Sleepytimestore has been having several coupons ove the last few weeks, and their current one is for Barefoot Dreams products (a Mother's Day promotion). My girlfriends and I got this robe for our good friend LG (for her baby shower), and it really looked comfortable and luxurious. I know I wasn't the only one who was thinking I'd eventually have to get one for myself one day.

Through May 4, 2008, use the coupon code mom for 15% off any Barefoot Dreams purchase. They offer free shipping for orders over $50.

Tags: clothing, gear, toys

Well, we survived! And of course, I think we all had a good time (especially the kids). We just dropped off the boys at daycare and picked up my laptop, and I am now going to attack the mess that used to be the living room floor (luggage, laundry, mail, toys) and I think my husband is going to take a much-needed nap.

We deleted the blurry/bad photos off the camera, and have over 400 remaining to download. Of those, I think maybe a hundred or so are some real winners, some of which I will try to format and post over the next few days.

Here are a few that I emailed my mom today. I'll be back soon to post more about our trip. For those of you who were curious, it was helpful to have the carseat (for my little guy) on the plane, and no, it does not fit through the xray machine at the airport (we have the Britax Decathlon). They have to check it manually.

Tags: travel, A, M, J, me

Well, we're leaving pretty soon for our vacation and boy, do I have tons to do before we go. This will be my last post until next week (probably Wednesday), since I won't have my computer, nor do we plan to have internet access. Actually, we're not leaving quite yet, but I am taking my computer in this afternoon for some trackpad button maintenance (it clicks funny). I've already got ideas for posts swirling around in my head, including the continuation of the process of choosing a specialty, some really cute kids' travel stuff that I can write about after our trip, as well as photos from our vacation.

I can't remember if I ever said where we are going. We're off to Hawaii for a few days, which should be fun. Airfare was not too bad (~$270 per ticket) and my husband really wanted to do something fun to celebrate my finishing medical school. I hope we survive the plane rides without too much drama, and that the boys get over the jet lag quickly and only wake up at 3am for one or two nights. Oh boy is this going to be fun. We'll certainly be taking lots of photos and I'll be sure to post as soon as I can once we get back (don't worry mom. And yes, we'll be careful).

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Tags: M, me, A, travel

Tags: A, J

I don't know exactly why, but my little guy has been having a hard time being dropped off at daycare this week. He's usually pretty good about finding toys to play with, or hanging out with one of his teachers. But this week, he's been very attached in the mornings, particularly to me (my husband and I have been dropping the boys off together). I wonder if it's because I've been spending a lot more time with him (now that I am done with my rotations) and he's just getting used to that. That would be tough, since I'll be starting intern year in less than two months, and most likely won't be dropping them off on most days.

Whenever my kids are sad when I drop them off, I obviously feel pretty crummy. As a parent, it's heartbreaking to leave your child when they are crying. My husband is much more practical about it than I am, and I am always tempted to go back in and hang out some more, but I know in the long run it probably would do more harm than good. I usually end up waiting in the hallway, listening to see if he stopped crying (usually within a minute). Luckily, it's not that common, and nearly nonexistent with my preschooler - all he needs is a few minutes to get situated and then a hug and a kiss (just like at bedtime). This morning, another mom was walking by as I stepped out into the hallway of my son's class and took a deep breath (he was crying mommy, mommy in the background) and she gave me a sympathetic look and said That must be the hardest thing for you.

It pretty much is the worst.

If there could be anything positive that I could draw from the experience, it is that as I walk out of the daycare, I'm super-motivated to be as efficient and focused as possible during the day, so that I can pick up my children as soon as I can and devote 100% of my attention to them afterwards. I'm usually thinking If I'm going to have to make them cry, this better be the most productive day ever, dammit! I'm pretty sure they aren't permanently traumatized by the experience (in general, they both love being at "school" and often don't want to leave), but that still doesn't help the mommy guilt. Sigh.

Tags: daycare

Sleepytimestore is my main source for Barefoot Dreams (just got a new hoodie zip-up) and Little Giraffe blankets, which make great baby gifts. For one day only, save 15% on your purchase with code earth15 (ends Wednesday, April 23th, at midnight EST).

