Our rank order list has been submitted. We ranked all the programs we (and by we, I mean Geoff) interviewed at in our preferred order. Now we wait. Till Match Day. In March. Which will be the hardest part. I just want to know dang it. I want to know where my husband and I may be moving too. Is it back to WA, the Midwest, Texas, or the East Coast? The suspense is killing me.

If you know me in real life, then you know I’m a planner and like to know things in advance. So I can ensure that everything is taken care of efficiently. I don’t do last minute…and this feels like last minute. There is so much left to do before/if we leave. Packing, deciding when to move, what we’re going to do with our home, finding a new home (or apartment), and finding a job (for me) are just some of million things that will need to be done. With me not working at the moment, I guess I will have plenty of time to get it all done. We shall see though.

Stay tuned here on/around March 15th as this is where I will be announcing where we are going! Xoxo

Let me be honest with you…it doesn’t get better. I know, you were probably hoping for some source of hope. Sorry my friend. Year two is just as difficult, if not more so, than year one. Why? How? One word – BOARDS.

In addition to their classes, they now have to prep for their board exams – USMLE (M.D. specific) or COMLEX (D.O. specific). For those that do not know what D.O. means, it stands for ‘ Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine’. In some cases, should your S.O. go to a D.O. school, they may choose to take both board examinations. This was/is because at this current time, there are two separate matches. One for D.O. residency programs and the other for M.D. residency programs. They occur a month apart from each other. If your spouse is going to be a D.O., chances are is they may want to partake in both matches or just one. Depending on which one they want to partake in, they need to take the applicable board examinations. The material for the most part is the same with a few differing subjects here and there…it’s just double the test days and costs more money. Lucky you! However, recent events in the medical community have confirmed that the Match that will occur in 2020 will be just one. Both the D.O.’s and M.D.’s will partake in the same Match Day. Which I think, will be easier/better. But, like anything, we shall see.

There is a Facebook group for the S.O.’s of those who attend my husbands medical school and I joined it as soon as possible. It includes everyone from first years to fourth years. One of the questions that gets asked often is what to do the summer between first year and second year. My husband did research thinking that it was going to better bolster his application for residency. However, I would NOT recommend that. That summer is the LAST “true” summer you will have. Spend it traveling and relaxing. We didn’t and I wish we had. Every summer from then out your S.O. will spend it either studying or on rotation or moving (summer between medical school and residency). Enjoy it while you can.

xoxo

More than a feeling, it’s a place. More than just a day, it’s a lifetime. More than the good times, it’s the bad times too. It’s perfectly imperfect. ❤️

I am so thankful for this man. He’s been so supportive, loving, and encouraging. He puts up with my irritability (more like hangryness) and reminds me that we’re on this journey T O G E T H E R. It’s not just me against the world or without support. He’s there with me. We are a TEAM and we will always be a team. 💕

I’m not sure about you, but I feel like there is this pressure to live/show a perfect life. Whether it is on social media, to your friends, family, or coworkers. It’s like it is encouraged to show that we have it together all the time and life is sunshine and rainbows. And if you’re not? Well, that is just unacceptable. (Insert sarcasm and rolling eyes). You shouldn’t be showing that you’re a failure or failing at life if you’re doing this, but should be doing that. Or not maintaining a clean and perfect home if you have the time to do so. In the same breath, I think there is a certain level of acceptance when it comes to being vulnerable and honest about life. Because life is not a highlight reel. It’s messy. It’s full of laughter, anger, sadness, grief, highs, and lows. I know, I know, it seems obvious and I probably come off as a Hallmark card, but it’s true. I NEED this reminder.

Each time I feel like I am not holding it together and failing at being a daughter or a wife or a friend, I’m reminded that there is no perfect life. We all have demons and problems in our lives that we’d rather not deal with. But it’s learning that the demons and problems we have don’t define us. We cannot let the chatterbox in our head convince us that we are not worth of the blessings we have or want. If you have not read or listened to Crash The Chatterbox, I strongly encourage that you do. I found it to be one of the better personal development books I’ve read and highly encourage you too as well.

I hope you know that it’s okay to be perfectly imperfect and that we’re all works in progress. It’s okay to not have it all together, because who does?

Xoxo

Peace out Vegas. Hello Seattle.

Today is the day that those who applied to the AOA match find out where they’re going to be going for the next four years. I am so happy for everyone who matches and hope that they all get where they wanted. It’s crazy to think I’ll be there in just a little over a month!!

Congratulations everyone! Xoxo

Good question, I wish I knew. Haha In all seriousness though, this question is the one I get asked most frequently. Every time I mention that I may be moving in May. Geoff and I could be moving anywhere or nowhere. Our rank order list includes locations on each coast and in between. And putting your preferences in order is super stressful. I’m leaning on Geoff’s interview experience as well as his opinion of the area before and after the interview in ranking a program.

Sure, it is just as important for me to like the area as well. There should be things to do outside of the area we are living in. Places to walk, hiking, other areas within driving distance, etc. Additionally, I would like to work (again) and possibly start a family. If it’s a place that’s nice (which is relative), we may move things around. Let me reiterate that not knowing where I am headed is stressful. There is so much planning that is having to be left on the back burner and if you know me, I am a planner. Planning ahead and making sure that I know what is coming down the pipeline. I like being in control. But God knows I’m not and I am learning to be okay with that.

If you haven’t seen my post on the Match, I’ll link it below. If you want to understand what I mean by rank order list, here’s a video that explains it really well.

Living In A State of Uncertainty

NRMP Rank Order List

Cross your fingers we match where we want to go!

Xoxo