Randy and Dionne's Happily Everafter Story

2009-12-27T20:50:00.001-06:00

2009-12-10T17:20:00.002-06:00

Needless to say, this little one gets lots of kisses... how can you resist

Nana and Micah

My precious little angel

Micah Christian Sillik is Here!!! :)

2009-11-22T19:43:00.007-06:00

Born on Friday, November 20th at 1:02 AM
at 37weeks, 3 days
6lbs 5oz
19 inches long
The cutest little thing I've ever seen!

My week off- part 1

2009-10-11T17:17:00.007-05:00

Tomorrow I go back to work after a much needed week off. With the third part of my board exams coming up, I did some studying, Randy and I did some home decorating and baby preparation. Most of all, I did a lot of sleeping and/or just being horizontal in bed. Needless to say, my ankles look great lol Being admittedly lazy (and I do appologize for not updating the blog on a more regular basis), I figure I will just put up a sample of pics and videos from my doings this past week.

One of our attendings hosted a party last Sunday. It was a Jewish tradition called the Sukkat
The pretty lady in the middle is one of my co-interns, Aroti.
I know, my face has gotten considerably wider with this pregnancy. ugh

About to leave for the Chestnut Hill Festival last Sunday

I think this was last Saturday. Getting ready to go out and run errands

This is part of one of the acts at the festival that we went to last Sunday. There were live bands and lots of food. The weather was perfect that day. Sorry for the weird camera angle.

my week off- part 3

2009-10-11T18:13:00.005-05:00

Our little art project:
So last weekend, Randy and I went to a craft store and bought some white wooden letters. This Friday night, we sanded and painted those letters, each in a different color, which we placed over the crib. A few days before that, we also put up some vinyl lettering. Now, waking up and seeing my son's name makes me even more excited to see him.

It was fun painting with Randy

My wonderfully handy husband once again

AND HIS NAME IS:

"Every Good and Perfect Gift Comes from Above"

my week off-part 2

2009-10-11T17:43:00.003-05:00

So Wednesday October 7th was my 28th birthday, and my wonderful husband, after having taken me out to dinner and shopping on Saturday, left work early and while I was at a cafe studying, cleaned our messy living room and surprised me with this:

Please note the kisses filled with caramel on the table. I have always hated chocolate. Apart from my occasional indulgence in the caramel, nugget and peanut goodness of a Snickers bar, there is not much chocolate that I am able to tolerate. During the last trimester of this pregnancy, I have become a lot more tolerant of the different preparations of milk chocolate. I still need to have it made with something else like mint or caramel, but now I actually crave it and enjoy it. Once, about a month ago, Randy bought a bag of the Hersey chocolate with caramel for himself and much to both of our surprise, yours truly ended up eating a good bit of them. We could not find it again since then but on my birthday, Randy found it for me. I have an incredibly wonderful husband.

That night, we went out to dinner with some of my co-workers. It was a very nice birthday indeed.

The first installment in our baby readiness

2009-09-23T21:43:00.003-05:00

BEFORE

My handy husband. I am laying on the bed reading the instructions (a very important job :))

proud of his work, as he should be.

Tired, but happy

YAY!!! :)

We bought a crib that can convert to a day bed and then an adult full sized bed. It is actually also a changing table and hamper all in one with open shelves on the back and a trundle drawer for bedding underneath. We love it and are very excited to bring our little one home and see him in this space. I can't wait to buy the bedding and supplies, but the next expense on our priority list is a stroller and car seat.

29 weeks, only 11 more to go!!! :)

2009-09-23T21:19:00.003-05:00

The one day that I didn't wear scrubs to work

From my 28th week

I am getting bigger and more uncomfortable, and working 30 hrs at a time (and no we don't take naps!) when on call has gotten harder, but I have a good support system around me at work and my senior residents try to do what they can to prevent me from getting too bombarded with work. Actually, this weekend, my chief resident tried to find some time for me to rest for about 30 minutes but by the time I got done with doing a C-section and delivering 2 babies, our Triage filled up again and there went that. It was nice that she at least tried. Anyway, only 11 weeks to go. I am taking it one day at a time and trusting in God to give me the strength and the stamina that I need. He has never inspired me to do something that he has not given me the tools to accomplish, and I know that this is one of those things.

Twenty Six Weeks :)

2009-09-02T17:03:00.003-05:00

Long Time No See

2009-08-15T19:56:00.003-05:00

Ok Ok Ok, So residency is a time consuming entity that does not like sharing you with your bed further more blogging time. I am soooo behind on updating my blog and my family has been nagging me for weeks to put up more pictures.

