Run for the Wild

Last Saturday, April 24, Patrick, Andy and myself "Ran for the Wild", it was a 5k put on by the Bronx Zoo. I love the Bronx Zoo! I especially love it now that the leaves are out and green. It is a very beautiful zoo, needless to say that the run through the zoo was gorgeous. I didn't realize how hilly the zoo was until we ran, but luckily Patrick was there to push the stroller, this was initially done to help keep him at my slow pace.

Patrick and Andy at the start, (as you can see Andy didn't really run, he rode).

There was a good size crowd waiting to run the race.

Towards the end Patrick ran up ahead of us to get a picture as we crossed the finish line. Unfortunately someone ran right in front of us as he took the picture. This picture was posed. I run really slow. We crossed the finish line in 37 minutes, the time included two stops for Andy's sake. Water, food and a poopy diaper awaited us at the finish line. We found a spot on the grass to sit and stretch. Patrick went to gather food, while I took care of the poopy diaper. Patrick came back with no food! He said the line wasn't moving. So, being well trained at the art of gathering food at the end of races by a master, my father, I went on the task of food gathering. I realized that there really wasn't a line, you just had to approach the table and grab what you wanted. In minutes I had a bag with 2 oranges, 2 apples, 2 bagels, 2 muffins and three yogurts with spoons and napkins. My father would have been proud. We ate our picnic breakfast, and then headed to explore the zoo. One of Andy's favorite spots is the children's zoo. He is starting to know it and has a routine of things he likes to do.

Step one, we visit the herons and crouch in the fake nest.

A picture of one of the herons.

Step two, we check out the prairie dogs.

"Hello prairie dogs!"

This one was posing for the camera.

"Hey prairie dogs, Look Over Here!"

Step three, crawl through the fake log, over and over and over.

Step four, climb up the stairs to the top of the slide. WEEEEEEEEEEE!

This slide actually is really fast and fun! We all went down several times.

We took some video of our sliding adventure.

Step five, climb into the turtle shell and sit until a bigger kid pushes you out.

Last we visit the farm animals.

This time Andy tried feeding the farm animals, he would throw the food pelts on the ground in front of the animals. We did coax him to letting one of the sheep eat out of his hand. He didn't like it very much. Enjoy the video.

We had a great time and plan to run next year too, if anyone wants to join us.

16 months Flashed Before My Eyes

I just started running again. Starting is always the hardest thing, especially when you have a sixteen month old. I have several friends that are willing to watch him but sometimes it doesn't work out. On Wednesday April 7th Patrick got home early enough that we decided to run on the track above the apartment parking garage. We decided it would be good for Andy to get outside. Patrick did an excellent job watching Andy while I ran two miles. They played with the basketball left there. They tried to make baskets and kicked the ball around. Every once in a while Andy would join me running for a few steps. When I was done, it was my turn to play with Andy while Patrick ran. Unfortunately, Andy was done playing on the track and ready to do something else. He handed me the two water cups we had brought, his pull telephone and his tricycle and proceeded to the top of the stairs saying bye and waving. I followed him trying to figure out how to carry him down the stairs or how to leave the tricycle without him noticing to much. Andy normally won't go down stairs without help unless he turns around and crawls down feet first. At that moment I saw my sweet little boy squat down and lean over the edge and start to roll down. The next thing I remember is having his leg in my right hand and him hanging upside down. I then swung him into my other arm so he wouldn't be upside down. I called Patrick over to check him out. Andrew had managed to hit his head on one step and was heading down to the next when I caught him. He only ended up with a few scratches, which may have been more from me pulling him up then from his fall. It could have been so much worse. I am so grateful for reflexes, the tricycle that was in my right hand ended up half way down the steps, which is where Andy probably would have stopped had I missed him. I vaguely remembering screaming and swinging my arm toward Andy dropping the tricycle as my arm swung toward him, it all happened in one motion. I also managed to only drop the tricycle, the cups and pull phone stayed in my left hand and arm.

As I carried him home and Pat finished his run, Andy was screaming and kicking. We got home I gave him some Tylenol, and several halves of Robin's Eggs, which cheered him up. I cleaned his scratches and then cried as I documented the incident on film.

Lessons learned...Andy is much more cautious at the top of any steps now and so am I. I learned not to trust the fact he has always stopped in the past. He is an adventurous boy who wants to do it all by himself. I hope that he will soon learn to walk down steps safely, but until then I hope that he will let me help or carry him down.

Since the incident I have not ran on the track. Instead I have pulled out the jogging stroller that my friend Crystal gave me, I now buckle Andy in it and run around our neighborhood. We have a great time.

The scratches have healed and you can hardly tell they where there. I am so grateful that he didn't get hurt worse.

Never Say Never!

Throughout my 33 years of existence, I have frequently experienced the underlying truth of the phrase, "Never say never".

For example, since I was a child, I swore that I would never attend Brigham Young University...I graduated from BYU in 2007.

As many of you know, while I was in the Army I was a paratrooper. I frequently told anyone who would listen, however, that I would never allow myself to be stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, which was the home of the Army Airborne and had a reputation for being a tough assignment...I spent my last two years in the Army there.

After I was discharged from the Army, I swore that I would never go back into the military. This was a double "never" since I had also vehemently maintained that I would never enter the Navy...I am currently an Ensign in the Navy Reserve and will be a physician in the Navy when I graduate next year.

Due to a misconceived dislike of all things California, I swore that I would never marry a California girl...my wife is from the Sacramento area.

Finally, my most recent "never" moment involves an opinion that surgeons are nothing more than glorified plumbers and my vehement belief that I would never want to become a surgeon...After a highly enjoyable surgery clerkship in Manhattan, I now plan on applying to Navy surgery residencies this summer.

The only question left is why haven't I taken these lessons to heart. I guess I'll "never" learn!

Happy Easter!

Easter was so much fun this year! Andy really caught on quick that there were sweets in the eggs and screeched for joy every time he found an egg. We did a small egg hunt as a family. Then Patrick made breakfast for us. at about 1pm I picked up our friend Donna, who Andy absolutely adores. At 3:30 we joined many other Einstein families for an egg hunt. It was fun watching the kids run around picking up and finding Easter eggs. Andy ate way too much candy and loved every minute! We then joined our friends at the Badgers home for dinner and Conference. The only thing that would have made this Easter better would be if we had family closer.

Hope everyone had a very Happy Easter!

A Day with Grammie Scarborough

Saturday April 2nd we met Phil, Erin and the kids and Patrick's mom (who was visiting Phil) in Strasburg, Pennsylvania to take a train ride through a predominately Amish community. It was so much fun for the kids and the adults who still love trains, myself included. Andrew spent most of the ride with his head out the window taking in the sights, smells and sounds. He also proved to be a big fan of kettle corn, yum! He ate a good chunk of the bag we bought and then started in on the bag Phil and Erin bought. The Easter Bunny came on the train and took pictures with the kids and handed out suckers. Although we didn't open it, Andy still managed to gnaw a hole in the plastic just big enough to suck out the red sweet sugar goodness.

After the train ride we drove a shore distance to visit Intercourse, Pennsylvania. There were a bunch of little shops to look through, but the kids were all for the playground. They had a wonderful time swinging, climbing in and on a wooden train, playing in the playhouse and looking at the farm animals. I love that Andy wore his conductors hat. Andy was so worn out by the end that one moment he was sitting in his car seat eating cheese and crackers and the next he was sound asleep snoring away. We really had a fun day!

We really enjoyed seeing Grammie and can't wait to see her and Grandpa Scarborough at the end of May, when we visit them in Idaho. We love you Grammie!!