Applying for Residency

Wow I can't believe it's finally here. I have been working so hard to accomplish my goal of becoming a physician. It has been a long stressful journey but so worth it. The next step is residency, and the application process is about to begin.

First I have to submit my online application. Then I will get offered interviews. The interviews aren't just for the programs to interview me but it's also a time for me to decide of this program is the right fit for me. Interview season is typically November-January. Then I rank the programs in the order I liked them. The programs also rank the applicants. Both lists are placed into a computer system and "The Match" occurs mid March. That is when we find out where we are off to for the next three years. These next few months will be stressful but exciting for our family!

The picture is one I had to have done to go along with my application. What do you think, do I look like I could be a pediatrician?

1 Month

Wow!  I can't believe our baby girl is already 1 month old.  It feels like it was just yesterday that she was born, yet I can't remember life without her.  Eric and I are both so in love!

 

And we're done taking pictures.

Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz (40th %)

Length: 21 inches (50th %)

Eating: exclusively breast milk, we have started doing 1 bottle of expressed milk a day to get her ready for daycare next week.  She isn't on a "schedule" as I have been feeding her on demand.  She typically goes about 3 1/2-4 hrs between feeds during the day.  Then we will usually get a 5-6 hr stretch after her last evening meal and then she is back to the 3 1/2 hr intervals.

Bedtime: For the most part, from the time she starts eating to the time she is asleep in her crib is a total of 45 minutes.  Her last feeding is usually somewhere between 6:30-7:30. 

Awake: She usually eats sometime between 4:30-6:00 am, but I put her right back down after this feeding.  She will then usually get up around 9:30 for the day.  

Naps: She sleeps a lot right now. :)  It typically takes about 30 minutes for her to eat, diaper changed and burped.  Then she will be up for about 30-45 minutes doing tummy time and playing under the activity center.  Then she gets swaddled and put down for a nap in her crib.  She will then sleep for about 2-3 hrs in her crib.  Then she gets up to eat and will do it all over again.  Typically after her feeding around 1:00, she will stay awake a little longer in the swing.

Diapers: size 1

Clothes: 0-3 months

Favorites: She loves her snail toy with a mirror.  It lights up and plays music every time you touch it.  She has figured that out and will flail her arms around trying to hit it.  She also enjoys bath time now too, but hates drying off and getting lotion put on her.  Car rides, lunch dates with Daddy.

Latest Tricks:  She can lift her head up to about 45 degrees during tummy time.  If we are sitting on the couch with her laying on her tummy against our chest she can lift her head up 90 degrees.  She is starting to focus on us and make eye contact.  Daddy has gotten a smile here and there but every time mommy runs to see, she stops.  The doctor got a few social smiles during her appointment. :)

Alexis with her pediatrician.  

Pink Pear Tree Giveaway

Check out this super cute giveaway a friend of mine is doing on her blog.  

Pink Pear Tree Giveaway

These would make for some super cute baby shower gifts!

What's Cookin' in the Kitchen

Now that we are adjusting to our new roles in life as parents, it is time to get back into the swing of cooking every night.  These last 4 weeks have been crazy, hectic, and fun.  Here is what's on the menu for the week.

Sunday: Lunch-Tortilla Taco Bake
             Dinner-Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Monday: Chicken Lasagna & Broccoli

Tuesday: Crunchy Asian Salad

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes & Slaw

Thursday: Spicy Stewed Beef

Friday: Smokey BBQ Nachos

Saturday: Working my first 12 hr shift in the ER so who knows what's for dinner.  Eric will be on his own and I will be eating hospital food.  Yum! (hint of sarcasm)


Snack for the week: Zucchini & Carrot  Cake Whole Wheat Muffins with dark chocolate chips 

3 Weeks Already

Oh my our sweet little girl is already 3 weeks.  I can't believe how fast time is flying.  She hit 3 weeks on Monday, but I'm just now getting around to blogging.  I am currently trying to finalize my residency application, personal statement, list of programs that I will apply to, write my manuscript for my research project and take care of a newborn.  Ya no time off for this momma.  Plus I go back to rotations September 1st.  I will be on ER working 12 hr shifts.  YIKES!!!

Here is what we've been up to lately. :)

 

Daddy and Alexis.  Daddy has the special "bounce" that Alexis likes :)

 

 We went up to KCUMB so the family medicine department could meet her.  This is Dr. Legg, he is 91 and was my one that taught me a lot as far as manipulation last year during my fellowship.  Here he is checking her cranial motion. :)

 

Alexis with Dr. Newman.  He is a pediatrician and I am so thankful I met him this last year.  He has become my mentor. :)

 

Daddy giving Alexis her first bottle.  We wanted to introduce a bottle before I have to go back to work.  She had no trouble with it.  

