Lifesaver

It seems like the older I get the faster life goes by. It seems like this past week was like that for sure. A big part of my week centered on becoming an instructor for the pediatric advanced life saving (PALS) class. A basic CPR class is called BLS (basic life saving) and you learn how to do CPR, the Heimlich maneuver and how to use an automated external defibrillator like they now have in airports. The step up from that is ACLS (advanced cardiac life saving). That class is for medical personell and you learn how to do more advanced things like give medications to stimulate the heart or stop an irregular heart rhythm. PALS is the pediatric version of ACLS and it was a new mandate that all residents (at least the 2nd years this year and interns next) would become PALS class instructors. This was mostly mandated in order to be able to give the job of teaching the classes to the residents instead of the attending pediatricians who are the usual instructors. The certification has to be renewed every two years by pediatricians, family practice, ER docs, anesthesiologists, as well as pediatric nurses and technicians so there is a steady flow of learners each month.

Becoming an instructor initially seemed like a big deal. Just 18 months back I was sitting in the class trying to grasp every detail hoping to pass. I'm now due to expire myself in June and resuscitating dying kids isn't something we do everyday.

In order to become an instructor I had to take a 3 hour class about instructing (general teaching principles) and then come back the following day to teach the class. Surprisingly there wasn't any review of the PALS material but we were given materials to study on our own and had an open afternoon to reveiw things. I was impressed with myself that I seemed to know the algorithms for shock and cardiac arrhythmias fairly well just from going through residency and keeping up with exercises we've done along the way.

The actual teaching turned out to be pretty fun. My class had a family practice physician's assistant, an anesthesiologist (a little intimidating because these are the real experts in resuscitation), 3 nurses and a respiratory therapist. I was in charge for the afternoon of running simulated cases of patients with heart or lung disease and having the group take turns being in charge of taking care of the patient. The anesthesiologist turned out to be fairly helpful and teaching the class gave me some confidence that I actually have learned a bit in the last 6 years.

I had to work all day Saturday and into Sunday morning so I didn't have much of a weekend but I won't have too many like that and I was overdue to cover a Saturday so I guess I had it coming.

Other happenings for the week included bowling with the young women for Kimi and Lucy becoming a full-time princess by wearing her dress-up dress, crown and platic pink princess shoes for at least 75% of her waking hours (she would sleep in the outfit too if we let her).

Celebrate!

Yesterday was a great day! We are finally approved for our adoption websites! Our adoption approval came through about two weeks ago but for some reason it has taken forever for our profile to become "live" on the web. When the news came, we celebrated by going to dinner at Olive Garden, courtesy of Ben & Sharon, our Valentine pixies (see Valentine post). We even ordered fancy drinks and dessert... really lived it up. Lucy went in her princess dress. This outfit has been a constant for the past week. I get her dressed and then her pants come off within about 10 minutes and the dress goes over the shirt. She's a different princess every day (with the same dress) but by far the favorite is Snow White. Luckily we got her to leave the crown, wand, and high heels home but the cell phone and purse had to come.

Presidents Day weekend

We had a great weekend! George was around the whole time and it was wonderful! Three-day weekends really spoil you. This coming one he works all day and night Saturday, but Presidents Day more than compensated for that. We had a fun progressive dinner with some friends, but the rest of the weekend was spent doing a bunch of housework stuff. Boring? Maybe. But wonderful at the same time. In a couple of weeks we are going to South Padre on vacation so I justified it that way. Anyway, we did a bunch of pruning (Jim, why aren't you my neighbor anymore??? I have no idea what I am doing!), planted flowers, fixed sprinklers, de-junked closets and cupboards, etc. I am trying to create an "art wall" thing for Lucy so I worked on that too. I'll post that when I finish it. :)

Valentines Day... parties, parties, parties

I must admit, Valentine's Day is a favorite holiday of mine. Well, I really like holidays in general. It gives a good excuse to break out of the norm and do something fun. This Valentines day was full of parties... FUN, FUN, FUN! Its so nice to have friends here that become your family to celebrate with. Here are some photos...

Making tissue paper hearts at Kyla's

Eating cupcakes at Maddy's

One of our Tripp traditions is to eat a special dinner at home on Valentine's Day. We eat out for a romantic dinner (just the two of us of course) the week before. Every year I cook something different and something I wouldn't normally just whip up. This year, I tried my hand at cooking catfish (thanks to a good special at HEB... I love HEB by the way. If budget allowed, I would shop there every week.) I dipped the fish in yogurt and then in a fish fry mix (again from HEB). We thought the catfish was pretty good but a little over lemony. For desert I served a raspberry crisp with icecream in a heart pan. Very tart but good. The funny thing about this tradition is that I don't really make the main dish again (at least not that I remember). Last year I cooked these chicken skewer things with peanut dipping sauce (yummy Thai dish but took forever) and the year before I cooked chicken wrapped around asparagus bundles (looked really pretty but didn't have enough zing). I think the catfish will be a repeat but with a new fish fry. Our traditional appetizer is red jello jigglers cut into Valentine shapes. I don't think George likes this as much as I do, but its now more fun with Lucy because she and I think it is great! Obviously, the corn on the cob was a hit with her as well.

