Finally, residency is done!

It has been the worst of times, it has been the best of times--wait it hasn't been the best of times. It has been a LONG five years, but it has also flown by. I am really proud of Dan for finishing his residency is Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery with flying colors. I am also proud of me, and the kids for making it through this hard time. Here are the boys at a dinner where they honored the four graduating residents.

Dan with his certificate for an award he received. He was happy to get it and we were all proud of him.

Abby looking beautiful and all grown up!

Vasu and Dan (friends and both finished with residency!)

With buddy Brad and Dr. Bradford (the new Chair).

Dan's year of residents--he got really close to these guys after suffering together and spending so much time together. Vasu, Dan, Brad, and Supriti.

We were so happy Grandma and Lindsay came for a fun visit and to have Estee for the night, so we could enjoy the dinner :)

We did lots of fun things while Grandma and Lindsay were visiting, including going to Greektown in Detroit for some yummy Greek food, and also going to our favorite Astoria Bakery. We also got to go and get pedicures together, it was a so much fun and here we are with our beautiful toe nails!!

We loved having grandma and Lindsay here for a visit, it's so much fun for all of us.

Bad News

I have to admit I never thought I would be writing these words in my thirties, maybe my eighties, but never did I think in my thirties, especially my early thirties that I would be writing that my young, healthy, 32 year-old husband has pneumonia. Yeah, PNEUMONIA. Did I mention he's 32. I thought 85 year-olds who are on their death bed get pneumonia. I mean, should I be preparing myself for a bout of gout? Now I sound like Dr. Suess.

Dan was really sick all last week and progressively got sicker as the week went on. Friday night (Halloween) I thought he might die, but he went to work and finally that night started an antibiotic. Saturday morning he couldn't breathe, only a minor problem. I drove him to the ER. He ordered his own chest x-ray, which looked like pneumonia to him, but to verify, he found a radiologist friend (who happened to be on call), who took one look at the x-ray and said "Dude, you have pneumonia". The whole ER visit took about 20 minutes! SWEET! Especially since I was waiting in the car with two, 2 year-old girls yelling.

Dan has been SLOWLY getting better since and actually took Monday and Tuesday off of work, which is the first time ever he has not gone to work because of being sick. He tried going into work Wednesday and one of the other doctors had him sent to the ER in a wheelchair! He was so embarrassed! Later that night he decided he felt good enough to go to a conference (again, against MY better judgement). He came home feeling sicker than ever. Then this morning at 5 am his alarm was going off again, as he was shivering and sweating with a fever.
I know at this point most people would say, "Gosh wifey, you're right. I am sick, I should stay home from work today."
That is, however, not what happened. After a few hours at work and sweating and shivering through a presentation, several people said he should go home (who said that first?).

Are all husbands this stubborn?

And, lastly, I wrote a big rant, but decided against posting any of it. I will just leave you with a picture.

He made me so proud!

I don't know if I have really expressed on this blog how busy Dan's work keeps him. Instead of sharing all the details about his work schedule, we'll just say he works a lot. Before I go on, let me just say in his defense, that most of the time has little control over his schedule. It's just one of the glorious perks of being a surgical resident, having four kids, and a wife who like to spend money. I have to admit, that most of the time I just complain about him working so much and forget to remember the benefits. To be perfectly honest, the only work I want him to do, most the time, is some moonlighting for extra cash! Gosh, when I write it down I sound so greedy.


This week, I was reminded of all the other work that he does--I mean besides the moonlighting. One of his research projects was published this week and I was excited to see it recognized. The study its self was about using a laser to treat wrinkles so, go figure, the news media picked up on it. When Dan called me from a conference he is at in San Francisco saying that several news organizations had contacted him I was kind of impressed, but when I saw his study and name in ABCnews, medscape, reuters, web md, and us news I was really impressed! I am just so proud of my hard working husband. So, Thanks Dan for working so hard, and making me very proud!

Now, BACK TO WORK!!!

We Matched!!

and...............

Michigan it is!

We are really excited that we will be staying here another year after residency so Dan can do a Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship!!

Go Blue!

