2012...

Bring it on!!! The anticipation of this upcoming year is killing me.

With finals right around the corner my mind is filled with cardiovascular diseases, screening criteria for various forms of cancer, important radiological findings, how to interpret studies using biostatistics, etc. But in this moment I have an empty box of Nerds by my side and a snoozing Jack Russell by my feet, and I can't seem to sleep because my mind is filled with thoughts about life. My thoughts are sporadic (nothing new there). A general sense of "life is good" overwhelms me, with both the joy and heartache that comes in this world.

• I'm almost halfway through PA school... how did that happen? I'm so happy I ended up here, remembering His ways are always better than mine.
• Our family member and friend will be making their adoption official in 9 days after much waiting and hoping. What a time to celebrate!
• My best friend goes through her first holiday season since her Grandma's stroke, but she still carries that beautiful smile on her face.
• I've been burning the heck out of this Nordic Pine scented candle. I'm kind of obsessed with scented candles (I'm still trying to understand those flameless ones...)
• I dream about our future kids all the time. I look forward to when that time comes :) 
• I've learned a lot the past few weeks about what it truly means to love your neighbor. I've come to the conclusion that drugs and addiction are one of the most devastating traps to see a person entangled by, but there is a person beyond that worthy of love and grace.  
• Match Day is less than 4 months away!! We'll open a letter that tells us where we're going next. It's another adventure we get to share together-- the next chapter of our lives. Will it be Denver, Nashville, Charlotte, Portland, Seattle, Providence, Philly, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Boston, or Cincy? There's not one of those places I would be upset ending up living. Home is wherever he is. 
• It has been far too long since I've attended an LPA event. I miss all the people. 
• Sufjan Christmas album. Love it. 
• Speaking of Christmas... I hope to get a chance to practice my Russian over the break. I miss Lithuania. 
• Why are cats and dogs at war? I wish they'd get along.
• Making homemade peppermint ice cream will be an essential item on my "To Do" list during finals week. 5 more days before a break.... I can do it. 
• It's now 1:37am. Let's try this sleep thing again. 

still in shock.

What a month.

I had the past 3 weeks off, so I was able to visit Blake in Cincinnati and Denver where he is doing rotations at the Childrens' Hospitals. A few glimpses from our time together:

Visited friends in Chicago

Enjoyed a beautiful run through Cincinnati -- love the bridges!

Cincy

We surprised me Grandpa in Colorado Springs and spent time with family

Denver Childrens' Hospital

Our last weekend together, we went to Vail where the aspens were outstanding and went camping. So fun!

We had a wonderful time to say the least.

And still, I am overflowing with pride and excitement because during the last week I was with him in Denver he got back his Step 2 board scores. As part of his training, Blake is required to take 3 national standardized board exams (Step 1, Step 2, Step 3). He did amazing on Step 1... and Step 2 he blew out of the water. My husband, Blake Windsor, made a 276 on Step 2 --> which is in the 98th percentile. Meaning, he scored higher than 98% of medical students throughout the country!!! Holy moly.

I thought my heart was going to explode.

If that wasn't exciting enough, he was selected for AOA (medical school honor society), which is a HUGE honor. There will be a ceremony in the spring, and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.

To top it off, yesterday he received an e-mail from an institution that informed him his scores were the 3rd highest out of 1400 applicants. That institution was Harvard.

Still in shock. And bursting at the seams with pride for my husband who has worked so hard, as well as proved himself a wonderful husband. I love him so much.

Dearest Savannahians:

Dearest Savannahians:

If you were casually driving home from work today and happened to see a 3'9'' woman running in the thunderstorm -- first, let me reassure you that I was not a run-away child (I have actually been stopped by a cop for that one before), and second I was not having a seizure (I was just mixing up my running strides with spontaneous skipping). What started as a gentle breeze turned into a full-blown thunderstorm midway through my run, and it was awesome!

I am in-love with this city and the people in it. As the rain picked up, I looked across the street and saw the man with paranoid schizophrenia that my husband has befriended and we waived. A toddler, still practicing his waives, said a squeaky "hi" through the rain. The rain came even harder, and I matched pace with my music. How could I keep myself from skipping with this song in my heart? Life is good, people. God is even greater.

Go skip a few steps. It's good for you.

Juli

a summer must.

I always look forward to the summertime here in Savannah when the farmer's market brings out their baskets of peaches. The peaches at the farmer's market are nothing like what you get at the grocery store. They're plumper, sweeter, and just plain ol' peachier.

All summer I've been saying that I want to make some peach ice cream, so yesterday I made that happen before this summer passes me by. I used this recipe, and it turned out soooooo yummy!