Tags: clothing, gear, toys

Over the weekend, we celebrated Earth Day by learning about marine life and preservation. It was chilly around here and even chillier near the water. I think the boys had a good time (they got to touch some fish), and so did we. There's nothing like having children to further remind us of the growing urgency to care for our environment. I know that we could certainly do a better job for our kids, so there is always room for improvement, however small the steps are. We're in a constant state of working-in-progress when it comes to being green. Overflowing landfills and toxic smog levels are obviously not things I want my kids to have to address, especially if we can do things right now to improve them.





On a related note, keep your eyes open for big sales on eco-friendly products. For example, save $20 instantly when you spend $99 or more on select planet-friendly products using code EARTH4O8 at checkout, through April 30, 2008. See site for additional restrictions. Click here for my other shopping deals.

Tags: health, Amazon, holiday

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I’ve been meaning to write some more about how I chose my field in medicine, and what residency I’ll be starting in June, but I’ve been a little hesitant to start, since it’s a long story and I don’t think I’ve got enough time or patience to sit down and spend hours and hours writing about it. To solve that problem, I’ve decided to just start writing from the beginning and will continue in installments if I don’t get to finish in one post. Read more

Tags: me, school

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Tags: M, A, toys

Now that I am finished with rotations, I have a fairly flexible schedule. But even though I should feel more relaxed, it almost seems as though I have more to do! I think it has to do with the fact that during rotations, I put off anything that isn't urgent or immediate. That list grows pretty quickly and of course, when I finally address it, it's impossible to manage.

Here's a short list of what I did yesterday:
1. Researched kindergarten options (more to come on this soon). Sounds early right? Believe me, it isn't. It's a very complicated situation in our area.
2. Spoke with a mortgage lender. We're curious to see if we are eligible for any special first-time homebuyer physician loans. This is in part related to #1.
3. Called our local AAA life insurance agent to discuss options and quotes. At my school's financial aid exit interview, I was reminded about the importance of life insurance for those who have children or other dependents. When our first was born, I remember thinking it would probably be a good idea to buy some. Seeing as how I am more than 3 years behind schedule, I figured I should take care of this before I start intern year. Looks like we'll be picking up some term insurance.
4. Shopped for dress shirts and ties for my husband online. Now that he'll be a real attending, he should probably look the part.
5. Made 3 dozen chocolate-chip cookies for my kids' preschool teachers in appreciation for all their hard work this week. It's the NAEYC Week of the Young Child and they've packed the week full of fun activities for the kids. More to come on this soon.
6. Finally finished my intern biography and survey (due today) as well as formatted a photo to send for their files. I have yet to read and sign my contract but I can get to that tomorrow.
7. Updated the website.
8. Purchased some travel insurance (again, through AAA) for our upcoming vacation. I usually don't buy into these things, but with all the airline bankruptcies and the ridiculous policy of specifically not covering strollers and carseats in their usual luggage damage protection, I figured $60 was not a terrible price to pay to make sure we were covered. Schedule delays, lost luggage, and health coverage were included too.
9. Three loads of regular laundry, and then the bath rugs as well (minor potty accident).
10. Collected some outgrown baby and maternity work clothing to pass on to a good friend.

There were a bunch of things I didn't get to yesterday, but are on deck for today:
1. Research, research, research!
2. Read through my residency contract, sign it, and mail it in.
3. Make a huge macaroni casserole for the daycare potluck tomorrow.
4. Organize my school loans (including undergrad) so I know who all my lenders are and what the repayment will be.
5. On a related note, fill out the paperwork to defer my subsidized loans while I am an intern.

There are more, but I should probably stop writing these lists and work on #4 and then start #3 so I can be ready in time for dinner.

Tags: M, school, safety, daycare, travel, website

The other day, I bought a 99-cent preschooler writing tablet when I was picking up some office supplies, thinking we could use it when he started kindergarten or first grade or whenever it is that kids learn to write these days. My son saw it and wanted to "write" in it with his orange crayon. First, he drew a couple of circles, and then I asked him if he wanted to write letters with me (we haven't really tried, but I thought he might enjoy it). He said that he wanted to write them, and I said okay, thinking he would just doodle.

