Traveling to our future home

This past weekend we headed to our "new home." On Saturday we looked at nearly fifteen places to live with our parents. Then we drove around and explored the area and checked out the hospital where Drew will start working on July 1, 2010. Unfortunately I didn't have my memory card with me and didn't get any pictures at the hospital or of the area. I consider myself a photo-holic because I am constantly pulling out my camera and snapping photos all the time... so I am a bit ashamed that I didn't take any photos to document our first visit to our new home. After exploring all day on Saturday and seeing so many places I was absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed (and a bit overtired from a busy week). Luckily after getting a good nights sleep Drew and I had clearer heads and decided on a place to live! We are very excited and I cannot tell you how much of a relief it is to found a place! Again, no photos (hangs head in shame), but maybe we'll get some next time we visit. So that's all the news I've got, but its pretty big news to us. Hopefully if all goes well this week we'll be able to cross "housing" off the to do list!

Very Thankful Thursday

This Thursday we have a lot to be thankful for! I cannot tell you how incredibly thankful we are for matching, and for matching exactly where we did. We truly feel like we beat the odds matching in neurosurgery coming from a school that didn't even have a residency program. We just feel so fortunate.

We do know some people that didn't match, and it broke our hearts, as they are great people. We can only hope that their new paths will end up better than expected, but there is no doubt that they are having a challenging time accepting the unexpected. Unfortunately with "match," crap happens. Every year there is always at least one, if not several unexpected results. (And I swear I am not trying to scare any of you), but there is always a qualified applicant who for some reason doesn't match, or there is some rock star candidate who matches at their #9 even though everyone thought she was going to her #1. It just happens. I am not trying to scare anyone, just reminding you that no matter how certain something may seem, there is no certainty, in medicine, or in the match. So if you can, let go and accept it for what it is. Out of your control.

For Drew and I it meant a lot of praying, both in deciding his specialty and in applying and ranking our programs. Most importantly though, is how we prayed. We didn't pray for program X, or to be in state K. We prayed that God's will would be done, and that we could accept whatever that would be. And therefore we truly are at peace (and excited) about where we are headed. We feel that we are going exactly where we are meant to go. (Hopefully I will still feel that way in seven years!). And my motto: expect the worst, hope for the best.

And finally, for those of you who are third years, or married to third years. The anticipation of match is much worse than the actual thing. Last year, the night before match, Drew and I couldn't sleep, we were horrified that next year it would be our year. But oddly enough we actually were able to get some sleep the night before match day this year. So as scared as you are now, really it only gets better, because with time you learn to accept the uncertainty and all the possibilities. And also, it flies by! Before you know it you will be looking back and wondering where your fourth year of medical school went!

And being thankful for matching, here are a few more photos from last week.

After we found out the news we made calls to our family and friends to share the good news.

Drew with my fabulous sister and my awesome nephews

Wearing our awesome t-shirts! Thanks again Lindsay!

The soon-to-be doctor and me

Taking shots with my girls Lindsay and Shannon

At the beginning of the bar crawl

We are so thankful, I cannot tell you how blessed we feel.

Out of sorts

Ever since match day I've lost our routine and I just feel out of sorts. I've been eating junk food, not working out, and not being very productive. Don't get me wrong I had a great time with family and friends Thursday thru Saturday, but I haven't been able to get back into a routine even after our guests left.
It was nice to at least go to work today to get back to some sense of normalcy. I spent hours in front of the computer this weekend researching our future home and all the various neighborhoods. I've been house/condo/apartment hunting and I just haven't been able to stop. It's horrible. Although we finally know where we are going, I still feel like I have absolutely no control over my life. I think that is why I am trying to get something figured out or settled. We are going this weekend to explore and checkout our new location, so I am definitely looking forward to that. But I do need to figure out how to get back into a routine again, otherwise I am going to be 300 pounds, out of shape, and have a messy messy apartment and no clean clothes! But seriously, I still feel very disoriented and can't totally wrap my head around all the changes that are ahead of us.
Thank you all for the congratulations, and I am sorry I kept you in suspense for so long!

Match Day!

The past two/three days have been a very busy blur! Our families came in town Wednesday night and we the festivities began with dinner at a local pizzeria.
I was able to get a little bit of sleep Wednesday night because I was too busy worrying about where I had misplaced an SD card to think about the next day (I still haven't found that SD card). Thursday morning began with morning mass with all our guests, followed by breakfast and mimosas at our apartment. At around 10:35 Drew, his dad, my dad and his cousin all headed over to pick up the "match day envelope." The rest of us headed over to a local restaurant. We didn't participate in the school's match day event because it only allowed each student to bring two guests (which wouldn't have allowed Drew to bring both me and his parents).

When we got to the restaurant we made sure we had a few people on speaker phone and then we opened the envelope!

As you can see we were surprised! Drew was hoping for anything his top 12, I was hoping for anything in our top six. I really thought we'd match either with our 1 or with our 5, so I was stunned when we matched with our #4. For some reason no one in either of our families thought that was where we were headed, but being that it was in our top six I was ecstatic!

Once it all set in I did a lot of crying; tears of joy, of course! I know a lot of you would like to know where we are going but because medicine is such a small world I'd rather not post to the Internet and the entire world where we will be going. But I will say that we are staying within the Midwest. For those of you who comment often and may be in the area you can email me your guesses and I may just tell you if we are in the same vicinity.

The rest of the day was spent celebrating and after going out to dinner we took part in the medical school bar crawl. Lindsay (Drew's cousin's wife) made these awesome shirts for all of us to wear! They were quite a hit. (And on the back she wrote where Drew matched).

