The DR 2016

Having already packed a little over a week before, you could say I was ready to go on vacation. All we had to do was drop Maggie off at Hailey's and we were ready to go! Maggie always loves going to Hailey's. She has two big dogs Bigsby and Worthy. Maggie bosses them around she sleeps at the head of the bed and if the dogs get closer than their feet she starts to growl. I am sure they were quite entertained with her!

We arrived to the DR around 9pm. We took a shuttle to our hotel and shared it with another couple from SLC. We were talking about how excited we were to get out of the cold and to be on the beach!

We got to the Hard Rock Hotel. How more American can you get when being in the DR? We were welcomed by rock music of course and an entourage. We checked in and walked to our room. I wasn't expecting how big our hotel room was. We had two bathrooms a kitchen living room area, king size bed, a huge hot tub in the room, and a huge balcony with tables and chairs outside. We couldn't wait to go to the beach so we walked down there at 12am and put our toes in the sand. 

Day2: I got up early to get a couple of spots on the beach and pool area. It got hot fast and we wanted to run outside. We ran around the hotel's jogging path a couple of times and then went to the "Rock Gym" they had a yoga class starting and we stayed for that as well. After feeling nice and relaxed we went to breakfast. The resort was all inclusive so pretty much a breakfast buffet everyday. It was also my favorite meal because they had an assortment of fruit, oatmeal, smoothies, pancakes, waffles, and french toast. The resort is huge and you had to wait in line for a little bit to get a spot but so worth it. We headed to the pool to relax and read. That didn't last long with the loud DJ. The "Entertainers" I am not sure who they are but they are in charge of activities for the guests pulled Chris and I to play waterpolo. I have to say I think Chris would have been an amazing water polo player. He was basically representing our team all by himself. Even with the little boys jumping on him and getting scraped up. We got some virgin margaritas, piña coladas, and a dirty monkey but without the dirty...we then played sand soccer with a few people which basically made us sore the rest of the week to barely move. 

That night we went to a restaurant called Zen which had a habachi grill, good thing we got there early because after we got there it was an hour wait. We ended the night with a nice walk on the beach and some ice-cream. 

Day 3: Waking up early again, we claimed our spot and actually had the tenacity to work out. We are training for a triathlon in May so we decided to ride bikes this time. That didn't last long and we decided to give up and go to breakfast. We made appointments for massages and pedicures, yes both of us. They have a huge casino with Madonnas limousine right when you walk in. We checked out the big rollers and I just kept thinking how do people like this? Especially playing the slot machines I just don't get it. We went to the beach this time to read a little more quiet down there. We made a big guitar out of the sand with seaweed. The beach was beautiful and I have never felt sand like the one at the DR. It was so smooth and great for packing and making sand castles, and it always stayed nice and cool. After hearing you can rent electric guitars at the Hard Rock we had to rent one. We  jammed out and I can only play one song  so our rock fun didn't last too long. 

Day 4: Slept in until 9 thank goodness. I was exhausted from the sun! We got our 80 min couples massage after breakfast. The spa was huge and had different baths and a huge pool with jet massagers and waterfalls. We relaxed until the  masseuse came and got us and I basically fell asleep for the majority of the time. I'm not just saying this but probably the best massage I have ever had. After we went to the beach I noticed the lifeguard collecting something in his ATV. Coconuts. I have always wanted to try a coconut drink. After I saw another couple getting a coconut drink I had to have one. Chris describes the taste like tepid water that's been sitting in coconut. Isn't that basically what it is? We played miniature golf and baked under the sun.. we were about to go golfing when we found out the golf course wasn't near the hotel and you had to pay a few hundred. I don't think I could last 18 holes in the sun but we did in mini golf! We got ready and went to Toro a steak restaurant by the beach. Ending our night with a nice relaxing walk and seeing the sunset.

