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

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