Monday, July 26, 2010

Changed Practically Overnight

The old Andrew:

(A look inside his text book)

The new Andrew:

After taking the Boards on July 1st, Andrew went to work in the hospital for his first rotation, in Pediatrics, on July 6th. The above picture is what he left looking like. This next photo is how he came home:

(I had hot baked cookies waiting for him, but he seemed to be more interested in his new pager)

It seems like overnight he has changed from student to doctor. Not to mention the fact that yesterday he came home from his first 32-hour shift. That type of overnight will change anyone! He is on Q-4 for the next three weeks, which means every four days he works a 32-hour shift, comes home after lunch, and goes back the next day at 6am for a regular shift. It's been a bit of a challenge to figure things out, but this past week we have finally felt like we are getting settled into his rotations. This is a really exciting time for us, and, again, I am so glad to have the boards behind us. Go Andrew!

Passed the Boards!!!

Huzzah!!! I am very pleased to announce that Andrew passed his USMLE Step 1 Board Exam! It was such a relief just for him to take the exam on July 1st and get it over with, but it is even more of a relief knowing that he passed! This means we still have a future in medicine!

Cute Andrew's family had the wisdom to foresee that Andrew would pass, and for the Fourth of July, they had these pieces of wood along their front walkway

to celebrate Andrew "passing the boards" as he walked up to the front door (sadly I was home sick that day).

Above the front door was a sign of Congratulations (you'll just have to trust me on this one)


and Karen made "board cookies" to celebrate for Andrew.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. We are so grateful for all your prayers on our behalf and help for me and Emma while Andrew had to study so much. Now we are in a completely new phase of life, rotations!!!