Lock and Key.....

What's that you ask?  Oh, its just our key in our front door.  Let me explain.

The day after Samantha and I got home we were outside playing.  Our backyard flooded while we were gone so I was sweeping off the patio.  We moved to sweep off the front porch and Samantha was hitting the front door trying to get inside.  I tried to explain to her that it was locked and then looked up and realized that the key was right there in front of me. 

My first thought was, "how long has that been there?", my second, "what was Chris thinking?"

I promptly called Chris to investigate the matter.  Turns out it had been there almost the entire time I had been out of town.  He couldn't believe that he had left it there all that time.  How lucky are we that all of our possessions never got taken?  Our front door is on the side of our house so you can't see the front door from the street.  That might have been what saved us.  

I told him that I was going to start calling him Colleen (my mom did a similar thing when she came out for Samantha's birth in St Louis, but only left the key over night in the lock- a bit better than 3 1/2 weeks!)  He felt so bad.
So what could lead a really responsible guy to do such a thing.

This week, I was reminded of the insane schedule he keeps.  The following is so I NEVER forget what residency was really like or feel sorry for myself that I have it bad, keeping in mind that he keeps telling me "this is the easier rotation".  

Alarm goes off between 5 and 5:30 am.  Leaves for work.  Comes home between 7:30 and 9 pm.  Talks to me, eats a bite, changes his clothes and then proceeds to do patient notes, dictations, or reading for a surgery the next day or journal club.  Comes to bed around 11.  Every other night he is on call so then you get the awesome pages at random hours.  Like Tuesday night, one at 2 am, then 10 minutes later, then 15 minutes later.  

So I guess it's pretty clear to me how the key got left in the door...but I'm still not going to let him forget it!

The grass is always greener....

in Utah.  For 3 1/2 weeks we didn't have to set eye on a cactus or play with rocks or retreat to the pool.  Samantha discovered the joy of the feel of real grass under her feet. We played with cousins and attacked my aunts cat more times than I can count.

 We joined all the other Chick-fil-a fans (and some amazingly fun friends) in dressing like cows to get some free grub.

 

 We celebrated the great city of Farmington during the festival days

 Samantha was a huge fan of waving the flag and dancing in the street (she get's that from her grandma)

 I learned that my fearless daughter, the one who climbs walls and tries to go home with complete strangers, is afraid of giant inflatables!  We went with Joselyn to Kangaroo Zoo and Samantha started to scream the minute I tried to set her in one of them.  It was hilarious.

 After about an hour of trying various tactics, she finally decided that it wasn't so bad and had some fun.

 Chris got to join us for about 36 hours for Kylee's wedding.  Samantha wanted nothing to do with anyone else once he showed up.  I didn't blame her, he's pretty great.  After almost a month apart I told him that it reminded me how much I need him.  Not just as a co-parent, but as a companion for me.

 Let's not forget when my dad ripped the crotch of his suit on the way to the luncheon when he was getting into his truck.  He is one classy guy.

 I realize now that I didn't even get one picture of the happy couple, so here is one with Kylee and her friend.  Doesn't she look beautiful?

 The reception was spent chasing Samantha around and trying to keep her from tripping all over her dress.  Apparently shoes are way over rated.  Even when they are brand new and purchased specifically for the event.

It was a great vacation.  Honestly, the best part was seeing Samantha form relationships with her grandparents and cousins.  The minute she saw my mom she ran up to her and gave her a huge hug.  We are going to miss all the family get-togethers, being cooked for and pampered, and always having someone to play with.

The worst part of the trip was the 4 HOUR layover in the Vegas airport yesterday.  I almost have that airport memorized now.  Samantha made lots of friends and perfected the art of gambling.....After 9 1/2 hours of traveling, I am ready for another vacation!

Why the 2 month hiatus?

My mom said to me on the phone about a month ago, "you realize you haven't updated your blog in awhile right?".  I am pretty sure she had woken me up from my 2nd nap of the day too.  Little did she know, there was a pretty good reason for that.  It's pictured above.  I am 15 weeks now and finally feeling mostly like myself again.  No more waking up in the morning huddled up over the toilet or asking Chris in the middle of the night to help me think of something other than food.  No more wandering around in a zombie like state wondering how in the world I could possibly do even one load of laundry or manage to sweep my floor.

During the past month, Samantha turned 15, then 16 months and really began to push my buttons as I lay on the couch in my half-alive state.  She discovered that she could open the fridge, climb up onto the kitchen table, and flush the toilet all by herself.   Man, I sure am glad she survived, and me too for that matter.

Chris asked me at about week 7 (when I was crying over commercials and avoiding all his kisses and running from the kitchen whenever food appeared), "So remind me again how many weeks you are going to be like this?"   Yeah, he is really supportive like that.  He is also lovingly referring to the above pictured as Cletus the Fetus.  Don't worry, that name won't stick after birth. At least I hope it won't or this kid will be scarred for life!  Yeah for 2nd trimester!!!