tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38649581045462985132024-02-19T04:21:50.949-06:00Growing Into My Long CoatThe musings of a brand-spanking-new pediatric resident.OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-52833030283810387792017-06-25T22:08:00.000-05:002017-06-25T22:08:26.039-05:00At the end of the day, faith is a funny thing (the end of an era at UMMC)"At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. It's like one day you realize that the fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And it's not so important happy ever after, just that its happy right now. See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you , and once in a while people may even take your breath away."<br />
<br />
Tomorrow morning, I'll walk into the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the last day of the "beginning" of my medical education. I'll walk out Tuesday a private practice physician, with the land of academia behind me.<br />
<br />
If you happen to be one of the people I cross along my journey tomorrow, just smile and be a little more gentle. I'm piling a lot of memories in this 24 hours.<br />
<br />
I'll start by parking where I parked exactly 8 years ago preparing for orientation to my first day of medical school - excited and terrified. I'll have to walk past that first classroom (where biochemistry owned me) and that bathroom I cried in a lot. Then I'll walk past the newborn office (I'll stop by there Tuesday morning to clean my desk off) much like I did many days during med school, praying I'd be behind that door someday.<br />
<br />
As I journey towards the nursery for my last experience rounding (with Dr. Mink), i'll pass the Peds Lounge and offices... where I spent hours upon hours in the last 4 years, learning how to save other people - and myself. When we lost patients, when I lost family members... we loved on each other and held each other up behind those walls.<br />
<br />
I'll spend the day and night with my littlest loves and some of my best coworkers. I wish I could tell you all exactly what I'd learned from you and what part you'd played in this journey, but I'm not strong enough. Just know I'll always have you all in my thoughts and prayers, and I'll always be grateful for the opportunity to love on babies with you.<br />
<br />
Most of all, I'll have as many moments of quiet reflection as possible. In learning how to save others, I lost myself. But much more importantly, and much more proudly, God brought me back to a place of joy, blessing, and love. <br />
<br />
I could pour my heart out for hours, and I'd never help you all understand what the last eight years has meant to me. From the day I answered God's call into medicine until tomorrow when He brings me back home to love on His people in my community, it's been a journey marked by unknown blessings that were so much bigger than anything I humanly could've imagined.<br />
<br />
So I'll take one more moment to make a plea: If God isn't first in your life, put Him there. He will do amazing things more than you've ever imagined. If you're not sure how to do that, find me tomorrow. There's no greater send-off I'd like to give than you a life with my Eternal Creator. I'll love all of you forever - keep saving babies. And keep saving yourselves.OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-89317480384148202632017-04-18T18:24:00.001-05:002017-04-18T18:24:18.657-05:00God's greater planI've been struggling about how and when to make this post for quite a while. You see, I was one of those kids of always had my life all figured out. I would grow up, be a neonatologist, and save all the babies in the world.<br />
<br />
This is where the story changes.<br />
This is where I get real with you.<br />
This is where God comes in.<br />
<br />
I started fellowship, and I loved being with the babies. Around the same time I also fell in love with a long time best friend and began to learn the joys of having children in my life that weren't just at work. The relationship flourished, the babies grew, and I missed out. A lot. Consistently. Time after time I found myself at work or crying and exhaustion that I couldn't be home or do what I wanted to do for myself or my family.<br />
<br />
This is where things get really tough. This is why I tell you that the girl with solid dreams forever contemplated quitting medicine altogether. These are the days I couldn't get out of bed. Depression and scary thoughts In overworked doctors are real. They can happen to anyone you know and love.<br />
<br />
That very Day, I reached out to a friend who had been joking about going to work with for a while. Through a series of fortunate events and nothing short of God's greatest blessings, I'll be starting a new job in a few months at the children's clinic in Hattiesburg. I'll be near my Family and friends, I'll work a fraction of the hours I do now, and I'll be taking care of myself. Because no matter how much you love your job you have to come first.<br />
<br />
I'm sure all occasionally miss the hustle and bustle of the NICU, and I will always look back fondly on my memories. But I'm proud of myself for stepping out in faith and knowing there's so much more to life than what I committed myself to twenty years ago.<br />
