Step 1

Yesterday Doc took the biggest exam of his entire life. Without question, Step 1 of the Medical Boards is considered the biggest. It's an 8 hour test. I can only fathom that kind of intensity...perhaps the closest thing in my life experience was being in labor and giving birth.

The build up to this exam has been long. For the past two years, even with all the demands of regular classwork, Doc has set aside time to specifically learn and review what he'd need to know to excel in this moment. Starting this past January, he formed a Step 1 study group, and they would regularly meet and "pimp" each other. The demands on a medical student's time are heavy, and making the effort to prepare for this on top of everything thing else wasn't easy. I'm sure they're all very grateful that they made that sacrifice, because there are plenty of students who are paying the piper now.

Doc feels like he did his best, and that's all we wanted. He won't know his score for weeks, but with that hurdle behind him, it is time to have some fun. Last night he took Gator and met his brother and the three of them saw HULK...which Bunch and I were just fine missing. Now we have a flurry of preparations to make for our trip. In three days we are going to Puerto Rico for a little family get-away. We're really excited to show the kids some of the beauty and natural wonders that little gem of an island holds. The day after we return, Doc is going on a hike with his dad and brothers...which is a tradition they've had every summer for many years now. Then 2 days after the hike, he starts his 1st rotation -- OB/GYN. The intensity begins.

We're all really grateful for the tremendous effort Doc makes to learn all he can. Someday his diligence and effort in really mastering all this informtion will make a huge difference for countless patients and their families, but for now, we're enjoying this little reprieve in his schedule.