Vacation, Sea Turtles, Sutures, and Tests!!!

Sorry it has been awhile since the last post! Neuroscience got soooo crazy hard that I didn't have any time at all to procrastinate:/ I really did feel like I was going crazy. The 7 week course was very tough, the toughest class yet, and it ended on a Friday with 2 exams and we left the next morning for Akumal, Mexico:) So, as soon as the class was over I had to pack, clean, and get everything squared away for vacay.

BUT, I can tell you with certainty that I am done with Neuro I for good (meaning I didn't fail it..lol:) There are a good number of people that did though, even with a 4% curve in the end. It is sad b/c I know most of those people worked just as hard, if not harder, as I did and it is rough to not see that work rewarded.

Akumal, Mexico was AMAZING and just what Josh and I needed!!!!!!! Here is a view from the villa we stayed in all week:

We had our own private beach to walk out to each morning (or afternoon) upon awakening. I am still readjusting to having to have my coffee here in our 1 BR apt rather than on this beautiful beach above! My parents certainly spoiled us all week. One of the days we went to place called Xel-Ha and snorkeled and swam all day. It was pretty cool. The place was surrounded by jungle and so we saw a lot of neat animals too. Josh was in "heaven." So many fish to be identified there in the brackish (part salt, part fresh water) water at Xel-Ha:) Josh loved waking up, putting on his snorkel gear, and walking right out to our beach and snorkeling the reefs right outside our door. Everyday Josh went snorkeling! The last day we had in Akumal, Josh and I walked the beach to Akumal Bay and we went journeying into the water to find the Sea Turtles. Akumal means "place of turtles." We were not disappointed! Not only did we get to swim with some HUGE and AMAZING sea turtles, but there were many different species of sting rays, fish, and coral!!! One of the coolest things I have ever done in life is swim with those amazing creatures (turtles). It was so peaceful.

But, we are now home and back into the thick of things:( It has been difficult going back to school. I will take my 3rd test tomorrow since being back on Monday. And I have 2 more early next week. So much for true breaks! Lol! But, between tests, I learned how to suture! See:

I know, poor piggy. At least it made me glad that I am still vegetarian (just over a year now...Josh is proud)!

What else.....Josh and I both read the Hunger Games 1st book, and I got through the 2nd as well on break. The day we flew home we used an AMC gift card to go see the movie! And, I had to laugh today b/c my standardized patient (SP) exam involved a very handsome middle-aged man. Just glad to be getting the awkward kinks out now before I start rotations in just over a year! And glad that there wasn't anything really awkward I had to do in the exam today. I will admit though....I prefer walking through the door and seeing a woman as my SP! Haha!

Hope you are all well! Josh and I are still planning on driving to MN to go to the Loecken wedding!!!!!! So hopefully we will see most of you VERY soon!

Last couple of days!

With a big test day looming tomorrow I have been quite pre-occupied with studying. Any prayers tomorrow morning would be GREAT!

On Tuesday Josh and I were able to get to the dog park with Freud. We try to once a week:) He LOVES it! Freud absolutely revels in getting chased by other dogs (and occasionally doing the chasing:). It is great for all involved. Freud gets wiped out for a couple days and it gives me and Josh a break from needing to give the puppy constant attention. Lol.

Yesterday, Josh had a manager meeting at the New Belgium brewery in Fort Collins. It was quite the dive but he really enjoyed it. Josh came home and was able to tell me all about it. The brewery is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly breweries in the world. AND, the top 5 'values/goals' for the company involve its employees, not costumers. I thought that was really interesting. It was also the first time Josh got to drink on the job...haha! The only bad thing is that the meeting was on one of his days off, so he will be putting in at least 60 hrs again this work week. And the way our vacation is scheduled, he won't have his next day off until next Friday:(

Yesterday was the LAST day I had to study in the "gross" lab (as in gross anatomy...as in macroscopic, although it is pretty gross at times:). Sooooo excited about that!!!!!!! Our last practical is tomorrow morning after our written. I have had to spend a lot of time in there lately because as you can imagine, the head is quite complex with all of the arteries, veins, muscles, and nerves. Pray and wish me well!

Oh......and Josh and I leave in 8 days for Mexico for a vacation with my family! Josh is a little stressed about it so I hope he settles in and is able to relax and enjoy it when we get there. Will def post some pics when we return and even blog while there if we have internet!

