Living the 2nd year life!

Second year is in full swing.  I'm just wrapping up my second month.  July was In-Patient Medicine and August was Emergency Medicine.  It's been a whirlwind.  The new Interns are getting into their groove as new Physicians and the we are getting used to them looking up to us for guidance.  It's a weird feeling!  Most times, I barely feel like I know what I'm doing and now I'm mentoring other Residents and even have Medical Students working with me.  YIKES!!!!! 

I'm working on managing my time well, while trying to study and work and live life all at the same time.  It's been an interesting transition.  But that's life, at least in the last few years...nothing has stayed the same very long.  There's lots of change.  Always.  As soon as I get "comfortable" in one role, things switch up--be it a rotation or location or status as Student vs Intern vs 2nd Year Resident.

It's not all work all the time this year.  There's been some time to have friends visit, to go to Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and a take a trip to Chicago to link with my Sis from Med School!!! Chicago is a cool city.  There is much more to do in Chicago than we actually had a chance to in a short weekend but it was fun nonetheless. 

It's almost time for a new rotation to begin...time to get mentally prepared to be in a new environment again.  Let the fun [and learning to be a good Doctor] continue...

Who wants to read and not see pics, enjoy!

Summerfest-tons of FREE concerts for every music genre you could imagine.  Got to see Tory Lanez--just what I hoped it would be!!!

Chicago w/my Sissy...

                                  The Chicago Style hot dog was actually really good!

State Fair  featuring Jumbo Cream Puffs, En Vogue & T[L]C...

Tee came to town and we got to check out the beach...The beach by the lake that I have yet to get in, BUT it looked nice. 

Until next time...

Home Stretch of Intern Year...

3/4 of the First Year of Residency is over come Wednesday...That's sinking in and it feels great!  We've learned so much, slept so little and survived it all.  The year has actually been really good.  Every day I realize how much I still don't know but figuring it out is getting a little quicker and easier.  

2018 Match Week is coming up in a few weeks and we'll soon know who's joining our program for the next class of Family Medicine Docs!  Super exciting because I was just biting my nails and hyperventilating over Match Day myself.  It feels so long ago but not really.  I don't know if I'll ever forget that week....

As it stands right now, the Intern Class has one more month of in-patient service and then we're free of the month long stretches of virtually living in the hospital-woot woot!!! With the 14-16 hour shifts, most days we see more of the nursing staff and other colleagues than our own family and outside friends.  All of that will change come July 1.  We will still have lots of hospital responsibilities including covering in-patient two months during the year albeit with fairly normal working hours (yay 8am-5pm!!) with some 24 hour call shifts sprinkled in...and mentoring the new Interns....wowwwww.  That's all sinking in and it's kind of mind blowing.

Anyway,  in an effort to make it thru my last few days of night shift this month, I'm already daydreaming of brunch on the weekends and exploring Milwaukee while it's still daylight! 

Until next time...

Made it to the Half Way Point =)

I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that we have already made it thru the 1st 6 months of Intern Year!!!!!  It's kind of unbelievable. I always say that time moves fast when you're having fun...please be clear, this is totally a different kind of fun LOLOLOLOL. 

We are learning so much it's ridiculous, in a good way!  All of the Attendings, outside Preceptors and our Senior Residents are in to teaching and making us better Physicians.  With that being said...I can't lie, I am totally looking forward to Intern Year being over.  The schedule is hectic.  I never seem to get enough sleep.  Some days, ok weeks, I feel like I'm failing at adulthood with laundry piled high and an empty fridge. And I'm looking forward to not working as many weekends.  

All I can do is Thank GOD for my people!!!  My Co-Interns make everything better!  If it wasn't for them, I'd be a mess.  We keep each other sane during the crazy times, have each other's backs at all times, celebrate any occasion big or small (even making it thru another month is grounds to celebrate!) and enjoy Milwaukee whenever we can!

While there's been a lot of work these first 6 months, we have managed to squeeze in some fun as well.  Our Clinic and Residency Program is very involved in the local community.  We hosted a tea party for some of the older ladies in the surrounding area, put on an EPIC Halloween party for the neighborhood children and their families-complete with haunted house, unlimited candy, cookie decorating, arts & crafts and more!  We've had time to jump double dutch, hang out at the Wisconsin State Fair-and sample some amazing eats!, held our annual Resident Retreat in Sheboygan, WI and celebrated birthdays, holidays, weddings, and engagements (including my own!!! woot, woot!)

The crazy thing is, that while so many of these things were going on, we also just wrapped up Interview Season.  It feels like just a short time ago, WE were interviewing for the job and now we're helping to select the next class of Residents.  

All this to say, Intern Year is hectic but I have no regrets and I'm looking forward to what the next 6 months is all about!!!

                                               The Intern Crew 

             (Before we really knew what we were getting ourselves into!)

                                                             Wisconsin State Fair

                         I have ZERO shame!!!! The jumbo cream puff was delish!

The latest Ad to help Nurse Jenny Recruit fresh meat...

I mean the New Class of Residents =)

     
                                      Afternoon Tea Party (Complete with Fancy Hats)

                                                         
                                                              Halloween Party

                                                   

Early morning travels to work

                                                             Holiday Brunch!

How did I almost forget to mention that I took a much needed vacation back to one of my FAVORITE places ever last week!!!! SXM suffered major devastation from Hurricane IRMA in Sept 2017.  More than 80% of the buildings on the island were destroyed or damaged in some way but they are rebuilding.  The AUC students went to Preston England for a semester to continue their educational journey and as I was leaving St. Maarten the school was preparing to welcome a new class back to campus on the island many of us hold dear.  Even with major destruction, this island is still one of the most beautiful places ever! I'm looking forward the continued renewal of such a wonderful place. 

                     ...and THIS is what "welcomed" me back from vacation =(

Hope you enjoyed the catch up and the pics! 

Until next time....