Touro Graduation

HE DID IT!!!! Ryan graduated from Touro University on May 18 2014 after three long years of hours and hours of endless studying, countless projects, and tons of dedication and hard work, it all paid off! He took his boards April 30, and he found out he had passed them about a week later, so graduation was PURE enjoyment!! It was so much fun to be able to relax with friends and family and celebrate Ryan and all his hard work. He had also accepted a job offer prior to taking his boards, that was contingent on passing. So not only had he passed by graduation, but he had a career all lined up!

I am so proud of him, he is the hardest working person I've met, and he deserves every ounce of success that comes his way!

Graduating Class 2014

Fred the Mormon Boys

walking across and being hooded

OFFICIALLY seconds after graduating

Graduation Announcement Photo

post-graduation with Easton

Easton was very intrigued by Ryan's 'party hat'

proud parents!

Ryan's number 1 fans!

Touro End of Year Party

We have l absolutely loved going to the parties thrown by the Physical Therapy Program at the end of each year! They've always hosted them at the Westin Resort at Lake Las Vegas, which is a GORGEOUS venue! They have a big pool, and this year the slide was opened, Easton pretty much lived on it the whole night, and even was ok with going up and down by himself! They have a yummy taco truck come to cater, and the lake has a beach front area with a big bonfire going, live music, paddle boards, and peddle boats available. It's always great to catch up with all the other student families and see how the kids have grown throughout the year.
Crazy to think that this was our last year at school, and so our last year going to the party...we will be SO happy to be done with school, and might just have to make a trip out there a new tradition as a fun staycation :) We will see! But for now...adios to school life, and WELCOME work and normal life!

2014 Graduating Class

Mom and Easton

mesmerized by the bonfire

peddle boat view of Lake Las Vegas, pretty nice eh?

roasting 'mallows with Papa

Easton loved being the driver of the boat....drove us around in tons of circle!

Crazy classmates. It's been fun to see Ryan gain such close relationships with all these people that started out as complete strangers!

Touro End of Year BBQ 2013

Last year we had a blast at the BBQ. The school hosts it at the Westin Lake Las Vegas, and it's beautiful! They have a big gorgeous pool, white sand beach, paddle boards, peddle boats, live music, free drinks and yummy taco stand and a photo booth! We had so much fun this year, Easton was able to play a lot more and be more independent, and he loved playing with the other kids and in the water!

loving the water

surfer baby!

a little chilly

love my boys!

my sweet family

The Touro 'BIG GAME'

Every year, Ryan's school plays a basketball against Touro University San Francisco. This year he tried out for the team, and of course made it. I have to admit, I kept teasing him about the whole thing up until I pulled up the parking lot and COULD NOT find a parking spot. I was beyond shocked at the turnout of this game! In my mind, I was picturing something along the lines of a church basketball game, with some of his classmates there to cheer, along with some of us families. I was so so wrong. They played the game at Findlay Prep High School, so it was a nice gym, but obviously smaller. However, it was equally as loud as any Utah State game, I had to yell to talk to my friend next to me, and Easton was a little timid because of all the commotion surrounding him. 

Ryan's classmates made Big Heads of Ryan, and surprised us with a Baby Big Head of Easton, it was so funny, and E loved them! 

The game was incredibly intense! Even Ryan said it was way more intense than he was expecting, and he was completely exhausted after the first half. They played so hard, and in the end they lost by only one point. You would have thought they still won because of the amount of sound coming out of that place! It was such a fun night, and makes me wish that Ryan would have played last year, and could next year, but instead he will be in the middle of rotations and getting ready to graduate! Can't wait for that day, it's exciting that it's getting so close to the end for us! 

Me and Easton cheering for the Papa. 

Ryan playing in the 'Big Game'

My boys!

Being awarded their medals

Easton hung out here at my feet for most of the game.

Check out his cute sassy baby bum. 

Guess What....

This will be our HOME SWEET HOME in October!

Ryan will be starting his first rotation of Physical Therapy school! He will be working in a hospital for a month in San Francisco! Easton and I will be joining him there, and we can't wait for a fun month long adventure!
We just found out last night, so we aren't sure of many details at the moment. But, right now, we are just thrilled and excited to get to spend so much time in a beautiful city!

