Friday, March 29, 2013

Tales from the Kiddos: Hospital Boot Camp

Conversation with a female patient, 3 years old (who is not allowed in the playroom for a variety of reasons at the moment):

Patient: Can we go to your playroom Bethany,  PLEEEEEASE (cheesy grin)
B: Not right now sweetie, it's really dirty.
Patient: (picks up toothbrush from sink) That's ok, if you get me a cup of water I can clean it for you with this. 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A tribute: A girl and her dog

I'm going to write what will likely be the most indulgent post I ever create. And hopefully therapeutic. Feel free to skip if you aren't interested in sappy odes to childhood pets.

A year ago, on March 28, 2013, I said goodbye to my best friend, my dog, Lady.

Thanksgiving 2011

Monday, March 25, 2013

Weekend Recap: Instagram Style

I was without internet for a week. Don't get me started, Im still irritated. As such I am behind in my posting, as well as my tv watching. Don't take offense, tv watching comes first. So while I work on getting my wits together and putting together a slew of deep, thought-provoking posts (excuse while I got snort with laughter and derision at my own comment) I shall leave you with an other Instagram style recap of my wonderful, fulfilling weekend with amazing friends. I've been a bit down lately, and was definitely in need of a relaxing weekend away from Miami! Enter a trip to my hometown:

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Tales from the Kiddos: Toilet Training 102?

Conversation with a female patient, 3 years old:

Patient: I need to pee!
Dad: Well come over here to the bathroom.
Patient: That's a medium toilet, Bethany. I don't need the big girl toilet yet, but I'm not little, so I use the medium toilet. It's so nice of them to put a medium toilet into this bathroom for me.
Dad: I don't quite know how to tell her it's the exact same size it was 6 months ago.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Reflections on Match Day 2013

I want to introduce you to two of my best friends:

Cooking Baking Extravaganza 2012

That's Anisha, and we've been friends.. forever. We met in elementary school; a bit competitive as we were both super smart... and we knew it. But we were friends. We then went separate ways for middle school, high school, and, for a time, college. However, I transferred schools, met a girl who became my bestie, and then realized her roommate was best friends with... Anisha. So we became friends again. Graduated. Moved on... until I moved to Miami, where she conveniently was attending medical school. Bam. Instant best friends again, as if nothing had ever happened. She is loving, and caring, and kindhearted, basically everything you could ever want in a lifelong friend.


Celebrating her return from India... in unintentionally matching sweater dresses, tights, boots, belts, and scarves...

This is Molly, and we've been friends... since I moved to Miami. She and Anisha met/became friends in medical school, and eventually attended church together as well. Molly and I had a Chili's date very early on in our friendship and from that first encounter it was if we had been friends our whole lives. She is in many ways the yin to my yang (heck, we even dress alike without meaning to!), and has truly enriched my time here in Miami. There are so many things I probably wouldn't have survived without her support.


Molly and Anisha have been in medical school, kicking butt, for the past four years and something very special happened yesterday:


After months and months and months of applying, and interviewing, and flying, and not sleeping, and stressing, and thinking, and eventually ranking their top programs... they finally found out where they will be doing their residencies and continuing their medical careers. Needless to say... it was an exciting day. As a friend who has somewhat 'traveled' this journey with them, I was proud, nervous, and excited to experience 'Match Day' by their side.


And of course... God taught me a lesson in the process (ain't that always the way!).

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Dating Cleanse, an update

On July 29, 2012 I decided to take a year off from dating.

A lot of factors went into the decision: a small group sermon series on dating and sex, conversations with friends, self reflection on my previous mistakes.

Not to mention the still smoldering embers remaining in my life from my last major relationship blow up. It wasn't something I ever talked about directly, but I hinted here that things had been particularly difficult for me to muddle through.

A lot of thought and prayer went into the decision, but at the end of the day I couldn't shake the feeling that God was asking me to trust him and take some time off from 'relationships'.

I am now almost 8 months in, 2/3 of the way done with this pledge, and I want to reflect a bit on what has happened and the change it has wrought in my life. Fair warning, this may be the most personal post I have ever written.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Tales from the Kiddos: loquacious moppets

From the mouths of three year olds (they make my vocabulary seem puny by comparison):

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Patient: There's a squirrel in that tree!
L: I don't see it.
Patient: Oh never mind, it's camouflaged.
L: Do you even know what camouflaged means?
Patient: (in a very condescending tone) Of course. It means it's hidden.

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Mom: Just yesterday she was mad that I wouldn't let her do what she wanted and informed me I needed to cooperate with her. I asked her what cooperate means and she very matter of fact told me it meant we had to work together.

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Mom: Are you stable standing up there or do I need to help you?
Child: I'm a bit precarious right now Mommy, not stable
(Child sits down)
Child: That's better, I'm not precarious any more, I'm stable.

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Patient: Be very careful when you are petting this pink baby chick toy Bethany, he is very fragile. That means he might break.

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*I have several 'real' posts in the works, once I get the strength/wits together to write them.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these happy tidbits from my days!

Friday, March 1, 2013

Tales from the Kiddos: McDonald Spies

Conversation with a nurse about hospital policies.

Bethany: They're really starting to crack down about policies. Like the one stating we aren't supposed to have patients anywhere near the nurse's station. I mean, I get why they want that, but in some cases, like his (gesturing to a toddler patient who was sitting in a high chair nearby), it's just so much safer to have them close where we can keep an eye on them if they are alone.
Nurse: No, I completely agree. I think they're more worried about privacy. We want to avoid having people out here listening to health information about other patients.
Bethany: Haha, true story, luckily with this one I think we have a bit of time before he starts spilling the beans.
Patient (looks very determinedly at Bethany, and announces) E I E I O
Nurse: Then again.... maybe not