The Mrs. The Mommy. The M.D.

Operation De-Clutter

2012-01-30T09:50:00.000-05:00

I spent a lot of time (and thinking power) over break purging and de-bulking our home of junk. I just can't think clearly when there is a lot of clutter. It also causes me to be obsessed with it when I should be doing things like studying, so that's why I have to have things in order and have my hair done going into an exam - or it will drive me nuts :shrug:

Anyway, it started with making room for all of Nate's new toys after Christmas. So far I also have redone the majority of the closest in the house (thankfully, I get rid of clothes twice a year so my closet has been pretty reasonable), and I want to do something new with the guest room/office so that I am making the most of that small but functional space.

A friend of mine shared this de-clutter your home in 2012 calendar on twitter. It breaks down cleaning out your whole house into very, very small daily steps. Brilliant.

Photo Credit

Also, Pinterest and StumbleUpon have been a wealth of cool, home-made organizational tools. They opened up a container store in Indianapolis recently, and it's probably for the best that I haven't had time to go, because I love me some plastic bins and such...LOL

Do you have any good tips for keeping everything at home or in the office in its place?

Music Monday

2012-01-30T09:17:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite songs. When I feel lonely, it gives me great comfort to know God has assigned angels to watch over me...

Applying to Medical School: Do I Mention That I am a Mother?

2012-01-24T10:52:00.004-05:00

A reader asked for some insight regarding her personal statement and I thought that this would be a great post because it was something I went back and forth about during my application cycle.

Two application cycles, 15 rejections, and 2 acceptances later, here is my take on things:

Photo Credit

I have a lot of reservations regarding writing about motherhood in your personal statement or talking about it during the interview. Everyone has a different backstory, but my feelings come from the fact that my pregnancy was both early and VERY unplanned. I wasn't even telling my family and friends let alone some strangers on an admission committee. Frankly, I did not want to be written off as ill-equipped to handle to rigors of medical school because I was a new mother. Needless to say, I didn't mention it either time that I applied in my personal statement.

And for the same reasons I didn't mention it on my interviews. Even when I was running back to breastfeed my 11-day-old son in the middle of my interview day at IU, I kept my mouth shut.

I did break my rule once, during the second application cycle when I interviewed at Morehouse. I actually was stunned by the fact that I both simultaneously got emotional and shed a tear while talking about how having my son hadn't stopped me and that then, more than ever, I knew being a doctor was something I was born to do. It was an intense interview, but I felt like I laid it all on the table, and I was able to be completely myself. After the interview I kept playing this scene in my mind and how I might have sabotaged my chances but Morehouse School of Medicine will always have a special place in my heart because they were the first school to say they wanted me to be a doctor too :-)

I haven't known anyone personally who got a negative reaction for talking about their kids in the PS/interview, but I just didn't want to chance it if I happened to get the interviewer who believed that women should stay at home with the kids... Unfortunately, biases are alive and well.

:Disclaimer: Obviously, now that I am in medical school there is FULL disclosure. I don't think you should have to hide motherhood, but unless you are certain it makes your application stand out in a positive way amongst the vast majority of single or non-parent applicants, for now it might need to be left unsaid.

I think the main thing is, whether you talk about your experiences in motherhood or not, you want to focus on YOU. As a mom we tend to focus on everyone but ourselves, especially our children. So although it may be easy to talk about them, you don't want anyone to sell you short because they think you can't emotionally be invested in medicine.

You only have a limited amount of time (and words) to give someone a taste of the dynamic and multi-faceted person you are. I wanted them to walk away from my PS/interview knowing me as a person and why I couldn't see myself doing anything besides being a doctor.

That's just my two cents...Hope it helps!

I would love to hear other opinions on this! What is your take on sharing your role at a mother while applying to school programs and/or for jobs?

Happy MLK Jr. Day!

2012-01-16T13:29:00.000-05:00

‎"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." - MLK Jr.

Growing up, my mom always taught us that this was a day ON and never "off". Even when our school did not recognize the day as a holiday, my mom would always keep us home to go to the DuSable Museum for their annual MLK Jr. Day celebration. In college, Michigan always had an awesome MLK Symposium with nationally renowned speakers - one of the many things I miss about undergrad...

I hope to pass this mindset on to Nathan. Today we had our lesson on who Martin Luther King, Jr. was and what he stood for - a very quick lesson to suit his attention span. I found a cool video that we watched together:

Me: "This is Martin Luther King, Junior"

Nate: :wide-eyed: "Ooooh Ok!"

Me: "He said that his dream was for all of God's children to be able to play together and be happy"

Nate: "I wanna have a dream!"

I hope you all are having a great day ON too!

Music Monday

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

A little old school...shout out to my Grammy :-)

Let's Be Productive!

2012-01-10T21:19:00.000-05:00

One of the first messages my pastor preached this year was about the importance of productivity to attain God's best for your life. I am all in!

Here is what I have been up to making things more productive in our house.

Early To Bed, Early To Rise.
Trying to get up at 5 with the hubby but so far 6-6:30 I am downing coffee, and reading for the day before I wake up my little ray of sunshine :-)

Budgeting.
Two words, EXCEL SPREADSHEET. I'm tracking all (most of) our spending so we can be more a financially savvy household.

Giving My To Do List An Upgrade.
I just got the free "Wunderlist" app and so far I like it. It syncs from my laptop to my phone so no matter where I am, I can amend, add to, or, my personal favorite, cross things off!

Being More Organized.

The weekend is when I wash, press, and fold for the week. I bought this organizer on Amazon to help me lay out all of the little one's outfits. Now I don't have to use brain power trying to find and matching clothes.

Planning Meals.
Well, I'll sort of be doing the planning...I saw a deal on Eversave for 6 months of meal planning at Relish that was too good to pass up. It is
supposed to save us money on groceries because they even make your grocery list! I'm excited!

Practicing Better Overall Time Management.

I am scheduling things AND sticking to it! Homework time is for homework - not blogging. Family time is family time. And everything is going to actually be written into my schedule. I know things won't be perfect, but planning out my days can't do anything but help...

How have you made changes to make 2012 your most productive year yet?

Syphilis?

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

There is definitely a method to the madness when it comes to a medical school curriculum. For the most part we learn about the same things in different classes all together. This helps us to see connections and hopefully memorize it better. They told us that accurate diagnosis is all about "pattern recognition", so right now we are trying to see the patterns...

Anyway, last semester, syphilis was one of those diseases that kept popping up. Did you know at one time Indianapolis took the award for most syphilis diagnosis? Now I think we are just a "top contender" in the obesity category...

Here are some of the syphilis patterns: You will see thoracic aortic aneurysms with the tertiary stage of syphilis, but abdominal aortic aneurysms with atherosclerosis...Or you may see the "Copper Pennies" rash of the secondary stage of syphilis...

Photo Credit

This makes for interesting Q&A sessions with practitioners because they can always tell what we are currently learning based on what we guess on the differential - no matter how far off our guess may be...haha

A discussion might sound something like this:

Doctor: "Patient presents with a fever, sore throat, and unspecified abdominal pain. What are some possible causes?"

Thoughtful med students: "Syphilis?"

I mean it could be on the differential, but obviously there are some more common, less life-threatening things it could be as well LOL

Some other top contenders this year have been: "AIDS", "Tumor", and "Ebola". Hopefully they teach us some less-extreme diagnosis so that we don freak out the poor patient that comes in with a pollen allergy...

After all, this is real life, not an episode of House.

Music Monday: Back to the Grind!

2012-01-09T12:28:00.003-05:00

Back to school today and one step closer!

What if Your Doctor Wrote a "Tell All" Book?

2012-01-05T11:30:00.001-05:00

I just read an excerpt from Confessions of a Surgeon by Paul A. Ruggieri, M.D. It wasn't Grey's Anatomy raunchy, but it did serve up some "real life" drama in the operating room. Here is a mental conversation Dr. Ruggieri has with the difficult colon he is trying to remove. Yes, the colon...

"'You're going to earn your fee tonight, Dr. Surgeon.' The colon kept talking. 'I hope you're not in this business for the money, like the last guy who operated on me. Between what Medicare pays you, the phone calls in the middle of night and the time you spend guiding my recovery, I figure you will make about $200 an hour for this operation. How does that grab you?'

Should have gone for my M.B.A., I mumbled to myself. Big mistake going into medicine, never mind surgery. If I could only go back and do it over again.

The colon's rant continued: 'Wait, subtract what it costs you in overhead to bill for this operation (double that if the claim gets rejected), plus malpractice costs for the day, and we are now at $150 an hour. And how could I leave out the biggest expense of all? The price of the mental stress from worrying about me after the surgery (and double that if there's a complication). Now, I figure you're under $100 an hour. Plumbers make more than that just to step inside your house. I bet they sleep well at night. Just remember, Dr. Surgeon, nobody put a gun to your head. You chose this profession.'"

Obviously, HIPAA requires by law that we protect the privacy of our patients. I am a firm believer that the patient is the sole owner of their medical records/history, and by-no-means, should anyone administering their care compromise that.

Social media has really changed how everyone in all fields does business. We are a "share it all" culture no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Just turn on the TV and everyone all is giving "the inside dish" on their lives. But how much sharing - even if anonymous - is too much? Physicians are people too, so what's wrong with knowing their thoughts and feelings about their job? Or knowing they wish they had just gotten their MBA? What if you were the patient being written about anonymously, how would you feel?

When looking into his book further, I found another book by a different physician that seemed interesting too... I feel like Bravo already did a show on this (LOL, but I'm serious):

There is a lot out there both anonymous and not regarding the life of doctors. I think that by the nature of how my blog evolved, I never considered blogging anonymously. And I also think that by having my name, not to mention all the other personal information about my life that you care (or don't care) to read, there is more accountability on my end when it comes to talking about my experiences in school.

On the flip side, I feel there should also be some privacy preservation on the physician's end when it comes to the patient-doctor relationship. For example, we had a discussion the first week of med school about "What if a patient 'friends' you on Facebook? or tries to 'follow you' on Twitter?" Do my patients need to see the inside jokes I posted on the walls of my college roommates back in 2005? Or the millions of pictures I took of myself in the dorm before going out when I thought I was looking cute? LOL Things that make you go "hmmmm..."