My mom's family always has a Valentines party the Sunday before Valentines. My grandma's favorite holiday is Valentines because everyone remembers to love each other. At the first of the month, we are assigned a family member to "pixie" and we give gifts a time or two trying not to get caught. This year Sharon and I "pixied" by mail. She is the one who gave Lucy the cute shirt she is wearing. For the party, we always have homemade chicken pot pies and corn frozen from the garden. We even have heart shaped ice cubes. Raspberry cheesecake and Grandma's famous sugar cookies are served for desert. After we have a program and each family has to give a Valentine to their pixie and reveal our identities. Then we are supposed to share a talent. The highlight is the finalle of the program... my grandpa always sings "My Little Marjie" and "Let me call you sweetheart" to my grandma. It is so tender. It has been 6 years since I've been to the Valentines party and that is the part that I miss the most. I'm grateful to have grandparents who show their love to each other and keep us close as a family. With 49 grandchildren that is no small feat!

"A Sweeter Valentine"

Here's a special Valentine's message from the Tripp's - delivered by our star performer Lucy. Happy Valentine's everyone!

A weekend wrap... the washed up tennis star

Well... maybe "star" isn't the right word for my former tennis abilities...

nonetheless... I now stink. I think I am back to the third-grade level.

Back up... George and I played tennis on Saturday. My house thermometer said the temps were in the 80's. It was a beautiful day. We headed over to the high school courts to play a little tennis. I got Killed (capital K). George has a killer drop-shot that he loves to use on me. The reason is that I get it back 1 time in 10. I have REALLY slow reflexes. In case you are wondering, the score wasn't 6-0 or 6-1. Nonetheless... I got beat bad. Now we'll have to go again soon so I can avenge my loss. Lucy ran around and threw balls at the backboard. By the end of the game, Lucy's face was bright red (like her mother's always gets) and sweating profusely (like her father always does).

Other weekend highlights... George and I went on our Valentine's date on Friday night. He brought a beautiful bouquet home from work on Thursday. I told him earlier not to get me flowers on Valentine's day since they are so expensive. When I was working with the flower people for Lacey's wedding they told me the rose growers mark up their prices a TON for Valentines day... so rip off. Anyway, he chose the flowers to go in the bouquet and I think it is beautiful. Then we went out to eat at Aldo's Italian restauant. It was yummy. If you go, get the red snapper... so good. Its kind of pricey, so I wouldn't make this a regular eating place, but it is a fun celebration place. The atmosphere is fun.

Saturday evening we made cookies. Lucy thinks it is so much fun to dump things in and cut the hearts out. She liked to decorate them too, but had more fun shaking the sprinkles into her hand and eating them.

A great day!

Today was a great day! I tended the Cain girls in the morning (our Wednesday temple swap). They were so good as always and really entertained Lucy. In the afternoon, I worked in the yard... pulled weeds from the grass, did a bunch of pruning, etc. It was wonderful! The temps were in the low 60's and it felt so nice to be outside. Afterwards, Lucy and I made Valentines. I cut out the hearts and she did everything else. It was quite funny. As she would stick a heart on, she'd say "This is for Snow White" or whoever. She was pretty particular about the color of stickers that should go on each one. They had to "match". I'd suggest we move on and decorate another heart and she'd say, "No. That's dangerous." Where does she come up with stuff like that? For dinner I made Jessica Callan's lettuce wraps (yum) and then we helped someone in the ward. George and I played Chinese Checkers afterwards (I lost). My house isn't spottless (there is still stuff from my vacation on my bedroom floor) but George cleaned the kitchen and I cleaned the front room so I am happy. It was a wonderful day... played with my little girl, a little work done, some service, a balanced meal, and time with my husband. I even got a little spiritual nourishment too. I just thought I'd document this because days like this don't come around all the time. I wasn't rushing around and I loved it!

The Big Wedding

The boys waiting for the bride and groom to come out of the temple.

Lacey and Mark pose. It was a nice day, but it snowed the night before and was warm in the morning. That combo = mud. By the end of all the photo taking, Lacey's dress was pretty dirty. These two were SO happy. It was fun to watch.
People lined up in front of the conference center to go to Pres. Hinckley's viewing. At this time the line wrapped all the way around twice. We were hoping to go over between the marriage sealing and the wedding breakfast, but the line was too long. I will dearly miss him.
My bro Greg kisses his daughter Gracie.
Lacey dancing with Mark. They danced to L-O-V-E. It was cute.
I guess I got these pics out of order. Lacey danced with my dad first of course.
Lucy was a little rascal the night of the reception. Not enough sleep! Everytime someone whipped out a camera, she'd burst into tears. It was embarrassing. I guess you'll have to take my word for it... she really did look cute.
Me and my sis

The exhausted wedding planner!

The Big Wedding... the decorating aspect

I thought I'd post a slide show of the decorating aspect of the wedding. It probably won't be interesting to many, but I thought a slide show would be a good way to document how I've spent the last month of my life. There are 19 photos and its all about decorating/flower arranging. I must admit, the pictures aren't the world's greatest. I had to lighten them up by quite a bit to see things (since the lights were so dim). In real life, I thought it turned out really pretty. There are a few things I'd change if I were to do it again, but all in all I was happy. It was strange... I felt a little sad when it was all over. Lacey and I had talked about her wedding for a long, long time (before she met the man of her dreams) and now it was all over....