The last of our family left this morning. I still am in shock and am excited, but not quite sure where to begin with all the changes that will be coming!

Cost of 2 new suits = $600.00

Cost to interview at 16 programs = $5,012.98

Getting the email that says "Congratulations you matched!" = PRICELESS!

Praise God for the good news! We went out to lunch to celebrate! My stomach is in knots and I'm not sure if its from the greasy lunch or from worrying all morning! Thank you all for the encouraging comments this morning! Now we just have to wait until Thursday to find out where! I'm still in a little bit of shock!

It's Black Monday

Today we find out IF Drew matched.....

I won!

Not a contest, and not the lottery, but the case I argued in front of the appellate court back in July! I represented the appellants meaning we were trying to get the case overturned, and the Appellate Court finally came back with a ruling.... in my client's favor! I am still in a bit of shock as it was an administrative case, which rarely gets overturned on any level of appeal, and also because I had figured we had lost since the Court was taking so long to write their decision!
I'm so excited, it is such a great feeling. Just another reason I love litigation, although it takes a lot of patience and time, there is nothing like winning a motion or a case!

And the Countdown Continues

... the Countdown to match day that is! Its 7 days until we find out if he matched and (then if he matched) 10 days until we find out where (hopefully)!

And fortunately things have really picked up around here. Work has been very busy, and there is a lot to get done. Especially considering I am hoping to take next Thursday and Friday off because our families will be in town for match day.

This past weekend we were out of town to see Drew's college friends and also celebrate his Dad's Birthday so nothing got done around here. So I am looking at a little over a week to get my match day goals done... and get ready for company!

But I have gotten the first two things done of my list. The pantry was cleaned out and organized! Although I cannot take credit for that - Drew did it. But I did go through my entire closet and clean it out.

Here it is before:

And after:

And here are some of the clothes and shoes that I will be donating (plus 2 suits and 2 dresses)

So I've definitely been staying busy, and the time is actually going by quite quickly. I am shocked at the fact that I don't seem to be too nervous or antsy yet. This is very unlike me considering I am the biggest worrywart ever! But I'm not complaining, in fact I am so grateful that I am doing so well with this waiting game!

But, because I am so busy, and because I still have so much to do and work is so busy, I might not be blogging as much. So I apologize in advance for my lack of presence on the blogosphere. So you know, it's nothing personal if I'm not reading/commenting on your blogs right now, its just that I have a lot on my plate! I hope you understand, its just that blogging is a hobby, and I cannot let it get in the way of my responsibilities and priorities right now.

Dear Blogger,

You suck.

(I spent about 2 hours writing more answers to your questions and the sneaky thing told me it was saving... and it wasn't. Although I wasn't logged into the right gmail address... but still... grrr!)

Bloggy Love

Okay so I am a little slow on responding, but better late than never.

Fantastic Stephanie also known as Army Wife on a Mission was so kind as to give an award!

Just Because award. No Strings Attached...

All you do:

* accept award.

*post it on your blog

*Link it back to the person

*pass it on if you'd like...

It's Just Because...

And I'll pass this one along to:

AMS of Surviving Long Distance Love

Katherine Anne of Medical School Mrs

Elle at Completely Preppy

Ms. Pretty at Pretty Woman and Classy too

Gucci Mama at Mama still wears Gucci

Courtney at Starting Out

Dede at Weathering the Storms

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Then awesome Elle, from Completely Preppy gave me this Happy 101 award!

You're supposed to list 10 things that make you happy and try to do at least one of them today. My ten things:

1. Spending time with my husband
2. Spending time with my family
3. Spendng time with my friends
4. Sunshine
5. Running/walking/biking outside
6. Sunbathing/relaxing in the sun
7. Babies/kids (spending time with them)
8. Eating icecream
9. Baking/cooking
10. Crafting

I'll pass this one on to:

Happy Dash of Happy Day World

Mrs. D at Life of a Doctor's Wife

Little Miss Dreamer at the Soon to be Mrs. C

Mrs. Stoneking at Meet the Stonekings

Jenny at Life of a Med Student

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Then the very funny Mrs. D of Life of a Doctor's wife and me the Beautiful Blogger Award!

And I'd like to pass this one on to:

Stephanie at Army Wife on a Mission

Jennifer at Pour l'Amour de

Kelly at the Startup Wife

Jessica at Acting Adult

Kristin at the Waiting Game

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And from the sweet Happy Dash of Happy Day World I got this one:

"This award means you're really going places, Baby. You'll still be blogging about your great adventures 10 years from now, and I'll still be reading them."
The Rules:
* Link back to the blogger who sent you this award
* Post where you would like to be in 10 years
* Pass it on to 10 other special bloggers!

In ten years, I hope that Drew is finished with his residency and fellowship training (probably only by a year or two), and that he will finally be an attending. I hope that are both in good healthy and that we have at least two beautiful healthy children. I hope we own a home and our on our way to paying of his medical school loans. Hopefully that's where we'll be in 10 years, I don't think that's too much to hope for?

I'd like to pass this award on to:

Alyssa at Bloggin2Noggin

Kelsey Claire at Lavendar, Leopard and Lace

Ashley at As a Matter of Opinion

Law School Wife at Life of a Law School Wife

Kelly Marie of Confessions of a Law School Dropout

Katie at Loyal, Loving and Learning

SHP at Our 3 Ring Circus

Julie at Brown Eyed Belle

Stacie at the Famous Stacie

B Sparkly

Sorry this wasn't a very exciting post, but its something I'd been putting off for a while, so it was about time I got to it! I hope you get a chance to check out these great blogs!