traditions

i don't have many pictures from this years christmas as i was lacking use of an important limb.  so the only pictures we have are the ones my cute husband took.  as blake and i are mixing both of our families traditions and coming up with our own we have decided to include christmas pajama pants as one of them.  last year i made us both pajama pants to start the tradition and with the extra fabric i decided to make some for our niece and nephew.  so when this year came around i figured i would do the same.  not that opening up pajamas is the most exciting thing for a 4 year old.  either way they got their pants and grandpa steve got them these cute monkeys that match them perfectly.  (he did this without ever seeing or even hearing about the pants).  they don't look incredibly enthused in this picture but again, i didn't have a lot of pictures to choose from.  anyway we decided that we, and by we i mean i, would start making pajama pants for not only me and blake, but for all the nieces and nephew on blakes side of the family.  (my mom takes care of the nieces and nephew on my side so don't worry they aren't getting neglected).  next year i will get to make a tiny pair for my new niece who will be joining the family in march.

blake and i have made a tradition that i imagine will end or will have to be adjusted when we have kids.  it is sleeping over at my parents house with my younger siblings.  we have christmas morning with my family then go to his parents house for christmas night to exchange gifts.  then after the whole day seems over we come home to our place and exchange gifts to each other.  it makes the "magic of christmas" last to whole day as blake puts it.  this year blake got me the insanity workout dvds that i said a while back i would like to have (he is very good at remembering things i say throughout the year) and a new pair of running/workout shoes that are so comfortable.  but to make sure he felt like he wasn't trying to tell me that i was fat, he got me some double stuffed oreos as well, which were quickly devoured in a game night with camille and her new fiance eric udall.  (we are very excited to have him be officially joining the family soon.)

christmas cheer

we had a christmas party for blake's seminary class.  two of the boys that came (hank and jt) graduated a semester early and are now up at byu leaving blake with a slightly smaller class.  blake sure does love his calling.  i think he has really enjoyed having these last two weeks off though which as made getting up early again this week really tough.  but he is changing these kids lives. 

under a knife

2 weeks ago i had a long overdue surgery on my right shoulder.  i have had a bad shoulder since high school and decided it was finally time to deal with it.  strangely enough my final push to get me to do was because my family was trying to put together a city league softball team, but said i couldn't play since i have a bad throwing shoulder.  that was it.  i figured i am too young not to play sports and have fun.  and since i am still on my parents insurance through obama(hate that guy)care i decided that over the break after my anesthesia boards i would finally do what has been needed for about 7 years.  

blake took this picture right before they took me back.  its a nice outfit i know.  if i look a little scared, its because i was a little but not until that moment.  a few seconds after this my anesthesiologist slipped me some drugs through my IV and it took all of about 7 seconds for me to be completely out.

physical therapy has been going pretty well.  i have been able to move my arm pretty well and its getting stronger.  my families (my family and my in-laws) have taken good care of me and have been incredibly helpful and supportive.  i have another week and a half before i go back to school for my last semester of dental hygiene school so i am hoping that the remainder of my recovery goes smoothly.  sutures come out tomorrow...finally.

site of deposition

i realize this photo is not the cutest photo ever taken of me but it documents an important step in my career.  i passed my anesthesia board exam and can now apply for my anesthesia license.  gone are the days where i have to call my instructor over to observe me giving anesthetic to a patient.

(this summary of events may or may not make sense to some readers but just follow the basic idea)

the first step was the written exam taken early this morning.  it bothers me that i don't know how many or which questions i missed but as long as i know it was good enough to get a passing grade then i guess i should just be ok with it.  our results come in an envelope in the hallway by our candidate number.  once you find out that you pass the written, you are eligible to take the clinical exam at your previously scheduled time.

i was one of the first to be called back for my clinical exam.  i set up my syringes, my topical anesthetic, and got my paper work filled out, then called my patient back.  my patient was my friend and classmate, autumn.  she is so supportive.  i started with the IA.  i was able to calm my nerves for the most part but i was still a little shaky heading toward my initial penetration point.  the needle slid right in and went exactly where it needed to go.  i call it out, negative aspiration, deposited a little solution, and was instructed to withdraw.  next, on to the PSA.  i knew going into this that i had gotten a positive aspiration on the right PSA every single time before so i was expecting one.  i was nervous that there would be a positive and that i wouldn't see it for whatever reason and fail the exam.  autumn told me her goal for today was "not to bleed."  i was so dead set on getting a good aspiration that i wouldn't be able to miss seeing the results that my harpoon got disengaged from the stopper.  oh stink.  i just withdrew, gave that thumb ring a few good hits and went right back in, negative.  i injected a little more solution and got the heck out of there.  done.  of course at that moment i was unsure if my disengaged harpoon would get me into trouble.  by the time i disinfected and re-wrapped my unit my results were ready in an envelope for me.  and i passed. 

i can finally start to enjoy this christmas season.  what a relief to have that over with.  i am so glad that we went on the first day and did not have to wait until sunday to take the exam.

big shout out to my patient, autumn for letting me stab her with needles repeatedly on multiple occasions, and for my amazing husband, blake for being willing to be my backup if things didn't go as planned today.

three french hens

yep, its these three again.  i sure do love them, (especially the one on the left).  kent's wife is a very talented photographer and did a photo shoot with these good looking subjects the other days.  these are some of the more tame photos taken. 

life is always exciting being married to such a fantastic guy.  he is an amazing provider for our family.  i'm so proud of him.

the best

two of my most favorite people in the world: calli and nate.  these two have been my best friends since high school.  i can't imagine what life would be like without these two.  i know life is busy and calli has spent time away and nate is still currently away from me but whenever we get together it feels just like old times.  depicted here are some of my favorite times that i can only laugh and smile when i look at these pictures.  love you guys!  also, we need some more updated photos of the three of us.  just saying

all-star team

a while back blake moved out of his old office and now works out of an office with kent and jeff.  these three are such a power-house of a team.  they are still part of the same company with whom they hang their licenses but they work out of an office in kent's back yard.  blake has loved the success they have had together.

jeff is not only a great co-worker for blake but also a great friend.  he brightens my day every time i see him.  he and blake continually are empowering each other to new levels.  i just need to find him a nice girl that i really like hanging out with because i'm sure jeff will be in our lives for a long long time.

kent has so much love and has so much experience and wisdom.  i also really love how important his family is to him.  blake and i are taking his daughter, bella to the ASU girls volleyball game tomorrow which should he a lot of fun.  i don't say many prayers anymore that do not include kent and his family.  what a blessing they are for us.

most of all i want to acknowledge my sweet blake.  he is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  i heard someone speak about how to choose a husband and asked, "would you rather have someone who puts you up on a pedestal and practically worships you, or would you rather have someone that challenges you to become better?"  i am so lucky that i found someone that does both for me.  i know that blake loves me and will always do his best to be an awesome husband and father.  because of how good he is to me, i am constantly trying to find ways to serve him and show him how much i love him.  he is such a hard worker and is so good at what he does.  i'm so excited to see what the future holds for us.