Kind of left you hangin'

didn't I?

A couple posts ago I made a brief mention of Sean applying for a third year of residency. And I left it at that. Now I know there just has to be a whole bunch of you on the edge of your seats wondering and waiting to find out how this has turned out. Oh, come on. Just humor me.

I'll start at the beginning. Sean is currently in a Family Medicine residency. Family Med is always 2 years long, but as you may know several family doc's "specialize" in something - OBS/GYN, anesthesiology (thank-you spell check), emergency, surgery etc. In order for them to do this they must complete a 3rd year in that particular program. This means they must fill out applications, wait for interview invitations, go to interviews, decide which school they would like to go to most, and then wait to find out if they were accepted. It's kind of like med school and residency applications all rolled into one. It's very competitive. At least 60 people apply each year to any given school. The school usually interviews around 20 people for the 6 spots they have each year. Ya, you have to be good to get in. 

Sean decided that he really wanted to do Emergency Medicine. So he applied to both U of A and U of C - and got interviews at both. Hooray! And felt both interviews went well. So we decided that Calgary would be our first choice, and Edmonton our second. And then we waited to see if he would be accepted somewhere, and where that would be. All the while praying that whatever the outcome it would be what Heavenly Father wanted for us. And now we know. (have for a month now actually, but you know. It's been Christmas, and we've been busy)

drum roll please.........



Sean was accepted to U of C!!!



Wahoo! Way to go Sean!!

We're excited. And feel great about this chance for our family, and Sean.

Now comes the part where we have to trust that since this is what Heavenly Father wants us to do, He will provide a way for it to happen.

You see, we would like to stay in Lethbridge. Sean really liked the ER department here, and despite all the things that drive us (OK mostly me) nuts about the city we still like it. But Sean has a year of school in Calgary first, and that means packing up the family and moving to Calgary for a year. But we're not going to sell our house.We want to keep it - 'cause we like it too. And we are serious about coming back. But we also don't want to move all our stuff, twice. So here's the plan. We're trying to find a couple in Calgary who are going on a mission, or taking a sabbatical, or whatever and need someone to house sit for them - that would be us. We would then find someone here that could house sit for us for a year. Because this is really the only way we could afford to do all this (has anyone ever checked out rent for a house in Calgary!! EEEEP!) So if any of you hear of anything, please let us know! We would be eternally grateful.

So congratulations to my wonderful, amazing, talented, hard working husband! I'm so proud of you! 

1 boy + 1 girl + 9 years of marriage = ...

3 happy kids

from 3 different hospitals

2 basements and 2 houses

2 city to city moving trips

3 floor to floor moves in 1 house.

2 summer homes

3 wards, a whole mess o callings

5 jobs

2 degrees, 1 diploma, 1.5 years of residency

3 night classes

countless exams

4 TV's

5 Cell phones

9 Computers

102 gallons of aquarium space

4 frogs

Dozens of fish

2 mortgages

$ CENSORED in student loans and credit

funding 5 years of school

and 2 scrapbook rooms

1 flooded home

2 break and enters

2 buried grandparents

3 buried friends

4 vehicles

3 preschools

1 kindergarten

1 elementary school

5 seasons of soccer

2 seasons of dance

3 swimming pools of lessons

1 trip to Disneyland

2 flights to Vegas

1 van load to Utah

4 hotels

1 van load to Vancouver

3 campsites

Countless highway miles

6 hours with your head out the car window in a blizzard

 2 years of med school interviews

2 years of residency match interviews

2 years in Lethbridge

but not all at once

7 years in Calgary

one year at a time

7 years of "we'll know where we'll be living next year soon..."

and at least 1 more to come

9 years of hard work, laughter and tears

9 years of love

tied up with 1 Winter Solstice lunar eclipse

with uncountable years yet to come

I love you- happy anniversary!

 

*(This was composed by Sean, and was totally 100% his idea. I in no way had anything to do with the writing in this post, including but not limited to putting the idea in his head, or telling him he had to do this. Ain't he great?! I did however add the pictures.)

5 MORE SLEEPS!

OK, so I'm finally starting to get excited for Christmas. I think now that school, dance and soccer are done for the holidays I'll be able to slow down a little. And Sean will be home for Christmas on Wednesday night and gets to stay until Tuesday morning! Wahoo! That's all I need/want for Christmas!!

Anywho, I thought I would post some of my favorite Christmas songs on here (assuming I can find them) and find out what your favorites are.



