And Our Choice Is...

After many agonizing hours, days and weeks, we've finally decided on a medical school for Brent to attend. Brent has chosen to join the LMU-DCOM Class of 2013!

This decision was far harder than either of us anticipated. While we were optimistic, I don't think we thought he would be accepted to all four schools where he interviewed. Additionally I didn't expect him to like all the schools so much. We went back and forth and really struggled to make a decision stick.

During all of this we talked with students and their spouses at a few of the schools. As we got to know them and what their experiences were at each of the schools, it became even harder to decide. I could picture myself at each of the schools enjoying the location, the women I had come to know and Brent's experience as a student.

Before we sent off the deposit, the world was full of options and opportunities at each of the schools. One of the hardest parts of making the final decision was giving up opportunities we could have had at the schools we won't be attending. I hope to still remain in contact with the women I have met and to continue to bond over our shared experiences!

To illustrate how difficult this decision was, I'll explain Brent's attempt to compare the schools. He created a chart with a column for each school. Then in rows he listed all the things that were important to him and to me, e.g., classrooms, anatomy lab, library, parks, technology, etc. He had quite a list (16 in all). Then he ranked each school on a scale of 1-5, 5 indicating the school met/exceeded his expectations. After he went through each school, they were within a point of each other! Then he reevaluated and made the numbers more extreme. Then they were tied! So we crossed some off the list that we decided may not be crucial. The numbers were spread a little more, but still only 7 points between the high and the low. I looked at Brent and said, "No wonder we are having such a difficult time!" In the end we chose LMU-DCOM because it was the high number each time in categories both for Brent and for me.

I'm so excited to move to Tennessee and become familiar with another part of the country. I visited Kentucky a while back and fell in love with the greeness and the rolling hills. From what I've seen of the area in Tennessee where we'll live, it's more of the same! This choice was a labor of love and from it we've developed a real love for LMU-DCOM and the surrounding area.

Tennessee, here we come! (in about 7 months!)

Options

There are tons of new posts and pictures today so scroll down until you reach a post you've already read!!

So, Brent has prepared, studied, sweated, traveled, and interviewed. And all that he has to show for that? Four acceptance letters to the four schools he interviewed with! I knew he was an amazing candidate, but he was a bit nervous. I'm so glad that he was accepted to a school and completely overwhelmed that he was accepted to four! Now we have options, but that means we have a major decision to make. We think we know, but we're not officially sure just yet. So for now I'll just tell the the four possibilities:

• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, WV
• Lincoln Memorial University DeBuske College of Osteopathic Medicine, TN
• A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO

These are listed in the order of his interviews, so as not to indicate in which direction we are leaning. Once we know, we'll let you know! Any advice?

The End of an Era

As hard as it is to imagine, let alone do, the time has come for Sammi to give up naps. Gasp.

It was taking one and a half to two hours to put her down for bed and her naps were getting later and later (which also meant her bedtime was getting later and later.) Even for all that, she was still waking up between six and six thirty each morning.

So far we are three days without a nap. Granted twice she slept for a little bit in the car; however, she has gone to bed in a wink which is helpful when it's just me putting her to bed with Elizabeth. So the transition will probably be final. I think I need the naps more than Sammi does, but with a little bit of downtime during the day and more quiet time from Sammi going to bed earlier, the sacrifice is worth it.

Yeah, I'll let you know if I still feel that way in a week! Wish me luck.

Oh, and wish Brent luck. He flies out tomorrow for his first two interviews. Erie, PA first and then West Virginia. While I'm a little jealous, I'm mostly excited for him to visit Ann and go to Washington, D.C. I hope they have a blast. Take care of my honey, okay, Ann? Thanks.

Medical School News

So, Brent has been waiting and waiting for his application to be sent to the schools. It was finally sent out on Wednesday and so now we're waiting to hear from the schools about filling out the secondary application. I hate waiting!!

But, in good news, he received an email from one school in Maine Thursday morning. We thought that was a pretty good sign. Then, yesterday afternoon he received a personal phone call from the head of recruiting at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine!!! He wanted to make sure Brent didn't have any questions about the next step in the application process and basically to encourage him to finish his application to LECOM. Brent was pretty stoked about that kind of reception to his application. I was more than stoked! LECOM has been my #1 choice for quite some time. I can't really explain why, except that I love the East, I am intrigued by Pennsylvania and the campus looks beautiful. Not to mention that I like their program and housing is more affordable there than here in Utah.

So, the wait continues, but at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm excited to see what the next week brings. Congratulations, Brent. You've worked hard for this and I'm so glad it's finally happening!! Good luck!!!