The Mrs. The Mommy. The M.D.: April 2011
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Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding Anyone?

If you hadn't noticed already, today is international royal wedding day. Everywhere...lol



So even though I wanted to wake up at 4AM and watch it from the beginning, it did not quite work out that way (my body was like "Chick, please"). But I did wake up in time to see the bride get into the car for the drive to the church. All of the media coverage has definitely made me want to add London to my list of places to visit because everything was beautiful and all of the history would be so awesome to see!

Kate's dress (and her sister's) was gorgeous! And even the hubs admitted that Prince Will and Prince Harry looked sweet in their uniforms. I must note that Disney is pretty accurate in their prince attire because they looked straight out of Cinderella to me...



Today the Bishop said that "Every wedding is a royal wedding..." I just love weddings...Royals or not, it's so touching to see two people in love :-) My heart melted when Will turned to Kate after seeing her for the first time, and told her she looked beautiful... :sigh:

I learned today that in England they do not do a huge bridal party of women and men like in America. Instead, they will traditionally have children as attendants (little ones in weddings are always adorable), and the maid of honor and girls dress in white as a tribute to the bride...So cool!





I told the hubs that seeing all the coverage of Will and Kate in the carriage reminded me of our carriage ride downtown to dinner after our wedding ceremony...so many people we passed were honking, waving, and yelling out their congratulations - in that moment I definitely felt like a princess :-)

It's so nice that everyone is so happy for them and rooting for the newlyweds...With so many negative things in the media about marriage these days, this is truly a breath of fresh air - love will always have the power to unite us all.

I think this kept the Prince Charming dream alive for little girls everywhere... There is a little bit of princess inside all of us girls - even if you don't end up marrying a real prince...



And that little girl is HILARIOUS! Clearly she could not care less about marrying a prince because the 1 million+ people outside cheering for them was too much for her...LOL

Happy Friday!!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Last Patient History Done? Check.

So yesterday was my last patient history of the year...It's by far one of my favorite parts of medical school this year because I feel like this is something we are going to get totally boss at by the end of 4th year. Here's a little recap of mine...

We (10 MS1s total) check in at a computer station next to a closed doctor's office door. After we have all read on the screen what our "patient" is here for, the simulation center bell rings which means that we can all go in:

Me: *Knock, knock*

Patient: Come in (I can tell it's a woman, which makes me so happy since I haven't had to ask anyone about their scrotum or ejaculation yet...and I really can't say I was ready to)

Me: (in my warmest voice with a smile) Hi I'm Jasmine, I am the medical student that is going to get all of your information from you before the doctor comes in. Excuse me while I wash my hands really quick***.

(***This is the most awkward part that we all discuss among ourselves how to execute when we are waiting to go in. I know what you're thinking, it's just washing your hands, all doctors do it, but have you ever thought about WHEN they do it? If they talk while they do it? Water or antibacterial non-washing stuff? We have to analyze these things because One: you don't want to shake hands with a dirty hand - they'll think you're gross. Two: But you don't want to walk in washing them without acknowledging your patient at all, or just being like "Hi! : insert frantic but silent hand wash:" See what I mean?)

So THEN, I shook her hand, sat down, got her name, joked about all the rain we have been having, and then got down to business...

They give us 25 minutes but I never take all of the time. I think I had 11 minutes left on the clock when I was all done. I think it wen't well and I got all of the information I needed :-) It is recorded so we can go back and watch ourselves too, which is kinda cool...

After I "closed the interview", which includes telling her that the doctor would be in soon, it was a pleasure meeting her and I hope that we can get her some relief from her problem, I turned to leave and she smiles and says, "Oh, I just wanted to say I love your shoes - so cute!"






..This made my day because I feel like the past year how I look has been the last thing on my mind - except when I see any patients, of course...


LOL, nothing like getting a little patient rapport because of your fly sense of fashion...I'll take it!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Springing Forward...


Summertime is so close I can feel it...

We had our physiology final this morning. Usually at least a couple people finish the test more quickly than everyone else, but today no one left the 2.5hour, 125 question computer exams before we were well passed the 2 hour mark. After we filed out of the room, there was visible disdain and o_O type faces on pretty much everyone...among hearing a number other descriptions of the exam that I won't repeat (lol)...The exam was a national shelf exam, so that means it is not tailored to what we learned this year. Some topics were similar but there were quite a few we just had to make the best guess on...definitely no freebies. But it's over, so I'm going to just leave it at that. Well, at least until the boards...