<br />
People don't change. Priorities do. I am so thankful to be old and wise enough to see it and yet young enough and fearless enough to follow through. I'm building a house, a practice, and a LIFE. God continues to be good to me every day. I can't wait to give back to the Hattiesburg community.<br />
<br />
Welcome home to me. Both to my soul and my relocation.<br />
<br />
-Dr MegOleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-12665732256955613052015-09-18T19:17:00.001-05:002015-09-18T19:17:48.947-05:00The tough stuffI just realized it's been a significant amount of time since I've posted. Not that residency is boring - quite the contrary - I just haven't felt the energy to de-sensitize information enough to let you all in. Until I realized I'm depriving you of the tough stuff, the God stuff, the everyday stuff. <div>So if you're not in for a pretty long and somewhat depressing post involving lots of talk about dying and death, you may want to turn around now. But if you're up for it, let me show you how God is working in my life and the life of those around me.</div><div>I'm not sure if we've been experiencing more death than usual in our little world at the Children's Hospital, or if I'm just more aware of it since the death of my Mama. It seems like everywhere I've turned the last few months we've had to say goodbye to another innocent fighter gone too soon. And maybe it's just that I've been at children's long enough to know the regulars - The kids that fight harder than anyone you've ever met - taking countless breathing treatments today and praying for one more breath, filling their veins with poisonous chemicals and throwing their guts up, fighting rare diseases that even we as doctors don't understand.. But ultimately, they're healing always comes. When it's an earthly healing we rejoice with happy tears, ringing bells, celebrating with cakes and cookies and huge high fives, and watching these kids grow into adults with children of their own. </div><div><br></div><div>Sometimes, against all odds, <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">they truly win. But the truth is – God always does. There's so much healing that we can't say. When we struggle on earth and sob that we lost another baby, when we cry with parents or hold it together until we get to the dark corners in the back storage rooms and let it all fall apart, God wins. These babies don't struggle anymore. There are no more medicines. There are no more gasps for air. there are no more tumors. There are no more questions… Only God's answer. God's answer but he will always provide for our babies. God's answer that they were his first and I will be his forever. Gods hope and provision that we will see them again in their whole, healthy, happy states</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">And in the in between times, while they struggle they teach us so much. I can't lie and say I haven't questioned why someone with a whole life ahead of them has to go to heaven before they learn to ride a bicycle, or even write their name. But the truth is, for those of us who are believers, we know we are only here for a purpose. The purpose that some children can have in the light they can shine in just a few days is absolutely astonishing. The grown men and women who are brought to their knees to worship our Father, cry out to him, many for the first time in their lives because of the daily miracles in our baby's struggles. What a blessing to be there for the good days… But even more what a blessing to be there for the bad. You see, sometimes the things you can't change and up changing you. I know every day another kiddo shows more resilient than I'll ever had in my entire life. They are the winners. They are God's army. They are the hands and feet, the light. They minister without asking, without abandon, without question. They do it because it's all they know to do. Let us all be like the little children. Let us find grace in our struggles. Let us hold each other up instead of tear each other down. In a world filled with so much uncertainty, it is my daily hope and expectation that all the children I've come to love will meet me at Heaven's Gate. I absolutely cannot wait for the reunion.</font></div>OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-55411777870029238632014-08-08T14:55:00.002-05:002014-08-08T14:55:31.404-05:00Catching Up... A year in the life..It's hard to know where to start this post after an entire year of residency. I sat down to blog a few times and came up empty handed. There was always so much to say that couldn't be said and so much I couldn't figure out how to get in text... but I figure one day, I'll be interested in how I felt my first year and since those memories will dull with time, I should probably get them down.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell: WOW. God amazed me every. single. day. I learned more than I ever thought possible and still feel like I'm just scraping the surface. This kid-doctor thing isn't for sissies. There's a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and heartache - a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of losses, and a few wins that make it all worth it.<br />
