Year 3, Day 1

Yesterday marked our official entrance into third year. The purely academic portion of our medical training is complete, and we've now earned the right to enter into the clinical years.
We will work through 22 one-month rotations, each of which are one month in length. Two can be vacation months - thank goodness!
Our first rotation is in my hometown of Tahlequah in the clinic at WW Hastings Hospital. In addition to the clinic, we'll be given the opportunity to explore several specialties this month in hopes of narrowing down the fields in which we're interested.
It's all very exciting, although the first day might have been a bore for those who don't squeal at the small things, like being issued ID badges and touring the hospitals (we'll also spend time at Tahlequah City Hospital).

I felt so professional in my blue dress, white coat, and brown kitten heels. Surprisingly, it only took me 5 minutes to put together my outfit - a huge improvement over the hours spent deliberating over which top would make the best impression on my first day of high school. I was much more worried about arriving early and not looking as inexperienced as I truly am.
The residents were so helpful and went out of their way to walk us to the offices and departments we needed to visit to fill out paperwork. I'm pretty sure I'll have to find my own way on future rotations and am being spoiled.
Nice people, free food (my budget is doing a happy dance!), and no required readings this week. I'm in love with rotations already...especially the no reading part.

Four Years Later

Today is our fourth wedding anniversary, and Aaron got it off to a great start by bringing me breakfast in bed. Hash browns (my favorite), fresh fruit, and pastries from La Madeleine on Cherry Street - delicious!

This afternoon we did a bit of shopping in Utica Square. For my present, I picked out a gorgeous bracelet from J. Spencer, and later scored a platter in one of my china patterns on clearance for $8 at Dillard's - Happy Anniversary to me!
Aaron received his present yesterday; I just couldn't resist giving it to him early. I found a Living Social deal to The Covenant, a new board game store with a concept totally unique to Tulsa. He chose "A Game of Thrones: The Card Game," and has already begun reading through the rules for our next game night.
After dinner at Ti Amo, we collapsed on our comfy couch and caught up on some recorded TV shows. We sometimes refer to them as our "programs," which I'm afraid reveals the true age of our souls.

I'm still excited to be his wife!

One of the best compliments I received regarding our wedding was that I was the most excited bride to be announced a "Mrs." that a guest had ever seen. I could not contain my joy that day! I had not an inkling of nerves prior to walking down the aisle to meet my groom, because I knew I had made the perfect choice. One that I would make over and over again without hesitation.
Happy anniversary, love. 

Budget Blues

Today was spent doing one of my least favorite required activities: creating our budget for the school year.
The dread behind this task probably originates from absolute disgust at the amount of loan money we must borrow...and eventually pay back. Yikes!
Aaron and I refuse to have credit card debt in addition to debt due to school loans, so we strictly adhere to the spending limits we set. Sometimes, life sends us a curve ball (hello, car repairs!). Other times, I feel I just have to reward my husband with a video game or two for working so hard. However, we always make sure we have enough to pay every single one of our bills and statements in full.
I found an app for my iPhone that I hope to make tracking our spending habits much easier: Mint. I'm eager to personalize it to my needs!

We had high hopes of purchasing our first new car this year, as we spent thousands (yes, thousands) on repairs to both of our vehicles over the past two semesters. We also were aiming to be able to take a nice vacation and a few getaways to satisfy our quest to travel as much as possible before we have children. However, like most people, the budget could not accommodate both comfortably.

I look forward to the day when our "pie" is much larger!

You know the term "house poor?" We would have become "car poor," so we opted to add room in the budget for car repairs and invest in experiences and memories that will last us a lifetime rather than new wheels that depreciate as soon as they leave the lot. Cars just aren't that important to us; travel is a must. Delaying a new car also allows us to have much more wiggle room, and thus greater peace of mind and security.
We already have next July's destination in mind, but I won't reveal it until we've officially booked our trip. I will say that it will allow us to escape the oppressive heat that's seemed to come two months too early this summer. Whew!

Sister's Day Out

After celebrating my mom's birthday and Father's day last Friday evening in Tulsa, Macee stayed the night with us and we had a girl's day on Saturday. 

First up? Purple Glaze, a paint-your-own-pottery studio on Brookside. 

So many options!

 As it was only my second time, I was a bit intimidated to do anything too complicated, so I stuck with a simple game plan of a red base and safari burst on top of my square plate. I need to brainstorm in advance next time - it's too much pressure to be creative on the spot!

It's amazing what this turns into...