Touro University BBQ

family photos from the fun photo booth

On May 16, the last day of finals, Touro's Physical Therapy department threw an awesome party for their students and familys. It was up in Lake Las Vegas at the Westin Hotel. And it was BEAUTIFUL! There was a giant pool, an all you can eat fresh taco stand, waitresses with any drink you wanted, paddle boarding and peddle boats for rent, a photo booth, and a live band...all free! The lakefront was beautiful, they had shipped in nice sand for a nice beach and had tons of lounge chairs everywhere, we felt like kings and queens! Easton had so much fun playing in the water and the sand, and it was so much fun to meet a lot of Ryan's friends and teachers from school, and get to know them better! Can't wait until next years party!

Easton and Papa on the beach

Easton loving the sand

Easton and mama lounging :)

Touro University White Coat Ceremony

Today was such an AWESOME day. We were able to attend the White Coat Ceremony for the following classes, Osteopathic Medicine 2015, Physician Assistants 2013, and of course the awesome Physical Therapy students of 2014. It was amazing to see how special and honorable it really is to be able to wear the 'white coat' the following was printed inside the program, and I thought it was really great and put all this schooling into perspective.

Hippocrates advised healthcare providers how they should dress. The dress of healers of primitive societies was an important part of the paraphernalia of healing. The while coat, worn by individuals to connote their education and credentials as healers, is a symbol widely recognized by today's society.

The white coat can reassure even the most anxious that their complaints and concerns will be dealt with competently and seriously. It conveys a sense of authority and guides behaviors of both patient and healthcare provider. The white coat is a cloak of compassion.

The Touro University Nevada White Coat Ceremony was developed to honor our students in osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy as they accept the professional responsibilities inherent in their relationship with patients. As students receive their white coats, we encourage them to think about the time-honored professions that they are joining and wear their coats with the requisite sense of professionalism and seriousness.

The ceremony started out with an invocation from the school Rabbi, he even spoke in Hebrew for part of it, which was so cool to hear. Then a description of the White Coat Ceremony and what it symbolizes. The presented the white coats to all the students as they read each students name. It was really interesting because they had one professor shake the coat first, to symbolize the new beginning of their education, another professor put the coat on, and then the Dean of each program shook each students hand after to symbolize them being welcomed into the Touro Medical family. I loved it! I think it is so much more meaningful when they explain how everything is so symbolic. After the coatings, they all stood and took the oath for the first time, committing themselves to the professional careers they have ahead.

As a physical therapy professional, i embrace my responsibility and accountability to the individuals I serve, the community as a whole, and my profession.

I believe that physical therapy is a calling to help the whole person- body, mind and soul. As a physical therapist, I will strive not only to resolve movement disorders but prevent them, while inspiring others to reach beyond barriers and limitations. I commit myself to the following professional obligations and values:

To use the best evidence and skills of my profession at all times;

To exercise judgment to the highest degree of which I am capable when determining he treatment to be offered;

To refrain from treatment when it will not benefit the patient;

To always place the welfare of my patients above my own self-interest. I pledge to uphold and preserve the rights and esteem of every person placed in my care;

To hold all confidences in trust;

To exercise all aspects of my calling with dignity and honor;

I commit myself to the highest ideal of service, lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge.

I will respect the scientific gains and clinical evidence of the physical therapists who have proceeded me and I will use this knowledge in educating those who come after me.

Dr. Suzanne Brown, Director of the School of Physical Therapy

Ryan being coated

The three of us, happy and proud little family!

Steve and Melissa Bartlett, and their son Jayden (3 weeks older than Easton). Steve and Ryan worked together in Logan, and both got into the PT program here, it's been fun for them to have each other in class since they get along so well!

Our busiest/best week ever! (moving, school, and a baby story!)

Wow! I feel like I haven't been on the blog forever, I usually check it everyday, you know, to catch up on all your happenings in your lives, and I've tried to make a goal to post more often...but when you don't have internet in your new house, it causes problems. I just read through all the blog updates I've missed, and I was two weeks behind! Tragic!! Anyway, just thought I'd update all of you on what has been going on with us...there has been a LOT! I'll start at the beginning. (warning, long post!)

