Well this week has flown by, but it's been a great one! I have been incredibly busy, but not in a rushed, overwhelmed way. I have been spending a lot of time reading about the theory behind all of the biotechnology that I will be using for my research project (qPCR, RT, RNA isolation). While it is difficult to understand some of it without actually doing the process, it has been very helpful for understanding the reasoning behind why it's done, how it's done, and which parts are most critical. I have also been getting some more training in media making, RNA isolation, and did my first qPCR run today. Brooke is an incredible teacher and she explained the process so well! I made KSOM, an extremely important media that the embryos live in, today by myself (with Brooke watching). As long as the pH checks out tomorrow (at 24 hours), then I should be cleared to make it on my own. Check!
I have been learning all of the information about adipose collection and RNA isolation because tomorrow while I am at the slaughter house collecting ovaries for Kim, I will also be collecting a few fat samples in order to practice next week. I am really looking forward to this as it will be the first time I isolate RNA by myself. I will be doing a LOT of this in my project, so it is a great feeling knowing I am learning something that will directly affect my project!
Essau has been doing well, but I haven't had the time to ride him a lot lately. He doesn't seem to mind at all. I rode him on Tuesday and he did really well. Today he got de-wormed and was surprisingly good for it. I really like that Quest Gel! It isn't messy at all! It's so nice to get the de-wormer all in his mouth and none on me! It is supposed to be pretty cold the next few days and nights (lows in upper 20s/lower 30s and tomorrow's high is 45!!) so he has on a warm blankie :)
Asher is also doing well. He got de-clawed last Thursday and came home on Saturday. His surgery went well and he is healing super fast! We had to do 5 days of shredded paper in the litter box (yick) and he finishes up his antibiotics tomorrow. He will most definitely appreciate that!
It's hard to believe this semester is winding down. I have two more full weeks of class, then the week with Thanksgiving break, then 2 days of class after the break. After that, it's two exams and this semester is over! I am really, really excited about coming home for the first time since I've been here. I can't wait to see all of my friends and family, ride Ivan, and spend 4 whole days with Justin!! I just hope that I will have the strength and courage to come back to Tennessee! I actually get to come to NC the weekend before Thanksgiving because I am in a good friend's wedding as a bridesmaid. She is getting married in Nashville, NC (yes it's a real place) on Sunday the 21st. Since I have to come back to TN Sunday PM and go back to Raleigh on Wednesday, I decided to fly home for Thanksgiving so I didn't have to make two 6+ hour trips in 4 days. This will also give me more time at home since I won't have to take 6 hours out of the day for driving each direction.
A few for the prayer list:
* Justin is sick with a double ear infection and sinus infection
* My great aunt Nina has pneumonia
* NCSU vet students have their finals all before Thanksgiving
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