Visby likes to get up on the stool with me and put his paws on the counter to see what I'm doing. It's actually really cute because he will look at me, then look at what I'm doing, then look at me, look at what I'm doing, and so on.

My ice cream maker, which I love and adore. I have really enjoyed experimenting with different flavors.

And voila! Perfect way to beat the summer heat.

Crazy Joy.

This quarter I'm taking a class called Clinical Procedures where we're taught the indications for certain clinical skills (i.e. injections, IV, catheterization, etc) and instructed on how to perform them. This class, while a low-pressure class for most, has created some unnecessary anxiety in me that I attribute to my past nightmare experiences in nursing school.

I now sit here – completely dumbfounded – and asking myself, “why was I given such a hard time?? Why wasn’t I even given a chance??” The past 4 weeks I have felt like this weight I’ve been carrying around has been incrementally lifted off my shoulders each Friday, as I demonstrate my ability to do the following things the nursing school claimed were impossible:

SubQ, IM, ID injections – check. 10lbs of false assumption --> removed

Starting an IV – check. 10 lbs of dealing with people’s inability to think beyond the box --> removed

Catheterization – check. 20 lbs of being doubted --> removed

I was telling someone today, I am literally overflowing with crazy joy. Yes, crazy joy (the kind that sings from your insides). I cannot tell you how good it feels to overcome one hurdle after the other. I’ve come to realize that it was never a problem with me – I’ve shown myself I can do it. I have to practice more than some of my classmates and certain things do not come as easily to me, but I don’t see my condition as a list of reasons I’m to be excluded from the medical field. For that matter, I don’t see life as a line-up of walls that can’t be scaled.

I am so thankful to be in a school that is giving me a chance, and I am constantly humbled by the opportunity to enter the field of medicine. God has not left me throughout this whole process – He carried me through the pain, He held me when I was broken, and He’s piecing me back together at this moment. After being beat down pretty badly, my confidence is gradually returning and I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

Where has time gone?

Blake is officially finished with his 3rd year of medical school and is now in his final and fourth year! He has busted his butt the past 10 weeks during his surgery rotation, and I think he's relieved to have one of the most demanding rotations out of the way. He survived surgery rotation -- of course, leaving with a duodenal ulcer as a little souvenir ;-) He really enjoyed trauma surgery and got to see and do some really cool things -- pin bones back in line, stitch someone's tongue, sew a lady's face back on (she got in an accident and her face could literally be pealed back... crazy), etc.

I can't believe he's in his final year. Where has time gone? It seems like yesterday I was walking down the aisle to say "I do" and we were settling in Savannah for him to start med school. At the same time, it feels like forever ago because he has put in more hours of studying than one could imagine.

Ah, fourth year. Here's where it all comes together. The next few months will consist of taking his STEP2 exam, getting recommendations for residency programs, writing his personal statement, and applying to residency programs. This fall he'll have a chance to do a couple away rotations in other cities, travel to interviews, and we're also going to try and get away the two of us during my break in September. Come March.... "Match Day"! Match Day is when you find out where you're going for residency, and it's huge because it's something you've worked up to for the past 3.5 yrs of studying. May 5th --> Blake becomes an MD :) As you can see, a lot will happen in the next year. It's exciting, and we're constantly looking to God for direction for our future. It's humbling to even be given this opportunity to learn about medicine and be given skills to help people who are sick. I'm so proud of Blake, and we're going to make this fourth year count.

James' 2nd Bday!

Oh, and we celebrated James' bday! If you could have just seen him eat his cupcake with such persistence...

He was the last one left at the table -- still working on his cupcake and making sure he licked off all traces of icing.

And then, at some point he took off his clothes. Naturally, he wanted to wear his birthday suit.

Jared's Bday

While in Atlanta, we celebrated Jared's 27th birthday at he and Eryn's super cute, new apartment. Eryn grilled out and made some ice cream sundaes, and we just had a fun time hanging out.

Originally, his party was supposed to be a surprise, but it's hard for Jared and Eryn to keep secrets from each other :) Here we are acting surprised.

father and son

Swedish Pancakes

When Grandpa was in town, I made Swedish pancakes for him one morning from Grandma's recipe served with lingonberries. I might be part-Swede, but according to Grandpa I don't do it right. He wanted them to be cooked evenly brown all around and not "polka dot" in his words. Sorry gramps -- I'll keep working on it, so I can keep my roots alive ;-)

Aside from sub-perfect pancakes, I really enjoyed my morning with Grandpa. Such a sweet man.

Father's Day & Family

I've completed another quarter of PA school, and I get to enjoy a much-needed week break before starting 3rd quarter. My Grandpa Erickson, Aunt Bonnie, and Uncle Jack were planning to visit Atlanta at some point during the summer, and I'm so thankful that they took me into consideration and came during my break. It has been such a sweet time with family, and Grandpa especially seems to be enjoying himself.

