Christmas Train!

This past Friday evening we met my parents and sister at Camp Dry Gulch to ride the Christmas Train.
An old-fashioned steam train wound us about the property while we listened to the Christmas story and watched the illustrations through the windows.

Waiting to board the train!

After riding the train we toured the "town." It was spectacular, modeled after an old western city. We browsed the general store, sampled saltwater taffy, grabbed a bite to eat at the Stew and Chili House, and warmed up by the fire pits before enjoying a funnel cake at the night's end.

Main Street in Dry Gulch, USA

What a wonderful evening with family. I'm loving all of the special moments this holiday season has brought so far. Christmas is my favorite!

Christmas Dates 1 and 2

Aaron and I recently made a "to-do" list for this holiday season consisting of old traditions and new experiences we considered musts this year.
We've gone on several special dates so far, the first being our night out in Fayetteville several weeks ago.

Lights on the Fayetteville Square

We bundled up the next Saturday evening and grabbed a quick bite to eat at one of our favorite delis before finding a prime viewing spot for Tulsa's Parade of Lights downtown. It was the first evening with a chill in the air, and I was thankful to have my husband as a wind shield as we watched the floats and performers pass us by.  I always get a kick out of watching the reactions of the kids, who inevitably test the boundaries by sneaking farther and farther into the street. :)

The parade passed by the BOK Center, which is the site of Arvest's Winterfest. They set up an ice rink each year, and Aaron and I have another date planned to go ice skating one afternoon this month. This night, however, we enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display after the parade's end in honor of Winterfest's fifth year. 

Hot chocolate in hand, snuggled up with my honey, and witnessing the night sky explode with vivid color as the echoes bounced off the skyscrapers behind us. It was a magical night. 

Afterward, we took a leisurely drive through several Tulsa neighborhoods in search of festive outdoor displays. I don't think it's possible for me to ever tire of Christmas lights... which is why we also have a date to Rhema planned!

Fayetteville Weekend Getaway

Yes, I was born in Oklahoma. No, I don't consider it "home" any longer. Fayetteville, Arkansas quickly stole my heart while I attended college in the midst of Razorback nation. While we currently reside in Oklahoma, Aaron and I seize every opportunity to travel back to the home of our alma mater.
Spending the first weekend of December at the Pratt Place Inn was absolutely the perfect way to relax and rewind before beginning our next rotation.

Someone was excited to relax with some Rick's Bakery

I enjoyed an amazing bubble bath that evening - prune hands!

The square in downtown Fayetteville is brightly lit every holiday season. We took a lovely stroll around the block, did a little shopping at the unique boutiques, and had quite a bit of fun people watching. If Aaron would allow it, our future yard would look very similar to this picture. Clark Griswold-style.

We miss the restaurants the city has to offer, so each trip we try to hit as many of our favorites as possible. Two of the best restaurants in town are located in motel parking lots. They don't look like much, but they have delicious food! On this occasion, we chose one of the two - Cafe Rue Orlean - for dinner. We shared a fried seafood platter, jambalaya, and crawfish etouffe.
We managed to somehow make room for dessert after our stroll on the square and savored white chocolate raspberry cheesecake from one of the coffee shops on Dickson Street.
I'm full again just thinking about the evening...

Old Main's holiday silhouette 

We arrived "home" for the evening to this festive and cozy front porch display. Sigh.  I could live here.

Sausage rolls, winter fruit, and freshly squeezed orange juice were on the menu at breakfast the next morning. We dined lazily in our plush white hotel robes and made a wish to return again soon. Until then, Fayetteville.

Lessons Learned: Rotation #5

Now that Aaron and I received word that we passed our Pediatrics Shelf exam (whew!), we can officially mark the rotation as complete. As much as I enjoyed the month, it posed a problem - I am now even more confused regarding which career path I want to take.

I've always had a passion for children and was thus expecting a nice November. However, after spending several weeks in the clinic and a week at Saint Francis Children's Hospital, I can realistically envision myself working with kids for a living.

Lesson #1: Information is key. Refusing the influenza vaccination because they (parents) believe it can cause the flu. Failure to thrive (dangerous lack of growth) because they don't know how much to feed a child, how often, and/or even that they must wake an infant during the night to feed. Demanding antibiotics for a viral infection because they desperately want their child to improve immediately. A great majority of the frustrations between caregivers and pediatricians is due to a lack of, or misinformation. It's important to take this into consideration, and even more important to attempt to educate the patient/caregiver for the good of the child.

