Firsts

real quick
first birthday (I love this fatty, popsicle loving, mama saying, baby.)

first 10 year anniversary (I love this man and all that comes with him)
first "High & Tight" military haircut. (I love, that once I stopped crying, I realized he can pull it off pretty well.)

First garage sale, first boot camp, first time Ryan and I have been more than 3 weeks apart, then, first house closing and first major house move. All by myself. I can do it! Okay, with the full-service packers/movers and some friend help and hiring a YW's help too.

Just got to get through the next week til we are packed- then off to hotels and housesitting until Ryan gets back. Vacation the kids think. Oh, I hope.

I know. Who cares about the back of all those peoples heads, you think. I wish I could have shown it all. We sat at the back of the room, taking up one table. (That's what happens when you have family that has been there through the long haul of medical training- there makes enough to fill a table). Ryan was the last to be announced. The last of 20 Internal Medicine doctors, who were each introduced and recognized for personal and career accomplishments. Some had cancer, some had lost parents, some had come to the states and could not speak English in college- just there native language, some had grandchildren, some had prior "lives" as mechanics and accountants. Mine was introduced as (paraphrased here), "Dr, Williams is a graduate of St. George's University. He will be a Captain in the United States Air Force, where I bet he will be embarrassed when he is saluted to. He has been hardly heard to complain, or get mad, he's the same through and through, has worked hard and long and is our graduating resident who has 4 children."

I'd like to add he did publish some research. He did presentations. He was encouraged to try for different specialties from his attendings. He did have 5 or so jobs on the side to carry us through. He did recieve a reward for thanks in recognition for his teaching.

But, when Ryan got up to accept his certificate he said none of that, he thanked his attendings and the University and said, "I know many of you have asked me how I have done this with 4 kids. I've told some of you before, that without my kids, I could have done none of this. They have given me balance."

So, the picture is bad. But, I don't care. I love that he loves us so much. Enough to say so even in front of his colleagues and distinguished attendings.

Ryan's mom and dad. I am so glad they were able to be there with us.

We ended our weekend with Tanner's Baptism. Thank you all for the refreshment help (you know who you are!), and letting me borrow things, and for those that helped with the program, and for those that came to show there love to Tanner. Thank you to those who let us know they wished they could have been there. As I looked around the room, I was grateful for each person that was there. It was a special day for our family, and I know Tanner won't forget how he felt.

ps- now, onto cleaning out the house, getting Ryan off to boot camp in 10 days, and our house closing on the 10th.

Come if you can!

(Sticking this up top. See below for new posts.)

It's just... momentous

We accepted an offer on our home. We have our inspections tomorrow and then are supposed to close in 4 weeks or so. Ryan will be long gone to boot camp. We have a full-service move, care of the USAF, and I am still trying to nail down where we can hang out for 4 weeks until Ryan gets back to drive us west. Idaho here we come. But, how hard it will be to look back and see our friends and neighbors being left behind. I just cannot think of it quite yet...

School ended on Friday! Ryan grew up with the tradition of "Donut Day"... and so it continues.

We looked at our calendar and realized this was the last weekend we could all go on our steamboat ride. The Belle of Louisville is the oldest still working steamboat in the country. We LOVED it. The steam pipes blow old-time music and we ate our lunch up top on the observation deck. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Williams!

Today is the last day ever. EVER. Of Ryan's overnight call as an Internal Medicine Resident. Really people. Someone should applause.

Three years ago, when we first started residency, I remember seeing him walk through the door after hours and days gone and the wear was all over his face. I remember really thinking, what have we done? Is this what we want with our life? Is is worth it? It has been hard. It's been a real pressure cooker. He's seen the whole gamut of human emotions in dealing with the health and well being of people. The stories he has! (I'm going to blog about those later.)


When I can, I try to bring him dinner at the Veterans Hospital. It's the closest. Sometimes, I get there and he gets paged or has to run to an emergency (code)... I never know if we can sit and eat with him or if it's a drop at the curb. Today, things seemed slow, and we got lucky.

Entrance to VA Here he comes

We woke him up. Sleep when you can is how it goes. Sharing dinner in the ICU team room.

They play doctor with the phones and computers.

Off we leave him. As I push the stroller out I hear some vet yell to Ryan, hey what's up doc?

He chats back with him and I think it's nice to see him like this. On his last night of call.

And he is still happy.

And finally, we have Ryan's parents coming into town this week. Ryan has his program graduation fancy banquet and Tanner is getting baptized. Eight years ago we had this little boy that's been there through it all with us. Closing one chapter of our life this week for Ryan and yet just starting out for Tanner. I'm telling you, it all feels momentous. Please come if you can.