<br />
In general, intern year wasn't that bad. It's exhausting in a new way of exhaustion (even though you got to go home after 16 hours on call and didn't spend the night). I really started to enjoy my own clinic. I stayed in love with the NICU and fell in love with more than a few snotty-nosed, tear stained faces.<br />
<br />
July 1 was a bit of a rude awakening because I started this year in the PICU. Once again, WOW. Almost unexplainable the changes that place will put forth in your heart, your practice, and your life. I'm finally recovering from the Q4 call (no longer limited to 16 hours... welcome to "big girl residency") and glad to have that month behind me.<br />
<br />
This post was boring, I can assure you my last year has been nothing but. The secret parts of patient's lives that you are privy to and trusted with forever change who you are and how you practice. And occasionally, you realize you made a difference.<br />
<br />
And that is worth everything.OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-83687705890788559212013-08-11T10:40:00.001-05:002013-08-11T10:40:36.373-05:00In the quiet of the night, you can hear the heart beat..I've officially been "Olemissbabydoc, M.D.", for 42 days. It's still strange, still different... But I'm adjusting, along with my fellow interns. <div><br></div><div>Many firsts have been had with many more to come. Night float month brought first orders, first pages, first uncertainty, first tears, and first reassurance that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be and doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. I couldn't have asked for a better upper level to share that first month with - A never left my side and never went to bed telling me to fend for myself. She helped me learn to trust my decisions and walk through the process. Although it was exhausting, I think we both learned a lot. No babies were harmed in the making of this intern. </div><div><br></div><div>This month is an entirely different bird. I'm on cardiology elective - that means M-F, 8-4ish. Those are like, real people hours! I'm slightly overwhelmed at all the re-socializing (but loving it. Although I'm a loner by nature, NF was a little TOO lonely). There's a lot of conference-going and clinic time. On that note, I also started my own clinic and have been twice so far. Now THAT is a very weird experience. The first week I had an M1.5 working with me, this week an M3. I'm looking forward to being comfortable enough that I feel like I'm actually able to teach them something - right now I think I'm pretty pitiful at that (still learning to be the doctor). Once again, I've got fantastic mentors guiding the way. </div><div><br></div><div>I quickly learned that I made the exact right decision on what to do with my life as well as where to train. It's a team sport, and my team ROCKS!</div>OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-75342102660771625082013-06-01T17:05:00.001-05:002013-06-01T17:05:24.687-05:00The last month of limbo... the last month of freedom.Graduation has come and gone. The hoopla, the long coat ceremony, the heavy velvet regalia, the after parties.<br />
<br />
I woke up the following morning a doctor, no longer a medical student.<br />
Scratch that. No longer a STUDENT.<br />
Yes, there's lots of learning involved in residency and being a doctor in general... but I will never, ever be a full time student again. As exciting as that was, it was still a tiny bit sad. No matter who will actually admit it, most of us must've liked school or we wouldn't have made it this far. The thought that that part of my life is officially over (when it's all I've ever known) is still strange.<br />
<br />
Don't have too terribly much time to think it over though, as somehow the last week flew by and there's only two more before orientation kicks off, along with all the daytime exhaustion and night-time fun it can bring. I'll be working myself into a more "night" schedule towards the end of the month to prepare for night float July 1.<br />
<br />
I've waited my whole life for this. Even though it's more than a little terrifying, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Bring it! OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-1209909433369013512013-05-22T12:21:00.000-05:002013-05-22T12:21:00.972-05:00Ready or not, here we go!Long coat tomorrow night. Graduation Friday. WOAH. Family starts coming in tonight, friends and more family tomorrow. I'm soooo excited to celebrate with everybody and let them see the house!<br />
<br />
At the same time as my grad celebration, we're having EK's 1st birthday party. The pupcakes are currently in the oven, the smash cake is done. This mom goes all out.<br />
<br />
I've gotten into these make money from doing random things apps lately. iPoll and Surveys on the Go specifically. So far, SOTG is easier, and I'm making Amazon.com money from both, so pretty excited about that. Hit em up if you've got a few extra seconds of time :)<br />
<br />
