Utah

It's Official....Steve's a Doctor!

Steve graduated with his degree in osteopathic medicine on May 15, 2010. I'm so happy for him. He has truly worked harder than I've ever imagined someone could work for something. He studied and struggled and he pushed through sickness, injury, and exhaustion. To say that I am impressed and proud would be an understatement. Steve has worked for this day for most of his life. He is now officially a doctor and I am so proud of him. I know he doesn't like me to toot his horn, but on this day I feel justified. Steve graduated 7th in his class....of over 170 students! I was always so impressed with how he never shared his grades with anyone. He didn't want to be competitive in medical school (which, if you know Steve at all, you'll know that a competition comes second nature to him). He was in school to gain an education so that he could some day be the best doctor possible. He has grown in so many ways.

He's grown spiritually. Many times Steve would come home completely exhausted from an exam and would say, "I had a lot of help on that one." I know Steve has come closer to the Lord because he has relied on Him so much through the last four years. It's been neat to see Steve work as hard as he did and then turn it all over to the Lord. Time and time again Steve has talked about how the Lord has guided him in things large and small.

Steve has grown intellectually. Well, this is a bit obvious. But I've seen Steve grow from someone who knew enough to get in to medical school to someone who knows enough to actually be of help to others. He has studied so hard through many sleepless nights to learn the science of medicine. Then I watched him spend his third and fourth years of medical school learning how to treat people, how to understand the process of healing, how to deal with them and their families, how to be a good doctor.

Steve has grown as a husband and a father. These past four years have proven a wonderful trial for our family and I believe Steve has come out victorious. I have always been grateful for the time that Steve is willing to dedicate to our family. Even when he has been on crazy-busy rotations (like surgery in downtown Detroit), he takes time to connect with the family. He makes sure the kids are tucked in bed and that I'm taken care of. On numerous occasions Steve would take the kids out of their beds long after they'd gone to sleep to hold them and rock them. I am grateful that his priorities have included our family at the top.

In short, I am so proud of Steve. He has labored for this degree and we had a great time celebrating it. On our way to Kirksville we decided to visit Nauvoo one last time. Steve's parents met us there and watched the kids while we did a session at the temple. It was so neat to be back in that temple. In Kirksville we were able to see lots of good friends, hang out with family, visit the Wal-Mart a few times, eat a celebratory dinner at the Pear Tree, and of course attend the long-awaited graduation. I can't say it enough, but I am so proud of Steve. As he walked across the stage when his name was read, I was filled with so many feelings of excitement, anticipation, relief, and appreciation. It was a wonderful day!

Now for the photos.....

Here is Steve getting robed...the official moment!
The Kirksville newspaper did a story on the graduation and
Steve was the one pictured for the article! Here is the link.

The Graduate. (not Dustin Hoffman)

I'm sure Sarah had some game going on here. She's probably the princess and Grant has just saved her by defeating the terrible dragon.Steve's parents.

My parents.

Jared Chase, Curtis Nielson, Steve, & Matt Nelson.
These four were pretty much joined at the hips during first and second years. They all studied so well together. They are all such great friends. Can't believe they're all doctors now!

Nelsons, Chases, Laters, Parks

Jenny Parks and me.

Tana Nelson, Margi Chase, me.

Brian Parks, Scott Rynearson, Tyler Moss, Nate Nielson, Cameron Cartier, David Hill, Trever Wilkins, Matt Nelson, Steve Later, Jared Chase.

Project Night Group: Katie Rynearson, Saysha Nielson, Melissa Moss, Jessica Gowdy, Katie Wilkins, Tana Nelson, Kasey Later, Margi Chase

Those project nights were definitely a saving grace for me...these girls made it all bearable!

Kasey, Katie, Melissa, Jessica, Saysha, Kathryn, Katie, Margi, Tisa, & Tana. We all met up at a park for a shower for Kathryn....she had her first just three weeks ago!

All our kids at the park.....I can't believe how they've grown!

