So…how did it go?” I eagerly asked. My husband had just finished his second interview for a position to which he had recently applied. In typical DJ fashion, he responded “What interview?” He always likes to hold out when I’m anxious for information, just to see me squirm. “Come on!” I replied. He laughed, then […]
Is A Year-Long Maternity Leave Possible in Residency?
Hey, just so you know, I’m going to need about 20 minutes to pump every 2-3 hours throughout the day.” It was a familiar, yet not particularly enjoyable, conversation I had grown accustomed to having with each new senior resident at the beginning of every rotation. I had just finished maternity leave and was somehow […]
Setbacks, Set-Ups, and Step 1s: Our Wedding Story, pt. 2
“I got the job!” DJ yelled excitedly over the phone. I couldn’t believe it. After two and half years of applying to jobs in Chicago, he was finally offered a position with a company that not only had offices worldwide, including Chicago, but that would allow him to work from home . . . in […]
Setbacks, Set-Ups, and Step 1s: Our Wedding Story, pt. 1
“Unfortunately, the way our curriculum is set up, there are no points of re-entry into third year that would allow you the six-month time period you need to study and re-take the exam.” I had failed Step 1*. “That being said, you will have an extra six months added to your total time in medical […]
Graduations and Invitations: Finally Together
“I feel like I’m in a daze. I know I’m supposed to feel happy since it’s our graduation weekend, but all I feel is sadness,” I recounted to my then-boyfriend-now-hubby, as we sat on the couch in the boys’ dorm lobby. “Yeah, after this, who knows when we’ll see each other again,” he said. I […]
Pain and Peace: My Labor & Delivery Story
“I think my water broke.” I calmly told my husband as I came back into the room at 2 AM, that Tuesday morning. I was three days away from my due date and there was certainly no surprise that baby would be making his appearance any day now. I had been having irregular Braxton-Hicks contractions […]
Big Belly, Big House pt. 2
“ARGHH!!” There I was, moaning in pain through each and every contraction, while all I heard in the background was the “BANG, BANG, BANG!” of our contractor’s hammer working away. Strangely enough, it was music to my ears. In fact, I jokingly referred to it as the soundtrack for my labor. At that point, I […]
Bahama Mama & Papa: Traveling with a Three-Month-Old
Shortly after resigning from residency, I jumped right into full-time mommyhood with no regrets! One of the additional perks of my new “job” is that there’s more flexibility, meaning I would be able to travel to my cousin’s wedding in the Bahamas, which I previously would not have been able to attend. Of course, my […]
Big Belly, Big House, pt. 1
“You’re late this month babe. Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”, my husband asked with a concerned look on his face. “Of course not. I’ve been late before,” I nonchalantly replied. And with that, I hurried off to class, one of the last few of my med school career. As the days drew on, still […]
From Dr. Wife to Mrs. Mom
I recently quit my job…and by job, I mean residency. As those in the field can attest, this isn’t something that happens often. Once you start, it’s expected that you’ll finish, regardless of how difficult things get, and no matter the sacrifice. Forums on the topic often advise residents considering the thought to “forget about […]