2013 in Review

I was reviewing some old blog posts tonight and found this one from the end of 2011 where I reviewed significant moments from that year and I realized that despite the fact that my posting this year was quite infrequent, there was a lot of 2013 that was important.

As the year draws to a close, I feel surprised by how quickly it passed and excited about what's to come.

So here it is:

10 Significant Moments and Trials of 2013

(In no particular order. Okay it's sort of chronologic.)

1. I started my year with holidays in Oregon, and had my first married Christmas. Okay technically the Christmas part was in 2012. I didn't make a list for 2012, so I've tacked it in on here. If you're a calendar crazy and that bothers you...well this might the wrong blog for you.

Baking with Emma

The family Christmas Tree

2. I finished up my interview travels for residency and got a chance to travel all over the country to see different programs.

The Charles in Boston. Miss you Tiffany!

The view from the workroom here in New Mexico over a year ago on my interview day. Weird that now I live here.

3. I graduated from medical school. After 4 long years (or 8 if you want to include college and be all dramatic) I earned my M.D. and it was a great day.

I REALLY miss my medical school friends, but we've all gone on to work on being great doctors in places all across the country, so I can't be anything but happy when I think about it.

4. I went to Las Vegas, Nevada (first time!). In this post I reviewed the fun, talked about Match Day and what was coming next.

5. I ran my fourth half-marathon. For some who race often, a particular half-marathon in the course of the year might not mean anything, but this particular one was a race through my local community, literally right past my apartment on all the same roads I trained on, and it was so much fun to see it that way. Also, my training was significantly less than previous races and it was sort of a mental triumph to be able to run. 

6. I moved to New Mexico. This is related of course to starting Residency, but it was a big life change on it's own. We left a lot of friends and familiarity to come here in June and we've been making it our home. Sometimes it feels like we've been here ages and sometimes I still feel like a foreigner.

7. In July, we adopted Luna. After arriving in Albuquerque, we agreed it was time for us to get a dog, and it may be the best decision we've ever made. We found her at the shelter here, and took a chance on her without any background, but she's been a wonderful part of our lives.

8. I started work as a Pediatric Resident. I wrote about what it's like to be an intern in this post. And I've also mentioned work in a few other posts. The bottom line is, it's a privilege to being doing what I always dreamed of, and it's also exhausting and unbelievably emotionally trying.

Woo scrubs. Also Luna is the same color as the floor.

9. I went home to the Northwest for vacation and had the most amazing time with friends. There's a beautiful video they made that makes me so friend-sick every time I watch it:

Time with Friends in Portland from Eric & Arisa Conwell on Vimeo.

Miss you all :(

10. I worked through Christmas for the first time. However, John's family and mine both came to visit earlier for holidays and this was really nice. Still, it was totally weird to be in the hospital just admitting kids, ordering meds, etc. while it felt like most of the world was gathered with family.

And that brings us to today!

The great thing about working Christmas though, is that I get a holiday vacation now - when I got done with work this morning at 7 AM, I started vacation until Friday. I'm sure it will fly by, but I'm so excited. Friends are coming for New Years and it feels like I've really earned the days off with this past week of night shifts.

When I review the year like this, it's hard for me to believe it's only been a year because so much has happened, but at the same time it still feels like it went fast.

I hope everyone's having a great weekend, and final few days of 2013.

As always, thanks for reading.

What are your most significant moments of the year?

Christmas Eve Eve

How are we doing?

Since last post we've had quite the series of adventures.

John's family came for Thanksgiving:

Vegan thanksgiving plate: Stuffing, green beans, potatoes, cranberry sauce.

John was in charge of the Turkey and we have to say a huge thanks to his Mom because I certainly had no idea how to cook a Turkey.

Hi Kellie!

Out to dinner. Turns out the day after Thanksgiving is not a great time to go out - waits were absolutely crazy, but in the end the food was good and we all had a good time once the hangry went away.

After my in-laws visited for Thanksgiving, my parents came for a visit at the beginning of December. They made great friends with Luna and we had a few fun adventures. 

There was one ill-fated trip up to Sandia peak: it was far snowier and crazier up there than we anticipated and we had to just drive back down, still, a pretty drive.

It was snowy most of the time they were here. We took a trip up to Santa Fe, went shopping and went to the galleries, and also just had a few calm nights at home. 

It was so nice to have both families here this past month, but it is that much harder to go back to real life after they left.

The day after my parents went home, I switched from clinic back to regular inpatient wards. It's not so bad, but the hours are longer and that's always a tough switch.

I also got pretty sick with a cold that I'm sure I caught from a child coughing in my face. I didn't miss any work, mostly because if you can pull yourself together you kind of need to: otherwise someone else has to come in off elective or on their day off to cover for you, and I wasn't dying, just requiring some heavy medication.

I'm mostly better now - 2 weeks later - just sometimes I'm surprised how gross my cough sounds. 

I switched to nights as of yesterday, and I'm working all this week and off for New Year's starting Saturday morning when my shift ends at 6:30. 

So in honor of having to work Christmas nights, here's a picture of Luna in a reindeer costume:

And because my family are all home together right now while I'm busy far away being married and working and crazy pretend-adult things like that, here's a picture I found from last Christmas when we were in Oregon:

Miss you all!

Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone, and whether you're stuck somewhere or home with family or friends I hope you're having a great season!