Auntie Elizabeth Tour 2012

My two week break from school was absolutely wonderful. I drove out sixteen hours to College Station, TX to see Katy, Bruce and Will. My week was very relaxing but also incredibly fun! Katy always shows me a good time in Texas and our trip to Austin and night out in College Station were no exception!

I especially loved spending time with my big boy nephew Will! This little kid has so much personality! He is constantly on the move and couldn't be more entertaining. Seriously, who needs cable when you have a one year old?  I love his smile and wide eyes as he discovers new foods, new words and new furniture to climb!

It was sad to leave after a week at the Hanik home. Katy and Bruce are not only stellar parents but also amazing hosts! Can we say welcoming gift bag?! Yeah, I'm not kidding. They pretty much had to kick me out!

Next on my Auntie Elizabeth Tour 2012 was a visit to my brand new twin nieces, Harper and Vera! These two couldn't be sweeter. There is truly no better feeling than holding sleeping babies. I'm pretty sure they have a power switch on their backs like my baby dolls did when I was growing up because they never cry. EVER!

I had lots of time to spend with Cody and my mom which was so special. I feel like I have known Cody my entire life and couldn't be happier that she is a Byrne girl. She is an incredible mother and I just love how she truly lives in the moment. When you ask a new mom (who barely sleeps two hours in a row) how she's holding up with twin newborns and she answers with a smile, "I'm loving every minute," you start to wonder if she also has a power switch and is a robot or if she is Cody Byrne and just awesome.

My mom showed me that even after a few decades of not having her own newborn to soothe, she's still got it.  She is the master baby soother... and the master 20 something soother for yours truly.

I hope motherhood comes as naturally to me as it has for Jody, Katy and Cody. I also hope I have cute kids like Will, Harper and Vera. They are setting the bar pretty high! 

My two week visit to my family reminded me how important they are to me. I hope to make it a tradition for an annual "Auntie/Sister Elizabeth Tour" to stay close to my nephew/nieces and sisters/brothers. Because although I may love Robert Pattinson, that love doesn't even compare to my love for the Byrne family :)

 -Elizabeth

Mr.B and me

           Being a physician is so much more personal than I expected. I think back to my early Harrell Center days when I blushed at the idea of taking a sexual history and mumbled through awkward interviews with fake patients probably bright as a tomato. Fast forward two years and the patients are no longer paid or have a script. And I’m slightly less nervous and less red.  I guess I never realized how privy physicians are to the personal details of people’s lives and the connections we make with our patients. What other career can you introduce yourself to someone and in less than 10 minutes ask about how their mother died or how many beers they drink a day or what makes them depressed? We ask patients questions that sometimes their own family members don’t even know the answers to and it baffles me that they almost always answer us.

            This year two worlds have collided:  paper and people. Pages from textbooks about diseases have come to life in the form of people’s stories. Mneumonic devices may have helped me survive the first two years but now its my actual patients that I cared for that help me get a question right on a test.  Sometimes it’s weird to see the classic things you read about in textbooks actually come to life. Fevers, night sweats, chills, and weight loss are no longer review of systems to check off for malignancy. It’s about my patient’s inkling something may not be right. The first two years prepared me in the sense that I learned medical vocabulary but during third year, patients are teaching me the language.

This year has gotten me to think a lot about the human connection. Connections between classmates, between patients and between family. I feel closer to my classmates because instead of a group of 135 students in a large lecture room, it’s me and Corey making dinner down in Vero Beach for our psych rotation, or me and Meera giggling in our bunk beds in Jacksonville or me and Lauren mixing Crystal Light drinks at the VA. By the end of second year, everyone is in a little group of friends or clique in medical school but third year opens people up to become close to classmates that were once just acquaintances. I’ll never forget me and Laura in the OR with out mouths covered with masks giving each other big wide eyes during a thrilling case. Third year has been extraordinary and reaffirmed by decision to go to med school.