Day 5: We woke up early and watched the pretty sunrise over the beach. I don't think there is anything more peaceful than the sounds of the ocean's waves. We enjoyed the moment and I wish it could take that memory and just put it in my pocket for when I need it most. We got a little cardio in before breakfast and then got our pedicures. The music didn't fit the scene of the spa area with the rock music in the background while sitting relaxed in the chair. I found this to be the case in a lot of situations but we did go to the Hard Rock Hotel. Later that night we went to Isla a seafood restaurant where we ordered fried octopus, lobster, and shrimp. They served it tentacles and all and of course I wasn't very hungry shortly after. We settled with cookie dough ice cream just to get the nasty taste out of mouths. 

There may have been another missing day in this great and relaxing trip that I didn't record! Here are some pics for fun!

Marriage is What Brings Us Together

Everyday is a unique day on the Labor and Delivery Floor. I never know what is going to happen, a hemorrhage, a stat c-section, preeclampsia, a patient who develops chorio., an FDIU. This day was particular unique, something I think most L&D nurses can say they probably have never done. I did 8 hours of my shift on antepartum and then headed over to my hometown in L&D. Oh what is it going to bring me this time... I got report from a fellow nurse I work with. She starts with, "So this patient was here for observation at 25 weeks because of preterm labor and she started to make change...blah blah...and then she leaves me with oh ya and she wants to get married." "Great! when is the wedding? " I say oblivious. "No I mean she wants to get married before the baby comes..." A what... So I go into her room make small talk and ask, "I hear you want to get married" "Ya, I don't want to have a baby out of wedlock." In my head I thought, well the deed is already done but this is also coming from an 18 year old. Well this is going to be fun! "Okay you let me know what I can do." Her two requests: flowers and surprise me is what she said. I told this to the nurses and they were ecstatic. 

Oh we can be her brides maids and wear the yellow isolation gowns! One nurse said. Oh I know we can get a white OR gown and she can wear it. Mind you she has an epidural... So we get her a bunch of flowers and carrot cake for two. And she did end up wearing the OR gown. Oh geez.

I called the chaplain. "So my patient wants to get married before her baby comes. The only thing is...she is at a 10 and about to have the baby. How fast can you make it over here?" Within an hour my patient made change from a 4 to a 10. So the chaplain got there in 15 minutes. We did the ceremony in probably less than 5 as the doctors were saying okay we need to make this short and sweet. My patient had to have her baby in the OR because of the heart anomalies her baby had. We didn't want to push our luck on not making it to the OR but we wanted her to have what she wanted for her wedding. I took pictures and recorded a video on her phone. It was probably one of the weirdest experiences of my life.

So the doctor, anesthesiologist, and I roll her back to the OR. Of course the nurses are lined up against the wall clapping and playing wedding music. Some even went so far to make balloons out of the gloves and box them on their hands when we rolled her down. Oh the memory will forever be ingrained in my head. 

Baby made it out safe, patient made it out safe, and we had a wedding and a baby all in one day. 

We prepared for general conference and watched the saturday and sunday sessions. Chris and I went for a run and went to brunch one day and a hike on the other while listening to the morning session of conference. I love conference so much, a spiritual high. Hope that spiritual high stays with you all and to remember Elder Holland's talk!!!

We love you and miss you all!

Cameryn 

Easter Bunny

In Sunday school class we discussed how Jesus felt all our different kinds of pain. From a divorcee and their spouse being sealed to depression and anxiety. I lean over to Jesse, does he feel what we go through PMS? Because it is hell. Is that sacrilegious maybe.. but really does he?

I have been trying to learn a new word a day and really try to understand it. I'm also reading in my book everyday which broadens my vocabulary. I really like this app called vocabulary and it goes through the origins of vocabulary words. It really helps me to learn and have it stay in my head. I feel like when I learn words they go in one ear and out the other. Today's word is vitriol so for example they use to use this word for sulfuric acid which literally can burn your skin right off. So when learning this word I relate it to this and how this word is not taken lightly and means worse than criticism.

