Match Day Results

Well, gratefully my wife has kept the Dalley Alley afloat with a selection of choice images and wonderful commentary.

The fourth year of a medical student is somewhat of an emotional roller coaster. The clinical obligations are not as rigorous as the third year for days often end shortly after lunch and call is a scarcity. Nonetheless, there are events that tax the very emotional stability of a man.

Usually sometime in July of a medical student's fourth year, one begins to prepare his application to submit to various residencies of his choosing. This includes hunting down three to four faculty that are willing to make glowing comments about your future as a physician, writing a personal statement about how your first words as a baby were Mama, Dada, and (insert specialty here), and scrounging up any remotely philanthropic contributions to society.

After submitting applications (for me it was in the neighborhood of 35 applications) you wait for any invitation for an interview. I was fortunate enough to interview at 14 programs across the country from Washington to Maryland and everything in between.

Then after all your interviews you submit a rank order list online of where you would like to go for residency, while at the same time the programs rank all interviewees. Where the twain meet is called THE MATCH and that is the place where you will spend the next 3-5 years of your life.

So on Thursday March 17th at 11am every medical student across the country sat with sweaty palms holding an envelope with the results of their MATCH and on "GO!" they tore open the letter hoping they get their hearts desire.

As for the Dalley family we will be spending a year in Amarillo Texas doing a year of Preliminary Medicine and then spend the next three years at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Krista and I could not be more excited.

Despite the mutliple comments about how crime ridden Baltimore is, we take heart because we know all manner of wonderful people up in that area and we could not have matched a more fabulous program.

So, I can't wait for the soft shell crab and the Ravens aren't that bad a team.

The above image made the front cover of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal. My mother is on the left with the look of surprise. Ethan is on the right making sure he read the letter right. Krista is in the middle with the look of shock just before she started to cry tears of joy (I hope).

Farm Fun

I have been saying for awhile now that my girls need to go out to see Grandpa's (my Dad) Egg Ranch and just have not done it. Several weeks ago I finally got my sister, sister-in-law, cousin, and good friend and all the kidos to make a morning trip and see what new changes have taken place since the big organic switch.
We got to have an exclusive Grandpa tour of the baby chicks, adorable baby lambs, and big brown hens. Both Brynlee and Addy loved it. They both were a bit hesitant to get too close to the lambs but thought it was super fun.
I got a few cute shots of our fun day at the farm!

Brian Regan

My parents took all of us kids and spouses to Brian Regan. I knew it would be a good show BUT had no idea I would laugh more than I have in my life. He is hilarious!!! I love that he is good clean humor. That was the best entertainment ever! It was fun as well to all go together. Thanks Nicole for the pictures!

Interviews are done.... FINALLY!!

I am so grateful that Ethan was blessed with so many interviews, but I have to say that I am so happy they are DONE! I do not do well with out him, well that is an understatement, I do awful with out him. Now we just have to get down to the nitty gritty what program will go where on the rank list. I thought it would be easy, but man it is a LOT harder than I ever thought it would be. Wish us well! Check back mid March and our fate will be unveiled.

Christmas 2008

I love to put my girls in matching clothes, and as long as they will let me I will do it! I wish I could have gotten better pictures of them in there beautiful Christmas dresses, but you can only do so much with a 3 and 1 year old. (Gaylene I so miss you, our photos will never be the same with out you!)

October Update

Halloween

Mema (Ethan's mom) added to (and took away) from costumes we already had to have these cute fairy costumes for the girls. My girls LOVE candy and had a blast at various Halloween activities. I always say I am going to dress up and never do.... maybe next year.

The Big 10k Race

I decided that since it had been over a year it was time to do another race. I participated in the Red Raider Road Race and did the 10k (6.2 miles) this time. It felt good to run another race. I was a little lonely with out my running partner ,Dad Dalley, by my side, yet I still managed to finish in just under 50 minutes (a record for me). I have no desire at this point to run a marathon, but I am wanting to do a half here in the next few months!

Little Gymnast

Brynlee took a gymnastics class this fall and LOVED it. Her favorite was the "rolls" and "bridge".

September update

Brynlee Turns 3!!!

I can't believe my baby is 3. She thinks she is 10 some times, and has a mind of her own! Wow she gets more and more independent as time goes by. She was all but cooperative while taking these pictures, but we some how managed to get a few (very few) pics. I love to listen to the random things she says daily. Lately she likes to hold a book, wave her hand like a choir director and belt out her favorite primary songs, so cute!