love all around

God knows that we need little reminders of how much we're loved (especially with Dan 1000-plus miles away).  Check out what we've found in the last week.  

Love to all!

Team Fulkerson

what do uno cards, a wii game controller, two pairs of scissors and a Frodo Baggins action figure have in common?

Luke's newest pastime is to remove the heating/cooling vent covers and drop things down inside the vents.   The items that we dig out of the vents are varied, to be sure.  This colorful collection was discovered on Monday.  

The older kids seem concerned that my first reaction to Luke's antics these days is to grab the camera.  I have tried to explain that all two year-olds do these kind of things and it's not a big deal. 

Then they look at me like I'm crazy. 

They're probably just afraid I'll start photographing their antics, too.  Hmmm....

fooled me

We met some dear friends (Hi, Calders!) for lunch on Main St. in Carmel, IN earlier this week.   It's in the arts district and the city has added some statues since we'd been there last.  This "lady" was right next to where we parked.   The kids got such a kick out of her!  Well, some of them did. Daniel wanted to keep his distance and Luke tried to run away.  

Countdown

Hope everyone's Monday is going well!  

It's about 7 weeks until baby girl arrives.

There are 48 weeks left in Dan's fellowship.

Cheers,

Amy

Look daddy!

Engen brought us more sand! 

no surprises here

This is what I get for spending time searching on craigslist for a used guitar this morning.  You would think I'd learn...

photo of the day

Long, long ago...when Emma was the toddler and we were waiting for baby Daniel to come.   I look at this picture and it doesn't even seem real- well, except for the memory of that military-issue shiny gold couch behind us.  

Countdown

Baby Girl is coming in about 8 weeks.

Dan's fellowship has 49 weeks left to go.

Have a great Monday, everyone!

graduation - Team Fulkerson family photos

A totally biased account of Dan's graduation from residency (June 13, 2009)

When people think of graduations they usually expect caps, gowns and a long (boring) ceremony. IU's Neurosurgery Residency program skips the typical in favor of its own

traditions. The morning of graduation there's The Campbell Open, a golf outing pitting the

residents against the attendings. The evening of graduation there is a dinner hosted by the

department at beautiful Crooked Stick Country Club. Dan was the only graduate this year (some years there are two) so the night of June 13 was his.

Keep in mind that I prefer to have a cocktail in my hand during Dan's work-related dinners because I find making conversation with some of the neurosurgeons, well, this side of terrifying. Pregnancy forced me to attend this year's dinner with nothing but a goblet of ice water and you know what? It was FUN! Of course I'm very biased, but here's my take.

The chairman of the department (Dr. Nelson) introduced Dan, talking about Dan's life and achievements. He also presented Dan with (among other things) the traditional caricature made by the medical illustrations department. Dr. Nelson said wonderful, complimentary things. I am always relaxed when he's at the mike. The residency director, Dr. Shapiro, annually turns this dinner into a roast - something that sends me running to the bar most years. Dan's love of Guitar Hero and Star Wars were among this year's themes. I'm happy to report that Dr. Shapiro's comments were well-edited for Emma and Daniel's ears. Believe me, I was sweating bullets during that speech.

Dan, knowing that Dr. Shapiro would (mercilessly) lampoon him, came armed. For weeks (months?) Dan worked on a short film entitled Diary of a Neurosurgeon. It featured Dan as narrator (doing a FABULOUS impersonation of Dr. Shapiro) and several co-conspirators, including Dr. Shapiro's wife Colleen. It earned lots of laughs and a standing ovation, which was fun to catch on video. Dan doesn't have a copy in Texas but I may just burn one for him to watch when he's having a lousy day. Dan finished the evening with a speech - one that I'll always hold close to my heart.

