so, the good news....
I've been checking into clinical placements lately, tearing my hair out trying to find just the right placement that I can afford and will give me what I need without having to be gone too long. I had contacted a Utah midwife about coming to get some primary births and she called me the other day. She is in the process of setting up a clinical placement program for students and I will be the first! They've rented an apartment for students right next door to their clinic and she is charging me very little to stay there. Everything will be supplied - bedding, dishes, etc - and I believe they will have internet access since she told me to bring my computer if I have one. I'll have to buy my own food but there is a health food store a few buildings away and other stores nearby.
They've also arranged a corporate account with a car rental agency so that students can rent cars. Their prices will be very reasonable especially for younger students who usually get nailed with extra fees and insurance for being "young drivers". I don't know that it will benefit me much, and I'll have to rent a car to get to births. There are three midwives in the practice who I will attend births with, and they have 12 due in April, 15 in May. I agreed to come for two weeks and then play it by ear, staying no longer than a month. They will also arrange for me (and future students) to attend births with other midwives in the area although they likely won't be primary births.
So, I'm going to Utah!! Jack was home while I was talking on the phone with the midwife and afterwards he said that I could only buy a one way ticket so that he and the girls could drive down and get me! He *loves* Utah, after driving all through the US and Canada, and he was so envious when I went there last summer. So if all things go according to plan, Jack and the girls will drive down and get me, we'll take a short trip to St. George to see Liz (the midwife I worked with last summer) and then drive home. The kids will miss a week of school but, whatever. They can bring homework. I just hope Jack doesn't go crazy with them all in the van alone. Please pass the gravol ;-)
Now, for some couch time with my hubby.