Avoiding the inevitable... school that is

So, I'm sitting in class right now, mostly learning about pinworms (not that exciting and VERY disgusting), but it is pretty much self-explanatory. On that note, I decided to update my blog FINALLY… So much has happened in my life lately that I feel like it will not all fit on one blog post, but I will try.

Let’s get started:
1. I am dying in my neuroscience course… So much so that I am worried, which takes a lot for me to do. These next couple of weeks are going to be very, very rough, but then I will be done and packing for INDIA and DUBAI!!!As you can see... my classmates are also dying

2. Richie and I participated in the chili cook-off at my school… We made amazing chili (and by we, I mean Richie) But, we also won most unique! Yay… Lol it was an interesting couple of days between cooking it and competing.
3. Phil and I have gotten to do a lot of really cool things lately. We visited Shiner, TX and toured the Shiner brewery, went to Oyster Bake (a festival in SA), have gone to Sea World, and just had an all around good time. I am having a ton of fun with that man.Phil at the Shiner Brewery

4. A couple of friends came out to visit me a couple of weeks ago. We got into a ton of trouble,enjoyed Texas BBQ, and headed out to one of the largest festival’s in the country : The Poteet Strawberry festival… also a great time. Also, Phil was partially hypnotized which was awesome, although he claims he was woken up halfway through ;)


5. Easter was the busiest Easter I have ever worked, but I made a good amount of money and it was definitely worth it

6. Also, I put in my two weeks at Fleming’s. Actually, Wednesday is my last day. I have saved up enough money for India and will probably never serve again! That is exciting.

7. Oh yeah, Phil and I also got to go to a Spurs playoff game, which was so much fun. And afterwards, one of our favorite bands (the Spazmatics) was playing so it made the night even better ☺

8. One more thing... this is what happens to med students during the opthamology lab... Yes, only one eye gets dilated and you get to go to work looking like this... love my life

So that is what has happened in the past month or so. I just got back from a 3 day trip to Phoenix where I had a ton of fun with some of my favorite people. This is what I learned this trip:

1. Hiking with a semblance of an ACL and NO ACL are two completely different things… do not do the latter

2. Taking a 9 month old anywhere (especially London) is a feat in itself… Entertaining her for a entire meal… Someone should get an award for that

3. Asaf is my hero for the things that he has taught that little girl

4. I am responsible for my own skin health… No one else will bring sunscreen for me (thanks Beth)

5. Do not fight over the television with Beth, Jon will shut it off and make sure neither one of us watches it

6. My friends run late, they always have and always will

7. Soon, people will be coming to me for medical advice/help… this terrifies me and makes me study ten times harder

8. Never let Ali make any drink for you… She tries to get you drunk and take advantage of you in the restaurant… I don’t judge, just warning everyone else

9. I really missed Phil… this is a new thing for me

10. Nothing will ever go according to plan in my life… this I should have figured out already, but it continues to amaze me

I also realized the essence of true friendship and that it is a reciprocal relationship. You cannot always give or receive but it has to be a combination of the two. I think I have been traveling WAY too much (especially being in med school, broke, and strapped for time) and will have to take a break from Phoenix for awhile. Some of those Phoenicians will have to come visit SA for me to see them ☺

Alright, the lecture is almost over… I’ll update you after these next two weeks of med school Hell are over… that is… if I survive.

Spring Break Relaxation :)

I know, it has been weeks since I've updated my blog... Mostly because it has been testing and working and working and more testing. That has pretty much been my life. Nothing really exciting. So, let's update you!

I am now 6/7 through with my first year of medical school!!! That means that I have officially finished Microscopic Anatomy, Gross Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry!! I have retired my dissecting kit and can now soak my scrubs in perfume because I never have to smell formaldehyde again :) Although, I probably will have to smell it at a later date in my medical career. I have also passed my skills' assessments and have been approved to do healthy exams from the head to the pelvis. This was passed by practicing on a very nice standardized patient and a lot of practicing on Joee (he may be a dog, but it is much easier to go through the motions with him, than another student or the guy I'm dating). On my examination of him, I found a swollen lymph node under his ear and called Bethanne incessantly until she was able to assure me that he would be ok and not to take him to the emergency veterinarian.