Happy Graduation week, everyone!OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-6767089459992353202013-04-29T19:08:00.001-05:002013-04-29T19:08:22.829-05:00Happy end of med school...Tomorrow is my last day EVER of medical school. Woah. It's been a super fun, super busy month. Genetics is wonderful. I've learned a ton and look forward to many more years of it.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, we've moved into our NEW HOUSE and it is just great! Ellikate loves having not one, but two yards to play in (our front is courtyard fenced), and we've got about three times the amount of space we had before. It's open air and play room!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow our hardwood floors arrive in the bedrooms, and then the furniture can move in and our lives can come together completely.<br />
<br />
25 days til MD. Woah.OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-74470558613300750012013-03-17T19:39:00.000-05:002013-03-17T19:39:37.153-05:00We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop? "On the other hand, do we really want to?<br />
<br />
What a week. Monday I found out that I matched. But to back up a little bit, I started house shopping last Saturday with Melissa to get an idea of what I liked and mainly to keep my mind busy. I found two that I just loved.<br />
<br />
Monday, I went with my awesome realtor for Round 2. Found two more that I liked better than most of Saturday's, with the 4th house we saw still remaining by far my love.<br />
<br />
The week in general is a blur. I did some furniture shopping, we returned to "the house" (and I was still in love). And we waited. Waited on Friday, waited on God, waited on my future to be revealed.<br />
<br />Friday was exhausting. Terrifying. Nervewracking. Worth every moment of sweat and tears it took to get to this point. "Olemissbabydoc, Pediatrics, University of Mississippi". With that, the next three years of my life were sealed. The people I would train with, grow with, cry with, laugh with. In that moment, I knew I was blessed beyond measure - and then it got better.<br />
<br />
Momma, Daddy, Me and N went to the "top three" houses with my wonderful realtor V. Mom and Dad liked the first two, but loved the one I loved. It has a courtyard in the front for ElliKate to play, and a huge fenced yard. The details are simply perfection, the master bed and bath are awesome, the scored concrete will be a godsend for cleaning. The kitchen island will easily hold several dozen cookies for cooling and decorating (a baker's dream). The location is perfect. I made an offer that was set to expire in just a few hours.<br />
<br />
When I woke up Friday morning, I was just a kid. When I went to bed, I had a pediatrics residency and was a pending homeowner. It was surreal and still is. All I can say is God is SO good, and we are full of praise. I continue to pray for my friends and colleagues to whom "the match" was less kind. All over the country, very qualified US seniors were denied training positions - there just aren't enough spots for the demand. And that is heartbreaking. We all worked equally as hard for this dream and we ALL deserve it. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord".... I know He is in control on His throne as always, even when we can't understand it.<br />
<br />
A big thank you to all of you who've been with my on this journey so far, for your support and encouragement. Please join me as I begin "Growing into my Long Coat" :)OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-12109147120768530682013-02-27T19:45:00.001-06:002013-02-27T19:45:57.800-06:00Enjoy the time you have before the news comes..."They say ignorance is bliss because once you know about the tumor or the
prognosis, you can’t go back. Will you be strong or will you fall
apart? It’s hard to predict so don’t worry about it. Enjoy the time you
have before the news comes. Yep, ignorance is bliss."<br />
<br />
Tomorrow surgery comes to an end - and with it, the formal part of my medical school training. I've got a research month left in April, but that's more "looking toward residency/fellowship" than finishing up med school requirements. In a way, med school is over in 21 hours.<br />
<br />
I think I have PTSD, or I've sniffed too much anesthesia gas second-hand this month. I'm already forgetting all the terrible stuff and just super excited to be at this point. So even though I'm nervous/slightly anxious about what March 15 will bring, I'm bright eyed and ready for whatever it is.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I'll embrace the fact that the fellow thinks I have a little "inner surgeon" and let my "inner pediatrician" that is exhausted come back out. 3:30 is not the appropriate time to get out of bed. I'm really glad my specialty choice defends this ;)OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-45135430172506437912013-02-01T19:42:00.003-06:002013-02-01T19:42:41.644-06:00Do not alarm the makers of the tiny humans. They will eat you alive."This is not general surgery on a miniature scale. These are the tiny
humans. These are children. They believe in magic. They play pretend.
