The Final Countdown!

I'm beginning to get really excited about graduation! One more week left of my externship, then one week until graduation! May 5th cannot get here soon enough! I have been doing my externship at Eastside Animal Medical Center in Grayson. I love it! Everyone is so nice and they let me do everything... they even call me Dr. Verlander! The other day, I did a femoral head ostectomy! It was awesome!

Now that the board exam is over I have had time to run AND play some soccer! Running with my amazing sister-in-law through the neighborhood has been amazing. There is also a Grayson women's running club that I am joining. We have a 5K next weekend. Im pumped. Ive been playing soccer with Natalie on a co-ed team from people that she knows from work. It has been really fun! I just need to figure out how to keep my ankles from rolling :)

I have also had some free time to begin working on the house. Getting things put together, decorating, and picking out things that I would like to purchase to really make this house look nice.

After the board exam I decided to go to Bed Bath and Beyond and get some decor for the guest bedroom... 1) because we needed it, and 2) because when I am depressed, shopping makes me happy :) If you don't remember, this is what the guest bedroom looked like in the condo in Athens. We had it basically the same way here in Grayson:


And here is how it is decorated now!

I love it! Ready for anyone who wants to come visit! I also purchased the bedding for the other guest bedroom, we just don't have a bed in there yet. When that is set up, expect pictures!

This is about as far as we have gotten in the Master... The headboard I made (because we don't have one... yet). Thanks Pinterest! I took 6 pieces of canvas and covered them in fabric, decorated them, then just hot glued them together. Didn't take long at all and was REALLY inexpensive. I think it turned out nice. The rest of the master bedroom is still in boxes... eventually things will be put up!


This is the master bathroom. We originally had white bathmats, soap dispensers, etc. and it looked really good in Athens because the bathroom was blue. Because it didn't go as well with the new bathroom, we moved the white stuff to the guest bathroom and got new slate gray mats and brushed nickel accessories. Love how it looks now!


Here is the white in the guest bathroom. It also looks good and transitions nicely into the new guest bedroom (with the blue).


Im sure that after graduation there will be some very exciting new purchases and decorations to come, so keep an eye out!

Until next time!

Beginnings of the House --> Home Transformation

Greetings!

As an attempt to avoid studying at all costs, I figured I would keep ya'll updated on what we have done around the house! After the 12th, there will be a lot more posts (with exciting before and after pics!) probably for the next year or so as we slowly change our new house into our dream home. Its a slow process, but with Michelle Verlander's help (Matt's sister, who HAPPENS to be an interior designer!!) it will be AMAZING!!

While I was gone in Mobile for 3 weeks, Matt (because he is awesome) completed some very big tasks around the house. First: Fence in the backyard...

BEFORE, no fence for us, just our neighbor's fence:

AFTER, AMAZING:
Next task, paint the kitchen... Before it was a dark red color:

Now, BLUE!!

Third, and I helped some with this one before I left and after I came back, we sanded, painted, and sealed the old DVD shelf that we had... Before it was black (in the corner):

Now it is white, and he removed the back on it so that the fireplace and various cords can be accessed :)


He also installed a cat door :) No pics of that though, sorry! haha.

Thats it for now! Get ready for some exciting new additions once I get some free time!
Until next time!!

Past, Present, and Future

My sincerest apologies for this update being late!! Its what happens when the bowels of the vet school swallow you. I decided to make this post somewhat organized in going over the things that have happened since the last post, the current state of affairs, and what the future has to offer as far as I can see (as in until May).

PAST:
Matt and I have officially moved! We got the house that we wanted (previous post) and are now residents of Grayson, GA. We rented a UHaul and snagged a few friends and moved everything down to the house just in time for me to leave on externship to Alabama for 3 weeks :). Everything seems to really be coming together according to text messages from Matt, and once I get there photos will be taken and posted (I PROMISE!!).
We had to find a new home for Chanel. When we moved, neither cat really handled it well, and I decided to separate them until they both calmed down. After I did, both cats seemed to be MUCH happier without the other one around. Then I put 2 and 2 together and realized that for the past year I had been trying to make work something that just wasnt working. Strauss and Chanel never really got along, and they were both pretty stressed about the other one. So Matt and I made the decision to find Chanel a new home where she could be an only cat... and we found her the PERFECT home. She is now Rachel and Craig's baby and they are all doing SO well together!! It worked out perfectly, as all things tend to do.
I can officially say that I officially have a job after graduation and passing boards. I will be the newest Vet at Brookwood Animal Hospital in Snellville, GA. Therefore, everyone who is reading this post (except the future veterinarians) you are now required to bring all pets there. I will be starting (HOPEFULLY, pending Boards), in June.
I am also officially done with Athens, GA until graduation!! I finished my last rotation at UGA on St. Patrick's Day. No more basement hospitals for me!!

