The Last Month of Residency and Graduation!! **WARNING SO MANY PHOTOS**

Since my Nights rotation, June has been moving at rocket speed. Mainly because there was quite a bit to do in such a short amount of time... 

I got in some much, MUCH needed family time. Including attending this cutie's Pre-K graduation!

And being around for this guy's last week of third grade!

I was able to get in my last surgeries for my graduation requirements. 

We celebrated graduation with our Wake Med family (the other hospital we rotate through as residents).

I took my last 24 hour call as a resident (!!!). 

And we had our final Wednesday didactic session. 

Then on July 16, 2018, I graduated from residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I still cannot believe it!

Residency is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done. I talk all the time about the sacrifice of medicine...The family I wasn’t able to see, the friends I was not able to travel with, and the things I was not able to buy....haha

But I have never learned and grown so much in my life as I had over the last four years. Now that residency is behind me, I am one step closer to the final leg of my journey of becoming a maternal fetal medicine doctor.

My graduation weekend was amazing. My entire family was able to come down to celebrate with us. We all packed into my house and laughed, and joked, and spent every minute we could together. There were events all weekend, and it was exhausting. But, I wouldn’t have changed a thing because there is nothing better than being surrounded by the people you love. I'm so thankful for all of them. 

Friday during the day, my class met up for an afternoon at the spa, because what better way to celebrate the end of residency than with some top tier level TREAT. YO. SELF. 

Friday night was the annual Chiefs' Roast, where the 3rd year class lovingly pokes fun at each of the graduating Chief’s with a video tribute. It’s so hilarious because your families get to see all of the ridiculous personalities you work with, and the ridiculous personality they may not know that you have when you’re at work ;-) 

Saturday night was the graduation banquet. It is a wonderful formal affair where again, all of the graduates,  both residents and fellows, get a personal tribute and toast to their accomplishments.

Can I just have a moment for my dress and shoes? YAAAAS!

 

During the ceremony, I was honored to receive the Thaddeus L. McDonald - Espirit de Corps

Award (named for our own Dr. McDonald (pictured above), which is given to the resident who represents the best of teamwork, spirit and pride *tears*

My sweet friend Carolyn did my toast. She put so much thought and care into it, and it was amazing. I cannot wait to be her co-fellow this year <3

We followed it up with dancing well into the night.

Sunday everyone went home, and I was left with wonderful memories to carry me until we are all together again...

Yesterday, I sat for my OBGYN written Boards. Afterwards, my class and I met for lunch to celebrate - minus one of us that moved to VA right after graduation *tear*

Fellowship starts on Monday, and I am pumped!

xoxo

Below is the video part of my toast. I cannot say enough how blessed I am to have such an amazing group of family and friends lifting me along the way.

Night Life Recap...

I'm down to the last two weeks of my seven week stretch of Nights...talk about going out with a bang...

In full disclosure, it's been miserable not being there for the kids during the week, but as usual, they are stronger than I give them credit for. I think they are taking it better than me actually.

After this, I end on an elective rotation. Which thankfully is much better hours, but I have research to finish, Boards to study for, and some of my last vaginal hysterectomies to finish for my graduation numbers.

I can't believe I only have 33 days left guys, but I am so ready for this hellish year to be over.

If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen my newest normal, but if not, here is the highlight reel:

Lots of Marco Polo Videos & FaceTime of school and bedtime routines...

I haven’t been able to hug my babies in five days thanks to my night float rotation 😞😩This is the part of the job I dislike the most. Thanks to their creative dad, I’ve been able to stay in the loop of what’s been going on at home even though I’m not there for the action. Like Marco Polo videos of Natey excited to tell me that he got 100% on his math quiz, Isabelle showing me a picture she drew at school, and the kids bickering at breakfast because someone was chewing with her mouth open LOL one more night and then I get some much needed Mama time ❤️ #mamasinmedicine #marcopolo

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD (@mrsmommymd) on Apr 13, 2018 at 5:15am PDT

Some doctoring mixed in with ultrasounds and ORs...

