The second year of Andy's residency is coming to a close. At the same time, we are once again trying to figure out where Andy will be practicing when he is done. Originally, our plan was to move to Roseau, and Andy had signed a contract of intent. However, a few months ago the residency where he works offered him a faculty position when he finishes his third year. So we withdrew from Roseau, and thought he'd be working for the residency. Unfortunately, the Altru administration found out that the residency had offered him a job without their consent. Now, the residency and the administration are engaged in a contest to see who has the larger penis. We've been watching this play out for 3 months. All the while, Sanford has been offering him contract after contract to work in their East Grand Forks clinic. At this rate, Sanford is likely to come out on top, unless Altru can miraculously pull it together in the next week.
That being said, the decision to stay in town rather than go to Roseau has shortened Andy's residency by a year, as there is no longer a need for him to do the 4th year OB fellowship. And that means only 12 more months of UND housing, ridiculous hours, and overnight call at the hospital. It also means only 12 more months of student loan deferments, but as that is a rather depressing thought I am choosing not to focus on that part.
The second year has been better than the first in many ways. There are fewer call months, and the kids are older. This makes my life a bit easier. Also, Andy has been moonlighting at least once a month, and we are finally paying off some debt. And Santa was able to bring the kids a trip to Disneyland. And that was amazing. I've waited my whole life to go to Disneyland, and we all had a great time. The kids have begun to make plans for the next trip!
June is always a busy month at the residency. We have the annual forced resident fun weekend at Ruttgers that we are required to attend. There is the "send-off" picnic for the departing 3rd years. And there is a new crop of first years beginning to wander into the residency.
June is also a busy month at our house. Megan has been doing the "pre-kindergarten" class at West, in preparation for her kindergarten debut this fall. She is loving it, and is getting to know some of the other kids and her teachers. Nico has been swimming a few mornings a week with the swim team, playing baseball for the park board, and taking viola lessons. With all the running, the month of June has flown by. Tomorrow we are off to Sioux Falls to spend a weekend with my sister and her family. We'll wrap up the month by spending it at the lake with Andy's family. Life is very, very busy these days. I'm really looking forward to July, in hopes that we get some lazy days to spend by the pool.
We really need to have some nice weather. Nico's swim practice has been pretty scanty, and if he wants to keep swimming well he'll need more time in the pool. He had a really respectable showing at State this year, placing in the top 10 in every event he swam - except the one in which he was DQ'd! - and I know he'd like to do that again. It seems that swimming is something that he really enjoys and does well.
Both kids are trying to decide if they want to do dance again next year. Nico did boy's hip-hop this year, and it was a lot of fun to watch him at the recital. However, he'll be swimming and playing football in the fall and he isn't sure he wants to dance again. Megan doesn't like ballet, but likes tap and she wants to try jazz. Unfortunately, at this age, if you want to do tap or jazz, ballet is required. We'll have to see how she feels about it in September when they start again.
Meanwhile, I'm making no progress towards graduation, but I did take a "real" teaching job. This coming year I'll be teaching 3 classes for Lake Region State College on UND campus. I'll be working with the LAUNCH program, and it promises to be a real challenge. I'm hoping I can muster some self-discipline and get some writing done at the same time.
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