CURVEBALL

We got some unexpected, sad news this past Sunday. We found out that my Grandma Baileys passed away. Yes, she was suffering from dementia, but otherwise was in pretty good condition, especially for 87 years old. The nursing home said that she experienced respiratory distress/failure. A death in the family isn't easy though, whether it's expected or not. This also stirred up emotions since my Grandma Hill passed away just over a year ago. It got really difficult when I had to call the vet on Monday to cancel Mav's appointment with an oncologist because we will be out of town for Grandma's funeral. When Grandma Hill passed away, we were all sad, but also grateful that she wasn't suffering from the cancer any longer. I'm trying to see that side of my Grandma Baileys' passing, too, but it's proving to be more difficult. Please pray for me and for my family during this difficult time.

A MONTH, REALLY?

Ok, I realize it has been almost a month since I updated this...apparently time kinda got away from me. So here's the short version of what has happened in the last month, in no particular order:

1. I'm back in Houston! My Dallas rotation finished up at the end of February, and Goose, Tig, and I made it back home safely to Houston. We sure miss everyone, but are really happy to be back home. It makes me realize how much Ryan and I both want to move back when I finish school. But with Ryan having a really good job here, it just makes the decision difficult. Please pray that God will make the decision clear for us.

2. Ryan and I celebrated 8 years together! We stayed at the San Luis on Galveston island, got massages, walked on the beach, swam in the hotel's awesome pool, and even made a shopping trip to Murdoch's. It was low key, relaxing, and perfect.

3. I started a new rotation in Internal Medicine with a doc who is into alternative medicine. She has introduced me to medicines and techniques that I haven't been exposed to before, and I must say it can be quite interesting! She is wicked smart and works really hard; I enjoy her passion for what she does and for treating unique cases.

4. I snuck out and had fun...don't tell anyone! lol Ryan, Heather, Jason, and I went out to the rodeo one weekend and saw Luke Bryan in concert. He put on a fantastic show! I do love going to the rodeo :) Believe it or not, this was my and Ryan's first concert together.

5. I'm finally not sick anymore! 7 weeks later, it's about time! I had pharyngitis, and got a week of antibiotics. That didn't work, so they tried "supportive care" with cough suppressants, steroids, and numbing agents for my throat for about a week, and was still sick. Then I had bronchitis and got another 2 weeks of antibiotics. That seemed to work, but 2 days after finishing my antibiotics, I started having coughing fits again. That time, it was my asthma and allergies. So after about 2 weeks of keeping a tight grip on my asthma, I'm about back up to par. It feels good to breathe!

6. We have a busy week coming up. It's the end of my rotation, which is always packed full. I have a test with Dr Ayachi, and you never know what to expect with that guy. I also have a mentor meeting with the class of 2013 since they're about to leave on rotations. Then, Mav has an important vet visit on Thursday. Also, the Shell Houston Open is in town at the end of the week, so Ryan and I will be going to that at least once.

7. New rotation starts Monday and it's OB/GYN with the chief of staff at a big hospital around here. I'm a little anxious (per the usual), but really excited about this one! The idea of delivering babies makes me happy :) I know that sounds odd since I don't like kids. I'm considering working in OB/GYN when I graduate, so I hope this one goes well.

8. I got chased by a dog while out biking one day, and almost used my pepper spray on him. He tried to bite at my feet, so I kicked him. I guess he learned his lesson because he didn't come back. If he had, I was ready to go with my pepper spray! Don't mess with me! The cherry on top was that I (mind you, being color blind) was out looking for my little red tail light in the green grass :/ That fun event was followed up with some patient logging, as you know, my favorite activity (insert sarcasm). That day was a bit rough...

9. In case you hadn't noticed, spring is HERE! Sunny weather (perfect for running and biking), bluebonnets blooming, and more baby ducks at the pond! Daylight savings time is not my favorite event (losing an hour of sleep does NOT sit well with me), but I do enjoy that it's still sunny when I get off work. Bad news is that the mosquitoes are coming...ugh. I plan on enjoying the pretty weather and being outdoors while I can!

Well, I think that about does it! Hopefully it won't be another month before I get back here. I would love to post pics, but Heather still has custody of all the pics from Jason's bday part back in FEBRUARY and she has the pics from the rodeo/concert...so if you want pics posted, go annoy her :) LOVE YOU ROOMIE!