PRESENT:
I am currently in Mobile, Alabama doing a 3 week externship with some of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. I met Dr. Long my junior year at Wofford, giving him, his wife, and his son, Philip, a tour of campus, and helping host Philip for his deciding visit to Wofford. He picked Wofford, and started as a freshman my senior year. When Dr. Long found out that I was accepted to vet school, he sent me my stethoscope as a present, and he was one of the people that I called to tell. So when time came to pick my externships, I knew I had to do one with him. I have never been fed so well! The Longs are some of the nicest, most giving people you would ever meet :). I am learning a lot on this rotation as well. The clients come in all varieties/shapes/and sizes and I am learning every range of veterinary medicine. From the people that have 1 little white fluffy that is their baby and would do anything for it, to someone who has 6 dogs with heartworms and no money; and being able to treat both sets with quality medicine while meeting the owner's needs. Amazing.
One thing that I have noticed while being here is that for the first time in my whole life, I am homesick. I am a world traveler and have spend months away from home with little to no contact with anyone, and I have never once felt homesick. But for some reason after about 4 days here, I was missing everyone terribly, especially my family. I guess in my old age (;)) my wild and free spirit is becoming more tame... either that or marriage did it. But thankfully I had some visitors this past weekend! My parents came down and we had a WONDERFUL time on Dauphin Island and visiting Bellengrath Gardens. I would post pictures, but I forgot my camera cord... so in a few weeks (after April 7th), expect some!

FUTURE:
I will be in Mobile until April 7th, then I am starting at an emergency clinic for my final rotation April 9th. The clinic is about 5 min. from our new house, so it will be nice not having much of a drive. I take the NAVLE on April 12, so I expect everyone that is reading this to be praying non-stop from 8:30AM-3:30PM that day :). Dr. Long said it best the other day, "You are going to make an amazing vet" then he shook his head, "having something like a vet license decided by a dumb test like the NAVLE is like having a soccer game end in a shoot out. You work so hard for so long to have it all come down to chance. Doesn't matter who is the best." That is a wise man.
Graduation is May 5th, then I will just be waiting around (probably doing a lot of decorating and home projects, exercising, and enjoying the beautiful weather) until I find out my board results mid-may. After that... who knows!!

Until next time (which I promise will be sooner than this one was, and full of pictures)!!

Ups and Downs

2012 has shown itself to really been a roller coaster thus far. It ranges from excitement that is impossible to contain, to let downs that feel like I am moving backwards more than forwards. I like to end on happy notes, so we will start with the let down...

I didn't pass the NAVLE. That was possibly the worst email I have ever gotten. It was like I have worked so hard for so long just to have it all come crashing down at the very end. Not only did I go to college for 8 years, sacrificing all of my free time and energy to the future, I also studied for this test more than most people I know that passed. 3 months for at least an hour a night, practice question after practice question, notes, handouts, reviews... all for nothing. All to just turn around and have to do it over again in April. I ruined my future job, our future house plans, wasted another thousand dollars on retaking the test... everything! I needed a 65% to pass... I made a 63%. And the worst part was that the breakdown of each species on the test showed that I did about the same for all the species. It wasn't like I did terrible on cows and just need to study cows more... I need to take the whole test differently. I have never been a strong standardized test taker and generally don't do well with multiple choice tests anyway. So for me, this test is not about what I know, it is about how well can I take the test. How well can I figure out what the person writing the question was trying to ask me. Basically, for the next 3 months, I am starting over.

It has been very upsetting to think about that for the next 3 months I will be studying each evening (again) while all of my friends get free time with no stress. But trying to stay positive, I will have all of this information fresh in my mind when I start my new job (hopefully after I pass the April test!). I really appreciate the support of all my friends and family that have been standing by me giving me encouragement through this very upsetting and stressful time.

(on to positives) Speaking of job... I called my future boss, Dr. Craig Yeomans, to tell him that I had failed. I told him that I understood if he wanted to try and find someone else sooner, or if he did not want me to work there anymore since I failed that I completely understood. I would not find out about the results of the April test until the end of May and that even then there was a chance that I wouldn't pass again.

His response: I don't care, I want you to work here. So we wait another month, big deal. Sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?! That response really solidified that I was making the right decision to work there. He made the official announcement this week to the rest of the staff that I would be working there most likely starting the end of May pending the April test results. I feel very honored... and lucky.

