So I know I haven’t posted in, oh, a month or so. And I am sorry about that. I meant to put up NY pictures (I still will at some point) and then rotations started and now my time is limited once again. This last month has been interesting. I started my Urgent Care rotation and have been working in Newport Beach all month. It's been a good first experience seeing and treating patients. The clinic I am working at basically made me get my feet wet right away. I saw my own patients the first day and have been doing so since. It was scary at first and I would avoid the more challenging cases. But now I just go right into the room without even looking at the chart first to see what the complaint is. I'm not really nervous anymore and so I am able to just go in and see what's wrong and think my way through the history and exam. It's been fun and a little crazy at the same time. Urgent Care gets busy in SoCal! Here's some of the things I have seen so far this rotation - some lacerations, a few abscesses, a case of pelvic inflammatory disease, kidney stones, scabies, corneal abrasions, broken ankles and wrists, pneumonia, STDs, shingles, oral herpes, lots of upper respiratory infections, diabetic neuropathy...the list goes on. Most of the cases we get are WC cases, so it's a lot of paperwork. But it's been a good learning experience. Only 4 shifts left and then I am off to General Surgery. I am excited for surgery - it's what I am most interested in and what I think I want to specialize in so I am anxious to see how it all goes. Besides rotations, we still have school 2 days a month, tests, practicals, and write-ups each month, and my master's project is due in 3 weeks! I haven't started it yet - but it'll get done eventually. I get through it all somehow...So a little on NY... Chris and I met my parents in NJ where my dad has family. After cancelled flights and tons of delays getting there, we all finally made it. Talk about a travel fiasco though...but I'll forego the complaining this time. NJ was a ton of fun. We spent our time with my dad's aunt and uncle and grandmother (the one that's 102 years old.) Then we went up to NY two days and saw the big attractions - the Empire State Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Central Park, Time Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc. The weather was great and surprisingly it wasn’t very humid. We had fun in the city - lots of walking. Then the last day we were there, we went to upstate NY (just down the street from the Clinton residence) to a family birthday party. It was at a gigantic and gorgeous house. I mean seriously - the house was ridiculous. The family was very nice though and we had a great time. All in all, it was nice to visit family, meet new family, and get away. I have always wanted to go to NY. Next time we go, we're gonna go to Brooklyn and Staten Island. We didn’t have time to go there this trip. We mostly just saw Manhattan and Queens and Jersey. I can't wait to go back. Pictures to come soon...
In other news, Chris and I spent last weekend in CO. Chris' brother Tony just finished his Master's and so we had a celebratory bbq at Chris' parents house. But we also got to celebrate Mandy (Tony's wife)...she's expecting! Of course Chris and I were the last to know being that we are far away and all and that telephones and computers and email and all other forms of communication have been lost. :) Chris was a little bummed about that. But he said as long as they name the baby Chris he will forgive them. We won’t know the sex for a while - she's only 3 months along. But I think it's gonna be a girl for some reason. So this babe will be the first grandchild of Chris' family - and everyone is super excited. I'm happy for them, and glad it's not me. I'm definitely not ready for that yet. I’m getting there, but not there yet.
Well, that pretty much sums up the last month…lots of work (12 hour shifts) and numerous failed attempts to study. Hopefully I can put up NY pics soon...
