Family Updates, Lisa's Dream List and Chris Busy with School and Basketball
Chris’ Busy Day
Chris is having a crazy day today. He's insane. He got up at 3:45 am so he could pick some of his 16 year old buddies up at 4:15 and go and wake up Scott Lovejoy, who turned 16 today. They were going to jump on his bed, and cover him up with our huge jean blanket and then kidnap him for breakfast at Denny's. Chris had to leave at 5:20 though to get to the hospital on time for his rounds at 6:00 before clinic started. Crazy. Then he'll try to get off work in time to head straight to the Stake Center to be there by 6:45pm to review and teach his class. Our Stake Youth Conference is this weekend and Chris is teaching a class on 'door knocking' and overcoming objections etc. He's got Doug and Brian to help him out with a skit and some role plays. He's been working on it all week so I'm sure it'll be great.
Nikole
We got a phone call from Chris' sister Nikole last night. It was fun to talk to her. She is still having a very hard time getting pregnant and has asked us to fast for her this weekend. It's a great idea and I'm glad they are doing that. I hope that their testimonies and faith will be strengthened no matter what the outcome is.
St. George Plans
It looks like we are going to go to St. George for a little vacation. The Johnsons usually go over Memorial Day Weekend but can't this year and so they are going the first weekend of our two week summer break. We have free airline tickets that need to be used by August (from flying out to Seattle last August) and so we'll go for four days and then fly back here to go on our Boston - Palmyria trip. I know how much it means to Chris that we go. It's like Shuswap Lake is to me. It's his favorite place in the whole world and I wouldn't be surprised if we go EVERY year even if his family stopped going. Usually we spend about $180 on Chris' golf that weekend. But after Memorial Day weekend it's half price for the summer. I guess cuz it's so hot. That's good news!
Katie’s Eating
I tried some peaches with Katie the other day. She likes them a ton more than cereal and is slowly learning how to open her mouth for it. She'd rather just stick out her tongue and lap it like a dog. Her tongue goes crazy trying to taste it to it's fullest extent. It's really funny. I don't blame her... it's much better than cereal or medicine. Now we have to work backwards and try to trick her into eating the cereal and the vegetables.
Chris’ OB/GYN Rotation
Email Chris wrote describing his current rotation:
“I am currently rotating in OB/GYN at the Washington Hospital Center in downtown D.C. We have an interesting patient population. The average patient is about 22-years-old, is on their fourth pregnancy, is African-American, weighs about 270 pounds (no joke), and has no significant other. It is very sad. I have taken care of one 27 year old who has had nine pregnancies and was dragging four kids with her to the appointment. We run an adolescent OB clinic on Mondays filled with thirteen and fourteen year olds. We also run a high risk clinic on Thursday mornings which is filled with AIDS patients. The inner city hospital experience is quite different from my usual military patient population.
I just finished my night float schedule which means I worked from 12:00 midnight until 12:30 pm the next afternoon. I was covering the Labor and Delivery ward of the hospital during this time with a third year resident. The first night was quite eventful with two deliveries and two c-sections in the early morning hours. During the deliveries, I gowned and gloved and delivered the babies with the resident's hands basically right on top of mine to guide me. It was great. A little while later, I was monitoring another patient who was close to delivery and left the room for just a few minutes. When I returned, the nurse was just delivering the head without any gloves on. Apparently the baby surprised everyone. I threw a gown and gloves on and finished the delivery but I was so bummed because I thought that was my opportunity to do the whole thing by myself without a doctor supervising me. The lesson I learned was to never leave the room when a multiparous (has had prior vaginal deliveries) woman is close to delivery. This lesson was put to good use about three hours later. It was actually past 12:00 noon but I decided to stay because another baby was so close to delivery. They were trying to contact the doctor, but no one was responding so I got all ready and stepped in to perform my very own delivery. During the process, the nurse was frantically calling the front desk telling them to "get a doctor down here now, there is a medical student delivering this baby." Well the doctor didn't make it until I had just delivered the shoulders. Dr. Pachtman participated by handing me the clamps for the umbilical cord after which I asked the father to cut the cord and handed the baby off to the nurse for evaluation. I finished delivering the placenta, cleaned her up, and departed the room feeling quite triumphant. Lisa later asked me what the parents were thinking but I don't think they even realized whose hands they were in. They had been very appreciative as I gave them my congratulations while leaving the room. This experience gave me a ton of confidence as I continued throughout the week and delivered 8 more babies, although all the rest were under close supervision. So my grand totals for the week were 12 deliveries, 7 C-sections, 1 cerclage placement, 3 rupture of membrane procedures, and fifty-one points.
