And the Match Day Results Are In....

Cody matched at Brody!!!!

Today was Match Day for many residency programs across the nation. All the results were released at 12 noon today. Cody's parents and my parents came to Greenville to attend the Match Day ceremony. All the M4s, their families, current residents and attendings, as well as many of the M1s, M2s, and M3s attended--the auditorium at Brody was packed. (I had to sit on Cody's lap due to not being able to find enough seats for all of us in one spot.)

Each M4 created a PowerPoint slide, along with music to show when they walked across the stage to get their Match Day envelope. The PowerPoint slideshow is randomized, so you don't know when your name will be called. It is so exciting to see each person receive their envelope--some choose to rip it open as soon as they receive it, others choose to take it back to their seat and open it with their family. Upon opening the envelope, some students let out screams of excitement, some had faces of disappointment. If you are the lucky one to have your name called last, you receive the cash pot, collected from donations from the audience prior to the ceremony. Unfortunately, Cody didn't have his name called last--he was somewhere in the middle--but he did get his first choice of residency programs, so that's all we could ask for!

Cody's PowerPoint Slide (His song was "Good Lovin" by the Rascals--listen along with the slideshow at the bottom.)


The Brody Medical and Health Sciences Foundation held a reception following the ceremony. Cake, nuts, and punch were served. It was a great chance to talk with fellow students about where they matched and spend a few last moments with friends before everyone goes their separate ways.

Cody and I are so excited to remain here in Greenville for a few more years and are ready to start this new chapter in our lives!! Congratulations, Cody! I am so proud of you!

Oakmont Basketball

This makes the third year Cody has played church league basketball. The games usually start in January and end in March, with each team playing about 2 games a week. This year, Cody's team had a pretty good season. Unfortunately, they lost in the semi-finals of the playoffs to the number one ranked team. However, I am very proud of my baby (and the rest of the team, too)!

The team strategizing during a time out...they're so serious


Cody looking for an open man

Our Valentine's Weekend

Since Valentine's Day happened to fall on a weekend this year, we decided to celebrate Valentine's all weekend long. On Saturday, we just enjoyed being together. I made french toast for breakfast, and since it had snowed, we played in the snow for most of the day. Thankfully the roads were clear enough to go out, so we went out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants--Chili's.

French Toast


Cody and Mel


Eating at Chili's


Cody made a heart in the chip...awww....how sweet!


On Sunday, we had planned on going to a movie right after church. However, church got out a little later than usual, so we would have been too rushed to try to eat lunch and still make it to the movie on time. So, we decided to just spend some time browsing around Greenville and then rent a movie for later in the evening. We grabbed a bite to eat at Honeybaked Ham for lunch, and went over to the mall to do one of my favorite things--shopping. (We both found some great deals at Belk!) Then we went over to babysit for our neighbors while they had a little Valentine's outing. Unfortunately the movie they were going to see was sold out, but they were still kind enough to grab a to-go dinner for us from Olive Garden for babysitting. We ate our yummy Olive Garden while watching our movie, Couples Retreat. We both had a great weekend just being together!

Another Weekend Snow Storm

We went to bed on Friday night watching the snow fall, and when we woke up on Saturday morning, we had a beautiful white blanket of snow on the ground again! I can't believe how much snow we have gotten this year! I love it!

Cody measured the snow on our patio table, and it was 6 1/2 inches. This might be a little more than what was on the ground, as the snow seems to stick to the table before it sticks on the ground. I never thought we would see this much snow here at one time. Eastern NC usually only gets an average of 2-3 inches of snow each winter season, so this was a big snow for this area!


Hershey enjoying the snow. He had been burrowing his head into the snow, which is how his face got so snowy. Cody was also throwing snowballs for him to "find". It was so funny--Hershey would go to where the snowball landed, dig in the snow to try to find the snowball, and then he would usually end up eating the snow until he got distracted by another snowball.


This was perfect snowman building weather, so Cody and I made a snowman in our front yard. I think he turned out pretty cute!


Cody made a big batch of snow cream, which he enjoyed all by himself. (I'm not really a snow cream fan. It's too much like plain vanilla icecream.)


Hershey had an appointment to get groomed on Saturday, and thankfully the roads were clear enough for us to still make the appointment since he really needed a haircut. Each time he get his haircut, he gets a special treat from PetSmart for being such a good boy--usually a new toy, a bone, or a bag of treats. This time, he got a snow coat and snow boots since they were on sale for 75% off. (I'm sure this wouldn't have been his first choice for a "treat" but he doesn't really mind wearing them.) He loves the snow so much, but he can't stay out long because he gets so cold he shivers. So hopefully this will help him stay warmer so he can play a little longer in the snow. Isn't he so cute in his new haircut and coat?


Hershey's snow boots!

Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In...

Unfortunately, for Cody's sake, the Saints came marching in and took the game in the Superbowl. Even though the outcome of the game was not so "super" for Cody, we still had a great time spending time with our friends while watching the superbowl and commercials.

We, along with the Terrells and the Austins, went over to Mark and Elizabeth's house for "Tour de Wings" during the Superbowl. Mark and Elizabeth had made several types of wings including, mango habanero, classic hot sauce, pineapple honey (Cody's creation), and garlic teriyaki wings. The guys enjoyed making the wings before the game started, while the girls just enjoyed some time together with the kiddos.

The Boys Cooking the Wings


The Girls (and Mark)


The Group


Cody and Mel


Maybe next year the Panthers will be in the superbowl...

Winter(ville) Wonderland

This weekend, we got about 3 inches of snow/sleet/ice, just enought to completely blanket the ground in white. It was so pretty! Although the ice can be trecherous, it makes the trees and bushes sparkle. Snow always makes me feel like a kid again--I love to watch it fall, and I can't wait to get out and play in it!

Cody was supposed to be on call at the hospital all weekend, but he was lucky enough to get both Saturday and Sunday off due to the snow! It was so nice to just be at home, not having to go anywhere, or do anything, except just spend some time together. We spent the weekend playing cards, watching movies, snuggling, and taking Hershey out to play in the snow. Hershey loves to run around in the snow, dig in it, and eat it! (Ice is one of his favorite treats, so he thinks the world is a big ice cube and he is in doggie heaven!)

Somebody's Four Years Old Today...

Happy 4th Birthday to our nephew, Connor! We love you bunches!