Another BIG deal... Matt and I are going to try and make an offer on a house that we looked at the other weekend!! It is in a BEAUTIFUL neighborhood in Grayson, Wheatfield Reserve, which offers swim and tennis, and sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. The house is in a cul-de-sac and is just PERFECT for what we want. The address is: 15 Little Barley Lane, Grayson GA 30017. You should check out the pictures online here (doesnt do it justice) and let me know what you think!! KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED that everything works out and we get our dream home!!!

Thats all for now... Until next time!!

The Search Begins!

First, I would like to wish a very Happy New Year to my friends and family! I know hat 2012 has a lot of exciting changes in store, and I am looking forward to sharing all of them with you!!

Christmas was as wonderful as I could have hoped for. Everyone was together and the love at every event was tangible.

I have (almost) officially accepted the job at Brookwood Animal Hospital. I have verbally committed, and I will sign the contract mid-January. We have discussed the contract and pay etc. etc. The official contract just needs to be written up, and then we have the signing day! It sorta feels like I am in the process of beginning a pro-sport... Matt thinks I should get a signing bonus ;) I am excited because I will only be working 3.5 days/week! It will be SUCH a change from what I have been doing for the past year (working 24/7), it probably wont feel like I am working at all. The hours are stable, and it will give me time to begin working on other parts of my life (house, family, and actually getting to spend time with my husband).

SPEAKING OF HOUSE... Matt and I have begun the intense process of house-hunting. He was not as enthusiastic as I was about it (as goes most things), but he is coming around. We sat down and wrote out a "house must haves" list that was basically this:
- Under 300K (thats what we were approved for) in Grayson, GA
- 4-5BR/3+BA
- Open floor plan
- Big kitchen (lots of counter tops and cabinet space, large pantry)
- Formal dining room that can hold a table for 12
- LARGE master bathroom with tub and extra large shower
- Swim/tennis community preferably with sidewalks through the neighborhood
- (Matt's request) Driveway good for basketball... always thinking of the future, he has decided our children will be professional basketball players :)
- (my and Levi's request) Large backyard that is either fenced in, or easily fence-able to be done RIGHT when we move in
We have just been looking online, but when I find one that meets most of our criteria I will show him, and he will start deciding where he would put the furniture that we have. It is getting pretty exciting! Ideally, I would love to be able to move in around April to whatever we can find since my last two rotations are not in Athens, and my last one is in Grayson, there is no reason to stay living in Athens. The problem is that a lot of banks will not give you a loan on a house until you have worked at your job for at least a month... that means we wouldn't be able to move in until July. That is a lot of driving, and as you all know my Jeep is NOT the most fuel efficient car. So we are going to try and see if there are any smaller banks that will accept a contract to work, or if Matt can get approved for the houses we want on his salary alone. Grown-up stuff is complicated... but exciting! I can't wait to start looking at houses in person!!

Pending my NAVLE results (TBA end of Jan, beginning of Feb... unless I failed), graduation is May 5 at 10:30AM (118 days away, but who is counting??). I. CANT. WAIT. Everything that I have worked for since I was 6 years old will finally be a reality. A life-long goal achieved. 4 years of torture finally ending. I might ACTUALLY cry (which is saying something considering I didn't even cry at my wedding).

Until next time!

Catching Up

It has been a little bit since I've updated...

I took my NAVLE (National Board Exam) and I will find out the results end of January/early February, which is a bit stressful, but at least it is over (for now). Everyone else seems as concerned as I am about the results (which is slightly encouraging, at least I am not the only one who feels there is a possibility of failure). I know that it really doesn't say or mean anything about how good of a vet I am going to be, but it would be REALLY nice to not have to devote another 6 hours of my life to retaking it in April.

I presented my research that I have been working on since second year of vet school at the Science of Veterinary Medicine Symposium. For those that are interested (probably not many!) my research is on diagnosing septic peritonitis using a hand-held glucometer (like those used to test blood sugar in diabetic people). It involved a LOT of data collecting, analyzing, and interpreting, and just as preliminary results were being written up, the company that makes the glucometer asked if we would repeat the study with the newest model of glucometer. They would fund the project and send the prototype, but basically everything that I had worked on for two years wouldn't be used. As you can imagine, I was a little saddened by this news... but it is all for the progress and improving diagnosis in veterinary medicine and not about me. BUT I did get to present the research that I had worked on. I had so much fun! The auditorium was full (probably 150-200 people) and I didn't see anyone fall asleep! AANNDDD I won 3rd place for presentations! I felt inspired by telling people something that was brand new, and teaching them everything they ever wanted (and didn't want) to know about abdominal fluid, bacteria, and glucose, and I realized that I would REALLY enjoy teaching.

