4th Year!

The last few posts have been updating you about fun activities and new milestones Kyper has reached. However, I almost forget to tell you about a milestone for Joel. He is done with his third year of medical school and is now in his last year of medical school! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. (Then we enter another one called Residency.)

Joel has actually been a fourth year for almost two months now. He did a two week rotation in Opthomology. He then had a two week break, in which, he studied, studied, and studied. He took his Step 2 written board on August 17. He feels like he did well and is confident he passed, although we won't know the scores until at least 6 weeks later.

He is now doing an audition rotation for neurology at Botsford Hospital, which is in Detroit Metro. That is medical school lingo for doing a rotation where you hope to get an interview for residency. He actually did one last winter/spring as well. I'll tell you more about residency in a bit. But here is his schedule for the year:

1. Two two-week rotations in Traverse City. (Occupational Medicine and Rehabilition) Kyper and I are tentatively planning on joining him if we can get housing figured out.
2. A week vacation--we are headed to North Carolina and then up to Philadelphia, PA, for Joel to take his practical Step 2 exam.
3. Audition Rotation--Neuro at Garden City (Detroit Metro)
4. Family Medicine in Detroit area
5. Osteopathic Manual Medicine in Detroit area
6. A week vacation for Christmas
7. January--he needs to fill this month yet
8. ICU in Detroit metro
9. Cardiology in Detroit metro
10. April--he needs to fill this month yet
11. A four week vacation
12. Graduation May 28, 2011!!!!


Within this schedule, Joel will be busy getting ready for residency. Currently, he is working on submitting his application(s) to all the places he wants to apply. During Nov, Dec, and Jan he will have to take time off from rotations to go an interview. Then comes Match Day. Joel will rank his choices and the programs rank the students. If Joel gets matched, which I am fairly confident he will, we should know on Feb. 14 where we are headed for the next four years. (Whoohoo, we are leaving the ever two year plan.) I'll try to explain this a little better when it gets closer to the date.

So really the four week vacation Joel gets before graduation will probably include moving--hopefully a within the city move, but it could be out of state. We also hope to take a family vacation to the East coast during that time as well as visit Milwaukee on our way to graduation to spend some time with Aren and Leah.

There you have it. I am married to a fourth year medical student and really the way time flies by, soon I will be married to a doctor! May 28, 2011 isn't that far away. I am so proud of Joel and the accomplishments he has made thus far in his education and career path. He is doing great and I know he will do great in his future!

New Trick

Here is a video to show you what Kyper has been up to lately.




There you have t my fellow blog readers. My baby is not a baby anymore. He has graduated to the title of toddler! He can't quite stand up on his own yet from his butt or knees. He always needs something or someone to help him up. But that will come before I know it.

Quick Trip to Holland

Rick and Monique came out to West Michigan for a family reunion, so Joel, Kyper and I headed to that side of the state to see them. We went Friday late afternoon and made it time to eat dinner with my parents and Grandma VF.

On Saturday morning, we met up with Rick and Monique. We had a great breakfast at my parents and then took them to Holland State Park. Here are pictures:
In the afternoon, we headed to Joel's parents. From there we headed to the Yacht Club. Leah and Aren were also in town from Milwaukee. So, I sat at the pool with Leah while Joel, Aren, and his dad went sailing. Kyper was taking a nap at Joel's parent's house, so Joel's mom stayed behind until he woke up. A big bonus of the weekend was that Stephanie was in town from Florida!! So, she joined up with us!

Me and my best friend Stephanie! I think we look pretty good in our pool attire!

Yes, Kyper went sailing.

Kevin and Jen's Wedding

On August 14, our friends Kevin and Jen got married. Here are some pictures:

The bride and groomJoel and I (Joel was an usher)

Canaan came from Kentucky. It was good to see her.

Talking with friends--Lisa and Julie

Dancing the night away.

Kensington Park

We went to Kensington Metro Park the other day with our friends Kevin and Jen. Here are some pictures:

Here is a pontoon boat we saw. Got to love the camo pontoons and the white picket fence. It was called the Lawnch

Bike Ride

Kyper got a bike seat for his birthday.

Spontaneity Lives

Let me tell you a conversation Joel and I had on Wednesday, July 28.

Joel was studying for his Step 2 boards on Wednesday, July 28 and saw a picture of the cottage come up on his screen saver. He tells me "Man, I really wish I was swimming in Big Star right now."
I replied, "Well, you don't have to work tomorrow, so maybe we should go up there for the day. My parents are up there for the week." I also told him he should call in sick on Friday.
He says, "Really? I actually wouldn't have to call in sick, because I don't have to be back until 12:30pm on Friday. But, I really need to study a bit longer if we go."
We went back and forth and it was decided that I would go to the ALIVE (our church's program for middle schoolers, which I am helping with) bash and then after I get back we would drive up north.

SPONTANEITY LIVES!

It was a gorgeous day to spend up north. Joel took his studying with him and did some of that, but on his breaks he was able to go swimming and seadooing. Kyper loved it!

Here are some pictures:




Here is a video of Kyper using the float he got for his birthday. It is so funny.