Lesson #2: My husband is superhuman. I was ecstatic that I'd made it past my third week of Pediatrics without getting sick...until I caught a stomach bug that had been circulating in the hospital. Looking back, I'm still patting my immune system on the back for only one sick day. Aaron, however, didn't have so much as a sniffle the entire month. I'm not sure that has ever happened in the history of medical school. Well done, sir. Well done.

Turkey Day

It has been a busy couple of weeks! I'll be playing catch-up on the blog for awhile, beginning today with Thanksgiving (or Turkey Day, as Aaron calls it).
We were fortunate to be given Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday off to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with family.
We arrived in Tahlequah late Wednesday night to find the fridge stocked with the beginnings of our favorite dishes - my mother begins prepping days in advance. Lots of yummy goodness was to come!

It is officially a Nolan/Meigs family get together if there are as many desserts as side dishes. Mom tried Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pie recipe with cream cheese this year in addition to the family staple - delish! Dirt cake, apple fritter cake, german chocolate brownies, lemon sour cream pie, and (my favorite) pecan pie cobbler rounded out the selection.

Everyone pitched in to put the meal together that fed the 20+ of us.

My two favorite boys spent some quality time together shooting Bryce's pellet gun and talking about paintball, while Bailey told me all about the design scheme for her new room and why she no longer likes Justin Bieber (too many tattoos...and he sags!).

The best part of Thanksgiving, of course, is time spent with family I don't often see. I love this moment I captured of my mom and grandpa.

My favorites :)

I do believe this picture was a first, capturing most of the women in attendance (and those that avoid the camera at all costs!). Love these ladies, and looking forward to seeing them again at Christmas!
Happy (very) belated Thanksgiving!

Driving Before Dawn

Today was the first of my week at Saint Frances Children's Hospital.
My sweet husband awoke with me at 4:45 to make sure I had everything I needed before heading off, groggily, to work.
The benefits to arriving at the hospital before 6 AM? Pick of the parking spaces. And no traffic on the drive. Disadvantage? I made about three wrong turns attempting to find my way to the correct building and parking garage. The landscape looks completely different to me when it's dark outside! In my defense, I have night blindness (does that excuse my poor sense of direction?).
Two of the residents didn't feel well today, and a fellow medical student just got over a stomach virus this weekend. I am doing my very best to ward off any pre-Thanksgiving bugs - is it possible to get prune hands from sanitizing foam/gel? I would bathe in it if I could...
I love seeing sweet little kiddos each day, but I hate the circumstances under which our meetings fall this week. Here's hoping we have many discharges, and few admits, over the next few days - every little turkey deserves a Happy Thanksgiving!

Words of Wisdom

I've found some wonderful bits of inspiration on social media lately. Don't you just love when you're mindlessly scrolling through and a short phrase or verse hits you with tremendous conviction? The following had this effect on me.

Many of us spend a large majority of our time thinking and dreaming of the future. For Aaron and I, this is especially true. With a little over two years behind us, we have more than six before we've finished the training for our careers (and two before we get our first paycheck instead of loan statements!). We're also waiting to have children for a multitude of reasons. It's easy to wish for a fast-forward button, but there are so many special moments and qualities to each season that we may miss if we don't consciously stop to appreciate them. Don't wish away your life, for you'll be at its end before you know it!

Aaron and I are in the process of researching residency programs prior to scheduling audition rotations next Fall. Some of the areas in which we may find ourselves living for 5 years don't seem very appealing to me...especially those farthest from my family. It gives me peace to know that wherever we may be, my best friend will be with me. That makes for a happy home.

People have a way of trying our patience and temperament. Be it patients, peers, or family, this advice can be tough to enact, but very powerful. Be kinder than you feel, and you will have no regrets over words said or actions exhibited. Better yet, you will reap God's rewards for following His will. 

Newborn Nursery

Aaron and I are in the midst of our Pediatrics rotation here in Tulsa. We will spend one week in the hospital, one week at Saint Francis Children's Hospital, and two weeks at the OSU Pediatrics Clinic.
We're both currently at OSU Medical Center, where we divide our mornings between the newborn nursery and the pediatric floor and spend our afternoons helping out at the clinic.
Two things are able to get me excited about waking up before the sun: Christmas morning, and babies! The opportunity to snuggle with precious newborns starts my day off on the right foot. Especially when I look over and see my husband voluntarily doing the same. I think I can feel my uterus crying out...is that possible? ;)
If you have children, you're aware that they're swept away to the nursery fairly frequently. What are the doctors and nurses doing behind the scenes? Giving your munchkin a head-to-toe physical, running blood work and genetic screens, taking vitals, recording every single pee and poop, and putting all of this information together with your pregnancy history and the delivery to ensure the newest addition to your family is healthy and ready to go home.
I was under the impression that the hours this month would be somewhat limited, but that hasn't been the case thus far. We arrive at the nursery by 7 in the morning and typically leave the clinic after 5 in the evening. Although I didn't anticipate 10+ hour days this month, the fact that I'm enjoying myself makes the hours pass quickly.
How much am I enjoying the month? Let's just say we have a contender for residency, folks.