He looked at the page and paused for a few seconds and then asked Mommy? How do you write the letter 'C?' I gestured with my finger and said it was kind of a curvy letter. And then I offered to help him, but he sort of attempted a generally recognizable letter 'C' on his own. I said Great job! What do you want me to show you next? And then I looked down at the page, and he had written some additional letters, a rudimentary 'A' and then a 'T,' to spell out 'CAT.' Dumbfounded, I turned to my husband and asked Have you been teaching him how to write letters? and he shook his head no (I hadn't either). I laughed and asked How come you asked me how to write the letter 'C?' The letters 'A' and 'T' are harder to write! Did you learn that at school? He giggled and then went on to draw some squiggles and lines. I then showed him how to write the letter 'M' because it was like drawing mountains, and he proceeded to fill the page with those.

It turns out that on one of the tables at preschool, there is a laminated placemat with all the letters of the alphabet, and he loves to trace his fingers along the letters (thus learning how to write them in the process I guess). He already knew his letters (thanks in part to the Letter Factory DVD) but I had no idea he could write some of them too. Nor did I know he could spell the word 'cat.' I realize he probably knows it from memory somehow, but it did catch me off guard and we had a good chuckle over it.

Tags: M, me

Temporary blindness in one visual field. Often described as similar to "pulling down of a shade." Seen in TIAs (transient ischemic attacks).

Ben and Jerry's is having their annual "free cone day" at participating stores, to celebrate their 30th birthday. They aren't any stores near us (at least not an easy trip), but hopefully some of you guys can enjoy some yummy ice cream on April 29 from noon to 8pm.

Tags: food

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Old Navy is offering a rare free shipping deal (usually only for those who are Old Navy credit card holders). Spend $50, and get free shipping using the code SHIP4FREE, through April 24, 2008. I just ordered 16 pairs of toddler socks (where do they all go?), a pair of pajamas for the fall, two toddler tank tops, a pair of toddler swim shoes, as well as a summer beachy shirt for my husband. I barely broke $50, and saved $5.95 on shipping and don't have to fight the crowds. You can check out other specials on my shopping resource page.

Tags: clothing, shoes

Don't forget to do your taxes! (And avoid the post office if you can - the line snaked out the door when I stopped by yesterday).

Tags: M

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We need a sink like this.

Tags: M, A, health

Blogging is often a place where people vent (I know I have). I've started a page where I'll list my pet peeves, if only to have them written down somewhere (I was recently asked to list some for an intern survey and couldn't think of any off the top of my head, even though I know I have tons). Here's the first:

When bicyclists don't follow traffic rules
We bike, but are not daily riders anymore now that we have two kids and live a bit farther from the hospital. I like to support people who bike by giving them plenty of space on the road and making sure I look out for them when I need to make a right turn. But more often than not, I see cyclists who not only disobey basic rules, but go as far as making really deliberate and blatantly dangerous decisions. Knowing that a driver would prefer to avoid a collision gives some people the gall to ride where- and whenever they want to, even if it means running a stoplight or stop sign. It really messes up the traffic dynamic for drivers who actually follow the rules. I've heard people say that cars don't look out for bikes and that you have to be aggressive, but that only perpetuates the problem. Let's all try to be better at sharing the road.

I rarely see a cyclist stop at a stop sign, which really annoys me, because if it's a four-way stop, and there are cars waiting their turns, a bicyclist who doesn't stop really messes up the dynamic. Frankly, I think it's selfish and those riders are giving the other cyclists a bad rap. I literally see cocky bicyclists halt four-way traffic at major intersections because they ride right into them. Of course, many drivers honk, but there's really not much that can be done (unless the police are around). And it's only a matter of time before a tragedy happens.

If you are on the street, you follow traffic rules. If you are on the sidewalk, you follow pedestrian rules. And while I'm not your mother, wear a helmet please!

Tags: me

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Who needs television when you've got built-in home entertainment?

