From the Mouth of My Babe

There is a hiking trail near Ryan's work that leads to the ocean. A small part of the hike requires the use of a rope to shimmy down the side of the hill to reach the ocean. The older kids can do it on their own but our little guy needs help. Ryan asked Nathan right before I snapped this picture to give him a big hug and hold on tight and he would safely get him past the hill. I think he looks like a little koala bear.

The other day, during Davis' first week of school, there was a little rough-housing on the bus and someone pulled Davis' hair. Apparently Maddie intervened and told the other boy to leave her brother alone. They relayed to me the altercation through giggles after they got off the bus. Then Maddie got serious and said, "Davis, if that kid messes with you again, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

10

Photo credit: Cori Sorenson

It's crazy how 10 years can simultaneously feel like forever and the blink of an eye at the same time. Has it really been that long? After some recent calculations, I came to the conclusion that during our 10 years of marriage, Ryan and I have experienced 10 moves, lived in 5 different states, owned 4 cars, earned 2 degrees, spent 6 months living apart during his fourth year of medical school, survived an intense 3 year surgical residency, and added 4 children to our family.

I like to think that we have a pretty spectacular marriage. That being said, I hope everyone feels as loved, validated, appreciated, and supported by their spouse as I do. Through all the trials that we have been through, our relationship has always been a strength. He makes me a better person. I never would have guessed that we would celebrate our 10th anniversary in the most north-eastern state in the country, as far away from family in the continental United States that we can get.

But you know what? I wouldn't change anything.

We talk pretty much nightly about our children and how we can help them, where we are falling short as parents, how hard (and at the same time rewarding) this stage of life is in the trenches with young children all around us, and how, even though we have no idea what we are doing, at least we are doing it together. It is not uncommon--particularly during exceptionally chaotic moments with the children (like a diaper blowout or a middle-of-the-night bed-wetting incident)--for Ryan to look at me and start singing, "You're gonna miss this...you're gonna want this back..." Without fail, no matter how cranky I am about the midnight wake-up call, I can't help but laugh. I love that he has the ability to change my mood in stressful situations.

When I am having a rough day, I still sometimes day dream about the morning 10 years ago when I married my better half. That perfect day is still my happy place, only I have since added countless other happy memories to go along with it. I can't wait to see where the next 10 years takes us.

From the Mouth of My Babe

Sword Fighting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ryan was talking with Isaac tonight about our day trip to NYC before dropping my parents off at the airport.
"We were walking, Dad, and I dropped my snow cone on the ground. I wanted to cry, but then I pulled myself together."

Back in Business

We have been without Internet for close to a month now but we are back in business as of this afternoon! Oh world wide web, how I've missed you! Expect a barrage of posts over the next few days/weeks (a lot has been going on and I can't wait to tell you about it!), but for now, here are some pictures of the kids in their doctor shirts. They sported these bad boys on graduation weekend last month and I completely forgot to post the pics that my dear friend Chrissy took of them all together. My sister found the shirts on clearance at Target over a year ago and I kept them in hiding until the big day.

Graduation Weekend

Our Memorial Day weekend was jam-packed with graduation festivities, packing, and the beginning of our great move to the east coast. Ryan's parents came to town for Ryan's big day and it was great to see them and have them with us for the big celebration.

Davis wouldn't come within 25 feet of Grandpa Lynn when they first pulled up to our house in Des Moines, but it didn't take long at all for them to become bffs again.

Maddie and Grandma Mary-Ann at the graduation. Suckers were a life-saver there as well as on the road a couple of days later.

Davy on the lookout for his daddy.

Just seconds before Ryan walked across the stage to be hooded and receive his diploma, this little guy through a giant-sized tantrum. Since I was frantically hauling him out of HyVee Hall, I couldn't get a picture of Dr. Payne. I figured I should at least document Davis' fit while I had the camera all ready. 