Brother & Sister

After breakfast this morning Sarah & Grant were playing in the kitchen and Sarah reached over to give Grant a hug. She said, "you're my best brother." Then Grant said to Sarah, "you're my bes fren." (best friend) They aren't only close in age, but they are close friends. Sarah & Grant are at the perfect age where they play together well and love each other....most of the time. I hope they will always remain close and always get along so well.

Sarah & Grant just after church in January 2010
Grant & Sarah on his first birthday, October 2008

Awwhnwwh!!

Yesterday Steve let me sleep in and he got up with the kids. I finally rolled out of bed and came downstairs around 9:30 and found Grant all alone in the kitchen. He was sitting at the kitchen all by himself with his entire hand in a bag of brown sugar (I'm pretty sure it was used for their oatmeal). He knew he shouldn't be eating straight brown sugar and didn't put up a fight when I took the bag away.

Then he said, "Awwhnwwh!!! You nemmer lemme hab it!" (You never let me have it!) Of course I don't let you eat sugar by the handful! And then he was done with the tantrum. Love this boy!

Grant put this ensemble together all by himself, complete with his
cowboy boots, earband, sword, and Eeyore sippy cup.

Girls Trip to NYC

Highlights:

• seeing Jane's apartment, her life, seeing her in her element. She was, by far, the perfect tour guide/"cruise director". She was giving us NYC trivia the whole weekend. I'm not sure if she knew everything, but she acted like it and we believed her!
  
• visiting the Manhattan temple all together. Even though I was fighting a head cold and can't say I was completely awake during the whole session, it was definitely a highlight. We also went to church with Jane & she shared her testimony of Christ. She is such a wonderful, solid, and tender person. I felt her love of the Savior as she spoke and it reminded me of how much I respect her strong spirit.
• the food. oh, the food. Jane knows all the good spots to eat and we didn't waste time on healthy meals. It was all made better by the fact that I didn't have to shop for, prepare, serve, or clean up any meal over the weekend. We ate every few hours and I dream of the Levain bakery. I'm going through withdrawals of their chocolate chip walnut cookie. In fact, I've already found a few different copycat recipes that I'm dying to try.
  
• constant girl-talk.....Gilmore Girls, hair loss after pregnancy, recipes, shoes, blisters, etc.
• spending the morning with Liesel (one of my very closest friends growing up). She met us for brunch at Sarabeths, then went shopping, and finally we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge together. I love that although we hadn't seen each other in over a year it was as if we talk every day....truly a mark of a great friendship.
  
• Shopping in SoHo. (I don't really know if we were actually in SoHo, but isn't that where people go to shop while in NYC?) I didn't buy anything, but it was fun to see all the people and movement.
  
• Carrying around a bag that only had MY necessities: gum, wallet, lip gloss. No diapers, wipes, toys, treats, etc.
• Celebrity sightings....we were on the set TWICE of Damages, a sketchy TV show on FX starring Glenn Close. We also were on a bus with Kyra Sedgwick. Who knew she rides buses?
  
• the entertainment. We went to Carnegie Hall on Friday night to hear the San Francisco symphony perform Mahler's Resurrection. It was surprisingly moving and it got me thinking about Easter. On Saturday we saw the Fantasticks (which Grandpa Madsen designed costumes for in San Franscisco) and it was "fantastick!" Apparently, it's the longest running Broadway show ever. It was playing in a little theater just off Broadway and we were lucky enough to get front row seats. The cast of eight seemed small at first, but each character is super. It was truly memorable and unique. When I think of Broadway, I usually think of the enormous theaters with a cast of over 50 and incredible sets and effects. But going to the Fantasticks has broadened my opinion of Broadway. I loved being close enough to actually interact with the actors. After the show we even talked to the lead role, el Gallo. It was just his sixth time performing this show and he was incredible. It was definitely a night to remember.
  
• Coming home to see my adorable little ones (poor Grant caught a stomach flu while I was gone) and a great husband who took care of them. I missed them all so much, and I was ready to jump back in full-swing.
  