Dan at work

One of the PAs that works in the oto department is also a professional photographer. He came in one day and took some pictures of Dan operating (they were drilling out the bone behind the ear and repairing an ear drum). I thought it was kind of fun to see what Dan looked like in the OR. I'm not sure what I expected he would look like, but I guess I didn't think he would be so, I don't know...sterile looking. I guess I am glad he looks STERILE in the OR. Anyway, it was fun for me to see him busy at work in these pictures.

This is my favorite shot.


In case you just can't tell what is going on here. He is operating on the patient's right ear with a microscope, which is all wrapped up so it's sterile. It looks to me like it would be hard to see what the heck you are doing.

Closing the incision.

Dan operating with somebody watching.

http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/DanOperatingMarch08

Chicago, via Dan's conference

We went with Dan to Chicago for a conference.

Abby and I walked by this beach, it looked really fun. We didn't stop because we were on our way to Navy Pier.

Here is Abby posing at Navy Pier, it was beautiful weather that day.

I took the kids to Shedd Aquarium while Dan had meetings, it was so much fun I bought a year pass. So if anybody wants to go.....
Shedd Aquarium is the big white building right on the lake front.

This was the kids favorite part of the Aquarium, the Caribbean Reef. There was a Diver in there that you could hear over the loud speaker. A fish would swim by him and he would tell you what kind it was, and cool stuff like that.

My favorite part was the Beluga Whales. They were so cute. I wish I could say that was me there feeding them, but I can't.

We met our friends the Pankratz (minus Kyle, we missed you) and went to lunch here at this yummy Thai place, even the kids loved it.

Then we made our way to the Lego Store. Of course the boys were very attracted to this Star Wars part of the store.

Jake taking a break with the Lego man.

For more details of our trip visit Abby's blog: http://abbyzine.blogspot.com/

For all the pics of our trip click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/52707

Who wouldn't want a trampoline?

We have a small issue in our household. Dan really didn't want a trampoline and I really did want one. I think I am feeling a bit guilty for coercing him into getting a trampoline, so I will try to justify myself here on my blog.

The reasons I want one are kind of obvious (I think):

1) We have four kids

2) They really want a trampoline

3) I LOVE jumping on the trampoline

4) good exercise

5) it's like a giant hammock we can all fit on to.

6) I found it on Arborlist for $50 including safety net and delivery!

7) Friends and neighbors will want to come over and jump

The reasons Dan didn't want it:

1) takes a lot of the small back yard (he has a point here)

2) "someone will get hurt"

3) he had to put it together

4) hard to mow under

5)Friends and neighbors will want to come over and jump (yes, same reason on my list) He probably has lots more reasons, but those are the reasonable ones that I can remember.

Look at Dan happily putting the trampoline together!

The following are funny quotes from Dan concerning the trampoline (that all give me a good laugh and teasing rights)

1)While he was disgruntledly (sidenote: this is not a word, but it's what he was) putting the trampoline together he cut his arm and it was all dirty and bloody. I told him to go and take care of it and he said "No, I hope I get tetanus from this stupid trampoline"

2)Monday after a busy day of work and trampoline assembly I wanted to smooth things over with the whole trampoline issue. I can't remember exactly what I said but his response was "I didn't want a trampoline, you wanted one. We have one. You win and I lose, now lets watch this movie and enjoy it!!

3) The kids were all together talking about how great it was to have a trampoline and Dan said "Just don't come crying to me when you break your arm" I was thinking "I am sure they can't cry to their dad who is a doctor if they break their arm!" Is he going to stand there and refuse to take care of them because it happened on the trampoline?? I don't think so. I of course said "no kids, you can come crying to your dad/doctor if you break your arm and he will help you".

4)"We have plenty of room in the back yard for a trampoline, and there's plenty of room in the front yard for a broken down car up on blocks" I guess he thinks a trampoline is redneck or maybe just that it's redneck to have a trampoline taking up a large portion of your back yard.

5) As he was putting up the finishing touches on the trampoline he kept saying "this better be A WHOLE LOT of fun"

Estee loves the trampoline and it keeps her caged in! Bonus Feature of trampoline: Giant Playpen .