Friday, July 26, 2013

Ingrid Turns Three: Lalaloopsy Style

I looooove parties at Steph's house and this one was no exception.  Steph and MB had a joint party for Maelea and Ing since their birthdays are days apart and they were both turning three.  I started to get nervous at this idea when I counted up how many people were going to be there.  Total anxiety if THAT many people were going to be at MY house, so I just transferred the nerves over and pretended that it actually WAS my house.  Then, I found out there would be a bounce house and I immediately went into bounce house bouncer mode, saying there needed to be rules about how many kids would jump at a time.  I made a mental note to NEVER leave the bounce house unattended.  I went over the night before to help Steph decorate when she didn't need my help at all and in true Steph form, she was just beginning to decorate at ten that evening.  Calm as a cucumber.  Slow and steady.  Relaxed and ready for some party fun for her sweet girl.  Have I mentioned how much I love her? And how much I will never be able to be like her?  But she does rub off on ya a bit and I left slightly calmed down. 

Let me tell you.  This was some party.  So much love.  So many families joining together.  I just loved it and all the joy.  I couldn't wait to scoop up this little three year old.


She is the smartest, kindest, sweetest little thing.  I just LOVED her dress Steph made and that flower birthday crown was adorable.

Of course, the bounce house was the HIT of the evening and my girls jumped and jumped and no one (magically) was hurt.














Honestly.  The. Best. Party.

LOVE my Ingrid Cate.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Residency Graduation- 2013

There have been many moments during this journey to completion of residency that I wondered if we would make it.  I obviously knew we would make it, but that didn't keep me from wondering.  Ross always stayed focus.  Always remained calm.  Always kept his eyes on the prize.  So, I guess what I am saying, is I wondered if I would make it.  HAHA.  I can remember when Ross had a week of nights and Elise still slept in my lap in the chair and Amelia woke up a million times a night and I slept about three hours a day. I would cry almost daily and then suck it up only to cry again the next night he left.  The support that we had was above and beyond what anyone could ever have, I am sure.  And to those that made it without family, I applaud.  A standing ovation.  I am thankful we did not have to endure that. So thankful for the residency in which we were placed.

So, as we got ready to head to graduation, we both just kept looking at each other, saying nothing.  We just knew.  We made it.  And as we drove to Springfield, I got very teary eyed discussing different memories and struggles.  As we talked on the drive up, we realized that we didn't just make it, we thrived!  Arriving in Springfield, we had an 18 month old an left with a two year old and four year old and so many amazing memories.  




 Then came an exciting moment.  Ross won the award for best scholarship project.  He worked on this project for over a year and although I asked many times for him to explain it to me, I never really understood what it was.  Isn't that pitiful?  I know it was about pregnant women and the type of lubricant used in ultrasounds? Or in checking dilation?  I honestly don't even know what he was trying to prove or not prove.  But, no matter because it was obviously the BEST project of anyone's.  I was SO so proud as he received this!!

Then came the even bigger honor.  Dr. Fursa, the director of the program stood up to talk about the Resident of the Year and all the qualities that this person possessed to receive this award.  I was trying to decide in my head which of the two Chief Residents it would be.  Now mind you, I didn't even let Ross put his name in the pot to be Chief Resident because of all the work it entails.  As I am picking the winner, Dr. Fursa says, "And the winner is Dr. Ross Halsted."  Oh my word I just started bawling.  Of course I think Ross is the best, but I didn't realize the entire faculty and staff did as well.  My sweet hubby.


 And then we had to say goodbye to the Hahn's.  They took us under their wing from the moment we stepped foot in Missouri.  Before, actually.  Emily was encouraging me from the moment we found out we would be moving to Springfield.  They bought us countless dinners, had us over to their home, bought us ice cream, and truly invested in us.  Emily was the recipient of thousands of crazy Heather texts.  From call schedule gripes, to lonely hormonal woes, to wailing prayer requests.  She answered them all with truth and grace, as is her innermost nature.  We had dinner and pedicures and play dates and heart to hearts.  I am ever grateful for her friendship.  And Shelby.  Oh my word he was Ross's number one, go to mentor.  Ross has always thought Shelby hung the moon and it was very quickly that I realized why.  He answered a million questions for me regarding the girls and came in early to see them when they were sick and worked them in so that they wouldn't have to wait in the waiting room.  He sent in prescriptions at all hours and cared for my girls as if they were his own.  My insane mother worries never exasperated him, at least not that he let me see, and I trust him fully.  When Elise was hospitalized, he was there every step and Emily sat in the hospital room with me when family couldn't be there.  She brought Elise every toy imaginable to keep a one year old occupied for four days in a tiny hospital bed. When Amelia had to go to the ER with stomach pains and sit there four hours, Shelby raced up there and stayed with us the whole time.  Away from his family and after a long day of work.   I could literally go on and on about the servant hearts of this couple.  We love them so and will forever have a place for their family in our hearts and homes!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

SURPRISE!

I had a surprise party for Ross before his graduation and thanks to several people, it was pulled off perfectly.  I'm sure it is of no surprise to you that my mom was the driving force behind getting this arranged in little to no time.  She is my right hand.  And foot.  And anything else needed to function. 

What is super special is that Aaron and Reb came up from Jonesboro to be with us.  Yes, they came with a three year old, a one year old, and one on the way.  SUCH good people, The Mitchell's.  They are always showing His love and it was so great to watch all the kids play the night before.  Steph brought her girls over too and we had a big ole pool party.  Ross thought they were leaving the next day to head on to Tulsa, so it worked out perfectly.





Claire, Amelia, Elise, Ingrid, Liv, and Caleb


This was hilarous.  Caleb brought his own diggers from home for fear of having to play with girl toys and the girls TOTALLY took over his toys.  Amelia has asked several times for a bulldozer or backhoe or whatever in the world they are called.  So now, that is on her Christmas wish list, ha.





Time for the Party!!

Blurry, but surprised. 




Saturday, July 20, 2013

More Laking

Last week, Mom and Dad gave us the best treat.  They watched the girls while Ross and I and Steph and D went to the lake.  To ski and tube and wakeboard.  To be young again.  To eat cheetos.  To jump off cliffs.  To tread water.  To talk.  To be immature.  To reflect on our blessings.  To just be friends.

I cannot express how great this day was.  We rented a boat and had absolutely perfect weather.  Perfect company.  It was truly a wonderful day.  Ross and I's anniversary trip last only a short time and we had to leave because Amelia got sick and this day more than made up for it.  Such a blast.







The next day, we went to the beach and the best part is we were there in about 15 minutes!  Chad and Amy took us to one of their hidden spots, Sandy Beach, and we had a blast.  The girls love their children and I do too.  They parent in ways that are similar to Ross and I and it makes it easier when spending a whole day together.  This is something that I never would have even considered before having kids, but it is truly an eye opener and honestly, a little hard sometimes.  Obviously I don't think Ross and I have it down pat, but it is a little easier when you are with a family that has similar expectations of their children as far as behavior.  Although there are lessons to be learned everywhere and from all parenting styles, so I will just move on with some pictures of our day. 


Chad and Ross in deep discussion




Bennett is SO sweet with Elise

Elise fell asleep on the ride back to the dock.  So sweet.