Weekend Randoms

My sister and I haven't been home since July, and since we were both off this weekend, we decided to make the trip. Unfortunately, Aaron was scheduled to work both Saturday and Sunday so we had to leave him behind. :(
On my lunch break yesterday I stopped by Panera and was pleasantly surprised to see one of the new seasonal menu items: Roasted Turkey Cranberry Panini. I felt obligated to sample it - Turkey Day is fast approaching!

Thanksgiving Preview in sandwich form

One of the many reasons we head to Tahlequah is for some home cooking! Mom tried three new recipes this weekend, two of which were from Pinterest. Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest?
These Hershey Cream Cheese Brownies were decadent. The recipe will soon be in my binder.

After a breakfast of biscuits and gravy (my fave), we spent the day visiting and watching football. All of my preferred teams won (pending LSU v Bama)...almost as satisfying as the smoked ribs, cheesy hash browns, and pecan pie cheesecake made with love by my parents.

Pecan Pie Cheesecake: Thanksgiving preview #2

In other news, I tried a new product I received in my Halloween goody bag. I don't wash my hair everyday, which leads to product buildup. I also tend to have a dry scalp in winter. This treatment smelled great, felt invigorating, and left my scalp squeaky clean and refreshed.

Salon Series by Ouidad Mediterranean Bay Leaf Exfoliating Hair & Scalp Treatment found here

My dad is starting a new marriage series at church tomorrow. I'm excited to hear the word and apply it with my husband!

Lessons Learned: Rotation #4

Aaron and I began our Pediatrics rotation yesterday, but before I can gush about babies I must close the chapter on Psychiatry.

Lesson #1: A few minutes can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes all patients need is a listening ear, a smile, or a hug. Two of my patients in particular this month, both with dementia, yearned to have a conversation with me every time I rounded. The longer I spend with patients, the later I finish my notes and go home. However, getting there just 15 minutes early or staying just a bit late and sitting down to chat with them about their lives, concerns, and happy memories made a positive difference. Their mood always brightened after our visits, which is rare when you're hospitalized and don't understand why. One of the gentleman asked to stay in touch; melted my heart! A few minutes. That's all it takes to make an impact. You can afford to spare them.

Lesson #2: Enter with an open mind. I was dreading my Psych rotation. I had many preconceived notions of what it entailed, largely based on comments from others. I almost missed out on an opportunity to enjoy the month by predetermining that I would hate it. Is it what I want to do with my life? Far from it. Yet I gained empathy for the mentally ill and witnessed firsthand the dismissal of these patients by physicians when they are truly, medically sick. Dealing with psychiatric symptoms, especially when exacerbated by physical illness, is not something most doctors want to do. Especially if it's outside of their comfort zone, which is common. I'll think twice about it in the future. We're to treat the whole person - physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally - not to pick and choose which aspects to address. "Crazy" people get sick too, and they deserve care on par with the rest of the population. Most definitely a lesson I would not have learned if I had remained on autopilot.

Only two lessons this month, but both very important.
Now to hold some newborns :)

Halloween Party

Quirky costumes, sweet treats. and spooky decorations. We hosted a Halloween party at our house last night that featured all three.
We spent time scouring magazines, websites, and of course, Pinterest for decor inspiration.

We found creepy old photos on the internet via Google search, printed them on photo paper, and placed them in the picture frames in our living room. "Spider webs" were strung over frames, mirrors, furniture, and the stair rail.

We snacked on "Sinister Salsa," "Count's Caramel Popcorn," and "Batty Brownies."
I get compliments on this salsa recipe every time I serve it. It's the perfect consistency and has a great combination of flavors - cilantro, jalapeno, cumin, garlic...it all comes together in the blender easy peasy and makes a great appetizer! I highly recommend clicking on the link and giving it a try.
The caramel popcorn is a recipe from a family friend. I attempted popping corn on the stovetop for the first time, and I doubt I will ever go back to the microwaveable version. Just as quick but so much more fresh and flavorful. Add a (big) drizzle of sweet caramel and you've got a treat so addictive you will be finding popcorn bits in your bed sheets because your husband can't keep away. True story.