How do you feel about knowing the personal life of your physician? What if they had awesome bedside manner and clinical skills, but then you read their book/see their Facebook, and they seem like a jerk? Would that change anything? Would you change doctors? I would love to hear what you think!

The Working {Outside the Home} Mom War Rages on...

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

**Made a few addendums to this post because I don't want you to think that I feel mom's who stay at home aren't working too. Definitely not the case. But this research was focused on the children of mothers who worked outside of the home, compared to those whose mothers remained home with them. Ok, carry on.**

During exam weeks I always have a HUGE case of Mommy Guilt.

I would only see my child for maybe two hours a day - getting him ready and taking him to school in the morning. I know he misses me, but I always wonder if he is angry that I am gone all the time, or thinks that I would rather be at school instead of at home with him. The thought of this makes me want to cry.

WebMD ran an article back in July basically saying, "rest assured Moms, your kids won't have any major behavior problems because you work outside the home." You can read the article on the study done by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in it's entirety here.

It never even crossed my mind that Nate could have long-term behavior problems because of my absence. My mom worked out of the home up until my youngest brother was born and then she stayed home, so I got both experiences and I think we all turned out fine - in fact, quite excellent haha...

Even though we working {outside the home} moms continue to tell ourselves that working outside the home isn't short-changing our child, it was a refreshing change to hear someone else saying it. A completely different message than the New York Times article in which one mother and physician slaps us with the notion that we can't have it all.

The article asserts something that is kind of common sense - that a big part of your child's success is taking the time to find a good caregiver...Oh ok.

But it concludes with this:

In fact, "parents who do the best job are the ones who have interests outside of children, and working is certainly one of these interests," she says. "If you need to work or want to work, guilt is a wasted emotion."

I think that point is HUGE. Whether you work outside the home or not, moms need to have a life/identity outside of their children. This ensures that they are fulfilled and happy. And a happy mom is a better mom for her kids.

Moms, did you read this article? What do you think? Should we even still be talking about this, let alone doing/funding research on it?

Why I LOVE BEING HIS Mrs.

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Zazzle.com

When someone says "I don't know how you do it..." I always need to give credit where it is due. I couldn't have done half of what I have without God and my awesome husband. A spouse in medical school means that the whole family is in med school. I think it takes the whole, "marriage is give and take" to the extreme, because a lot of times I feel like I am the one doing all the taking.

My husband has always supported my dreams and every day I see more and more how someone like him is one in a million. I am so thankful to have him in my life. I put more pressure on myself to be the "best wife ever" than he ever did. He sees me working for something greater and is the best co-pilot a girl could have. He is definitely no "Elvin" LOL...

I'd have to write a whole different post on how he is such an awesome dad. Our son adores him :-)

Since school started, I have been trying to find the best ways to keep my marriage high on the totem pole despite all of my responsibilities. Nate has been an awesome supporter, and I feel like I have been doing very little to fill his love tank.

Wives, what kinds of little things do you do to let your husband know he's loved throughout the busy week?

This is How WE Do It!!!

2012-01-02T21:12:00.000-05:00

I was honored when Tara at The Young Mommy Life asked me to contribute to her first ebook of 2012 - This is How We Do It: A Survival Guide for Busy Moms. And now, I am so excited to announce that the book hit Amazon.com today!!!

"Half tips, half relatable stories, This Is How We Do It features essays from eight moms on how to make the most of every day. With a variety of experience (some raising toddlers, others wrangling teenagers), they've seen it all and learned to laugh about it."

You can buy your copy HERE for $4.99!! Be sure to tell all the mommies you know! And stay tuned for more details on the #SurvivalGuide Twitter party!

Music Monday

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

This song really goes with my theme this year of getting closer to God and making the right choices this year :-)

Happy New Year!!! Roll Call!

2012-01-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

I wish you all a blessed and prosperous 2012

Thank you so much for reading my blog, your comments, and support! It all means so much to me because you don't even have to come and visit, but you do and I am so grateful for all of my readers :big hugs:

You guys know so much about my life and I feel like I have gained another family through my blog. In 2012 I want to really get to know my readers and create more ways for us to connect.

I think the best way to do that is with a roll call! :insert DJ mix music:

So tell me more about yourself!
1. What is your name and where are you from?
2. Fun fact about you (and/or) what do you do (and/or) what is your passion?
3. How did you first find out about my blog?
4. What content do you want to see more of at MMMD?
5. What content would you like to see less of at MMMD?
(sidebar - new acronym, yes? leave it in 2011? LOL)

Can't wait to hear from you!

Tis the Season!!

2011-12-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

2011 Reflections and 2012 Resolutions

2011-12-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

I definitely am working on making my goals year-round, but the new year is always a pivotal time to take inventory on how far we have come. When we were younger, and even up until a couple years ago, my mom would make us write our "vision statements" for the year in addition to spiritual, physical, and mental goals. It is a great thing to do no matter where you are in life....

Last year I shared Pumpkin's resolutions with you:

"1. No bas (bottles) - so far he is only taking a couple at night with water only...2. No more night time feedings (we have cut down on the milk A LOT, now he doesn't fuss as much and his belly is a lot less bloated too...3. Sleeping in the big boy bed4. Potty training - even his teacher thinks that he is ready, time to whip out the pull ups!"

I am so excited for him because everything was done, well except for the complete potty training, but I am hoping that by his birthday we will be good...pray! It's amazing to look back and see how far he has developed in just one year - last year I talked about how he was starting to call me "mommy" all the time...awww That is definitely a great example of why I started my blog for in the first place. I want to be able to go back and remember all the wonderful things about life right now.

This year Pumpkin's resolutions are:

Finish potty training!
Start reading - if anyone has any good phonics type book recommendations please share!
Get on a soccer team
Learn karate in a real, controlled setting and not just on Power Rangers
Behavior improvement - Don't get me wrong, he is a great kid, but we just some fine-tuning when it comes to listening to his mommy and following directions in public...LOL

My resolutions are a work in progress but so far...

Study the Word daily and join a ministry at church.
Make better food choices and exercise regularly.
Generate more medical school-help content and income from the blog.
KNOCK OUT my Boards.

In my marriage I want to... (also a work in progress tho)

Carve out a REGULAR date night in our schedules.
Go on a vacation together.
Maybe read a marriage book(s) together...
Work on formulating our "get out of debt" plan together and set more financial goals.

Do you make resolutions/goals for the New Year? What are some of yours?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

More.

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Something in my spirit keeps telling me that I need to go to a new level.

I need to stretch.

I need to be more of an example.

I need to bear more fruit of the Spirit.

I need to continuously exercise my faith.

I need to be more kingdom and eternity-minded.

I need to actually get involved in my church.

I need to stop depending on my feelings and more on what God says.

I need to look outward to help others instead of always looking at how I can help myself.

I need to REALLY get into a habit of dwelling in the Word and not falling out of it.

I need more of You, Lord.

Things My Toddler Says

2011-12-29T00:00:00.001-05:00

At Grammy's house

While opening Christmas presents sealed tight:
"Give it to my daddy, he's strong as Hulk!"

His new favorite question: "Because why? Tell me!!!"

"Mommy, you're my buddy/favorite."

To his cousin Meg, who is a teacher, while she was quizzing him on letter sounds: "That's what the teacher says..."

Me: "Nate you are so :insert: helpful/smart/polite!"
Nate (matter-of-factly): You're welcome.

Me: "Nate it's time to go"
Nate: "Two seconds. I'm almost done..."

Me: "Nate it's time for bed..."
Nate: "I not tired. I just woke up!"

Me: "Nate it's time for a bath..."
Nate: "I don't take a bath. I not dirty..."

"WOW! That's amazing!"

"I don't care!" - This needs to stop like tomorrow.

"Stop kidding me!"

Nate walks up to me one morning when I have on shorts, touches my leg and says, "Mommy big leg?". The next day I wore pants and he goes "Where's mommy big leg?" o_x

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite photos from this Christmas:

Christmas morning excitement

Opening presents with Dad and Maimeo (Nate's mom)

My grandparents and some of the grandkids

"Thanks Lita!"

His new bike that made him not want to open any other presents after

My mom and her parents

The hubs and I

Mommy!

Yesssss!!!

2011-12-27T11:05:00.000-05:00

I am done with finals and Christmas vacation thus far has been amazing!!! It was a rough semester but I feel accomplished because I didn't give up and I finished strong.

I feel like a little kid because not only is school out for THREE WEEKS, I am so excited because I have gotten to see and spend time with the family and friends that med school has pulled me away from. We were a lot better this year about getting the tree up and decorating before finals. I'm extra late with the pics but here is our tree!

It still is crazy thinking about the fact that I am an adult with a family with her own Christmas tree. Ok, yes, I know get over it...it still blows my mind how much time flies and how much life can change in just a year...

My last two weeks will be filled with more family time and getting my organization life up in our home...I have closets I want to do, papers and clothes to sort through, budgeting, scheduling, etc. My to do list is long, but I know I can get it done in time for classes...

God is so good. He has really been showing out for our family this year and I see nothing but great things in store for 2012!

Irish baby blessings

Merry Christmas from the Johnsons

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

- Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

Why is Med School So Isolating?

2011-12-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful for the conclusion of the semester.

Freshman Year Circa 2005

One of the biggest reasons is that I get to reconnect with some of my closest friends. I know after college everyone moves on and has to start their own lives, but ~~some~~ MOST times I feel like medical school takes that way of life to an overly-isolating extreme. I am sure that it is the combination of home and demanding school life for me. I have hardly any time to talk on the phone without someone in the background calling my name or feeling like I need to be studying. Plus, I have very few weekends conducive to getting away for a quick BFF catch up session.

That is part of the reason why Christmas time is great because we go to Michigan which also happens to be where most of my friends from college are from and comes home to. It's like an ongoing reunion. The great thing about having awesome friends is that they totally understand that I have so many things pulling at me, but when we do get back together, it's like we pick up right where we left off.

B Girls Halloween 2005

Just looking at these pics made my day a little brighter. I miss my friends!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

Maybe I am just extra basic but this has me ROLLIN...hahaha

Music Monday: Tis the Season

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Music Friday?...Let the Holiday Festivities Begin!

2011-12-16T20:00:00.001-05:00

The Biebs is doing thee absolute most in this Christmas song...but I have to admit it's kinda nice...

