Trip to Michigan

Remember how I said that every time we go to the temple it is an adventure? Well, yesterday was no exception. This time the adventure was about a mile from our apartment here in Toledo. We decided to fill with gas before we go, so that it will cost less to fill it and maybe we can stay with in our budget this month.

Lately, Jon said the car has been having a hard time starting in the mornings. We think it is the cold mixed with an older battery. The drive to school is long enough to recharge the battery, but the drive to the gas station was not. We got there fine and filled the car up, but when we were ready to leave, the car would not start. So the search for someone with jumper cables and a car started.

This jeep, SUV thing pulls in. It looked like an off-road vehicle so I thought that would be a likely candidate and told Jon to try that one. However, when the guy got out of it, I changed my mind. He was, shall we say, metrosexual (click here to find out more). Jon decided to go into the little store there and still ask him, but where someone else could hear. The guy didn't even know what Jon was talking about. Not the one we want jumping our car. Jon's idea worked though because someone that did have jumper cables over heard. He had a big van that was obviously a work van. I could tell by listening to him that he knew what he was doing too. Our car started right up then and we were on our way. The drive to Michigan was plenty to charge the battery up and we haven't had a problem since.

We stopped in Ann Arbor for dinner again. This time we were successful in our quest for Panda Express on the campus of the University of Michigan. It was so good! Safe Chinese Food! I eat as we drove on to Bloomfield Hills and the temple. Jon ate some of mine that I fed him as he drove. We hit a little traffic, but still got there early enough for Jon to eat some of his own dinner and for me to finally be able to take a picture (seen above).

My Talented Sister

Jon and I received a package from my family this week. My sister, Lori, made us a quilt. It is beautiful! Very Colorful. This last summer, I picked out the fabric with a little input from Jon. My mom bought the fabric and Lori put it together. Thanks Mom and Lori. We love it! On the right and left are close ups of the pattern. then below is the blanket folded in half. It is Queen-sized and is now on our bed.

Puzzles

I got a few puzzles for my birthday and Christmas. I finished 3 puzzles over Christmas Break, each was 1,000 pieces. Our friends, the Ziemers, let me borrow a 3,000 piece puzzle. I have been working on it since the end of December. It has been really fun and taken a lot longer than all the others. The downfall is that it only fit on our kitchen table (barely fit) so our table has been temporarily taken over, and if is moves at all the corners fall off the table.

My New Favorite Park

Jon and I went for a walk today to take a break from his studying. It was cold, but we bundled up. We have found a way to get into Maumee without too many non-sidewalks. As we cross over the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90) on Cass Road, there was big sign that says " The City of Maumee Welcomes You to Fred J. Rolf Park." It is a soccer/softball complex and swimming pool. What makes it my new favorite park is the 8 softball fields and it is between 0.5 and 1.0 mile walk from our apartment. The pictures I took don't really do it justice, but it was like heaven to see all those softball fields!

Martin Luther King Jr.

Four years ago this weekend, Jon proposed to me. It seems like just yesterday. He sent me on a scavenger hunt since he felt he needed to keep me occupied while he was in after church meetings. However, he almost thought I was not coming as he waited, freezing, at the final destination. He had sent me up to campus then back to my apartment and then up to campus and back again. Crazy boy!

Of course I knew it was coming since he had the ring in the box in his pocket at church. He didn't have time to go home between church and meetings. He went to Jared!

After our official engagement, we headed to Idaho to spend the rest of the holiday weekend with my family. We made it just in time for family dinner Sunday night. My whole family was there. Jon and I decided to see how long it took for someone to notice the ring on my finger. The first one to say anything was my niece, Raven. She was about 4 and noticed the sparkly on my finger.

Later, when Jon was asking my dad for permission to marry his daughter, my dad asked, "Are you sure you want her?" I guess that was a yes. That is one of Jon's favorite memories of my parents.

This three day weekend will forever have other meaning for me.

Medicine Ball

Jon and I went to the Medicine Ball for his school. There were some members of our ward there, too. It was a joy dressing up and having a fancy night out. Dinner was tasty. Chicken Marsala, green beans, potatoes, stuffed shells, green salads, and cheesecake or chocolate cake for dessert (some had both).


When the dancing started, Jon and I decided we wanted to dance a slow one. We waited and watched others, but after 6 or 7 songs, we decided to go home. We got home at 10:00 and danced to our song in our living room. It was a fun evening.


Here are a few photos from the night:


Dinner

The LadiesThe Boys

Myths & Reality

This is an interesting little video put together by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Check it out. It's about 10 minutes.