Maddie hanging out in Grandma's camping chair after graduation. Lynn and Mary-Ann brought their own bed, their own chairs, and even their own towels to our place this past weekend because we literally had zero accommodations. Zero. They were troopers and we are so glad they came to share this special time with us.. 

I never got a picture of the whole family with Ryan in his grad robes, but here he is with his hat and ropes.

Kissing a doctor for the first time was even more amazing than I imagined.

My favorite quote of the weekend came from the words of Mark Twain:
"I'm glad I did it; partly because it was worth it, but mostly because I shall never have to to it again." 
Good work Dr. Payne!

This Might Have Been the Start of Something Big.

Ryan pretending to be a doctor. How priceless is this photo, considering what he has accomplished over the  past four years?

Can you believe this was taken almost 30 years ago? Ryan graduates this Saturday with his doctorate and I am so proud of him. I bet his mom never imagined when she took this picture so long ago that one day her little angel boy (that's what she still calls him...to this day) would accomplish such a great undertaking. I mean really, what kid hasn't played with a toy stethoscope a time or two?

Ryan and Isaac just after beginning medical school (at the white coat ceremony) almost 4 years ago.

Taking Gross Anatomy.

Doing some pro bono work on his dad back when he didn't really know what he was doing. He knows now.

I can't wait to see what is in store for our family on this next adventure that we are about to embark upon! It really is such an exciting time. 


Congratulations, Ryan! You did It! 
We are so proud of You!

Home for Good!

Ryan was able to make it home a day earlier than scheduled, just in time for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. 

Today I am thankful for no more long separations.

He'll be Home for Christmas!

Ryan found out on Friday that he was able to switch a couple of his rotations around in order to be home for Christmas. In fact, he will be able to come home just after Thanksgiving. That's less than 3 weeks away! We hope that it will be the end of us being separated for long periods of time. I am grinning from ear to ear just thinking about it.

Catching Up

First of all, I have to apologize for the lack of attention given to the blog in the past month. By the time I put the kids to bed at night, most of the time I just don't have the energy to think coherent thoughts, much less write about them. But here is my feeble attempt at writing a few thoughts before I head off to bed for the night.

Ryan started his 4th year rotations for podiatry school at the end of May, which is when all three kids and I moved to Utah to be closer to family.

I love being close to family. It is wonderful.

I hate being far away from Ryan. It stinks. What can I say? He's my best friend and I am a better person when he's by my side.

That being said, I think we are handling the distance the best way we can. We have so much support from family and such a great set up here at my parents' house that the only thing I can think of that is missing is Ryan.

Isaac has struggled the most with having his dad gone, but he is doing much better. Ryan was able to visit for a week at the end of June and I think it was really good for all of the kids, but especially for Isaac. The other night when I was putting him to bed, Ike and I had the following conversation:

Isaac: "Mama, what are we going to do tomorrow?"

Me: "Hmmmm, I'm not sure. What would you like to do?"

Isaac: "I want Papa to come and play cars with me!"

So do I, buddy. So do I.

Thank goodness for cell phones and web cams.

Isaac is still into cars and Lightning McQueen and anything that goes. And his favorite color is red, "because Lightning is red." I would probably be a lot more sane if I didn't have to find that tiny matchbox car at least once a day! He took swimming lessons with his cousin, Fischer, in June, and they had a ball together.

Maddie is still our little miss sassy pants. She loves to sing, and thanks to a dear friend of mine, has just learned how to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Spanish this week. She has a major crush on her 11 year old cousin, Jake, and will follow him around whenever he comes to visit. Just yesterday I finished putting her hair in pigtails and she looked at me and said, "I wanna go show Jake my hair!" She walked over to him, and without saying a word, tipped her head down so he could see her blond locks. All of her cousins are so nice to her, but there is just something special about Jake.