On another note, I found out that I have officially torn my ACL and my lateral miniscus, once again. I know, who can tear through an ACL while walking a weiner dog?... that would be me. It takes much skill and clumsiness to pull off such a feat. Please, hold your applause. So, after talking with my doctor, my mom, my boyfriend, and anyone else who would listen to me, I have decided to not repair my ACL right now and see how well I do without one (mostly because I really want to go to India this summer and not stay home in pain from surgery). It seems to be staying somewhat stable which is good enough for me.

Also, my mom and my little brother met Phil a couple of weeks ago. We went out to lunch at Carraba’s and it was a good time. My little brother really liked Phil. This is exciting because my little brother has never liked anyone that I have dated. I guess I kinda like the boy as well ;) The more exciting thing was that, while at lunch, my mom told me that she had lost/broke her phone (I can’t remember which one) and I suggested that we go get me the iPhone 3G and she could have my old phone… So that is what we did. We went from the restaurant to the apple store and my mom now has an iPhone! I am proud of her technological advancement.

After that, my life turned into a whirlwind or working and testing and studying and having no fun whatsoever.

But, this past week I was on Spring Break and was able to spend it with my dad, my sister and her family. It was a great time all around.

We went to a local airport so that Trevis could watch planes land and take-off… he is in love with anything that can go into the sky. And we were able to play around with the camera too.
This is one of Trevis's favorite things to do. I have never seen a child who is so fascinated with airplanes and helicopters at 4.


Christian and I, on the other hand, were much more focused on ourselves LOL. Sigh... I love him.



We also hung out with their “pets” while we were there. These are called Argentinian Tagu’s… They are the only lizards in the world that seek human affection and can be potty trained… they are still weird though.

But the most exciting part of the week was that it was Trevis’s 4th Birthday!!! I can’t believe this cutie pie is already 4! We were able to go to his school to celebrate. He is getting to be so big and adorable.
This is Trevis eating his cake at school. He is very content with simple things :)


Haha... somehow I am always attacked by little children. They just gravitate towards me and I love it :)

Christina decided to buy a playground from walmart.com and not to pay someone to put it together for Trevis’s birthday present. I now have a very deep respect for carpenters. The saying, "It takes a village to raise a child" should actually be "It takes a village to put a playground together for a child"... This task took all week.First we had to sort out three boxes of wood, bolts, screws, and plastic pieces. Each box weighed over 100 pounds...


Then we had to take dirt from the vineyard and level out the ground of the backyard. (Trevis works without pants on and with cowboy boots... I don't judge)


Then we had to slowly follow the directions and start piecing it together. You can see that the kids helped with this as much as they could. Christian learned how to use a power screwdriver and Trevis used his pretend drill :) It was adorable.If you look in the corner you will see his Panda. I took him to Build-a-Bear for his birthday and he built that. Everywhere he went, the bear went with him. I love this child. <3


Yes, I even had to put the slide together!! It was ridiculous, and now I believe that I am a master carpenter.

When it was finally finished, Trievis decided that playing in a box would be more fun than playing on the playground LOL... Typical child right there :)


But, Trevis's friends had fun on the playground, so I felt accomplished.

On Saturday we threw Trevis his 4th birthday party. It was amazing. If I were a four year old, (I kinda am) I would want this type of party :)Garrett used a blow torch to light the candles... Once again, I don't ask questions... I believe its a boy thing.

This is Aislyn. She is my favorite little girl. She is the youngest of four and has three older brothers! Needless to say, she is very independent and very adorable. Plus, she loved me.


Not only did Christina buy a playground that she forced all of us to put together, she also rented a bounce house for the kids! Haha... once again, I had more fun than the kids :)

And, after all of the kids went home, the bounce house stayed and the boys were able to jump in it forever before it was picked up.

But, as you can see, there IS such a thing as too much of a good thing. Trevis was EXHAUSTED. Haha... look at Christian's mischievous grin in the background :)


But, at the end of the day, this was my favorite time. I got to put both of the boys to bed. Christian is now old enough to read chapter books (this makes me so proud and yet so sad at the same time). And Trevis loves being read to. I love these boys and they will always have my heart <3