Augusta Georgia and Update on the Kids
Family Practice Rotation in Augusta, Georgia: January 2-26
The third part of our 7 week excursion was for Chris' Family Practice Rotation in Augusta, Georgia. We stayed in the Guest House on Base. It was essentially a hotel room with a little kitchenette... definitely a step below our luxurious Orlando condo... but we survived and actually had a lot of fun. We played lots of games… mostly RISK! We played almost every other night. I won a few good games at the beginning and then Chris got back onto a winning streak and it infuriated me! We went shopping a lot, especially me. If I can just find a good mall with a BabyGap and Ann Taylor then I’m ok. We also had a lot of fun looking at houses just for fun. For the first time we really started talking and getting excited about buying our first house. (Hopefully in Tacoma, Washington) We also did lots of sightseeing. Chris wanted desperately to see the Golf Course where they play THE MASTERS. Amazingly it is right in the middle of the slums of Augusta. We were quite surprised. And, it is completely closed in by huge trees and large fences. We tried to drive in the small front gate and were immediately stopped by the guards and told to turn right around. Chris was so sad. We also walked the RiverWalk along the Savannah River, went out to Olive Garden, went to Applebees, saw Finding Forrester, watched LOTS of movies on TV, rented movies like the Patriot and watched lots of sports on TV. (Well, Chris did… he enjoyed having SportsCenter!) We also had a fun time Bowling on base a couple times. Chris got a high of 178 but I couldn’t beat 118.
We also took Ryan and Katie on a “Horsie Ride”. Ryan loved the horse but was very quiet. He kept whispering “Go Horse.” He loved leading the horse even more than riding it. It just followed him around. It was cute.
Letter from Lisa - January 24, 2001
I am here at the Eisenhower Hospital at Fort Gordon in Augusta Georgia. I’m checking my email from a computer in Chris’ “student room” while he is working in the Family Practice Clinic this afternoon. It is fun to come see him at the hospital. He looks so official with his short white coat with stethoscope around his neck and numerous “official” badges attached to his pocket. I watched as he came to get his next patient. He was so cute. He has enjoyed this rotation and often comes home saying, “Boy, I could do this.” He has been able to do some “fun” things like putting IVs in, cutting out moles, taking out stitches, pap smears, colon scope things, removing someone’s toenail and tons of baby and pregnancy exams. (Doesn’t sound fun to me but definitely fun for him.)
I went shopping again today and got a cute denim dress for Katie at the GAP on sale. Thank goodness I love shopping so much. It’s really the only thing I can do around here. Last week I bought myself some new black dress pants from Ann Taylor. Katie is so cute in the stroller these days. She just sits up in the back seat and loves to watch everything. She’s a happy shopper. When Ryan falls asleep, I lean his chair back and Katie happily grabs at her hair. Sometimes he gets frustrated but I don’t feel sorry for him considering he tackles her, lays on her, rolls over her and makes her cry quite often. She is just getting even.
Ryan has enjoyed watching Sesame street every day here in Georgia. (We don’t have cable at home). He loves Elmo’s World. He’s getting pretty good at counting and can sing the alphabet song so well. This is how he sings it … “A B C D E F G H I KATIE L M N O P Q R S T MOVIE W X RYAN Z”. It makes Chris and I laugh when we hear him singing.
Katie has grown up a lot in the past month. She is talking a lot more. She squeals a lot and says “Ba ba ba ba”. It’s cute. She is also sitting up really well and rolling over lots.
Chris and I rented Where the Heart Is on Monday and enjoyed it. Last night Chris was on call and both the kids were asleep by 9:50pm. Pretty amazing since they have just been going to bed when we do at 11:00pm. I sat on the bed and read a book. It was so quiet. I just couldn’t believe it. I’m getting SO ready to go back to Maryland. We’ll head back on Friday around noon.
On Saturday, we have a “moving away” party for some of our close friends who are moving to St. Louis. We will miss them. As my friend Geneva said, “This is the beginning of the end.” Our best friends consist of five families. The Currans are moving next week. The Whites, 4th year medical students, will move to San Antonio in May, the Breinholts are moving to Utah in the summer, and then it’s just the Chuggs and us left until next May.
Lisa, Chris, Ryan and Katie
Katie at 6 Months
Katie started sitting up AND rolled over for the first time right on her 6 month birthday. It was a big day. She started having cereal too but she doesn’t like it very much. Katie’s nickname is precious. She is absolutely the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She loves to go bouncy in her jolly jumper. She stays in there for a long time happy as can be. When you look at her and say, “Hi Precious, are you the biggest bouncer?” she grins and goes crazy, wildly jumping up and down. She just loves the attention. I’m sure she’ll love the exersaucer when we get home. Katie just got some new overalls, 2 shirts, and white little shoes. SO CUTE. I just love shopping for her!
Ryan at 2 1/2
Ryan loves to ‘draw a picture’. He meticulously draws lines forming a pattern going around and around. It’s very cute. Today he stopped and looked up at me and said, “Mommy its bootiful!” Ryan and I walked to the store tonight in the pouring rain. It was fun. He held my hand the whole time and it made me reflect on how great it was to be a mom. He is getting so big. He surprises me everyday. He likes to tell me everything. “Mommy, Katie fall down” (which he thinks is hilariously funny) or “Mommy its raining” or “Mommy, Katie is sad.” Or even though you are watching the movie with him, he tells you what’s happening and introduces each new character. “Mommy, it’s Zurg.” “Mommy, it’s the ‘bad wady’. (bad lady = Cruela DeVil) His favorite movies right now are TOY STORY 2 and THE TIGGER MOVIE – which he has to watch everyday. The thing that bugs him the most is when you go ‘the wrong way.’ He is a backseat driver and is always saying “No, this way!” while pointing out the back window.
Chris
I sure love my husband. He is the greatest father, always holding Katie and playing with Ryan. He sure loves his kids. it’s so fun to share the joy of parenthood with him. No one else appreciates how cute they are when they are singing to themselves or lying there asleep. It is wonderful to have a companion who thinks the same as I do. I love him. I think I need to work on not being such a nag. I think I’m too controlling at times.
Oh, one last thought. I’m so grateful for my mom. I LOVE talking to her. Same with my sister and brothers. They are so great. OH, I love my house, and I sure miss it!
We’re Finally Home
Yesterday was a very productive day. I had fun getting the house back in order and then doing a little scrapbooking too. I made a very elaborate dinner with many side dishes just to celebrate having my kitchen back. For Family Home Evening we played a matching game and identified Temple, Family, Prayer and Jesus. Ryan loved it. Then just for fun we made him close his eyes while we hid cute little laminated bees all around the living room and he had to find them. He wanted to play again and again and again.
Ryan’s Playgroup
Today I had 'playgroup' at my house. Ryan was so excited to have all his friends over to play. They did lots of 'Ring around the Rosie', bouncing, screaming, running, beading bead bracelets, another art project and eating a snack. I video taped them doing everything and then let them watch it at the end. They got such a kick out of it.
Hanna Chugg
Geneva is coming over today so I can see baby Hanna for the first time. They were in Utah for the weekend. I'm very excited. We're having them over for dinner tomorrow too so the husbands can get together. They are only here for 10 more days and then they leave for their Family Practice Rotation in California. Too bad we couldn't have worked it out to be gone at the same time!
PIE Night for Young Womens
YW's is tonight. It's PIE night. A Personal Progress/Interview/Evaluation night where we help them set some new goals, and get them accomplished. And then eat PIE. Chris is having his boys over here to make pizza.