CH-CH-CH-CHANGES...

So, some updates...

Boards. Our boards for PA school are called PANCE...that stands for Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. It consists of 360 questions on signs, symptoms, lab findings and diagnostics, treatment, and medications for a wide range of diseases from the varying systems in the body. It's pretty intense. Then your score is calculated out of 820. Well, I took the PANCE last Thursday (8/13/09) and finally found out the results yesterday morning. I PASSED! I scored 690 out of 820, which is the 93rd percentile (which means, I scored better than 93% of the students who sit for boards). So I did good. Chris says he never had any doubts, but I always had an eensy weensy bit of doubt in the back of my mind that I kept suppressing until I knew for sure. After all, he didn't take them. He doesn't know what they are like. :) It seemed like you either knew the answer or you didn't, which can end up being scary, depending on how many you don't know. And there's 9 different versions of the test (or something like that) and you never know how each question plays into your total score. Anyhow, I guess I don't have to worry any more. I passed, and that means I'm good for 5-6 years, until I have to take the PANRE, which is the re-certifying exam. At least the PANRE in only 300 questions. :) So now, I am officially and completely done with PA school, I have a Master's degree, and not only am I a PA, I'm a certified PA, which is even better. I'm still in shock.

Moving. Chris and I have been packing little by little for the past week, getting ready to move to Colorado. Our house is a mess! It's full of boxes everywhere you turn...we can barely get through the hallway or the kitchen. My parents come out tomorrow to help us finish packing and tying up all the loose ends...and to see the beach one last time for a while. And then the movers come Thursday morning to pack all of our stuff into a semi (yes, we have that much stuff...you're surprised?...you and me both.) Then we leave Thursday afternoon, as soon as the movers leave, and we'll drive 6 hours of our 16-hour drive. We plan to stop in Vegas for dinner, and then go to St. George, Utah where we'll stay the night. Then Friday we'll do the rest of the drive and hopefully be to Colorado at a decent time. We're excited to be back, but will be more excited when we get jobs and a house. We'll miss Irvine and the beach and most of California, but we'll be better off in Colorado. We're looking forward to exploring the state and doing all the things we never did when we we're growing up. It should be fun!

Jobs. Still no luck for Chris or I when it comes to the job hunt, but we're looking everyday. We probably picked the worst time to move, as far as jobs and the economy go, but we couldn't wait any longer. Chris has wanted to move back since the day I started PA school...so I guess you could say we've put it off long enough! I'm hoping to find a job working in family practice or urgent care, but we'll see. I may have to take what I can get, at least for now. We can only live off savings for so long, and this move home is costing a lot! Chris is still looking in medical device companies, but may have to expand his search to other types of mechanical engineering. We'll see.

Dogs. Chris and I are getting very close to getting our own pup. I've wanted my very own dog for so long...for as long as I can remember. Chris promised me (more like I made him promise me) that I could have a dog for my graduation present. We're planning on getting a Great Dane or two and have been in contact with several breeders for the last year. Anyhow, it looks like our number might just be up...there's a breeder in Arizona that has a litter due in two weeks and the puppies would be ready to take home in October (we're hoping to have a house by then). She's not sure how many puppies there will be in the litter...the momma got an x-ray today to get a better idea and then we'll know where we stand on the list. I'm crossing my fingers. I have been waiting for this day for so long.
Spare time. So now that Chris and I are unemployed, and I am done with boards and studying, Chris and I have had a little spare time. We've been frequenting the beach and the pool more, and we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and also to Sea World. We had a great time! We've also been catching up with friends here before we take off for good. We've been working out every day, which is nice, and going to bed late, sleeping in late, etc., etc. I've also been reading now that I can read what I want. I just finished the book I bought Monday and plan to go get another one soon. It's been nice. I guess we're just enjoying the time off while we can...God knows it won't be like that for long, and it will be long before it's like that again (quite possibly until retirement). We have been trying to get back to Colorado since April, and it seems nothing is going our way. So we decide to go out of a limb and just go. I know God has a plan for us out there, and we're hoping that soon He'll make it be know!

For now, that's all the change that's going on in our lives. It's a lot all at once, but we're ready and excited. We'll keep everyone updated as we settle into Colorful Colorado. :)

DONE!

Finally, after two long and very demanding years, my PA school adventure is over with! I literally can't believe it because there were many, many times these past two years that I thought I would never see today! I took my boards yesterday morning...I think they went pretty well. And now, I am completely and officially done with it all. Just awaiting the test scores now! Will keep you all posted...

I'M A PA!

It is official...I am done with PA school, I now have a Master's degree, and I'm a PA. I couldn't be more excited! Time to celebrate!

We're Moving!

I finally don't have to keep it a secret any longer! Chris and I will shortly become Coloradoans once again. That's right...we're moving to CO. We plan on packing up everything the end of August and will drive out before the month is through. Can't wait!

IN 36 DAYS...

I'LL OFFICIALLY BE A PA!

I can't believe it.

