Makeover!!!

Well, now that things are starting to quiet down over here...I'm done graduating, packing, moving, unpacking, finding schools for the kids, etc... I have time to show my beloved blog some TLC.

I am a creature of habit, so it took me a while to finally revamp my cozy little blog. No really, nothing has been changed since March 2011.

The hubby surprised me right before Match Day with an amazing new illustration - remember those sweet t-shirts?!

And this time around I designed my own header :pops collar:

I was super ambitious at first and was going to build the whole thing from the ground up, but when I almost threw my computer at the wall trying to learn html realized how much time it was going to take, I decided it was best to get some help :-)

I'm so excited with the new look! What do you think?!

New posts coming soon! I can't wait to catch you up on everything thats been happening with our fam...

On Maya Angelou...

My heart is so heavy by this morning's news of Maya Angelou's passing.

Through the written translation of her life's immense struggles and equally amazing triumphs, she was an inspiration to us all.

Thank you for giving our history, Black history, such a commanding voice, recognition, and presence.

That was the reason I chose her words [below] for my high school senior quote. And those words took on a new, greater significance when I received my M.D.

Thank you for letting women everywhere know it is OK to celebrate our bodies, our curves, and to feel downright phenomenal just the way we are.

Thank you for showing us all, way before I could even appreciate its significance, that your past does not define you. That you can take what other's would see as a roadblock and use it to catapult yourself into your purpose.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Rest in heaven Dr. Angelou. You were genius personified.

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise. 
I rise. 
I rise. 

And fin.

Yesterday was my last real class day in medical school. From now until graduation, I have a few shifts as a pathology TA and then I am free!!!

The Narrative Medicine Crew

To commemorate the day, our Narrative Medicine preceptor brought cake for our last class. It was her last class too since she is retiring this year. She is the sweetest lady, really, and the cake was delish!

Later that evening, the Student National Medical Association held a dinner in honor of the graduates. During second year, I was social chair for the org and I remember being in charge of planning the senior dinner for the class of 2012. I felt like it was going to take forever  to get to my own. It didn't.

Class of 2014 SNMA Grads

After getting our certificates, we all gave words of encouragement to the other classes, and of course, I started crying. I feel like I'm in an emotional bubble just waiting to pop. I told ya'll, on graduation I am going to be a hot, tearful, mess.

I just cannot believe that the years of dreaming and hoping and working and praying have all come to this. I am so thankful to be here and I am trying to take in every sweet, satisfying moment. The realization that I am about to graduate really has been one of the best feelings of my life.

I remember growing up and being enthralled by the cover of my dad's surgical journals that came in the mail. My mom thought it was so gross...haha

And I remember not wanting to go to sleepovers throughout my childhood because of a "very real" fear of meningitis.

I remember not eating beef because of the threat of e.coli. Oh and in third grade being concerned about HIV.

I remember my ambitious research project in 4th grade for the enrichment program at school. I wanted to learn about the entire human body. Although she knew it was a huge undertaking, my teacher let me try and I did it.

In 5th grade, I wanted to do a project about asthma. I could go on and on...

Yes, I was such a weird kid, I know. But I was made for medicine.

And then there was the summer at the Boys and Girls' club, when I realized I genuinely loved people, the messiness of their lives, and making them feel better.

I could go on and on, but the point is that...

I am watching my lifelong dream unfold before my very eyes, and I am so grateful to God.

I am so happy.

Ok, headed to campus. Talk to you later peeps!

Operation Purge or Pack 2014 Has Commenced

Hey Friends!

#TeamThrowItOut!

This weekend we finally took some steps on the road to packing. The dumpster that we rented for a week arrived and we were able to toss out our couch that was too far gone to salvage. I then felt ambitious and proceeded to clean out our master bathroom cabinets. But, of course, as soon as I finished with that, I got overwhelmed about where to go next, and promptly decided to handle this feeling the way I know best when I get overwhelmed with school work... I got on Facebook. 

Then I started feeling worse, and I decided to see what Pinterest had in the packing/organization department...jackpot!

I found some great graphics and lists (see a couple below)

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

So now it's a new day and I have a new plan of attack. I have always been a "everything has a place" type person, even when I was little. We went to the Container Store Saturday and I was in OCD heaven :sigh: 

I am geeked that we are purging all of our junk and will move into the new place without all the extra baggage. 

What are some of your moving tips? 

"A Change Will Do You Good..."

So is anybody else in awe at how fast this month has gone by?!

Here's a recap of all the awesomeness of April thus far:

The weeks post Match Day have been so busy, crazy, and exciting!!! In addition to Match Day marking the start of Natey's two week spring break,  we have been on the move!

Spring Break fun at the zoo with Maimeo (Hubby's mom) Isabelle clearly mistake "Cheese" for "Smooch" LOL

Sharks! 

The first weekend in April, we headed to NC for a "quick" roadtrip to try and find our new home for the next 4+ years. It was nutso, but with the help of a great realtor, we were able to see almost 20 homes in 3 days. Told you, NUTS. Even with the kids, it was a little stressful but a lot of fun. Natey tried to claim all the master bedrooms for himself in every single house...aside from one, because he wanted to claim the bonus room instead. And he kept asking if we "were going to be on TV".  Our binge House Hunter's watching has led our child to believe that a camera crew follows everyone around when they look for a house...LOL

Now we wait, and praying we will have some good news soon!!!

 

When we got home from NC, that week we celebrated the Hubby's birthday (April 9th) and then later hit the road for Tyler, Texas so that we could attend Nate's grandma's 100th birthday party. It was great! She looks AHH-maz-ing and we had a blast making memories with the family - including an overnight in Memphis to see my cousin's family.

Last week, Nate and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary (April 16th). It was a great day reminiscing on the day we said "I do". For dinner, we took the kids to one of our favorite restaurants in Indy on the water. The night was topped off with some frozen yogurt for dessert :-)

Anniversary dinner :-)

   

 

Oh, and yes, I am still a medical student...LOL I am currently taking an elective called "Narrative Medicine" which explores the role of the written/spoken/expressed narrative in the physician and patient experience. We get to read, write, and discuss. Some of my favorite things to do, so you know I am really enjoying it! As someone who loves to write and getting my feelings out on paper...er blog, I will always value the narrative of my patients. Telling our stories is healing in-of-itself, and many times we do not realize how it may directly affect our care.

This past weekend, we had a great Resurrection Sunday together at home. I have so much to be thankful for. I feel another "testimony" page coming on soon because the way God has aligned so many things for me and our family this year, I have to give him all the glory.

There are 18 days until graduation (AHHH!) and 30 or so days until we are hoping to move (AHHH!) This week's plan is to start packing, throw a ton of stuff away, and try and enjoy our last weeks as Indianapolis residents. When I think about moving, I can't help but be a little sad. So much has happened for us here in Indy. It is the first place I lived completely on my own (well, with baby Nate, too), it's where Nate and I got married, it's where we had Isabelle, it's where I feel like I finally became comfortable with myself and started to make decisions solely for me and my family, and no one else. Such a huge part of me is here, and I know at some point the ugly cry is going to come...so be ready.

I never liked change, but I am learning that although sometimes it hurts, and is uncomfortable, and makes you a tad bit anxious, God has ordered our steps and so I don't have to be afraid.

Happy Monday friends!

I will have another photo-dump update before the month is over...I promise. OK, let's be real, I hope...LOL