Thursday June 30:

This was Ryan's last day of work at Cache Valley Specialty Hospital. They have been so good to him for the last 5 years. He went golfing that morning with two of the therapists, and his friend from work who was leaving to come to school here as well. Then he worked a half day, and then we got the U-haul and started loading up. Our plan was to pick up the U-haul, and have it all packed and ready to go then be on the road by 5:00. Wrong. It took a little over an hour just to pick it up, of course loading always takes longer than expected, and then we had a couple mechanical problems with the cab part of the truck. So we didn't end up leaving Logan until about 8:00...ugh. We met my parents in North Ogden, I hoped in their car and left Ryan and his dad to drive the U-haul, and we were off. We got to Beaver, and noticed that a chunk of tire tread was missing, so Norm (Ryan's dad) stayed in a hotel for the night waiting for the U-haul repairman to come fix it. Ryan got in the car with my parents and I, and we were off to Vegas. We finally pulled up to the hotel at 6:00 am.

Friday July 1:

We checked into the hotel, took a 2 hour nap, and then went to the title company to sign the closing documents for the house. Our meeting was first thing in the morning, so we had to drive all night to get there! After signing our lives away (YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!) We went back to the hotel to get some more sleep and wait for Norm with the truck. He got to Vegas around 3:00 that afternoon, and we (the guys) started unloading.

My mom and I ran lots of errands to Lowes and Wal-Mart during the unloading. We even had a little adventure of our own in Wal-Mart, my mom locked the keys in the car, while it was running! Ha, we had to call a locksmith to come and save us, it was hilarious! My feet were not having it with all the running around in stores and of course this day was the hottest day of the year so far...113! I was quite swollen and had to take lots of breaks to soak my little piggies in an ice bath!

Saturday July 2:

unpacked all day, mixed with more ice baths for my feet!

Sunday July 3:

My parents left to go back home, Ryan and I again, unpacked all day. We forgot to look up our church meetinghouse location before we left, so we weren't able to go to church this day :(

Monday July 4:

Weirdest holiday ever. I don't think one second of the day felt like the 4th of July. We were in the house all day getting more and more unpacked and set up. That night, we went to Target to get some stuff for the baby, also went to the outlets looking for the Nike store, and got Ryan a new backpack and stuff for school.

Tuesday July 5:

RYAN STARTS SCHOOL! The whole reason we came here! Yay!!!

He looked so handsome! They had orientation with the whole school on this day, and then later that evening he came home and picked me up, and we went back to have an ice cream social with everyone as a welcome to school thing. After the ice cream social, we recruited his friend Steve and his brother in law to come back to Target with us to pick up the crib and changing table with their truck. This day, I was officially 37 weeks.

Wednesday July 6:

Ryan's second day of school. Orientation round 2. This day it was just orientation for the Physical Therapy students and their new 2014 class. That day I went to the hospital to get pre-registered, and then went to my first doctor's appointment. I was so excited to meet my doctor finally! He first met with me in his office to see what kinds of questions I had, then we went into the exam room to be checked and have an ultrasound. In the ultrasound, Easton was measuring ahead of what my weeks were. His head was measuring at 41.5 weeks, and little legs were measured at 38.5 weeks! This worried me a little, and then the doctor checked to see how I was progressing. I thought for sure with all the commotion of moving and unpacking I'd be dilated more than the previous week. Wrong. I was only 1 cm and 60% effaced for the 3rd week in a row! The doctor thought we better strip my membranes to give my body a kick start so I could be moving along as much as the baby was. He said if it worked, I would probably go into labor that night, or the next day! WOW!!! That night, we thought we'd better get his room set up since there was a chance for baby to come sooner! So the crib and changing table got put together :)

Thursday July 7:

Ryan's first day of actual school. I stayed home, and tried to take it a little easy, not wanting to put myself into labor quite yet. Got more stuff unpacked....as the day progressed, I thought for sure the baby wasn't coming. I wasn't feeling any increase in contractions, and didn't have a 'feeling' or anything. That night, we watched the Giants game, and some popcorn and then when the game was over early, we decided to just go to bed. Ryan asked me "do you think you'll have the baby tonight?" and I told him very sure of myself "no way, I think he'll just come around his due date still."