            Sometimes connections between patients can remind you of connections with family. One of my patients was an admit that originally was going to be my 5^th COPD admission for the month while I was at the veteran's hospital. Part of me rolled my eyes when my resident told me to go interview the patient in the ED. Here we go again, I thought to myself.  I went through a check list in my head“IV solumedrol, duonebs, supplemental O2 and check their chest x-ray”. Instead, I would meet one of my most special patients of third year. I entered the room where Mr.B lay exhausted on a hard bed, with his smiling wife loyally by his side. Indeed, he had a COPD exacerbation but also was told her had larygneal cancer only four days prior. With his first few words, my ears perked up as my mind wandered to memories of my childhood.

            Growing up, I only knew my grandfather’s voice to be raspy and soft. He had laryngeal cancer in his 40s and had a partial laryngectomy leaving his once robust, deep voice, quiet and hoarse. When I met Mr.B, I immediately felt connected to him because his voice sounded just like grandpa’s. My grandfather was quite the character and known in our family for his quick wit and famous one liners. When my mom got engaged at the ripe old age of 28, he told her that she was in the “4^th quarter with a two minute warning.” Mr.B was also a character and also quick with the one liners. “I feel like a mushroom, they feed me and keep me in the dark”, he told me when referring to the ENT doctors. Just like grandpa, Mr.B had learned to use his hands and eyes to express himself despite his weak voice. It was like watching a silent movie, eye rolls, dropped jaws, hands waving and incredibly entertaining.

            I used to go to my Grandpa’s house in Coral Gables and bake him pies and visit with him while the pie was in the oven. He would tell me stories about growing up in Michigan, his car dealership and funny Zeder family memories. He was the only grandparent that I still had by my adolescence and the one my memory best honors. When he passed away my senior year of high school, I missed him terribly but also mourned not having a grandparent figure anymore. Part of me feels that I have an affinity for the elderly because I didn’t have enough grandparent time as a child.

Meeting Mr.B brought the memories of my grandfather right back to the surface.  Each day, I found myself ducking into his room three or four times, often staying awhile to hear stories of his chicken farm, or white German shepherd, or his antique car collection. Sometimes I would forget to actually examine him because I would get lost listening to his stories. He would chuckle when I came back a few seconds after talking to with him, asking him to give me some deep breathes. I would visit him each night before I left to say goodnight and in a sense tuck him in.

When I went to see him in the ICU after his tracheostomy, he smiled and seemed relieved to see someone he recognized. Putting his finger over this trach, he talked to me awhile about his wife. “We got married thirty years ago, and we’re still having fun. One day when you get married, you’ve got to do everything 50/50. We make every decision together.” Just as my heart started to melt, he quipped “Figure by my third marriage, I’d finally get it right!”. I have a feeling Mr.B and my grandpa would have been good friends. 

After two weeks of caring for him, I realized that I had mixed feelings about sending Mr.B home. Part of me wanted him to be on his farm with his wife but the selfish part of me wanted to still be able to drop by his room to talk. When I caught myself thinking of ways to delay his discharge, I realized two things: one, that is a ridiculous thought; and two, I truly feel a bond with this patient.

Our third year of medical school may be coming to an end but our connections to our patients, family and each other are just beginning.

Most Outstanding Weekend

This weekend was very special because my Aunt Jan and cousin Julie came into town. Aunt Jan was receiving the award for "Most Outstanding Alumna of the College of Public Health and Health Progressions"... not too shabby!!! She told the audience of 500+ people something like "I never received any award when I was a student at UF... So for all you older people out there, there's still hope!"

Betty and Prima met Boo, Julie's incredibly sweet and smart pit bull. Julie owns her own dog training business (check it out!!!!  http://www.reigningdogsllc.com/) and even taught Boo how to say, "I love you!" ---> AMAZING!

