John Turns FIVE!

Little Johnny-Cakes turned FIVE a few weeks ago but we just had his birthday party today. Some of his cutest and closest friends came to Pump it Up to celebrate with us. It really was a fun time with a manageable crowd. I love when they are young enough that all of their friends are really friends of MY friends. It makes the parties really fun since I can catch up with my friends, too!

Alivia made a special "Birthday Hat" for John - it says "Turtle" on it because he really loves Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles right now

On his actual birthday (my board exam day) - we invited Blake, Josh and Sam Underwood, to come have burgers at P. Terry's with us. I thought this pic was especially cute. These boys sure love each other.

The famous "Birthday Hat"

All the kids at the Pump it Up party - very fun!

Me with the big birthday boy!

Internal of Medicine Maintenance of Certification Exam 2015

I took my Internal Medicine MOC Exam today. What a relief to have it over. Although I must say that I still feel anxious and on edge just because of the intensity of these last few months. I do not think it will hit me for a few more days that I do not need to use every free minute to study for the looming exam.

The exam is taken every 10 years and I pray to my Lord that I passed this thing today.

I wanted to write down my thoughts about it all while it was still fresh so I could remind myself how I studied when I have to do it again in 10 years.

I became a member of ACP halfway in the year so I could get the MKSAP study materials at a discounted rate. They were still pricey but thankfully Seton paid for the materials in full. There were 11 books in all. I decided to read the material and then answer the questions. I know Anna just did the questions, but I felt like I needed a bit more background in order to retain the material. 

My collection of MKSAP books - 11 in all

Each book has from about 80-130 pages in it. I could read about 10-12 pages an hour. Each book took about this long:

Neurology 14 hours

Nephrology 16 hours

Rheumatology 14 hours

Cardiology 18 hours

Dermatology 11 hours

Endocrinology 12 hours

Gastroenterology 14 hours

General Internal Medicine 24 hours

Hematology/Oncology 20 hours

Infectious Disease 16 hours

Pulmonology/Critical Care 16 hours

TOTAL HOURS = 175 hours

There was also a cumulative review book that was pretty good, but sometimes was confusing in that it conflicted with the main MKSAP books and was almost too brief. But I probably spent about 15 hours reading that book.

I read the books on paper but used the computer questions which were great. It was helpful to get immediate feedback about my responses and to see how I did compared to others - although sometimes it was so painful to see how many I missed. If I scored more than 50% on the questions I could then apply for CME and MOC credit. Thankfully I did achieve at least 50% on each section. Here is how I fared on each section - although the scores are a little higher because I went back and re-answered questions so that raised my score a bit.

Neurology 80%

Nephrology 76%

Rheumatology 80%

Cardiology 66%

Dermatology 85%

Endocrinology 64%

Gastroenterology 69%

General Internal Medicine 90%

Hematology/Oncology 63%

Infectious Disease 72%

Pulmonary/Critical Care 76%

Example of a question - this means that I answered WRONG - along with 4% others.

This means I answered correctly! Along with only 5% others. You can imagine the roller coaster I was on with studying. . . 

Like I said, these scores are at least 5% higher in some areas because I was able to go back and review and correct wrong answers on about 50 questions. Overall, there were about 1200 questions total, and I missed about 335 questions or so. Overall, I was running about 70% correct which I hope is good enough to pass this thing.

I started studying on November 7th when I travelled with Matt to Houston for a conference. Something that really helped me get my hours in was going with Matt to various conferences and studying in the room while we spoke and presented. It was GREAT. I went to Houston, Las Vegas, Rhode Island and Seattle. 

View from my study perch from the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas - not bad!

View from my room in Providence, Rhode Island. It snowed (in March!) while we were there

I actually really loved the studying. I love learning. And I think I am good at it. I am disciplined to study for hours and hours. The hardest part for me was being away from Matt and the kids. Matt worked overtime these last 6 months taking over Mommy/Daddy duty while I slogged away at my studies. When I was in Austin, I would go to Matt's office on Saturdays to study. I would try to get there around 9:30 and stay until 4 pm or so. On Fridays, I hired Melinda to come from 1:30-5:30 pm and went to our nearby library. This was probably the hardest place for me to study because I was so distracted there.

I had hoped to read the cumulative Board Review book and go over all of the 335 questions that I got wrong but I simply ran out of time. 

Next time I take it I want to take a day off work and complete the exam. It was silly of me to pay a sitter all day and wait until Friday to take it. It was offered Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week and I should have just taken it on Wednesday and gotten it over with.

