Update!

So here it is, three years after Steve and I started the long journey of Physician Assistant school and we are finally done.  While only one of us got a degree, I think there really should be a few degrees that go along with graduating from that tough program for the spouse and family.  Such as, Master of Providing Quality Chocolate At Lightening Speed, Master of Unnecessary (for him) Physical Exams, Master of Listening to Crying Over the Phone.  Truly, I couldn't have done the past three years without Steve or our family.  But, for all of us, it's over!  I graduated on May 24th, on a gorgeous, slightly chilly and windy Colorado morning with some of the important people in attendance.  (But attendance wasn't necessary for me to know and appreciate all of the prayers, emails, texts, phone calls, and Facebook messages of encouragement over the past three years.)

What next?  Well, the "what next" has already happened!  Exactly one week after my graduation, I became eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).  This test was, in a word, daunting.  One of those that no matter how much I studied, I still wouldn't be completely prepared.  It covered everything.  It was scary, y'all!  So, what would a crazy like me do?  Oh, just take it on the very first day I could.  And, praise the Lord, I passed!  I have always had post-test anxiety, much more so than pre-test anxiety.  This was the worst!  I was so stressed for about 12 days, convinced I had failed.  Poor Steve, had to hear every day about how I had failed the test.  Lucky for him (and me!) I passed, first try.  Why is this important, you might ask, to pass on the first try??  Welllllll....


Because.....


I have a job!  (nope, not pregnant).  Back in March, I started job searching and praying for the perfect job at the perfect time in the perfect location to just fall in my lap.  I knew I wanted to do peds and I knew I wanted to live somewhere rural.  I was lucky to spend two months in rural Colorado and just realized how much I missed living in a smaller area.  I made a list of all the places in rural Colorado that were pediatrics and started cold-calling.  Now, let me tell you something about myself, in case you didn't know.  I am AWFUL on the telephone.  It's hard for me to hear, it's hard for me to talk, it's just not my forte.  Seriously.  So cold-calling places for jobs? Scary, to say the least.  Well, one place I called and talked to the office manager for about 15 minutes.  She was incredibly sweet, but they just didn't have a place for a PA at that time.  She took my CV and said she'd call if they were looking to hire, maybe in a year or so.  Well, two weeks later, their PA announced she was leaving the practice for personal reasons and so they were looking for a PA!  One phone interview, one 1.5 day in person interview later, I got the job!  It's in SW Colorado (Montrose, to be exact).

As far as that great husband of mine, after a few months of "definitely, yeah you can work remotely" to "almost definitely no, you can't work remotely", Steve is now going to be working at the same job, just remotely from our new house out west.  For the first time in our marriage, we will be living in a house with a yard and a fence (for the dog) in a cute, sleepy little town that still has three grocery stores, a Wal-Mart, Target, and Sports Authority.  So we aren't moving to the boonies.  :)  The area that we are moving to is very outdoorsy and with no crazy Denver traffic.  We are moving to a house that is outside of town....which means my commute will be about 8 minutes.  Seriously, people.  8 minutes???  Heaven.  Yes, our drive home will be a little bit longer and our flights will be a little more expensive.  But to be able to find a job in pediatrics in a rural setting in Colorado is such a long shot.  To have prayed for something so specific and to see it manifested so quickly and obviously was seriously amazing.  We serve an awesome God, you know?  So our next adventure begins.  I am nervous about starting as a real practicing PA-C; it seems so unreal, you know?  I am praying really hard about that!  We are moving to a small town, a first for Steve...I am praying really hard about that too!  So many changes in life, but we are confident in the grace and comfort of Christ to lead us through tough times ahead!  Thank you for all of your love, prayers and support over the past three years (and even longer than that).  We are blessed for our family and friends.

London Bound

It's time to hit the road again! We just finished up in Caruthersville at Emily and Shane's wedding (which was so beautiful!) and are currently sittin in the airport for our first flight to Boston. I will be hopefully setting up a separate UK blog, which I'll post the link for on here (if anyone still reads this!)

