Ryan Update

It's his turn to have the spotlight tonight.

Ryan is doing and accomplishing so much that I wonder how he ever wanted me as his partner in crime. He is always doing a million things while I can hardly handle the couple of things I'm doing here and there. I don't know what I would do without him!

-This month's rotation was the Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sienna Hospital. It's one of the closest hospitals to our house, so it made it nice to have a very short drive each day. He has enjoyed working with the sickest of the sick (and tiniest of the tiny) babies, and being able to learn from great doctors there. It did bring back memories of our 13-day experience in the NICU with Grace, but it also gave him the perspective to be supportive and understanding of the families and parents who are there with their babies now. He also ran into a few of the nurses who worked with Grace when she was sick, and it was a really sweet experience for him to show these nurses her current pictures and thank them again for their great work.

Those were the few good things about the month... but in all honesty, it was another month that was really hard on us as a family and as a couple. Ryan's schedule was NOT good and it was pretty tough on us. He worked 12 days straight (twice) so we missed 2 whole weekends with him. Then he would come home from 12-hour shifts feeling THAT much more behind in studying which made him rush back out the door to study at school. That's just ... hard. On all of us.

-The good news is that next month's rotation is family practice only a couple miles away, and he will most likely have regular clinic hours: 8-5. We're both so happy about that news! Hopefully we can sort of figure out our "norm" again and life will be smoother. It's strange how each month shifts our lives so much depending on the schedule. I know residency won't bring much relief, but I CANNOT WAIT for the day when I won't have to hear those words "I need to study". Oh how I loathe those words.

-Speaking of that ... today Ryan turned in his financial aid paperwork for the VERY LAST TIME!! What a good feeling. My dad put our loan debt situation so perfectly: we "bought a very nice house but are still homeless". haha. Yes. Yes, we did.

-Ryan is such a good student, and even though I dislike his intense study habits that take him away from us, it's really paying off. He has been getting all Honors on each rotation ever since he started. His preceptors have given him such wonderful feedback and a few of them are writing Letters of Recommendation to help him get into residency programs.

-He is absolutely sure that he wants to do Pediatrics, but isn't sure right now whether he'll do general peds or pediatric oncology. Time (and more rotations in those areas) will tell.

-He's planning to apply to at least 20-25 residency programs, and hopefully get at least 10 interviews (which happen this winter). These programs range all over the country, but only 5ish are in the western US. Almost all of them are east of Colorado. He is trying every avenue he can use to get his foot in the door at the University of Utah Pediatric program... but they're so darn close-minded about D.O.'s. We're hoping and praying that there will be a miracle and he will be the first D.O. accepted there ... But like I said it would take a miracle. I'm proud of him for still trying and contacting anyone he can who might help in some way with that goal!

-We decided that doing away-rotations (known as "audition rotations") is unnecessary for us since pediatrics isn't a very competitive field. If he does any away-rotation at all, it would be a pediatric rotation in Salt Lake somewhere during the month of September.

DO12 Women

I feel so incredibly blessed to have the support system I have here during this medical school experience. Living away from family is tough no matter how close or far it is... but add to that the stresses and loneliness of practically being a single mom most of the time, the weight of the incredible debt we are building up, and the pressure our husbands are constantly under and bring home with them, and it can make for a very unhappy wife and mommy some days. Without the help and support I get from my girlfriends I honestly couldn't do this. I know I've sung their praises many times over, but they deserve it! We all go on the ups and downs of this roller coaster at different times, and it seems like whenever I'm having a breakdown or need to complain/vent, they're here for me and vice versa. I'm grateful for all our memories together over the last 3 years. We've enjoyed countless play dates, play groups, lunches together, pajama parties, babysitting exchanges, park days, picnics, walks, and the list goes on and on.

A few nights ago we met at Cheesecake Factory as a going away party for Marci. I had a super yummy piece of tuxedo chocolate cheesecake, incase anyone was wondering. Mmmm, so good. We had a great time with just us girls while all the kids were home in bed. Thank you, husbands. :)

Me, Melynda, and Emily

Casie, Marci, Meghan

Melynda, Emily, Erica

Rachele, Robyn, Alisha, Casie

Book club with only half of us there. (me, Erica, Casie, Rachele, Alisha, Melanie, Marci)
Play group and breakfast at Marci's on tuesday mornings before she left.

I'm grateful for you, DO12 girls. :) I still can't believe how perfect it was that Heavenly Father brought us all together at the same time, same class, and most of us in the same ward. It's something I thank Him for over and over. Love you girls!

