PICTURES

Oh my, if this isn't mischief at it's finest...

I don't even know what to say about this...my six year-old little sister is flirting, and has him wrapped around her little finger already!

Me and Ryan at one of my birthday dinners

 Seeeesters! At Alex and Vic's baby shower

Alex and Victoria at the baby shower. Aren't they the cutest?!

Me and my cuz :)

This is the apartment that was on fire that I mentioned in my previous post

Aimee on our day-o-fun! Isn't she just precious? And looks innocent, huh? Love her and that toothless smile...shenanigans and all.

BUSY

Ok, here goes a soap-box moment. If you don't like my soap-box moments, go on and scroll ahead. You ever hear someone say how busy they are, all the time...and you know how hard it is to wipe that "really, you're THAT busy?" look off your face before they notice? I'd like to think I've had my share of busy with living in 3 metroplexes, 9 moves in 8 years, getting a Master's degree, being on medical rotations (i.e. having a new home every 4 weeks), getting/being married, family, etc. BUT, I also realize that I consciously choose my priorities. If I'm too busy for one thing, it's because I've chosen something else to do with my time. For a while, I was "too busy" for many things because I was planning my wedding, which was my priority then. I'm "busy" now because I choose to study for my impending board exams. I was "too busy" to update this very blog because school and sleep came first.  It just irks me and makes my skin crawl when I hear people tell me how busy they are, but that's all they say. Really, what keeps you so busy? I get it, we are all busy. But you have to take some responsibility (yes, that word that has been lost in translation in today's society...) for that and realize that you choose your priorities and where you want to spend your time first. I've realized that "busy" is really just an excuse meaning "whatever else just wasn't a priority." Whether it's being too busy for church, too busy to sleep, too busy for a vacation, too busy to catch up with or visit friends or family, too busy to lose weight, whatever it is... It also irks me when I talk to someone and ask what they have been up to, and the response I get is, "We've just been so busy!" Well really? You think that's why I called? Why don't you fill me in on what's been keeping you so busy? And if you can't answer that question...I guess you aren't as busy as you think you are. I know who has school, a family, interesting jobs, volunteering projects, etc...don't tell me how busy you are, tell me about the AWESOME things that keep you so damned busy. Because if you are choosing them over doing other things, they must be awesome, Right? I think if I ever have kids, the word "busy" will be on the bad word list and they won't be allowed to use it. It's a useless word that covers up what you really mean and helps you make excuses.
Disclaimer: I'm not perfect! I know I've used "busy" before, and yes, I've used it as an excuse before. I've even used it here on this blog! But I'm setting a goal for myself to stop using it, especially as a cop-out.

WHAT'S NEW? A LOT!

