Our Year in Review

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy New Year!   If we are not seeing you in person this holiday season we hope you have a beautiful and blessed time.  Also, know you are on our minds and in our hearts.  This year has been one of a lot of exciting changes for us and we thought it might even be worthy of an update to let you know all that has been going on.

                This Valentine’s Day was a significant one for our family as it was the residency match day for all DO students.   We found out officially that student DrOgg would have the opportunity to make his dream of being an orthopedic surgeon come true.  We also found out that he would be doing this back in Erie, PA which meant we would be living there for at least 5 years. MrsOgg immediately started planning the upcoming move and we debated whether we should buy a home in Erie or look for a rental.   Of course our hope was to move into our first house but, unsure if we could afford it we began exploring our options.

In April we found out the great news that a 3 bedroom home had come available through the hospital’s resident’s rental program and we were at the top of the list.  Since this was the most affordable way we knew to a nice house we hurried up to Erie to take a look.  After 5 years in all kinds of apartments this little ranch with a big yard in a quiet neighborhood was a dream come true. 

 We signed the lease and made plans to move to Erie as soon as possible.  On March 15^th we moved into our first house and even though it was 10 pm when we finally arrived (through a snowstorm) DrOgg and Ogglet couldn’t help but run around playing and exploring all the space we would be blessed with for the next five years.  Though MrsOgg loved everything she especially couldn’t be happier with her new kitchen that boasts a dishwasher and just about 3 times the space of our previous tiny kitchen.

After settling in for almost two months the day we all had been waiting for finally came:  graduation day!  On May 29^th our student doctor officially became Dr. Ogg and the first leg of his long journey to becoming an orthopedic surgeon was completed.  What a proud day it was for everyone!  Seeing Dr Ogg walk across that stage and knowing all the hard work and sacrifice that had led up to it was wonderful.  We celebrated with some family and food.  We even got to enjoy our yard and patio out back since our central air decided to conk out the day of the party.  But, in spite of the heat,  it was a wonderful weekend of celebration and of course time with our family.

Not soon after graduation we found out the most wonderful news of the whole year, we are having another baby!  So, the past seven months have been full of adjustments and challenges.  For DrOgg learning the ropes of his first year of residency and of course for MrsOgg caring for an active toddler while pregnant have been challenging to say the least.  And of course Ogglet turned two this October.  We have been surprised daily her amazing growth and learning these past months.  Not only is she talking more than ever but, she likes to put together puzzles, learn her alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes.  Basically anything we can teach her she is willing and eager to learn which makes all the “terrible” parts of being two not seem so bad. 

All in all it’s been a pretty amazing year.  Of course now we are trying to finish last minute preparations for the new baby girl and hope to enjoy our last 6 months with daddy before he has to start his rotations at out-of-town hospitals.  In spite of all this joy and the blessings we’ve been given we have already learned and will probably continue to discover that these last 5 years of DrOgg’s training are going to be the most trying.  Please keep us in your hearts and your prayers that we will be able to make the most of these years and stay strong in the Lord and close as a family.  Thanks for all of your support in small and big ways that helped us to get this far.

Discouragement - the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles

Contemplating discouragement tonight. I guess we've been experiencing our share of it lately. DrOgg is naturally feeling a bit overwhelmed by his first year as a surgical resident combined with the research and other responsibilities. Me feeling rather inadequate in regards to my many responsibilities of housekeeping, of mommy-hood and of course trying to encourage my resident hubby. And poor little Annabel stuck in the middle of all our moodiness is just trying to live her toddler life...and now on top of everything she is getting her molars! Her crankiness, while we realize she can't help it, also does nothing to help the situation. I think that the definition in the title --which I found online-- is perhaps the best description of what we are experiencing. At least it is a rather self-serving one. Here is the dictionary definition:

discouragement (noun)
1. A loss of confidence or enthusiasm; a dispiritedness
2. An attempt to prevent something by showing disapproval or creating difficulties; deterrent

While the first dictionary definition may be becoming more and more true each day I actually think the second is more interesting. When I consider my preferred definition (see title) of discouragement I realize that this definition is rather vague. It depends purely upon my feelings which I guess that is all discouragement really is. And more specifically, my feelings about my "obstacles." Now I guess that is what it comes down to; are these obstacles real or perceived? Are we creating our own deterrent or creating difficulties in order to prevent our own peace and happiness? I know some very industrious moms who would probably say that I certainly am. In reality the amount of housework I have to do is not more than average. And while being a mom of a toddler is challenging, Ogglette isn't any more difficult than most. In fact, she is probably more on the easy going end of the spectrum. Of course me wishing I had more time to work my MaryKay business (which would take me away from Ogglette) probably wouldn't make very many childless women feel sorry for me.
I find this whole thing so confusing. It seems that all my life I was told what a blessing it is to be at home. Caring for your husband, home and children was the most fulfilling thing that could ever happen to a Christian woman! And I believed it with my whole heart. Then, when we found out unexpectedly that we were having a baby half way through DrOgg's medical school training I did everything I could think of to be sure I was there for every sweet moment with my new baby. We made big sacrifices in regard to our lifestyle (and IMHO to my career). Even getting by with just one car so that we could save money and some way, somehow I could be a Stay-At-Home-Mom!
So it's hard to admit that I am sick and tired of housework and get bored with the same routine each day with Ogglette. Sick of never having money and really tired of not being able to drive during the day. Now, don't get me wrong...I really do enjoy being with my Ogglet and love her more than anything. But, sometimes I do think I might be a better mom if I even went to work one day a week. Sometimes I just think the routine is killing me.
Sorry by the way if you were not prepared for selfish whining... The reality is that I am often torn between feeling discouraged and feeling sorry for myself (ha!) or thinking that what I'm experiencing in my life isn't that bad and I should just buck up and get with the program. Sometimes while cooking the same thing for the 100th time while Ogglette hangs on my legs I think of the mommies in places where they don't always have enough food to cook for their little ones. Or while doing laundry or procrastinating about filling the dishwasher... I think of mommies who don't even have clean drinking water let alone running water to wash everything with. Or worse yet, mommies whose little ones didn't live long enough to annoy them by whining and hanging on their legs. Then I think: WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! Why can't I keep this perspective every day? Why can't I remind myself that not only are my stresses mostly temporary but, many of them are perceived obstacles as well? I feel like this is my eternal question...is what I'm going through normal or am I just a big wimp? Please feel free to share your thoughts because I don't have a lot of answers.