So, I don't really hate Christmas. I just really like Oscar



not the original, but still funny!




I sang this in choir once, and it's been a favorite ever since




Ok, so please ignore the creepy old school music video for this next one...try to not let it distract you from the words....seriously, just close your eyes and listen to the words




I like several versions of this song. There are also several versions that I don't like - this one's pretty good




this one, and every other song by Bing Crosby




And I'll leave you with this one




Merry Christmas!

So I know

that I've been horrible at blogging...well, pretty much all the time, but even more so lately. But quite honestly it's because I just don't have the time, nor do I need "one more thing to do".

You see, Sean has just started is 4 month out of town rotation in Pincher Creek - and by just, I mean he started there 3 1/2 weeks ago - it's just taken me that long to get on here again.

And I know Pincher isn't that far away - maybe an hour, but it's winter, and the roads aren't always good, and he often doesn't get done work until 5:30pm or so, and starts at 8am every day, so it's really just not that realistic for him to drive home every day when he's not on call.

And they've supplied him with what I'm assuming is a pretty sweet "bachelor pad" while he's there. So he's not going to be home much in the next 4 months.

And we miss him terribly.

And I'm in "survival mode" - which means only the really necessary things get done, and then a lot of those things get bumped off the necessary list.

And I don't really cook - unless you count pancakes and Kraft dinner cooking, which for the record I don't. Because meal time battles just aren't on the necessary list.

And I'm trying to get everything ready for Christmas on top of it all.

And to be honest, I'm having a hard time feeling Christmasy (didn't know that was a word did ya? Spell check doesn't thing so either) Normally I'm more excited than the kids for Christmas, and this year I'm just not. Bad Mother confession: I almost didn't take the kids to see Santa and get their picture taken this year - and it's Maggie's first Christmas. How awful would that have been. But I made myself do it, and I'm glad I did.

So when I'm MIA, and grumpy and whining about my kids and stuff more than usual - that's probably why.

And in the next couple days we find out if Sean was accepted to do a third year of residency in Emergency Medicine in either Calgary or Edmonton....I know, how nuts are we? 

And now for something completely different.....


Anise is a true ballerina. How do I know? (besides the fact she spends 90% of her day dancing and twirling wherever she goes?)

The other day I saw her admiring the tree skirt, and she came over to me and said, "Mommy, I just love the tree's tutu! I wish I had a tutu just like it. Can I wear the tree's tutu when it's finished with it?"

Yup, ballerina.

Something to think about

I read this the other day. It made me cry (just a bit). And it was a good reminder to pay closer attention to those around me. Thanks to Rhonda for sharing this!

And here's Anise talking on the phone with Grandma. Anise is trying to get her to play "I spy with my little eye" over the phone. It was pretty funny.

Aren't kids great?

Kids have a great way of crushing the self esteem of those around them. I don't think they don't do it on purpose, they just don't have a filter and so are completely and brutally honest about everything. And I mean everything.

I feel like I am the target of my kids honesty most days - and it's most often about what I've made for dinner. My kids usually hate what I make for dinner. Even though most times they won't even take a bite to see if they really do hate it.  Here's a couple examples just from this last week.

I made what I thought was a really yummy salad to go with dinner. Apples, feta and candied pecans over lettuce with a balsamic vinegar dressing. I left the dressing on the side because I figured Kaden and Anise wouldn't like it that much. They both ate the apples no problem, but neither one of them would touch the feta (fair enough, it's a strong cheese and not everyone cares for it) or the candied pecans. Hello! sugar on nuts! why would you not like that?! Anyway, so I told them they both had to eat at least 1 nut just to try it. Because it's candy on a nut! So finally Kaden complies by slowly putting the pecan in his mouth with a look of terror on his face. Soon as it hits his mouth he starts to make gagging noises, and as he chews it becomes louder and he brings his hands to his throat and starts to fall over in his chair. Anise just flat out refused to eat one.

Example #2

I made nuts and bolts for a games night with friends. The next day Anise was standing at the counter eating the nuts and bolts as fast as she could, obviously really enjoying them. Our conversation went something like this:
Anise (as she is eating the nuts and bolts, insert loud chewing noises where appropriate) - "This is really yummy! I could eat this forever! Who brought it to our house?"
Me - "No one. I made it." 
Anise (as she puts the pretzel that was on it's way in her mouth back into the bowl) - "I don't like it"

Isn't that just wonderful? Seriously, what do my kids have against me? 