Anyways what happened this week: I switched from night shift to day shift which literally is so nice because I don't feel exhausted all the time and I feel like I can get something done. I was welcomed with an patient on day shift who had a FDIU. Ugh, of course. And I felt so bad she lost two previous babies to SIDS. She was all drugged up on dilaudid . So trying to teach her was like try to teach someone who is sleeping. Literally you can't. But I still documented! Which is all that matters... to be a good nurse I found out you can do so much but if you don't document than it does not mean that at all it actually means the opposite, so even when the patient likes you more because your in their room who cares because you are just going to get in trouble because of your lack of documenting.
When I was taking care of her she said I smelt really good. I told her I made lotions this last week and that it has all these different ingredient to handle stress. At the end of my shift I gave her one because I just felt so bad. She didn't even deliver on my shift. I really wanted her to deliver but she didn't. Anyways, it was a really slow day too so I just had a lot on my mind.

We are getting ready to play the soccer season this next week. We had family night and went and played at SLU field. It was really fun, and I am excited to play soccer but I think I need new shoes, my shoes aren't very good.

We also went to Zootopia, Chris and I did Tuesday, it was such a cute movie, I loved it. Especially the part with the sloth and the joke. OMG I couldn't stop laughing. Sunali and I went to lunch this week at Katie's pizza it was very yummy! I had the BEST artichoke salad to die for literally. I need to remember it so I can get it again.

Saturday, we went to Trader Joes super early in the morning and then Target. I am so excited for our trip!! I can't wait to go! I got some pants a tank and a hat for Dominican. I got Chris some treats for Easter and then I had to rush over to Shalyse's baby shower. So we went and set up for it and I made chicken salad for everyone. It turned out to be really nice and there was about 15 people who showed up. After there was a bunch of people playing volleyball. I was not in a good mood hence the PMS and just wanted to go home. But it was nice to be outside. After Chris and I went on a run through Tower Grove and I got to listen to my Harry Potter Audio Book. I love it. I am trying to finish this one before the next book comes out in June!!! While I was at the baby shower Chris cleaned the apartment and got me a TV... he is so funny. I wanted a TV to mount so I can watch something as I jog. So he is setting that up right now.

Saturday night we made chicken caeser salad yum...! And Chris actually made it. I am trying to make him step it up, because I have been doing all the laundry, cleaning, and cooking for a long time. And I am truly just sick of it. SO I have just kind of stopped in a way and he is noticing and stepping up his game. good!!! So Noelle and Time and Chris and I had a bonfire and did smores outside. We chatted for a long time a couple of hours or so. I got a movie called Spotlight and then we watched part of it and then we were about to fall asleep. So I turned it off. We went to bed.

Sunday, TODAY! Easter, happy easter! I made banana pancakes and blueberry pancakes. We went to church and I was just feeling awful again the PMS, I cried and cried and just wanted to die. But I stayed the whole time and went to RS like a good girl. We are having a roast tonight so that should be tasty.

Hope this week is a good week... We will see I guess!!!

Cameryn Smith

Weekend with Grandma JoJo

I am happy to announce Jodi is officially a grandma. To her grand puppy. We will now call her Grandma JoJo.

We had a fun girls trip this weekend! Mom came to enjoy the nice weather in St. Louis. It got up to 75 degrees mid February! Unexpected nice weather. She got in Thursday night around 5pm perfect time for some St. Louis traffic. We came home to drop off all the bags and went to Baileys Range for some good Burgers. They were okay but Chris complains of the size. They are small sliders and probably not worth the money. The french fries were tasty with all their different sauces. We enjoyed great company and got to visit downtown St Louis. Sorry if this email is a little off topic and short, I am a little distracted with our new show Bates Motel-- creepy but can't stop watching, next show I want to watch is that murder one what is it called--how to get a way with murder no, making a murder! Ya that is what it is!!