Is it Friday yet? Oh ok. Just checking. 😩 #nightshift #latergram #mamasinmedicine

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD (@mrsmommymd) on Apr 11, 2018 at 6:47pm PDT

Snack Breaks....

Sweet visitors to make home less far away...

Best surprise ever 😍❤️

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD (@mrsmommymd) on Apr 17, 2018 at 1:03am PDT

Eight years tomorrow ❤️ 4.16.10

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD (@mrsmommymd) on Apr 15, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

Cherishing my weekends with Saturday family dates & Sundays at church...

It’s going down.

A post shared by Jasmine Johnson, MD (@mrsmommymd) on Apr 21, 2018 at 5:38pm PDT

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Talk to you soon!

xoxo

Beating Spring Allergies with Clorox® and FLONASE

***This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Clorox and Flonase. All opinions are mine alone. #AllergyFreeAdventures #CollectiveBias***

Spring is here and our family couldn't be more excited! Spring means the kids can play outside longer, mommy can move her workouts and coffee breaks outside for extra sun, and we all can enjoy the beautiful spring bloom of the North Carolina trees.

But in our allergen sensitive home, Spring also means that everything is covered in that distinct yellow-green pollen - which leads to red eyes, runny noses, and LOTS of sneezing. Since our move to North Carolina, we have experienced pollen that is anything we have ever seen! Even for myself, who never grew up with seasonal allergies, the itchy eyes and stuffy nose strikes more frequently.

I have found that right around the pollen bloom is the perfect time for a spring deep clean in our home. Mainly, because it makes maintenance throughout the spring and summer months a lot easier.

Here's a run down of how our family keeps dust at bay...

First, we hit up Kroger to grab all of my spring cleaning must haves - Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes + FLONASE mist. I couldn't decide between lemon or fresh scent, because they both smell great!

To stay on track, I have found some great printables on Pinterest to help me systematically and efficiently get through the whole house.

These are my Spring Cleaning MUST DO’s specifically for beating dust and pollen allergies:

- Change the air filters

- Dust all the wood furniture, blinds, and picture frames with a damp cloth

- Dust and vacuum all light fixtures

- Mop (Isabelle’s favorite. See exhibit A.)

- Wipe all countertops down with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes (including the bathrooms & kitchens) and any other hard, non-porous surfaces

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are great for this because the wipes can Wipe away 99.9% of the most common allergens*

- Clean ceiling fan blades

- Wash baseboards, door  frames, window sills, doors, and walls

- Wash all bedding and vacuum mattresses

- Vacuum the couch

- Clean and disinfect toilet and shower

- Disinfect all kitchen appliances including the inside of the fridge.

- Empty, clean, and organize cabinets

- Properly dispose of expired medications

- Lastly, don't forget door knobs!

For an added shield against allergies, this year we have added FLONASE to our routine. As a mom and a doctor, I am always looking for products that I would give to my own family and patients. FLONASE has made the cut because:

- FLONASE provides more complete allergy symptom relief because it relieves nasal congestion, while single-ingredient antihistamines don't.  

- FLONASE helps block 6 allergic substances, and most allergy pills only block 1**.  

- Once-daily FLONASE nasal spray products are proven to offer 24-hour relief from both nose- and eye-related allergy symptoms.  

- FLONASE products are both non-addictive and non-drowsy.

With the help of Clorox® and FLONASE, I am able to keep my family healthy and all of our allergies under control so that we can spend less time congested, and more time doing things we love to do together.

*Use Clorox® products as directed for removal of non-living allergens like pet dander, dust mite matter and pest matter on hard nonporous surfaces in your home. Keep out of reach of children.

**vs single-ingredient antihistamines which do not treat nasal congestion. Mechanism vs most over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pills. FLONASE nasal sprays act on multiple inflammatory substances (histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines, and leukotrienes). The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown.

Find more spring allergy tips like these here, and savings here. I would love to hear how you arm yourself against allergy season in your home? Share below!