Grandpa has asked to sit on the front porch each morning with a cup of coffee and listen to the birds. He even got tearful at one point, telling one of us how beautiful it was.

Much of Grandpa's furniture was given to my dad this previous year. Grandpa was excited to lay on his couch again, and he tested out its napping quality.

******

For Father's Day, we grilled hamburgers and just had an easy-going afternoon at my parent's house.

When Jaillene and Mitch pulled up, James immediately wanted to see Papa Jim's barn. My dad showed him all around, and we were all wondering why they were taking so long to look at the barn until we turned the corner and saw this...

I think Jaillene's heart was racing a little faster than usual. James had a huge smile, standing about 9 ft high on top of the loft. He was wanting to run around, but my dad held firmly to his hand. That child has no fears.

"Hi Mommy!"

All of the father's being goofy

Jared & Eryn

Jesse with baby Sam. Samuel is so cuddly right now -- I wish he'd stay this size forever.

******

We spent the next day at Jaillene and Mitch's house. I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few I liked.

Can you see the red in his hair?

You should have seen Grandpa's face when I first put Sam in his arms. His eyes were filled with joy, and he kept laughing. It was so sweet.

James performing "Itsy Bitsy -pider" for me

Fresh Basil Pesto

Have I mentioned our garden has exploded? Our garden has exploded. I had to do something about it and use the herbs while they're in their prime, so I made pesto!

Pesto is pretty simple to make, and it's delicious with pasta, chicken or fish, or on a grilled sandwich.

Fresh Basil Pesto

2 1/2 cups fresh basil
1/2 cups fresh Italian parsley
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more for tasting
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

*the recipe also called for 1/2 c. pine nuts, but I left it out because I wanted to give some to my mom who is severely allergic to nuts

Rinse and clean herbs. Put all ingredients (except for parmesan cheese) into a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and somewhat thick. Pour mixture into a medium size bowl, and fold in parmesan cheese. You may want to add a few more squirts of lemon juice, then stick it in a jar and store in fridge or give as a gift :)

Quirky Rituals.

It's true. Every night when Blake is on-call I engage in the following ritual:

1) Pull one of his cotton shirts out of the closet and wear it as jammies

2) Sleep on his side of the bed

3) And if I really miss him... I'll squirt a few spritzes of his cologne next to me.

And strangely... it helps :)

Fridays

I've always loved Fridays, but Fridays are even better when you have a happy husband come home ecstatic about his day. He found out today that he kicked butt on his pediatric rotation, increasing his chances of going into that field. I am so proud of him, and he doesn't stop amazing me.

Now: time to make cucumber sandwiches and pack the wine, cheese, hummus, and fruit for an evening at the park :) Cold War Kids is playing at Forsyth Park tonight... making this Friday quite spectacular!

Graduation

It just happened to be that this weekend two of Blake's brothers also graduated-- Tyler from HS and BJ from college. We are so proud of them both, and we're so glad we were there to celebrate with them! It couldn't have been a better weekend for us to be in town, especially since Blake's grandparents and Aunt were in town from Texas.

Tyler and his girlfriend, Natalia

Blake got an early birthday present, and he was really surprised! His mom, dad, and grandparents went in together and got him a keyboard with weighted keys. Honestly, it's a gift to me too because I LOVE listening to him play the piano.

Sisters.

All the boys + wife + girlfriend.

Left to right: BJ, Austin, Tyler, Natalia, Me, Blake, and Justin(front)

Blake and I with Mimi

Meeting Baby Samuel

I can't remember the last time Blake and I were both able to go up to Atlanta, but fortunately we both had this weekend off and got to meet our newest nephew. He is 7lb 13oz of pure cuteness and cuddliness! I don't know if you can tell in these pictures, but he has strawberry blonde hair -- I love it.

I wanted to keep up a tradition to make a baby blanket for each nephew/niece. Here's baby Samuel's blanket :)

Of course, we haven't forgotten about James. We had just as much fun seeing him again and also celebrating his 2nd birthday on Monday. He has so much energy-- non-stop running, jumping, talking, singing, dancing, etc. He is still trying to grasp the fact that a new baby has moved in, but I have no doubt that he's going to be a great "big brother" to Samuel.

We filled up a pool for him on the back porch, which he thought was a blast!

He copied his dog, after watching him drink the water with his tongue.

His favorite phrase while holding the hose was, "I get Ju-wee!"

...I made sure to get him back.

And the inevitable happened -- he left a Baby Ruth in the bottom of the pool (at which time I immediately got out of the pool.) I'll hold tight to this photo to later remind James of what a dedicated father he has... ha!