First Week Down

It's the end of my first week in Baltimore and it's been a whirlwind one.  This month, my rotation is the newborn nursery at Johns Hopkins.  They have a high volume of babies born there and these babies more often than not have a  complicated history, even at birth.  A year and a half ago, I spent a few days in the nursery at University of Colorado hospital.  The babies there were born into what was considered complicated social situations, but are actually extremely tame when compared to those born at JHMI.  At University hospital, the most complicated babies would be born to a teenage mother.  Here, they have babies who have been HIV exposed, who are born to opiate addicted mothers (babies will undergo withdrawal once they are born, since babes aren't known for doing heroin), who possibly have syphilis, and a variety of other medical/social issues that have just totally opened my eyes to the difficulties that babies can really face when they are born.  I'm jumping right in there, charting and doing exams on the babies.  It's been such a blessing to have so many rotations where I'm expected to hit the ground running, it's now just second nature and it's not too overwhelming.  It's still overwhelming, since there are so many babies and so many difficult things going on.  But at the very least, I don't go home crying every day.  :)

Since I only work 3 days a week, I can spend the other 4 days exploring the area, which is exactly what I've done.  Thursday, I figured out the public transit system Surprisingly easy-and cheap!  Within Baltimore, I can get around for free on the Charm City Circulator.  I took that to Penn Station and caught a commuter train into DC to do a little touristy things on my own.  On my list for the day was the American History Smithsonian, but I ducked into the Natural History Museum for an exhibit on the forensics of the Chesapeake Bay Excavation.  They also had a great forensics exhibit about using human bones to discover true causes of death, solve crimes, etc.  It satisfied my not-so-inner geek!

 My morning started in Union Station.  So beautiful!!!  In the morning, I missed the commuter crowd, but I definitely ran into them on my way home that afternoon.

 This is at the American History Museum.  I was so excited to see the First Ladies inauguration gowns-they were all so glamorous and I loved the stories that went along with each of the women.  I was also finally able to see the Star Spangled Banner, which had been under restoration each of the previous times I'd been there.  It was absolutely awe-inspiring.  I just love American history!!

My lunch spot that day-much better than a hospital cafeteria, let me tell you.  The first few days I was in Maryland, the weather was so very cold and rainy.  However, it cleared right up and has been in the 70s each day and just beautiful.

The Washington Monument is still closed after damage from the earthquake a couple months ago-but my eye can't detect any leaning. :)

The next day, I spent time with Sarah and Adalaine.

Our good friends the Kariukis live 30 minutes away and have been sweet enough to drive to get me so I can hang with them.  They also took me with them when they went to the beach, to Assateague Island.  Assateague Island is a barrier island that has wild horses living on it.  I'd read about it a few months ago and had added it to my bucket list of places to go before I die.  I had no idea I'd get to go so quickly!  The drive was pretty long, but it was lovely to get to see the state.

 So wonderful to feel the sand under my toes and hear the surf.  I didn't get in the water (well, except for my lower legs.  I couldn't go to the beach without getting my feet in!!!!), but instead went for a wonderful walk and just plain relaxed with my friends.

 Sarah and I have been friends since college-same goes for her husband, Solomon.  We actually were friends with each of them separately before they got together and were so pleased that two of our favorite people fell in love.  They are awesome!

These are a couple of the famed wild horses.  They were smaller than other horses (I guess they are really ponies) and there were many signs all over the island warning visitors to "NOT FEED OR APPROACH THE HORSES".  Every national park has their thing they have to warm visitors away from.  Somehow, approaching a horse seems a little tamer than knowing how to deal with a bear or a mountain lion. :)

I'm excited to see what this next week holds.  Steve will be coming on Thursday for a visit and we have plans to explore Baltimore, DC, and visit our friends.  I'm praying that clinic will continue to go well and that all the babies born will feel God's presence in their lives and will have hope above what others envision for them.  Stay tuned for more adventures!

One Long Day

I'm writing this morning from my new residence in Maryland-so weird to write that!  This morning was totally disconcerting, waking up in a new bed in a new house in a new state.  It took me a few seconds to remember where I was.  So far, things have been fine.  Due to major lack of sleep, I crashed really hard last night.  That was such a blessing, since I always sleep poorly the first night anywhere secondary to all the weird noises in a new place.  Not last night, thank the Lord.

Yesterday, I got to go to dinner with these people:

Sarah, Solomon, and Adalaine are some of my favorite people in the world-it was so wonderful to see them and eat dinner with them.  They were so nice to drive up to my new place to visit-they even took me to the grocery store!  Pretty awesome people, for sure.  I'm excited to get to visit with them even more over the month that I'm here and I know Steve is just as excited to see them when he gets to come in a week.

I've been in Baltimore less than 24 hours, so next on my agenda is to do a little bit of site seeing.  I live very close to the harbor (both the Inner Harbor and Fells Point) and plan to do a little walking around today.  Not too much walking around though, since I have quite a bit of studying to do.  My rotation starts tomorrow morning bright and early at 730am.  I'm so excited to start something new!

Savoring CO

I finished this month's rotation on Tuesday, leaving the rest of the week to get ready for Baltimore and, more importantly, really enjoy my last few days at home.

