Up to no good...

Need I say more? LOL I've been on a bit of a puppy kick lately :) I'm finding out that I seem to be quite allergic to some cats, as I may have mentioned in a previous post, which makes me think we shouldn't get a cat, which makes me think "hmmm... maybe we do need a puppy after all..." I'm not sure why I think I need a pet right now anyway. Of any sort. Not having enough time for it really isn't my biggest concern - I'll have a great schedule when I start school in the fall that would allow me to come home at least briefly around lunchtime to let it out (and even be home for the day most of the time), and it's not like Ben won't be around in the evenings, nor is my dog going to feel neglected because I'm sitting next to it on the couch studying instead of sitting next to it on the couch watching TV... it doesn't know the difference, nor will it care. And since I refuse to let my body go to shit just because I'm in medical school, I have no problem taking it out with me for a walk or jog - that's just EXTRA motivation to get out and exercise. My biggest concern is the financial aspect. We're going to be living on a tight budget that won't have much wiggle room for emergency vet visits or expensive doggie medications or anything else that might come up suddenly. I think we could handle the routine stuff - it's the unexpected health issues that scare me. And you just never know with pets. I really like puggles though :) That's what the puppy in the picture is - it's a pug-beagle mix. Relatively low shedding, moderate amount of energy (not a working dog or a super-hyper dog that needs extra attention and exercise), stays small (less than 30 pounds) which is great for apartment life, and ridiculously cute too :) Anyway, I'm also not excited about the prospect of trying to house train a puppy from the 3rd floor. Ick. That's almost enough to dissuade me right there. Not to mention the restrictions it puts on your social life... no more "having too many" and just staying over at a party or a friends' house - gotta get home to let the dog out. No more "we've been shopping all day, let's stop on the way home and go out to dinner" - gotta get home to feed the dog and let it out. So, at the end of the day, I know full well that I don't really need or want a pet right now. I really don't need or want to be responsible for anything other than myself and my husband for a while - I think that freedom will be very nice. But they're just so darn cute...

In other news, I found a GREAT website called momMD.com. Direct answer to prayers right there. I don't even remember now how I found it - pretty sure it was completely random though. Anyway, it has tons of resources for moms who are doctors or med students - blogs, articles, surveys, etc. It's been really encouraging to read some of these blogs - I found one woman who is 25, finished her first 2 years of med school and took the 3rd year off to be with her kids (2-year-old and brand new 3-month-old), and her husband is in OBGYN residency AND in the military. I've been reading about her struggle between staying at home and going back to finish med school, her struggle to figure out the timing for her residency and her husband's and his deployments and trying to keep their family together, her ideas on what specialties might work best for wanting to be with her kids... it's been very informative and also calming. Even though she's often feeling lost and unsure and indecisive, it feels so good to read my own thoughts coming out of someone else's head and to know that I'm not alone and that these things can be done. And I'm not even planning on necessarily having any children during medical school (though I'd consider it after 3rd year I think), and my husband isn't in medicine AND the military... so really, how hard can my life be? I've also been reading about job sharing and part time doctoring, as well as job-share residency positions (didn't know THAT was possible!). Of course it would take longer to finish residency that way, but maybe I'd only have to do it temporarily or sporadically. It's so good to hear about these options! I also didn't know that it was OK to take a year or two off between school and residency - THAT option could come in handy as well. I don't want to postpone my career too much - if for no other reason than the fact that we'll need the money I'd be making - but at least I know that if it's in the cards financially and we feel ready for kids, I'll have some flexibility as far as school and starting my career is concerned. I know it's going to be a rough road, but I'm definitely getting some extra encouragement from this website! Hallelujah, praise the Lord!