We woke up to some beautiful weather and jogged through Forest Park with the Magster. She wasn't used to all that jogging, but hung in there with a few water breaks. We ran 7 miles and made it to the end sweaty and hungry for brunch. We decided to go to a different brunch restaurant than our usual Rooster and went to Half and Half instead. I have never considered eating salmon with eggs, but that was probably my favorite breakfast I have ever had. It was so tasty! Who ever comes and visits us next will have to try it. Their pancakes looked delicious but unfortunately Chris went with the wrong ones getting some dry raspberry mascarpone pancakes. After we went home dropped Chris and Maggie off. Maggie was exhausted just sleeping on the floor. Chris studied while the girls went out.

Mom was adamant about cleaning my car and getting it serviced. I guess I have been lacking on that job. So we got it detailed and does it make a difference when you do get in a clean car. You feel refreshed and new. While waiting I experienced kale chips. Whoever who has not had this before, it is an acquired taste but my mom and I do kind of share those genetic taste buds. Later we even tried to make them...didn't turn out so well.

We went to whole foods after to get some goodies for the movie, we saw Race. Fits the plot, Jesse Owens running in the 1936 olympics. I think the audience clapped 4 times, 3 times when Jesse got his medals and 1 at the end. Mom made a joke saying that she thought only Utah people clap at movies. Was she wrong! We ate too much movie butter popcorn and a lot of good laughs.

Saturday we woke up to another great day of weather. We really couldn't ask for anything better! We decided to live it up just like the rest of St. Louis and go to Castlewood Park. We took Maggie and hiked over an hour enjoying the sun & vitamin D. Of course we needed to get our big diet cokes to hydrate after too. We went to Lafayette Park and had a little picnic with all our many whole foods salads, fruits, cookies.

Later, mom and I got a few things for the house. She is the interior decorator so I trust her :) A few pillows, a rug, I still need to invest in some floor lamps but Chris always gets a surprise when she comes to town.

We went to a longed restaurant we have been wanting to try-- The Shaved Duck. St. Louis BBQ never disappoints. It was delicious and I think I will be full this whole week from it. We came home and got a Redbox and did manicures. I offered to Chris but he wasn't interested. I got a gel manicure kit last year and haven't used it too much. We gave each other manicures and watched some Bradley Cooper in Burnt.

Sunday we went to church and got to show mom the Lindell Ward. We love our ward and couldn't be happier there. After we went to Belleville, Illinois where my mom went to middle school and lived there for about 4 years. We visited her old house and school.

Brunch again! I think this is my favorite right now time to eat. For some reason I love brunch right now. We went to our all time favorite Rooster-- another one of Baileys Restaurants. It was a popular place that afternoon especially with the nice weather.

Loved having my mom visit, and although I miss family I do love being here in St. Louis experiencing all these new exciting places. It is fun to show family all the different places we love here and to continue to have so much fun!

Love,

Cameryn


Picnic in Lafayette Square

Hispanic Moms= Fast Babies.

First week off orientation I learned this rule. 

Hispanic Mom's= Fast Babies

I had no idea this was true until this last week. To start off this women had been here at BJC for 24 hours laboring. Which was abnormal for this type of patient G3P2 latino women. Usually they have precipitous deliveries within 1-2 hours. She told me her birth plan. I want to go without an epidural. I laugh to myself..obviously in my head.. Oh great I get to hear her scream all day. Her pain she is rating is an 8 and I keep assuring her to breathe and getting her some heat packs to put around her stomach. Nope that doesn't work everyone can still hear her down at the nurses/doctors station. Doctors are looking at the screen, "Cameryn is your patient pushing?" I look up at the screen. I see the contractions that look like zig zags. "No...she was complaining of nausea I think she is just throwing up."

 Well, I didn't lie...we admitted  her because her chief complaint: hyperemesis gravidarum and I did just give her zofran. She has been in and out of the hospital. So I check back up on her just to make sure there was no baby in the bed....Nope she is on the birthing ball bouncing up and down. That would do it.

 I ask her but mostly in the direction of her husband because I know she wont answer, "Everything okay in here?"

"I want the epidural!"

"Okay, I'll be back!" Sounding like Schwarzenegger in Terminator.. That would be funny, I don't think she would think this is funny. 