Hey guys! Long time, no see. I was reading my last post about graduating in August...well, it's August! And I graduate in 2 days! I'm excited beyond words! It's hard to believe it's actually here. Seems like just a few days ago we packed up our Euless apartment and headed to Galveston. I'll try to get some pics posted pretty quickly from the ceremony and from festivities down on the island. I have received just an outpouring of support and congratulations from family and friends, and for that I cannot thank you enough. This journey has been long and grueling, but it would have been just awful without the support from yall. Thank you for being there for me through the good, bad, and ugly! And trust me, there was definitely some ugly in there! lol
The past month has mainly been studying (A LOT of studying...) and a few trips down to the island for class, for a test, or to work on our research project. They've kept me surprisingly busy. I took a little time off to watch Aimee (my little sister) in a pep rally to show off what she learned at a week of cheer camp. Ryan and I also trekked out to see Sofi (a family friend) compete in a horse show. Aimee and Sofi are almost the same age, but one thing's for sure...they are growing up so fast! And they are beautiful, intelligent, talented girls. The world is absolutely at their fingertips! I'm very proud of both of them. Speaking of proud, I'm also very proud of Ryan! He got a new job! Now, I know what you're thinking...didn't he just get a new job when we moved up here in May? Well, yes. He took a job and really liked it at first. But it didn't quite work out the way we had hoped. I may be just a teeny bit biased, but my husband is an awesome golfer, he's hard-working, and he has terrific people skills that some of us only dream of having. And being promised a job that utilizes those aspects is perfect! Until you figure out they're not really going to utilize those gifts. I don't think that first job let him perform to his true abilities, and I think it held him back in the realms of business, golf (i.e. PGA stuff, playing, etc), and personally. He's been working really hard for over a year on a program through the PGA to become a "Class A" golf professional, but this first course didn't meet the necessary requirements for him to continue that program (now that he's about half-way through...). So when he got a call out of the blue from an application he submitted back in April/May from a prestigious, established course in Fort Worth, he went for it! He interviewed, and they just loved him (but who doesn't?!), and he got the job. He is so much happier with this place! It benefits him in every way possible and was most certainly the right move for us. I love seeing that smile on his face :)
So what else? My birthday came and went. I'm 26 now. Woo hoo. Can't you just feel my enthusiasm? In all actuality, it was low-key, which is just the way I like it, and perfect for this crazy year. My parents took us to BJ's (PIZOOKIE!) and we went with Ryan's parents to Uncle Julios. Ryan and I tried a new hibachi place that was delicious! So we got to spend some quality time with everyone and just relax and enjoy ourselves. What more could you ask for?
Have you ever been in a situation and just got the heebie-jeebies? I had one of those the other day. I was driving on the highway and noticed smoke. It looked like a house/apartment fire, and sure enough, it was. The eerie part was it was my and Ryan's old complex...the building next door to be exact! That was his first apartment in Arlington, right after we started dating. Maverick's first home. It's just weird to see it on fire. Now, our particular unit wasn't on fire. But you could stand back to watch the fire and see our unit in the same panoramic view. It made me so sad, but it also made me so happy that God moved us out of that complex a long time ago. I started to recall some of the sweetest memories there. Maverick playing in the yard outside, poor Ryan hobbling up those stairs after his surgery, me and Ryan just getting our footing as a couple. How many times did I park right here on the street and sit in that apartment with Ryan and Mav? How many times did Ryan walk me out to my car and kiss me goodnight, right here? Then, I realized how far we'd come in the 8 years we've been together. It was just this flood of emotion and the surreal feeling that we COULD have still been living there. Thank you, God, for taking such great care of us.
My cousin Alex and his girlfriend Victoria are expecting a baby girl (Alexis Jade) in September! We are so very happy for them. Mom and I had their baby shower at the house, and it was perfect! Lots of people, gifts, and yummy food. I think it's safe to say we all had a great time, and they got lots of gifts they'll be using before they know it. Everyone is just so happy for them, and we truly wish them the best. Congrats guys! Love ya.
Mom and I took a day after the shower to have a girls day...Chick-Fil-A, pedicures, shopping, and we even snuck in a margarita. Then we had dinner with Grandpa. Oh Grandpa, that man never ceases to amaze me...and he keeps me on my toes. I love him so much and really enjoyed getting to spend some time with him. Soon after that, Ryan and I took Aimee for an end-of summer day-of-fun! We had donuts for breakfast, spent FOUR hours at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, had some lunch, then played board games back at the house. I just love getting to spend time with her like that. She's growing up way too fast-she'll be starting first grade in just a week!
See why we missed living here so much? But I'd have to say, moving away (twice...) and going without seeing family like this helped me and Ryan both realize where our priorities are and how much we WANT to live back here in DFW.
Ok, so I think those are the big updates. I'll get some pics posted soon. Have a great day!

OH, THE IRONY

It's ironic that now that I'm finished with clinicals and only in class one day a week...it's taken me nearly a month to update this thing :/ So what have I been doing?! I spent the first week trying to get settled in (again) as Ryan and I are officially back in the DFW area! Sooooo happy to be back here, but it's been a bit of work. The second week, I was helping mom and dad get new floors in the house (yes, I basically didn't do anything besides supervise, but still...), and there was the 4th of July holiday. This week, I've actually done some studying and worked on my Master's project. Plus, I'm finally getting to catch up with some friends around here. We still have the house in Houston, so there's also keeping up with that. Ryan has been wonderful enough to make the dreadful drive with me to Houston and back every week for my one class. That drive just drains us so terribly! So ya, it's been pretty quiet around here, and I'm very happy about that. We are looking forward to graduation in August, then it's time to hit the book in over-drive to study for boards (EEK!).

OH HAPPY DAY!

Wow, I can hardly believe it, but my very LAST day of rotations is here! This past year has been absolutely crazy, but it's been a fun kind of crazy for the most part. And to say it's been the learning experience of my life would be an understatement. Thank you so much to my awesome preceptors and to my family and friends for the support (and understanding during my "moments"...). Thanks to the patients for putting up with my inexperienced student ways! And congrats to my classmates for surviving "the gypsy year." This is a huge milestone in PA school...the next is graduation in August :).
Regarding my last rotation here in Pediatrics...I'm as surprised as you are, but I really liked it! I could actually work in pediatrics. It has the things I like about primary care, without the things I didn't like about primary care. Plus, I can kinda be a goofball :). The clinic I was in probably spoiled me with their laid-back attitudes and hands-on experience, but that's ok by me. If the situation was right, I'd go into either Pediatrics or OBGYN. We will see how it all plays out!

