Busy is an understatement...

I am sorry that I haven't been so prompt with all of my posts. One of my readers reminded me that I haven't blogged since AUGUST!! And for that, I apologize. It's nice to have such great friends that remind me to GET BLOGGING!!! :) I also apologize as the somewhat monotonous nature of my posts. I have a feeling my clinicals will offer some more interesting stories. :)

I plan to finish this post with mainly filling you in about August through December. (I will post about all of my clinical rotations individually.) The fall semester was my favorite. It's quite possibility due to the fact that my learning and training has been building upon itself. Unlike so many of the classes that I had in undergrad, my classes build upon each other, and the learning isn't forgotten at the end of the semester. The classes are so practical. I found myself answering questions about things that, if I had looked at myself two years ago, I would have had no idea what was being discussed. My classes were Clinical Problem Solving, Epidemiology, Clinical Medicine II, Clinical Practicum II, Clinical Procedures, and EKG/ACLS. I ended the semester with 4 Bs and 3 As. I'll take it!!!

At the end of the semester, I had a one week clinical with Dr. Larry Chase at Cox Hyperbaric Wound Clinic. I figured that I would be going to look at wounds here and there and doing some dressing changes. Maybe slapping on a little Neosporin here and there.... Wow, I am impressed with the vast amount of information and care that goes into wound healing. There is so much to learn about the origin of wounds (arterial vs venous), chronicity of wounds, types of skin grafts, wound infections, and types of dressings. I feel that I learned a lot in the week of that clinical. There is so much more to wounds than Neosporin and Bandaids.

At the end of the semester, on December 20, Mike and I celebrated... by getting married! We had such a beautiful day. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo, and I felt like a princess in my gown (first time ever feeling like a princess!). We were blessed with an outside temperature of 53 degrees in the middle of December! The week before had been around 20-25 degrees, and I was checking the weather updates every day to see what was in store for us on our wedding day. We were praying for good weather, and we got it! Mike and I had our closest friends and family with us, and the day was VERY special. I can truly say it was one of the best days of my life.

After our wedding, we honeymooned in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It was truly Heaven on Earth. I have never been more relaxed and care-free in my entire life. The water was more soothing, colors more vivid, food more satisfying, and people more beautiful than anything I have ever experienced... I can wait to go back...

The only bad part of the honeymoon was leaving. Mike and I returned to a "warm" 27 degrees back here in Missouri. All in all, we were sad to leave Jamaica but happy to return home. It was only two weeks later that I was to be in my first clinical. I was somewhat nervous going into my first clinical, but I was fortunate enough that my first one was with Stacy Vienhage in family practice at the St. John's--Republic clinic. It was close to home, and I was looking forward to it! More to come!