The fifty-one points, however, were from my two basketball games I also played in this week. They were awesome games. We beat both teams pretty good. I also coached the young men basketball team two nights this week in the regional tournament. We won the first game easily, and lost the second in a close contest that was decided in the final seconds. We had an open look at a three pointer that hit the front of the rim as time expired. But the guys had a great time and so did their coach.
Unfortunately, the only night I wasn't involved in basketball was the night Lisa had a stake training meeting for Young women. So our time together was limited. I would start sleeping at 2:00pm for an average of 3 1/2 hours before either playing basketball or taking care of the kids. It was an exhausting week. It felt so good to sleep all night on Friday night.
Life is good out here in Maryland. We are keeping quite busy but enjoying it all. I am still the 1st counselor and Lisa the 2nd counselor in the youth programs. My group of teachers are a difficult bunch. A lot of kids without father figures in the home who are very limited on gospel knowledge and discipline and maturity. I am feeling quite challenged by them. Last week, the last of my older group moved into the priests quorum. This older group have been under my leadership for the last three years so I will miss working with them, but I have much I can learn from this new group. Much of the YM presidency was reorganized about two weeks ago and I was actually anticipating a release, but I guess there is some more work for me to do in this calling.
The kids are doing great. It is so fun to watch them grow up. Ryan was missing me this week. I decided to take him to help me coach on Friday night. When I told him to go upstairs and get his shoes so that we could go to the basketball game, he started running up the stairs saying, "I will be right back, Daddy." He was so excited to spend the night with Daddy. Everyone comments on how big Katie is getting. I can't believe she is over 8 months. She can stand up if she has something to hold on to like her crib, the couch or the church bench. She thinks she is so big. Our VCR broke this week and our computer seems to be breaking as I type. The disney movies have been replaced this week with our camcorder videos from the past few years. Ryan loves to watch himself. Since watching some footage of his first birthday party, he constantly walks around the house singing happy birthday to himself. He is also singing a new song that I taught him on the way to the basketball game Friday night. It is the "basketball John Stockton" song and it cracks him up.”
Chris, Lisa, Ryan and Katie
Ryan
Ryan is saying funny stuff now. I've never met a kid so happy to be alive. He always comes to me and says “Mommy, Ryan’s AWAKE. It’s wonderful!” I don’t know where he learned how to say some of the things he says. It’s amazing. Ryan wanted to get in the tub after me this morning so when he realized that the last bit of my water was going down the drain he said, "oh no, Mommy, my water fell out."
A week ago I put Ryan into his room for a nap. He started playing with his toys and I was in a hurry for something so didn't want to wait around for him to get in bed. I said, "Ok, Ryan, you play with your toys for a little while and then you get in bed and go to sleep." I heard him playing and singing loudly for about an hour. Then it was quiet. When I checked on him he was sound asleep in his bed under the covers and all his toys were put away. He did the same thing every day last week. He plays for about an hour or more and then sleeps for two or more hours so really he's in his room for the whole afternoon. I hope it lasts.
Washington DC Temple Visitors Center
We went to the Washington DC temple visitors center for FHE. In previous FHE's we having been teaching Ryan about the temple. A few days ago when I showed him some of our Disneyland pictures he looked at the Cinderella's castle and said, "Mommy it's the temple!" I just agreed with him since I don't want him to think the Washington DC temple is Disneyland. He was excited to see it though. It is pretty spectacular when it's all lit up at nighttime. Ryan loved it. Then we went in and listened to the Christus. Ryan kept saying "Daddy, it's Jesus... Mommy, it's Jesus... Katie, it's Jesus". We told him that Jesus loves Ryan so for the rest of the night as we saw pictures of Christ he said, "Yes, and Jesus loves Ryan." Oh, it is so fun to be parents. They have renovated the DC visitors center and added many new parts. It's really nice. They have a living room where you can sit and watch church commercials. We sat and watched them for a half an hour. Chris and I are both suckers for those things. We can't get through one of them without looking at each other and then choking up. Then we went to the section where you watch video clips of Children explaining gospel principles. It is So cute and so funny. Then we decided to stay and watch the TESTAMENTs. Boy, that movie is so good. The last five minutes has me sobbing. Ryan enjoyed it. Every time Jesus came on the screen he quickly pointed him out so we would be sure to know. What would we do without him. It was a fun night.