Davis is growing like a weed. I'm pretty sure he weighs as much at three months as Maddie did when she turned one. I love my fat baby boy! I just started putting him in the Bumbo, and his legs are so fat that I can barely pry him out of that thing. I don't think he'll be falling out of it any time soon like his brother did. He is easy-going most of the time and smiles at anyone who gives him a little bit of attention. We gave him his first haircut while Ryan was in town and he was not a fan, but I love his new buzz cut.

 Could that little face look any sadder?

Happy Father's Day!

We love you and can't wait to see you! Only 6 more days!

Celebrating 30 Big Ones

This past Saturday we celebrated Ryan's 30th birthday. It was a pretty laid back day, but we tried to make it special for him. His one and only birthday request was that I not make him take me to the annual DMU Winter Gala (also known as medical school prom). No problem---the idea of dancing between Braxton-Hicks contractions didn't sound all that appealing to me, either :). The kids and I made him a candy bar birthday card while he played basketball with some friends on Saturday morning, and they couldn't wait to give it to him (I have no idea why).Isaac helped me make the requested birthday cake, Tres Leches.While Maddie preferred to demolish Isaac's preschool art project instead of bake.

Thanks to our good friends, Mark and Aupreille, we were able to go to lunch sans kids that afternoon. It was great to have him all to myself for a few hours. Sadly, I didn't take one picture of the birthday boy on his special day. There's always next year, right? Happy Birthday, Ryan!

My BFF

I am thankful to be married to my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without him.

Laundry Day

Sometimes we feel like putting them in the washing machine, too.

Next Year's Clerkships

Ryan has been busy lately applying to different programs for his rotations next year. We have heard back from all the programs and organized his schedule for next year. For those of you who aren't familiar with how it works, during Ryan's 4th year of medical school (starting this coming June) he will rotate to several different programs throughout the country. He will stay at most programs for a month, and then spend his last four months of his fourth year back here in Iowa. Our hope is that he will end up doing his 3 year residency in one of these locations after he graduates. Here is a schedule of where and when he will be next year:

• June--Orlando, Florida
• July--Louisville, Kentucky
• August--Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• September--Utah (either to do an internal medicine rotation or a private practice rotation)
• October--Greeley, Colorado
• November--LaCrosse, Wisconsin
• December--Utah (internal med or private practice)
• January--Salt Lake City VA hospital
• February-May--We all move back to Iowa to do his core rotation until he graduates

Next year will be a busy and trying year, since the kids and I will be living in Utah while Ryan travels around the country. I think he added up the mileage that he will drive over the course of the year and it is somewhere around 8,000 miles in our little Corolla. I am glad his schedule worked out so that we only have to be separated for a total of 5 months. It will be challenging but I know it will be great training for his future career. Wish us luck!

Random shots of the kids in their Sunday best a few weeks ago

Is it wrong that I'm totally jealous of her outfit?

Kinda Like a Graduation Ceremony, but Without the Diploma...

That is the best way I can think of to describe the Rite of Passage Ceremony we attended this weekend. Speeches, awards, students, professors...but no diploma. The ceremony was held to celebrate the beginning of clinical study for Ryan's class (they begin working with patients this summer).

Overall I was impressed---they kept the ceremony part of the program to just over an hour and the reception had some pretty tasty desserts (the pineapple was especially sweet). I a proud of Ryan for being almost halfway done with his degree---and I will be bouncing off the walls when we do go to graduation and he does get that diploma! Filling up on desserts with some fellow 2nd year students and their wives.

Ryan and I in a picture together by ourselves--a rarity these days.

DMU's podiatry class of 2011.

This and That

Nothing really blog-worthy has happened lately (which isn't always a bad thing), so I thought I would post some random pictures that I have taken over the past few months.

We are all very glad when Daddy comes home each evening, especially Isaac. Every time he hears Ryan's keys in the door his eyes light up and he declares, "It's Papa!"

I love how Maddie looks like she ate way too much turkey in this picture--and the look on her face is classic.

Maddie loves these toys in the children's section of the library.

A Maddie-Isaac-Ryan sandwich