Survival of the Fittest

     It was a long and brutal 9 days for us, but Ryan and I did it, we finished another quarter.  It was a pretty big finals week because it was Ryan's LAST FINALS WEEK that he will ever have to do!!!!  Can we get a HOO RAH! (this is Ryan's favorite saying right now)  After 6 years of school, he finally took his last final.  Needless to say, there may have been little motivation to take the last final for the both of us.  We were very determined and ready to finish this quarter strong so we studied at the table, the table means "serious studying" is going on....

     Then as always, sometimes all you want is just some comfort and a little bit of distraction like playing basketball on your phone, when you are suppose to be studying.

     Here is the face of one excited dude who just finished his last final that he will ever have to take...

     The week before finals, Ryan got inducted into Sigma Sigma Phi, the National Honor Society of DO students.

     Ryan has finished his first 2 years of medical school with a grand total of 109 tests with more to come in the next year.  Next is the biggest test in his life, "The Boards" which is June 18 and June 22.  So the next 5 weeks, Ryan will be studying over 12+ hours a day to prepare.  I couldn't be a more proud wife seeing how hard my hubby is working and striving to do very very well on these next 2 tests.  Lets just say I am so glad he is taking them and not me.

     I finished my first full year (365 days/4 quarters) of pharmacy school.  It was a long but fast year, 1 year down, only 2 more to go.  I finished with taking a total of 83 tests my first year, and many many more to come in the next year.  My survival group and I went out to eat after our last final to celebrate.

     Funny story, earlier in the week of finals, I woke up from a terrible nightmare!  I was a little sleep deprived (which always happens during finals) and I dreamed that Ryan got a call from Ohio State University and they were really impressed with his academics for the first 2 years of medical school and they wanted him to transfer to their school to finish up.  I woke up screaming "No No!"  I was so mad at him!  I was just finishing up my first year of pharmacy school (AGAIN) and he wanted me to transfer schools AGAIN!  I was so mad at him when I woke up in the middle of the night!  I had to keep telling myself it was just a dream!  Probably the worst nightmare ever, if this truly happened I would probably just give up with pharmacy school cause I think that would be a sign that I just wasn't suppose to be a pharmacist, but good thing it was just a dream!

     This is a random picture but I knew my family would enjoy it, I have decided to bring back the old ponytail that I used to strut in high school (before I had girls who started to pull it during games).

     It was a very long 9 days for us with finals, but it was very nice to have all of our family's phone calls wishing us luck and it is always nice when we get to face time with these little kiddos, they can put a smile on our face even in the biggest time of stress.

     To celebrate finishing, we had to get some Yogurtology and Ryan finally brought out the guitar again (ice cream and guitar is how he won my heart)!

     This summer I have 2 - 4 weeks rotations in some pharmacies.  I am so excited to not have to be doing book work and studying for tests, even though I will still have homework assignments.  I am more excited that I will only be working M-F and can enjoy weekends!  No more cramming for tests all weekend long.  So I decided to jump on the band wagon and finally got the Hunger Games Trilogy along with a couple of other books to read.  To be honest, the Trilogy will probably last me a few days max, since I am already almost through the first book, but it is so nice to read something other than school books.

     Ryan took the weekend off after finals, before he hits the studying for boards on Monday, everyday and every moment, so this meant that we were able to finally go on a BIKE RIDE with my new bike and shoes!  IT WAS AWESOME! Such a great and fun workout.  I love that it is something that Ry and I can do together.  It was only 100 degrees for the first ride of the season.  It will definitely be a memorable ride.  So we were riding along and all of a sudden Ryan just stops.  I stopped a little past him and when I looked back to see/ask what's up, his shirt is halfway off!  He is scrambling around and I asked him whats wrong and he was getting stung by a Yellow Jacket!  Probably 5 or 6 stings before it finally escaped.  I thought it was kind of funny but I felt for the poor guy. 

     Later on that night we went out with some of our good friends The Horrock's to celebrate finishing by going to Chili's and seeing the movie Avengers!  It was a pretty sweet show, a little long for me but it was a fun night to be with friends.