I have a clinical/history taking exam scheduled for Wednesday and then Microbiology the 4th. After that, I am an official rising M2 and 1/4 an M.D.!!!! #WINNING

Wish there was an extra credit quiz on the royal wedding details, then I wouldn't feel so bad about planning on watching it this Friday...LOL

I guess I have my summer halfway figured out. We are booked up for just about every weekend in May, I am working with a summer camp for high school students for three weeks starting in the middle of July, and I want to do some shadowing, but basically the whole first half of my summer is open. I applied to a few internships, but nothing worked out with those - maybe a blessing in disguise...

Stay tuned.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Despite the inconvenient burden of my physiology final tomorrow, our family had a great Easter Sunday.

Last night the Pumpkin and I dyed Easter eggs. He was fascinated by the way they were turning colors...It's so fun passing on our childhood traditions on to our son - especially when he is so excited about them!







Later, my mom and littlest brother (17 years little) came into town to spend the holiday with us. I've decided that I love when our place is filled with guests...all the extra love here makes me so happy :-)

Today, we went to a packed out and wonderful service at church and the came home to a yummy meal prepared for by me and my mommy - mac and cheese, greens, dressing, and honey baked ham. PLUS vanilla bean cheesecake with a butterscotch filling made by the hubs...YUM!





Ok, time to go study...My exam is at 9AM tomorrow and I can't wait to have this class behind me - nothing like thinking about digestive enzymes at work when trying to enjoy your cheesecake in peace. Sheesh...

Hope everyone had a great holiday - HE HAS RISEN!!!

xoxoxo

Friday, April 22, 2011

Good Friday


At the Catholic grade school I attended, we would go to The Stations of the Cross every week during Lent. There is a line I will never forget in the book we read aloud together that talked about Jesus's death, "it was a sad, sad day, that first Good Friday". Although my 6-8th grade self read along and sang the hymns every year, my adult self only now truly realizes what a gift we have all been given.