(Me at 22wks and 4 days)
I actually had a day off and was able to try out our pool for the first time

I am now 23 weeks and 4days pregnant and doing well. Residency has been a crazy, new, overwhelming, exciting, educational and tiring experience thus far and it has only just begun. In less than two months, I have become a surgeon, an educator to women, present on the happiest and worst days of a woman's life. I am very blessed to be doing what I do. I just wish there was more time for rest and relaxation. My little boy is doing well; content inside my womb... probably wondering why I am never sitting still. It is very comforting to feel his life inside of me when I am delivering a baby, standing for 4 hours working in the Operating Room, writing orders, and especially when I am too tired or discouraged to want to go on. I always have a constant reminder of what I can be happy about and excited for, right there with me.

My first week as an Ob/Gyn

2009-07-03T17:06:00.002-05:00

I don't have much time to write. Strangely I got today off, if not I would not even have been able to put pictures up or write this right now. But, I felt it a good idea to put into words my experiences of the last few days.

Night before my first day, it was hard to fall asleep. I felt almost as anxious as the night before my 9hr board exams. Not wanting the sun to rise upon a day that you don't want to face, but wanting the torture of not knowing how it will be to come and get itself over with.

First day, woke up at around 4:15 am. Got to hospital bright and early with my blue scrubs, pager on hip, cellphone on hip, and white coat on. The day was busy, it was nonstop. Barely a moment to pee or eat without pagers going off and places to be. This month I am on the GYN service, which mainly means cases in the OR, preparing patients for surgery and managing them postoperatively and of course, running to the Emergency department, and the medical floors as a consult.

At the end of our first day, one of my fellow interns called me on the phone and we both celebrated that we had survived, that it was not so bad and that we were really really happy.

Upon embarking on each experience, at first I would feel the anxiety rise just a little. Going on my own to examine a patient who is bleeding or has had a miscarriage seemed daunting, and scary. But there was always a certain pt during each encounter when I looked at myself and realized that I was doing it right, that I was prepared for this and that I could be confident in my abilities. That was an amazing feeling. That and reporting to my senior residents and attendings and seeing the look of approval on their faces as to my thought process and knowing that if I did not know what to do that they were always there to help and guide me, were some of the most rewarding aspects of this week for me.

Everyone has been supportive of my pregnancy, making sure that I steal time to eat etc. When your chief gives up her seat so that you can sit down, you can't help but feel that you're in the right place.

Assisting on cases in the OR were great, keeping in mind that I will have to remember the names and functions of all of the instruments, not so much. I did a case with just me and the attending and afterwards he congratulated me for having my first one done. A rite of passage had been done. That was a great feeling. Sitting in morning report and learning from happenings that occurred overnight, being called on to answer questions and knowing that everything you don't know is something that you have to go home and read up on is part of the day. Coming home exhausted with only about 3 hrs of awake time left before you really should go to bed, has been difficult. Knowing that eating dinner, reading up on cases so that I can be prepared in the OR the next day, time with Randy, all have to come out of those few hrs is a challenge. But it is one that we are both up for.

Randy has been awesome, as usual. He sees me off in the mornings, makes dinner at night and lays next to me and tucks me in even when he isn't going to bed for another couple of hours. He has been my rock and my cheerleader.

This week has been tiring but I can honestly say that I have had fun. I am living my dream and touching people's lives each and every day.

2009-07-03T13:26:00.003-05:00

ITS A BOY!!!!

The goods :)

All ten fingers accounted for

Hanging out upside down

He has such a cute nose!!!

2009-06-29T13:34:00.007-05:00

Just some pics of me getting ready to go to the Park

as you can see, we painted some of the walls in our living room. (We also did an accent wall of a different color in our bedroom) I was going to do a before and after post, but laziness and busyness squashed that idea.

I am 17 weeks today, and yes, the belly is getting a bit bigger. I have been feeling the baby move a lot more now and loving every moment of it. Sometimes I wonder when he/she is getting any sleep lol. Randy has gotten to feel the baby move under his fingertips and even saw my skin jump up and down this past weekend. It is always nice when I can share with him something that feels like a private exchange just between me and our little one.
Hopefully when I get my ultrasound done within the next few weeks, I will finally be able to answer my family's nagging question of "Is it a boy or a girl" and "When are you going to finally find out the sex?!" :)

Some Spoils of the day :)

2009-06-24T21:39:00.004-05:00

Yep, that's me! :)

My White Coat

I had been meaning to do a post months ago, saying goodbye to my shorter, thinner medical student white coat, but never got around to it. Now, I get to wear the thick, sized to fit, personally embroidered long white coat that the doctors get to wear. This is an item that all medical students look forward to receiving when they start residency.

My Pager

We also got some cool goodie bag stuff, including a jump drive, a cute little backpack, etc. Tomorrow I pick up my ID badges. It was a long day, but a great day. I met a lot of residents of various specialties who were all excited and nervous like me. I even got to hang out with some of them tonight when Me and Randy were invited over to one of my co-OB resident's apartment. All in all a good day. Now for a good night's sleep and more training, etc tomorrow.

