Traveling During COVID

The husband and I had time off at the beginning of last month (October) and while it is still COVID times, we needed to get away. To get out of state. While I wish we didn’t have to deal with COVID, it was exactly what we needed. It’s cold, wet, and gross here right now in Seattle, so we chose to go somewhere sunny. We went to Las Vegas and Southern Utah!

If you’re new here, we lived in the Vegas area for 4 years while Geoff went to medical school. We had not yet been back since our return to Washington. When we got off the plane, we were hit with the familiar heat, smells, and sights of the Vegas valley. Needless to say, we were very happy to be in a warmer climate. It only confirmed that long term, we probably want to be somewhere warmer. Sorry mom.

We bracketed our trip with time in Las Vegas. Flew in on Sunday, ran around town. Got my favorite poke (Poke Poku) for lunch, visited the outlet malls, and even got deep dish pizza (Giordanos) for dinner! That same night we drove to Southern Utah where we were meeting up with my in-laws who just also happened to be down there at the same time! Driving with the deep dish pizza in the back was torture because it smelled SO GOOD. But we waited till we could share it with my in-laws. And it was well worth the wait.

Since a majority of our trip was spent in Southern Utah, we had my in-laws show us around their future city of retirement. Went to some amazing food places, which I have listed down below. We are very excited for them and cannot wait for their home to be complete. They’ve worked so incredibly hard for this and the fact they’re getting everything they want, makes my heart full.

Lamy’s – very good Mexican food.
Iceberg – heads up, the mini milkshake? Is not mini.
Icebox – try the pastrami burger.
Nielsen’s Frozen Custard – similar to Iceberg, share.

This was the mini. My in-laws were laughing because both my husband and I got our own. We will be sharing next time.

While also in Southern Utah, we went backpacking. How could we not somehow spend some time outside in Zion National Park?! If you’re curious, we ended up doing the Hop Valley to Lee’s Canyon trail. It wasn’t bad at all. Geoff wanted to possibly do two nights instead of one…but thankfully I was able to convince him that one night was enough. Hahaha I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love being outdoors and backpacking. But hiking in the PNW is very different than hiking in the high desert. Thank goodness we chose to play it safe. The hike from our campsite, to our ending point (Lee’s Canyon) was mostly in the sun…and it was uphill. Which. Sucked. With little to no water sources (the Virgin River where one would normally get water had a bacteria in it that was not safe for consuming), it meant we carried ALL OF OUR WATER for the two days we were out in the backcountry. For the two of us, we took 10L and it was just enough to get us through.

Geoff looking at the beauty of Zion. Right at the end/beginning of the trail to the Kolab Arch.

We cannot wait to go back again and explore another part of the park. Hopefully this time there won’t be any bad bacteria infecting the water sources. Carrying all your water is pretty cumbersome. Have you been to Zion? Did you do any backpacking? If so, what did you do and did you enjoy it?? Tell me more!

While it is now cold and gross here in the PNW I am going to dream of warmer weather and planning for our next trip down. Hopefully very soon! 🤞🏼❤️

28 Hours

That’s how long Geoff is on call. I won’t see him till about 9am tomorrow (Sunday) morning. It’s bittersweet being alone. On one hand I get to starfish in the bed and have a night/day of have a night of self-care. On the other, I miss hanging out and his presence.

It’s a schedule that I will eventually get used too. But this is the territory that comes with residency. It’s going to be like this for the next few years and that’s okay. We will find a balance.

This will all be worth it. ❤️

3 Years

One Year Wedding Anniversary Surprise 🤍

My mother in law and father in law helped us pull off the surprise in the video. It was about to be our one-year wedding anniversary and Geoff was up in WA doing an away rotation. Before this plan came together, I was disappointed that we wouldn’t be together for our anniversary. Sure we’d have been together at that point for 9 years, but your first wedding anniversary is special. ❤️

Today we’re celebrating three years married out of the eleven years we’ve been together. It’s been a crazy ride and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We’ve gone through college, medical school, and now in the middle of residency together. Each period has brought its own challenges for us both personally as individuals and together as a couple.

Three years down, a lifetime to go. ❤️

Let’s Talk

Let’s talk about mental health and how there needs to be a more open conversation about it. Let’s talk about our struggles and how we’re feeling. Lets make it normal and not awkward/weird. Let’s talk about burnout and how it is hurting our medical professionals. Let’s talk.

Physician suicide is real. The ACGME posted this PDF about 10 facts regarding physician suicide and mental health. The statistics are alarming. NPR wrote this article last year about a physician who committed suicide and how easy it is to not realize one is even struggling.

