From there to here!

They boxed up our house one day and the next day we moved. It was crazy how all of a sudden the past "medical training/journey/experience away" was over. I am still scratching my head at where the time has gone. When I look at Brad and me I just can't believe what we've learned, endured, and the joys we were lucky to experience.  So back to our move. Thank goodness we didn't accumulate much stuff along the way and we were actually able to really downsize. Utah...here we come!

 Rather than fly we decided to make a trip of it. If you know me...traveling and seeing new places is probably my favorite thing to do. So...we did it and it was awesome and the kids were awesome. It was an incredible memory. So here is the journey through a few pictures. I have a million i could've shared.
It has been a treat to be able to take my family in different stages to the Liberty Jail.

 Was  I really a missionary there 11 years ago??

 Thanks to some help from the moving allowance we got to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City. Do this if you ever can. Indoor water park, bunk beds, pure kid fun. They kept thanking us over and over again for taking them there.

 I never thought there would be a temple in KC, but there is and it was beautiful inside and out.

 Then we journeyed up to the Winter Quarter's temple in Nebraska. I loved the stained glass.
We checked 2 more temples off of our list of 50 before we're 50.

 From there we drove north to Sioux Fall's, South Dakota. Sioux Fall's...who knew? It was so cool to explore there falls.

 Chloe has talked about this "daring leap" for a long time so here it is.

 Then you can't travel 1-90 and not stop at Wall Drug where "water is free" and the donuts are homemade. They also have a huge dinosaur that feeds every 12 minutes. I can tell you about that funny experience sometime.

Mount Rushmore lived up to all my expectations. It was spectacular. Another bucket list check!

 They did a little program at night and lit it up.

 They honored servicemen and women from all branches of the military. Brad is on the end in orange representing the AirForce. I always get some super patriotic pride whenever they do these military things.

 Then it was off to Custer state park.

 Breathtaking.

 All of it...simply breath taking.

 This guy greeted us along the way.

 And this.

 We finally got to Utah after driving through Wyoming which has nothing except for a super yummy mexican restaurant somewhere before we hit 80.
Made it to Utah in time to celebrate Mamma Ruthie's birthday.

 And to go to Bear Lake for the 4th.

 Watching fireworks goes from excitement.

 to slight trepidation...

 to...what on earth are these bright lights and sounds!

 boating with cousins.

 Sweet sweet mountains. Utah...we are so glad to be back.

 The annual pilgrimmage to take the kids to the place we were engaged.

 We always tell them the romantic story and then walk around the lake.

 This guy came to say hello.

 What did we do to be lucky enough to see all the wildflowers in full bloom.

 And now...with a snap of our fingers...we live in Cache Valley. And the mountains up there...perfect!

Happy Happy Summer to you all.

Goodbye residency.

Look at this guy!!! Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago in Peoria...DONE!

Here is a little poem I wrote about the matter. Pictures at the end.

Seriously? Is our seven years done?

If you said, "No!" I would run, run, run.

It really is over; the journey thus far is through.

We made it through these 7 years -me and you.

I wrote a poem describing med school.

I though one about residency would also be cool.

It was a 3 year commitment of working very hard.

I'll attempt to explain it with words in this card.

We moved to Peoria on the hottest summer day

to a little duplex on Frostwood Parkway.

We found out baby number 3 would come soon

Add another to our family. We were over the moon.

Lola slept in the closet. We went on lots of walks

Laying on the pillow at night would bring on our talks.

The July you started it was so, so, so HOT.

They threw you in ICU, you wished they had not.

Hours are 7-7, are you kidding me?

More like 6-11 before you were free.

Each night we would wonder when you’d be home

No use calling you couldn’t/ wouldn’t answer your phone.

A few hours of sleep you would get.

Always up to read scriptures I could always expect.

You rarely exercised but somehow stayed thin.

With free food at the hospital, I can only imagine the shape you could be in.

Sometimes I’d ask you to explain what you do.

Big words, complicated stuff-I’d rather eat my shoe!

One good weekend a month was yours to take

Fill those days up with fun and memories to make.

I did a lot on my own with 3 kids in tow.

Often and always I was solo queen of the show.

But when you were home you were ever present and there!

Cleaning, and raising and planning-All burdens you’d share.

Far away from family we’ve been for so long

But visitors came and we loved having them along.

I love that we learned to work though things together

Our strength and unity as a couple I’ll treasure forever.