This inspired me to consider applying for internships instead of deciding to just go into private practice. So I filled out my applications, got my letters of reference, and had a conversation with Matt. We discussed the pros and cons of each decision:

Private Practice:
PROS: Client relationships (which I LOVE), money (which is very helpful being 120K in debt with student loans), time, starting the next chapter of life with a house and family, being close to our families
CONS: No teaching
Internship:
PROS: Step one towards doing what my ideal job would be (emergency specialist and teaching at a school), flooding experience with a very high caseload
CONS: Possibly having to move somewhere for only one year, voluntary servitude for another year, no time, no family, no money, having to deal with the bureaucracy of a public institution, and if I did an internship, I would want to do a residency (another 4 years after the internship) to get my specialty in ECC, which then would be very time consuming and wouldn't allow me to have the family time that I would want.

To a sane person, this seems like a no-brainer. But it was a decision that caused a lot of angst to me. It was the first time in my life that I didn't know EXACTLY what I was going to do. I have wanted to be a vet since I was 6... I didn't ever think about what KIND of a vet I wanted to be. The decision basically broke down to choosing between the career that I decided I wanted, or the family life I always wanted. I have always wanted kids, a nice house, and being able to host my family, Matt's family and our friends for dinners/parties. All of that, not really possible being a Criticalist and being on-call 24/7. So with Matt's help, we decided that I should apply for only the internship at UGA (so if I did get it, we wouldn't have to move), and also apply for jobs, as to have many options and just let the decision be out of my hands. He is smart :)

THEN... I had Neurology. Another REALLY intense rotation (6AM-4AM, back at 6AM... yea...) And I started to feel more and more annoyed at little things... like the inefficiency of the hospital, and some of the people that work in the hospital. Granted, it could have been 3 weeks of "that time of the month" (unlikely), but maybe I was moody from being tired and overworked. But by the end of the 3 weeks I had come to the conclusion that I COULD NOT handle working for the rest of my life in that environment and be a happy person. So really, I didn't want the internship. The afternoon I made that decision (literally had the conversation with Matt) I got a phone call offering me a job at a clinic that I LOVE (Brookwood Animal Hospital), and love everyone that works there. I mean... can Someone hit me over the head a few more times to get the point across??? I can't tell you how happy it made me to drive past the Hospital and see that there was a new sign out front, raised slightly higher off the ground to fit one more doctor name :) Lindsey Lane Verlander, DVM

As for now, me and Matt are getting excited about CHRISTMAS!!! We are having our Christmas on the 22nd, Matt's Aunt Janie's birthday is the 32rd, Matt's family Christmas on the 24th, my family Christmas on the 25th, then my Mom's best friend, Andie's Christmas the 26th. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! My most favorite thing in the WORLD (and how I show that I care for people) is giving them things that they want/need/love, and Christmas is an excuse to do that for everyone that I care about. Watching them open the presents, seeing their happiness, and spending so much time with families just enjoying each others company, seeing friends that I haven't seen in so long... there is just nothing better.

So I leave you with the most Merry Christmas wish of all from the Verlanders!!!

Finally, time to breathe!

I just ended two very difficult rotations back to back... small animal and large animal internal medicine. So basically for the past six weeks I have not had time to do anything except work and sleep (the former a lot more than the later!). I am THRILLED to now be on dermatology, not because I have an interest in it, but just for a chance to breathe!

The plan for taking derm right now is that I will have some time to study for my board exam (the NAVLE) which is scheduled for November 14th. I have been studying almost every night (until the last 6 weeks) for an hour since August 1. At first I was very stressed and anxious about it, rightly so. It is the test that determines my future. Everything I have worked for since I was 6 years old decided by 6 sections of 60 multiple choice questions and 66 minutes each section (I think the numbers are significant by the way). Then a took a second and realized that:
1) November 14 is going to come anyway, and stressing isnt going to do anything to help me
2) The test isnt everything... if I dont pass, then I will just take it again in April
3) The test doesnt actually mean anything about how I will be as a doctor... it only determines if I can take standardized exams
So I can make the choice to continue worrying about it OR just say whatever happens will happen, enjoy my life, and when November 14th rolls around do the best I can with how I have prepared, and be done. Which is what I have decided.

Since I havent had a life the past 2 months, I have made several plans during this block's amazing 9-5 schedule (weekends OFF) including Mellow Mushroom Trivia every Wednesday, camping in Helen one weekend, and actually spending some time with my WONDERFUL Husband who lives with me but never actually sees me.

On the Husband front... I think I am the luckiest girl in the world. He has been SO amazing during the past few months making me dinner, taking care of Levi, Strauss, and Chanel, cleaning, and just taking care of everything for me so that all I have to do is focus on school. Husband of the year.

Im ready for November 14th. Im ready for May 5th 2012. Im ready to start the next chapter. Ready, and excited.