My mom told me about a doctor on the radio that talked about the crucifixion of Jesus from a medical perspective, so I looked it up and thought I would share:
~~~~~~~~~~~


A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
By Dr. C. Truman Davis
Guest Writer CBN.com

WARNING: MATERIAL IN THIS ARTICLE MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

About a decade ago, reading Jim Bishop’s The Day Christ Died, I realized that I had for years taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted — that I had grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and a too distant friendship with our Lord. It finally occurred to me that, though a physician, I didn’t even know the actual immediate cause of death. The Gospel writers don’t help us much on this point, because crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary.

So we have only the concise words of the Evangelists: “Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified — and they crucified Him.” I have no competence to discuss the infinite psychic and spiritual suffering of the Incarnate God atoning for the sins of fallen man. But it seemed to me that as a physician I might pursue the physiological and anatomical aspects of our Lord’s passion in some detail.

What did the body of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of torture?

This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself; that is, torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to many who have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the subject.

Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world — to Egypt and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from the Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly developed a very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of Roman authors (Livy, Cicer, Tacitus) comment on crucifixion, and several innovations, modifications, and variations are described in the ancient literature. For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes) could have the cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its top in what we commonly think of as the Latin cross. The most common form used in our Lord’s day, however, was the Tau cross, shaped like our T.

In this cross, the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes. There is archeological evidence that it was on this type of cross that Jesus was crucified. Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. But the upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed permanently in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of execution.

Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Observe my hands.” Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.

A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim’s crime was usually placed on a staff, carried at the front of the procession from the prison, and later nailed to the cross so that it extended above the head. This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.

But, of course, the physical passion of the Christ began in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of greatest physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St. Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, “And being in agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.” Every ruse (trick) imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that this just doesn’t happen. A great deal of effort could have been saved had the doubters consulted the medical literature. Though very rare, the phenomenon of Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might well have produced marked weakness and possible shock.

After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.

In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You are, of course, familiar with Pilate’s action in attempting to pass responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate.

It was then, in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews. Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes. The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back, and legs.

At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood.

The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.

After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa.

In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed. Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” is nailed in place.

The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain — the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.

As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.

It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:

The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

The second, to the penitent thief, “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise.”

The third, looking down at the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John — the beloved Apostle — he said, “Behold thy mother.” Then, looking to His mother Mary, “Woman behold thy son.”

The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?”

Jesus experienced hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins -- a terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14th verse: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.”

It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. Jesus gasps His fifth cry, “I thirst.” One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of death.” A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn’t take any of the liquid.

The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, “It is finished.” His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die.

With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, “Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit.”

The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; thus the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they saw that this was unnecessary.

Apparently, to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. The 34th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John reports: “And immediately there came out blood and water.” That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Thus we have had our glimpse — including the medical evidence — of that epitome of evil which man has exhibited toward Man and toward God. It has been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed. How grateful we can be that we have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of God toward man — at once the miracle of the atonement (at one ment) and the expectation of the triumphant Easter morning.

Are you moved by what Jesus did for you on the cross? Do you want to receive the salvation Jesus purchased for you at Calvary with His own blood? Pray this prayer with me:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know You are the only way to God so now I want to quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Leavin' on a Jet Plane

The boys went to Texas last weekend, for the Hubby's grandma's 97th birthday party...





Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Two down, Three to Go...

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever. It's been busy to say the least...So after Friday's exam and yesterday's final, I am officially done with histology! :insert happy dance:


Even though I still have three exams to go, I am enjoying this babystep into my pre-M2 summer...

The Nates were out of town this weekend visiting family in Texas, so I was soooo excited to see them when they got home yesterday after my final exam...