SO PROUD

Today, my Dad was ordained as a deacon! I've been raised in a Christian home, but my parents have had some trouble really finding a church home. If there was a youth group I liked, they weren't as happy. When they found a group and pastor they liked, I didn't like the youth group or didn't get much out of the services. Some churches were just too big and you got lost, some were too small with too many cliques. Ryan and I were blessed enough to find a church home in Colleyville shortly after being married. My parents found their church about a year ago and finally have a real church home that meets their needs and where they can serve and meet the needs of others. Mom teaches Sunday school and Aimee has really been doing well with the kids her age. Dad has served in a few other capacities at two different churches, but never as a deacon. The pastor and another deacon approached him, and it really took him by surprise. After prayerful consideration of the proposal and discussing it with all of us, he decided that he did feel called to say yes. He and mom have had to go through counseling and classes for a while, and today it was made official...Dad's a deacon! The Pastor did a really nice job with the ordination ceremony for Dad and 3 other members that had also been called to be deacons. Anson and his family and the Aylesworth family came to church with us for the ceremony and joined us for lunch afterwards-some good ole BBQ! Just a beautiful day :) So proud of you, Dad! But now the work is just beginning, so y'all please keep our family in your prayers.

CONGRATS!

Congratulations to my cousin Brian and his wife Whitney. Yesterday, they welcomed a baby girl named Addison to their family. I'm sure big brother Zane will be so excited!

Also, my cousin Alex and his girlfriend Victoria will be welcoming a baby this September.

Congratulations and best wishes to both families!

SICK. SICKER. AND STILL SICK.

Well, my rotation here in Dallas has been going well except that I've been awfully sick for just about all of it. If you'll recall, Ryan had strep throat just before I left to come here. About mid week my first week, I started feeling down...just tired and generally lousy. By that Thursday, I was running fever with lymph nodes swollen and a terribly painful sore throat. I was voted off the island at work and sent to the doctor, with the assumption I probably had strep, too. Well, the test was negative, but the doc gave me antibiotics and steroids because I was in really rough shape. Over the weekend, my sore throat migrated down to about my voice box, and I developed some awesome asthma trouble and a cough that just wouldn't let up. I was going through Robitussin, NyQuil, and cough drops like water and using my nebulizer and rescue inhaler about 3 times each day. When I couldn't swallow without grimacing, I decided it was time to head back to the doc. I left with another negative strep test, a steroid shot, another week's worth of steroid pills, meds for my asthma, prescription cough medicine, and some lidocaine for my throat. That night, I actually got some sleep! Some was better than the next to no sleep I'd been getting before. I expected improvement, but about 5 days later, I still am miserable. Improvement, yes, but certainly not nearly up to par yet. So I went back to the doc this morning. I left with a clear chest xray, another negative strep test, different antibiotics (for 2 weeks! yikes!), and a different prescription cough medicine. Here's hoping this finally clears up. With only one week left here, if this clears up, it looks like it will be just in time to head back home. I'll be very glad to feel better, but I wish I could have spent more time with family and friends while I was here. I still have this one week left, so hopefully I'll feel well enough to make the best out of it.

SURPRISE!

Jason, one of our roommates, turned 30 on Feb 4. His girlfriend Heather, our other roommate, threw him an awesome surprise birthday party. She's been planning this for months, and I'm really proud of us all for keeping our mouths shut. I really don't think he had a clue. She got a bunch of his friends to come into town from Corpus Christi and from Michigan. His parents and sister were sweet enough to come all the way from Michigan to be part of the surprise, too. Heather's mom even came to town for the big event. We had everyone at the house getting ready while Ryan took Jason out golfing...which almost got nixed due to rain. Poor Ryan, he did a great job. His entire job for the day was to keep Jason occupied until we gave him the OK to come back home, and I'll tell ya, that wasn't an easy task! So while they were out, Heather and I were running errands and getting the house ready with lots of help from some of Jason's and Heather's family and friends. When the boys got home, we had all the cars hidden and the guests hiding, too. Jason saw tons of decorations and me when he walked in...but that was it. He looked awfully confused! He took one more step, then everyone yelled "surprise!" and jumped out. He seemed to happy to see everyone! We had some yummy Tex-Mex for dinner, then hit downtown in a party bus...all Heather's ideas. It really all went off well, and everyone seemed to have a great time. His family stayed in town for a few days to see Galveston, NASA, and some other local stuff, but everyone else had to head back pretty quickly the next day. Thanks again to everyone who came out for making it such a success. Many thanks to Ryan for owning the most difficult job of the day, and huge props to Heather for pulling it all off! Fun times! I'll try to get some pictures posted when I get back home and can confiscate them from Heather.

UUGGGHHHHH!

Ok, that's about how I feel. My brain can barely form words right now. This week has been INSANE. On top of the usual days full of work at the hospitals, I have finished my 13-page paper over bone tumors and cysts, finished my rotation and got all the end-of-rotation business taken care of, finished a ridiculous amount of the world's most boring task-patient logging, healed a hubby with strep throat and I haven't caught it (yet), found a puppy then found her a home, dealt with a sick cat...and still have Roomie's 30th birthday on Saturday that I'd like to be awake for, then I have to pack/move/clean house on Sunday for a 4-week rotation 5 hours away. Yes, by the way, my and Ryan's 8-year anniversary is tomorrow. Sleep? I think not.