There is fairy dust in their IV bags. They hope, and they cross their
fingers, and they make wishes, and that makes them more resilient than
adults. They recover faster, survive worse. They believe."<br />
<br />
Day 1: Peds Surgery.<br />
I realized rounding this morning that much of that quote is surrounding the 5C nurses station. Loved it!<br />
This rotation so far is kinda fun. It's early mornings and long days, but rewarding. I feel like I'm going to get a pretty good bit out of it (if only when to consult/not to consult/who to talk to, etc). I'm gaining an appreciation for what happens in the OR and the stress the patient must be under after. For some reason, it's a lot more real on kids (probably because I like kids more, but I digress). Watching the NICU peanuts on the table all draped out, you can't tell they weigh 500 grams. Then the drapes come down, and you're faced with the reality that maybe, just maybe, this is why they didn't want to rush this kiddo to the OR. Of course I'm always going to find myself siding 80/20 with the neonatologists - but that 20% is going to be gleaned this month.<br />
<br />
The surgeries can be more technically difficult due to the size, and at a few moments today I found myself thinking that Dr. W looked a lot like a vascular surgeon operating with the mag goggles on... lol. But alas, it was a whole baby under there.<br />
<br />
Not only am I covering the NICU (and LOVING it), we were done for the day at 4:15ish and I'm off this weekend!<br />
<br />
If only the next 27 days could go like today...OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-39252542378900002372013-01-19T16:18:00.000-06:002013-01-19T16:18:22.875-06:00This. Is. ItROL made and certified with no intentions of changes.<br />
<br />
55 days til Match.<br />
<br />
12 days til Peds Surgery.<br />
<br />
At least the latter will keep me tired/busy/preoccupied.<br />
<br />
Cooking experiment of the day: Cauliflower crust pizza. It was pretty yummy, even though it stuck to the aluminum foil :( Next time I'll try parchment paper like the recipe called for. <br />
<br />
Excited to see my family tomorrow... and to have a long weekend. Need to finish my presentation for Tuesday... sounds like a good MLK project ;)OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-83110304556844871312013-01-10T19:09:00.002-06:002013-01-10T19:09:42.724-06:00Match CountdownJanuary 10.<br />
<br />
Last class meeting tomorrow.<br />
ROL opens in 5 days.<br />
Match is 64 days away.<br />
<br />
I've picked a #1 and #2... not so much a 3-5. I've got one interview left if I can muster the energy to go.<br />
<br />
In other news, I'm on Radiology elective this month. It's nice to be back in the hospital, albeit the basement. The best day so far was Tuesday - Peds. Shocker. I'm going to spend the last two weeks over there with the peds rads people. I'm learning a lot,but I'm verrrrry tired. Dark rooms and 8 computer screens at a time are not for me.<br />
<br />
I've been doing a lot of house hunting as well.... talked to the bank and will likely put my offer in on something in mid-March (if I match at home). Otherwise, it'll be April/May as the house hunting will have to go on the road.<br />
<br />
The holidays were quiet - I was sick with flu/pneumonia for most of the holiday season.I was grateful to have time off previously scheduled but it was depressing to miss the "last" family holidays for a while.<br />
<br />
<br />OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-59721168382626338112012-11-14T17:15:00.000-06:002012-11-14T19:16:12.620-06:00Wards, PER, M4cation and... interviews!I knew I'd been terrible at updating but I didn't realize exactly HOW terrible. Sorry about that, y'all!<br />
<br />
I finished up my time in the NICU and left unwillingly... did a month of Peds Wards, then a month of Peds ER shifts, and now I'm on "Review of Pharmacology" (also known as the start of M4cation). The premise of this month is to write a paper on some pharm topic as self-study and use the rest of the time to ... be an M4.<br />
<br />
So far this month I've begun to clean out some shelves and storage areas in the house in preparation for moving (I'll get to that in a minute) and found a new love for cooking as well as renewed my love of baking. Currently, the second half batch of White chocolate pudding andes mint sugar cookies are on the cooling rack. Mmm.. Back to what I was saying..<br />
<br />
Interviews also are now in full force! The process of waiting on them to come in and scheduling was a bit hectic, but it's all fun now. My interview at my home program was even more than I expected, with them continuing to rank near/at the top of my list. I've got about 5-6 more places to interview over the next two months and then the Match will be right around the corner... :/ I'm looking forward to knowing where I'll be starting my career so I can buy a house - this is a must! ElliKate and I have seriously outgrown our tiny apartment.<br />
<br />
We got graduation proofs in our email the other day. All that regalia is just weird. AWESOME, but weird.<br />
<br />
As is my life right now. AWESOME, but weird. OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-1113600982134332652012-08-17T19:18:00.001-05:002012-08-17T19:18:38.581-05:00Letting you go"Today?" Mom asked. I reiterated. "Today". And then I helped pack you up in your little seat that looked way too big for you, in your real - healthy- baby clothes, and said congratulations. And you were gone. Such a happy, joyous time. And so scary. <br />