This next example is non food related. It happened over a month ago and my ego is still recovering. I debated whether I even wanted to share it, but I'm sure you will find it quite funny. 


It was mid-morning, Sean was at work and Maggie was having a nap. Kaden and Anise were playing nicely together in the toy room. I decided it was the perfect time to get my workout in. I get in my workout clothes, go downstairs get everything set up and get started. About 10 minutes in the kids come to find me. I tell them it's my time so go play and I will help them with whatever they need help with after - I hate it when I get in the middle of a workout and suddenly everyone needs something from me. Anyway, they say they just want to come and exercise with me. Fine. Just don't get in my space. So for the next 5 minutes or so they do their best to mimic the video, then announce they are tired of exercising. Relieved that they will go play now I say, OK go find something to do until I'm done. They reply, No we want to watch you. Oh joy. So the two of them plunk themselves down on the couch behind me to watch equipped with blankets and cups of water. I try to ignore the fact that I now have an audience, which was going perfectly well until I get to this one part in the video where you have to do one of those football drill runs - you know where you pretend to run really fast through tires. Anyway I start to hear giggles, and snickers and then all out laughs and suddenly Kaden can't hold it in any longer and he exclaims "Mommy, you look really funny when you do that! You look kind of like Mario when you run like that" Then Anise chimes in "Ya, and your bum wiggles funny" And that's when I firmly decided that no child is allowed in the same room as me while I am exercising ever again.

Lest We Forget

It's not just a day off from school and work. It's a day to honor those who fought and are fighting for peace, freedom and safety. To remember those who gave their lives so others don't have to. It's a time to be grateful for our peace, freedom and safety.

I'm so grateful to live in a country where we have the freedoms that others only dream of.

I'm grateful that my husband doesn't have to use his medical training on foreign soil in muddy trenches.

I'm grateful that my children don't have to be sent to live with strangers in the country because that's safer than staying in the city during a bomb raid.

I'm grateful for my Great Uncle Gibb who was shot down during WWII.

I'm grateful for the countless others who have given and will give their lives so that my family and I can live in peace and safety.

Soldiers Cry
 By Roland Majeau

Talk of trouble is sent through the country
And we need an army
To fight for the right
Young men enlist and are sent to the battle
To fight the offender and help our allies

And the young men cry Oh Canada
Well gladly go and fight for thee
And the young men cry Oh Canada
Well fight to keep you free

The battles raging
Gun fire is blazing
A tired young soldier is clinging to life
Hes ordered off
And obeys by advancing
No hope of returning from the enemy fire

And the soldier cries Oh Canada
If it must be so, Ill die for thee
And the soldier cries Oh Canada
Ill die to keep you free

And we all miss oh Canada
The land where we all used to be
And we all long for Canada
The true north
strong and free

And the soldier cries Oh Canada
If it must be so, Ill die for thee
And the soldier cries Oh Canada
Ill die to keep you free

Far away we had seen a great danger
And yet there's a danger much greater within
The noise we make as we constantly bicker
Would hush not a whisper if we listen to him

All the thousands cry Oh Canada
Is that why we have died for thee?
And the soldiers cry Oh Canada
We died to keep you free

And the soldier cries oh Canada
Be true
And strong
For me

-------------------------------

Here's the background story for this next song:

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terrys anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time




A Pittance of Time 
 By Terry Kelly
 
They fought and some died for their homeland.
They fought and some died, now it's our land.
Look at his little child; there's no fear in her eyes.
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest, may we never
forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.

God forgive me for wanting to strike him.
Give me strength so as not to be like him.
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips,
My throat wants to bawl out, my tongue barely resists.

But two minutes I will bide.
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest.
May we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.

Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home.
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own.
There's a price to be paid if you go, if you stay.
Freedom's fought for and won in numerous ways.

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls all over.
May we never forget, our young become vets.
At the end of the line,
It's a pittance of time.

It takes courage to fight in your own war.
It takes courage to fight someone else's war.
Our peacekeepers tell of their own living hell.
They bring hope to foreign lands that hate mongers can't kill.

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who go over.
In peacetime our best still don battle dress
And lay their lives on the line.
It's a pittance of time

In peace may they rest,
Lest we forget
why they died
It's a pittance of time 


----------------------------------------

 In Flanders Fields  

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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LEST WE FORGET