We, however, refused to be as decimated as our garden. We persevered with the help of Lowe's and the farmer's market. We bought some small plants and built a fence. The tomatoes are flowering and we seem to be back in business.
2. Health - I have been sick for what is starting to feel like years. A progression of stubborn colds and a general malaise, and a lymph node in my neck that just wouldn't go away. Finally, the oncologist within me on red alert, I had a biopsy of the offending node. The diagnosis is Kikuchi disease, a self-limited autoimmune condition that should resolve within 6 months at the most. As the name might imply, this is found most commonly among the Japanese. Since I am decidedly caucasian, this diagnosis confirms my general classification as unusual. I feel pretty confident that my PCP and I know exactly the same amount about this disease because we read the same E-medicine article. In any case, I am slowly getting better. I have had laryngitis for almost two weeks, but even that is getting better and I am loosing my husky, sexy baritone.
3. Running - Because of the above mentioned malaise, I have not been as consistent in my gym attendance as previously, but I am still eking along, genuinely loosing weight and . . . drumroll please . . . I jogged for a full 20 minutes for the first time since I was in med school. I went back this morning and it wasn't exactly a skip through the tulips. More like roses. Really thorny roses. But I made it. And really my biggest problem was this cough so I am confident I'll be back to three times a week this week.
4. Work - Dave started a new job - he is now a trainee in the financial planning program for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Starting in November he will be available for all your financial planning needs. This is a big exciting change for him and one that he has needed to make for a while. But it is also throwing our household into chaos. He actually has a schedule and work hours and an immense lack of flexibility. We're getting up earlier which makes EVERYONE, even the little one, cranky. But it's good and he's studying like he's back in school. This will be his "first year of fellowship".
5. Research - July first starts what was going to be my last year at Pitt but that may be changing slightly. I just found out I won a grant from the St. Baldrick's Foundation - remember the folks Dave shaved his head for? - and it is a two year grant. So, between Dave's training program and the awe-inspiring fact that someone wants to pay me real money to do what I am loving doing, we may be here a titch longer than originally planned. Things are going along swimmingly and I even presented my data at a local research symposium. Seeing that this was my first real research presentation ever and that most of the other presenters had PhD's and had clearly done this before, I was shocked to win an "Outstanding Presentation" Award. (And thrilled by the cash.)
6. School - Nate graduated to the "Toddler" program at school. Complete with certificate and room change. He LOVES his new teachers and talks nonstop about all the fun he had at school when he comes home. I think he had really outgrown the stimulation available in the Tot room which pretty much consisted of looking at picture books and listening to the same CD. Now there is s train table and a "kitchen" and shopping carts and "babies" to feed. Plus dress up clothes and playing in the little pool two times a week. Plus, wait for it, a pretend vacuum cleaner. He is playing with this almost every time I pick him up. This morning, clutching a kiss a la "The Kissing Hand" he sat down to eat his breakfast "like a big boy" and did not cry when I dropped him off. I have all fingers and toes crossed and a braid in my hair in hopes that this will continue.
7. Growth - Nate is firmly over 25 pounds and tall enough to climb whatever he wants and to harvest any item of his choice from all but the very center of the dining table. I am proud of him, so happy that he feels well, and unabashedly acknowledge that there were advantages to a pee wee boy.
Overall June has been a good month for our family. I am sorry I was away so long. I can't promise that it will never happen again, but I have a lot swirling around in my mind to write about so it may be more consistent for a while.
5. Research - July first starts what was going to be my last year at Pitt but that may be changing slightly. I just found out I won a grant from the St. Baldrick's Foundation - remember the folks Dave shaved his head for? - and it is a two year grant. So, between Dave's training program and the awe-inspiring fact that someone wants to pay me real money to do what I am loving doing, we may be here a titch longer than originally planned. Things are going along swimmingly and I even presented my data at a local research symposium. Seeing that this was my first real research presentation ever and that most of the other presenters had PhD's and had clearly done this before, I was shocked to win an "Outstanding Presentation" Award. (And thrilled by the cash.)
6. School - Nate graduated to the "Toddler" program at school. Complete with certificate and room change. He LOVES his new teachers and talks nonstop about all the fun he had at school when he comes home. I think he had really outgrown the stimulation available in the Tot room which pretty much consisted of looking at picture books and listening to the same CD. Now there is s train table and a "kitchen" and shopping carts and "babies" to feed. Plus dress up clothes and playing in the little pool two times a week. Plus, wait for it, a pretend vacuum cleaner. He is playing with this almost every time I pick him up. This morning, clutching a kiss a la "The Kissing Hand" he sat down to eat his breakfast "like a big boy" and did not cry when I dropped him off. I have all fingers and toes crossed and a braid in my hair in hopes that this will continue.
7. Growth - Nate is firmly over 25 pounds and tall enough to climb whatever he wants and to harvest any item of his choice from all but the very center of the dining table. I am proud of him, so happy that he feels well, and unabashedly acknowledge that there were advantages to a pee wee boy.
Overall June has been a good month for our family. I am sorry I was away so long. I can't promise that it will never happen again, but I have a lot swirling around in my mind to write about so it may be more consistent for a while.
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