Can't Decide

As Davey is approaching the ripe age of 6 months, where their eye color is supposedly set, I am beginning to wonder what shade his will be.

Maybe his eyes will remain like this, although I never imagined having a blue eyed child...

or maybe in the coming weeks they'll add more green like his daddy's

or maybe they'll darken to the brown color of his mommy's

We have 9 nine days until he's 6 months...I'll keep you posted:)

It's Official

Dave passed his boards!

A month ago we took this picture after the day long exam. His classmate probably had the most accurate response with, "I never want to talk about that again!" Until we received the results we really haven't discussed it. Dave started his rotations with the hope that he passed, knowing full well if he hadn't he have to stop his rotation and retake the test. Now that burden is gone and his attentions can be focused elsewhere. Probably on making a good impression during rotations, picking a medical speciality, deciding where to apply and interview for residency, and of course studying for the remaining exams and two more steps of boards he has before graduating:)

A Taste of What's to Come

One of my biggest weaknesses as a wife is showing support for my Dave. This is especially true during the school year when I'm overwhelmed by my duties as a full-time teacher, wife, and mother. This summer I've been trying to do some special things for Dave to let him know I haven't forgotten about him. However, sometimes it all just goes wrong.

Yesterday afternoon I set out to run some errands and prepare a surprise meal for Dave. I was expecting him home at 6:00, so I knew I had several hours to accomplish my long list. After checking off number one, I received a phone call telling me Dave was coming home early. This was not a bad thing to be sure, but it did mean he would be walking into an empty and untidy apartment, rather than the smiling and spotless one I had envisioned. I quickly stopped to check off number two and hurried home so Dave could be with us and help finish the errands.

We were able to run the rest of our errands, except the grocery store (which of course had to be last), when Davey started to become fussy. By now it was 5:00 and I was still determined to have a special dinner at home. An extra stop at Barnes and Noble was made to feed Davey and relax with some mocha frapps. Relax was definitely not the word I would have used after the spilled coffee, messy diaper, and crying fit. Even still, we continued on our journey and made it to the grocery store and home by 7:00.

Davey had fallen asleep in the car, so we thought it would be a simple transition from carseat to crib...not the case last night:) Daddy entertained and comforted while mommy started dinner. From here things went fairly smoothly. The table was set, the cake was baked, and the steaks were on the grill. However, we were destined to have a few more bumps in the road.

As I reached for the dressing to toss with the salad I realized (which happens often) that the date was expired. If you know me at all, you know I was not about to eat that dressing. Dave said to just saran wrap the salad and we'd eat it tomorrow. Ha! That was not an option for me. Typically I buy the salad mixes with everything included, but for this "special" meal I had actually washed and ripped the greens, cut the onion, and sprinkled it with cheese and ham. I anxiously went to google, seeking a way to save the salad. It could! With the help of a honey mustard recipe. Dave's response, "You can make the dressing from scratch?" We often forget things can be made fresh rather than being store bought. (It was excellent, so I just might do this again!)

At 8:30, Davey was finally fast asleep and we sat down to our special meal. Dave handed me my steak and I flinched. Was that pink? I tried to refuse the steak, but he wouldn't have it. He went to microwave the raw meat, but instead of a well-done steak, we got jerky. At least Dave enjoyed his meat:) Despite all the drama we had a great dinner and Dave knew I cared about him. The only real tragedy, that almost brought tears, was spilling meat juice on the striped chair cover my mom and I had recovered ourselves. The day was saved again though. This time by the fact we had sprayed the fabric with Scotch Guard. This is a product I will definitely respect more from now on.

So after all that, we crashed on the couch at 9:30 and forgot all about the cake. It's still cooling upside down on the counter. Although it's not a night I want to relive, I hope I can remember it. For once, I didn't panic when things went wrong. The tears were close once, but I didn't surrender. And best of all, I didn't give up by throwing myself on the couch and asking Dave, "Can't we just eat out?"

I Would Never Make it in Med School

I've always felt this way for many reasons. Sleep has always won over late-night studying, another person's blood doesn't excite me, and large amounts of stress make my eye twitch. However, another reason has come to my attention. Humiliation.

Rumor has it there's a doctor out there who keeps McDonald's applications in his office. If you don't meet his expectations, he finds it very satisfying to suggest that your skills be put to use elsewhere.  If that was said to me, I'd be out of that office, with tears streaming down my face and on my way to say goodbye to med school forever.

