Being Proactive, Intentional, and Better in 2013

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"You show that you believe in your future by planning for it."

Yes, this post is kind of about my New Year's resolutions. I wrote them down but never posted them. Don't judge. Anyway, last year I put my resolutions here, and I'm proud to say that I really did work hard on doing them! I think that since we are now halfway through 2013 (still cannot get over how fast time is flying), it is a good time to look at if I am moving to the next level this year like I want to..

One of the biggest blessings in 2012 was that I learned how to be content with where I am. In no way is my life perfect, but when I think of how far I have come, I can't help but be at peace because I know that God is still working on me, and for that I am so so SO thankful.

1. I think I say this every year, but I want to eat better and make it a lifestyle change. I would love to have a more health conscious pregnancy (including increasing my physical activity) and now that I am in the home stretch I want to make sure , and I started working on that. In 2012, I made some pretty consistent effort at times to take my long term health into consideration when I chose food but I think I need to step it up a notch. Maybe no fried food? Pescatarian? Less red meat? More salads?

2. In 2012, I also took more conscientious steps towards making sure I took care of myself - i.e. monthly pedis with a friend, frequent hair appointments, buying cute clothes for my rotations, so i think I will just continue to keep that up.... ;-)

3. In 2013, I wanted to commit to a specialty...DONE!

4. In 2013, I will continue to read The Word consistently and become more active in church. I definitely fell off towards the end of 2012 and still feel really disconnected from God. I have to keep reminding myself that He doesn't disconnect from me, I just need to stay connected to Him.

5. In 2012, I struggled most with balancing all of the responsibilities of my constantly busy life. I think that for 2013 I need to be more specific about what my definition of being a great wife, mother, and student are. I have this pieced together image, both realistic and non, and I think it would be to my benefit and sanity to hold myself to my own standard.

Can you believe it is already June?! How are you doing on your 2013 goals? 

Summer is Here!!!

I knew better, because this has happened before, but I thought that when my vacation started I would have all these witty and interesting posts to write. Welp… as you can see, that was not the case. I want to think that part of the reason is because I was too busy out enjoying regular people life - which is true. But deep down I know it’s because honestly, on this vacation I did not feel like doing naan thing.  Fourth year starts on Monday, and although I am going back to the daily routine of the morning rush and my night time shut down , I am thankful that this month will be more of a 8am-5pm gig and that it signifies the commencement of fourth year – a year filled with rotations I chose to do.

I do have a "quick" recap for you though.

Vacation kicked off with a bang. After my final exam, the family and I hit the road and headed to New Orleans for one of my college BFF’s (and college roommate’s) law school graduation at Tulane. It was awesome. Natey was absolutely hilarious the whole time (sidebar, stay tuned for a “Things Natey Says” post). I wasn't sure how a four year old would do on a 14hour drive, but he was so excited to travel and see new places, and it was so cool to see his little self take everything all in. 

College Roomies!!

The Crew!

The Nates!

On the River Walk in NO.
Right after some creepy bayou man unsolicitedly
informed me I was carrying a boy...Thanks sir.

I am so happy I was able to go and support my friend. Medical school has a habit of draining all of the desire to do anything extra out of you – and you tend to use it as an excuse for why you don’t go anywhere or do anything – but I am so happy I didn’t do that this time. It’s amazing how much seeing your close friends fills you up. I love these people dearly and can’t wait for us to do this again next spring (my other college roommate graduates from law school next year and of course, yours truly is going to get that M.D.! IT’S. ABOUT. TO. GO. DOWN.).

On the way home, we stopped in Terry, Mississippi for a night to visit my mom’s side of the family. It was so much fun! It feels so good to be around family and I was so happy that Natey (and the Hubby) got to see where my Grammy grew up and how beautiful it is! The little one was loving the country life. As soon as we arrived, we pretty much did not see him again until we left. On the final leg of the trip, we stopped in Memphis for lunch and got to see one of my cousins and her daughter. BEST. WEEKEND. EVER.

Natey got to meet some of the family horses...

When we got home, it was back to reality – i.e. field trips, the car that had overheated the week of my final exams :sigh:, and many other things on my massive three-part “To Do” list (pictured). I have been slowly but surely crossing things off which feels super good. Notice how very little under my "Self" list has been crossed off...don't judge. However, I have managed the following: 

Ahhhhh!

• Almost completed the nursery… (I made my first Craigslist sale when I got rid of our guestroom furniture…Go me!)  
• We had maternity pictures taken…
• I wiped down all the baseboards in the house and organized almost all the closets....
• I found a summer camp for the kid…
• Started my preliminary nanny/childcare search…
• Registered for Step 2… (let us all shed a tear for that $1,750 exam HUGE side eye)
• Started my CV and personal statement for residency…

Oh, and I am so over my self-inflicted Mommy Guilt secondary to our regular use of before and after care at school. I thought Natey would be stoked when I told him that we could sleep in and I could walk him into his classroom at the regular time for the last two weeks of school. Nope. He wanted to wake up early so he could still go in to before care -_- 

Oh, and the first day I picked Nate up at the “usual” go home time of 11:15am (I know…keeping my kid in school until 3pm was considered “extended day" - and usually Nate is in aftercare until after 5pm), the KID CRIED ALL THE WAY HOME BECAUSE HE WANTED TO STAY FOR AFTERCARE!!! -_____- 

I cannot. 