I'm starting to get a little nervous about being out on my own...but I'm super excited at the same time. The "academic" part of grad school is officially over...I had my final exam, final practical, and master's presentation a few weeks ago and passed all those with flying colors. I found out I got the highest score on the written final in the history of the program. Crazy! But I haven't studied since the exam 3 weeks ago so I gotta get back on track. But I'm hoping my score is a sign that I'll do well on the boards. Now I'm doing my LAST rotation back at the urgent care I started my first rotation at. I liked it there and decided to go back - they really let you be on your own and make decisions about the patients' care and I thought this autonomy would be a good thing right before I finish and go out on my own. I'm officially finished with this rotation on July 31st. Then I have 13 days to study for my boards, which I scheduled for August 13. Just gotta pass the exam and then it's official. Yesterday I sent in my application for my license, which was very exciting. Now just gotta find a job! Wish me luck...I could really use everyone's prayers. I'm stressing!

Only 2 more months left!

Just a few weeks ago, I graduated from PA school. A little bittersweet since I still have two months of rotations left. But on the flip side, I ONLY HAVE TWO MONTHS LEFT!

I'm so excited, so burnt out, so ready to be on my own. I'm not looking forward to more studying for boards, nor am I looking forward to finding a job. I can't even fathom how fast this adventure in my life has gone by. I remember thinking the first week of school that the end would never come. But now there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I can finally see it. It's faint, but it's growing exponentially, and soon I'll come face to face with it. What a fantastic day that will be.

The pics are from my graduation...my mom, dad, and brother were able to fly out and stay for a few days, and Chris got time off from work to be there in support. There's also a pic with me and my two best study buddies, Jessica and Katherine. It was a great day, even though we're not technically done. It means we're getting closer though, and I'm excited about that!

NEW PICS OF JILLIAN...

One month old...

HERE SHE IS...

JILLIAN CLAIRE CAPPELLO
BORN FEBRUARY 18TH, 2009 AROUND 10:30 PM
4 LBS OR SO

BABY NEWS...

Well, it looks like today is Mandy and Tony's (my brother- and sister-in-law) lucky day! We got a call at 5:30 this morning from Tony saying that Mandy's water broke and they were on their way to the hospital. She then got induced at noon today. It's a little early...the baby wasn't due for another 5 weeks. So I've decided that this babe MUST be a boy...another impatient February-born Cappello boy. :) All the Cappello son's are February babies. So if it turns out to be a girl, I'll be shocked. We're all so very happy for them and bummed that we cannot be there with the rest of the family to watch and wait and meet the little one. We can't wait to find out the sex and the name they chose...I'll keep you posted!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Today I decided that my husband gives the best gifts AND has the best taste in jewelry. We decided that we wouldn't get each other a gift this Valentine's Day and that, instead, we would go out to a nice dinner. But Chris of course went ahead and got me a gift anyway. I should have known. I guess in the future I can't trust him when he says things like that. Chris got me an emerald cut aquamarine ring that perfectly matches a pair of emerald cut aquamarine earrings he had gotten me for my rotations (we can't wear dangling earrings on rotations...only studs). It's gorgeous! Just the other day when I was wearing the earrings, this girl at work commented on how pretty they were and when I told her Chris had picked them out, she was surprised. She said he had good taste in jewelry and I agreed. And today proves it. I wish guys were easier to shop for and liked things like flowers and chocolates and jewelry and spa days. It would make Valentine's Day (and gift giving in general) so much easier! Tonight, we're still getting dinner. We're trying out this new place in Santa Ana. Should be interesting...Hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day!

BABIES AND HEARTS...

So I just finished my pediatrics rotation, consisting of lots and lots of sick babies and toddlers. It was an interesting experience. You really learn how to get good at examining them. Especially the ones we call "little fighters". It's amazing how strong some of these kids are! Overall it was a pretty good experience. I liked working with the little ones, but I don't know that I could do that forever. I think it would make me not want to come home to my own kids. It's very tiring. What I took away from it was what it's gonna be like to have my own...how much they cry and throw temper tantrums, and how they can be so stubborn! It made me realize that I'm not quite ready for my own yet, though. I still need some time. And it made me think of my friends who have children. I can empathize with them in a way now. Nowadays it seems like everyone I know is having children. My sister-in-law Mandy is pregnant and due at the end of March; my great friend Anne is pregnant with her second girl and she's due early April; our good friends Matt and Carrie just had their second child, a boy, Peter, a little over a week ago; and then there's some others that I'm not really close with who are also expecting - a girl from school, a couple we used to go to youth group with, another girl from youth group, etc. It's crazy how many people are pregnant right now. It must be in the water. I better be careful... :)
Anyhow, now I'm off to a rotation in Cardiology. I am especially excited for this one. I love the heart and I've always been fascinated by how powerful an organ it is. I'm also gonna get to see some procedures too, such as angioplasties and bypasses. I'm very excited. I start tomorrow! Below are some pictures of a real human heart, for those that haven't seen one. It's so amazing...to think such a small thing keeps you alive everyday. Wow.