Grant's Surgery

Last Thursday Grant went through a 2 1/2 hour surgery. He had a thyroglossal duct cyst removed, adenoids removed, and ear tubes put in both ears. The adenoids and tubes aren't really a big deal, but the cyst was kind of serious. The thyroglossal duct is something that usually disappears during gestation, but Grant's didn't & it became a cyst. I first noticed it back in mid-December, right before we went to Utah for the holidays. One day it just popped out of his neck. It was the size of a giant marble and it looked like he'd grown and Adam's apple overnight. Steve knew right away what it was, so I went to the doctor the next day. Since then, we've seen four doctors about his cyst and hearing situation. We finally got an appointment with a pediatric ENT & he's the one who decided to not only take out the cyst, but also to put in ear tubes and remove his adenoids. We had Grant's hearing tested and it was quite a bit below what it should be. The ENT was pretty confident that once tubes were in place his hearing would improve.


Grant was so sweet at the hospital. The first night he said,"I yuv you too," in the middle of the night & patted me on the arm. It was like he knew he needed to be comforted, so he did the things to me that he knows comfort him.

All Grant wanted to hear was the "BINGO" song ("there was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o. B I N G O..."), and from 3:30-4:00 a.m. that's all he wanted....so that's what I sang and he was completely satisfied. He even forgot about the oximeter that was attached to his toe.
It was so fun to just spend time with Grant, doing the things that he loves to do. We watched lots of Cars, ate lots of pancakes (for four meals), played with cars on a race track, read books, colored, put on bandaids, did stickers, and had lots of cuddling time.
By the second afternoon Grant was up and moving around and eating pancakes and applesauce like crazy. His hearing seemed to improve almost instantly. He even responded to a whisper, which he hasn't ever done. I love this boy more than words can say and I am so glad/relieved to see him doing so much better. He just melts me.

Playing Doctor

This week in Preschool we talked about doctors. I figured it was good timing, with Grant's surgery coming up this week. The kids had a great time putting their own black doctor bags together, complete with a plastic syringe (which they pretended to be a shot), a few bandaids, a mirror on a headband, Q-tips, and popsicle sticks. These quick kits provided hours of play time fun for the kids and the following conversations between the kids and Steve. I just jotted down the funny things as they were talking.

Sarah: You weigh 20 pounds. (holding a popsicle stick up to his forehead)

Sarah, looking in Steve's mouth with a popsicle stick: You have a red infection. You have mashed potatoes in your ears. You have a lump on your neck. You're going to need surgery today.Can I put the medicine in your mouth? You'll feel better. Don't worry. You'll see your Mama. (Just for pretend, I promise.) Then kisses him goodbye. I'll check on my next patient and then I'll be right back. Do you like bubble gum? (asking about the medicine) Ok, you'll like it. I don't like bubble gum.

Sarah: You have a lump.
Steve: Is it cancer?
Sarah: What's cancer?
Steve: It's bad.
Sarah: Then it's cancer.

Sarah, feeling Steve's arm: Whoa, you've got really strong bones. You've got to drink lots of milk so you can be strong.
Steve: Strong what?
Sarah: Strong bones.

Grant: I get you bandaids. ok, Seetie?
Steve: what did he say?
Sarah: He called you Sweetie! giggles.

Grant has stinky buns, and Steve says, "Dude, you stink."
Grant, with a big smile and sweetest voice says, "yeah."

Grant, wearing gloves and responding to Steve's fake cry: It's OK. No cry. I sawyee. I get bandaid. Then he put the bandaid on his own arm because it had a shark on it and Grant wanted it.

Every 5-7 minutes he does a sneak attack shot to Steve HARD. Then Grant smiles.
Then every 2-3 minutes Grant rediscovers his six bandaids and laughs with pure joy.

At the pretend pharmacy:
Kasey, the pharamicist: Have we filled his prescription before?
Sarah: Yes.
Kasey, pretending to write on the computer: When is his birthday?
Sarah: 20 o'clock

Sarah & Grant are at such fun ages. They love to pretend to do anything grown-up. Grant basically worships everything that Sarah does and copies it. And Sarah is loving all the attention. I hope they'll always be this close and have this much fun together.