Bits and Pieces at 34

So I've got to say that my 34th year was the best year of my life and that makes me happy.

I read a tidbit on Erica's blog this morning about something Marie Osmond said when she was on Oprah; "You marry at the level of your self worth".  That's an interesting concept.  I wonder if that applies to men and women or just women.  I'm gonna say for the purpose of this post that it applies to both.  If that is, in fact, the case then I have a whole lot more self worth than I thought.  My wife is an amazing person and her only fault is that I think sometimes she thinks too little of herself (what does that say about her marrying me?.....).

I wear a suit to clinic.  My dad has always worn a suit or sport coat to work and so maybe it's because I grew up with it.  It's old school.  There used to be a day when doctors always wore suits to the office.  I don't do it because I think I'm better than other physicians.  In actuality I often think I am dumber than many other physicians, but my patients don't know that.  I believe that the majority of the patient's I see each day will be healthier if they believe the things I tell them and wearing a suit makes me more credible to them.  I don't demand respect from my patients (maybe I should) but those patients who do respect me seem to do better and wearing a suit makes it easier for them to do just that.  So for the time being I will continue to wear a suit to work.  Heck, it's only 4 days a week for the next 30 years anyway.

I hope the Miller family sells the Jazz and they move.  Life would be so much easier if I could pick and choose which NBA teams to like, but that can't happen as long as Utah has a team.  Lets face it, all that is good with the Jazz is gone.  Stockton to Malone seems like a dream.  Sloan was pushed out by somebody and Deron already has his bags packed.  Just move the team to Vancouver and trade for Nash and Yao so the Chinese can give Canadians an all star in a sport where people keep their teeth.  When that happens I can root for Derrick Rose and the Bulls (even if they employ that Loozer guy) with a clear conscience.  Oh well at least I can still hate Lebum.

Melissa is pregnant, due in September.  I thought this pregnancy might be a bit harder psychologically than the previous 5, but I had no idea it would be this much of a roller coaster.  Every day we are faced with the what ifs.  Anytime Melissa feels slightly different she starts worrying about the baby.  Every day we wonder, mostly to ourselves as it seems like tempting fate to talk about it, if we should try again if things don't go as planned.  The bright side is that every day I also look at our 4 healthy children and almost cry at how lucky we are to have 4 perfectly healthy, happy children.

I love sunshine.  Someday when we move to our almost final resting place it is going to cost an arm and a leg to heat because the whole place is going to be windows.  We'll have to replace the furniture on a regular basis as it will surely become sun bleached because the curtains will always be open.  I hope by then I'm not too old to lay on the carpeted floor, read a book, and feel the sun on my back in the middle of the winter because in the promised land the sun shines 310 days out of the year as compared to 173 here in the Bend.

Happy Birthday!!

Today is Jacob's Birthday!!!  Happy Birthday!!!  To keep with his Residency tradition he is on-call today. (for the third year in a row).  He got up before anyone else and went to do rounds.  Although, I must say, I did wake up long enough to wish him Happy Birthday before he left (while laying in bed).  We have a quiet family celebration planned with Chicken Pot Pie and Pecan Pie :)  I am trying to be optimistic that he won't be called out during the middle of this small family celebration , here's hoping :)

So Happy Birthday to a you Sweetheart!!!  And just think, next year you probably won't be on call!!  Yippee Skippee!!!!

Good Day Sunshine!!

• The sun has been shinning this week and the temperature is in the 40's.  I finally have gone outside for something other than taking the kids to school.  I hadn't realize how stir crazy I was getting but I have to say, I am so ready for Spring!!!

Darth Drives a VW

If you didn't see this commercial during the Super Bowl or when it went viral last week you need to watch it now.  This is one of my top 10 commercials ever.  I love it when the kid turns at the end.

Jamaica, Birthday, Baptism

I think the original plan was to make each of these events into separate posts, but time got away from us so I'm taking it upon myself to lump them together and get some pictures up.

We went to Jamaica last week to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  It was wonderful and I'm looking forward to a few more vacations without the kids (and a few more with the kids) in the coming years.

 I really dislike this picture.  Probably because I wasn't too excited to take it.  The snorkeling was fun.

We came back to South Bend to find my parents and Melissa's mom waiting for us.  Since they were all here we decided to celebrate Spencer's 8th birthday.  We went to IHOP of course then the kids got to ride go-carts.  Jessi and Kristian didn't even make it one time around the track before they broke down crying, but Spencer had a ball in the track all to himself.

On Saturday Spencer was baptized.  After his baptism while he and I were in the changing room he told me that his birthday party was fun, but this was probably the best day of his life.  It was a very emotional day for me and I'm so proud of Spencer for his choices and example.  Spencer got a new suit for the occasion and was very excited to wear it.