Tuesday, May 11, 2010

And the Rest Is History, I Guess

In continuation of Momalom's Five for Ten series, today's topic is "Happiness."  Click on over to join the fun!

During the whole appendectomy episode,  Ben decided that he wanted to try a new educational/career path.  Being in the hospital reignited his dream of becoming a doctor.  Since his GPA was practically spotless, he was weary of smudging his record with the tyrannical science courses.  With my wholehearted support,  he decided he would give pre-med a one semester try.   If he felt confident after that first semester,  he would continue on until the next semester, and, after that, he would be set on medical school.  (See? I really do support him in his dreams! As long as they do not include becoming a career pilot.)

The first semester was rough.  Not only were we new parents, but we were both taking classes.  Plus, to put it mildly, Ben's classes were not easy.

When the semester was over, he managed to walk away with better grades than he expected.   He decided to continue.

Now, almost 2 years later, we have reached a point that was a mere speck in the horizon.

Yesterday, we received Ben's MCAT scores.

If I could fully relate how much we have both sacrificed to reach this point, I would.  I will tell you this--there have been many days, especially over this last semester, when I wouldn't see Ben until he stumbled into bed around 2 am.   I'm not just referring to the weekdays.  I mean Monday-Saturday.  (Sunday was our sacred family time.) It was difficult.  Parenting two little babies by myself, especially when my husband is only a couple miles away, was harder than I anticipated.  I wrote many disparaging posts (which I may just delete) and cried more than I care to admit, but I tried my best to support my husband through it all.  It helped to know that he was struggling as well.  I mean, he had to study and actually take the test.  I only had to blubber about solo parenting.  Besides, he loves his children more than I can describe.  He would have given anything to be with them.

So.  April 10th came and Ben took the test.  When finished it did nothing to alleviate our anxiety.  For all we knew, he would be taking it again (because he likely did not do well enough) after he found out his score.

The kids and I may have seen Ben more this last month, but the tension was still palpable; the nights still sleepless.

Fast forward to yesterday.  The scores were scheduled to come out at some point during the day.  While Ben tried to work and I tried to, um, tend to the kids (meaning read all the delightful Five for Ten posts), we couldn't help but look at the website every ten seconds.

Finally, a little after 1:00, I received the call I had been expecting.  I answered the phone with a hurried--"Was it good??" To which my husband replied, "Yes!"

Pure happiness.

For inquiring minds,  knowing the score is the first step.  We will now be applying to different medical schools and starting the interviewing process sometime in September.  In some ways, I never thought this day would come.  I was sure we would be stuck in undergraduate education forever.  I am glad that this theory proved to be untrue.

46 comments:

  1. Congratulations!!! That is fantastic. His hard work has paid off and he couldn't have done it without a loving and supportive wife such as yourself. I wish you much continued success!

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  2. From an appendectomy to med school...wow, what a story to tell your children! A wonderful husband, adorable kids, a happy life! Blessings to you.

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  3. I am so proud of both of you. For all of YOUR support of him. For all of your crazy days. For all of his hard work. For being such a fantastic TEAM. You deserve so much happiness. And I'm so glad you found it yesterday. It was all worth it!

    So, applying to any schools here in the NorthEast? I'd welcome you guys with open arms!

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  4. Amber, that is wonderful news! I'm so happy for you both!

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  5. Oh wow, what a great moment! It's so wonderful when something so hard has finally paid off! I'm so happy for you guys. I totally know that "we are literally never going to be done with school" because my hubby's only done 2 years so far... and sometimes I literally think it will never get over. So I'm glad to know there may just be a light at the end of the tunnel!

    And I would love to come visit sometime! Probably next week, actually (unless you are catching up on spending lots of time with your hubby, of course)!

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  6. hooray! what an exciting thing good news can be. congrats to you and your family!!

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  7. Oh, yay! Congrats to your husband.

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  8. Congrats! My stomach was in knots while reading this post... will it be good? Will he have to do it over? I remember when my husband took the LSATs, and then the Bar, and the misery of being the partner to the test taker. It's hard on us too! So you both get gold stars, for sure. I can't imagine being a mom to two little ones during all of that.

    Hope you can enjoy the victory today!

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  9. Congratulations! Such exciting, wonderful news!

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  10. How awesome for the both of you. It sure sounds like a long tough road.

    Hang in there.

    Great post!

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  11. Amber, I'm so happy for you both. We've talked about some of the ways our families' paths are similar. The other day, I was so happy. Spent the day working in the yard of our house, then with the family at night. It hit me that our current happiness is in direct proportion to our earlier sacrifice. It is hard, but so worth it--and moments like these give you a glimpse and hopefully the determination to go on. Bless you both!

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  12. This is wonderful! Congratulations to you guys. You both made sacrifices and worked hard to get to this moment, and you both deserve every little piece of this happiness.

    I'm all about celebrating the special moments, no matter how big or small because a step towards your goal is a step. And it needs to be celebrated, so I hope you guys do plenty of that for this momentous occasion.

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  13. Ahhhh... such memories of long, lonely days with three small kids and no husband in sight... for days at a time.

    Congrats!!! I'm glad he did well!

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  14. You guys have worked so hard and so diligently for this -- I'm so happy for you! I wish I could watch those babies for y'all so you could go celebrate!

