Oh the Weather Outside is BEAUTIFUL

This week we had gorgeous weather! 70 degrees and hiking December 12th? It almost reminded me of Texas. I was so thankful I wasn't working that day and we decided to make the most of it and go hiking in Illinois. When we got to the trail we saw that it had been overtaken with trail runners running a race. We heard that annoying cow bell in the distance. We let Maggie off the leash and boy was that dog in heaven. She loves running in the leaves, it's pure bliss. We made the hour trek home with our drinks and sunflower seeds and were invited to play volleyball with a group of friends. It really was perfect weather and couldn't ask for anything better, only that we could have played badminton too :). Since next week my birthday will be spent traveling to Peru, we decided to celebrate it a week early. I mean my birthday really is a week long celebration. That is just how a birthday next to Christmas goes. You fit it in when you can. So we went to The Kitchen Sink recommended by a friend and went ice skating at Steinberg ice rink. Literally there were huuuge puddles everywhere because of the change in temperature. My favorite part was a kid who slipped and super-manned it in the biggest puddle ever.
It was some much needed girls nights this week and my first girls night we went to Mockingjay Part 2. It was okay...I thought it was better than the book. When I started reading the book I couldn't even finish it, it was that entertaining...Second girls night Vanessa and I tried to go to yoga but forgot how bad traffic is at 530 at night. We ditched that idea and got dinner instead at the Fountain on Locust. Tasty :) After failing at making brownies we watched also a failed movie with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock on Netflix... Sorry for making you go through that Vanessa.
My friend Jessica just had her baby this week and so I got to visit her in the hospital at Mercy :) Little Grant is precious and just perfect. So fun to be able to see one of my best friends from high school be in the same state as me! I have to say I was very observant of others care especially being a L&D nurse it's hard not to be!
Now we get ready for Peru and Pentatonix! Whoo! Fun week ahead.

Night Shift

First week of night shifts. What did I get myself into!? At least on day shifts I didn't have to think about it too much before going into work. Now I have all day to think about work. The anxiety sets in about 3 o clock in the afternoon. I try to make myself take a nap, but there is no way I can get some shut eye. Nathan's dog is barking at who knows what, Maggie is shaking the bed with her scratching, construction is going on outside, someone is mowing their lawn. People are alive during the day! At least my patients are somewhat sleepy when I get in at night. I try to let them rest but guess what! I have to do vital signs and go up on your pit. Sorry! Apologizing doesn't seem to work so well.
We have less than 2 weeks before we go to Peru. To be honest I haven't done a thing, thanks mom! We are excited for the trip ahead and especially spending the Christmas Eve in Cuzco. I am especially exited for Machu Picchu! Chris and I wanted to run up it...jk supposedly it is the hardest marathon in the world! Nah I think we'll pass and just ride a train instead. We are also going to the Amazon. Don't parhanas in the Amazon and crazy looking animals/insects are there too? I hope it is a smooth trip!

Chicago

We finally got to do our improv/ late anniversary gift. CHICAGO! We took the weekend to get away and listen to General Conference on the way up. We spent the first night in Normal Illinois. Chris was so excited because its mentioned in a Ben Folds song. We then took off the next morning to the Windy City where we played in Millennial Park on the age 12 and under playground and slides. We then went and got some great Chicago grub and walked by the Michigan river to the Navy Pier. We couldn't pass up the mystery maze and went through a psychedelic maze with strobe lights and mirrors at all corners. Next up was the Architect Tour where you tour Chicago on a boat and learn about all the cool buildings. Basically the only thing that I remember is the TRUMP hotel where each letter cost more than $100,00 dollars to put up. Of course he had to put a stamp on his hotel because people were calling it the Sears Hotel not TRUMP. (This is per the tour guide, just saying!) It was pretty chilly this day so we had some hot chocolates and enjoyed the city life! Exhausted we went back to the hotel and were out for an hour to go our next round and see the night life in Chicago. We went to The Magnificent Mile which means shopping! Chris's favorite :) We went to Dylans Candy Store and got some goods for the movie we saw late at night The Martian. We saw some interesting people many hipsters. Next day, we also enjoyed the art museum and learned about all the cool contemporary art. The American Gothic was my favorite. Learning it actually wasn't husband and wife but really father and daughter. We got some tasty hot dogs to end our trip! So much fun and best of all got to enjoy it with my husband :)

Resident Retreat 2015

Resident Retreat 2015

Off to Table Rock Lake south of Branson for a weekend of sun and fun. The Ophtho Residents celebrated not being on call and boy is it good. We get weekends with each other for once! You don't realize how good weekends are until you don't have them. I work every third weekend but I would take that over nights on call!
A little wake boarding & water skiing does the soul good. We thought Powell was our last boat trip but this unexpected trip made us appreciate the end of summer. Maggie got to tag a long and I think she may have died and gone to heaven. Running in the leaves up and down the boat dock with Remmy and Flynn her new best friends and long lost brother. I think that may have been my favorite part, enjoying how much my dog was loving running around in the open! We played Heads Up over and over and are now specialist in the 90's category. We tried to get Maggie on the SUP and she did pretty well, especially when she had the doggie life jacket on.
Memorable moment of the trip: When Hang is wake boarding and can't flip her board over (she never learned how to swim so a being brave but scared, her husband John goes jumping into the water for her rescue. Varun whips out his phone and says, oh my gosh guys look how beautiful! As he takes several pictures of the cute moment how John helps his wife turn her wakeboard over. I think that takes the cake even though its a close tie to Heads Up, (Its that movie with that girl who kills the Creatures! (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Worth the long drive (four hours away) we enjoyed a nice relaxing getaway out of Saint Louis and are ready to start the week strong for work.

-Cameryn

                                    Enjoying the view

                                                            #theband