I don’t want any one of the physicians I know (including my own husband) to commit suicide. I don’t want to read their name in the paper or hear about it from someone near and dear to me. But it’s something that I have to be aware of. Alert for. Maybe I’m paranoid, but I’d rather be paranoid and catch the signs early rather than say “I wish I had paid more attention. I wish I had done x, y, z.”

Today is World Mental Health Day. Let’s talk. ❤️

I Miss You

Nights suck.

I hate being on opposite schedules. I hate not getting to see you. I hate eating dinner alone. I hate not being able to snuggle. I hate sleeping alone (even though I get to starfish and not listen to your snoring in my ear).

I miss you.

I know this is going to be our new normal occasionally from now till when you retire. I know you’re doing what you love, even if it’s not always fun/what you expect. I know you’re going to be so excited to practice your specialty & perfect your craft.

Will this get better?

I know you miss me too. I know you wish you could be home with me. If/when we have our own family, I know you’re going to wish you could be home with the kids.

I hate feeling single, yet married.

I know it will get better. Things will work out for us. We’re strong. We’ll make it. We’ve made it these last 10 years…we can make it through this. But damn. When it’s hard, it’s HARD. And when it’s easy, it feels so good and, well, easy.

I miss you. I hope you’re having a great shift. See you in the morning when you’re post call.

Xoxo

It’s Been Awhile

Five days to be exact. Five days since I’ve seen my husband. It doesn’t sound like a long time when I think about those who don’t get to see their significant other for months at a time. Geoff and I did long distance in college. But we never went months at a time…maybe weeks at a time. Probably only once did we ever go months without seeing each other.

Oh good it feels to see him. To hold him. To kiss him. To talk face to face with him. It’s wonderful. Times like these become so much more precious and special to me as this journey called residency goes on. We’re up for a schedule change tomorrow too. He’s done with night medicine and starts pulmonology for two weeks. Then cardiology for two weeks. I’ve learned you just have to roll with the punches, because there isn’t too much benefit in trying to plan life.

So I’m going to enjoy tonight with my husband. ❤️

I Get To

This was something I initially learned when I was in network marketing. And while I am not in network marketing at this given time, this has resurfaced again as I think about the journey of medical school and soon to be residency. The leaders of my company wanted us to try and find the blessings and positives of not just life, but our businesses too. Never did more than try it once or twice, but that’s it.

While it is easy for me to complain and stress about all the things that need to get done before Geoff starts his residency, my father in law reminded me that we should enjoy and be thankful for this journey. There are so many that wish they could be a doctor and be in our spot. Not only that, but it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, only focusing on that next step/stair that we forget that we need to also enjoy it along the way.

So I have taken some time to reflect on my blessings through this journey.

GET TO

GETS

GET TO

GOT TO

GET TO

There were some of Geoff’s classmates that were not as lucky to match in the first round and they had to scramble the week of to find a home for their residency. Most, if not all, of who had to scramble found a home and I could not be more excited for them! Now they too get to say ‘I get to.’

I challenge you to think about the blessings in your life and make a list of the things that you ‘get to’ do because of either your job, your business (brick and mortar or network marketing), your family, whatever it might be. Because life’s most amazing blessings aren’t always big, sometimes the smallest blessings have the biggest impact.

Xoxo

Watering the Garden

Creating a garden in my backyard this past summer (2018).

When Geoff and I got married July 2017, we had just finished second year and USMLE Step 1. For our wedding we had decided that my childhood pastor would be the officiant. Her message during our ceremony was one that I will never forget. She talked about how ones marriage is like a flower/garden. In a garden you get the pots, the soil, the flowers, the seeds, and the tools you will need to start your garden. But if you don’t fertilize and water your garden, the garden dies. It only flourishes and grows if you put the time and the effort to ensure it flourishes.

The cherry tree in front of may parents home.

She couldn’t be more right. Geoff and I have always tried to make a point to have date night once a week or to spend quality time with each other over the weekend (assuming I didn’t have to work). It was whatever we could make it – trips to Costco, trips to the grocery store, walking model homes, walking around another part of town, or venturing out further to go walk/hike.

Me and Geoff hiking out at Mt. Charleston.

Your spouse will spend a good chunk of the first two years (including the summers) studying. Whether that be for a class exam or the boards. Then the last two years are them on rotations both in the local area and away (audition rotations for residency). It sometimes can be hard to fit in time together and it’s easier to find an excuse as to why no time was made. They were busy studying. I had work/other commitments. The kids (if applicable) had this, that, and the other thing. We’re too tired. We forgot. We can do it another day. The list goes on. But anything important is worth making time for. Let your relationship/marriage be a priority. You won’t regret it.

xoxo
Michaella