Ryan’s Playgroup
Ryan is enjoying his playgroup. He especially likes it when his friends come to his house so he can show them all his toys. This week it was at our house and they had a great time playing playdoh, making a train our of our kitchen chairs and throwing balls up the stairs and giggling. It entertains Katie as well. Next week we are going to take the Metro downtown to a Dentist’s office. The kids will get to ride up and down in the dentist chair, have the dentist count their teeth, get a free toothbrush and pick a treasure from the treasure box. It will be a fun outing. I'm so excited for Spring so we can do more outdoor outings.
Ryan loves to talk on his pretend cell phone. He makes it ring and then looks surprised. We say “Who is it?” and he tells us who it is. “It’s Grandpa” or “It’s Carter” or “It’s Nikole”. Then he says, “Hi Nikole, see you tomorrow” and then hangs up and gets ready for the next phone call. He pretty much talked to everybody yesterday. It was very cute.
Katie at 8 1/2 Months
Katie is getting so big too I can't believe she's 8 1/2 months old. Her new trick is to bonk heads with you. If you lean in to her she’ll make her head bonk yours and then giggle when you say “Bonk!” She loves it. She also loves her jolly jumper. She is a BIG jumper! Two of her top teeth finally broke through today and one of her bottom ones. That will be her fifth little tooth. Her hair is getting long. She needs to have her hair clipped back so her hair doesn’t fall in her face. She is getting anxious to crawl. She tries to get into position, but then moves her hands forward and falls onto her tummy. She’s doing lots of nose dives now. She also loves peek-a-boo. When I hold my hands in front of my face she reaches up and grabs them and pulls them away so I'll see her and say peek-a-boo. It's cute.
MY DREAM LIST
Chris and I have been talking lately about some of the things that we might buy this next year. I think we both get a little carried away sometimes. But I thought I’d document my dream list so that in the future I can see what I had always wanted. Maybe in the future I can come back and put the date next to the item I get it!
Cell Phone May 2001
DVD Player Christmas 2001
Big TV June 2002
Laptop April 11, 2001
Brand new Computer December 2003
New living room Furniture June 2002
Bunk beds for the kids September 2002
Sewing Machine Christmas 2001
Digital Camera September 2003
Video hookups for Computer December 2003
Grocery Delivery Service
Ryan and the Red Jello Incident
I think we've just reached the next level of 'Terrible Two's. I made cherry jello with mandarine oranges Sunday morning. Ryan saw me making it and was so excited that he ran and got in his chair. I said, "Ryan, we're going to have the jello for dinner after church." Then I went upstairs. A while later I could hear Ryan coming up the stairs but he didn't enter the room. I peeked out in the hall and saw my dear son stained red from head to toe. His hands were bright red, his face and lips were bright red, his shirt was a mess and it had even dribbled down onto his legs and bare toes. I just stared at him and finally called Chris to come help me. I immediately put him in the tub and SCRUBBED and SCRUBBED although he was still very pink for church that day. I had sent Chris downstairs to 'check out the damage' but we didn't clean it up until after we could show Ryan what he did. There was jello all over the kitchen floor, drops all over the living room floor and full handprints on the couch. He had been watching a 'home movie' and had apparently got hungry and wanted a snack. He had eaten every mandarine orange out of the whole jello. We tried very hard not to laugh but couldn't help it. We tried to teach him that it was wrong and for the next half hour as we cleaned up the mess he kept saying, "Jello on the couch. Very bad. I'm sorry Mommy. I'm sorry Daddy. I be a good boy." It was way too cute and we just weren't in the mood to forgive him yet. Chris said, "It doesn't seem like he learned the lesson. Maybe we should put him in Time Out." Ryan immediately went and sat on the stairs and said, "I'n in Time out." After a couple minutes of self-imposed time out we told him to go play with Katie. It is hard to stay mad when he is so cute.
Ryan at Church
On the other hand, on the way to church Ryan sang 'I am a Child of God' to us all by himself. We got choked up. It's really something to hear your son say "Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way." Ryan gets so excited for church... especially nursery. As soon as the closing song starts he says, "song and prayer and nursery!" He finds his little friends and they hold hands and walk to nursery together. We have church from 1:00 to 4:00 so he often falls asleep on the way home.
Katie at Church
Katie is the center of attention at church. She receives more compliments than anyone I know... and she loves it! They are always saying, “She is so beautiful. You should put her in commercials.”
Plans for Fourth Year
Well we have big 4th year plans. Chris has 13 more weeks to finish off his 3rd year of medical school. Then he'll be in his fourth and last year before he graduates. It seems like time is just flying by and we are sure the last year is going to be the fastest! 4th year is made up of 10 four-week rotations. He has several that are required but most of them are electives. Unlike 3rd year, his 4th year rotations are not paid for but it's important for him to interview and 'be seen' at the hospitals he is applying to for residency. We won't be able to afford going with him AND keeping our place here. For this reason we have decided to move out of our house and be with him during his rotations. We will be able to be together more and visit LOTS of family. We will spend rotations in San Antonio, Utah, Tacoma WA and maybe even California. Rumor has it that 4th year is MUCH easier than 3rd year. We're looking forward to that!