Green Valley Stake Fun Run

Our stake held a 5K fun run and pancake breakfast on saturday morning. Ryan and I decided we wanted to give it a try, even though neither of us have been working out lately... and are very out of shape (me, more-so than Ryan). I ran a bunch of 5K's in high school during my cross-country days, but it's been yeeeeears. In fact this was the first one I've run since high school and Ryan's first one ever (as far as he can remember). We have a hand-me-down jogging stroller (thank you, Jessi and Nick!) and thought Grace would enjoy the view. We didn't plan on how super cold and windy it was going to be! When I say "cold", I mean 45-50 degrees, but it was very cold to us. We finished the race, only stopping a couple times to tie a shoe and to fix Grace's blankets, and even had some extra energy for a good sprint to the finish. It felt great to have accomplished that race and it was especially fun to do it as a family. :) Our ward ended up having the most participants out of the whole stake! About 80 people from our ward alone. Good work, Castle Ridge Ward!

By the way, running with a jogging stroller is NOT EASY. I have a new respect for all those moms out there who run with theirs all the time to train for races or just to get in shape. Holy cow, I don't know how they do it.

Rachele Larsen and Robyn Larson also ran it and did great (better than us)! Oh and I must mention that Rachele is in the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy and still running. :) Pretty impressive.

Poor thing, trying to stay warm.

Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

Recently I made my mom's homemade cinnamon rolls (by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!) and took pictures as I went so that I could post it on the recipe blog I'm a part of. I wanted to post it here too, and to keep it in my records. It's the only place I have this recipe completely written down now! :) Anyway, give it a try! If I can do it, you can do it.

The first part of the recipe is the same as the wheat bread I make every week.

2 1/2 cups of warm water

1 T yeast (heaping)

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup oil

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup gluten flour (optional)

7-8 cups of wheat flour

-Pour the warm water and yeast into your mixer.

-Measure the oil FIRST, and then the honey in the same measuring cup (the honey slides out easier).

-Add the salt and gluten flour and mix for just a couple of seconds on low speed.

-Add about 6 cups of flour all at once and start your mixer on the low speed while it incorporates everything, and then you can put it on a slightly faster speed (no higher than 4, if it's like mine). The trick with this bread is not to dump all of the flour in right at the beginning because each time you mix a new batch it ends up taking a slightly different amount. Add flour about 1/4 cup at a time after the original 6 cups until the dough starts pulling away from the sides and the bottom.

-Once you have the right amount of flour, let it knead/mix on speeds 3 or 4 for 5 minutes.

-With a little oil on your hands and some on your mat (or countertop), roll out the dough into a rectangle.

-Spread softened butter over the entire rectangle with a butter knife. Don't be afraid of it - be somewhat generous.

-Then sprinkle brown sugar (again, BE GENEROUS!) and cinnamon so it covers all of it except for the very edge of the dough closest to you.
-Roll it up started with the furthest edge and roll towards you. Don't force it - it should just come easily.

-Get your dental floss, slide it under the dough, and pull it through the middle so you have two halves. It's easiest to start with a half at first. Cut it with the floss so each piece is about 1 to 1.5 inches thick.
-Place them on a lined baking sheet. I only sprayed mine, and I ended up with a lot of baked on sugar. Not easy to clean off!
-Let the rolls rise under a dish cloth for about 30 mins. Then ake at 350 for 25 mins.
-Allow to cool a bit and then frost or glaze (if you're serving right away you can just frost it right then and serve). I used Paula Dean's glaze recipe found here and it turned out great!

ENJOY!

16 Months Old

Grace's new words:

-hot (pronounced "ought")

-ham ("aaammmm")

-pajamas ("pidah pidah pidah")

-car ("caw")

-truck ("truh")

-hi (hiyeee)

-snack ("nah")

-toes ("doe")

-tummy ("dum")

-Elmo ("bubbo", she calls him that because she first learned who Elmo was from her book called "Bubbles Bubbles")

-I love you ("iiiiyee uuu")

-Mom (no more "mama", it's just "Mommm")

-Dad (same thing - just "Dad" now)

-school ... where daddy is all day ("coo")

Things Grace loves:

-her binkie (which we rarely let her have outside of her bed)

-her "lovey" the lamb

-books

-the LittlePeople castle set and farm set

-favorite snack foods are gold fish, fruit snacks, and craisins

-going outside

-"pretties" (necklaces, clips for her hair, etc)

-looking at pictures of herself or family members

-sitting on mom's lap while we watch a movie or a show

-take baths

-walking around outside (she holds my hand the whole time - I know that won't last but I love it!)

-playing with her little friends

Grace's newest skill is nodding "yes" to me when I ask her something. It's soooo helpful! If I ask her a yes or no question she'll just nod yes, or not do anything (or whine) if it's no. Whether I've asked "Are you cute?", "Are you happy?", "Do you want to lay down in your bed?", or to help me figure out when to feed her for lunch like "Would you like a PB sandwich?", it makes life a whole lot easier when she can communicate. It just reiterates to me the fact that she understands everything that's going on around her and everything I say. Even if she has pulled something off our pantry shelf, I can ask her nicely to put it back, and she will! It's amazing to me.