Music Monday: Tis the Season!

2011-12-12T06:30:00.001-05:00

The Jam.

Wordless Wednesday: It's Coming.

2011-12-07T10:00:00.002-05:00

Posts wil be scarce, but please don't forget my classmates and I in your prayers!

December 9th: Neuroanatomy
December 12th: Pathology
December 14th: Genetics
December 16th: ICM

Music Monday: Tis the Season!

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

I just discovered this new version of one of my favs (thanks Glee!). Below is the new and the old :-)

Wordless Wednesday: Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

YUM...can you see the anticipation on my face? haha

Brothers!!!

My mom's parents

My brothers Carey and Jordan, with our cousin Kendall - don't mind Jordan's face lol

My brother Josh and I

The hubs, Carey and I

My little cousin Billy

Nate and our cousin Ava

The kids table :-)

My mom, her brother, and their parents

Saturday was also Grandaddy's 85th birthday so we celebrated after dinner

My child loves cake...Yes, he is licking his spoon

My First Thrifting Adventure

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit

Last week on my first day off I tried my hand at thrifting...I got some great tips from my BFF in LA and from Mimi over at Lipgloss & Binky, searched on a few thrifting blogs and I was on my merry way...

My first stop was a Goodwill OUTLET...Who knew? Well, the premise of the outlet is that after the clothes don't sell in a regular store they get sent here and they are sold for .69cents per pound!!! They bring out these HUGE bins filled with stuff and they rotate the bins every hour. It was so overwhelming...but I walked away with a plus size shirt with a print that I really liked - brand unknown, a Lands End white men's dress shirt, and a purple Sonoma Lifestyle duster sweater. I spent $4.32.

So then I planned to hit up another Goodwill in a more affluent part of town. On the way, I stopped at a Salvation Army that I passed and it was definitely a miss...But when I got to Goodwill it was one of the nicest I had ever seen. And it didn't have that old clothes smell either. There I got a 100% Cashmere sweater in tan and a grey NY&Co. sweater both for $4.42 - neither were on sale, but they were in great condition so thats a steal to me...

The next day I started having buyer's remorse - mainly from my outlet purchases, but the hubby reminded me that I didn't spend a fortune so it wasn't a huge loss...I realized that I was just lacking inspiration, so I started googling what to do with big over size shirts LOL... I am starting to love the idea of having unique stuff that no one will have...and for CHEAP! I need to get a skinny belt, but here are the two looks I had this weekend with some of my finds:

What do you think? Have you or would you consider thrifting?

If you are looking into trying it yourself, here are the tips/sites I found:
Ginger and the Geek
Painfully Hip -> this site might end up being a new favorite spot...

Let me know how it goes and link up!!

Music Monday: Tis the Season!

2011-11-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

I have been listening to Christmas music for the last two weeks...I am always more than a little eager to get my Pandora station and playlist going. So now that it's officially the Christmas season, you already know ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday. May the food be good and the memories unforgettable!I am trying to have a year round spirit of gratitude, but here is my Thanksgiving edition. I am thankful for:

...For my relationship with God. It is nowhere near where I want it to be but I am so grateful for all of the seen and unseen blessings he has given me and my family.

...Almost being half way done with my second year.

...That I have this extra time off to spend with family.

...That our family has food to eat every day and a home to come back to.

...The good health of my family and friends.

...That my little brothers are all doing awesome and I am so proud of the young men they are growing into.

...For my Sonshine little Nate :-)

...For the love and support of those close to me and have my best interest at heart.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

xoxox

This Week in Med School...

2011-11-23T10:47:00.000-05:00

Block two started last Thursday and ended on Monday, so that pretty much took over my life... Nothing big to report other than the fact that I had a MUCH better handle on things this time around, and all praise to God, because I think I finally have the hang of second year - better late than never!

Peep the confidence level going into the test this time:

Can you say complete 180? LOL

Photo Credit

Okay, okay, let's rewind a bit to two weeks ago and I will tell you about my general surgery SPD session. Once again we were sent over to the simulation center where our small groups rotated to 4 different stations - 45 minutes each - and got to practice some common things you might see in general surgery.

Station 1: A vascular surgeon gave us a quick presentation on vascular disease followed by a tutorial on using a venous doppler
Station 2: A surgery resident walked us through placing a foley catheter and naso-gastric tube in dummies
Station 3: A general surgeon instructed us on looking for direct and indirect hernias and we practiced finding them (on a dummy too)

Photo Credit

Station 4: A breast surgeon talked to us about breast cancer and we practiced performing a breast exam and explaining how to report a lump correctly

It was definitely a lot of fun! I am still keeping my mind open but ENT has really been the most interesting for me. Of course, I have a lot of clinical exposure ahead of me so I am just enjoying the chance to get to try everything.

After exams I was beyond exhausted. Sooo happy that we have 5 days off for Thanksgiving break, and it feels so good to sleep in (and don't get me started on all the food I am about to eat)!

Wordless Wednesday: Facetime

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

I video-chatted Natey while I was studying and he just laid by the phone looking at me...

My heart melts.

Facetime

Going to be honest, this student mommy thing is getting harder/sucks... :-/

Music Monday

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Grateful Fridays

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

TGIF! But I'm so glad I have more to thank God for than just because it's Friday.

I'm thankful for...

...all of the veterans, including my grandaddy who bravely fought - and are still fighting - for our freedom.

...the holiday season I love is coming quick! Which also equals the end of the semester. WOOT WOOT...

...for my new friend 5 Hour Energy!

...for having heat in our home for the cold nights.

...for our health and strength.

...for the pleasantly warm weather we have had.

...for all of the support and prayers of my family and friends.

...that I am getting closer to my clinical years - I registered for Step 1 this week!!!

...that Thanksgiving break is so close I can feel it! Family time, sleep, and food - it's going to be
A-MAZ-ING!

Have a restful weekend everyone! xoxo

Kreativ Blogger (The Link Up Part II)

2011-11-10T00:30:00.000-05:00

The always lovely Candace at New York State of Mom linked me to her Kreativ Blog Award post, so now you have the joy of reading even more about yours truly! :wink: So here goes:

Name your favorite song: So hard to choose...
"No Greater Love" - Fred Hammond
"Lesson Learned" - Alicia Keys
"Daughters" - John Mayer
"My Cherie Amour" and "That Girl" - Stevie Wonder

Name your favorite dessert: This peach cobbler dessert thing the Hubby makes...DELISH

What pisses you off?: America's public school system and health disparities.

When you're upset, you: If I'm really upset, I lose my apetite. If I'm upset but don't take the shut down route, I get really focused on school work... So as a result, I lose weight and get A's. How ironic.

Your favorite pet: Our family dog Samson. He's a white german shepherd that grew up with us, and thinks he's the 5th child.

Black or White?: Depends on my mood. Black is timeless but white is so crisp - and both are elegant.

Your biggest fear: To spend my life doing something other than what God put me here for.

Best Feature: My communication skills...and my eyes ;-)

Everyday Attitude: To be better than I was yesterday.

What is perfection?: God's love for us. It's perfect and fearless. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." 1 John 4:18

Guilty Pleasure: I looooove those days when I don't get out of bed for anything except for food. It's extremely lazy and extremely wonderful.

Random Facts:

My parents wanted to name me Angelica and my Grammy wanted them to name me Elizabeth.
I love to read and I prefer real books to electronic ones.
I love to sing but not in front of people.
I am a neat freak.
I have very traditional ideas about life and marriage despite how non-traditional my life is - like my continuous urge to be June Cleaver.

Ok, now to link up (in no particular order). Make sure you stop by the blogs of these lovely ladies. They are all pretty boss...

Bossy Girl in the City

De Su Mama

The Link Up! (Part I)

2011-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favs, Mimi from Lipgloss and Binky tagged me in her award season link-up, and I am FINALLY catching up...First of all, you should definitely go and check out her blog. She is one of those moms who has mastered the art of being fab...

So now you get to learn ten random things about me:

1. I love being a mom. Like, I don't know what I thought life was about before Natey came along.

2. I don't like being called "Jazz".

3. I have a VERY diverse music taste.

4. I'm the oldest and only girl of 4.

5. I used to commute almost 2 hours one-way by train to go to high school.

6. My mom is one of my closest friends.

7. I was on Oprah with my dad for Father's Day when I was 9.

8. I knew I wanted to be a doctor by age 7. My parents knew when I had a strange phobia of acquiring communicable diseases and illnesses like meningitis, e.coli, and HIV. My mom says I told her I wouldn't play over at other kids' houses because, "I wasn't sure if they used bleach".

9. I love OLD movies - like "Imitation of Life" and "Mommy Dearest". Oh and, not as old, but still great "Steel Magnolias", "Baby Boom", and "Terms of Endearment".

10. I can't dance. :gasp:

Ok, so now I have to link up with 10 other blogs (in no particular order). Make sure you stop by the blogs of these lovely ladies. They are all pretty boss...

Surviving Medical School and Motherhood

Baby Makin(g) Machine

Man Wife and Dog

Fearless

Wordless Wednesday: Johnson Photo Booth

2011-11-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Neurology? Maybe...

2011-11-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit

Even though this class is absolutely horrendous in the sheer volume of information we are required to memorize and recall, I think I really like the clinical application part of it. When it does finally click for me I actually feel like a real baby doc...

The semester is still early and there is still so much to learn but I will definitely be keeping neurology in the "back of my mind".

Haha I'm so clever...note sarcasm ;-)

And yes, I know. I'm all over the place.

Music Monday

2011-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

This Week in Med School...

2011-11-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

It was actually a pretty busy week. I won't bore you with the little details and I'll focus on the fun and exciting stuff :-)

Monday... During of afternoon session ICM we sat down for a session with a Geriatrician and a counsel of elders who talked to us about what it is like to get older. Our guests were 74, 80, and 90. They were all aging VERY well. Honestly, the woman who was 90 shocked us all when she disclosed her age. It was great to be able to ask them candid questions about their experiences in life, with their health, and other things like how their decision making might have changed as they got older when choosing doctors.