Just a funny aside, Dan arrived early to set up his laptop to be certain that his movie would work. He had everything situated when somehow it was all unplugged (not that Dr. McCanna would know anything about that) and then nothing would work right. For, oh, 15 minutes every neurosurgeon in the room gathered in a group around the computer equipment, trying in vain to get things going again. The pondering, the tinkering, the furrowing of brows and scraching of heads struck me as entertaining, considering what this group does for a living every day. Finally, one of the residents' wives (go Jennifer!) walked over, fixed the video problem, and quietly walked back to her seat. Then, when there was still no sound, Dan's sister Jodi (a high school English teacher) pointed out that - you guessed it - the speaker wasn't plugged in.

I loved it.

Those of us who aren't neurosurgeons in this life just might have a shot...

So to quote Dr. Payner, how many neurosurgeons does it take to fix a computer? Seven or eight...plus two smart women who know how to fix the computer.

It's safe to say that most of us don't have the chance to hear so many people say such kind things about us while we're still alive. People said things about Dan (and he, in turn, said things about me) that most of us would be lucky to have said at our funerals. Dan was so glad to have his parents and sister present to enjoy the festivities. I was happy (again, very biased) because I think he deserved every good and kind thing that was said. He's worked really hard for many years. Who doesn't like to hear that they've done a great job, especially when the compliments came from those he respects so much?

Graduation happens every year. Every year I'm staggered by the achievement that a neurosurgery resident has accomplished. 2009's graduation, though, will be the one that Team Fulkerson will always remember. Great job, Dan! We're so proud of you!

Flashback to June 13-- a totally biased report of Dans

But who's counting?

Team Fulkerson has two big countowns going on.  We're going to keep track on this blog (mostly for our own kicks) but you lucky folks at home can count down with us.  

Baby Girl is due in about 9 weeks.

Dan's fellowship will be over in 50 weeks.

We'll update on Mondays (if I remember) since that's the day the baby week count changes.  :)

Count along with us...

Last weekend

We spent our last weekend in Houston a few short days ago.  We visited the Space Center in Houston last Saturday!  It included a Steven Spielberg exhibit, complete with an Indiana Jones Rope Adventure.  Emma, Daniel and Noah are in the photos above -- Emma in a pink shirt, Daniel in navy blue and Noah in royal blue.  They loved it!

My mom (Sherry) was with us on Sunday as we hung out at the pool and soaked up our last day of Dan time for a couple of weeks.  We started driving early Monday morning and were home in Zionsville, IN by 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.   I was very thankful not to make that 1000-plus drive as the only adult in the van.   Thanks, Mom!  We owe you one (at least).  

Yeah, we're pretty sure the neighbors hate us...

Guitar Hero. 

It's a family entertainment staple in our house - or, for the last month, apartment.  Here's a clip of the kids doing their rendition of Twisted Sister's I Wanna Rock.   It's about 30 seconds long. 

This game is a real gem.  Who doesn't want their kids to know all of the lyrics to 'standards' like Talk Dirty to Me, Raining Blood and Iron Maiden's The Trooper?  

You can probably guess which parent purchased Guitar Hero - and plays along whenever someone will give him a turn. 

This clip also features our cozy family room space.   Surrounding the band are "beds" (air mattress and futon) and Luke's toys- everywhere.  

It's really cozy, and often really loud.  And really, really fun....

friend and foe

My best friend here in Houston has been, hands-down, the gps that Dan and I bought as an anniversary gift to each other. I am so horrible with direction (and so terrified of getting lost) that the kids and I just might have stayed holed up in the apartment during our time here without it.

My biggest foe has been what's known as The Roundabout. Down the street from us there is a lovely fountain and an intersection encircling it that our precious gps is determined to send us through on every outing. In order to successfully navigate The Roundabout one has to know which lane to be in before you enter. You also have to be aggressive enough not to be forced to exit too early. Finally, you have to memorize which street is which, as some are clearly, beautifully labeled and some are not. Here lie my problems - I'm not aggressive and I am terrified of having to decide quickly which lane I need. The result has been that *almost* every time we go through this intersection we wind up on the wrong street and the gps chastises me with her declaration of "recalculating." The kids have wondered aloud, "Mommy, why is this so hard for you?" If, by chance, we wind up on the intended street the kids actually cheer from the back of the van as I pump my fist in victory.

