Achievement unlocked.

I am taking this extremely small break between modules to come up for air and say hi to the world. Hello world.

So, Chris is on week 3 of OBGYN rotations and so far he's survived GYN surgery, OBGYN clinic, 2 call shifts (27 hours straight, what the...?!), and lots of blood/placenta spattered scrubs (I'm glad those stay at the hospital and don't come home). He is loving OBGYN just like I knew he would. He hasn't caught any babies yet, but has caught 2 placentas and has first assisted in a GYN surgery and a cesarean. He's getting great experiences and loves his attendings and residents. [Note: Only the husband of a midwife/midwife-in-training would use the phrase 'catching babies' versus delivering them...mamas birth babies, providers help catch...and there is no end to how much I love that he says this.]

Feeling like single girlz during one of Christian's call shifts.

He says if anything ever happened with emergency medicine that he'd look into it. OBGYN and a midwife...I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time. I'm still betting he'll remain enamored with emergency medicine and I think it's a great fit for him. Right now I'm just glad he's enjoying the rotation. The hours have been a little tough but we're making it work.

I myself am nose to the grindstone trying to prepare for an exam on Thursday. It's a ton of material and everyone in the class is overwhelmed (not just me...I guess that's good). It's hard because it's the first GYN class and I'm so excited to be on midwifery content but it's just SO dense it's really hard to sift through. Hopefully I'll survive and live to see another semester.

My cave right now...no we CANNOT do it!

In the meantime, Christian got a little break tonight after working a 27 hour shift starting Saturday morning so he had the boys over for Star Wars, barbecue, beer for the drinkers (root for the non), and breaking ground on construction of a rather large Lego R2-D2 model. I hate to be locked away while fun things are happening but I'm really glad he's getting a chance to unwind before the week starts allll ovverrrr againnnnn (nothing to be done to stop it, trust me, I've tried).

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Ash

hey jimmy kimmel, YOU SUCK!

If I had a dollar for every time a kid said this in the following videos, I'd have at least $10. Am I a bad person for thinking it's hilarious to have a laugh at your kid's expense every once in a while? Perhaps. These videos remind me of when my brother went through a hilarious prank phase (that I may or may not have found funny at the time) and no one was off limits. Okay, a few may cross into the slightly mean territory (specifically the father's day ones?) but if thinking these are hilarious is wrong, I don't wanna be right. Keep 'em coming, Jimmy. Compiled for your viewing pleasure:

(Which ones are your favorites?)



I told my kids I ate their Halloween candy - DEFINITE favorite at 2:45. Although 1:04 is great (I love this dad's attention to detail) and 2:00 is amazing. I love a 'glass half full' kind of kid.



Crappy Christmas gift - okay, 1:40 takes the cake...I love that the brother is totally ready to take it, nice kids - they just seem confused. :) 3:45, that kid needs to be grounded, big time.



Crappy gift part II - The little girls at 1:12 are adorable. The winners are probably a tie between 2:26 and 3:20 (that kid is totally STOKED to get a potato).



Waking up kids for school in the summer - Note: my sister would have literally socked my parents in the face if they pulled this on her...girlfriend is NOT a morning person. 1:04 is good, that's what I would've done...1:28, those sweet boys, I love them trying to do the math in their heads.



I unplugged the TV during the game - Lesson of this video, adults use foul language and throw things. :) I like the guy at 1:10 and the dude at 1:30, but the boldest one is the kid who does it in a room FULL of people at 2:00, not with the remote but straight up unplugs that flat screen.



I Silverstone'd my kids - Okay, the percentage of kids who eat the food is hilarious (especially the ones who say they like it). The first kids are pretty funny (I don't know why there's so much crying?! I would've just run from my mom and called her nasty). The last kid in the 1:25 sequence totally calls mom out on her BS. 3:05, they're totally into it.



I sprayed my dad with a hose - Okay, depending on the day my dad had, he'd either think this was hilarious or be super bummed. I'd just have to select my moment very carefully. I feel like some people did not choose quite as wisely. Love the guy at 0:40 with the hot tea, 1:36 - this dad is so calm, and of course 2:24....don't dish it if ya can't take it, Jimmy.



I sprayed my dad with a hose, part II - 0:38, I love that chasing ensues, 1:00 - this dad totally uses an innocent dog as a shield, 1:26 - this kid is a prime example of wrong time wrong place. 2:07, "Why are you doing this?!"




Love,

Ash

PS - Can you tell someone is doing his first overnight call shift leaving another certain someone alone to her own devices? (The dog can't stop me.)

link up? sure, why not!