Tuesday... During the oncology session of ICM we had a visit from a woman who is currently being treated for stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lung. If you follow me on twitter, you might have seen a quotation that her oncologist/our teacher told her that would be important for the first weeks after her diagnosis, "People are either protons, neutrons, or electrons. Surround yourself with protons." This session was humbling in so many ways in that it put a unique perspective on a diagnosis that no one wants to get. She seemed as though she had mastered the skill of maintaining a positive outlook on life despite what is going on. And we all could see the manifestation of that mindset in the fact that although her first physician had given her 30 days from her diagnosis, it has been almost more than 2 1/2 years. Take THAT cancer.

Wednesday... During our afternoon session ICM of the week we had specialty diagnosis for ophthalmology. Just like with ENT we got to practice some of the basics in the field on each other. I wasn't too eager to volunteer for an elective procedure this time, so I declined to have my eyes dilated - among others...lol Our hosts were opthamalogy residents and they all seemed to love what they do. IU is completing the state of the art Glick Eye Institute, and it was pretty sweet to get to tour the new building. Did you know that a cataract surgery can take as little as 3 minutes to complete?! Craziness...

Here is the video of a surgery, but DISCLAIMER: DON'T WATCH IF YOU ARE SQUEEMISH.

Thursday... The day before Friday.

Friday... Neuro web exam this weekend, so that's going to be the highlight of my Friday evening. Keep me in your prayers!

This (Last) Week in Med School...

2011-11-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

I should have posted this last week but you know how that goes...

Photo

Last week was our ear, nose, and throat (Otolaryngology) specialty diagnosis session during ICM. So far, I've had an open mind about what I want to specialize in despite previously favoring ENT, but this experience gave me that feeling AGAIN that I might end up going the ENT route. Even during the didactic lectures I was loving it.

After a demo from one of the faculty otolaryngologists, we broke off into examining rooms to go through the basic ear, nose, and throat exam on each other. And thennnnnn I volunteered for a laryngoscopy!!! This is big because I am not one to normally volunteer for stuff, but my group watched a resident travel through my nostril, down my throat, and to my vocal chords. They numbed my nose - which was a little uncomfortable at first, but after that it was smooth sailing. It was awesome!!!!

Here's a video of what they did (but this isn't me...lol):

My IUSM blog is struggling so I think I'm going to make this a weekly occurrence... You care.

Things My Toddler Says

2011-11-03T00:00:00.001-04:00

Cheese!

"Shhhh Da, be quiet. I want to hear a mouse!" I assume he meant: "Be quiet as a mouse." LOL

"Come on MommyDaddy" (We're one unit)

While getting ready for church I put on my heels and he says, "Mommy pretty. Mommy a princess?" And I said "Thanks Nate!" and he looks at his dress shoes and says, "I a princess too!" LOL!

Grabbing his play stethoscope after I listened to his heart sounds with mine "Mommy, I want to play doctor too!"

"What's that mommy? Coffee? I want coffee too!"

:Whining while trying to put on his pants: I can't do it!!!
Me: Yes, you can. You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. (We usually say this in the car on the way to school like I did growing up. But I think this was the first time I said it to him while we were inside)
Nate: No can do all things in the house. Can do all things in the car!

"Help me! Ayudame" We can thank our friends Dora and Diego for that one...I didn't master commands until highschool haha

My car has been making funny noises, so they hubby has been driving it to work. First thing Nate says to me when he wakes up: "Daddy take your car?" o_O excuse me little boy why are you so grown...haha

"Da, I need choclick nilk..."

"Night Night Mommy. Sweet Dreams. I love you..."

:While begging him to put on his doctor costume so we could take pics:
"I DON'T WANNA BE A DOCTOR! I DON'T WANNNA BE A DOCTOR!!" Duly noted, kid...

My heart melts.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Fall weather and studying isn't so bad when you've got caramel apples ;-)

Music Monday

2011-10-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Johnsons 2011

2011-10-30T15:28:00.000-04:00

The last time we took a family picture, Nate was only 7months old (he will be 3 in January)...so we were loooong overdue:

Johnson Fam 2009 - my lactating state is quite apparent o_O

We found our photographer on Groupon and he was awesome!!!!! Little Nate was laughing so hard at every shot and all his pics turned out so cute! Yesterday, we got to pick up the big print for our wall:

Did you grow up taking family photos every year like me? Is that a tradition you want to keep going (or start) in your family? I would love to see your family photos so share a link in your comments!

Daddy's Rock

2011-10-27T09:02:00.000-04:00

Big Nate has been on full time afternoon night duty with the little one and let me just say, Daddy's rock!

Since this arrangement, Nate has been SLEEPING in his own bed. ALL NIGHT. Boom.

Nate laughed at me because now I'm always suggesting that we watch TV in bed or go get in bed extra early just because we can spread out hahaha!

I don't care, this is a monumental moment in the history of our household. All I know is, when baby #2 comes (whenever that may be), he/she will be starting out in their bed from day one.

Before waking him up for school

Wordless Wednesday: Boys

2011-10-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

What Nate does on a road trip to pass the time. Yuck.

Music Monday

2011-10-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

The youth choir at New Life always sings this one...enjoy!

Weekend Re-Cap: Football and Birthdays

2011-10-23T17:42:00.000-04:00

There are more pictures than words here, but this weekend we finally made it to my parents' to see my youngest brother play football. Yesterday was their last game of the season and we had a blast! Especially little Nate, who loves him some Jordan - when he has a football shirt on, he is "wearing Jordan." When we watch any college or NFL game on TV, he yells "Go Jordan! Touchdown!" The overprotective mother in me doesn't want him to play football, but I think his dad and uncles will have me outnumbered on this one...

"Let's Go Jordan!"

Nate doing some football move dance he made up

Saturday was also my Dad's birthday! He and my mom went to Chicago to celebrate after the game. I'm so thankful for my parents and for being to celebrate them being in our lives :-D

Aren't they cute? Their stylist and my mom's make-up cred to me ;-)

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Happy Sunday!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, Nate and his dad made a pizza (disregard messy kitchen haha):

I love his "deep concentration" face...LOL

Time for a New Schedule

2011-10-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

As stated earlier, something is off, and I need to rework my schedule a bit... I took the same layout I had in the PreMed Life "Day in the Life" article, and made it applicable to how I want to change things up for the next test. If I post it on the blog it will make me more accountable, right?

6:00AM: Wake up and quietly get dressed before it is time to get the little one up - who recently has been getting up on his own at 6:30. If I have enough time to pack our lunches I'll do this now too.

6:30AM: Wake up Natey and get him ready...

6:50AM: Moveto the kitchen to fix a quick breakfast for me and the little. (Hubby has been handling this role before he leaves at 6:30 by fixing me an omelette and toast...such a doll) Natey likes waffles :-)

7:00AM: We’re out the door and on the way to daycare.

7:15AM:Walk Nate to his classroom and leave after a big kiss and hug.

7:20AM: Backon the road to campus for class.

7:45AM:Park. Go get coffee - this is only if I don’t bring some from home, but somemornings require espresso…

8:00AM: Settle in a study room and start studying until the first recorded lecture goes up at 9AM

9AM-12PM: Class. I am going to try not physically going to class from now on. I am hoping I am more engaged and productive because I will minimize all distract and make sure that I don't space out...not being there = more engaged. How ironic...

12:00PM: **WORKING**Lunch. No time for casual convo anymore...

1:00PM-until: Lecture, Lab or ICM stuff

Depending on the day, I will either be done with class at 5PM or 3PM. Whatever the case, I will stay at school and continue to study.

7:00PM: Dinner.Spend time with the family and start getting the little one ready for bed.

9:00PM: Doanything I have remaining to do in order to get ready for the next day.

11:00PM (12 at the latest): BED. The End.

**Somewhere in there I need to also fit in hubby time...I think I will also have to declare a moratorium on social media between the hours of 9-9...or in general :-/ Oh and I won't be watching any shows on the days they actually air...

Alright come on, let's do it!! :Natey voice:

Music Monday

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

So apparently this was a popular wedding song, and rightfully so. It has such beautiful words and music behind it...

Grateful Fridays.

2011-10-14T11:10:00.001-04:00

Little Nate, less than a week old, smiling in his sleep

TGIF! But I'm so glad I have more to thank God for than just because it's Friday.

I haven't done one of these posts in a while, and not thinking about all the wonderful things I can be thankful for probably is affecting my lack of perspective right now. So here we go...

I'm thankful for...

...the first block of exams are behind me. Despite the immense stress, there was minimal/repairable damage and I am ready to get to work so I can SMANG round two - yea, I said "smang" because smashing AND banging them is a must. LOL

...my Nates for all their support and encouragement

...for the food on our table and the clothes on our backs

...that our bills are paid each month

...for our HEALTH and STRENGTH

...for the protection, mercy, AND favor that God bestows upon us each day

...for my marriage and the friend I have in my husband

...that I am in medical school :gasp: Yes, I can't deny it no matter how hard it gets. I am grateful to be here.

...for fall :-)

I hope you all take some time out to think about all of the many things you can be thankful for.

Have a lovely weekend!

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.

If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, you are among the top 80 percent of the world's wealthy.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not."
Author Unknown

What I Learned from the Kardashians...

2011-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit

I was super excited to find out that the "American Royal Wedding" b.k.a "Kim's Fairytale Wedding" was being aired over my fall break because that meant that I actually had time I could sit and watch it without feeling guilty about the work I should be doing - not that that stops me from watching TV any other time...but still...lol

Anyway, Keeping Up with the Kardashians is the only "reality" style TV show that I have consistently kept up with (no pun intended). There is something about their down-to-Earth, yet at the same time, kind of nuts home life that keeps me watching. Between those three, and Tia and Tamara, I can vicariously live out my childhood dream of having a sister...LOL

While watching the two-part show, and realizing that it was FOUR HOURS LONG (thank goodness for the fast forward on DVR), I figured if I am able to learn something from it, the hours were not a total laze-fest. What can I say, I'm a self-proclaimed nerd. That is the time it takes to watch four lectures, and time is money, people...