I was so bummed, however, when the random chills and headaches I have been experiencing since Saturday culminated into a low grade fever yesterday afternoon. Perfect timing, huh? Well, the show must go on, and after a 3 hour family nap, I kept studying until I passed out last night at 11, only to wake up at 4AM to pop some more aspirin to break the returning fever...I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to make the most of my "awake-ness" and keep studying the female reproductive organs...

Sidebar: This is what happens when you try and salvage the tabs that your two year old got a hold of and decided to stick all over the house...


I have been waaaaaaay more productive in the past 12 hours (despite feeling like I was hit by a bus), than I have been all weekend...the irony. I think it's because I am afraid that if my symptoms are indeed an impending flu virus, it might affect my scholastic intensity. I guess the Lord works in mysterious ways and knew this was the only way to put a halt on my shamming...LOL And to top it off...I just realized that my physiology exam is not tomorrow, it's THURSDAY!!! Woot! I don't know why I didn't realize this, since it's on my iCal, in my Planner, and on the fridge....


Oh! On a cute note, Pumpkin's school pictures came in last week!


Ah well, back to my notes...

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Histology Exam Tomorrow...

So until tomorrow morning I will be just looking at notes and slides over, and over, and over, and over again...

Pop Quiz! Name That Tissue:



If you said "posterior eyeball", "ovary", and "adrenal gland", you are a winner and a histology boss...

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Exam time...Get Hype!

Last night I was up until 2AM "looking at Histology"...

You know how that goes :sigh:




















This morning, I hit the gym after dropping off the kid at daycare, and have been studying since then. I also listened to my LAST physiology lecture of the semester and second-to-last microbiology lecture...WOOT

Yesterday I stocked up on Healthy Choice lunch stuff and non-junk food snacks...There's something about sitting in one place for hours looking at notes that makes you hungry enough to double your caloric intake.

I put up my April calendar in an earlier post, but here is a recap of the schedule:

April 15: Histology Exam 3

April 18: Histology Final

April 21: Physiology Exam 3

April 25: Physiology Final

April 27: History Taking Exam

May 4: Microbiology Final

Fin!

Please send up your prayers for me...Normally I deactivate all social networking for the weeks leading up to exams. I really don't want to...I wish I could deactivate how I keep daydreaming about how I am going to spend my days off. I think we learned that is a coping mechanism of some sort in ICM :-/

Ahhh to be young again...here's how a toddler studies:


To all my student readers, let me know if you have any healthy snacking and/or stress relieving tips!

Well, Groove Shark playlist is locked and loaded...need to get on it before the fun police (bka the Hubby) calls me out...

Let's Go!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Happy Birthday to the Boo! And Other Happenings...

So this past weekend was the bomb.com, and just what I needed to get motivated for this last leg of the semester (I hope)...Almost there!

Friday we made our way to Southfield for Nate's 26th birthday celebration. This weekend was also Nu @ 90, so lots of sorors were in town. All but one (she was stuck at home with pneumonia) of my sands were able to make it, and Friday night we met for dinner at one of Ann Arbor's popular hang outs - Pizza House... It was sooooo much fun and wonderful seeing everyone! The Hubby went and caught up with the Kappas while I was walking down Delta memory lane...LOL



I can't believe I hadn't been back to campus since I graduated and moved out "The Penthouse" (what me and the roomies called our apartment...lol). Needless to say, it was a LONG overdue visit.


For Saturday, I had organized dinner and cupcakes with the Hubby's family - his grandma let us take over her home, and everyone helped to make it a great time! Nate's favorite cake is strawberry with chocolate icing, and the cupcakes that I had made were DELICIOUS. I highly recommend The Cupcake Station, and we will definitely be trying more flavors...YUM :-)





After the family party we hit the town (Birmingham) to celebrate with Nate's close friends, which was a ton of fun too :-)

Sunday, I went to see my Grammy and my Aunt stopped by with my little cousins (Age 5 and 2). I would have pictures of these events as well...hopefully I can post them later all of the pictures featured in this post are donated from other people's cameras...womp



Why don't I have my own pictures? Because we stopped at McDonalds in Southfield when we left to go home, and somehow my phone fell out of my bag around the play area...it is still a mystery to me how this occurred, but thankfully someone that came in after us found it, called Nate's phone, and it's on its way back to me now via UPS :-) God was definitely looking out for me, because I just knew I was going to have to get a new phone...

----

Histology exam this Friday and a kabillion exams after that...so it's time to get it in until the semester concludes...

Trying to figure out how to maintain good eating habits despite the late nights. I'm craving sour gummy worms as we speak o_O

Back to the books!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

We're halfway to the weekend! That's reason enough to dance for us...



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

To Be Or Not To Be...

Today was our last ICM session - which was another patient history practice. My group was at Wishard Hospital. Basically we each get to go into a consenting patient's room (usually someone who is about to go home), and talk to them about what brought them into the hospital (history of present illness), what their health was like prior to their chief complaint (complete medical history), social history, and a review of systems (where you go from head to toe asking about any and every possible pain they might have experienced within the last year).

The patient encounters that I have experienced this year have always been good, and everyone has been really nice and excited to help you learn how to be a doctor :-) Though some times it can be awkward and you feel like you are being an annoyance since the real doctor already asked the patient all of the questions you are asking, or you just don't think the questions are really relevant to the present illness - for example, during my second interview (which was my most difficult to do), my patient had end-stage cancer, and I chose not to ask her about her sexual history.

At first it seemed extremely intimidating, but now that we have done it 4 times...it isn't half as nerve wrecking as it was before. We have a clinical skills exam during finals week in the simulation center where we will be tested on how well we can take a complete history on a standardized patient. Next year should be even more fun because not only will we get a chance to do it every week, we also have to do a physical exam...

I thought that after first year I might have more of an idea of what I will want to specialize in, but it has only made my list bigger. I feel like picking a specialty during third year is going to be like a season of the bachelor, because I fall in love with just about all of the one's I meet, and so far, just about everybody is getting a rose...LOL

My tentative list:
1. Dermatology
2. Otolaryngology
3. Internal Medicine - Pulmonology or Gastroenterology
