And now my Peds Shelf exam is complete, bringing to a close my 8 wonderful weeks of Pediatrics. I still found the shelf to be a bit difficult, but definitely not as bad as Surgery was – and I ended up with a great score for that, so who knows how this one will turn out.

I’ve spent this weekend cleaning, organizing, doing laundry and dishes – basically all the everyday things that get pushed to the side while I’m enmeshed in a rotation and have presentations, studying, and exam worries on my mind. I really enjoyed getting the apartment all spruced up and weeding through the closet again. It amazes me how I can always find a few more items of clothing to donate everytime I sift through my wardrobe.

I start on Neurology tomorrow – still at Cardinal Glennon so I’m still with kids (which is so great). I’m looking forward to seeing the world of child neurology – but a little nervous about how I’ll handle a 4 week rotation. I’ll have to be studying right from the beginning – not take so many lazy days as I allowed myself duirng the longer rotations. I’m not too worried though.

My big toes both still have a little purple nail polish left on them – a little bit of mom right here in St. Louis. 🙂

Whew – big sigh of relief… my Peds oral exam is finally over. I have been stressing about it for the past coule of weeks (as everyone around me can attest to) but it came and went with barely a nervous jitter – much ado about nothing, I suppose. I had one of the Chief Residents as my examiner, and she was very laid back and easy to chat with. She made it more of a conversation than an exam. Now all I have to do is get through the multiple-choice shelf exam on Friday – then a whole free weekend!!! Whoopee!

I really wish I would have taken the time to write a bit earlier on in the rotation.. but a few memories will have to do:
1. The calm that washes over me as I sit rocking in the well-baby nursery holding a new life that is barely 12 hours old. The way that hours pass in the blink of an eye as I stare at the new babies and wonder just how much of this world they can even see, and what their little minds must be thinking.
2. Stickers and tiny waves are the best way to a child’s trust and cooperation – that and “finding” things in their ears with the otoscope.
3. It doesn’t matter how early I get to the hospital, I will always have enough work to fill my time until rounds begin.
4. I love smiling kids. I love crying kids. That’s how I know peds is for me.