Starting work and other stuff . . .

I was officially inducted to the hospitalist group at Washington Hospital on the 15th. The other hospitalists assured me that it has been slow and that I would be fine. The day started off easy enough. Then 6pm hit, and the black cloud appeared. I was called to the ED for an admission. On my way down I was called from the OR - a routine C-section baby was born and was not breathing and lost his HR. They all assured me that this happens maybe 3 times a year. Hopefully that was it for me. Then off to the ED for my admission followed by 2 consults. I thought it was over and put my head down for 2 hours before I had another admission at 6am. It was like internship with a sick twist. My other shifts have been fairly busy with newborns during the day which is not too bad, but I have not escaped a night without 1-2 pediatric admissions each time. I think that those nights the others talk about where they sleep undisturbed must be a myth. But, overall I really like it and definitely am enjoying the days off between my shifts. The free time makes it all worth it.

As for other news . . . I am 12 1/2 weeks pregnant!! My due date is February 4th, and we are very excited. After about 1 1/2 months of morning/noon/night sickness, which is finally getting better, it was nice to see a fetus with a strong heartrate and all the correct body parts where they are supposed to be doing flips in my uterus during my screening ultrasound last week.

That's about it. Hope to see you all at the boards if not sooner!

Good luck with the studying,
Rona

Orientation

Orientation is making me a little bit disoriented. Perhaps it's because I am not used to waking up so "early" any more, and perhaps I have become too Meditechized to adjust to the KP system. I found myself reaching for those F9's and magic keys, only to realize that my fingers can no longer dance on the keyboard like they used to at CHO.
Here's a gift basket that I received from Kaiser. My chief also approved my educational leave to take a board review course (paid!). Feel so loved.

Onto something more depressing: the boards.
Got this mug from a friend. I guess I can't use it until I am truly "100% board certified." Maybe it's finally time to start studying, so that I can justify using this mug in a few months.

I just want you all to know...

I have offically launched project six pack. M. Cheng says I need a goal. I've decided to embark on project six pack. Basically I will eat nothing but vitamin supplements and exercise continously until my abdominals swell like little tumors. Today I ran up this enormous hill until I passed out. Forget round bellied funny guy Ted. The new Ted is coming, a toned muscular titan who eats small island countries for breakfast. Also he will not be funny, just very wry. Also for the first time in a very very long time I am officially well rested.

Homeowners

Hello,
So this is also my first time ever posting on a blog..yes I did have to ask Jay how to even post at all after spending 30 minutes trying to figure it out.

Dan and I are currently on our East Coast tour. We were in New York for a day or so then went up to the Berkshires. We are now right outside of Boston visiting Dan's best friend from college and their 4 month old baby and tomorow we head for New Hampshire for a wedding

So...we are officially homeowners and house poor. It is the house we were putting the offer on during our guernville retreat. We found out there is a lot of work that needs to be done so we spent a bunch of time haggling over the final price...so if any of you have any skills in electrical, plumbing, earthquake retrofitting..i'll trade you a free pediatric exam:). Once we move in mid August we will have a housewarming.

Life at Silva clinic is great so far..although now I am scared we will all get fired after all the Children's cuts since apparently they are only finished "for now"

Hope everyone is doing well..
Lisa

The Beautiful Monterey Peninsula

Good to hear how everybody is doing. Thought I should chime in instead of you hearing about my goings on by proxy.

Moved out of my little piece of the world after Guerneville (remember how long it took me to find that place guys!). Was trying to make the deadline for getting out of there on time. Finally on July 1 at 1:30 am I loaded up the last of my stuff and cruised out of Oakland. I thought things were going great until I developed this bittersweet taste in my mouth as I got on the Highway 24 on ramp and drove past the "Childrens Hospital Oakland" neon lights. And then I thought..."Tonight someone is on call...AND IT'S NOT ME!!!!" I quickly revved up those RPM's and within seconds I was at the requisite 80 miles per hour and was out of there like a bat out of hell.

Monterey's been good. I realized that I really like living by myself...Mom: "Tony, can you do this? Can you do that? Please wash the dishes..." Tony: "Mom, I got here 7 hours ago, those were your same dishes from last week, and can't I at least get a hello?"

I forgot what the weather was like here...We are in the 70 degree season with daily afternoon fog. Heat wave? What heat wave? We do have the occasional light rain of ash coming from the Big Sur fires to spice things up though. I'm popping Zyrtec like mad.

Otherwise I pepper my week with walking to Peet's to study, driving up to Palo Alto to study with Leslie, swimming in my mom's pool, and biking on the Monterey Coastal Trail. Boards is scaring me. The implications of being an attending have not hit home yet. I prefer ignorance right now.

I'm about to head off to New York to watch Yankees vs. Oakland at Yankee Stadium and then will head to Philly and DC (any suggestions for things to do in Philly?)

Anyways, I find myself thinking of all you guys often (especially after sifting through tons of pictures and re-editing my contact list). I am hoping for the best for all of you. Keep posting...it keeps CHO close to the heart.

End of Manifesto
-Tony

surviving in thailand

nice to see more people blogging.
congrats on nearing term Marina! Who is the lucky PL-2 to be at your delivery? LOL

Would I be fooling myself to think my fellowship will be as chill as Leslie's and Brian's?

While Tisha is in the hospital for the mornings, I try to read but only about page 200 in "Laughing your way..."

more thoughts from Bangkok:
- did not remember my 1st traditional Thai massage in 2002 to be painful. This trip, I had one for 2 hours long. They start at the feet and legs. In the first hour, I swear my legs were gonna develop compartment syndrome. I wanted to curse at the masseuse but she didn't speak English. Instead I would just yelp in pain followed by laughing (at the ridiculousness of the situation). I swear my CK was elevated and worried about not being able to or having blood in my pee.
- hands down, the street vendors are the best places to eat. I have yet to be disappointed with one or develop diarrhea.
- Tuk-Tuk are not worth it. Tisha and I almost died trying to save some money. The driver was speeding, running redlights, cutting across lanes, going down closed streets. Spend you baht on an air-conditioned taxi.

more pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/jayyeh/2008_Thailand

Kickin it in Paly

Adolescent Fellowship weeks 1 and 2:

Week 1: On inpatient consults at Packard. There are no patients.
Week 2: Still on inpatient consults at Packard. There are still no patients.

Okay, I have really done a lot more than just sit in my office searching the internet. Half the time I am in clinic, which is pretty busy but not quite as crazy as CHO teen clinic. I am also starting on my research and will be participating in an intensive research development course up at UCSF.

Tony and I have delved back into studying for the boards and have attempted to bring Brian into our madness. Not quite sure yet how well Brian is coping.

Had a mini CHO reunion over the past couple of days. Brian and I had lunch with Christin Kuo yesterday. I also ran in to Eloa this morning. It is always good to have some CHO peeps around. Miss all of you though. Come visit!