A Walk to Beautiful

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/haml-05.html

I recently watched a show on PBS called, "A Walk to Beautiful." This film exposes women in Ethiopia who have developed medical complications due to childbirth. This complication, combined with their limited heath care, keeps them treated like outcasts among their family and friends. 

Isn't it humbling to hear stories like this? One woman explained how her desperation drove her to walk 6 hours to reach the nearest bus that could take her to a hospital for help. It was interesting and touching. It's always good to be reminded of how blessed we in the U.S. are. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/haml-03.html

This picture demonstrates how the women there are expected to do most of the hard labor and work. I definitely need to complain less and be more content with what I have!

Even though this may seem a little far out, these women are still real- that is what makes you feel for them when you see pictures of them and hear their story.

You can watch "A Walk to Beautiful" here. 

Happy Valentine's BFF

Happy Day

This May Tanner will graduate. That being said, Tanner was offered a job this past weekend at a call center for drug information! This service is provided to pharmacists, doctors, and residents that live within the region. Physicians call this center with questions they are stumped on and it is Tanner's responsibility to handle their questions mostly through research and sheer BRAIN!

Another main part of this job will be for Tanner to oversee the students that come through on their rotation. He will also work with the students when they do their clinicals at school, and have the opportunity to teach a class at the University to first year students.

This residency has him do a bunch of research on a topic of his choice. He will also be doing research on Medicaid. From this, I believe he will also be publishing too- no big deal.

This residency is awesome because of the direction Tanner is taking; having this educational based residency really makes him specialized so that he would be able to teach in his career. There are many different residency's he could pick and try to get... we are very blessed to have this amazing opportunity! Congrats, Love. I am so grateful to you and all your hard work.

Santa Claws

I had prepped Liam about Santa Clause, telling him he was a jolly 'old man that gives gifts by the millions and flies on a magical sleigh; so when Jolly 'ol St. Nick actually arrived, it was a little mind boggling.

Julian didn't care who he was. All he wanted for Christmas was his two front teeth (which you can't see, but had actually cut in right during our Christmas break). Santa was generous and gave him a little ducky book too.

Touchdown!
Liam and Julian's first Santa encounter this year only took 20 minutes of coaxing Liam, and then another 30 minutes of me standing in line with a bunch of other naughty children.

Our boy's were the last of many to sit on Santa's lap that night- you could have probably guessed by Santa's not-so-jolly look.

Santa Encounter #2
Later on Liam was surprised again to find Santa Clause arrive during our Christmas vacation at my Grandpa's house. This Santa came bearing gifts of Cracker Jacks wrapped in $5 bills!

All the Scary Santa encounters proved worthy as Liam woke up Christmas morning to find that even his not-so-jolly-even-a-little bit-scary-Santa had come to give a gift after all.

Hulk Mania

If you are not aware, our son Liam has awesome Hulk powers. I found him in the living room transforming right before my eyes.

Hulk Smash!
Liam was lucky enough to get these awesome Hulk Smash Hands from his Aunt and Uncle this Christmas. This pose was given only moments after he opened his gift.

Gage: 1. Liam: 0.

Thanks Hana and Nic for the great present- it was a smash! (I had to say it.)