And so it begins

2009-06-23T21:24:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow will greet me bright and early with a full day of orientations. Thursday is more training and certifications and Friday as well. Monday is our orientation specific to OB/Gyn and then July 1st is our first real day as Albert Einstein Doctors. Today was essentially my last day of freedom. I just got home from having dinner with my fellow interns and some of the new 2nd years. I can't believe its happening and I know that the ride will be bumpy and long. At any given moment I could be filled with hope, pride and excitement or utter anxiety and fear. At this moment I feel blessed that I am part of a really nice, funny and fun cohort of people that I will be in the trenches with, and hopeful that I will make it through this year without falling into pieces......... Ask me how I feel on the night of June 30th.

2009-06-17T13:14:00.004-05:00

I have an OB/Gyn and an appointment, I finished the first part of my Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, I started to feel the baby again today, I dropped my mom and sister off at the airport, I survived some financial woes and struggles with the help of family, and I am now about to try to get centered, get into a place of zen, while washing my hair and mentally preparing myself for my residency orientation and further training next week. I pray for a constant infusion of patience, peace of mind, and strength.

More Graduation Pictures

2009-06-11T12:08:00.005-05:00

A very proud Husband

My Grandmother (I call her Mimzo), My dad, Me and My Brother Roland (I call him Roly ) :)

Dad, Mimzo, Aunty Betty, Me and Cousin Charisse

Baby Update

2009-06-11T12:50:00.004-05:00

The last couple of weeks, my tummy has gotten more pronounced. I have not been good at taking pictures though, due to all that has been going on. I believe the picture above was at 13 weeks. I am a bit bigger than that now.

I am 14weeks and 3 days today
I am doing well, happy to be well out of the first trimester and to feel like myself again. Since my 12th week, I have felt the baby moving. It has been so exciting, but mostly it has been comforting, having a physical assurance that all is well. I was surprised at how active my baby already was and that I was getting movements strong enough to feel at such an early stage. The last day or so, my little one has gotten higher up in my abdomen and has changed positions so that I am not able to feel the kicks like before. That did make me a little sad, but I know that I will have many days of movements ahead of me so I cannot complain. Apart from that, still trying to soldify a new OB/Gyn here in PA so that I can get my next appointment on time.

And of Course... The purchase of My New Rav4!

2009-06-11T12:37:00.002-05:00

2009 Toyota Rav 4. Black leather interior, 6-disc CD changer, Sunroof, etc! I love it!

Philly Happenings

2009-06-11T12:30:00.003-05:00

My mom and youngest sister Rayisa came back to Philadelphia with Randy and Me.
We went to a park right by our new apartment. My mom and Rayisa still can't get over all of the lush greenery in this part of the country as opposed to southern Arizona.

At Coney Island

2009-06-11T12:24:00.003-05:00

Surprise Cake

2009-06-11T12:19:00.001-05:00

2009-06-11T12:12:00.002-05:00

My other grandmother (Mom's Mom), Me and Randy
Roly, Me, Auntie Esther, and sister Rayisa

Auntie Pam and Uncle George

Me and Grandma Browne

Me and My Mom

Me and My sexy Sis, Rayisa

They 'Hood' you on the stage as part of the ceremony

Graduation!!!

2009-06-11T11:55:00.006-05:00

Pictures from Friday June 5th, when I graduated with Honors from Medical School!!! Enjoy

A fellow graduate

Me and My Uncle Patrick

My hectic but wonderful last couple of weeks part Three

2009-05-27T15:04:00.003-05:00

I got back on Sunday, and spent time with my in laws and nephews and visited with some people that we'd made connections with while here in Illinois. Yesterday, I went to my doctor's appointment. All I cared about was that he would be able to pick up fetal heart tones with his Doppler ultrasound. It took a second of rooting around but I knew the moment he found it. Nice and strong and fast. He showed me the meter and it said 156. I was very happy. During the first trimester, apart from the nausea and the tiredness, there are no indications coming from within that tells you that the baby is still in there or that everything is alright. It is also a paranoia buster when you get to hear your little one. Being halfway through my 12th week, I am happy to be pretty much done with my first trimester. I look forward to the stage where I can feel the baby move and have a daily reminder that all is well and that my little one is still there, waiting patiently to make his/her appearance. Yesterday was definitely a good day.

We got behind on laundry over the last couple of weeks due to all the traveling and the packing and getting ready for the big move, so we decided that a laundry mat would be the best way to get caught up in a short amount of time. So, this morning, while Randy was at work, I lugged LOTS of clothing over the laundry mat. I DID TEN LOADS! Ten loads?? How we accumulated that much laundry I do not know. I didn't even realize that we had that much clothes. Anyhoo, I'm glad that its over. Now, I am trying to relax and get caught up on some things at the same time.

The last couple of weeks have been hectic, but filled with family and friends and the reassurance that everything is on track with my pregnancy. I couldn't ask for anything more.