Out little smarty-pants is also a creature of habit and routine, just like her parents. For example when we start bath time, she'll play for a little bit and then point to the soap bottle when she's ready for me to wash her. Pulling the drain plug comes next, so she'll point at that, then the towel waiting. After I get her out and dry her off, she'll rub her hands together (meaning lotion) since that's what comes next! Then she says "bi-boh" for diaper, as if to remind me not to forget that the diaper comes next. I don't blame her though.

Anytime the Nevada Energy commercials come on with this white, cartoon robot man, Grace becomes totally glued to the screen. For whatever reason, she just loves that commercial! I can't even get her attention until the commercial ends.

This picture (below) is funny for two reasons. 1) We've had her car seat inside this month since Ryan takes the car everyday. That way if I need a ride from a friend, I have it ready. It's Grace's new favorite place to sit that's all her own. She climbs in and out, stands up, sits down, reads books in it, etc.

2) The TV was totally off and she was playing around with the remotes. Somehow she was able to turn the TV on, turn the blu-ray player on, find the radio station option, and started playing Rascal Flatts music! Hilarious. You should've seen the look of triumph on her face, especially when she saw me laughing about it.

She walks around the house with her fake cell phones (or our TV remote) saying "Hiiiyeeee!"

Sprouting, more movie thoughts, and a luau!

Last week our relief society activity was all about sprouting and desert gardening. I volunteered to experiment with a jar of alfalfa and radish seeds over the space of 5 days and get them to sprout inside the jar. All it takes is soaking them (1-2 tablespoons of seeds) overnight in some water, then rinsing and draining them with a clean nylon over the mouth of the jar twice a day for 4 or 5 days. Within one day the seeds already had little chutes. Each day after that they were longer, more green and white, and the jar was getting more and more full. It was exciting to see how quickly they sprouted and how EASY it was to do! I even forgot to rinse and drain them some of the evenings and they were still doing great. Totally fool-proof. I've been eating my sprouts on sandwiches the last several days and they sure are yummy!

Also during the RS activity, there was a guest speaker there who grows ALL her own fruits, veggies, and herbs in her garden. She and her large family live in North Las Vegas and it's incredible what she has done with her yard and the amount of food she can grow and produce on her own. I am so impressed with her ... but I don't think I could ever have the patience and drive to do even a fraction of what she does. However, she DID inspire me to try what I've wanted to do ever since moving here ... grow tomatoes! We LOVE tomatoes around here, and eat probably one a day. I've been too afraid to try growing them myself here because a) it's blasted hot most the time and I didn't think it was possible, and b) we live in an apartment with no sun hitting our back patio where a plant could be protected. She convinced me it was very doable and worth a shot! So here goes! I only have a few hours of sunlight that touches my apartment each day at all and it's by our front door. So hopefully no dogs or kids attack my poor little tomatoes while they are out there. I'll let ya know if anything grows!

Ryan and I watched a new movie last weekend (as you can probably tell, we like watching movies together at night when he's home on the weekends). We watched Life As We Know It. It was so good and we really loved it, but it totally made us BOTH cry. It's not common at all for Ryan to get teary during a movie, so when it happened to us both during that movie we were totally laughing at how silly we were, both sniffling on the couch together. The idea of a baby girl losing her parents is just tough to think about. :( Speaking of... how many of you young parents have written wills so your kids have somewhere to go if the worst should happen?? It sure has made us think...

Friday night was our annual ward luau! This picture was from last year's luau - look how tiny Grace was! She was wearing the hawaiian dress we brought back from Hawaii while anticipating her arrival. :)

This year it was held outside in the parking lot of our ward building. We ate hawaiian haystacks, salad, and potluck desserts. I'm so grateful that we have a wonderful Polynesian family in our ward who is part of this dancing/performing group! They're so talented, so fun to watch, and it reminds me of the good ol' days of East High where I was surrounded by these kinds of performances all throughout those years and saw the Haka dance at almost every football game. Even Grace enjoyed each dance and joined in with arm and hand actions at one point! Any kind of music gets that girl movin'. :)

Need a new movie to watch?

I know I've preached about how wonderful Netflix is and have given a few recommendations. I have 2 more to give but they're so different than the last few (the BBC ones). I ran into both of these on the instant list totally by accident because they looked clean and they were related to others I had watched from Netflix.

OUTLAW TRAIL and MY GIRLFRIEND'S BOYFRIEND

Both of these ended up being "local" (as in filmed in Utah) and use actors from other LDS or "local" films like that. I admit that at times they seem somewhat low-budget, or make you smile because of the silly acting, but Ryan and I both really enjoyed these. They were entertaining! And My Girlfriend's Boyfriend not only made me more homesick for all of the Salt Lake locations (which we really fun for us to point out!), but it was a really clever story!

Anyway don't anyone get mad at me if you watch them and think "This is dumb". We just enjoyed feeling a little of that Utah culture, even though neither of them were "Mormon films".

Happy movie-watching!