HI HO, HI HO, OFF TO NAC I GO

All right, well I've gotten settled in here in Nacogdoches, and even survived 2 weeks in Pediatrics. I know, believe it or not, me with children...it hasn't been as rough as I was expecting. Some of that probably has to do with my awesome preceptor and the great staff here. It's a little clinic with one doc, two nurses, an office manager, and a receptionist. They run quite the operation and we stay moving during the day, but the environment is super relaxed. My preceptor is fun and approachable, so that really eased a lot of my anxiety. But don't get me wrong, we do work around here and I've learned a lot! As for Nac and Lufkin...it's different here than what I'm used to, but that's not particularly a bad thing. The pace is slower, everything is on a smaller scale, and most of the people are really nice. The drives can be kinda pretty, too. The downsides here, I'm living in a hotel (i.e. not seeing my family/husband at all during the week) and driving the wheels off my poor little tank. I've got a few classmates in the area, so we hit the gym or have dinner together...anything to keep me sane! Can you imagine how lonely this would be for 6 weeks all by myself?! No thanks. I've also got some family here, a good friend from high school, and one of my best friends just up the road in Tyler. It's already flying by, and I can hardly believe this is my LAST rotation! And for those of you who have been asking, here is the rundown: rotations wrap up June 21, then I have one class in Galveston until graduation August 17. Yes, GRADUATION. There's a light at the end of the tunnel! Then I'll have a few wrap-up classes in Galveston through October 26. I'll probably take boards sometime in November, and start working...well...who knows when. We aren't there yet ;).
Ryan started a new job up in Keller! I am so happy for him! He started that the same day I started here in Nac, so we have both been adjusting. He really seems to be enjoying it. It's only 5 minutes away from the house, and the best part is that it's back in DFW. We had a goal of being back by the end of the year, and things are shaping up well so far :).
My little sister Aimee graduated Kindergarten! My goodness, she's growing up so fast. They had the cutest little graduation ceremony at school! She is doing so well and we are just so proud of her.
I'll try to get some pics up soon. Hope everyone had a fun, safe Memorial Day!!

BABIES!

Lol, no...it's probably not what you are thinking :).
First, I found a baby duck. I know, it was only a matter of time living this close to a pond with so many ducks and with said pond being on my jogging route (no coincidence there!). So I'm out for a usual afternoon jog and notice a group of people huddled around something. I thought they were harassing the ducks, and I was about to get mad. Turns out there was a tiny duckling in the grass. It had been abandoned (or someone dumped it). Poor thing could barely walk and was just shaking because he was so cold. I tried to put him with some other families, but they all ran away from him, and he couldn't follow :(. It was also odd that none of the other ducklings at the pond appeared to be his age. So of course, I took him home. I've had ducklings before, and knew he wouldn't survive the night as he was way too little, plus we had a storm/cold front moving in...there was no way he'd be ok. He was on the verge right then and there. So...as expected, he got fat, happy, and spoiled living here, just like the rest of the crazy family. We called him Goober because, well, it just fit. I made a place for him in the bathroom, and he was quite content. He hated to swim and loved to snuggle. He didn't even go to sleep without a towel to snuggle into. Heaven forbid I forgot his towel at night, he'd chirp and quack until I brought one in. As babies do, he just grew and grew, and outgrew our little habitat for him. It was also quite a task with 4 dogs and 2 cats that would have loved to take a closer look at him! I knew he'd gotten too big for us, plus, my mission was accomplished. He was well nourished and big enough to handle the weather. Now, it was time to find him a home where he could continue to grow. We took him to a wildlife refuge nearby, where they had lots of other ducklings. They said they would integrate him into a little group and let them grow up together. It was sad to see him go, but I know our bathroom isn't a proper duck habitat.
Second, my friend Layla's horse had her baby! The baby is a beautiful Friesian boy they named Otto. And he sure is a little spitfire! Absolutely stunning though. He is doing very well, and already getting into trouble and stealing big-kid food from mom! He will certainly be keeping the Barrington family on their toes. Plus, she has another mare due very soon! Yup, there will soon be 2 foals out there. I put foals on the same level as ducklings on the cuteness scale :).
And lastly, my OBGYN rotation is over. I really enjoyed this rotation all in all. The clinic was fantastic, as were my preceptors. In the end, I helped with delivering 15 babies, plus all the clinic business and procedures in between which kept me plenty of busy. I can definitely see doing this when I graduate. Now, on to pediatrics! Oh geez, wish me luck! But hey, it's my LAST rotation. Hard to believe it, but I graduate in August and take my boards in November. It's gone so quickly, but I can't wait to get back home to DFW!!!