Nuggets of Kardashian Wisdom (lol):

Photo Credit

Despite disagreeing with the choices those in your family may make, at the end of the day you will ALWAYS be there for each other.
"Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans." - Lamar Odom. I know he didn't pen the saying, but I was excited to see him dropping knowledge on the young men...LOL
Deciding to change (or not to change) your lastname should be YOUR decision, and no one else's. And just because you don't, that doesn't mean you are "less down" for your husband than the woman who does.
Do not take having your parents (or children) around for granted. There is always someone out there who would love to have more time with their mom or dad - and that is something no one's money can buy.
When it comes to the wedding, some grooms actually want to help plan more than their bachelor party. Make sure they feel included and valued - not that you planned your dream wedding years ago and can just "insert any man" into his spot.
Premarital counseling and/or simply having those important conversations about marital expectations can prevent some of the silly little fights couples have when they start blending their lives together. With that said, make sure you spend more time planning your marriage than you do your wedding.
NO ONE is immune to wedding-related drama. Whether you plan it in a year, three months, or 9 days, don't let it cause you to forget what your wedding is all about. Breathe.
Blended families can be just as "natural" as biological ones. "Step"-parents don't have to be treated as such.
There really is more than one family out there who gives all their kids names that start with "K"...you thought these would all be serious? LOL sorry...
Whether you have Kardashian money or not, every couple deserves for their wedding day to be their fairytale - and their marriage their happily ever after.

Photo Credit

Surprised? So maybe there was more reality in it than we give them credit for...

Congrats Kim and Kris! May you have many, many happy years together :-D

Did any of you watch the show? Can you think of anything else we could take from the special (both serious and not so serious...)? Did any of it remind you of your own wedding drama?

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday to My Josh!!

2011-10-12T09:03:00.000-04:00

Today is my little brother Josh's Birthday, so this one goes out to him!

Happy 19th Birthday My Love!!!

Baby Josh with his happy big sister and brother (and Dad...lol)

Toddler Josh

High School Graduate Josh (+ siblings)

He is a freshman at Loyola University this year and I'm so proud of him!

I can't believe the '92 babies are in college now...

Reflections of the Exam Week That Almost Broke Me Down.

2011-10-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Ouch.

No, really that is all I have to describe the events of last week that I still would rather not talk about until I get all my grades back - and I am praying that what I will have to talk about will be better than how I felt while taking the exams.

My exam schedule:

Monday:
Pathology Lecture Exam 8AM-10AM
Pathology Lab Exam 2PM-4PM

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday:
Intro to Clinical Medicine
Psychiatry Mental Status Exam 8-9AM
Gastroenterology, Neurology, Physical Diagnosis 9-11:30AM

Thursday:
Genetics 12-2PM

Friday:
Neurology 10AM-1PM

Whew. Even now, it is all a blur.

Every now and then I have that mid-exam freak out while half-way through a question (Friday, it was around question 57 - I had to get to 125...) my mind wanders off about how I "don't know anything" or that "I am going to fail", but I have to stop right then and tell myself to calm down. People are always surprised to find out that I deal with test anxiety, but it's something that you have to actively work on to go away. And it definitely helps to know that you prepared enough for the exam - which I questioned myself about all week.

Some Ecards

I am so relieved it's over, but I have to definitely re-work how I do things, because there was not one exam where I didn't feel like I was cramming until the last second. I know I put the hours in. I barely slept, barely saw my family, and was constantly thinking, dreaming, breathing my notes - but something was off. Last year, I wasn't cramming or missing out excessively on sleep, but I walked out of most of my exams feeling pretty good.

I need to be more efficient with my time - class time and study time. I need to work SMARTER and not necessarily HARDER.

Keeping My Face in the Sunshine

2011-10-10T10:32:00.002-04:00

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow" - Hellen Keller

Photo Credit

Pastor Ramsey is finishing up his series on changing your attitude about life. I haven't physically been in church in over a month - epic fail, I know. But I have been streaming in, and yesterday little Nate and I actually went. Even when I end up down in the toddler play room, I still walk out blessed. After my exams, I was feeling quite defeated and everyone has been telling me to put things into perspective - i.e. the hubs and my mom. So Sunday just reinforced everything that was already said to me (the fact that I needed to snap out of it).

The following are some of my notes from the series:

"You are what you THINK" - your attitude projects your future.

Anger and bitterness are sins too, and God will judge you based on that.

You have to see that if your attitude is off, it may be sinful.

You may not be able to change where you work (*cough* or what grade you get on your exam despite how hard you think you studied) but you can change your attitude.

Your attitude will either lift your to the next level or prevent you from getting your promise.

You do not live your life based on the script that you wrote. You live it based on the script that HE wrote.

Don't claim God's promise if you can't trust God's process.

Real faith involves trust, and trust involves being at peace.

Let the peace of God rule in your heart. YOUR peace is YOUR decision!

When you submit yourself to God's peace, you can't be frustrated.

Bitter, angry, and disappointed people push the very people away that can help them to change their situation - bitterness clouds our eyes.

Frustration hinders your ability to be thankful. (THIS.)

A relationship with God will restore my identity.

Happy Monday! Be blessed and encouraged! Even the best of us get the wrong attitude at times, but we can't stay there...

I heard once that God isn't going to do things for us that He gave us the power to do ourselves - so I'm taking responsibility for my attitude.

Music Monday

2011-10-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

They play this every morning when I am on the way to school, and it definitely helps me get a little hype for the day ahead ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T09:51:00.000-04:00

Making 20/20 Vision Fashionable (AND Affordable!!)

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Something about not sleeping and wearing contact lenses just doesn't mix. The red, blood-shot look isn't becoming in the slightest, so my glasses have made a recurring appearance recently. And since this will probably be a regular occurrence this year, my sexy, yet intellectual (HA!) med student look might need a little upgrade...

Isn't it amazing how a new set of frames can change your look completely? I've always been a fan of the dark framed, thick, statement-making eye glasses...So, of course, the popular retro and wayfarer look is really growing on me.

I haven't had much of any time for retail therapy this year to find a new set of specs. And even if I did find some, my student loan budget doesn't really allow for the price that I usually pay for glasses... However, it never occurred to me that you can even find frames online that won't break the bank. That was until I learned about GlassesUSA.com:

Upon visiting their site, you can find all of the trendiest glasses sorted by frame size, color, style, and even by lens type - so if you are quite visually challenged (like myself), or need multifocal glasses, no worries!

Because there is so much to choose from, you may be unsure about what look you want to go with. You can see which one(s) look the best with this cool feature called "Virtual Mirror" where you can "try on" different looks! Genius.

Finally, after you see that not only is the selection amazing and the eyeglasses you chose look amazing on you, you realize that the prices are UNHEARD OF. No, really, I'm being serious. GlassesUSA boasts both a 110% price guarantee and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

And on top of their already discounted prices, they are running a sweet back to school deal and even have something special for the blog readers!

BOGO SALE: Buy any pair of glasses valued at $50 or more and get a second pair of glasses FREE! Code: Back2School
Take $25 off any order of glasses with Transitions lenses with the code: Trans25
Take 10% off any order. Code: Blog10

What are you waiting for?! Go SEE for yourself...hehe get it?

**DISCLAIMER: MrsMommyMD.com was compensated for this post.**

Check Me Out in PreMedLife Magazine!

2011-10-03T20:30:00.003-04:00

My poor little blog has been terribly neglected since the pre-exam hustle. And I wish I had some great content lined up, however, during exams I have a one track mind so, sorry folks...

To hold you over through this week, because I know you miss me so much (LOL), you can check out some of my writing in the "Day in the Life" feature in the fall issue of PreMedLife Magazine!! I'm super excited about this because it is my 2nd non-blog feature :-D

Also, if you have any pre-med students in your life, this magazine is a great resource for them while in undergrad and as they navigate the application process. So even if it's not to read my feature, it is definitely a great site/magazine to check out!

Just click the cover above to be re-directed to the article and let me know what you think :-)

Music Monday

2011-09-26T10:30:00.000-04:00

Love this song...

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
and Who told the ocean you can only come this far?
and Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives:
Let all creations testify
Let this, life within me cry
I know my Redeemer lives, yeah.

The very same God that spins things in orbit
runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creations testify
Let this life within we cry
I know my Redeemer, He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives forever, I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sin
Was the precious life He gave
But now He's alive and
There's an empty grave.

And I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creations testify
Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer,
I know my Redeemer
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
I know that I know that I know that I know that I know my redeemer lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

I Know I know
He lives He lives yeah, yeah I spoke with him this morning
He lives He lives, the tomb is empty,
He lives I gotta tell everybody

"When You Thought I Wasn't Looking"

2011-09-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

My mom emailed this to me a year ago and I recently saw the email, so I thought I'd share:

-------

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say...

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING - Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking'

For all of you who do so much for others, but think that no one ever sees. Little eyes see a lot.

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by sharing this with someone else, you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Wordless Wednesday: Tactile Fremitus

2011-09-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

Backstory: Nate sat with me while I watched a video similar to the one below on the examination of the chest. After one viewing, he is now ready to practice :-)

Things My Toddler Says...

2011-09-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

"I power ranger red!...Overdrive Samurai!!!" - Yes, he really says this...LOL

"I'll be riiiiight back." :as he's running out the room to get something:

After giving me a kiss on the cheek:
"Luu you babe."

:More Please! Thank you!: while doing the appropriate sign language

"It's not funny, mommy."

During football games when someone get's tackled: "Come ooooon! Let's doooo it!"

With arms crossed stomping off: "I Angry! I mad!"

"My phone-t" (And any other word with a soft vowel sound at the end, get's an extra "t")

Talking about his action figure:
Nate: "My guy!"
Me: "What did you name him?"
Nate: Matter of factly..."Guy."

Whining/Crying: "Mommy, I want chocolate nilk in a cup!"
Me: "Nate, you have to stop crying first."
Nate: (trying to break a smile through tears) "Mommy, I happy now..."

Picking him up from daycare all the other kids try and leave too. Before we left, Nate puts his hand in front of a boy trying to follow us out and sweetly says, "Not yet...not yet..." LOL!

He's REALLY into Dino Dan right now, so we frequently hear him talking about Spinosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex...

Music Monday

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Babies!

2011-09-15T08:26:00.003-04:00

Yesterday during ICM we learned how to do the newborn physical exam. VERY cool. And you know how easily swayed I am about specialties? Well, this was no different. I walked away from the hospital wanting to possibly pursue Neonatology. The only thing is, I don't know how I would be able to work with really sick babies everyday :-/

Disclaimer: These photos are not a HIPAA violation because they were taken by the Hubby when they did the newborn exam on our son. (I didn't get to witness all this bc I was a little occupied...haha). But after yesterday, now I know exactly what they were doing...LOL!