So I call the Anesthesiologist attending and of course he tells me that the intern will do it. Oh great,  this wont take long (Being sarcastic hint hint**).

So we wait until he arrives. I monitor baby while mom is in hysterics. Gripping the bed with white knuckles and holding her breath. 

"Breathe! In through your nose out through your mouth!" I have to remind her. Baby's HR was dropping with the contractions. 

Okay lets set up. The intern says. Let's have you side lying..(ugh why?) That takes so much longer. 

"It hurts so bad!" She says grabbing my arm. "Please help me...(Crying) Please....(sobbing)help..." crying gets weaker than SCREAM!!! 

"We are doing the best we can, in order for us to do this you have to be really still." I say reassuring her but being realistic. I have dad come sit next to her. Usually we don't let family or another person sit relatively close but in this case it was the only thing that I think would calm her down. We get the epidural in. FINALLY. The attending and intern leave..and my patient says...

"I feel something" I check to see if I see baby's head. Nothing yet. I call out for a resident on the phone in the room. Secretary picks up, "Hi can I have a resident in 82 to check my patient." I would have except I was scared that the baby would literally fall out once I put my hand down there. A resident comes in and baby head is starting to descend. 

"Baby is right here!" She says. "Let's break the bed down NOW!!!"

Oh crap I think baby's head is coming out... No baby stay in stay in!!! 

Women is in hysterics.. Her two kids on the cot next to her bed say, "Nurse, is mommy going to be okay?" They are both crying. Why are the kids in the room?? We don't have a policy against this but do you REALLY want your kids to remember this moment and be scarred for the rest of their life?

I push the big red button on the call phone, "I need a chief and attending to 82 NOW!!!" I say losing my cool a little. 

As the resident is gowning her sterile field, I have my hand on baby's head gentle handling the baby's head stabilizing it. Its evident baby's head is coming out. At least I have gloves on... I think to myself. A bunch of fluid and blood hits all the way to my elbow crease. Well gloves didn't do any good.

 Baby's neck is coming out.. baby's body... and then the whole thing just falls out! Holy crap! I catch the baby. 

Uh.. what do I do.. think think.. what do the doctors do in this situation....clamp clamp cut! The resident helps and we cut the umbilical cord. I put baby on mom's chest dry... stimulate.. finally the chief and attending get there. Seriously we have docs and residents all over this floor and I still  manage to deliver a baby. Who would have thought.

We wait for placenta and bolus her with pitocin. I call out time of birth...thinking crap I didn't look at the time.. I guess.. 1645? 

We didn't have enough time to break down the bed so the sheets look like a slaughter house out of a horror movie. (Sorry if your queezy might want to stop reading then)! All I think is, great, I have to clean all her sheets up... don't judge. 

We get her in stirrups where we stitch her a bit. Not too bad. She had just gotten the epidural but I don't think it did too much pain wise...

Docs give her local lidocaine and a few stitches. There! They leave, well thanks docs! I will just do the rest!!!! No worries, the nurse is here, we labor the patients and deliver the babies NBD. Jk I am just being facetious our docs really are amazing. 

I clean her all up and get Lucca /they finally pick a name, all wrapped up. I leave the room my hands shaking and still high on adrenaline. All the nurses and docs congratulate me. First catch? My charge nurse says. Yep! Guess it happens more than you expect! 

Well I can say I successfully had my first catch! It makes me realize that getting Neonatal resuscitation certification is a must at this job because what if the baby came out not breathing? Well then.. that would be for another story... hopefully that doesn't happen in the near time or future!

Mom then tells me later, Oh with Isabella (her first child) we had a nurse deliver her too and got a picture. Do you mind if we take a picture with you and Lucca? That would have been nice information to know beforehand...

Sure! I say. He is a cute cute baby. Full of dark hair. 

Sorry explicit photos ahead!!!