<br />
What if you aren't ready? What if 4 lbs just isn't big enough for you to make it out there? What if you don't eat enough? (Sometimes you didn't eat for us). Will they know what to do when you don't cry? When you don't wet enough diapers? When they need to check your temperature? What's your oxygen saturation right now? And goodness - if all these thoughts are going through my head, how overwhelmed is your mommy?<br />
<br />
But she will know. She always did. I held you for only a short time - I helped you get healthy enough to be one with her again. You never were mine, or ours. All those hours, feeds, diapers - they were all to get you to this point. So she will know. And you will know. Together, you will figure it out. Because when you strapped into that car seat in your big kid clothes, you were a normal baby. You no longer need continuous monitoring, our machines, or our assistance. You need your mommy, and she needs you. <br />
Welcome home, little one. Thank you for teaching me about letting go. OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-40943824054533842942012-07-22T17:58:00.000-05:002012-07-22T17:58:19.823-05:00LatelyIt's been a whirlwind of activity around here lately - I forgot how much Medicine Wards sucked the life out of you. The hours are only slightly better than regular surgery... at least the work is more enjoyable. But I'm definitely counting down my last 8 days!<br />
<br />
On the ERAS/Step/LOR front, we're getting there. CK came back last week and I'm super happy with it. About half my LOR meetings have occurred, the rest are scheduled for August. ERAS is in progress.<br />
<br />
ElliKate is growing like a weed - 6 lbs, 3 oz at our third shot appt. Final ones on the 31st. We've also lost four teeth in the last 24 hours. I practically had to make her mush for supper haha.<br />
<br />
<br />OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-8442522146209800562012-06-24T22:20:00.001-05:002012-06-24T22:20:52.877-05:00Step 2, part 2..Made it safely to Houston, checked in, had fabulous food and about to call it a night. Test tomorrow then playtime and M4 for REAL!OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-5690971325839101342012-06-19T21:58:00.001-05:002012-06-19T21:59:50.106-05:00One STEP closer...It's been a world wind of a month. As of yesterday, step 2 ck is done. As of next Monday, I'll be able to say the same about CS. <br />
<br />
Today our extern schedules/call schedules for July arrived. I'm really excited about starting 4th year, spending a month working with my best friend, and my final month in adult medicine - ever. <br />
<br />
All that stuff is just fluff. The real crux of the last month was bringing home my precious four legged baby, Elli Kate. She's growing like a weed and winning momma over more everyday - even tho I think we have officially hot the terrible twos!<br />
<br />
Pictures below ... The day she came home, and packing tonight for vacation with her grandparents while mommy goes to Houston for the dumb test. Hasn't she grown a ton?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAp75EXEhuuAE_QlLEmjU5z3gcSt6LBotQOeBkGIjF-2APZRpizopKzavOnyPzYZ73T_npqPPjnRSwnFzeKvd-bTA72lkozek2JOhFN_XjVlbND7uZZb4zptIVmCCMtoxveVRrbcZp0Dc/s640/blogger-image--929610923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAp75EXEhuuAE_QlLEmjU5z3gcSt6LBotQOeBkGIjF-2APZRpizopKzavOnyPzYZ73T_npqPPjnRSwnFzeKvd-bTA72lkozek2JOhFN_XjVlbND7uZZb4zptIVmCCMtoxveVRrbcZp0Dc/s640/blogger-image--929610923.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo5pdRlM1p0FDFAZ2bChQUj65SIV7LAbYw4EbIm1YflUe_WlBKZHt6cQPJ5DZ81AFQbsbbkgpWJoCUL2JzLLOp4ptcZFc-1yEy3c4Y9td0NWBnP9tfrsii7EKsLpM4vo6CouLXyZ2UQEV/s640/blogger-image--651767297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo5pdRlM1p0FDFAZ2bChQUj65SIV7LAbYw4EbIm1YflUe_WlBKZHt6cQPJ5DZ81AFQbsbbkgpWJoCUL2JzLLOp4ptcZFc-1yEy3c4Y9td0NWBnP9tfrsii7EKsLpM4vo6CouLXyZ2UQEV/s640/blogger-image--651767297.jpg" /></a></div>OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-34986173438059821572012-05-15T20:05:00.003-05:002012-05-15T20:05:58.022-05:00Loving the difficult patients...It's been an awesome two days back in the world of pediatrics, on a rotation I've quietly dubbed "Learning to Love the Difficult Patients". I missed the kiddos oh so much!<br />
<br />
In other news, today was pretty good all around. Scheduled my dean's letter meeting for June, in the midst of scheduling a meeting with Dr. C re: residency tips and such, and had the best phone call I've had in quite a while: Elli Kate went to the vet for her checkup today and was found to be "practically perfect in every way"! With that news, I get to pick her up this very weekend (almost a week earlier than I expected). Can't wait!<br />
<br />
God has been awful good to us lately with lots of unspoken prayers answered. I am so, so blessed.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah - and my senior resident called me a "senior medical student" today. That was REALLY weird... and REALLY awesome :DOleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-43659322877987045322012-04-28T19:59:00.000-05:002012-04-28T19:59:47.841-05:00"Doctors spend a lot of time focused on the future""Doctors spend a lot of time focused on the future, planning it, working
toward it. But at some point you start to realize your life is happening
now. Not after med school, not after residency, right now. This is it.