It is pitiful.

For the record, the photos make this beast look much tamer than it actually is - at least in my eyes.

weak

I am a picture of weakness these days. Twenty-nine weeks pregnant (which, for me, means I'm wider than I am tall), needing snacks even more often than the kids, and unable to go into the 105 degree heat-index outdoors for more than about 10 minutes without wondering if I'm going to faint. Most of all, I'm weepy. I cried three times on Tuesday, once while trying to read aloud from a Laura Ingalls Wilder book. It was a happy Christmas scene but I couldn't get through it without breaking down, despite having read it so many times during my childhood (and again as a teacher) that I could probably recite it without having the book open.

My biggest issue, by far, is trying to wrap my brain around getting into the minivan on Monday morning and driving away toward Indiana, leaving Dan here. My brain knows we'll be fine, but my insides feel like I'm about to rip myself in half. If I think too much about it I can't breathe.

In church on Sunday the lectionary reading was from 2 Cor. 12: 7-10. I'm not sure exactly what Paul's context was (a dream?) but the part that stuck with me was this: "for when I am weak, then I am strong. " Later in the paragraph it says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for (God's) power is made perfect in weakness." Now if there's something I need these days, it's divinely perfect power and strength. So, I get to look at this situation as my opportunity to bask in power and strength, because the weakness is getting ridiculous.

Isn't it fantastic when the very verse you need to hear is what's placed before you? Thanks be to God.

Daniel's turn

There's nothing that's as much fun as taking a turn with the camera. Mom's camera. The camera mom is crazy-protective of. Mom is encouraging both Emma and Daniel to put CAMERA on their Christmas lists, especially after many spirited conversations about whose turn it is, whether today's photographer is fast enough to capture the best shot, why the camera can't go in the sprinklers or hang around your neck at the water fountain....

Maybe Mom needs some lessons in sharing with a happy heart.

Anyway, here are a few of Daniel's shots from the zoo. :) We love the zoo!

One of life's mysteries

It's always nice when naptime sets in. As Team Fulkerson watched our rookie member sleep, we pondered this question: How does one write on the bottom of one's foot while seated in a booster seat? It's especially mysterious when that booster seat was pushed in against a table.

Yeah, Luke likes pens. A lot.

Seriously

I'd like to thank whoever it was that was smart enough to invent WASHABLE markers.  Luke is already onto the ridiculously expensive "Color Wonder" markers (you know, the ones that will only write on the also ridiculously expensive Color Wonder paper).  He knows markers are supposed to make a mark - on anything they touch!  When we want a few minutes of quiet here in our 900-odd square foot apartment, we give Luke markers.  Aaaah, bliss.  Thanks, Crayloa geniuses!  We love you. 

Food for thought

Dan's apartment is in Houston's Museum District.  We're taking full advantage and trying to visit lots of the local museums.  One day this week we visited the Musuem of Natural History.  It was very cool, but one of the things that really struck us was a statue in the park that we passed on the way back to the van.  The children know about Martin Luther King, Jr., but his statue (situated close to one of Ghandi) provided a great opportunity for conversation.

Yesterday we visited Houston's Holocaust Museum.  The main galleries are for ages 12 and up, but we were able to see an exhibit showcasing Dr. Seuss' political cartoons from the time, as well as a garden memorial area.  There was also a train car for us to walk into, with signs explaining how many people were usually crowded into them and how many died en route to their horrible destinations.   It was a very difficult place to visit, but I know it made a big impression on the children.  The Nazis were really only known to the boys as villains in an Indiana Jones movie prior to yesterday.   We also had the chance to deliver some handmade butterflies to the museum for an upcoming exhibit.  The following link has more details if you're interested.  

http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/index.html

First Day

Dan will think it's silly that I posted this photo, but when I saw Dan's new scrubs and coat I was so excited I took a picture of them!  Please remember him in your thoughts and prayers as it's his first day on the job today!