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  15. Hooray for your very happy news! I admire you two for embarking on the med school journey. I know it means moving, waiting, and sacrifice. Doctoring is noble and needed! Best wishes as you keep going...

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  16. Yay! Congratulations! Anticipating anything big can be so excruciating. Glad to hear you can now exhale and celebrate.

    Enjoy the med school application process.

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  17. Hooooray!!!!!! Such happy news. Now...CELEBRATE. Commemorate this day somehow, if only with a toast at dinner of mac & cheese. (I know the fun of two small kids and hubby gone to school...ours was MBA, but his program was out of town...) Good for you for making it through.

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  18. Congrats! I know that feeling all too well. I've been there for my husband through the MCAT scores and all the other tests that follow. It has been a long journey, but a happy one. My husband loves what he does, so it makes all those moments of angst over tests and scores and residency and fellowship worth it.

    Good luck with the application process. But for now. Breathe and relish this moment.

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  19. Oh, hooray! This post made me happy, too. I'm glad all of your husband's (AND yours, too) hard work paid off. That is an amazingly happy moment, thanks so much for sharing!

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  20. Congratulations that is awesome and definitely some big HAPPY news. After so much hard work and sacrifice what a welcome relief! You made me happy too!

    Good luck with the rest of the process.

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  21. Aaah. A post I can relate to. I've been in your shoes and in Ben's (not with the MCAT but with the bar exam (both when I took it and when my husband did) and now with my writing endeavors). Happiness indeed. Also SO encouraging. Right now I'm in the thick of the struggle towards the goal. Reading this reminded me that someday I will be on the other side if it. I hope my "results" are as good as Ben's!! Congrats to him and to you!

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  22. This post made me smile! Thank you for sharing your recent slice of happiness!

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  23. I could feel my pulse racing in excitement even though I already knew the outcome. So fantastic, so pleased for both of you.

    You did it as a team so don't ever think he had the harder job. You both had hard jobs to get to this point, they were just different. And I don't think you should delete those posts, they are history, important history and real life and nothing to be ashamed of. It was a long road, but look how worthwhile it was.

    Bask in this, you both deserve it!

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  24. What an amazing testament to the power of being a team, in every endeavor :) So wonderful!
    Celebrate! Enjoy this moment!

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  25. YA-HOO!!!! What wonderful news...happiness indeed! What a great lesson you'll be able to teach your children about pursuing your dreams!

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  26. Wow, that IS a happy moment! I could feel the anticipation growing as I read your post. What wonderful news! Good luck as you both continue on this exciting journey.

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  27. That's fabulous! Congrats to you both!

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  28. Congrats to your husband! Eek! Sounds like more long nights of studying for him are ahead... BTW... your previous appendectomy post inspired me to write my own .

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  29. So, so happy for you and Ben! And even though he's been so very busy, what a wonderful example for your children of the power of hard work and diligence. Yay, yay, yay!

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  30. Amber, how amazing indeed that you had to have an emergency appendectomy during your pregnancy and being around the hospital atmosphere motivated Ben to work on Pre-Med courses! As I've heard said, "Is it odd or is it God?"
    :)

    Truly inspirational and much happiness!

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  31. Super congratulations. The first big hurdle jumped with flying colors!

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  32. Yay Benji and Bambi!!!! I'm so happy for you two:):):)

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  33. Oh Amber. You tell that Ben he hit it out of the park. And to give you the biggest hug of your life. Because I am 100% sure he couldn't have done it without you.

    And that right there is some !!!

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  34. I am so pleased for Ben, for you, and for your family. And I will be even more pleased if your med school options bring you to a house across the street from me. :)

    Here's to hard work being rewarded! You guys deserve it!

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  35. I'm so happy for you! What a huge accomplishment. I hope that now you will have more family time and your lives will be a little less stressful.

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  36. Wow! What perfect timing for a post about happiness. Congrats Ben!

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  37. Congratulations!! What a sacrifice, and what a payoff. Great journey and a great post!

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  38. Oh wow! This post made my heart leap. Happiness with the "relief" chaser brings joy to a whole new level. Congrats to Ben! And to you!!

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  39. My sister, with whom I am very close, is in her third year of medical school. She is older than most students and had gone back to do a two-year post-bacc program to do all her science. I remember the waiting for the MCAT scores. Oh my goodness the tension. And I remember the relief not only when a good score came but just that the waiting was over. What a great moment to capture as happiness -- not only the happiness that finally, finally the wait is over but your obvious happiness for your husband. It's infectious and endearing. Cheers to you both!

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  40. Congratulations!! And more wow, on the courage front, parenting and schooling at the same time. I can only imagine how difficult it may be.

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  41. Great news and perfect post to announce the news! Yay to both of you!

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  42. Congrats on the good news and the exciting future. Thanks for stopping by my blog and your sweet comment!

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  43. WAY TO GO AMBER AND BEN!!

    I know how easy it is to lose sight of the prize, but look at you, coming out on the other side! So proud and happy for you both.

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  44. Congratulations! On surviving, and on achievement... Bravo!

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  45. [...] elated–that we have reached this point.  I remember our excitement when we got his MCAT scores,  thinking we were one step closer to fulfilling Ben’s career dreams.  A few months later [...]

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