Really, it’s 3 am and the kids are puking again

Fevers, black outs, storms, kids up way way before seven.

I was saved the hardest of nights for when you were gone at work.

Text you all night or report in the morning saved me from going berserk.

Cutting hair, homemade stuff, or deals at the store.

Garage sales, consignments, watching dogs- man we were poor!

As we went we managed to take some way awesome trips.

Lots of roadtrips we took- just ask us for tips.

We discovered we like Indian and Vietnamese food.

Going to these restaurants always boosted out mood.

I have to mention Steak and Shake because, well, we ate there.

And Nauvoo, Nauvoo, Nauvoo the spirit always to share.

Come home form work and find a fresh baked treat.

I should rub you shoulders but you would rub MY feet.

Life kept on going- you kept on learning so much.

You blessed many lives by your healing touch.

We outgrew Frostwood plus we decided to stay

We rented a house that we loved if we must say.

ICU, UHATS, MICU, Cardiology and more,

Endo, UHATS, other “ologies” kept your feet sore.

Days turned to months and months to a year.

Sometime during third year the end felt so near.

We interviewed for a job all through the west.

Lots of offers but choosing ‘the one’ was the real test.

“Logan, Utah” we said, “let’s try it there.”

The docs, the town, the weather all seemed perfectly fair.

Why did you never complain Brad- you now you could.

But even if times were tough I knew you never would.

“Come on do a fellowship” fellow docs would always say.

Lifestyle and 9-5, “fellowship-NO WAY!”

The best of friends out here we made

Their support, understanding and friendship we’d never trade.

Prelim of the year was your honor first year

And Senior resident of the year for that let us cheer.

As I write this it’s kind of hard to remember 3 years.

You had mono for sure but I can’t recall any fears.

I asked you some highlights you had of the past

New York trip, Lola’s birth, Disney you said really fast.

Then you said our badger and Chloe learning to ride her bike.

Those are things about Brad I like…

Despite crazy hard year after year

Memories of being together is all I hear.

You went to work each day and changed lives for the good.

Stop and look at your accomplishments, Babe, you really should!!

Here is Brad and his favorite friend Pria and his program director.

The other doctors in his program. The girl next to him was my favorite. Her husband is in the picture below. He graduated the year before. They are all from India. We love people from India:)

I couldn't be more proud of him. It's really hard to comprehend and really exciting for what's ahead.
Doctor Bradley A Chambers.

THE picture I've been waiting for.

In case you may have heard we are finishing up our medical journey in a couple of weeks. I have a million thoughts and emotions about the whole thing so i'm gonna write more about that later. But when we started we only had a 4 month old baby and now that same 4 month old is 7 and we have two more little "once  4 month olds" but now they are 4 1/2 and 2. Missouri and Illinois are our home and it's hard not to get a little sentimental.
On to THE picture.
So, when we moved to Bloomington, Illinois I found this cool old area where I took some photos of Chloe. The pictures capture her perfectly.

Then we started residency and moved up the road about 45 minutes. I decided to go back to the same spot and take a picture of this little man. These just totally capture his personality, too. NOT AT ALL INTERESTED IN PICTURES-EVER! Interested in the car down the road, the sound down the road, why was he up high on that ledge, when could he get back in the car, etc.

Then we found out we were having miracle baby number 3 and what do you know...we still live in Illinois we went and took the same picture. This little lady is so full of personality. She knows what she wants. She has a blanket that has a brown floral side and a plain pink side. In the middle of the night she knows if the brown floral side isn't facing up and she cries till you turn it so it is laying on her the right way! She knows what she wants! Hence the purse and the bapbap!

  

So there they are. All 3 kids in the same spot at the exact same age. I really can't stand it. To say that i'm a little at loss for words over these three is an understatement. I just love love love being their mom. They teach me so much. The realization of things i have been taught for so many years and things I know comes true in their faces and when i am teaching them something. It is just awesome to be able to see them grow and change and learn and everything.

This one below looks like I took a photo just before they decided to pack their bags and move on. 

 Are you still reading along. Good! Because these sequences are gems.

"THOUGH SHE BE BUT LITTLE, SHE IS FIERCE!"

And just as I was about to post this the other night the power went out. I am a total baby in the dark. Brad was at work and I was downstairs and I ran upstairs as fast as I could only to find the light from EZ's lantern that he insists having by his bed. Thanks goodness for that little lantern that night. It was just the light that I needed.