 Macee thought ahead and free-handed dinosaurs on a coffee mug from a picture she downloaded on her phone. A "kaleidoscope" finish rounded it out. She's so artistic. And fun.

Before...

 We went to pick them up today and I couldn't help but smirk as Macee said to one of the employees, "It has dinosaurs on it and the kaleidoscope paint..." That's why she's such a joy - she still hasn't lost the fun and wonderment from childhood that most of us have!

After! SOO cute - and very Macee!

 We stopped at Quick Trip for a 69 cent fountain drink and Icee. It's just not summer unless you've had one. I don't know anyone who loves QT more than my sister.

Our final stop was at Anthropologie in Utica Square for a little browsing. Macee found several items she added to her birthday list, as did I. 

Love spending time with my sister, and can't wait to see her again!

Anniversary Getaway

Our fourth wedding anniversary is coming up (where has the time gone?!), and Aaron and I were fortunate enough to go on a getaway to Fayetteville in celebration.
We stayed at the lovely Pratt Place Inn, tucked away on several acres adjacent to the U of A campus. I cannot say enough about this gem. It's pricey, but oh so worth the splurge (especially when they issue Living Social and Groupon deals!). It's definitely become our absolute favorite place for romance and relaxation.

 We stayed in the Redbud suite on this occasion, and I loved the color palette. So tranquil. The walls are actually lined with fabric, not wallpaper.

Aaron and I have a queen bed, so it was so weird to wake up in the ginormous bed non-entwined...with loads of space between us!

Love the antique furniture

The shower was huge!

 We love staying at historic bed and breakfasts, but you can tell they're, well, old. Not so with Pratt Place. No squeaking, slanting floors. No old plumbing. Just immaculately restored history. 

Warm scones, freshly squeezed orange juice and fruit delivered to our room? Yes, please!

One of the things we miss most about Northwest Arkansas, besides our beloved Hogs, is the unique restaurants and shops. I hit all of my favorite boutiques and discovered two new favorites on the square. In between the shopping, we dined at a few of our old favorites. 

Aaron had a specific request for Thai Diner. After making a happy plate of his panang, he was a happy camper.

We stopped by Rick's Bakery both days and had dessert back at the Inn both evenings while watching the Razorbacks in Omaha and the Thunder in Miami. Their petit fors are to-die-for, and the perfect way to cap each day - if only the Thunder would have won!

It was just what we needed. Time with each other, in our favorite town and Inn, and spent doing our favorite things. We can't wait to visit again!

Struggle and Success

I've seen the quote above often lately on social media sites, and I absolutely love it.
The past two years have been grueling, and there are two more similar to it in our future. We couldn't survive it alone.
Sadly, it's human nature to walk away or give up when things become difficult. It's easy to be there for loved ones through the good times, but the true test comes in times of struggle. There's a reason traditional marriage vows add staying faithful through the bad as well.
It's especially difficult to make the effort and sacrifices required in a relationship of any kind when the same is not being made in return. Aaron and I have been, and will continue to be, the latter for some time. We don't have a lot of time to give...or energy, or thought, or many of the wonderful other gifts that have been given to us thus far during medical school.
Yet there have been those that have required nothing in return. Selfless, generous, true friends. Those are the ones Aaron and I look forward to sharing our success with in the future. That is the type of person I hope to be for others in the future.

They came bearing energy, food, and encouragement the week before our first set of boards :)

We're so blessed to have discovered so many true friends and allies through this process, and relationships that go so much deeper than a superficial surface. Especially my family - they have no idea of the blessings in store for them. I can't wait to celebrate graduation with them when that time finally comes, because they've struggled and succeeded right along with me.

After all, of what worth is success if you have no one to share it with?

Back from Boards

It's over. The single worst period of time since first semester of first year. Aaron and I are officially halfway to our goal of becoming physicians after taking Step 1 boards.
We spent between 10 and 16 hours per day with our noses in books and ears attuned to review videos as we highlighted away and prayed that we were absorbing it all. It was difficult to try to find the balance between speed and comprehension/retention.
The amount of information we needed to cover at first seemed insurmountable; though we could have spent an entire year preparing, we look back with no regrets, knowing that we were diligent in our studies and worked as hard as mentally and physically possible.
It's a good feeling, knowing you can ask God to bless the work of your hands because you've done your part.
It's also a good feeling to know that we're on a 3 week vacation, and rotations lie just around the corner.
I received this fortune in my cookie at P.F. Chang's today:

I'm choosing to believe it's referring to my board scores. We shall see!