The little one we had the pleasure of observing/examining yesterday was 1 day old! He was a healthy baby and soooo cute - he had slick black hair like Little Nate did when he was born. We were under the supervision of a Neonatologist from Riley who was awesome about explaining all of the steps of the physical. We listened to heart and bowel sounds, palpated for the liver and spleen, and learned the Ortolani and Barlow maneuvers to check for a shallow hip socket.

Photo

I was thinking back to when I had Natey, and there were a lot of extra people in the room when I delivered - I think mostly nursing students and residents. At various points in time, nurses would ask if it was ok for new people to come and observe the delivery. It was fine with me because I know we all have to learn at some point. But, if someone had asked me could they examine my newborn? (One of my classmates said that the baby they examined was 30 MINUTES old.) I don't know if I would have been so willing. We didn't hurt the baby we examined in any way, but I am a crazy overprotective mommy at times and I feel like that behavior was at it's highest right after delivery...LOL

Anyway, YESTERDAY WAS SO COOL!!!

So funny he still makes these faces. Maybe it's the cheeks...lol

That was a fun walk down memory lane...ok back to work!

Ciao!

Professional Hair?

2011-09-13T12:00:00.002-04:00

Photo Credit

So...getting my hair highlighted a couple weeks ago got me thinking....

I have always been a fan of Beyonce blond, but could you see it on me in my short, white coat going to visit patients? Even with the right conservative style, are there some styles and/or colors that are deemed "unprofessional" in a corporate America or healthcare setting? What would you think if your doc was a platinum blond bombshell? Rocked the Rhianna red? Or anything that is off of the natural (i.e. neutral) spectrum? Think Nicki Minaj Pink...LOL

Of course, entertainers get a lot more leeway when it comes to style in general, but it seems like inevitably everyone starts to follow suit with pushing the envelope.

Photo Credit

I would love to hear your thoughts! Did any of you ever consider trying a bold hair color? Or if you have tried it, did your color choice get any feedback at work or school?

Music Monday

2011-09-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

Where Were You?

2011-09-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

The song below my brother-in-law shared featuring the voice of a 5 year old girl who lost her father on 9/11. She is now 15. It is one of the saddest songs I have heard in my life. I can't imagine how it feels to be so intricately woven into this ominous day in history. We lost many heroes, and we gained many more in the family they left behind who have shown us how to keep going in the midst of tragedy. May God continue to have His hand on the children (and families) of 9/11.

Where was I? I was riding with the family I carpooled into Chicago with for high school during my freshman year, just like any other morning. They usually listened to CDs on the way in, so I was oblivious until I got into school. Some students in the hall said we were bombed. Others said that we were attacked and at war. All of the TVs were on in the classrooms that day. And we all watched in horror as the second plane hit and later as the towers fell - while simultaneously hearing about what was happening at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. It was unreal. We prayed. Later we found out one of our own recent alum had been lost - she worked in one of the towers. I felt so helpless and so small.

Grateful Friday

2011-09-09T08:37:00.001-04:00

TGIF! But I'm so glad I have more to thank God for than just because it's Friday.

I'm thankful for...
...the fact that He keeps me in the palm of His hand - even when I don't deserve it.

I got these photos in an email this week and this scripture stuck out to me. If God cares enough to make a flower so beautiful, surely, he cares for me and what I am going through, so I need not worry what tomorrow will bring.

"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?..." Matthew 6:28-30

The "Parrot Flower" (Impatiens psittacina)

Taking the First Step...No Really.

2011-09-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

So last week I paid for the prep course for my USMLE Step 1 exam...eeek!

We have been told many times already this year that Step 1 will be the most important test we take in our whole life. This is probably true because Step 1 tests us over everything we learned during the first two years of medical school, and is how residencies decide who is eligible for interviews and spots...eeek!

From the USMLE website:

"Step 1 assesses whether you understand and can apply important concepts of the sciences basic to the practice of medicine, with special emphasis on principles and mechanisms underlying health, disease, and modes of therapy. Step 1 ensures mastery of not only the sciences that provide a foundation for the safe and competent practice of medicine in the present, but also the scientific principles required for maintenance of competence through lifelong learning. Step 1 is constructed according to an integrated content outline that organizes basic science material along two dimensions: system and process."

I definitely need the structure of a prep course and signing up made me kind of excited for this next step! Excited for an EIGHT HOUR exam?! I know, but this is what medical school has done to me...

Here is an idea of what Step 1 scores mean for competitiveness within specialties that someone posted on Student Doctor Net:

First Score: SPECIALTY Programs generally do not grant interviews below these scores.
Second Score: Programs almost always grant interviews above these scores.

Anesthesiology 208 228

Dermatology 221 247

Diagnostic Radiology 218 237

Emergency Medicine 203 227

Family Medicine 194 214

General Surgery 208 223

Internal Medicine 207 228

Internal Medicine/Pediatrics 203 218

Neurology 202 222

OB/GYN 199 216

Orthopedic Surgery 217 236

Otolaryngology 224 244

Pathology 204 226

Pediatrics 200 218

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) 198 209

Plastic Surgery 221 244

Psychiatry 197 211

Radiation Oncology 213 244

Transitional Year 212 239

Reference: National Resident Matching Program, Data Release and Research Committee: Results of the 2010 NRMP Program Director Survey. National Resident Matching Program, Washington, DC. 2010.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Fall Fun in the midst of our busy school grind...

When Words Fail Me...

2011-09-06T09:00:00.006-04:00

I use someone else's (LOL). Here is an excerpt from one of the devotionals I got in August, and I thought I'd share. Whatever storm or challenge you are going through, keep pushing! It's only temporary, and it is making us better equipped to walk in our purpose.

"Some of us have assignments right now that require us to be reassured by Jesus on a constant basis that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Some of us have had those assignments that require only a little from us, and as a result, we’ve been able to handle it.

But now, there’s a greater assignment in front of us and God desires to equip us to handle that assignment. The greater the assignment, the greater the anointing.

The challenge is going to be greater, the requirement will be greater, the struggle harder, the disappointment deeper, the doubt more prevailing, and the battles more frequent. But that’s okay, because the Greater the Assignment, the Greater the Anointing." - Dr. Marvin Moss

Music Monday

2011-09-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

This song is so real...Not to mention they are getting it with the dancing :-)

Myron Butler & Levi - Set Me Free (Live From The... by EMI_Music

Happy Labor Day!

Multi-Tasking or Multiple Personality Disorder?

2011-09-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

There's a fine line.

I think that when I am doing too many things at once, I get to the point where none (or at least the majority) of what I am doing gets done well. AND I have crossed the border into multiple personality territory - not knowing what I did 10 minutes ago like some other person is doing things for me too; i.e. Jasmine doing tasks 1-4, Janine doing task 5-8, Jaqueshia doing tasks 8-10, you get my point...

This is definitely one of those times.

I couldn't even remember if I took my sinus medicine this morning - mind you, I had 5 minutes earlier. The past few weeks have been HARD to say the least. In fact, this week while I've been sick was probably the most difficult week during med school yet. All my body wanted me to do was crash, but I had to push on so I could take my ICM quiz and get ready for this weekend's Neuro exam (which I am still trying to scramble to do).

At first I was 100% school school school, but then I immediately felt mediocre in the wife, mother, and personal well-being department. It's almost impossible for me to slack on mommy duties because you can't expect a 2 year old to understand why you can't tuck him in, watch Dino Dan with him, or anything else he pleadingly asks... The Hubs has taken over most of the Natey duties (school pick up, dinner, bath time) except for the morning routine of getting him to school (he even gets him dressed sometimes which helps me tremendously). It sucks to admit, but by default the Hubby always is the one who receives the most neglect... Oh and my diet and workout routine was non-existent...WOMP.

So then I tried to go all out at home, and well, let me just say there never was a moment when I felt like I was on top of everything at school. Even my classmates with no family life like mine feel the same way. Last year was child's play compared to this in my opinion. This is definitely more like "the year of the fire hydrant" to me... There is just so much information coming at you all at once, and all you have is this paper cup to try and catch it all...Yikes. Having one of those moments were I feel like I am losing...:sigh:

Photo Credit

I knew from day one this was going to be difficult. Last year, everything seemed to just come together for me, but now I feel like every day I am walking in unchartered territory. Even though I am not the first woman to take on so much responsibility it does feel that way right now. I'm just going to pray for the strength I need and have faith that God will carry me (and my Nates through this). If I learned anything this summer, it's how to exercise my faith.

Grateful Fridays.

2011-09-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

TGIF! But I'm so glad I have more to thank God for than just because it's Friday.

I'm thankful for...

...Natey being back to feeling better and that his cough is finally gone.

...For my Grammy being here to celebrate another birthday.

...That my sinus infection doesn't have me too feverish for the test I have to take this weekend.

...That I made it through my first MS2 quiz of the year.

...That my first hair color experience was a success!

...For the day off on Monday I get to spend with my Nates :-)

Have a fun and restful weekend everyone!!!

Mommy Glam Series

2011-09-01T21:20:00.000-04:00

Haven't done one of these in a while, BUT....I have an update!!

Here is my new, trendy, young student mommy look:

Color has not touched my hair in all of my 24 years until now...I wanted to start subtly, but I definitely see myself trying something bold after this...

Little Nate while looking closely at my hair:

"Mom what's that? Did you get your hair done? That's cute, Mom! That's cute!"

This was all one big run on statement - he's too much for me LOL

OK, time for bed...I caught whatever Natey had last week and it's all up in my sinuses - no bueno :-(

Ciao Lovelies!

Wordless Wednesday: My Motivation

2011-08-31T13:31:00.000-04:00

This Week I...

2011-08-27T01:08:00.000-04:00

So I definitely don't have time to write more than probably two posts a week...and that is being generous. This recap will have to suffice in the meantime ;-)

Monday: Completed one of my longest and most detailed patient histories ever - it was at least 45minutes long! And to top it off, I took vitals on a patient too! This is a milestone in my career since this is the first time it was someone who was not related to me or a friend LOL

Tuesday: When I got to class at 8AM (our first 8AM class this year) for Genetics, two of my friends made comments about how they weren't able to make lunch for themselves because they didn't have enough time. I jokingly told them to get it together, because not only had I made my own lunch, I dressed and fed a toddler breakfast, got myself ready, made his lunch, dropped him off at school, and made it to class with time to spare. Boom.

