Update On Vacation Coming Soon!

Hello and thank you for checking our blog. Last week I had the flu and this week I have had a killer ear infection! Both of these things have left me practically on bedrest and miserable. I really have meant to update the blog before now, but I will try to do it this weekend. I just need one more day to rest! Thanks for your patience!

Counting Down The Days Till Oregon!!!

One more week! I can hardly stand the wait! I can not wait to see all of our family and friends back home. We'll fly in late Tuesday night (July 24th) and spend the night at my parents. Then the next morning we'll drive to Vale to see Ruston's family. His sister Lauren and her two sweet little ones will be in town visiting family too, so we'll all be together. We will hang out there till the 31st and then drive back to Estacada to spend the rest of the time with my parents again!

The last time most of my extended family saw Elli she was only one month old. My goodness that has been too long! She is so grown up now. She just started saying "Elmo" and "please". I can't get enough of her! I hope that everyone gets a chance to see her during our trip because - okay, I know I'm biased - but she's the cutest thing ever! This next baby has a lot to live up to already!

Speaking of the next baby, things are going really great! I'm FINALLY done being morning sick and now life is fantastic. I got over that just in time for Ruston and I to get the flu, or food poisoning, I'm not really sure - but when we were all done being sick together I stopped being morning sick too. Thanks to all those who offered advice, anything I didn't try this time I'm sure I'll get around to for the next one. But I'm 15 weeks along now (that's almost 4 months for anyone who doesn't want to do the math!) and totally have a belly already! I've tried to suck it in for long enough now and lately haven't cared at all when people give me that "Is she pregnant or not?" look. It's that wierd in-between phase when none of my regular clothes fit and there's no way I'm fitting into maternity clothes yet! If you've had a baby, you'll know what I mean!

Anyway, Ruston is doing great. He will finish his summer semester this Friday and then start up for fall as soon as we get back from Oregon. It's a short break, but we already have a lot planned. Things are starting to look pretty serious for us living in eastern Oregon after dental school (and hopefully after a residency). No contracts yet, but I think it will happen. I guess I shouldn't count my chicken before they hatch, but I'm too excited not to! I can't wait to be back in Oregon again!

So I hope to see most of you over the coming weeks. If you aren't living in the Portland or Vale areas and have any reason to travel there I would LOVE to see you and catch up. Otherwise, have a great summer and try to keep cool! I love you all!

Back From Interviews!

Ruston returned from Salt Lake on Tuesday and reported that his interviews went very well. Time at the U of U was short and might not have enabled him as much time as he had hoped for, but he loved going back to the VA (he worked there for three years before dental school) and catching up with old friends. In fact, I think he felt a bit like a mini-celebrity with the amount of attention that was stirred up as he walked into the clinic. He said both programs were great and now we just have to wait (till January - gulp!) to find out if he gets accepted anywhere. When we go to Oregon next month Ruston plans to swing by the Portland VA and offer a quick interview or at least introduce himself. Portland doesn't even begin interviewing until December! Our other back-up plans include various hospitals around Cleveland. It wouldn't be our favorite choice, but continuing education is important and we'll go where the job offers are.

Elli and I kept busy while Ruston was gone. We went babysitting most days and ran errands on the other ones. Unfortunately, I'm not done being morning sick yet - with this last week being even worse than before. I really thought I'd be all done by now, but I guess this baby is really making me work for it. The debate is still open whether or not we will find out the gender of the baby. I totally understand the reasons for finding out: born two weeks after Christmas = gender-specific presents, helping Elli prepare for the change, and of course simply keeping all grandmas happy. But I really liked not knowing with Elli, it was exciting. So we'll have to see. I'm open to persuasion, but I'm not making any promises yet!

Elli has been her usual sweet self this week. She seems to pick up a new word every day. She now recognizes and can say the color blue - just blue, nothing else! She's discovered macaroni & cheese and loves it. She calls them "doodles". And she's starting to get a little more defiant when she isn't getting her way, nothing too bad though. Overall a pretty fantastic little girl!

Three and a half weeks till we go to Oregon! We love you all and hope you are having a great week!