Digital Camera

I have now joined the world of Digital Cameras. Thank you Brian! Jon's brother sent us his old camera since he bought a new one. I'm so excited! I can now post pictures as I take them if I want. I'll just have to figure out all the workings of a digital camera. Like how to get the pictures from the camera to the computer.

Domino's?

Jon and I made a startling discovery tonight. We received a Gift certificate for a pizza and 2 liters of soda at Domino's. Come to find out, there are no Domino's in Toledo. I couldn't believe it! Luckily, there is one in Perrysburg, which is only 13 minutes from our apartment.

Finally...

After four and a half weeks of pain, two kidney stones came out at about 10:30 last night. Neither one was half a centimeter. They were both between 2 to 3 millimeters. I don't know if it was two stones close together that was seen in the CT scan, or if it broke into pieces, or even if there is more pieces coming. This picture on the right is what they look like, but again since I don't yet have a digital camera, I cannot post what they really look like.

Yesterday was a little weird, because I could feel something poking in my Urethra. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but not nearly as painful as when a stone is still in the Ureter. I'm just glad that something finally came out and I am that much closer to not have to go to the bathroom through a filter. Also I didn't have to under go surgery to get those things out! Happy Day!

Saturday Is A Special Day

Saturday, Jon and I went to a movie at the theater for the first time since we went to Harry Potter back in July. We saw National Treasure Book of Secrets. It was really good. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be about. It had some fun twists. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Jon and I were also very excited because we saw a preview for the new Chronicles of Narnia Movie, Prince Caspian. It comes out on May 16! It looks really good! I can't wait for it.

Here is a trailer:

Playing Doctor

I must say, it has been an absolutely wonderful break. I've not missed school, and have loved sleeping and reading, and watching movies, and cross-stitching to my heart's content. Originally as part of an elective credit for school, I had planned to spend some time shadowing in the area emergency rooms. However, because of Keriann's stone (as you've been able to read all about) and my own laziness and lack of motivation, I haven't really gotten around to it.

Today, however, I got the chance to spend 5 hours in the Emergency Room at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in downtown Toledo. I am glad I finally got around to doing this, because it was an absolutely incredible experience. It also probably pounded a few more nails into the coffin of my decision to become an ER doc. It was a busy shift, with a lot of excitement and even a few things for me to do, though I technically was only supposed to watch.

I was supposed to be there only from 10 till 2 this afternoon, but as I was about to leave, a call came in from Life Flight, announcing an interesting trauma case coming in, and I begged to stay and watch. So, while I left Keriann in suspense wondering where I was, I got to stay an extra hour and participate a little in helping someone out. I can't wait till I actually know what I'm doing and can follow all of the things that are going on so that I can actually help out.

Anyway, among some of the things I got to see were a domestic violence, a crushed finger, a traumatic arrest (the patient, unfortunately didn't make it, but I had been told to glove up and take over on chest compressions if the RN got tired, but he never did after 20 minutes of constant work). We also had a guy who on his way to court this morning, slipped, and was claiming he had twisted his ankle... Initially the thought was he was trying to skip his court date, but after X-rays, he actually ended up having two fractures in his leg.

The final trauma that I had to stay for, was a motor vehicle accident, where the driver was ejected from the car during a roll-over and was being brought in with her 8-month old baby, who was found in the car (luckily in his overturned carseat). Anyway, I guess if you want more details on any of these, you'll have to ask. But it was a great experience, and I'm glad I got the chance...

Ocean's Marathon

Yesterday, Jon and I were going to drive up to Frankenmuth, Michigan. Since I have not yet passed my kidney stone and am somewhat tied to our bathroom, we ended up putting it off until a later date.

Instead, we had an Ocean's marathon. We watched Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, and Ocean's 13. It was our first marathon of the break that took place all in the same day. Such great movies to make you laugh with the witty humor!

Happy 2008!

Happy New Year one and all! I can't believe it is 2008! What ever happened to the world's scary about the world ending in 2000? I guess it's not time yet.

For Jon and my New Year's Party, we watched football pretty much all day. We took a break to watch Bourne Supremacy in order to continue our Bourne marathon. I didn't quite make it until midnight, but 11:00 isn't bad for me to stay up until. Today, we are planning to have leftover Raclette for lunch. We thought about doing Fondue since we had enough left in our December budget for it, but since we had enough Raclette leftover from or Christmas Eve Eve dinner, we decided to save that money and have Raclette instead.

Last Saturday, Jon and I went to Shake 'N' Shake to see what exactly it was. It was not what I was expecting. It's a diner. They had great shakes! We decided we liked it, but not as one of our regular date night places. We think our families will enjoy it. It reminds me a little of the Canyon Street Grill in West Yellowstone (pictured to the right).