I've gotten to spend a lot of time with my favorite dog:

I've gotten to spend (not enough) time with my favorite person:

I've gotten to enjoy the last few days in my favorite state:

Unfortunately, this pic was taken a couple years ago.  This area is the Maroon Bells up by Aspen and is one of my favorite places.  We normally make a trip up this way during the fall to partake of the gorgeous fall colors and crisp weather, but this year it wasn't a possibility.  Next year, though, fall camping is definitely on my list of things to do!  As well as summer camping, backpacking, swimming, lots and lots of hiking, and all the other things we didn't get to do this year.

I leave early tomorrow morning for Baltimore and so far, everything is squared away.  I'm checked in for my flight and will be picked up by my landlady at the airport.  Then in the afternoon, I'll be hanging out with Sarah and Solomon, friends from way back (btw, is it possible that college was way back???).  Sunday I plan on reviewing school material for my rotation and possibly doing some exploring of the city.  Then, Monday I begin my 5th rotation-babies, babies, and more babies.  Sounds like a good month, no?  :)

Whelp....

It has been so very long since I've utilized this blog-whoops!  Here's a little life recap in 30 seconds (time me!):

-Finished second year of PA school relatively intact (after a few months of recuperation, anything is better!).  

-Went on a celebratory/anniversary trip with Steve and our dog, Stout, to Ouray and Crested Butte (so fun!!).  

-Started 3rd year of PA school, which consists of month long rotations.  Started very very slow, but has definitely picked up and is incredibly enjoyable thus far.  

-Went to OK for July 4 weekend to see family, Steve's parents came to see us July/August, and my parents came over Labor day.  

Anyhoo, the bottom line is that life has been pretty dang awesome the past few months.  I really have been fortunate to have some wonderful preceptors (PAs or doctors who take students on, doing hands on teaching) and have been pushed out of my comfort zone so many times, it's getting easy to do so.  I'm a little more introverted than I'd like to be and meeting new people/making first impressions is pretty intimidating and difficult for me.  With many rotations, students are paired with only one preceptor to follow through the month.  This gives them a great opportunity to really connect with that person and for their preceptor to really know their strengths and weaknesses.  I am in my 4th rotation this year and I have yet to be paired with only one preceptor.  Each day (and one month, even each half day) I am with a different preceptor.  It has been such a great experience for me, really pushing me to be more confident in my personality, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills.

Like I said, I'm in my 4th month (following the calender months since June), which means that things are about to get crazy.  In one week, I'll be hopping on a plane and will be living in Baltimore for the month of October.  This is going to be a bunch of firsts:

My first time living in a big city (suburbs of Denver don't count!)

My first time without a car for a month

My first time away from Steve for longer than a week (luckily, it'll only be 2 weeks-he's coming to visit!)

My first time away from friends and family support (luckily, not all of my friends!  Our dear friends Sarah and Solomon live 30 minutes away)

My first time living on the East Coast-hopefully I can adjust well!

My first time only having to work 3 days a week (will be pulling 12 hour work days!)

I won't lie, I'm a little worried about all of these firsts.  I hope to blog frequently of my adventures (hopefully all good ones!).

Little Confidence Builders

I think we all need these in life sometimes. I know that school really knocked me down in a lot of ways, but built me up in others. For instance, classes. Man, those classes. Some days I would come home and just feel so demoralized, like there was no way that I could learn this stuff and that my brain was filled with cotton balls rather than grey matter. School has really made me appreciate the little moments in life that are positive and give little boosts of confidence, no matter how small.

For instance, rotations are usually great sources of confidence boosts. I was talking with one of my school friends last night who is going through a really great rotation. Her preceptor makes her come up with differential diagnoses, get the history, do the physical exams, and write the notes afterwards while teaching her all along the way. She said that she feels like she will be able to do this one day. That's what rotations really do, allow us to see that we will indeed be able to do this one day, that we are capable of it. I know for me, hands-on learning is my number one best learning style and that's why rotations are so incredibly valuable to me. School is great for the background knowledge, but it's only when I get out and do it that I really start putting it all together.

Another little great confidence boost is doing something that I can see tangible progress in. Steve and I recently started rock climbing (inside at a gym; we hope to move outside soon!) and it really gives me a boost to climb a route that I'd previously not been able to do. It also helps me melt away some of the mental funk I walk into the gym with (of course, I walk out with a different kind of funk...I definitely get sweaty!), which is beyond valuable.

One more confidence boost is finally getting the hang of something. I don't know why, but it takes me longer to catch onto things than other people. I really have to do something multiple multiple times before it sticks; but when it sticks, I feel great! Things suddenly become clear and I feel like I can do this.

Confidence boosts are necessary in everybody's life, not just a students. What gets your confidence up?