Tags: me, M, A

Well, I took USMLE Step 2 CS, and now all I have to do is wait two months to make sure I passed (gosh, I really hope I passed). I think I did. I hope I did, since it'd be pretty awful to have to take that again. But it is hard not to think about all the stuff I forgot to ask or do during the physical exam. Plus I think my encounter notes were messy, which is really weird since I usually have pretty decent handwriting. But the combination of the rushing, and the bad ball point pen on the hard clipboard made for a very uncomfortable writing experience. I should have typed my notes instead. I'm going to try not to think about it until I get my score report (basically a pass/fail statement). Most people pass, which puts the odds in my favor. However, that also means that failing the test would be really horrible.

The morning of the exam, some other medical students and I had a bit of a scare. The testing center was on the 13th floor of a high rise (ominous?) and we waited for a set of elevators that would take us there. After waiting for quite some time, someone suggested we get on one of the limited elevators that only go up to the tenth floor, and then walk the last three. Seemed reasonable enough. right? Well, we got to the tenth floor and walked up the stairs only to find that we were locked in the stairwell. I should have seen it coming, since that has happened to me in the hospital before. In any case, we were eventually "rescued" and made it to the testing center just in time (they would probably have waited, since there were so many of us). They knew the elevator had been acting up, so it wasn't a big deal. But it definitely added another element of excitement and stress to the day!

Tags: school

I know I already posted a photo for today, but here's another one, since I didn't get to post one on Sunday.

There's a very neat activity they have at preschool every once in a while, where everyone brings in a fruit to share in a massive fruit salad. My son got a kick out of lugging this pineapple to share with his friends. I'm sure this was a bit of a nightmare to cut up, but they're currently in season and very juicy and sweet. I'll probably pick up another one for us to grill up with some chicken later this week. The weather is starting to get better (even though for some reason it's been chilly the last few days), which means spending some more time outdoors. I'm looking forward to some warmer weather right about now.

Speaking of pineapples, we've got a family vacation in the works. It'll be the first real vacation we've had in a long time (although I guess some would argue that taking two toddlers on a trip doesn't equal a vacation), but I'm excited nonetheless. It'll be our first big trip since Disneyland, and we're not driving this time! More to come on this soon, since I'll be planning the details this week.

Tags: M, food, travel

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I am about to go to bed, but I just spent the last hour or so going through the USMLE Step 2 CS website, reading (for the first time) the details about how the exam is going to be given. I probably should have looked at this stuff sooner, but I figured it was going to be the same as the ones we have at school (it pretty much is).

In any case, I am also printing out documents needed for my short trip (scheduling permit, maps, etc.) and just in case, I emailed them to myself. I'd hate to find myself without them the morning of the exam and have no way of getting them again. My email client refreshed and the "new email" notice showed up and I thought to myself Hmm, I wonder who the heck could be emailing me at this hour? It was my own email - duh! I'm such a dork. Anyhow, that probably a good sign that I should go to sleep!

Tags: me, school

Chocolate ice cream has recently taken over vanilla as the favorite in the household.

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Tags: A, me, daycare

I'm not a regular coffee drinker (I might have one or two cups each week) but my husband has coffee daily. We haven't really been able to find the perfect coffee system, but I thought I'd give this a try, especially since it was available at Costco (if we hated it, we could easily return it).

The major impetus for choosing this machine was the ease of use (practically no cleanup, at least on a per-use basis), and the ability to make smaller servings. We've tried a variety of different methods, and had settled on the french press. But as fast as it was to boil water and press coffee, I wanted to look for something faster (I can't stand to waste any more precious minutes than we have to). Read more

Tags: Costco, food

I won't go into too many details (you can go to my Shopping Resource page for more information), but here are some online sales that might be worth considering (I'm going to check them out):

Barnes and Noble Buy 2 clearance books, get a third for free (through April 18, 2008).
Sleepytimestore (my source for Barefoot Dreams and Little Giraffe products): Take 20% off everything storewide using coupon code Green20 (through midnight EST on April 11th, 2008).

Tags: books, clothing

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A while ago, I reviewed the Peanut Shell sling. I just got emailed a coupon code for it (rare) and thought someone out there might find it useful. Use code Spring2008 to save 15% off your order. The code is case-sensitive and can be used once, through April 15, 2008.