Star Wars 3D

While getting into the swing of things after Peru I had three nights in a row and then transitioned to days. That is tough! I don't know how people do it. I think I have realized my body likes me better when I am working days even though it is ALL day. I decided I would still work day night rotate instead of just straight nights. Chris and I had a pretty relaxed week, and that doesn't happen too often. I had some days off of work and Chris has been getting home a little earlier, which never happens! One morning he had it off and we were able to go to the gym and go get brunch at Rooster. We also made plans to go to the movies one night. We had bought the tickets and when we showed up to the movie theater we found out that our movie didn't start until 10:40. It was 8:30 when we got there. Chris opted out to watch Star Wars for the second time and me for the first time. It worked out since the movie started at 9. Only con was that it was in 3D. Definitely don't see the excitement of 3D. It just makes me dizzy.

I was able to catch up with a nursing school friend and go to lunch with her. It's so fun to see people from nursing school and what they want to do and where they are going.

School hasn't started yet but will start this week! I am taking pharmacology and statistics so we will see what is harder.. It has been nice to have a little break from school but now I am kind of itching to get back. This girl has a hard time sitting still.

Chris and I signed up for an Olympic Triathlon. It is over 6 miles of running, 24 miles of biking, and 1 mile swim. I think I can do all of it except for the swim part. I am really nervous honestly to do the swimming. I have never done that much swimming so it will take some time to practice.

 With the new years primary has taken on some goals of itself. I think it is nice to have a new year to reflect on what we can do better and what we can change. We had a couple of primary meetings and a teacher meeting this week. Our new theme for 2016 is, "The Scriptures Are True". There is a women in our ward who bought fabric and made all the primary kids little totes to bring their scriptures in. They are the cutest thing. People are so generous. I was even able to get my visiting teaching done this month. I love visiting teaching and always have. It's nice to be able to get outside primary once in a while.

This week I work on Thursday and this weekend. I don't love working the weekends since that is the time that Chris gets off and doesn't make it very fun for him. But I also get this week to hang out and catch up on some school work.

Love,
Cameryn

Peru 2015

The Call's decided to do Christmas a little different this year. We checked something off our bucket list and went to Machu Picchu. It was definitely worth the travel. An hour and a half to Atlanta 6 1/2 hours to Lima, an 1 1/2 to Cuzco and then 4 hour train ride to Machu Picchu! Although it was a lot of traveling we had fun while we did it. Instead of Christmas gifts we decided to draw names and write letters to one another. It was  special for me because when I am home the bros are either with friends or school. It was nice to have everyone together and no cell phone service :).