Mommy Guilt instantly cured.

BELLY!

As far as pregnancy updates, the only new thing is that I am even huger (sp?) than before. And my sleeping is non-existent – which kind of sucks a lot. I’m currently trying to think of a new pregnancy pillow invention because I have tried them all and they are just not cutting it. Oh, and being pregnant in this heat hasn't been so bad. All you have to do is keep the A/C on 65... :Kanye shrug:

Today, my little one had his last day of Pre-School!! I am so thankful that his last two weeks of school fell on my vacation, it was probably the most present I’ve been in his class all year, and I can tell he loved it (despite the before/aftercare comments haha). On to Pre-Kindergarten!!!

Happy Summer from me and my little boo!

Music Monday

Thank you to all who have served our country to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy. Hope you and your families are having a safe and restful Memorial Day weekend :hugs: 

I'll have an update on my break soon, in the meantime, this song is really speaking to me right now...

Enjoy!

3rd Year, It's Been Real...

If Diddy is dancing across your screen you know what that means...My school year is DONE. 

Today was my last exam of third year, which would officially make me a fourth year medical student - i.e. 75% a doctor. WOAH.

Can you believe ya'll have been reading along with me for that long?

I am so so so so SO SO blessed and third year has been an awesome growing experience for me.

The biggest of which is finally deciding what I want to do with my life.

Well, now we get two glorious weeks off and then it's back to clerkships until Baby J gets here!

So, on that note, time for me to enjoy my vacay!

And you know there will be PLENTY of this happening:

Because I think I have earned it ;-)

Ciao friends!

Third Trimester Here We Come!

This pregnancy is FLYING by...I was so happy that the nausea had abated in trimester two and I was really feeling good and hitting my stride. Sadly, the nausea has returned. Not as bad, but I'm definitely back to popping Zofran like it's a prenatal vitamin. I'm super sleepy again too. And this week I reached the "I feel HUGE" landmark. I'm waddling, walking slow, short of breath, and I am sooooo sore everywhere - so much so that little Nate has decided that his "hips hurt" these days as well...hahaEven my doc thinks that I am measuring on the bigger side of things (2-3 weeks bigger actually), so I get to see Baby J at my next visit! I'm eager to find out if my due date is the same or if we need to make some adjustments :-DThe best part about this stage is that everyone can tell I've popped and is asking when I'm due, what we're having, and then saying how cool it is that we aren't finding out - but most people say they couldn't do it lol... Honestly, the hardest part is not being able to buy pink or blue stuff yet. I'm getting really excited about finding out if we are having a boy or girl on the big day! 

I guess I should start working on the nursery!

         

        

  

     

Music Monday

This is one of my favorites :-)

Night Float & Life Decision Updates...

So I wish I could brag about how that now, after four days on night float, I am a creature of the night. Not so much...but I am increasing my tolerance of staying up late. The fact that I am writing this blog post at 11PM when a month ago I was asleep by 7:30PM is a huge step for me ;-)

3 Years & Counting!

Overall, I have been able to see my family everyday. I get home in time to take Natey to school and talk to the hubby for a bit before he heads out to work. I am usually back at the hospital by the time they get home, so mornings have become precious for family time. Today was kind of a bummer because it is Nate and I's third wedding anniversary, but I only got to spend all of 30 minutes with him. WOMP. I'll just have to make it up this weekend... ;-)

Aside from that being a bummer, I am in LOOOOVE with OB. As soon as our orientation started last week I felt like I was surrounded by my people. My mom told me to at least give it a week LOL. My first day on nights I scrubbed into a C-section and then got to cut the umbilical cord! Maybe it's just me, but I felt like this was a huge deal haha. This was in addition to all the other medical student jobs like holding retractors and cutting suture ties...

I have gotten to triage a few patients coming in for induction and it's such a good feeling to be able to answer questions about labor and help to set some of the anxiety at ease. I think that school has definitely taught me a lot, but I can tell that my words carry a little more weight when I interject a personal note about my own experience with labor into my "Relax. This is totally normal..." talks.

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I am so excited to finally find something that I absolutely think I would be a great fit for. I've literally been waiting all year for this. OB gets a bad reputation for a number of reasons - one of which being hours worked because babies aren't born between the hours of 9am-5pm. My family and personal time is a huge priority to me, so even though all year OB has been in the back of my mind, I tried my hardest to see if there was anything else I could see myself being passionate about.

Nope. Nothing else.

Despite the hours, all of my attendings and residents seem really happy with their chosen field - which says a lot right?

I think there may be more room for flexibility than I initially thought. I just need to maximize my time on service by talking to everyone about how they find balance....