Wednesday: Learned how to suture on a pig's foot! We learned 5 different techniques, and I definitely need some more practice...LOL My favorite technique, The Vertical Metress, is pictured.

And after that day, I started thinking about a career in plastic surgery...hmmm

Thursday: Attended the first SNMA meeting of the year! I am recording secretary, but I also signed up to be Social Chair and on the Sunshine Committee (whose duties include spreading good cheer and motivation to our members throughout the year)...I would have signed up for more, but I am notorious for spreading myself too thin...

Friday: Stayed home with my croupy Love Bug. So glad I did because I can already tell that he is feeling much better. His cough is less "sealy", his apetite is coming back, and his voice isn't as hoarse.

Welp, that's everything in a nut shell. Lots of studying to do this weekend...My first quiz is Wednesday and I have a Neuro web exam next weekend. LEGGO!

Shout out to my brother Josh for moving into his freshman dorm on Wednesday, for Jordan on winning his first football game last night, and to Carey just because he is awesome too!! #BigSisterPride :-)

Don't forget to send your prayers for everyone on the East Coast as they brave hurricane Irene!

Grateful Fridays.

2011-08-26T00:00:00.004-04:00

This Grateful Friday is going to be a little bit different, because all week things have been just that - different.

This past Tuesday, we lost a classmate and friend, Annique, when she succumbed to her short battle with a rare form of cancer. Not only was she a fellow medical student, but she was also a woman of great faith, a wife, a mother to two young boys (only 8 and 4 years old), and she was only 37. Yesterday, the Christian Medical Association held a time of remembrance in her honor where those who knew her could come and share their memories.

It is evident that Annique was a special person - captivating the attention of a room with her beaming smile and touching the hearts of everyone with her love - no matter if they were a close friend or stranger. Even in her last days, Annique showed a strength and unshaken faith that we all aspire to possess. My heart aches for the family she left behind, and I pray that God gives them the peace that passes all understanding.

I know that she is with her Father, suffering no more, and although it is times like these when I wonder why things like this happen, I know that His ways are not our ways. A friend at the service quoted Pastor Ramsey as saying, "God does not measure our time here on Earth in years, but instead, He measures it in purpose." In the short time that I knew Annique I saw a woman who was enjoying her journey - the highs and the lows, living each moment to the fullest, and always loving. And today, when everyone began to share similar joy-filled stories of her, I realized that Annique is a testimony of how God wants us to be - an overflowing expression of His love. Even when it may be uncomfortable, even when we are hurting, even if we are stressed out, we are always to love. That is just what she did. I feel so blessed and grateful to have known someone like her. She will never be forgotten.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T09:32:00.000-04:00

It's already shaping up to be "one of those days".

But life goes on and we gotta keep on cruisin'...

Pumpkin's got the right idea :-)

Happy Hump Day!

It is Wednesday, right?

Music Monday

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

We watch and we wait Lord we anticipate...
the moment, you choose to appear.

We worship we praise until there's no debate,
and we recognize you're already here.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hal-le-lu-jah
Hallelujah... you're already here.
Hallelujah...You're already here.
Oh God.

We watch and we wait Lord we anticipate...
the moment, You choose to appear.

We worship we praise until there's no debate,
and we recognize You're already here.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hal-le-lu-jah
Hallelujah... You're already here.
Hallelujah...You're already here.
Oh God.

Hallelujah... Hallelujah

You're here

The balm for my wounded soul
You're here,
God, because You choose to make us whole.

Here We Go!

2011-08-21T15:43:00.000-04:00

Well, if you hadn't noticed from the lack of activity around here - even my "pre-fab" posts like "Wordless Wednesday" and "Grateful Friday" got no love - it's been tight over here folks....

Last week was exhausting to say the least. We had NO type of transitional period whatsoever. Aside from the traditional first day introductions, all of our classes dove right in - we even interviewed patients!

Here's what I did on my first day as an M2:

9AM: Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) Lecture
10AM: Neuroscience Lecture
11AM: Lunch
12PM: Pathology Lecture
1-4PM: ICM Small Group at the Hospital

My boo Lauren and I on the way to the hospital

Lauren, Jakoda, and I on the first day - so official!

This was pretty much our schedule the whole week - aside from afternoons being flipped flopped for pathology lab. This week we start Genetics too.

I have noticed that although this is going to be a crazy hectic year, every class that we are taking now is clinically relevant to the everyday practice of medicine. Yes, Biochemistry and CMB are full of principles we need to be good clinicians, but this year it just seems so much more hands-on. For example, right now we are learning about Psychiatry in ICM, and on Friday, a patient with schizophrenia came in to speak with us and allowed us to do a mental status exam. SUPER interesting!

Natey did great with the new schedule. We have been getting up a lot earlier than needed (like around 6AM) because this upcoming week I have to be in class at 8AM, and wanted to get used to it ahead of time. I think a big part of why the mornings have been going well is because we decided to get Direct TV, and The Fresh Beat Band (one of Nate's absolute favs) comes on at 6:30. This is perfect timing, because he'll dance right out of bed for them :-D

Aside from being deliriously tired when I get home, I, of course, have a big case of "Mommy Guilt" because of how long he is at daycare compared to how long he is at home. I have to drop him off at daycare around 7:30 and I wasn't able to pick him up until 4. This week, I'll be staying at school after class for a bit, so his Dad will have to get him and that won't be until after 5 :-(

:sigh:

Well, I think overall it was a pretty good first week, and I know it's going to be a great year :-)

In the words of the Fresh Beats, "Here we go!" :-D

And the Winner Is...

2011-08-16T09:04:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Andrea! Can't wait to hear about how much you like your new decor!

Thanks to everyone for entering!!

Be sure to check back for future giveaways :-D

Music Monday

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

This was the jam freshman year at Michigan. And since I am officially an M2, it's so applicable.

Happy Monday!

Closer to my dreams
Getting over, I’m gettin’ higher
Closer to my dreams
I’m getting higher and higher

Feel it in my sleep
Some times it feels like I’ll never go pass again
Some times it feels like I’m stuck forever and ever
When I’m going higher

Closer to my dreams
I’m goin’ higher and higher
I ain’t gonna sleep
Some times you just have to let it go (Let it go, let
it go)
Leaving all my fears to burn down
Push them away so I can move on

Closer to my dreams
Feel it all over my being
Close your eyes and see what you believe
I’m happy as long as we’re apart
Then I’m moving on to my dreams
I’ll be moving higher (Moving higher)

Closer to my dreams
And higher and higher, higher
Feel it in my being (I can feel it flow around me)
I know that I could not go alone (No, no)

I’m moving higher (Higher), oh...
I’m going higher and higher and higher (Higher and
higher)
Closer to my dreams (Higher and higher, oh...oh...)
I’m moving upward and onward and beyond all I can see
(Stretching out my arms so I can breathe)

Feels so close it’s like strange
I can feel my dreams (Closer to my dreams)
I’m moving closer to my dreams
I’m moving (Higher and higher) higher and higher
(Higher and higher)
Moving higher, ho...
Some times it feels like you never gon’ change (Never
gon’ change)
But you never choose to walk away

Why Medical School is Easier Than Being a Parent

2011-08-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

Well, today is the day I am back to the daily class grind for the first time since May. It's all out until graduation, so I would really appreciate your prayers!

This post back in June got me thinking about the comparison between medical school and being a parent. So just for fun, here's what I came up with:

10. When sitting somewhere for a long period of time, you don't have to bring with you an abundance of snacks, books, toys, and other distractive devices - in addition to anything you may need for yourself. Although sometimes we do try to distract ourselves from falling asleep in lectures...

9. Stinky odors stay in the anatomy lab, and they are not your responsibility to get rid of.

8. You don't have to make sure you have a "nap time blanket" washed and packed every Sunday night for the week...

7. Wearing the tools of the trade (i.e. white coat, stethoscope, etc.) make people automatically assume you know stuff, but carrying/wearing mommy "tools" (i.e. diaper bag, bottle, comfortable shoes) makes people tell you that you look tired -_-

Gee, thanks...

6. Everyone understands the concept of personal space.

5. After lunchtime, no one starts getting extremely irritable, unable to make decisions, or do any work until they take at least an hour nap.

4. Your patients don't come home with you, sleep in your bed, and wipe their snot on your shirt.

3. At the end of the four years, you start getting a $alary for doing what you do.

2. No one asks you when you're going to add "another med school" to the mix, and you feel no pressure to do so...

1. There is no curve, and if you fail a class (opposed to parenting), you can do it over at least once before they kick you out...

Chris Rock said his job as a father is to keep his girls "off the pole" LMBO Parenting is such a challenging job and unlike in medical school, your performance on raising your child is not curved based on the performance of your peers.

Happy Back to School!!

Grateful Fridays.

2011-08-12T00:00:00.011-04:00

TGIF! But I'm so glad I have more to thank God for than just because it's Friday.

I'm thankful for...

...being able to start my second year of medical school on Monday, and although it will be challenging, I can't help but me excited about moving one step closer to my dreams.

...all of the great summer memories with my Pumpkin

Pumpkin and I at Grammy's in Detroit

...for scholarships and financial aid #PraiseHim

...for friends and family that support me every step of the way

...for new beginnings

Have a great weekend!

Driving back to Indy

Textbooks That Give Back :Sponsor:

2011-08-12T00:00:00.009-04:00

Every year, it hurts my heart to part with the large chunk of my refund check that goes into my textbooks.

Sure, they tell you that you don't have to purchase every book your teachers recommend, but for some classes you just can't get around it - I mean, unless you have no problem renewing a 2hr loan multiple times a day in the med library. Don't even get me started on trying to sell books back at the end of the year - sometimes getting less than half the price you paid. And if there is a new edition replacing it? Maybe $0.01 -_-

So I was soooo excited I to find out about the company CampusBookRentals.com! Here's why:

On their site you can search by title, author, keyword, or ISBN number to find your books for class, and you can RENT them for a summer, trimester, semester, or however long you want for a MUCH MUCH smaller fee (40-90% less) than cashing out on all your books.
You can write and/or highlight in them (a must for those active readers like myself).
You can buy the book if you change your mind at the end of your rental.
There is free shipping both ways.
Oh, and if the book is outdated, they'll still take it back!

