The Man Trip

Last week, Andrew and I went to Utah for separate vacations (weird, I know). Andrew went out to go camping with his brothers in Southern Utah and I decided to go at the last minute and surprise my family for the week. We weren't able to fly on the same airline, so it was my first time going solo with Luke on a plane. It turned out better than I expected but left me wondering how anyone travels with more than 1 child. More importantly, how anyone ever traveled before the invention of the ipod. Luke is still too young to benefit from such technology but I think every parent I saw with a child 18 months or older had an ipod playing Cars.

Airport security. I know I should be grateful that they are trying to provide a safe air travel experience...but the people who make these rules must not have children. At one point, I had Luke in one arm and was trying to open the stroller with the other arm and leg (it's a tricky little sucker and requires both hands and a foot to work simultaneously). I asked one of the workers if she could hold Luke for me (since she couldn't figure out the stroller) to which she responded that she wasn't allowed to hold kids. So then everyone just stood there and watched as I used every appendage available to me to hold my child and open the stroller. I'll admit, I felt like the entertainment. Later, I smartened up a bit and just put him on the dirty floor (shikata ga nai --it can't be helped).

As I continued through the process, they proceeded to throw out all my water bottles because I told them that they weren't for formula (unfortunately Luke hates formula) but that they were for Luke to drink and for me to drink so that I could nurse him. I guess they don't realize that water is required for nursing because my answer was apparently incorrect. On the return flight, I was ready to tell whatever lies I had to in order to keep my water bottles (oh the depths we will sink to for water). Interestingly enough, one of the workers came up to me as I was loading my hundred items on the conveyor belt and said, with a wink in his eye, "Hey, if they ask you what this water is for, always say it is for formula...understand?" We were totally on the same wavelength as I responded, "Of course it is (wink, wink)". Suddenly I had this warm feeling like maybe I had actually made a TSA friend and that they all might not be oblivious to the fact that some of these rules are erroneous and stupid. For a moment, we were on the same team ...and it felt good.

Like I said before, I can't complain. Luke didn't scream the entire flight or make a speedy dash down the aisle to the cockpit like I was slightly anticipating. I should probably be more grateful. By the way, I've decided that the best in-flight drink is by far a club soda. I'm usually not a fan of carbonation, but the fizz is great if you get a little motion sick and there's no sugar to zapp your energy later on. Then again, Andrew and I are generally club soda fans...its not for everyone.

It was fun to surprise my entire family (only my brother-in-law, Steve, knew my secret). I'm glad they appeased my sudden intrusion and rearranged their schedules for us. It was a great week and Luke misses them already. I don't have many pictures because Andrew took the camera with him (hopefully he will post about his trip later).


Here we are setting the stage. We left Luke on the door step, rang the doorbell, and ran. Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa recognized Luke immediately and didn't call Child Protective Services.


Here is a sneak preview of Andrew's "Man Trip" as he so fondly refers to it. I'll admit, I was slightly jealous, but he definitely deserved it after all his hard work this year. As much as we enjoy hanging out together, I also realize that I'm just not one of the guys...and guys need guy time. I'm cool with that. Why don't ladies get together and go backpacking in the Narrows? I'm down if anyone else wants to go.

Words of Wisdom...

When your old college roommate comes out to stay with you for a few days, hide your computer. In retaliation for hacking my computer and blog site I submit exhibit A to the jury--Stevo's secret pajamas. While Steve probably does exude awesomeness, he also exudes many other things....not the least of these being superhuman speed.

The Coolest Guy I Know

Steve Williams is by far the coolest guy we know. He exudes awesomeness. I sometimes wonder how we were so lucky as to meet this guy nine years ago.

2 Years Down, 8 More To Go

Thank you all for your honesty. Most people who know Andrew know that he speaks mostly in hyperbole. Sometimes I like to take advantage of this. I believe his exact words were: There is no one else in the world who doesn’t like Star Wars! You would think a guy with a masters in Statistics would choose his wording a little more carefully. (Andrew, a convenience sample is appropriate when I only need to prove that ONE person in the world agrees with me).

On to more important topics, Andrew finally took his board examinations yesterday. YESSSSSSS!!!! The first 2 years of medical school are an intense “lecture-and-book-style” study of anatomy, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, embryology, biostatistics, psychology, psychiatry, behavioral science, immunology, pharmacology, biochemistry, histology, cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, oncology, hematopoietic & lymph reticular (are you getting bored yet?), endocrinology, musculo-skeletal, dermatology, rheumatology, gynecology, urology, nephrology, gastrology, hepatology, virology, parasitology, mycology, pathology, reproduction, bacteriology, and orthopedics.

Yesterday, Andrew was tested on all of these things. It is an exam that HEAVILY determines what kind of medicine he can practice. Obviously, it has been a stressful event to prepare for. Particularly, the past two months have been quite intense. Each day he began his study at 8 am, took 2 short breaks for lunch and dinner, and concluded at 10:30 pm. It has been difficult for him not only to isolate himself from family and friends, but also to stay focused for such long periods of time and memorize thousands of new words (most of which I cannot pronounce).