Okay, I've never done anything interactive with another blog before but I figured family would be interested in seeing what I bum around in all day. And without further ado - my dress code (hosted by bloggers Anna and Renee):

Before grad school, I practically lived in scrubs. Between my 4 years as a patient care tech (nurse assistant), two and a half of those in nursing school, plus my first nursing job, I probably owned more scrub pants than I did jeans and shorts combined. Nursing school was polo shirts and scrub pants (No pockets on top?! For a student?! Pretty awful.) Then Christian and I moved in together - he was an EMT for 2 years, worked in the CPR lab at the U of A, and had just started medical school - so we pooled our resources. We're about the same height so sharing unisex scrubs is no big deal (and helpful when getting dressed in the morning).

Our very first clinical rotation. Remember how fabulous we thought we were?!

Loved having my cousin born at the hospital I worked at...needless to say they got special attention. :)

We wore caps for our big university-wide graduation, to distinguish ourselves from the crowd. I think we looked pretty cute.

Then, I became a nurse educator/case manager. Public health nursing was something I never imagined myself doing but I quickly fell in love with it (and it's dress code). Can you say CASUAL?! As long as I don't look like a hobo, I'm pretty much okay. I try to stick to nice jeans, closed toe shoes, and my Teen Outreach or another non-awful shirt.

Nurse educator/case manager garb. This baby was born with a face, but must be an unidentifiable baby because of privacy and all that stuff. Unlike the above baby that is related to me and absolutely too cute not to show.

Then I got into grad school. Now I'm training to be a "provider"....professionalism is the name of the game. This often includes the use of a shiny (yet still weird-looking to me) white coat.

On my way into clinic....stillll getting used to this look.

I'm glad my preceptor prefers to go sans coat and I'm allowed to take cues from her, so I usually ditch the coat for regular old business casual. I won't need to don scrubs again until I hit my intrapartum rotation (AKA time to catch babies!).

On my way to an on-campus intensive learning day. Also something I might wear to clinic to see patients (although I much prefer pants.)

As far as gear, while I used to carry a fully stocked bag full of all the goodies the other girls hosting the link up carry, now I carry a suitcase full of baby dolls, a knitted uterus, rubber cervix, and a pair of mesh panties that would make the ladies at Victoria's Secret jealous. Also: breast pads, a breast pump, a rubber breast, a cloth breast, and lots of other breast-related gear.

Don't forget the cloth pelvis! Love that guy... 

So that's about it for me. Nurse friends, you're welcome to link up. I'm slowly fading after a long day in clinic (and husband has been in bed since 8:30....welcome to third year rotations I guess...).

Hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July! 

Love,

Ash

#$%^&*(*&%^&

So I guess we can all agree this blog is best for updates and photos of fun things (when we have time to do fun things and photograph them) and not for my thoughts on life or marriage or fashion (yikes) or even Viesa.

I have to look back because I honestly can't even remember where I last left you! Let's see...oh my....I can't believe I didn't share the happiest of all days when Christian conquered Step 1! Jeeze, you guys are really behind...

Here's a few goodies from ACNM (since I promised I'd tell you about it but don't really have the energy besides to say that it was amazing and incredibly renewing and beyond encouraging and I can't wait for next year....Nashville, Tennessee!):

Birth art and goodies EVERYWHERE.

Needlework everywhere! SO bummed I left mine at home!

My classmate Heather and me, leaving the vendor area with goodies.

Okay: so Chris did it! He took Step 1 and lived to tell the tale. I think it was a good thing that I was able to be gone the week before his exam and I am SO SO SO glad I ditched the conference a day early to come home and be with him on the day. It was emotionally/mentally/physically draining for him and I was so happy to be around to help and support. Now you're all thinking, "Well how did he do?!!?". Legitimate question but we won't know for another 3 weeks or so. Apparently tests taken on the computer are so hard to grade, it takes 6 weeks to get the grades out. No matter what the score is, we're happy to put it behind us and move on to the fun stuff.

Trying to sleep off 8 weeks of hellish studying. I don't know what Vies is sleeping off....

Right after his exam, Christian was able to enjoy some relaxation time. We did a few fun things together here and then he went to California for a week with his school friends to visit Mickey Mouse. Unfortunately (or devastatingly, however you want to look at it) I was unable to go with because I'm still in the middle of a semester. Duty (aka the clinic) calls and I had to sit this one out. He absolutely deserved the R & R (and to see Mickey) and I'm so glad he went.

He was with Mickey, I was doing all of this. I'm not bitter at all. 

