The last hectic days

Pregnancy pains and school stress have lead to a major loss of sleep the last few nights. And I really haven't managed to cross out anything significant on my to-do list.

• Write abstract
• Write acknowledgements - need to add funding sources
• Write "Contributions of Authors"
• Compile Table of Contents
• Finish writing Introduction chapter and draft and format Figs 1-3
• Get reprint permission from publisher of Chapter 2
• Complete revisions on Chapter 3 from A, C, S
  
• Get and complete revisions on Chapter 4 from G, S, S
• Get and complete revisions on Conclusions chapter from G
• Compile and format bibliography
• Compile and format appendix
  
• Proofread pre-text, intro, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, conclusions
• Format chapters uniformly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  
• Format Chapter 3 figures - still need to fix one minor thing in Table 2
  
• Format Chapter 4 figures
• Compile complete PDF and paginate
• Send to committee

I've been working on extensive revisions to Chapter 4 - creating new figures, restructuring the paper, clarifying muddy writing and muddier thoughts. I'm nearing the end of it though - some comments I can't deal with until after my advisor actually get to talk about them, but that won't happen until after the diss is with the committee. So tonight I am lugging home the laptop to start compiling the table of contents (i.e., listing section headings, figures, and tables, but not adding page #s) and maybe finally take a crack at the abstract. Then, hopefully, I will go to sleep and stay that way all night, with no pain from my hips and no stress-induced insomnia.