We are so proud of him and appreciate all the sacrifices that he has made so that he can not only provide for our family, but also be a competent physician (not that the test actually has anything to do with being a physician…but we won’t go into that). We also believe strongly that it would not have been possible without the help and strength of the Lord. Trust me, we both know our weaknesses well and can feel when we are being carried well beyond our natural capacities. I know that prayer and reliance on the Savior made it possible for me to be a single parent (everyday except Sunday) and for Andrew (ever the extrovert) to fight distraction and memorize ridiculously minute details about everything even slightly related to medicine and science.

I would like to say that it is all over, but instead its 2 years down, 8 more to go!!!

Next month he will start rotations in the hospital. Congratulations to Andrew and all our other Med 2 friends!

SWW II

[Andrew]

That last post was interesting. It reminded me of a definition I learned a while ago...link or link

The Star Wars War

Please help settle a friendly dispute between Andrew and I.

If you would be okay if you never watched the original Star Wars trilogy ever again, please comment. Not that you don't appreciate the place it holds in history...but you just don't think that you would want to spend a Friday night watching it again. In fact, if you asked your husband/wife to rent a romantic movie and they came back with Star Wars...you might think they are a little crazy.

Just asking. Is there anyone out there...in the world...because Andrew thinks I'm the only one.

Thanks.

p.s. If you don't even care that it was ever made, that's a bonus. But not necessary.

Here's that romantic moment Andrew must have been referring to.

Happy Sumo

My sister sent Luke this Japanese yukata (summer kimono). Thanks Carol, it is so cute!

Luke is officially 9 months old. He is growing into quite a funny kid, but above all other qualities, he just radiates goodness. He brings so much joy into our lives. Some things about 9-month Luke:

• His first method of retaliation at bedtime is to throw his binky outside his crib. This is a major sacrifice...one he makes bravely yet with much trepidation as his binky is his constant companion all day long. But for some reason he deems it worth the sacrifice to entice his mother to come in the room and save him from his agony. I always give in (I'm a sucker). I know how much he loves it.

• Recently, Luke has gone on strike from baby food purees. Now, he prefers drinking green smoothies from Mom's cup and feeding himself cherrios. The only way I can get him to eat something else is if he can pick it up and put it in his own mouth. He's becoming quite sophisticated really. I keep trying to feed him purees and was even desperate enough to hand him the bowl of carrots and let him have his way with it. A picture is worth a thousand words:

I failed.

• Luke started crawling shortly after 8 months. Now he is a speed demon. His knees are becoming callused from crawling on the wood floor, but he is happy and excited for this little bit of freedom. He just crawls around and tries to pull himself up to stand next to anything that will hold his weight. This morning I discovered him scaling the side of his stroller. He was balancing himself on top of the wheel! We might have a climber on our hands. p.s. if anyone has advice about how to keep inedible crumbs off the floor 24/7, I'd appreciate it. He always finds the craziest stuff to put in his mouth.
  

• Luke is a lightweight. You may not be able to tell from the pictures, but here he is next to his friend Logan who is 5 months older than him. Now 5 months is a lot of time when it comes to babies, but still, he's a little tike. He is 9th percentile for weight and 75th for height. We are working on packing the pounds on this little guy. Our doctor told me that he thinks that Luke should be taller because both his parents are pretty tall...I just about hugged him for putting me in the "tall" category. Our doctor is a little loopy sometimes.

• Speaking of friends, Luke is beginning to learn about having friends. When Logan came to visit, Luke followed him around the whole time with a grin ear to ear. He was so happy to have another kid around. He just kept squealing with excitement. Logan played it cool though. He plays the "mentor" role quite well. Luke is pretty much infatuated with all kids. We love it when friends come to play.
  

• Luke is also beginning to learn that having friends requires some flexibility. Luke was all smiles until he and Logan disagreed on which way the page should be turned on the music table. It was a fight to the death (for Luke anyway, Logan still played it cool)...but in the end, Logan was stronger.
  

• Luke has some crazy curly hair (sorry, that's from Mom). The more humid is gets, the harder to control. But we like it.

• Finally, we appreciate Luke's good nature. He's pretty much always happy and always finds a way to smile at everyone (even the old ladies in the grocery store who want to play with him because they miss their own grandkids). He hardly ever cries when he hurts himself (he definitely gets that from Andrew...I'm a baby about pain). If he is having a rough day, it is usually quickly forgotten once Mom or Dad picks him up and tickles him a few times. We just love our little dude.

On my mission in Japan, my mission president would always compare my difficult experiences with not knowing the language and constantly making mistakes to being like a child. He would tell me that I should never forget what it feels like to be a child. I was often frustrated that I didn't understand what was going on and had to make SO many mistakes in order to learn. He told me that children are happy and since I was kind of like a child in that situation...I should learn to be happy too. I often think of that when I look at Luke. He still has to rely so much on his Mom and Dad. He falls over multiple times a day, it takes him 5 minutes to get a piece of banana in his mouth, he has to endure being put in his car seat without knowing if it will be a 5 minute trip or a 5 hour trip....but he's still as happy as can be. In fact, I think he's quite proud of how far he has come in the past 9 months. We could all probably learn a lot if we remembered what it is like to be a child.