Where is Fall?

We decided to take off this weekend in search of some Fall color. Living in the valley of the sun is great, but I really love the fall and we get nothing of the sort here. It is really hard to tell what season it is in the rest of the U.S. based on our weather. I didn't have any Friday afternoon surgeries and no mothers in labor i.e. a very rare Friday indeed. We headed up to Payson which is northeast of Mesa. It was fun to watch the temperature drop 30 degrees as we drove 1 hour away. But when the sun went down we were freezing. We built a fire to stay warm, but it wasn't doing much so we went to bed early. We have some good sleeping bags, although my didn't do much for my ice cold feet. It got down to 20 degrees that night.

The next morning we went to the lake and hiked around, set up my lawn chair and got caught up on my medical journals and cooking magazines. We continued hiking around this never ending lake before we decided to turn back because it just kept going. Turns out our search for fall was somewhat futile because Payson is full of evergreens! I found one tree near our campsite and saw some as we were driving. We got to see a change of color that being green as compared to our desert landscape, but I am still in search of some good fall color. I was spoiled last year because I got to go to Philadelphia and Boston for 5 days of fall. Oh well maybe next weekend.

Race for the Cure

Two weeks ago Jon and I ran in the Susan G. Komen 5k Race for the Cure. Several of my classmates got together and we decorated shirts and ran together. This for me made it official that I was over my ankle break in June as I trained and ran in this race. We had a great time and helped raise money for a good cause.

My grandma is 50 year survivor of breast cancer and has lived with the damage it did ever since. She not only lost one breast, but she also lost the use of her right arm. Being the medically minded person I am I have never found the direct cause of her arm being paralyzed. It developed over a two year period after the surgery and radiation treatments she received. My grandma lost her mother to breast cancer when she was 15 y/o. She still gets teary when talking about going to Salt Lake City for treatments. Her children were 6, 9, and 12 and she just wanted to live long enough to raise them. She is a survivor and learned how to write with her left hand and to do everything with one hand. She taught piano lessons well into her 80's. I can remember watching her slice vegetables and open jars in her own creative fashion. She was the best rolls and cinnamon roll maker I know. My grandma has also been a widow almost as long as I have been alive. As kids we stayed in Panguitch for almost a month every summer, both my parents are from there and grew up on the same block. I loved staying at my grandma's house because we spent the mornings outside gardening and I got to sleep in her bed with her and stay up past the news and watch Mash. Grandma lived independently until she was 90, but now due to some bad falls, one of which she broke her good arm, and being almost blind to macular degeneration, she lives with each of her 3 children for a part of the year. She has always been my hero and continues to amaze me. I know she as lived such a long life to be able to teach her children, grandchildren and those who have the privilege to know her faith in God and how to endure to the end.

Two years and counting

Tuesday Jon and I celebrated our two year anniversary. It is crazy how time flies, yet I look back and so much has changed since we got married. Choosing to marry Jon in the temple is the best decision I've ever made. I have never been very good at expressing how great he is to me and for how well he puts up with me through the ups and downs of life. He always makes me feel beautiful, smart and important. He is ultra supportive of my educational efforts and other goals. I could not have picked a better friend to spend life and eternity with. He constantly amazes me with his creativity, spirituality, smarts, and sociability. Needless to say I am in love with Jon.

Unfortunately Jon had to catch a flight to Omaha Tuesday night, however he came with me to work that morning and he worked via some downtown hotel buildings. We ended up being able to spend alot of time together via the commute, lunch, and dinner. We got to explore some of downtown while we looked for a place to eat dinner. All in all it was a great anniversary. Friday after I pick Jon up from the airport we are going for a little get away in Scottsdale for the weekend, so the celebration isn't over yet.

Jon writes me sweet poems, and this time he wrote it on the bathroom mirror, it was fun to wake up to, I almost missed it before I got in the shower. He is so sweet.

Movin' on Up

So I have already finished my first rotation. It is really hard to believe that my 6 weeks in Surgery have come and gone. I had a really great time working with Cardiothoracic Surgeons, so I saw alot of heart and lung surgeries. Needless to say I am constantly amazed by the human body and its ability to function and heal as well as the advancement of medicine in aiding the human body. While I was limited by hospital regulations on performing technical skills in surgery, I got to scrub in and put my hands in and touch everything(beating hearts, lungs, intestines, etc.) While I enjoyed surgery, it is not for me the hours are horrible, everything is late, and standing for 5-6 hours with all the sterile dress is hard.
Now I am in Women's Health in downtown Phoenix, so I get the inner city population as well as a long commute to work. But I am learning tons, prenatal visits, annuals, illness, and surgeries. The first day I got to scrub in to two C-sections, it was a big day for me. I have a tough teacher, she definitely gives me the look that makes me want to run for my books and study up so I give the right answer next time. She pushes me and everyday lets me progress a little further on my own. Can't really ask for more, but an occasional atta girl would be nice.
Jon is staying busy with work, he has been on a traveling streak for a bit. It's nice for him to get out there and meet with people. His parents also came for a visit. We enjoyed having them, they spoil us way to much. I'll have to post pics of the stuff we scored at Ikea . We're glad they visit us despite our guest room by night, living room by day accomodations. Jon's basketball league started up again, so far they have won when Jon is in town and lost when he's gone. I say that is a pretty good indication he should stop traveling so much, so he could help his team out :) Well I just wanted to let everyone know that we are alive and kicking, sorry for the lack of pictures.

Lake Tahoe

We just went to Lake Tahoe for the 4th Labor Day in a row. In fact Tahoe was our second date(3 day camping trip), which probably explains why we love going so much. It reminds us of all our firsts, holding hands, kiss, etc. Anyways, we do pretty much the same thing every year and meet up with whatever friends are willing to make the trip. It is not the easiest place to get to, however once there the trip is so simple and fun. Jon's Aunt Karen and Uncle Mike live 45 minutes away and they bring their RV up and cook for us. So while it is tent camping we have all the amenities of home, good cooking, card games, a bath house with showers, etc. This year my two college buddies from the freshman dorms came. Carissa and her husband Chris came, they have been married about as long as Jon and I. Also Alfreda came with her boyfriend Paul. So it was fun to have some of my favorite girls together with our guys. I am a little short on pictures right now, Chris had an awesome camera, so I left the picture taking up to him. Anyways here is the run through of pics from one of our favorite spots Emerald Bay. Anyways the invite is open for year 5, next Labor Day mark your calendars and come join us.

2005 Dating

2006 Engaged

2007 Married2008...still married

Carissa and ChrisAlfreda and Paul