put the car seats in my car, packed some snacks, water, sunscreen, and a blanket, and then loaded up the older two. We left and headed for Whites Park in Concord NH! We listened to a ton of Disney songs on the way there and after an hour of driving, we were finally there! The kids were super excited and eager to play on the playground. We went down slides, swung, played hide and seek, went for a walk, and fed the ducks. They had a blast! After about an hour and a half of playing we put the blanket down for some snacks and ate to refuel their energy. About 45 minutes later the rain started to come and we headed home, we grabbed some food and I dropped off the kids at 4 for some dinner!  Total Hours: 8

       Week one of the senior project is already done, not sure how but I have had a blast. This week I have spent my days with 4 kids. Not only are they all under the age of 4 but two of them have the same gene that carries Epilepsy. This week I have learned all about Epilepsy in children and have become fascinated by it. I have learned how to give them medication, the diagnosis, and how to use a rescue medication to pull them out of the seizure. Let alone actually learning how to manage 4 young kids, all with a wild imagination. I have absolutely loved my project so far, I love kids and so I have had so much fun keeping them entertained and also learning about them. I also love that I am helping out the parents so much by allowing them to take a load off and focus on other tasks that have been pushed aside throughout the years.  I know that the parents have been super appreciative of my help which makes everything worthwhile.    I would like to ...

 Day 5 of senior project consisted of a little road trip. I grabbed myself and the mother a coffee at 7 am this morning and drove over to Sunapee to load up all four kiddos. Today's plan was to head up north to Stowe Vermont and visit Emilie's (the mother) childhood best friend who became quadriplegic at the age of 17. We buckled in all of the kids and they slept the whole way up. It was a gorgeous drive and I wish I took more pictures, anyways when we arrived I introduced myself to Mike (her childhood best friend), his parents, and his sister Sarah. Mike was so absolutely inspirational, and positive and he just lived his life to the fullest that his body could allow.  I had such a good time getting to know him and his story. Mike, like I said was 17 when he became paralyzed, he was in the Outerbanks with some friends and there had just been a huge storm that had swept through. The next day, Mike and his buddies went out swimming, and Mike dove into the water,  when he do...

 After a pretty tough day yesterday, I woke up today feeling motivated and ready. I woke up at 7 am to leave at 7:30 and get to Sunapee by 8. The day consisted of dance parties, endless juice boxes and snacks, playing, diapers, and learning how to give them their medication. All four kiddos had an absurd amount of energy which never died down. We watered plants, played games, and did just about anything and everything to keep their big, adventurous minds busy. Today was exhausting but I learned a lot and had a lot of fun while doing it. When giving their medication I put the correct dosage into a bottle and fed it to the youngest. The medicine, an orange syrup, is to help with the seizures caused by her epilepsy. She took the orange milk like a champ and we continued through our day! Excited for what day 5's adventures have in store! Total Hours: 12

 Day 2 started off similar but earlier. I woke up at 7am to get ready to leave by 7:30 and be there by 8. I ventured up to Sunapee NH to see the family I am volunteering with. I have known this particular family for a while, they have 4 kids all under the age of 4. Although sadly two of the kiddo's second and fourth children were both diagnosed with the same gene that carries epilepsy. While there, the youngest Colette's symptoms were dominant. I was told some of her symptoms and what to do if she were to have an epileptic seizure. I was shown a dosage and the medication that stops the seizure. Luckily that wasn't ever needed. It was super interesting learning about the two kids' experiences and was grateful to be able to help the mother! Total Hours: 8

 Day 1 of senior project started out like every day. Coffee. Then, we got down to business. I started my day with some organization of interview times and the logistics of my project. I then ventured over to Portsmouth, NH with my mom to complete a CPR certification course! This course in total took 3 hours of focus and hands-on learning. During this class, we first watched videos to get an idea of what we soon would be certified for. After watching some videos we were ready to take our skills to the floor! We learned how to help cardiac diseased adults, children, and infants along with choking adults, children, and infants! We also were taught the compression depth, time, and length along with correctly using an AED, pocket mask, breathing bag, and our own two hands. At the end of the course, we took a 25-question test to prove we were ready! Luckily we both passed and had a great class! Total hours:5