 

Daddy burping Alexis.  Notice her face.  She does not like getting burped.  She wanted the bottle. haha

 

Size 0-3 outfit.  A bit big but it's not a Newborn :(

 

Her first manicure.  Too scared to use nail clippers, so I used a baby nail file.  Notice the pacifier as well.  It is great to use in the evenings during the fussy time.  She doesn't need it to go to sleep just to sooth her in the evenings.

 

Size 1 Diapers!  They're huge on her!  But the NB were getting tight around her thighs, so we moved up to a size 1.

 

Daddy and Alexis after tummy time one night.  

Second Week

Monday August 6, 2012:
First Outing

Went to lunch with Mommy, MoMo and GG

 

Went to the outdoor mall with Mommy, MoMo and GG

Daddy's First Day Back to Work

Eric & Alexis were both excited for Daddy-Daughter snuggle time once he got home from work.

Tuesday August 7, 2012
Newborn Photos

Sarah Swade with Swade Studios getting set up for the session

Thursday August 9, 2012:
Four Generation Picture

Friday August 10, 2012:
Lunch with Daddy

Heading out the door to meet Daddy for Lunch

Daddy was happy to have a lunch date with his little angel

Saturday August 12, 2012:
Breakfast Date

We were so happy to finally include Alexis on our Saturday morning breakfast dates

Umbilical Cord Fell Off

Look at that cute little belly button

First Trip to the Park

She cried the first 2-3 minutes and then slept the entire walk.

First Week

So our first week went pretty well once we got home and started to get into the swing of things.

Friday August 3, 2012:
First Doctor's Appointment

6lbs 9 oz (gained 4 oz since discharge 2 days prior)

She did so well at the doctor's office.  Slept the entire time.

First Bath
We had to do a sponge bath since her umbilical cord hadn't fallen off yet. She absolutely hated it.

Tummy Time
She really wasn't a fan of tummy time.  She cried the entire time, but she will get stronger.

Sleeping in the Crib
We think she tired herself out between the bath and tummy time.  This was her first night to actually sleep in the crib and not on our chest in the glider.  We swaddled her, and she had two 2-hour stretches of sleep this night.  It was great!

Sunday August 5, 2012:
Saying Goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Adcock

Meeting MoMo and GG

Going Home

Yay!  We were so ready to get out of the hospital and start the journey of our little family of 3 in the comfort of our own home.  It's so hard to get into the swing of things with people coming into your room all the time.  We knew it was going to be a rough couple of weeks with a newborn and lack of sleep but we were ready for it.

We got to leave the hospital around 11:00 am on Wednesday August 1st (my due date).  Alexis was just shy of being 48 hrs old.  Her discharge weight was 6lbs 5 oz.

Her going home dress was from Baby Gap but it was way too big.

All loaded up ready to go home

Once we got moving in the car she did really well.  Just looked around the entire time.

Home!

Our little family.

Four Generations

My mom and grandma were in town this week to help out and cook as well as love on Alexis. We did a four generation picture done while they were here. So fun!

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak from our newborn session yesterday with Sarah Swade, www.swadestudios.com

Birth Story: The Hospital Stay

Alexis roomed in with us the entire stay at the hospital.  We didn't want this little one out of our sight :)

Monday Night: Eric and I were just on cloud nine the entire evening.  We had the olympics on because I wanted to watch the men's gymnastics team finals.  haha I didn't pay attention to the tv one bit.  All I cared about was our little family.  Eric's parents met their granddaughter.  They were in awe.
 
We did not get much sleep this night as she was just cluster feeding, and I think both Eric and I were too excited.  Every time she made a peep we were both wide awake.  The nurses also come in every 4 hours to take vitals during the first 24 hrs following delivery.  It seemed right about the time all 3 of us would fall asleep the nurse was coming in.  I didn't mind it all that much.

Tuesday: Today wasn't too eventful.  We were just loving on our little one as much as possible.

Amber & Annie both came up to the hospital to visit in the afternoon.  It was fun to introduce them to our baby girl, Alexis.

A lactation consultant came in to assist with breast feeding and gave me some really great tips.  After this I felt like she was really getting the hang of things.  She went to the nursery to get weighed, and we decided to go with.  We had our first little family outing.

 

She weighed 6lbs 5oz.  Because feeding was going so much better, sleep that night was a lot better as well.  She then had to go back to the nursery at 2:00am for her hearing test, blood tests, and oxygen test.  She was gone for about an hour.  It was so hard falling asleep without her being in the room.  I worried about her the entire time.  She passed all of her tests!

Wednesday:  Going home today!  Yay.  This will be it's own post.

 

Index