Aunt Jan, Julie and I enjoyed each other's company and some delicious food! The Jones Cafe, Civilization, and Sister's Restaurant.... anyone who lives in Gainesville knows that we were well fed! I made dinner on Saturday night and Aunt Jan and Julie loved (or at least made me think they loved!) the Artichoke-Pesto-Leek Crostinis that I whipped up. This is the easiest recipe and makes for an impressive looking finger food! It's from the book, The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, that was given to me by my friend Lauren. Also, Oprah loves it... so that's good enough reason to try it! Definitely recommend it to anyone :)

Here's the recipe:
http://www.oprah.com/food/Artichoke-Mushroom-and-Leek-Crostini-with-Pesto


Weekend highlights:

Betty White and Boo making their best yawn face :)

Haile Plantation Farmer's Market

While at the market, get this photo from my friend who lives in Boston displayed at a local dog park! Local celebs!!! I expect another family photo (+2 more!) at the Miami dog park in a couple of months!

A woman at the Farmer's market asks Aunt Jan, "Are you Jan Olsen?" Turns out she is a local OT and recognized Aunt Jan from her books! She was a huge fan and wanted a picture.... Again,  I'm related to celebrities!

We went to the Mill Creek Retired Horse Farm on Saturday with the largest bag of carrots I have ever seen (courtesy of Aunt J, of course!). Here's July feeding one of the 133 horses!

Gorgeous mother and daughter on a gorgeous day!

Aunt Jan was a pro!

Aunt Jan suggested I change my furniture around in my living room and Julie was kind enough to help me! I feel like a new woman in my brand new apartment :)

Jan Novack's photo!

                                                                    Geddes' artwork!

Today I went into work. I'm at the VA (veteran's hospital) on my medicine clerkship. One of my new patients is quite possibly the sweetest old man I've ever met. We bonded because he has a Chihuahua too! He told me his dog knows when he is getting sick and gets the attention of his wife (of 57 years!!!) to help him. Que heart melting :)

Love you all, 

E

6520

Today my parents accepted an offer on the house I grew up in. Although it's sad the Byrne family won't call 6520 home any longer, it's more about the memories than the actual house, right?

The house being sold reminded me of this quote from the movie, Garden State...


        You know that point in your life when you realize that the house that you grew up in isn't really your home anymore? All of the sudden even though you have some place where you can put your stuff that idea of home is gone. You'll see when you move out it just sort of happens one day one day and it's just gone. And you can never get it back. It's like you get homesick for a place that doesn't exist. I mean it's like this rite of passage, you know. You won't have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, you know, for your kids, for the family you start, it's like a cycle or something. I miss the idea of it. Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place. 

Looking forward to making my own 6520 one day :)

Betty White: My Golden Girl

Betty White has been such as blessing in my life. I swear she is part human (as well as part cat... seriously, she belongs on a Fancy Fest commercial!). When I look back at pictures of when I first got her, I think how lucky I am that I nabbed her before she grew out of her horrid haircut and people realized her beauty! Betty gets better with age... let's hope this runs in the family :)

 

 

 

This was Betty's first look when I first adopted her. Let's just say she had no where to go but up....!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend Lauren took this picture which then served as my computer's background for awhile. One of my classmates asked me, "Is your dog wearing blush??!" ... Betty's fur even knows how to look glamorous.

I almost think this scarf looks better on Betty than on me... !

This was during Betty's "Einstein stage". She was falling asleep doing physics problems almost every night!

Keepin' it girly!

Can you tell how much fun I've had with this dog?

-Elizabeth 

I've decided to be a little more active on this blog! I love reading the blogs of friends and family so why not return the favor?!

Today is a lazy Sunday here in Gainesville. Doing my laundry and working on my "medicine portfolio" for my medicine clerkship. Prima loves Sundays because that means she gets to enjoy warm laundry.

Prima is my sister's Chihuahua. I'm have the pleasure of her company because she doesn't particularly get along with children and my sister Katy just had one!! Adios Tejas, hola Gainesville! Y, te quiero Taco Bell, tambien!


Prima lights up when I come home. Betty White wags her tale a few times but Prima wags her whole body!  I'm really enjoying her :)