    We survived!  Only 2 more years left for us with this crazy school stuff running our lives.  Thanks everyone for the love and support and positive thinking for us!

Congrats Grandpa!

     This Easter was bitter sweet for my family and I.  Last year on April 24 (which was Easter last year) my sweet grandma passed away.  So now when Easter rolls around, even though it is not always on the same day, I remember my grandma.  It was a very hard loss for everyone, especially my grandpa.   I could never imagine what it would feel like to lose your best friend for almost 60 years!!! I don't think people really understand how dramatic your life would change. Going out to eat by yourself, beings alone in the house, going to movies by yourself, and cooking for only one person.  Some may be okay with being by themselves but I think it would be so depressing. I don't think that any one will or could replace my grandma, but I was so happy to hear that my grandpa was dating!  He is the most healthy 79 year old ever!!!  He found an amazing lady who lost her husband 8 years ago. She is super active and a beautiful lady. They set a date to be sealed on April 28.  I didn't think I would be able to make it with a test the Friday before and a Monday test following, but I told myself that family comes first. Thanks to amazing parents who flew me home for a quick trip it was a much needed family time.

     I took my microbiology test early Friday morning and then went straight to the airport. Ryan wasnt able to go home so we said our good byes for the weekend.  Pretty much I bummed around with my sister Jami and her sweet family the whole trip, it was like they had another kid!  They picked me up in Salt Lake and we made the long trek to Rexburg, Idaho.  It just wouldn't be Idaho if we didn't experience a little bit of snow storm at the end of April.

     Of course I was suppose to be studying for my immunology test on Monday, but how can you with this cute little girl, Harper Jo?

     So needless to say the trip up to Idaho was a fail at studying......oh well. All of the Hess clan met up at the Olive Garden for a yummy dinner.

     My Grandpa and Marilynn were getting married in the Rexburg temple. We all stayed in Rexburg that night so the kiddos had a swimming pool.  I of course had to go on a run to the temple. This temple is beautiful at night when lit up. It was a SUPER cold run!!! I could see my breath the whole time!  Remember, I have been experiencing 100 degree weather so I only packed shorts and t-shirt, but for some reason I brought a jacket.  I guess this is where I thought I would need it.  My ears, fingers, and legs froze but it was probably the best run in a long time!! The end result was totally worth it!!

     Pretty much the only time I could study was while everyone was sleeping, so I studied all night til about 4 am and then slept til 7 am and hit the books again til I had to get ready for the wedding.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  I am very happy for my Grandpa, here is the lovely couple.

    Of course we had to get a few family photos since it seems like a rare occasion now a days to have us all together.

     So we headed home from Rexburg after a luncheon and I got to hang out with these 2 kiddos for a little bit longer (I was suppose to be studying again).  This is how the favorite aunt babysits while pretending to study.

     It was time for another long night of studying, so a couple of hours of sleep was all I got, then it was time for church.  Harper Jo got to be my date, so we had to get her looking cute.  Funny story, Jami is always trying to do Harpers hair but she hates it.  She won't sit still and it is crying time when it happens, but not with Aunt Jo Jo!  No tears and No bribing even though she doesn't look happy.

     After church, it was time to go and catch my flight home to Arizona and go take an Immunology test the next day (AAAHHHH).  Don't worry, I didn't do my best but I did okay with an 89%, still above average.  I will take that score any day if I get to hang out with my family!  It was so nice to be with family, but it was a crazy weekend with a total of 6 hours of sleep.  I was pretty sleep deprived the rest of the week.  Luckily I have a week in between before another week of no sleep comes with finals!!!  Ryan is almost done with his 2nd year of Med school (Rock On!) and I have almost finished a WHOLE year of Pharmacy school with only 2 more to go!

My New Wheels!

     I  We are so excited that we finally got an AWESOME road bike for me!  Now Ryan has a riding partner!  We have been wanting to get me a bike for awhile and were willing to spend the money cause it would go to an US activity and thanks to Uncle Sam and Barrie's we got a bike!  We love to work out together and really that is the only time we have together (besides sitting on opposite sides of the dinner table while studying) so besides running and lifting we decided to add biking to our time together too!