Officially a doctor!

This last week was graduation week for me! It was jammed packed with activities and it was so wonderful to spend time with so many people I love!

Monday was supposed to be tailgate and Drillers baseball game, but mother nature had other plans. There were 14 tornadoes in Oklahoma, causing two fatalities. The activity was changed to bowling, but I was too much of a nervous wreck to take Caroline out of our house.

Tuesday was a get together at a downtown Mexican restaurant. It was very good and great to see so many people I hadn't seen in a while. Unfortunately I didn't get any pics from that night. Mike also got caught in surgery and didn't get there until everyone had left.

Wednesday was a girls' brunch with the wonderful women that I have grown to love! We also got to meet one of my classmates nephew from NYC, Theo, who will be 2 in July. We decided they should have a long distance relationship.

In the group there are 3 Ob/Gyns, 5 internists, 1 ER, 1 general surgery, 1 urology and 1 neurosurgery. A handful of us are stying in Tulsa or OKC, but they are moving to Temple, TX, Fort Worth, Ohio, Michigan, New Orleans and West Virginia. They are all AMAZING! Caroline and sweet Olivia are in the picture too.

Thursday morning we had an alumni breakfast and watched our class video. It is so great and was put together by the same woman that did grandma's 80th birthday video. Thursday night was our banquet.

This is Elise(surgery) and Julie(OB). They are wonderful people and I could not have survived without them. I am so thankful for the friendships that we have made in this process. They have been at my side the whole way from class (where we got voted most likely to talk in class-oops!), our monthly get together's on rotations, the birth of two beautiful daughters to road tripping to Philadelphia. I love them!

This is Stephanie (neurosurgery). She is our class president and the most caring person you will ever meet. I am truly blessed to call her a friend. It's not fair that Michigan gets her!

Josh (ER) sat next to our threesome throughout the first two years and often got roped into our silliness! To make the circle complete, he and his parents sat with us at the banquet. Both Josh and Elise won two awards that night! I won the centerpiece haha!

Friday was graduation day. Mardi and Gene graciously hosted my party. We had Ted's mexican cater and it was delicious. I am so thankful for the wonderful family I have surrounding me and supporting me!

Of course, my number one supporter, my amazing husband. It has been a long road and he has been there every step of the way!

My wonderful parents are my constant support. During my first month of medical school, with Mike far away and me not knowing if I could survive the rigors I remember talking to my dad on the phone while I speculated what kind of job I could get with my physiology degree. He said he knew I could do it, but that he would support me whatever my decision. My mom sent me a prayer that I tapped to the fridge that I read aloud every morning. I finally took it down after grad, but I kept it somewhere safe!


My super cute cake! It was a white coat, stethoscope, orange scrubs and pearls! So perfect!

At graduation

Because I am fairly early in the alphabet, I got to watch most of my wonderful friends walk the stage and I took pictures of them. I included Dr. Julie Thomas because she isn't on facebook and who wouldn't want to see this smiling face!

Stephanie did an amazing job on her speech. We really did have a special bond as a class and have done something pretty cool. Only 0.1% of people graduate medical school! At the end of graduation the distinguished student award was presented. Julie, Elise and I were speculating on who it was going to be. Josh-he was number one in GPA. No, they called the winner a she. Stephanie-she was such a leader and is doing a hardcore residency. Then the announcer said She is doing her residency in general surgery and Julie and my heads whip around to Elise. Her face was utter shock. The three of us started bawling (and I don't think I stopped for about 30 mins). It makes me so fuzzy and proud that Elise won the award. Mike said he was speculating the same way we were and when he heard Elise's name he turned toward her husband and his face was shock and amazement too.

Unfortunately Caroline didn't make it through the ceremony and my parents took her home after I walked. I wished I could have got some more pictures with my family in my cap and gown. There were professional photographers taking pictures while we were hooded and then right after. One was taken in front of a green screen so we could be put together as a class composite. Well apparently they didn't plan on our hoods around our neck to be green also. All of our heads are floating independently of our bodies. It is hilarious and very disappointing. I looked again today and no pictures were available, so hopefully that means they are trying to fix them!

As most everyone knows, I am starting my residency with the University of Oklahoma Internal Medicine program July 1st. I will be based out of St. John's. The program is three years (short compared to Elise's 5 years and Steph's 6 years). I have the rest of May and most of June off. We will be going to Estes Park, CO the first week of June with Bryan, Jenne and the kids.