In the meantime, I'm still plugging away at clinical. I am really loving the clinic I'm at and as I've previously mentioned I'm smitten with my preceptor. She is a delightful woman and a wonderful midwife and I want to be just like her when I grow up. :) I'm taking care of patients on my own now and it feels crazy/good. I feel comfortable doing OB visits of most varieties - new or return aka subsequent visits throughout pregnancy. I am working towards mastering that darn speculum (I'm getting there - that cervix is one sneaky sonofagun). I'm also getting better at finding heart tones and knowing what I'm feeling when I'm feeling around, whether that's on the belly or in the vagina. I had a moment with a patient and her husband and 3 year old the other day when I whipped out the doppler assuming she (already well into her second trimester) had heard the baby before. She informed me that because of transferring care from another city and letting too much time lapse during their move to Phoenix, she was too early to hear the heartbeat at her last appointment. When I found that kiddo's heartbeat they all melted and the 3 year old was patting mama's belly saying, "Baby!". I mean, c'mon. That's my job, fo reals. I'm not pretending it's all sunshine and rainbows, but it's pretty wonderful. I feel grateful that people let me squish on their bellies and feel their kicking, growing babies. 


After Christian's glorious albiet wayyyy too short break, he was back to school again - this time as a MS3! Yes, that's right. Christian is now a THIRD year medical student. As in three out of four. I can hardly believe it. I took the requisite first day of school photo (the first one in our "new" house)...this year I could only grab my iPhone for a photo as I myself was sprinting out the door to clinic. The menas I only have one more photo to take (until PGY1, the first year of residency, that is). You can see the photos from year one and year two here.

It's big time stuff now, like working 5+ days a week all day plus taking night call and the occasional on-call weekend. It's time for him to put all that delicious knowledge to good use. His first rotation is OB, which I (obviously) think is fantastic. I asked him if he's going to claim his hippie midwife spouse and he said proudly. :) Then it's on to surgery then other things I don't remember the order of. Now until Christmas is going to go by at an astonishing pace, I can tell you right now. 


That touches on the major things. In downer news, my dad is off to do the Army thing in an unnamed middle eastern country for far too long a time (although any amount of time is too long a time). We love him very much and hope he returns to us safe and sound (and just in time for my sister's wedding!).


Now I will be one tired student midwife in the clinic tomorrow if I don't get myself in bed. Hope you enjoyed the little bite of our current reality. I'm sure more exciting things will happen and I will wait three or four months to tell you about them.




Love,
Ash

I've found my happy place.

I know we've been MIA forever. No apologies here...just crazy busy schedules. I've started my clinicals and LOVE THEM. Christian is less than week away from Step 1 and I've abandoned him (or given him mercifully uninterrupted peace and quiet...not sure which) for five days while I attend the American College of Nurse Midwives annual meeting. I've been here for a matter of hours (all they're doing today is registration) and I am overwhelmed by the energy of the room. I can't describe what it feels like being surrounded by so many smart, strong, and passionate women at one time. I can't wait to enjoy the rest of the week.

So until I get home to tell you all about it....

Love,
Ash

Ahhh.....weekend.

This past week has had me sighing with happiness multiple times. Christian took his last regular block exam of medical school (what the?!) last week. Even though he has his OSCE (his doctoring aka patient exam final) coming up this week, he's in a much better place. Splitting his brain between two studying endeavors (OSCE and Step 1) is much easier than splitting it between three. And after this week, we'll be down to one! Don't get me wrong, it's a whopper of a test, but he's such a hard worker and I know he's excited to get to focus his attention on it.

As for our happy weekend sighs: we were so excited when Christian's dad got in touch on Friday and said he and my mother-in-law were thinking of coming up to visit. Christian's mom is a college student (as well as a busy mom) and his dad owns his own business, so they haven't had a chance to visit us in our new house yet. They came up on Saturday, saw the house, and loved on their grand-doggy. We took them to our favorite Phoenix pizza place, Humble Pie (gourmet 12" pizzas made with local ingredients, SO GREAT). 

Then today we met for lunch at the perfect pre-baseball game joint, Alice Cooper's downtown restaurant Cooperstown. No Alice today - apparently he comes often, we've seen him there once - but it was packed full of Diamondbacks fans. Baseball games are always fun and social, whether the team wins or loses (sorry D-Backs), but I wasn't sure what to expect since they had lost both Friday's and Saturday's games to the Braves...and pretty badly at that. BUT we must've been good luck because we watched the Gerardo Parra hit a grand slam in the second inning and the Diamondbacks went on to win it 6-4. Go team!