Cheers to you all and hope your week is going well!

This is the life.

I find out so many interesting things each day in medical school. Some things I am appalled by, others I am not. I just finished spending 3 hours with my cadaver that my "tank mates" and I have named Lovie. He was in his 80s and died of COPD complications and so generously donated his body to science. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to dissect a human and learn about how incredibly and intricately God designed us. Don't EVER be fooled.....the human body is complex; a fact I am humbled by and reminded of each and every practical exam since Sept:) We are about to take our last practical (these are tests in which faculty tag certain vessels, nerves, muscles, and organs and we need to identify or answer certain questions about) this Friday. I CAN'T WAIT. My hair smells like formeldehyde and it probably will until tomorrow morning when I have time to shower (I am about to study for another 5 hours or so before bed). Poor Josh. Even my hands stink. The stench seeps through the gloves I wear and can't be washed off. It has to slough off with my dead skin cells. Yum...

Back to my first sentence. I find things out that surprise me. Today I found out from a classmate that there are multiple people currently failing this course that have already failed a course. Basically, 2 strikes and you are out. My class will lose more people after this class ends April 6. It is really sad. These are all smart and good people. My heart goes out to them because this course is probably the toughest yet. We are going on about 60 completed academic credits since August (it will be 80 by the end of June). That is why I would love to rip my hair out (if I didn't love it so much that is:). There have been multiple divorces already, and married people cheating with others in the class. The school psychologist gave a depressing lecture awhile back on statistics about med students and physicians.........it would take roughly 2 average sized med school classes each year to replace the number of physicians lost to suicide every year. It's rough. This first year has been a HUGE learning curve for both Josh and I. I feel like I am joining a secret society; it's kinda weird.

With that said, I know I am where I need to be because God has gotten me this far. I have gotten test results back that I swear there had to have been a mix-up on:) Lol! He has pulled me through each and every situation and I have had to relinquish a LOT of trust. The thing about med school is, you CAN'T learn it all. You just can't. There is not enough time. And that doesn't settle well with overachievers.

But, with that said, I should probably get back to studying. I can't afford to fail.... literally:)        

Here goes it!

So, while procrastinating on Facebook, I was looking at a friend's blog and thought why not procrastinate by creating a Bauer Blog! I especially thought it was a good idea because it will improve my typing speed and skills and keep family and friends up-to-speed on our challenging CO life:) The improved typing skills will be necessary for keeping my job as a physician someday (I will need to type fast to get patients in and out per hospital/clinic quota...lol)!

Welp, Josh is at work right now and I am at home trying to stay on task and study. If you are reading this, you know I am not studying right now. I just saw a witty caption under a picture of a girl studying, "Notice how they include the word DYING in studying." I really do. I REALLY feel like I am dying most days from studying so much. But, I am not. So that means I can keep studying. Ugh.

Josh and I had a great, and rare, date night the other day at the Macaroni Grill. Lucky for us (or me), it was half off bottle of wine night! We had a delicious pesto and basil build-your-own pasta, chocolate cake, and wine. Then we went home and watched a movie. The hardest thing about these nights is that it always gets us 'thinking.' We think about the fact that if I were not in med school we could be doing this more frequently, own a house in MN, and be starting a family. So, they are bittersweet occasions. We BOTH make a choice each and every day. Josh makes a choice to stand by my side and support me emotionally and financially. I make a choice to study my butt off to someday help sick people. It gets rough b/c it is far too easy to get caught up in the future and forget about living in the moment. It also gets real easy to live vicariously through friends and family that are at stages in their own lives that we 'could' be at.

Have I mentioned how amazing Josh is? The role of a spouse of a med student is very tough. He puts up with a lot. My hair has smelled like formaldehyde since September and I am ALWAYS stressed out. ANY extreme emotion makes me cry...lol! I even bawled my eyes out watching the Bachelor on TV. Josh has been working 60+ hr work weeks to make sure we have enough to make ends meet. He uprooted his life for a 3rd time to be with me, regardless of the circumstances, in a 1 BR apartment. Smaller than the place he lived in during college. I think he loves me;)

So, this blog will follow the ups and downs we have on this journey. Little things and big things. Because we both are very busy, we have long gaps between conversations with family. My intent is to help close some of those gaps with this blog.

We love you all and hope this will make you feel a little closer to us here in CO!