Chris doing General Surgery
Chris started his surgery rotation yesterday. Today and tomorrow they are practicing surgeries at school to prepare for the rotation. He is doing surgeries on PIGS. Today he is removing the gall bladder or something. Poor pigs. Chris is very excited! He will be working at the Navy Hospital in Bethesda (where I delivered Katie) which is only 20 minutes away. So at least the commute won’t be as bad as from Downtown Washington DC. Apparently he will be working 12-14 hour days. The booklet says they will be released between 7:00 and 8:00 pm “SO THAT THEY CAN GO HOME AND READ THE REQUIRED READINGS.” Obviously surgeons have no life. Chris is a bit frustrated about the team he is assigned to. Like most rotations they are divided into color groups consisting of a Staff Physician, residents, an intern and medical students. He is in the Gold group and he’s afraid it’s going to be the worst one. For some reason, these doctors want to ROUND on patients earlier and do more. He had a colon surgery this morning and stayed up late last night to try and study what they would be doing so he’d understand it better this morning. His call schedule doesn’t look too bad though. Only once a week! (We were expecting every 3 or 4 nights). And he gets to schedule it when he wants to so he’s going to try to not have call when Mom or Scott and Dan are here.
Chris’ Basketball Game
Chris had a school basketball game last night. The kids and I drove down there to watch. We were playing a 'big black team' (like always) but their 'star player' had quite the attitude... and of course was guarding Chris most of the game. The guy elbowed Chris in the face really hard and chipped his tooth!!! It's not huge but still noticeable. (This is the same guy who last season threw a punch at Chris.) Anyway... the game was SO close the whole time but the other team won in the last few seconds. Our guys play a really fast game... that's how they play the best. But the other team knows this and slowed it down so that it was ridiculous. I was watching with Missy and Geneva and when the game finished we just looked at each other and said, "It's going to be a long ride home." Our boys were QUITE upset to say the least. We had to go get slurpees to ‘cool off’!
Library Toddler Class
Ryan, Katie and I went to our Library Toddler Class yesterday. Ryan always has fun singing the songs and following along. Katie is also quite entertained.
Church Regional Basketball Tournament
Well, last night we enjoyed two basketball games. Chris' school game started at 6:00. I met him there since it's about a minute from the hospital and he had just barely finished a breast surgery for breast cancer. Anyway they were ahead the whole game and won by ten points or so. Chris did very well. That was the last game of the regular season games and now they'll start tournament games. After that game we caravaned over to the stake center in Silver Spring for their 'final four' game at 8:00. 11 or 12 guys from the ward showed up. Thats a lot. In their school team there are 5 or 6 at most. They have carefully handpicked the 5 best people and they stay on the court the entire time. They have several plays that they have perfected to a science. Church ball is somewhat different, although there are TONS of talented players in our ward so we are lucky. The only one on the ward team NOT to rotate out is Chris. He stays on the court the entire time. He made about 60% of the baskets last night and that is very typical. It is a lot of fun to watch. Although last night there were so many kids running around that it's really hard to focus on the game. It's very social though. I'm glad the other girls come to watch because we have a great time. Jared and Doug are on the school team and the ward team with him so Geneva and Missy are at every single game too... usually twice a week... and then Ryan gets to play with Carter and Wesley. It's amazing how it works like that! We are so blessed to have such great friends here. We are sad to think that we won't have this next year. It'll be great to be with family but hard to be away from our friends. I'm sure it'll be hard on Ryan too. Who will he play with?
Ryan taking Naps
Ryan and I made cookies today and played STRATEGO together. He likes to put the pieces on the board in rows of red, blue, red blue etc. He played in his room again until he decided he was tired enough to get into bed. He had all his little green army guys in bed with him when I went in to wake him up.
Visit to Costco
Chris came home at 5:00 today and we ate dinner together. Then he went and took a nap for an hour and then we went to COSTCO. We finally bought a new VCR for $59.00 It will be so nice to have one again. Now Chris just left for the Washington Hospital Center. He and his buddy Derek drove down together. They are on call there tonight. Then he'll go back over to Navy to round on his surgery patients in the morning and then come home. I hope he gets a couple hours of sleep tonight so that he'll be able to function tomorrow during Conference etc.