I promise I haven't fallen off the blogging wagon, I've just been busy doing much of the same thing, with some variation on the theme depending on what rotation I'm on.

Last week was ruminant nutrition, where myself and three very cow-oriented people did some cow stuff in the mornings (palpations mainly, but I got to: give some IM injections, watch some foot trimming, give an epidural, chase some heifers, palpate a Jersey cow [which is my size cow!], amputate a tail, ultrasound [preg check] a crapload of sheep, dehorn some calves and the like) and nutrition stuff in the afternoons. I took a year of production animal nutrition in undergrad, so I knew I would understand and enjoy the subject material. Also, good practice for my three weeks on farm services ahead.

This week I've been on lab animal and exotics. If you've read even just one post on this blog, you know how I feel about this rotation, and it's lived up to my wildest hopes and dreams. We've been taking care of the wildlife patients (pigeons, a barred owl and a bald eagle) which includes radiographs and handling (a first for me when it comes to raptors) as well as: blood collection from turtles, ferrets, mice and snakes (I also managed a pericardiocentesis in the snake?!), some amazing field trips to a falconry and a snake breeder and lots of other amazing things that are slipping my mind right now because I'm exhausted from all of the crazy fun stuff we've been up to. Never a dull moment.

I've also been working away at my Match application. I got my materials submitted and am just waiting on two more letters of recommendation to come through (I have a bad feeling they're going to go down to the wire, which serves me right for being a procrastinator myself!) I'm excited to get everything submitted and start hopefully hearing back from places for an interview. Danny and I made our list of 10 programs, and looked into the areas that they're in for ease of job for him, income, taxes, etc. but I think getting to see the facilities and actually experience the area ourselves will be a big factor in my rank order. I was all nervous about where we'd end up but now that I'm actually applying, I realize that the most important thing is that I get to live with my husband and we get to be a normal couple for the first time in a very, very long time. I certainly hope I find a program with awesome facilities, amazing people and great opportunities too, though!

The other things on my plate include my clinical conference - my presentation is next Wednesday (eek!) and my final paper is due at the end of November before I head out. Match applications are due November 9 and I should start to hear back from programs shortly thereafter. Then home for the NAVLE, hopefully some interviews, holiday time with my family, catching up with old friends and externals. Match Day is February 9(?) and at that point, Danny and I can start looking into details on moving to our new place.

Crazy times ahead, but I'm excited :)

Another one bites the dust: small animal medicine is done! I didn't get called in on emergency last night so I just had to come in this morning and feed the pigeons (they're being cared for by our tiny wildlife group while they regrow their flight feathers) and now I'm finished with all of my obligations for the rotation. It wasn't nearly so bad as I was expecting - at least in part due to the decrease in cases coming through compared to the summer rotations but also because all of the technicians, interns, residents and clinicians were amazing to work with.


In other exciting news, Match applications opened on Wednesday. I've got all of my letter writers lined up, have a few last minute tweaks to make to my essay and a couple other odds little things to do before the special lab animal deadline November 9th. Fortunately, I should have enough free time through December and early January to attend any interviews I might be lucky enough to land. I'm going to apply to 10 programs (you pay for applications in brackets, so it's a set fee for 1-10, 11-20, etc) although there are four or five that I'm most interested in right now. It feels kind of like applying to vet school, except now that my grades are better I feel more confident in my application than when I applied to vet schools. So it's pretty exciting.

I have a lot of chores to get done today but I know I'll have next weekend to get stuff done too, as my next rotation is only a week long. I also have a paper to finish and a powerpoint to start for my clinical conference (which I'm terrified for...) as well as NAVLE prep to continue. Time is really rolling now :)

Two weeks of medicine down, one more to go!

So far, I really like this rotation and I feel kind of silly for dreading it as much as I did. Granted, I expected it to be like surgery with a lot of cases to juggle, late hours and crazy weekends. Fortunately the case load has been steady but not overwhelming and the weekends have been manageable. There have definitely been some late nights but I don't feel nearly so exhausted as I did during surgery. On top of that, I feel as though I've been developing my skills, both technical and diagnostic, and continue to feel as though this profession is absolutely the right place for me. There have been some sad cases but there have also been some very happy endings that make it all worth it. If I had room for it in my schedule, I would totally do a second block of medicine!

Since last posting, I also had two fun events: buddy dinner and awards night.


Buddy dinner is where our buddy groups (one to two students in each academic year plus a faculty adviser) get to sit down to a sponsored dinner, catch up and exchange advice. My buddy mentor is a great guy, always offering valuable advice on life, and my buddies are really sweet. I only got to meet one of my incoming buddies but she was really nice too! I like being able to help other students out (I got to chat with a gaggle of first years in the teaching hospital today which was awesome). Plus, you know, free dinner ;)

Awards night was Wednesday night. I love awards night because you get to see everyone rewarded for their hard work and achievements. I was selected by my class for an award recognizing courtesy, sincerity and integrity. The award was put together by a family in honor of their veterinarian son who passed away and the short speech the guy gave before it was so touching. I felt ridiculously honored to have been selected by my class. Definitely made my night :) But my favorite part of the evening was the presentation of the annual teaching award; the professors are always so happy and touched at being selected and I love being able to recognize them for having such an impact on our education and our future careers. The person I voted for didn't win - and I thought she really deserved it! - but the winner was totally deserving too. All in all a great night.

I've managed to be lazy and not accomplish much of my fall to-do list lately, but hopefully I get some time this weekend even though I am on call...