I actually got to spend a HUGE chunk of the this weekend with my darling husband and his parents and eating more than one meal with him in a span of three days was just a treat. This is the somewhat sad yet true state of our lives right now. But the past few days have been great. Lots of happy sighing. And lots of exercising. And watching what I eat. As you all know, I've been running and training for the half marathon in November for a month and some change. This is ending week one of accompanying my exercise with a food log and it's been SO helpful. I feel like I'm getting stronger and that's awesome. Things that would have made me incredibly sore or out of breath in the beginning feel easy now. The scale is changing a bit but I'm trying to focus mainly on my fitness goals, which means I feel accomplished and encouraged pretty much every day. And that's awesome. :)

My break from school is wrapping up and I miss it already but I received my clinical placement and am BEYOND excited to get started in the clinic, not to mention an opportunity has presented itself to work as a birth assistant for our local birth center. Hopefully my crazy schedule will allow because there is nothing on this earth like attending a birth. My main OB experience is in postpartum, so I'm super hungry for birth experience. More on my midwifery life on another day. We're off to happy sigh our way to a wonderful and much deserved night's sleep.

PS - Our yard is coming back to life!

It's Friday the 13th.

I don't know how universal this is, but in my experience nurses are superstitious creatures. For example, don't ever step on to a unit (especially as a nursing student...you only make this mistake once) and remark loudly to all staff within earshot how "QUIET it is around here!". They'll all curse at you (out loud or under their breath) for dooming them to an unmanageably busy rest of the day. Which it will be. And it's all your fault! And OB nurses/ED nurses can predict their business by the weather and lunar cycles. Full moon? Look out L&D. Rainy Friday night? Here's to a full and busy night in the emergency department. I, however, have never taken issue with 13 or Friday the 13th. I was number 13 growing up playing soccer and always loved it. And I recall having nothing but pleasant Friday the 13ths (see, now I might be jinxing myself...). Apparently this year there are 3 instances of Friday the 13th, which is the most there can possibly be (and they are, wait for it......13 weeks apart!). 

I know I've been a delinquent blogger (and I refuse to apologize!). To be honest I've been avoiding the computer like the plague. When you go to school online, watch lectures online, study online, take tests online (you get the picture), once the semester ends the computer is the last place you want to be. And it has been incredibly relaxing! I'm not getting as much done as I had hoped - which could be considered the story of my life - but I've been feeling like a regular person and focusing on me again. I got a new gym membership, I've been working on my Couch to 5K running program (week 5 of 8 next week!), taking the doggy to the park to enjoy this amazing pre-meltdown weather, enjoying time with my husband, and reading reading reading. Novels. For funsies. 

The many faces (and sleeping positions) of Viesa.

Running at Gold's in the Cardio Theater!

Near the end of school I had to finish up the Hunger Games series before we went to see the movie. I had read the first book a while back and hadn't got my hands on the last two until my mom picked up the series and slammed through it, lending me book 2 and 3 when she was finished. I enjoyed them a lot and the movie was a cool opportunity to see the characters come to life. I'm thoroughly looking forward to the next one. 

Then, I wanted to finish another of my constantly in-progress books, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. We saw the American movie on my birthday on a whim (I didn't know much about the books). I enjoyed the story so much, I snatched up the e-book then began painstakingly attempting to read it during the semester (a few pages here and there in line at the store or while eating lunch). The minute my last exam was finished, I absolutely devoured the entire Millenium series: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (thank you Jeff for loaning me the real physical copies....sorry people, I like to hold my books and dogear the pages). I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed them. Fantastic crime novels with a little bit of everything. Definitely a dark read, so maybe not for everyone, but I LOVED them. I'm in the process of watching the swedish movies (on Netflix!) and I really hope they make the sequels to the American film (which I loved). 

Now that I no longer have my nose stuck in a book, I'll take the next week or so to get some more things done that I wanted to accomplish while on break. We lost a few nurses at Teen Outreach so I've been sub teaching for another site. In response they are currently looking for a nurse to take on two or three sites as a full-timer and I can't help but sigh because this would've been a dream job had it come along before grad school. They've offered me another site (slash pleaded for me to take it) but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew as I begin my clinical rotations in May. I'm on the hunt for a fantastic OB/public health nurse that loves working with teens/moms/babies to take the spot. Hopefully we'll find someone fabulous (and soon!).

Hope to green up the yards with some beautiful (and low maintenance!) clover.

Christian is, at this moment, cramming in any extra knowledge he can before he takes his very last block exam of medical school. Insert sentimental thought here. I know, it's flying by and we can't even believe it. He has his practical exam in a few weeks (an exam that covers all the physical exam stuff he has learned the first two years of school) and then it's on to full time Step 1 studying. And by full time I mean 8-10 hour days, 6 days a week. It will be a slightly trying May, but he'll take his test on June 7th and all that hard work will pay off. I am SO incredibly proud of him and excited for him to get his hands dirty come July when his clinical rotations begin. It will be such a huge milestone for him!

I'll try to do a better job of keeping everyone updated on what's up with us. Hope you all find yourself happy and healthy and enjoying this RIDICULOUS weather. 71 degrees?? Yes, please.