It’s here. Blink and you’ll miss it." - Grey's, Season 5 <i>Now or Never</i><br />
<br />
Its been an insane crazy year, and it's not getting any easier anytime soon - this senior planning stuff is tough! As a senior in college, I didn't have any of these fears/trepidations/worries... I knew I was going to be at Carey another year getting my pre-reqs in. So this is seriously a throw back to high school.... only now, it's not my dream - it's my reality. The exciting part of the last week was senior schedules coming out!!<br />
<i> </i><br />
July - Medicine SubI, UMC<br />
August - NICU<br />
September - Peds Wards/Externship/Residency App Due<br />
October - Peds ER<br />
<br />
(...deep breath...)<br />
November - Review of Pharm/Interviews<br />
December - Interviews, Holidays with the Fam (who knows when that'll happen again!)<br />
January - Senior Radiology (a bit unexpected, but I'll take it... easy month, good experience)<br />
February - Peds Surg<br />
March - Peds GI/Match<br />
April/May - Off/Graduation/Relocation<br />
<br />
...Wow. Seriously, sometimes I think all I did was blink and it's over. Before the "fun" year gets to start though I've got 8.5 weeks to finish third year, bring a newborn puppy home, and take Step II CK and CS. No big deal. <br />
<br />
I've got one nerve left, but I'm still loving life. Thanks, God, for your immeasurable blessings!!OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-64369761910491716032012-04-15T20:52:00.005-05:002012-04-15T20:56:22.754-05:00Specialty decisionLate this week we received an email asking us our top three residency choices (so that they can assign our dean for dean's letter).<br /><br />I wrote back: Pediatrics.<br /><br />To which the non-medical person responded: I need three choices.<br /><br />I wrote back: I suppose you can put OBGyn and Family if you really have to have two more, but the thought of anything else makes me unhappy.<br /><br />To which she wrote back: You've got to have options in case you can't get in.<br /><br />To which I thought: This isn't neurosurgery, folks.<br /><br />Later, I came to the realization that she meant maybe "I couldn't get in" with the dean who normally does the peds letters. But the thought of spending my life doing anything BUT taking care of children? No thank you.<br /><br />I'm a bonafide, certified, undeniable pediatrician-in-training. Give me stickers, suckers, and make me work for my ear exams any day. Keep your hypertension. I'm glad it takes all types to make the world go 'round, and I'm glad there's somebody out there who wants to be my doctor - cause I sure wouldn't. :)OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-39110827524276767662012-04-15T20:45:00.003-05:002012-04-15T20:51:05.202-05:00Losses and New Beginnings...It was a wonderful week when I brought LilaGrace home. Unfortunately after about five days, she started acting funny - like something was just really wrong. She was born with a soft spot in her head that we didn't know if it would close or not, but the vets all said just to keep a close watch on it. Long story short,she ended up with hydrocephalus progressed rapidly and her intracranial pressure was so high she had something of a constant really bad headache.<br /><br />It was the saddest day ever when I had to put her down. But the most humane thing that could be done.<br />Immediately I knew to heal I needed another baby. I called the breeder and after crying together for a bit she told me there was a brandnew litter and I was of course to have pick of it.