First Day In Cuzco: My birthday! The quarter century. What better way to spend it than in Peru. We spent the day in Cuzco acclimating to the elevation. The city is situated in the mountains at an elevation of 11,000 feet. We were greeted by many many people trying to make money off tourists. It's how they make their money but man it gets old fast. We saw the elders walking and got to meet them and see how missionary work is really like in Cuzco. It's hard.. they said, a lot of them are set in their traditions and many are Catholic.
We went out for dinner and were served some Peruvian food. Lomo Saltado seems to be the popular dish choice, we also tried I guess it's beef heart? I had no idea when trying it. I stuck to whatever said pollo. Seemed like a safe choice.
Day 2: We went to a "Waka" called Saqsaywaman sounds like "sexy woman". It is the historical incan empire. We walked there first and came across some mangy looking dogs. There are dogs everywhere in Peru. And not very cute ones like pampered Maggie. They are dirty, missing legs, teeth, matted hair. Somehow through all of it my mom still managed to find a soft place in her heart to feed them. Don't feed the dogs! We were all saying.. too late. We had a tour guide who I could hardly understand and kept being fascinated by the walls and rocks and how they line up so evenly. It was pretty cool that they could do this back then 900 AD. And look double doors! This place is very special..
Day 3: I always love eating breakfast in other countries. They are so refined and different from the breakfasts I see Americans eating. Eggs consisted the majority of the meal, but you could also find cheeses, and bread. Fruit was available, granola, and yogurt. We headed out to the Sacred Valley in our big white van trying not to get car sick. Fabrizio, "Look friends!" "My dear friends". I am not so sure if we are on that personal note yet. We saw the condours which the Incas loved and cherished. They are basically big vultures but are the 2nd biggest bird in the world with a wing span of 10 feet. We saw a puma, and some llamas, and of course more peruvian looking dogs. The people there were trying to sell us baby alpaca. All the nice sweaters, hats, pants, etc. contain baby alpaca. The people here LOVE baby alpaca also they love coca. More on that later.
We made it to the Sacred Valley which was my second favorite part of the trip. It was amazing to see how they farmed on these lands and how they protected themselves. We hiked a bit and bit more until our lungs were exhausted. The altitude was killing me! We were dropped off at the train station for our next stop Machu Picchu.
Day 4: Waking up at 450 was rough. We got ready and headed downstairs for breakfast and on our way to Machu Pichu. When I first came across this huge piece of miraculous land I thought I was in the movie King Kong. Everything is so lush and green! I felt like I was going to see this huge ape come by our bus. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was warm and sunny perfect hiking weather. The hike on Winapichu was by far my favorite part of the trip. It was so pretty being able to look down from the peak. Not to mention the hike was a little sketchy but they had ropes to hold onto. Supposedly they only put those ropes in a couple of years ago and 17 people die a year! It was worth the risk. Looking down at Machu Pichu was like a fairy tale. It didn't seem real. Our tour guide took us around Machu Pichu and taught us all about the Inca life. That there were different temples in Machu Pichu and places to do sacrifices. The Incas I am learning were very intuitive people and very smart/ resourceful. They built aquaducts and windbreakers using their walls. They used the sun to see when the equinox was through a small window of one of their buildings. We were taught and got to see a coca plant. Which is a plant the Incas would use and later on farmers used to chew on so that they could maintain a high level of energy and not get hungry. The Peruvians love their coca. If you extract enough of it and from one ingredient of all the ingredients in it you can make cocaine. Yes, you need a whole lot of this plan but you can make cocaine. We tried some coca tea. Not my favorite, tasted like grass.
Day 5: Christmas Eve we slept in and went about Cuzco bearing good tidings and little trinkets for the boys and girls. Mom had an idea to make bags and collections of things to give out to the kids. After the first two bags given out other kids and their mothers spotted the free gifts and started towards mom. She was then encircled about by Peruvians grabbing at her and her bag. Dad had to separate them and drag her out of the circle. She wanted us to pass out the trinkets after that. All we did was run over to a kid drop the toy filled bag and say Feliz Navidad and bail. Our Christmas feast was good ol' pizza. Nothing like pizza with no sauce. We did white elephants and letters this year for christmas. I got a big coca cake and Jace chose my gift. Chris ended up with a big hoof where you can drink pop out of. Tanner ended up with a small cuddly guinea pig (the peruvians delicacy). They sold it all over the streets, Dad ended up with a shirt Coca (the leaf) Cola, and mom got a guinea pig paper weight. The letters were my favorite part. It was a different kind of present and a lot more meaningful. I will definitely keep those letters forever :).

Day 6: We left Cuzco and went to the Amazon. The Amazon is hot and humid but you need to be careful of the mosquitos and where long pants! So we were drenched in sweat and bug repellent and made our way to the amazon. We had an hour drive on a long bumpy road and then a 30 min boat ride. We then hiked 15 mins inland where our "hotel" was. There were no doors, no walls, no ac. But it was a cool looking building and they did make it homey. My favorite part of the amazon was seeing all the little monkeys in the trees starting at you. Also the howling monkey that sounded like wind howling through the air was fun to hear as well. We went on a couple of hikes to see the Macaws and to fish for Pirhanas! We all caught one. Not hard to catch since the fishing pole is a stick, a string, and a hook with meat connected. We saw some creepy crawly things at night- frogs, tarantulas, butterfly moths. No puma or Jaguar unfortunately. They are too deep in the jungle.
We had such a great time and had so much fun traveling through this country. Loved every part of it.











Peruvian Dog
                                                                                     Blanco Christo





Giving some llama some love.


Machu Picchu