Speculative Speculum

Pumpkin computer art by D1.

Today, I went up to OB on my lunch break and had my second Celestone injection (steroid to promote the baby’s lung maturity). I also got started on Procardia three times daily (to stop contractions). I have had one dose so far, and I think that it makes me a little jittery. The baby is 2+ engaged currently, but I have not had anymore contractions today so that is good news. The baby looks great on the monitor so this is also good. I’m less worried about things today. Yesterday, was just a plain painful day. I feel good now besides the nausea. I’m supposed to be on bedrest, but it is so hard especially when I was on self-induced bedrest for so long when the hyperemesis was bad, but I also don’t want to put my baby in danger. I had two really good OB nurses again today, and it was good to get caught up with them. One is due with her first baby a week behind me so it was fun to talk with her, and the other, I have known since elementary school.

I have two more high school students that I am working with to make a total of three through volunteering. They seem like good kids. One has a really funny sense of humor that I like. They all either want to be physicians or nurses.

Tomorrow, my boys have lines in the primary program at church. My oldest’s line is, “I can choose the right by helping my mom.” I definitely need his help right now. I feel bad that I have to miss them talk.

It has been just a little over two years since I decided to become a physician. I feel like I have come a long way. In this time, I have nearly finished a master’s degree in European history. Also I finished my pre-med requirements such as general biology, general chemistry, general physics, and organic chemistry. So far, I have gotten A’s in all my classes except for my first semester of organic chemistry where I got a high B. I also started volunteering more, worked two jobs at one point, became an expert in writing personal statements, breastfed an infant for nearly a year, and have gotten through over half a pregnancy with hyperemesis gravidarum. I spent three of those pregnant months confined on the antepartum unit with TPN through a PICC line and tube feedings through a PEG tube.

Starting physics two years ago seems like such a long time ago. D3 was just a little baby, and I was still recovering from a rough pregnancy with her. Also, it was hard to put my children in daycare even if it was just for a few hours a couple days a week. I know that they benefited from the experience, however. It was still hard from a mother’s perspective. I much rather have family who are like other “mammas” take care of my children since I know that they are loved just as much as I could possibly love them.

This semester, I’ve pretty much just spent getting better. I can’t believe that I went to work so soon after being in the hospital for so long. I was physically not ready to go back. I could barely get around the emergency room. But, I did it and I can walk around the ER with only getting a little short of breath. I’ve been studying for the MCAT again. It’s really the last step that I have to take before my application for medical school is complete. It is also a huge hurdle.

Why am I telling you guys all of this? Because if I can get this far, just about anyone can. If you have a dream, you should go for it. It may not be easy, but you can make it.

A big thumbs up goes to all the great mentors and mentees out there who everyday go out of their way to help others and themselves to succeed.

I would like to share a wonderful volunteering opportunity through icoulbe.org. Often, premeds who have families or who are busy with work and school do not think that they have the time to volunteer. I thought this at first, but that is where we must be creative. When researching ideas for ways to expand myself and reach out to other people, I found icouldbe.org (which is a site where you can help teens through an outline of instruction already set up and ready to go by encouragement and advice about the careers that they are thinking about pursuing). Icouldbe.org gives students an opportunity to talk to others in the profession for which they have interests in a safe environment. What I love about icouldbe, in particular, is that I get to interact with youth when I am available to so do it. This gives me greater flexibility in my schedule while being able to assist others. Win-win.

Currently I have two, “year-long” mentees. I love hearing their input and answering their questions. One mentee wants to become a doctor, while the other wants to become a nurse. It’s really been exciting to see how they have grown over the last year. I view it as a personal Student Doctor Network minus the trolls for my young padawans.

So, if you want to learn more:

1. Contact icouldbe.org
2. Go through a backround check (icouldbe.org pays for it)
3. Get paired up with one or two mentees
4. Share your wisdom!

My ochem notes ready to turn in for proof of note taking so I can get cash money millionaire!

Organic Chemistry I: Complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am done with the first semester of organic chemistry as of today. I took the final and think that I at least got an 80+ on it. I’ve been sad about getting my first B in like seven years and how bad it is going to look to not get THAT A in organic, but I’ve come to an acceptance of all my shortcomings. This semester I took three graduate history courses, organic chemistry, volunteered through various organizations, worked full-time, was a note taker, and am a mommy and wife. That’s a lot. I should be proud. Next week, I should get paid for my semester of note taking, BTW! I’m rich…not really.

Strangely, I don’t feel any less stressed out after taking my final just a couple of hours ago. Usually, I feel much better after tests. I think that this time I know that I have one heck of a several months ahead of me. I’ll be taking the MCAT, taking the second semester of organic chemistry, volunteering, and applying to medical school. I won’t be able to feel at ease until I have this next semester under my belt.

Now it is off to the Bouncy Place. I promised the kids that we would do something special.

“Who is Frau Aufbau?” D1 asked the other day. We were obviously listening to EK Audio Osmosis in the car (if you have listened to these CDs, you know what I am talking about). So I told him, “It’s not a person. It’s when electrons are added to the shell with the lowest energy first.” D1 then asked, “Do electrons hurt people?” “Yeah sometimes,” I replied.

Working 12+ hour shifts daily is not conducive at all for MCAT studying. I’m currently almost done with EK Lecture 2 which covers gases and kinetics. I’ve been trying to get ahead in my organic chemistry class, so I’ve been spending a lot of time reading my organic chemistry book. Thankfully, a lot of my EK review material overlaps with the things that we are currently doing in organic chemistry.

Things are starting to “click” more, and I’m slowly getting into the groove of what the MCAT expects. I’m inspired by those on SDN who are getting high 30s; they are amazing! There have been a lot of changes lately with starting daycare, picking up an extra job, children who are always learning creative ways to get into things that they shouldn’t, constant volunteering opportunites, starting swimming again, and my kids starting swimming lessons this week. Considering everything, I’m probably going at the studying pace that should be expected for me at this stage in my life.

This week, I’m skipping to EK chapter 6: Acids and Bases since we are going to be reviewing all of these concepts over the next week in organic chemistry anyway. The five month mark until the end of January MCAT dates is now here. I have five months to prepare if I want to take the MCAT “early” so I can apply to some local special master’s programs in my area.

I can’t believe that we are almost midway through July. We celebrated the fourth by going over to my parent’s house then my sister-in-law’s. The boys got to ride a big tractor and feed Leo the horse. This year, I did not see a single firework which is weird. Yesterday, we went to the pond and swam around. The weather was nice, and no one got burned. The greatest thing was being able to fit into my high school Speedo! Yes! D1 has been kind of cranky, D2 is doing super well in his potty training, and D3 learned how to say, “all done!” My husband has been sick, and I hope that he feels better soon.

I started mentoring this week, and I like it. So far, I only have two high schoolers. It’s kept me fairly busy, and they seem like interesting kids. One wants to be a neurosurgeon, and the other wants to go into obstetrics. I wrote my term paper proposal for one of my history classes, and I have chosen to write about the development of military psychiatry during the Great War. It should be fun!

I’ve been trying to get myself back into the “school” mindset. This year is going to go by so quickly with organic chemistry, volunteering, and taking the MCAT. It will be time to apply to medical school before I know it. Go potential class of 2017!!!!!

At work, I’ve been taking my experience with hyperemesis gravidarum and combining it with my case management skills. I have talked to and been able to help a number of women recently, and it has made me very happy to make a difference in improving their lives. These little moments of really connecting with others encourages me to continue in my pursuit to medicine and hopefully become a wonderful OB/GYN.