These Ultimate Halloween Peanut Butter Oreo Brownie Bars were divine. It's almost a rule that if a dessert is deemed "ultimate" and mentions both peanut butter and brownie, it must be decadent. They were a great way to add a pop of color to the table as well. You can find the recipe here.

We went with a skeleton theme of sorts, and Target had the perfect accessories with which to dress up our table. I love the tablecloth! We found the skull platter at Dollar Tree...for a dollar. Love that place.

We pulled out our handy dandy skull replica from our Neuroanatomy days to use as a centerpiece. I much prefer it as decoration rather than a study tool.

The pumpkins we decorated last week were arranged on a cake plate for height and color.

Macee's costume creation: Misses Roboto! The heart and several other elements lit up. I was most impressed. She always has the most creativity at Halloween.

Aaron is an avid fan of Super Mario Brothers, so it was only fitting that he get into character this year. The only problem I found with his costume was the mustache. It creeps me out, and apparently I'm not the only one. He went to pick up dinner last night so that I didn't have to cook, and while out got a lot of funny looks. He attributes it to the "molester mustache." So glad it was gone before church today. And I'm sure the kiddos (and their parents!) will appreciate its absence next month on our Pediatrics rotation as well!

I got my inspiration from a game as well, albeit retro. Tetris!

We had a special visit from Super Girl and her crime-fighting colleagues, Super Skittle and Super Dad! She spent a portion of the evening mesmerized by The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the rest of the night serving as greeter and entertainer. Too cute!

The boys had to finish out the OU/Notre Dame game. 

Thanks to everyone that dropped by! I can't wait until we have a bigger budget - this party gave me so many ideas to execute in the future!

Happy Halloween!

Big Change is Brewing

Students at OSU-COM received an email from our Dean this morning that shared some exciting news. The ACGME (MD), AOA and AACOM (DO) are moving towards a single accreditation system for graduate medical education. 

In other words, our residency programs, which every medical student must complete before becoming fully licensed, will all have the same guidelines by which they are accredited and evaluated. This aims to create universal standards to which all programs, both MD and DO, must adhere. What does this mean for you, the patient? The goal is better quality of care. 

It also has a host of other possible implications. Will be there be a distinction between MD and DO in the future? How drastically will this alter current accredited residency programs, and will the transition be smooth? 

These issues will be extrapolated upon in the coming months I'm sure. For now, if you're interested, read this article. 

New Roomie, Oktoberfest and Fall Crafting

My sister just began her first internship with Kaiser Rehabilitation Center here in Tulsa. She's loving the experience after only one week. In addition to helping her figure out which road to take after she obtains her master's degree, she's being exposed to a different type of client and treatment techniques than those she's dealt with during the first year of her program.

My new roomie :)

 The best part of the deal (for me) is that we get to be roomies for the next 2 months! I'm loving all the time we've gotten to spend together already.

I've been in a crafty mood, so a trip to Hobby Lobby has been in the works for some time. I've seen so many wreaths on Pinterest lately that I was inspired to make my own for the season. I was very pleased with the result! A Christmas wreath is next on my crafting list.

We spent last night taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Oktoberfest. It's become a tradition of ours - this year marks our third annual trip! Aaron sampled a potato pancake with applesauce, a bratwurst with sauerkraut, chicken sausage, and a strudel. A German feast!

We ran into several friends from school that we haven't seen in several months and with whom we enjoyed catching up. I was only hit in the head twice with pennies, which I deem a success for the evening - if you're unfamiliar with the traditions, you must put the festival on your calendar next year to experience them yourself! After a few rounds of shouting, "Oy, Oy, Oy!" and doing the chicken dance, we headed back home for the evening and collapsed in bed.

Today, Macee started working on her Halloween costume. We found some amazing accessories at Dollar Tree that will make her outfit pop. It is sure to be a showstopper. Can you tell what she's going to be?

Aaron and I bought some mini pumpkins at Target several days ago; we got out markers and pens and glitter and went to town glitzing them up this afternoon. 

Aaron's creation: glow-in-the-dark paint covered in orange glitter

I'm not even going to attempt to vacuum/sweep up all the glitter until I'm sure my crafty mood has passed. I only hope I don't look like a tween the next few days from all the sparkle that's been trekked over the house. 

Pumpkin carving and caramel apples are on our itinerary this week. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Fall?!