Match Day

The Bloomer family is moving to Nashville, TN...

Tyler matched at Vanderbilt University for his residency!

Tyler's match day was Friday and we had a great weekend full of family and friends. Tyler's class had activites scheduled the whole week leading up to match day.  On Monday morning everyone received an email stating whether they had matched at a program or not.  After Tyler received his notice that he had matched it was simply a week of waiting.

The way that Tyler's school conducts match day could not fit him better.  It is held at Floore's Country Store in Helotes right outside of San Antonio and it is a cowboy boot kinda place.  It is a great indoor/outdoor live music venue and we've seen a couple people there over the years including Willie Nelson. 

His class had "Kegs and Eggs" starting at 8am in the parking lot and the doors opened at 10am. At 11am the faculty started randomly drawing envelopes and calling out names to come to the stage and open their match envelope. Each person opens their envelope and reads out where they have matched. It is such a nerve racking situation and so exciting to see where everyone you know ends up.

Kegs & Eggs

Leading up to Tyler's name being called out it was a bit of a hectic and early morning.  We had a big group in town including Tyler's parents, my parents, Grandma Palmer, Grandpa Bloomer, Taylor, and Tyler's Aunt Debbie & Uncle Mark.  Tyler and I headed on early for Kegs & Eggs and my parents brought Jack.  Of course they called from the car and said when they went to get him out he had totally messed up his outfit, which led to outfit change #1.

Once we were inside, Jack was very overwhelmed.  It was A LOT of people and very loud. He normally does good in these situations but the clapping and cheering when someone read out their match freaked him out.  He wouldn't let anyone hold him but me, not even Tyler at one point which has never happened.  We rotated taking him to the back where it was not nearly as noisy. 

It took them FOREVER to call out Tyler's name...we had to wait about 45 minutes and while I was not too worked up at the beginning I was by the time they called his name.  He had gone towards the back and was holding Jack when they finally called him so Jack got to open the envelope with him.

 

Here's the video.  Fast foward to the 30 second mark.

We were so excited when he read that he had matched at Vanderbilt.  This was his first choice and beforehand I honestly did not know what was going to happen.  There was the possibility of Southwestern in Dallas (or any of the other 10 places he had interviewed) and after much praying, talking, and thinking we decided to let what was meant to be be.  The thought of leaving the state of Texas and our family & friends is very overwhelming but I am so proud of Tyler and know this will make our family even closer and stronger in the years to come.  I am very excited and there is a lot running through my mind.  I know he is going to receive the best education and training so he can be successful as he applies for fellowship and continues his career.

The day wouldn't be complete without a family picture in front of an old truck...we kinda like these photo ops :)

Also, Jack had to make a change to outfit #3 for the day.