What the....

Okay so last night we had a knee-slapping time laughing at our friends funny face they posted on their blog. I don't now if it was out of severe boredom or just plain silliness that we agreed to do this, but we thought we'd see if we could do better making the same face. Funny friends, you know who you are, let us know what you think. Any other brave souls want to join the competition? You have a few days and then we will be stalking your blogs. C'mon I dare you!

The Future Dr. Richards and his assistant nurse Stefani

How'd you like these 2 weirdos taking care of ya?

Oh Emma!

Yesterday morning before church we had a few minutes for a quick photo shoot. Emma looked so cute in her sailor dress from Grandma Susan we had to make time for a few pictures! The cuteness however did not last long. Though she looks sweet and innocent in the pictures, she was a naughty girl yesterday at nap time. This week she has discovered that she can climb in and out of her big girl bed all by herself. During nap time I have to remove all toys from her room or she plays instead of sleeps. After church I did just that, removed her toys and then laid her in bed. Jer and I decided we'd take a nap too, while we had the chance. Shortly after falling asleep I was abruptly awakened by a loud knock, knock, knock. It was Emma knocking on her door yelling, "Mommy, Dadda." I opened the door to find that disaster had struck. Since she had no toys she decided to scoot her mini chair over to a shelf to reach things that aren't supposed to be touched without help. She had wipes, torn book pages, hair clips, diaper cream, nail clippers, hundreds of hair elastics, and many other miscellaneous items scattered all over her room. I was shocked that I didn't even hear her making such a mess. I thought she was sleeping soundly! All I could say was "Oh Emma" over and over again. Needless to say we will now be removing the chair during nap time as well. We're in real trouble when she figures out how to open the closet!

Cupcakes for Breakfast

Last night some friends came by to help Jerod give Emma, who has been ill, a blessing and with them came cupcakes. Emma gleefully ate the frosting off of one and begged for another. I told her she could have more tomorrow. Well it's tomorrow and those cupcakes must have been on her mind all night. First thing this morning, right after crawling out of bed, she walked over to the kitchen counter and pointed, "tup take, tup take." I gave in to her request and let her eat cupcakes for breakfast! I couldn't resist taking this picture of her messy cupcake face. "Dank do Atee!" (translation-thank you Ashley)

What a Cry Baby

Today, I must admit, I am EXTREMELY homesick. While the Grenadians are enjoying the day off to celebrate their independence I'm stuck at home with a sick kid. Even though this Holiday has nothing to do with anything back at home I feel like I should be doing something fun with my family. Instead I'm here balling my eyes out. I'm crying because I want to be making homemade pizza and applesauce with my sisters. I'm crying because I don't feel like being a housewife today-doing laundry and dishes. I'm crying because I want Emma to be running around with her cousins instead of tearing the house apart. I'm crying because I want Jerod to stop studying and make me feel better. I'm crying because I want to have game night where I can stay up late and laugh hysterically at all of our crazy comments. I'm crying because I want to put on my sweats and take a nap under 5 layers of blankets in my parents freezing cold basement. Finally, I am crying because my landlords upstairs are having a very noisy party.

Okay so enough crying already! I'm slightly embarrassed to be bearing my soul to who knows who on my blog. I'm sure my friends here are laughing by now and thinking, "she'll get over it, I did!" But I share nothing but the truth and todays truths aren't so pleasant. Some days are just harder than others and today happens to be one of them. Reality is that this happens to be our home now and we do enjoy it most of the time! We did have a great weekend and actually got to spend some time on the beach with friends. Ahh, I feel better now to get it all out. Thank you for listening, well actually reading, whoever you are.

SO Pool Days

Every Monday and Thursdsay the University Club, an SGU resort, has the pool open for the significant others of students. We are referred to as SO's (significant others) on the island. The pool is awesome and one of our favorite things to do. Emma has quickly learned to cooperate while I drench her white body in sunscreen because she knows that it means we must be going swimming. On Monday I found her in the living room picking up spilled sunscreen off the floor and rubbing it all over her face (my fault for leaving it in reach). I then asked her, "are you excited to go to the pool?" She replied, "uh, huhhhh"and patted her white cheeks. Can't wait for pool day tomorrow!!

House Guests of Another Kind

Last night after coming home from the white coat ceremony I gently put Emma to sleep, completed my nightly getting ready for bed ritual, and then crawled into my clean, crisp sheets to get some shut eye myself. I turned on the air conditioner, with my handy remote control, and moments after finally getting comfortable heard a crinkly noise in the room. Just as I lifted my head to find out what it was this massive cockroach came shooting out of my A/C unit and landed on my bed. I immediately jumped up and danced to the living room in my undies. "JEROD, there is a GIANT cockroach on the bed, could you pleeeease come and kill it." I shouted. He rolled his eyes, set his anatomy book down and came to my rescue.

Once this disgusting insect was in his sight he turned to me and said, "Oh, he is pretty big isn't he? The good news for you is that he landed on my side of the bed." Just as he went to remove it I said, "wait...we have to get a picture of this thing." I composed myself long enough to get the camera and with shaky fingers got this shot. Believe me this picture does not do it justice. I didn't dare get any closer, this creature was intimidating and there's Jer to my left whispering,"careful...slow...don't let him jump away...." After assuring that his squished body actually got flushed down the toilet I went back to bed. Only I didn't sleep. I had the creeps big time. I lied awake in the fetal position starring at the air conditioner. Every noise put me on edge and there was no way I was letting Jer turn the A/C on again later. Being hot was a sacrifice I was willing to make because I was sure it would happen again. When Jerod finally came to bed he was laughing that I was still freaked out. I simply stated,"I have not let the tiny red ants crawling on the walls get to me. I have dealt with the long-legged spiders on the corners of the ceiling. I was rational when I awoke to a huge millipede crawling across the living room floor, but I swear if another coakroach comes flying out of our A/C unit and lands on this bed I will not be able to handle it!" The good news, our landlord is having a professional come and fumigate. Apparently they spray about once a year to keep the creepy, crawly things outside where they belong.

"Today is the beginning of my medical education and training as a physician..."

Tonight was Jerod's White Coat Ceremony. It was forever long but exciting too! The keynote speaker, a highly recognized MD from the United States, gave an excellent speech that included topics such as the patient physician relationship, ethics in patient care, and palliative care. I thought his talk was interesting from start to finish and he gave awesome advice to the aspiring physicians. After his address each students name and country of origin was read while faculty members assisted them into their white coats. Next the students stood to recite together the schools honor code/professional commitment. The best part of the night, besides Jerod getting his white coat of course, was the food they fed us following the ceremony. I wanted to stand in line again and again!