4. Endocrinology
5. Urology (shout out to my dad!)
6. Adolescent Medicine
7. Opthalmology

And Jasmine is a good name for a pediatrician (What kid doesn't want to go to a doctor with the same name as one of the best Disney princesses? Okay, well, the boys probably wouldn't care, but still)...But I like babies, teenagers, and the elderly...sometimes middle-aged adults too... Hopefully this summer I can narrow it down a bit...

But thanks to physiology and gross anatomy, I'm pretty sure I DON'T want to be a cardiologist or an orthopedic surgeon.

Tis all for now...

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The End of the Semester is Coming!!!



Today is such a beautiful day. Church was awesome, and I have been trying to keep my academic productivity up...Key word: "trying".

Just filled out our fridge calendar for April. Four weeks and I'm freeeeeee!!!!! :cue "Eye of the Tiger" theme song:

Saw this and I had to post it, because well, this just about sums it up...



Oh, and this...



Have a blessed week everyone!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Baby Bucket List...


I'm a subscriber to "The Nest", a follow-up website to "The Knot" that does for newlyweds what "The Knot" does for brides and grooms (mostly, brides). Apparently there is this thing called a "Baby Bucket List" that couples make consisting of all the things they want to accomplish before they have kids. Now, don't get me wrong, kids definitely change your life in more ways than you could imagine, and there is a clear dichotomy between my life and the life of my early-twenties counterparts and BFFs, but this list is a bit much for me. It made having kids sound like the end of ALL civil liberties - not to mention the screaming baby picture for added effect on the title page...

If you don't feel like checking the link, here is a recap:
15 Things to Do Before You Have Kids

15. Go on a wine-tasting tour at a vineyard.
14. Go skydiving/bungee jumping/swimming with sharks...or whatever other crazy, life-risking thing you’ve got on your bucket list.
13. Make a list of all the restaurants and bars you've been meaning to check out -- and go.
12. Appreciate the bathroom -- alone.
11. Stop being so self-righteous. (Translation: don't judge those with screaming children in public)
10. Take a road trip.
9. Be spontaneous.
8. Spend an entire day in bed together watching movies.
7. Have boozy lunches with friends.
6. Feed your minimalist side. (Translation: have white furniture, rugs, walls, etc.)
5. Have morning sex.
4. Be the last ones to leave the party.
3. Fly first class.
2. Wear as much silk, cashmere, dry-clean-only clothing as you possibly can, while you still can.
1. Take a career risk.

Now I am the epitome of an uber-planner, and quite frankly, I was terrified of the idea of being a mother and student simultaneously - convinced if it was done, it couldn't be done well (I now know that couldn't be further from the truth). I think that if we hadn't had our son when we did, I don't know when we would have MUTUALLY decided that we were at a good place in life to start our family. Just bringing in my half of things in, I originally was thinking no babies until after my first residency year - so that would have been MAYBE 2016 (at age 29), and that is a big maybe without knowing what specialty I will have chosen.

I am 100% in agreement with the idea that if you are married and are not ready to have a baby because you still have personal and professional goals you want to accomplish, then don't (shout out to Beyonce and Jay-Z). If you are waiting for marriage stability or financial/professional stability - all things that will make you better equipped for parenting, that's one thing; I just don't think couples have to check everything off of their "enjoyable moments kids get in the way of" bucket lists to make the call.

The Hubs and I have definitely had the "what if" discussions about our lives - I think most parents do. But I can honestly speak from my own personal experience: Wine tasting tours don't end. Private bathroom time doesn't end. Spontaneity doesn't end. Oh, and you can still wear nice clothes (LOL). Even in the midsts of the "terrible twos" I told the Hubby if this is what we are missing out on, we aren't missing much... Plus, we'll be empty nesters by our mid 40's...Can you say "early retirement beach house"? WINNING. Take that Baby Bucket List!

I'd love to hear what you guys think...

Friday, April 1, 2011

Personal Assistant Anyone?



So I woke up today not feeling so superwoman-esque. I guess you can't be on 110% every day... The little one and I woke up late - 8:30. I know what you're thinking, but bear with me. His sleep schedule has been off all week. My mom thinks that he might be going through a new developmental phase and/or growth spurt. Usually we can have him down by 8, but lately he has been staying up until 9:30/10 and waking up almost every hour asking for something to drink. On Wednesday, he woke me up at 3:45AM, got out of bed, took my hand, and then lead me to the fridge because he wanted some yogurt. Sometimes I think I have a grown man for a son, and not a two year old. This week helped me to see how much I use post-bedtime time to just unwind and get things done, because I have been feeling high strung and tired all week :-/

Yesterday after my quiz, I crashed. The only thing I really remember doing when I got home was watching the much anticipated musical Grey's Anatomy episode - verdict is still out on that one, but it wasn't as corny as I thought it would be...

We don't have class today (thankfully) and I decided to come to school to ensure productivity - that's if I can get this migraine to go away by lunch. I thought that I might not be able to get a high-demand private study room since I woke up late and didn't get to campus until 10, but I guess not too many people were planning to spend their Friday morning here (surprised?) so I'm good...

In other news, potty training has been a HUGE success for Pumpkin and a lot of it has to do with his school. At home he has been telling us just about every time he has to use the potty. I think someone might be done with diapers by May. So proud of him!



I forgot to mention that last Friday I also attended my first Parents' Association meeting at the little one's school. I probably don't need to add another thing to my already-full plate, but this is something I have been talking about getting involved with for a while. The mom that just started the group is actually a Michigan Alum and the daughter of Pumpkin's teacher. She told the Hubs about it one day when he was getting Nate from school, and he told me. I decided a while ago that I definitely want to be have positions like "room mom" or "carpool mom", and be the "all in my kids' lives" type mom while I'm practicing medicine, so it was great to get my feet wet...

This weekend we have no definite plans. So we will hopefully get to catch up on lost sleep, have some good family time, and I'll be able to get ahead on my school work. I also started my dieting this week - well kind of...so I need to fine-tune the recipe for my meal replacement shake and develop a meal and workout plan. Dieting for me has to be treated like school, because if I don't have a curriculum, syllabus, or something...I'm going to free-style and that is usually all bad (thus this year's weight gain...) LOL

I keep thinking of random things I want to get done and errands I need to run today. I wonder if I could get financial aid to cover a personal assistant...probably not. Alright, time to work.

TGIF!
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