My dear friends Melissa and Dusty gave me a care package the night before which was so sweet. Dusty wrote me a sweet card and Melissa prayed over me in person the night before. It meant a lot.

I am so glad it is over. Let's pray that I passed and do not have to do it again for another 10 years!

Matt's 3rd Wedding!

Matt got to marry another couple this past weekend in Seattle. This time it was for Daryl Gross and Linda Balgeman. Daryl has been a long-time friend of Matt's so we were thrilled when Daryl asked Matt to perform the ceremony. Daryl had been our best man at our wedding so long ago. During the weeks prior to the wedding, we were able to do some pre-marital counseling with them. I really like Linda a lot and hope to get to know her better in the future. The wedding was really intimate and tender. We were really close to them so we could hear and see everything which I loved. About 50 people were there. Daryl looked SO HAPPY.

Laity Lodge Family Camp 2015

What another amazing time at LLFC. This year we planned ahead and reserved our spots during Spring Break which means we got to stay an extra day which was so fun. We had always wished we could spend a little more time there. It is about a 3 hour drive so an extra day made that a little easier as well.

The same core 5 families went this year - Truss, French, Zimel, Schooler and Risinger. We were trying to think how many years we had been going - at least 5 - and I think it was our 6th because we have been going one year without anyone else.

Headwaters within LLFC is just so nice. . . the food is good. . . the fellowship is good. . . the time away from all electronics is wonderful. I love that your cell phone does not work in the canyon. It is such a relief. We decided to leave Matthew with Mimi and Grandpa this year but will probably bring him next year - he will be ready!

We have already signed up for next Spring Break! Alivia is going to sleep away camp this year to LLYC and is so excited.

The girls

We did archery and riflery with the older kiddos

The Truss Family

The French Family

The Zimel Family

The Schooler Family

The Risingers!

Girls showing off their skills

The guys!

All the girls

John loved having the freedom to be able to ride his bike all over the camp on their paved trails

Cute girls - Becca brought her BFF Michayla

John's First Break

John broke his arm not soon after we got our new playset in the backyard. No one saw it but from what I can tell he was on the monkey bars and fell off them - most likely on an outstretched arm. When I came home from work it had just happened and I could tell by the look on his face that it was broken. We took him into the Pedi Ortho the next day and yep, a buckle fracture of his right arm. He handled it like a champ and seemed almost excited to get the cast on! And the sucker that he received afterwards was a definite hit as well. I have a feeling this will not be his last cast. :-(

Classic Buckle Fracture 

Loving the cast. . . at first

SIX WEEKS LATER - it was dirtier and more tiresome. But he still handled it like a champ

Note to self - PAY EXTRA for the waterproof cast. I have no idea why I did not do this. It was so stressful on Matt during bath time to try and keep this thing dry.

Last few moments of the cast - he was so nervous about the saw that was going to cut it off

Nervous. .  . 

The cast removing machine

SO gross!!!

Now a splint - not sure how much he is actually going to wear it.

t

He was so relieved when it was all over - he fell asleep as soon as we got into the car

Random Pics to end 2014

John in Carrizo

Sitting on the Knox's porch with my boys

Watching the Christmas lights show at Mozart's Coffee

Light show at Mozart's

Risinger, Kinslow and Mezger kids on a hike on Christmas Eve - we needed to get some energy out!

John and his friend Tyler - Tyler's dad is one of the pastor's at our church and had a lot going on Christmas Eve so we brought him home with us after the service for dinner

Santa arrived at 11303 Madrid Drive!

Santa brought Daddy some BOOTS!

Santa brought John a John Deere tractor

Our Christmas card from this year (front side) 

One of my favorite gifts this year was this sweet note from Alivia with a homemade ornament - so sweet

Getting donuts on a Saturday morning - LOVE this new track suit of Matthew's. He looks so cute in it.

The boys at RVG with Mimi and Grandpa

Walking to the Domain for dinner at CPK

The boys headed to Bertram for one last deer hunt of the season 

Favorite Christmas gifts this year - SKATES for all!

Our hardwood floors will never be the same. :-)

Sister has taken a true love for reading - I thought this was a sweet moment

Alivia and her friend Truett from school - Truett was adopted from the Ukraine about 5 months ago

Thalia Ledie and John were fast friends - John even asked if he could have a baby sister later that night! 

In Waco at an old fashioned pizza joint before we hit the Waco Zoo - really fun day

Matching boots with my girl

Mimi and Matthew - when our family goes on adventures sometime we leave Matthew behind with Mimi and Grandpa which they all seem to enjoy a lot