Friday July 8:

Good thing we went to bed early! At 3:35 I woke up to my water breaking. I was so confused, I'd been up only an hour earlier to pee, and now it wasn't stopping. Every time I'd stand up straight another gush would come. It was the weirdest feeling, and I was still so confused because I wasn't having any contractions still! I woke up Ryan, told him to call the hospital and ask if I should come up or wait for contractions. They of course said, "get here now!" So at 4:30 we left to the hospital. I got all checked into the triage unit. Got hooked up to all the monitors and was dilated to 4 cm. Then they moved us into labor and delivery. We called my mom at about 6:00, and she immediately booked a flight down that morning. At 6:15 I got my epidural. I had only felt about 2 easy contractions at that point. After the epidural, the rest of the morning was a breeze.

Besides being starving, I was feeling great. Ryan and I watched the Price is Right and the news. He went and got breakfast, and then later got a yummy looking early lunch. I was so jealous as I sat there with my ice chips. By 10:00 I was still only dilated to 4 cm, so they started pitocin. This helped move things along a lot quicker! My mom got there at about 12:30, and I was dilated to 6 cm. They turned up the pitocin again, and I had to go on oxygen at this point to get more air into little Easton. His heart rate was dropping during each contraction (we later found out, when he came out, that the cord was around his neck, and would tighten during each contraction) By 2:00, I was finally dilated to 10 cm and ready to start pushing. It's amazing how pushing is seriously the ONLY thing that feels good at this point! They had me just breathe through a couple contractions, and it was so much more painful then just pushing. Ryan was so sweet and supportive the whole time, he was counting out my pushes for me, and held my hand the whole time. I didn't have to push for long, because at 3:03, Easton was born! It was such an amazing experience and I woudn't change it for anything! He was perfect, and screaming and I was so happy! Ryan cut the cord and then the took him over to get cleaned up. Ryan and my mom went with the baby to watch him get cleaned, and measured. He was 7 pounds 7 ounces, and was 19 inches long.

The nurse had Ryan put on the first diaper, and then he brought him over to me to hold for the first time.

It was such a rush of emotions! Its amazing all the love that you feel for this tiny person who you've never met! That night, Ryan stayed in the hospital with me, we had to change rooms in the middle of the night because the plumbing in our bathroom was backed up. Easton was able to stay with us all night in the room.

Saturday July 9:

All day this day, we just played with him, passed him around between me, my mom and Ryan. He was perfect!

That night, he had to stay in the nursery under the bililights. His blood work showed he had a slightly high bilirubin count. This was the hardest thing for me. Taking him into the nursery and seeing that little mask on his face.

I started bawling! I didn't want to leave my little baby there all night long! We went to go get him every 3 hours through the night for feedings, but had to have him back in exactly 30 minutes. It was so hard. But it was good to get some good sleep that night.

Sunday July 10:

He got to come out from under the bililights at 9:30 am. But we still had to wait to have his blood tested again at 5:00 pm. So another day spent in the hospital!

I was starting to go stir crazy and just wanted to get home by this point. Finally he had his blood test done, and about and hour later, the doctor came back and said he had passed and he was ok to go home!

YAY! I was so happy to finally get to take my sweet baby home.

That night, my mom made us a yummy dinner (so much better than hospital food!!!) and we all went to bed.

Monday July 11:

My Dad and sister Jeanette drove down to meet the baby, and to help Ryan with some home projects (more and those to come later)

My family stayed here with us until Thursday morning, and since then we've been on our own and done great!

At Easton's first doctor appointment Tuesday, he weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces, and was 20 inches long. And then he went back again on Thursday for his circumcision (so sad!) and had gained another ounce! So he is growing already so much, and is so happy!

Right now, we are feeding him both formula and breast milk. He is sleeping so well. Sometimes too well maybe? I set my alarm to get up for his feedings, but there have been two days now that I fall back asleep before I get up to feed him....other moms, is this ok? He just sleeps through it and doesn't seem starved at all, even at his next feeding. For instance, last night, I fed him 2 ounces at 11:00, then slept through his 2:00 am feeding, and at 5:00 he only ate 1 ounce. Is this normal??

Anyway, we are so happy! And even though we moved, started school, and had a baby all in a week, we couldn't be happier! Thanks for all of your love and support, I'll try to stay more updated on the blog since we are far away now!