What I've Learned This Year As an Intern...

As more of my internship year is behind me than in front (11 weeks left...:) :) :)) I've been thinking about all the experiences I've had and all the things I've learned. I've decided to post a few things that come to mind...
(For those who don't dealve into the cryptic world of medical training this has been my first year actually practicing medicine.)

-Take MY pulse first in an energency
-How to tell which patients are really sick and will crash any minute
-How to look someone in the eye and be the one to tell them they have cancer
-How hard it is to call someone's family in the middle of the night and tell them their loved one has passed away
-Little things count - 5 extra minutes to answer questions or small talk with a patient, a 10 minute call to a concerned family member, etc. goes a long way
-How to tell the truth even when it's hard
-That I know more than I thought I knew - I guess medical school wasn't a waste of time!
-That I can adapt when I'm pushed beyond what I thought I could do - never worked 30 hours shifts before
-That it takes at least twice as long to do things when I'm tired
-That indecision is one of the biggest wastes of time
-That Primary care requires more paperwork than I ever care to do again!
-To Say YES to my kids and my husband even when I'm tired -- still working on this one, but I WANT to do it EVERY time
-To Say NO to the extra-curriculars (drug rep dinners, extra presentations, etc.)
-To work hard without procrastinating -- I get slammed if I don't
-That there are extra points for poise and composure (I guess Junior Miss wasn't a waste of time)
-How to make my work (anywhere) a signature of who I am -- even if it seems like it doesn't matter, it usually does
-How to trust my gut -- aka listen to inspiration
-I'll never take another 2 day weekend for granted again!
-And the number one thing I've learned this year....45 minutes of sleep at night is better than no sleep at all!

Anyone else want to share their break throughs this year?

Home already?!?

We had a great time walking on the beach, wearing flip-flops, and just PLAYING this week. We were greeted at home today by clouds and rain in Cleveland. So while we recover from our jet-lag, I thought I'd post a slide-show preview. We had a great time, and Jeff has already called me 3 times saying he wishes we didn't have to come back!

Hawaii Here We Come...

We fly out tomorrow to Oahu for spring break to visit my dad, grandma and aunt who I haven't seen in 5 years! So here's the plan....

Thursday - visiting!! Hopefully we will get there in enough time to walk down to Kailua beach for a swim...if too late it will be great just to walk in the sand on the ocean.

Friday - Sea Life Park - our first time swimming with the dolphins and the sting-rays among all the other shows...then back for naps and relaxing

Saturday - Sailboating out for a snorkel tour w/the kids from Waikiki and after that maybe we'll try those glass-bottomed boats...hmmmm we'll do the tourist thing

Sunday - church and more family visiting

Monday - Hawaiian Water Adventure Park - we love the water slides...and usually close down the park

Tuesday - Oahu temple for Jeff and I and the Polynesian Cultural Center Luau in the evening -- I can't wait for the fresh pineapple bowels with the sherbet...yum!

Wednesday - Hanama bay for more snorkeling and then to my grandma's favorite sushi bar for dinner

Thursday - Hiking up Makapuu Point for some Humpback whale watching and to see Molokai and an amazing view of the ocean in the mist...then flying back to Cleveland through the night to return Friday morning.

I'm so excited! We'll see if it actually works...stay tuned for some REAL pictures!

Our First White Easter

Hadley and Hyrum at the ward Easter Egg hunt...Jeff secretly siphoned out 3/4 of Hyrum's eggs...I think Hyrum was just noticing in this picture.

Easter morning! In honor of Uncle Andy, a few tears were shed by the younger brother...this time because his basket WAS NOT located before his older sisters.


Hyrum eventually came out from under the bathroom sink (j/k) and in the end everyone's basket was found and everyone was happy! (of course, there was candy involved :)

Now we can officially join the frozen tundra club (hi Lani :) as we have had our first white easter. Thanks Kendra for the family picture...and the homemade strawberry shortcake!

Predictable

Well, I guess I'm getting pretty predicatable. Today after church we were walking to the car and I was about to ask Hyrum what he learned in his class when he looked up at me and said, "so mom, what did you learn in your mom class today?" At least my 3 year old is learning how to make conversation. Interesting enough, my "mom class" was teaching primary...and he was one of the kids.