#WINNING.

And if that wasn't enough to shout about, the company has hooked up with the international children's charity Operation Smile:

"Since 1982, Operation Smile — through the help of dedicated medical volunteers — has provided more than 2 million patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
As one of the most prominent children’s charities in the world and with a presence in over 60 countries, we are able to heal children’s smiles and bring hope for a better future."

As a part of their Difference Project, for every book you rent, Campus Book Rentals will give a portion of the proceeds to help fund these surgeries - committing to provide a minimum of 1000 surgeries for needy children!

They definitely get an "A+" from me :-)

Check Me Out Today on the YML {She Inspires}!

2011-08-10T10:04:00.003-04:00

Hey Loves!

Head over to The Young Mommy Life (after you have entered the contest below, of course lol) where one of my bloggy boos, Tara, has started a new series called {She Inspires}.

Her site (and story) as a whole is high on inspiration - definitely was instrumental in starting my blogging journey. Needless to say, I am so honored that she even considered featuring me.

Posters Aren't Just for School Anymore... UPrinting Giveaway!

2011-08-10T00:00:00.003-04:00

So, it is almost time for me to go back to school, and what better way to ring in the new school year than with free stuff for my readers???

Are you decorating your new dorm? Or you want to fill a blank wall in your home with a nice decorative print or portrait? Or maybe you need cool sign for your budding business... Then you absolutely need to check out UPrinting. It's a great resource for online, professional printing for everything from business cards, to greeting cards, to posters. All you have to do is upload the image you want printed and voila!

Needless to say, I am very excited to announce that the lovely people at UPrinting have asked me to host a giveaway!

Here are the deets:

ONE of my readers will win a 18"x 24" poster (almost a $22.00 value!)
The poster can be Semi Gloss or High Gloss finish
There is a 1 Business Day turnaround on your order

To enter to win (leave a separate comment below for EACH entry):

Comment below with how you would use your free poster print.

Follow UPrinting on Twitter or "Like" UPrinting on Facebook.

Tweet (@JasmineRJohnson): "I entered to win the UPrinting Poster Giveaway at www.mrsmommymd.com!"

While the UPrinting
Giveaway is an equal opportunity for all consumers,
entries must follow these guidelines:
Only be open to those who live in the U.S.
Must be 18 years or older to enter.
Those who have won a UPrinting prize within the past 6 months are ineligible to enter.

You have until August 14th to enter!
The winner must submit their email address within 48hrs or a new winner will be chosen.
The prize will be given at the end of August.
The winner will be chosen via Random.org

**Disclaimer**

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive a poster for hosting. Check out UPrinting.com to see more of their poster prints, different poster sizes and download poster templates.

Learning About His "Crazy Love"

2011-08-09T00:00:00.003-04:00

Last week, I finished a book recommended by a friend called Crazy Love, and I think it was a perfect finale to my summer's (unintentional) theme of growing in my faith. The book, written by Francis Chan, challenges Christians in a society that thrives on "me" and attaining the "American Dream" to refocus on God. He calls us not only see all of the excesses in our life, but how we might put our resources (monetary or otherwise) toward the Great Commission.

He says that we are touched and moved emotionally by stories we hear of "All Star Christians" and how they took up their cross, but then we disbar ourselves from responsibility by saying we could never do something "so extreme" today. Chan acknowledges that everyone's calling is not to be an international missionary or to quit their day job or sell their house, but he does call us to find out what it means for us in our individual walks to extend and share God's love with others. He even gives some awesomely amazing stories of modern day Christians that are/were living examples of using gifts for Kingdom work.

It was especially convicting to me when I read about how in college Chan heard a sermon about truly walking in faith and he realized that nothing in his life (or in the lives of the people around him) really pushed him to step out on faith. He said something to the effect of how he could not see anything in his life being different than if I hadn't been a Christian. I definitely saw myself in this category because there are very few times I felt like I had that, "I really have no other cushion besides God if this falls through for me" mentality. We want to believe that we are walking in faith but we really have to examine ourselves so that we make sure we really are allowing it to grow. I realized last night that I know exactly where I can give my faith room to grow.

What I liked most about the book is that it did not leave you feeling discouraged or inadequate for not being an all star all the time. But it did make you honestly see things in your life for what they are, see God for who He is, the "crazy love" that He has for all of us, and make you want to be a better person and Christian by always extending that love to others. I'll end with this passage from the book (it moved me to tears when I read it) that is an example of what I mean:

"So God assesses our lives based on how we love. But the word love is so overused and worn out. What does God mean by love? He tells us,
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things...
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
I was challenged to do a little exercise with these verses, one that was profoundly convicting. Take the phrase Love is patient and substitute your name for the word love. (For me, "Francis is patient...") Do it for every phrase in the passage.

By the end, don't you feel like a liar? If I am meant to represent what love is, then I often fail to love people well.

Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are (95)."

Music Monday

2011-08-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

I am believing God for favor in everything that my family and I touch, and of course, for a successful school year. Faith in action is praising him in advance, so that's what I am going to do...

Happy Monday!

I've had my share of ups and downs,
Times when there was no one around,
God came and spoke these words to me,
Praise will confuse the enemy.

I've had my share of ups and downs,
Times when there was no one around,
God came and spoke these words to me,
Praise will confuse the enemy.

I started singing,
I started clapping,
I started dancing,
People were laughing,
They knew my problems,
They knew my pain,
But I knew God would take them away.

I've had my share of ups and downs,
Times when there was no one around,
God came and spoke these words to me,
Praise will confuse the enemy.

I started singing,
I started clapping,
I started dancing,
People were laughing,
They knew my problems,
They knew my pain,
But I knew God would take them away.

That's why I praise him with my hands,
That's why I praise him with a dance,
He's given me a second chance,
Come on let's praise him in advance.

That's why I praise him with a song,
When things are right and when they're wrong,
He's given me a second chance,
Come on let's praise Him in advance

Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise Him in advance

Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise Him, Praise Him
For my life, (I will) Praise Him
Praise Him in advance

Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise Him, Praise Him
When I'm broke, (I will) Praise Him
Praise Him in advance...

Happy Birthday to Me and Why I'm Feeling So Blessed...

2011-08-02T02:00:00.001-04:00

Thank You Lord for allowing me to have another year. I have learned so much in 24 years, and pray that I will always be growing into a better version of myself than the year before - bringing more glory to You as each day goes by...Amen.

I am full of so much love and joy thanks to all of the family and friends that helped to make my birthday EXTREMELY special.

Per my mom's request, Pumpkin went to my parents' house on Thursday night because my mom's brother's kids (who are almost 3 and 5 years old) would be staying with her for the weekend, and she wanted them to all play together. She's a brave woman because I wouldn't dare take on three kids under 5 at once - but she also had my two youngest brothers 13 months apart, so she's something like a boss...lol

My weekend-long celebration started Friday night when the hubby and I went out with friends in Indy. I decided that I wanted to travel a bit, so Saturday morning, we got up and drove to Chicago. We visited the Shedd Aquarium and I made dinner reservations at The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock building. Later that night, we met up with one of my BFFs and college roommates and my uncle and his wife at a lounge downtown. I had a great time :-D

Sunday we all headed back to my parentals' too pick up our children and my mom surprised me (Ava too, her 3rd bday is Friday) with a cake - DQ ice cream cakes are my old school tradition - YUM! (Oh, and P.S. don't mind me looking so haggard in the last photo...lol)

Yesterday, I spent the majority of the day relaxing....and shopping lol. Nate also cooked a bomb.com birthday dinner - teriyaki salmon, asian glazed shrimp, rice, and spinach (...and THAT is an example of why I don't do most of the cooking in our house) Dinner was completed with cheesecake and QT with my guys.

It was a great day.

And the Winners Are...

2011-08-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Gerri, Chasing Joy, and Jeremiah on winning the "I Love Beef" Prize Packs!! I can't wait to hear about all of your new and yummy recipes!!

Please send me an email Mrs.Mommy.MD@gmail.com with your address so I can get your prizes to you in a timely fashion :-)

Thanks to all of you who took the time to enter the contest, and be on the look out for more!

Music Monday: Birthday Edition

2011-08-01T07:04:00.002-04:00

Today is my birthday!!

Hope everyone has a great day today!

xoxo

Grateful Fridays.

2011-07-29T12:22:00.003-04:00

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you?'" ~William A. Ward

TGIF! But I'm so glad I have more to thank God for than just because it's Friday.

I'm thankful for...

...that it's time to celebrate my birthday ALL WEEKEND LONG!!! I'm so excited for all the things I have planned :-D

...that Pumpkin is in such an awesome daycare, has wonderful teachers, and all of the things he is learning (in addition to the Christian foundation he's getting)

...that it's PAYDAY!!!

...that my blog is a year old and all of the wonderful people I have met because of it :-)

...that I met my workout goal this week.

...that Camp M.D. 2011 was a HUGE success!!! I always say if I had not chosen medicine, I would be teaching, but I think I still want to try and teach in some way, shape, or form. It was a lot of work, but I am so happy to look back on my experience the past 3 weeks.

Here's a video I made (well, hubby made for me) of some of the Camp M.D. highlights:

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

xoxo

Where's the Beef? Grill It Up & Eat It...

2011-07-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

"I don't know what beef you guys have between you, but you better grill it up, and eat it" -Drumline

Today's recipe are these bomb.com burgers I made. Saw the recipe on the back of the A1 Steak Sauce bottle:

A1 Burgers

A1™ Original™ or Zesty Steak Sauce™

lean ground beef
onion, ½ diced, ½ sliced
green pepper, finely diced
egg
hamburger buns, split
tomato slices
lettuce leaves

Prepare barbecue or grill (medium-high heat)
Mix first 5 ingredients in medium bowl, (except sliced onions)
Divide meat mixture into 4 equal portions & flatten each to ½-inch-thick patty; season with salt & pepper, (or eight small burgers)
Grill hamburgers until done, brushing with A1 Steak Sauce
Place cooked hamburger on grilled bun, top each with a tomato slice, lettuce and onion and bun top.

Serve with extra A1 Steak Sauce.
Serves 4

Kaiser rolls and some fries rounded out this hit. Even little Nate was trying to eat his burger like a big boy :-D

Feel free to share your recipes below!