Tags: gear

I don't have time to write a review on this right now, but I wanted to post it in case anyone was interested (their sale prices can fluctuate quickly, so don't be surprised if it is back up to $70 tomorrow). We bought a second-hand one for $25 from another family a while ago, and it's a great little walker wagon. Briefly, it has a solid wood body with removable wooden sides, as well as molded tires with grip tread and front bumper. It also has a "resist push" feature, which helps to prevent falls.

And right now, Amazon is selling it (shipped) for $50, which is a pretty good price. It's pretty much about $75 everywhere else. Once I am done with my exam, I'll be posting some more reviews as well as more information about medical school (rotation experiences, choosing my career path, etc.).

Tags: Amazon, toys

I am taking USMLE Step 2 CS next week, which is a full-day clinical exam, where medical students see 12 (I think) standardized patients with a variety of problems and have to take appropriate histories, do focused physical exams, and then write up a note with a plan. We only get 15 minutes to see each patient, and 10 minutes to write (or type) a note. Most physicians get more than 15 minutes to see a new patient, so it's a bit of a time crunch. Also, it's kind of stressful because you know you have to ask certain questions to get credit for the test, and perform certain parts of the physical exam as well. And then the standardized patient also scores your professionalism and demeanor, as well as ability to communicate.

Most students pass the exam, and there has been a lot of talk about how unnecessary this $1000 exam is, if nearly everyone passes it. Some people say it's mostly aimed at the international medical graduates (they have lower passing rates), others say it's just a money-maker. Whatever the reason, it's expensive (it's only offered in certain cities, so most of us have to buy plane tickets, rent a car, and stay at a hotel) and stressful (at least for me - I have a lot of test anxiety).

Now that my critical care month is over, I am supposed to be studying for this exam. However, I've mostly spent the beginning of this week catching up on everything that I put off during last month. And I've got a ton of things to do regarding residency (as well as planning our lives during that busy time). We've got lots of surveys to fill out, schedules to pick - it all seems to be happening so fast! It seems like Match Day wasn't that long ago. I think it's because I haven't really had a chance to relax or reflect over the last few weeks. Between the intense rotation, Match Day, and the funeral I went to, I just haven't had a chance to sit and think or absorb any of the events that have happened.

In any case, I am trying to send in my schedule preferences (it's hard to plan through June of 2009, when no one else has their schedule planned that far in advance). And I have to resist the urge to sort and organize things, so I can sit down and study for this exam. It's been a little while since I've performed all the components of a complete physical exam. I suppose I can deal with the rest after next week, even though I've got tons planned already (research to finish, books to sell, even some much-delayed unpacking). Whew!

Despite the fact that most people pass, I am still pretty nervous about this exam. It is an unrealistic environment. No matter what anyone says, to me it is quite different having a standardized patient vs. a real one. It's hard not to obsess about the points you need to hit or what you might be forgetting when you are with a standardized patient (as well as worrying about whether your hands are cold, if you washed your hands, or if you appropriately draped the patient). I know many excellent students who have made uncharacteristic blunders during similar exams we have here at school. One time, a friend of mine sent a patient home who may have had an ectopic pregnancy (it was the first exam, and she was pretty nervous). Another friend of mine performed a full neurologic exam on someone who came in with respiratory symptoms. I hope my brain can function adequately because I know I'll be nervous and so pretty much all the planning will go out the window and I'll be on auto-pilot (I just hope that auto-pilot is ready!). I guess I better go study!

Tags: me, school

A regular weekend activity. Now I actually look forward to getting pennies back in change.

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Beware the pranksters - enjoy your April Fools' Day!

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I know it's been a while since I've posted one of these (sorry about that!).

This is classically defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure >10mm Hg on inspiration, which is an exaggeration of the normal response. Classically seen in pericarditis.

Here's a related mnemonic from First Aid:
PERICarditis
Pulsus paradoxus
ECG changes (PR-segment depression in precordial leads, low voltage, diffuse ST segment elevation)
Rub (friction)
Increased JVP
Chest pain