<br /><br /><br />Today I went and made my pick:<br /><br />Elli Kate, mommy loves you already! Can't wait to get you home in about 5 weeks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-r-WLi5puMnaLG189T1xcClANiRPcrEkfSfA3Q3khVurwIXGOx7BzSlqdvdmX2Y2riSDAMIWVLcWx6IlMuJWQNzIkeInTKNV4pYsSURNy2ghzm4FMoeCbj3lG_rSIm4Yecl3Cmkl-VVL/s1600/EK1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-r-WLi5puMnaLG189T1xcClANiRPcrEkfSfA3Q3khVurwIXGOx7BzSlqdvdmX2Y2riSDAMIWVLcWx6IlMuJWQNzIkeInTKNV4pYsSURNy2ghzm4FMoeCbj3lG_rSIm4Yecl3Cmkl-VVL/s200/EK1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731809858202841282" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWoY82F9M6CcJLtgEFcZO0BGnVyVB7nqJwV0cnkfFkwA0-iFI7lb5XZgsUKjWww805DN4XepOV5DMNP-E7LSEeZUPQzhVowMNMDR_1Dn3-ZR0luEpVmh6olO7ndzeeOhOIkbGOM9ypcsl/s1600/EK2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWoY82F9M6CcJLtgEFcZO0BGnVyVB7nqJwV0cnkfFkwA0-iFI7lb5XZgsUKjWww805DN4XepOV5DMNP-E7LSEeZUPQzhVowMNMDR_1Dn3-ZR0luEpVmh6olO7ndzeeOhOIkbGOM9ypcsl/s200/EK2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731809994023326050" border="0" /></a>OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-42025494476490168692012-03-19T22:43:00.001-05:002012-03-19T22:43:45.408-05:00The Match; Intro to NeuroThe Match was Friday. Im so excited for my m4 buddies and looking forward to visiting many of them on the interview trail! Hard to believe it is time to start thinking that way, but less than one year until our Match now!!<br />
<br />
The orientation for Neuro took less than thirty minutes and we were free to go do online modules and such. M and I got through with all of them (yes, all) by 1:30 PM and were able to spend the rest of the day playing online, reading, wasting time. Still one of my most productive days of the year. Haha. <br />
<br />
Call tomorrow night. Neuro call will inherently be better than surgery call a)because I get to go home b)because there's no beeper and c)because it isn't surgery. <br />
<br />
LilaGrace comes home Sunday. I can't wait to be a puppy mommy! 6 more nights until my little wiggle worm joins me. :)OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-37886575804674014162012-03-15T17:09:00.001-05:002012-03-15T17:12:15.135-05:00Surgery is OVER!!!Against all odds, against all instinct - we survive. Yes, we did. Board was this morning and the hell has officially ended. <br />
<br />
Had a lovely long nap, about to enjoy some Mexican, and off to Easely Amused with the girls to paint "Striut". Life is good again. It didn't take long, just a little extra sleep and the knowledge that I'll never have to do that ever again. <br />
<br />
LilaGrace comes home next weekend! :)OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3864958104546298513.post-6743679394537949002012-03-04T18:15:00.001-06:002012-03-04T18:17:10.311-06:00Becoming a doxie mommyShe's growing like a weed and wiggled right into my heart. <br />
Home in 3 weeks. Meet Miss LilaGrace!<br />
<br />
10 days, 13 hours, 43 minutes and 9 seconds until surgery is over!!!<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oJe_NH1oGAJpctzCfIE3GmK9TqO6VJEsQtZqBMexNaiRHwN2UKoBeOAMdj-Ir108aPB8hNzvc4LNagq3IOnkDrzAA4GUexOlYLd9ac0vf7OZbdJqS4b-3X9PQ7aq1c2J9H3ZWLjzZHMO/s640/blogger-image-500248582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oJe_NH1oGAJpctzCfIE3GmK9TqO6VJEsQtZqBMexNaiRHwN2UKoBeOAMdj-Ir108aPB8hNzvc4LNagq3IOnkDrzAA4GUexOlYLd9ac0vf7OZbdJqS4b-3X9PQ7aq1c2J9H3ZWLjzZHMO/s640/blogger-image-500248582.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxv0ghj5tovpa7GexSx-NUmMPqJk1ZmVy98SolDnm6cBTydq7DGiXbDhcK3Apt-CYcRGkmIVOx0STXL_580O5bV_a6Tk_wvXkCWyeODkrHD_nGIAvZTlRr3O2XPwyt9gnNq5IzSDcmAYu/s640/blogger-image--60493874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxv0ghj5tovpa7GexSx-NUmMPqJk1ZmVy98SolDnm6cBTydq7DGiXbDhcK3Apt-CYcRGkmIVOx0STXL_580O5bV_a6Tk_wvXkCWyeODkrHD_nGIAvZTlRr3O2XPwyt9gnNq5IzSDcmAYu/s640/blogger-image--60493874.jpg" /></a></div>OleMissBabyDoc, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00497492081695548839noreply@blogger.com1