Step 1 cool down

I took my test last Wednesday and it already feels like a month has passed.  I say that- but actually I'm already kind of missing my daily coffee shop routine. I feel this sense of unfamiliar freedom that I can sit around and do nothing as long as I want in a day.  I was just so used to studying...it was hard to believe that I'd been doing it about 6 weeks by the end.  All the days and weeks just blended together.  Most of you who talked to me about it (...pretty much everyone) knows that I started out the first 1-2 weeks with 7+ hour days then managed to peak at 10-11 hour days in the end.  It wasn't bad. I had my game plan and plenty of coffee and tea. And someone came to see me or study with me probably half of my days (Thanks Matt, Christine, Christine and Katie! Love you guys!!).  As for the actual test, I came out of it frustrated because of the pace I had, but I know I will probably be alright with my score.  And all of a sudden I feel like I know so much!  I keep understanding the medical jargon and thinking that they do on House more and more.

study food.  only the best = good strategy

My family all handled it really well.  The worst they had to deal with mostly was me coming home after 6 on most days, and not worrying much about the cleanliness of the house.  Jeff started taking on some new routines that he was going to need to pick up anyway- he's been taking saia to his daycare/babysitters during the week and taking care of dinner a lot <3.  I'll be starting rotations soon and I anticipate we'll be getting used to a lot of new patterns of me not being around as much anymore :(.  It should go well though, based on how the study weeks went.


Anyways, I wanted to make a nice blog to talk about the post-step 1 cool down.  I had 6 weeks to make a million plans to pack into this 2.5 weeks of freedom.  Other than catching up on about 2 months of TV that I've had to put off,  going through about 5 months of paperwork that needed to be filed, paid a few bills that ended up being a little late, and doing about 3 weeks worth of laundry, we've had a lot of great quality time.

this is actually from before my test but hey it looks fun anyway :)

And by quality time, a lot of that has been just loafing.  The night after the test we caught some Japanese for dinner and then played Wii for TWO HOURS. lol. Jeff said "it's nice to waste time together again."  Really. 

On Thursday, I slept in until 2 (whoops) and woke up to get a pedicure, manicure, and new nails, then drove to Bardstown to get a fake tan I bought on Living Social.  It was obvious when I got there that the tan was being done by an amateur, but I didn't care much.  It looked a little goofy the next morning but it actually turned out very well.  I may actually try to pick that up... Also on Thursday, I coincidentally went to the same Japanese restaurant again with Chris and a school friend who took his test, then went out for fancy beer at Sergio's with them and a bunch of school friends. 

baby splash! he loves it.

 On Friday, I went with Saia to see Dad in the morning and stayed until the afternoon.  I coincidentally saw Christine and Katie for a bit at her parents house, then went swimming and hung out with Dad, Mom and Saia.  I also finally saw Black Swan which I'd wanted to do for about 6 months (Bravo!) with Christine, Chris and another friend.

he is that excited.

On Saturday, we had baby splash in the morning. It was the second week of it and Jeff finally got to go for the first time so I've finally got a photo of it.  When we got back from it, we got changed just to go to see Thomas at the railway museum.  He went last year but was much more aware and interested this year.  He was mesmerized by the trains, the giant Thomas, and the busy-ness of the environment.  It was hot as heck out there but even Dad kept his patience long enough to make the most of it.  We spent a while at the toy train stations and the giant bubbles stations.  Saia was mesmerized (and possible just tired) enough to let us dress him up for a great picture at a booth PNC had set up.  Really adorable.  I'm hoping Dad posts all of his pictures bc I don't have many.

ridiculously good looking in a uniform.

Yesterday Jeff and I used a living social deal and went kayaking on a river in southern Indiana.  Saia stayed with his Nana and Popo.  The weather on the river was amazing.  I'd kayaked a few times before and was amazed at how much of a natural Jeff ended up being at it.  It was a 3 hour trip down the 4 mile stretch.  My trap and brachioradialis hurt today.  We stopped by Culver's on the way home (I'm still full), and I spent the rest of the day with Saia Popo and Nana while Jeff went bowling.

didn't want to take the camera on the water.  putting waterproof case on my wish list.

As for this week, Jeff and Saia have their routines while I'm just knocking things off my to-do list.  While saia is in daycare the next few days I finally plan on finishing painting his room.  I'm also working on our past and new budgets, which will be changing considerably this year.  We still have a lot to look forward to- mostly our beach and night of camping next week.  There will be lots of pictures.