Back at the Park!

Today we met at the park with my parents, along with my sister Suzi, her husband John, and their daughter Elizabeth (who live in California)! We had a good visit! Braylei has been really starting to walk more and more over the past few days! For the past few months, she would take a couple steps here or there, but she preferred crawling. The past couple days has been a different story! She has been walking across the living room, back and forth between Meghan and I, and she'll just stand up on her own and walk somewhere! It's really fun to watch! But it was good to visit with my parents and Suzi & John. Elizabeth has grown a lot since I last saw her. Braylei was perfectly content playing in the sand most of the time, and enjoyed grabbing a handful of sand and dumping into her Grandpa Schroeder's hands!

Trip to the Zoo!

On Wednesday, we took Braylei to the Zoo! She, as usual, loved it, and we tried to see some different exhibits this time around. She absolutely loved the tortoises! She also really liked seeing the babbons, especially as we were there at feeding time! We also saw the largest rodent in the world, the capybara! The Phoenix Zoo is a great place with not only great exhibits, but it is very interactive, great for kids, and features great themed areas like the jungle! On the trip home, both Meghan and Braylei were out! While my girls were napping, I was able to visit my former co-workers at Mezona Orthopaedic Physical & Hand Therapy. It was great to get to see everyone again. I learned so much while working there and a wonderful work to be in. I miss them all a lot.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the largest living rodent, the capybara, please visit the Smithsonian National Zoological Park at this link!

Feeding the Ducks!

On Tuesday afternoon we took Braylei to Freestone park to feed the ducks! It was so much fun! There were many different varieties of waterfowl, and there were a lot of duck around us! Braylei enjoyed watching Meghan and I throw the bread to the ducks, but she wasn't quite so charitable with the bread we gave her to throw, she would eat every piece we gave to her! We also were able to play on the playground for a little while, which she loved tremendously!

2LT Schroeder!

On Monday, I was officially commissioned (sworn in) into the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant! I was selected as a Health Professions Scholar, and this program will pay for my entire medical education along with all associated costs! I will be inactive throughout med school, residency and fellowship. Upon completion of my medical training, I will enter into active duty for four years as a military physician. I then will have the option of doing a military career, or enter civilian service. I am really excited about the opportunities that the Army will provide and for the opportunity I have to serve my country. I will have my officer basic course (basic training) in June in San Antonio!

The Coolest Med School Waitlist Story EVER!!!!

So Medical School wasn't exactly the easiest process I've ever gone through. My first year applying resulted in two interviews and one waitlist spot at LECOM, D.O. school in Pennsylvania. I was hoping to get accepted, but it wasn't meant to be. In the grand scheme of things, I am incredibly grateful that I didn't get in, as my wife gave birth to our first child, Braylei. I'm so happy that I didn't have the stresses of med school, and that I could focus on being a father and trying to adjust to a new lifestyle. I worked at a physical therapy clinic during that time, and learned a great deal. I reapplied for med school, which result in three interviews and three waiting lists. TUCOM, a school in San Francisco, Midwestern University-CCOM in Chicago, and LECOM in Pennsylvania. I felt pretty good about being accepted off of one of the waiting lists, but that faded as the summer wore on. As it became pretty evident that I wasn't going to get in for a second time, I began looking at other options to advance myself to put me in a better position to get into medical school. I ended up accepted the Assistant Athletic Trainer position at Southern Utah University, and we were in fact all set to move! We had the U-Haul loaded and we were actually on the road to Cedar City when I get the call. I received a call from the Director of Admissions from Midwestern University-AZCOM (the Arizona campus)! He said that they weren't comfortable with the individuals on their waiting list, so they borrowed the list from their sister campus in Chicago (where I interviewed at), and saw that I was in Arizona! He offered a spot in the upcoming class and orientation began four days later!! We pulled off in Prescott to talk about it, and then turned around and headed back! The funny thing was that I had my primary applications in for the following year, but I was having a really hard time writing the secondaries! It turned out to be a great blessing! I ended up getting into my first choice school without even interviewing there! And what an awesome school! They have a 100% board pass rate over the past 3 years! Being a med student and a father has been a huge adjustment, but I wouldn't trade my family for anything! But that just goes to show that we all just need to keep working hard and always be prepared for the next great opportunity that the Lord provides!

Why a blog?

I have wanted to start a blog for quite some time, but made countless excuses to myself that have kept it from fruition. My inspiration is derived from my beautiful wife, who started a blog as an easy and convenient method of journal writing, and also as a way to keep everyone up to date of what's happening in our lives. So there you have it.
I have just completed my first semester at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM)! Medical school has been a huge adjustment for me, especially in trying to balance a wife and daughter! But it has been such an amazing blessing for me, and I am incredibly grateful that I have been afforded this wonderful opportunity.
I hope that I can stay active in keeping this blog. I have made a goal to write an entry at least once a week, so we'll see how that goes!