let's catch up

So, here we are. Well into my third year of medical school, and so much to talk about.

First of all, I got married. Which was and is awesome. No matter how bad my day is, it gets better when I get to come home to my best friend. Plus, now there's only one rent to pay. More money for fun things! Or, you know, "savings."

Carlisle and I did well on the STEP (thank you for all the prayers and encouragement!) and have completed one clinical rotation. We both enjoyed family medicine, spending a little time in the hospital and the clinic. For family you have to leave the Jackson area (unless you have a really good excuse, like newborn baby or single parent of 8), and we went to stay at my family's cabin in Water Valley, with him commuting to Batesville and me to Oxford. We had good experiences and saw the colorful world that is outpatient care. The best is when a patient brings in produce from their garden/orchard. Fresh peaches are the bomb.

However, we quickly left the comfy, relaxed world of family medicine for the way more intense surgery. I'm currently working in pediatric surgery, and Carlisle is doing acute care services (ACS). On surgery you spend four weeks on a general surgery service and four on a subspecialty. ACS, general A, and VA (which I'll have next half) are general, and there are several specialties to choose from (Carlisle and I both got pediatrics). Everyone on the rotation also has to take 4-5 days of 24-hr trauma call. Carlisle is currently at the hospital doing that, while I have the first break of more than a few hours that I've had since we started on Monday. So I'm blogging and watching Merlin and stalking Duchess Kate's fashion choices on the Internet. He's probably taking out a spleen or something.

My first trauma call is tomorrow, so I opted to work this weekend. This morning I watched as the attending surgeon and a resident took out an appendix and drained an abscess-like thing. I used the scissors to cut suture! (you take what you can get)

I've actually found that I enjoy procedures. I don't think the surgery lifestyle is for me, but I haven't passed out or even really come close to it, which is good. It gets a little messy, and I've already seen some rather horrifying things (pulling bowel out through the anus, anyone?), but it's really pretty cool. And in the end, the little baby generally feels better. I've really enjoyed working with kids so far. They're so resilient and cute. Today I asked to add a little baby to my patient list purely because I want to hold them every day. It's tricky because they can't talk to you, but they're so fun. And the ER at Batson is so colorful that you can't be sad there.

I'm very lucky to have great residents to work with every day. It's a long rotation, but it could be so much worse. So, all in all, I'm enjoying myself, even though I'm perpetually sleepy. And I don't know what it is about surgery, but I find that I'm hungry ALL THE TIME. I don't know why. I have to keep granola bars or crackers in my white coat, which I often share with those less prepared. So if you see me in the hospital and you feel like you're about to fall out, I'll hook you up.

In other news, I took up knitting a couple weeks ago. I haven't progressed very far, but I really like it! I learned how to knit cables (as in, cable knit sweaters), and now I just need to work on my consistency. Anyone want a slightly imperfect sweater or blanket or scarf so I can practice? Anyone want to pretend to want a slightly imperfect sweater or blanket or scarf? Also, I only currently have this light aqua yarn, and who knows when I'll be able to make it back to the store. So that's what color it will be. Any takers?

Last night we celebrated my grandfather's NINETIETH birthday, which is next week! Isn't that fun? He is so boss. I love my Papaw, that crazy man who only takes tiny pieces of his cholesterol medicine and works outside or in his shop all day, non-stop, and models his church clothes for us on Sunday mornings. He was a Marine in WWII and a civil engineer for years and years, and he has never really stopped being either of those things. I heart him.

So, what else is going on?
Reading: What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, a FASCINATING book about life in 19th-century England
Following: @HonestToddler - seriously, I find myself skipping over every other tweet to get to these

That's all the news I have for now, I believe. Until next time, I hope you're enjoying the Olympics. U-S-A! U-S-A!

cheers
Erin