Thankfully, the doctor Dave's currently placed with is not like that. We aren't expecting the real "beating" to begin until next spring when he undertakes the surgery rotation. Apparently with the surgeons you can't even walk into the resident's lounge without being invited in. With all the attitudes doctors can acquire, it makes me wonder what med school really does to a person.

First Day

Today was Dave's first day on rotations.  It reminded me a lot of my first days of school.  The night before, we made sure his clothes were pressed to their finest, there was decent food for lunch, and set 2 different alarm clocks. (Don't make fun, you know you'd do the same.) Then, at 6:45 this morning Dave was dressed, kissed me goodbye, and headed out the door.  The days of him walking into class scruffy and wearing his favorite grey sweats are behind us now.  The patients waiting to be seen will be told he's a med student, but like so many others, they'll expect him to answer as a doctor nonetheless.  The studying has not ended, but has become even more important than before.  We've reached the half-way point and can ponder the decisions that once seemed forever away.  Today was the first day of our next two years.

Drama Royalty

Davey has a habit of drinking his bottle like this. It's as though he can't believe we made him wait so long to eat. We call him our little Drama King. Probably a trait inherited from his drama queen mom. Just yesterday I thought the worst was upon me when I awoke to a sick husband. Keep in mind that Davey and I barely see dad during the week, so when the weekend approaches we eagerly anticipate time with him and mommy's hoping for some extra hands to help change diapers too. But a sick husband meant no hugs for Davey (none for me either), no visits with family and friends, and no fireworks. A disappointment to be sure, but I made it out to be a bigger deal than it was. Thankfully I have a rational husband who's good at fixing things. He was able to set up a few chairs in baby's room so we could watch the neighborhood fireworks from our window. Just like Davey's bottle, that simple thing made things all better.

Tennis Anyone?

Since becoming a part of my husband's family I have come to (dare I say) love tennis. Last summer my mom and I even began our tennis careers with our first set of tennis lessons. Those have not come to their full effect since for a majority of the last year I looked more like an enlarged tennis ball. However, that has not taken away my desire to watch tennis. I must say there have been some good matches at Wimbledon this year. As the 4th approaches we definitely will have an American women's champion and a possible men's as well. As patriotic as I am though, I am a true "Fed Head" and hope to see him break history this year.

Our Med School Family

Consists of our family and David's classmate's family. Just the other day these two hooligans purchased the mouth watering iphone. Despite all the complaints about medical school, this is one of the advantages. Rotations start in 3 days and to be prepared for the humiliation from the residents and docs an iphone was deemed necessary. Try as we might, we wives could not determine a reason beyond the normal thrill of holding an iphone to own one. So we settled for two basic phones, but with one exciting detail...a full keyboard! I've never been able to text quick enough to respond to anyone in a decent fashion, until now. Give me a few days to train my thumbs and I may just become a real texter!

Mr. Big Cheeks

As we were on vacation, over and over the people we passed by had some comment about David to make. Usually something about his weight. "Why hello there Mr. Big Cheeks" or the more frequent, "That baby's not hungry!" I tried my best to smile and chuckle at these comments, even though on my inside I was thinking, "How dare you say that about our perfect baby". But then I took a look at this photo and thought...well maybe those cheeks are a bit big. What can we do though? When he's hungry he simply wails, "I'm wasting away! Why don't you feed me?"

Sushi

To celebrate the end of a quick 2 week summer vacation together, David and I stopped by Kona Grill. Discovering the great happy hour specials we decided to order some spicy tuna rolls. We aren't the "trendy" eaters so we haven't ever experienced the taste of raw fish. My immediate reaction was to spit it out, however it was quite crowded in the restaurant so I swallowed. I discovered it to be quite good, but I don't think I'll become a regular. I'm the one who cooks her meat bone dry and still picks at it to see if there's any pink. If raw fish became part of my diet I'm just not sure what would happen.

What's been happening since July 15, 2007

David started classes, I undertook a new teaching position, and both of us seriously questioned why we thought med school was a good idea. Well, we must have decided our lives weren't full enough because it's been a year and a half and the newest thing is David Patrick. So I'm no longer simply a med school wife...but a med school mother (aka: single parent). We quickly realized that for Dave to be doing well on tests (or simply passing tests) it requires a limited time with baby. This means that since Dave has a test Friday, we see him during our early morning feeding and the feeding right before bed. Although I have many thoughts about Dave during the day...I have to remind myself that by making the choice to be away, he's actually a better father. As next week approaches and I return to teaching, I too will be away the majority of the day, not because I want to, but because it's what's best for our family. This isn't what we had planned, but now that he's here we wouldn't want it any other way.