Elliot's Gas Station

Due to the extreme deficits in my bladder size I can't make the whole trip from Danville to Richmond without having to stop to pee (especially when I drink a soda to stay awake.) This necessitated the need to stop at any gas station, no matter how scary looking it is. Elliot's Gas Station is the epitomy of the kind of gas station you see in a horror movie. I survived the bathroom and as I was driving away I noticed the street this gas station is on. That's right...Drunkard Road. Only in South Western Viriginia.

Flowers in Hospital Rooms

I love going into hospital rooms where there are lots of flowers. It really brightens the room and it makes me happy. The balloons just don't have that same spark. So when you know somebody who is sick in the hospital, brighten their room with colorful flowers. It will make them feel loved.

Party Like a Rockstar

I missed hanging out with Rich on V-day, but we had a great post Valentine's date to the MCV winter ball. It was fun to dance, but I think the highlight for me was getting to play Roulette with fake money. I got quite a kick watching Rich's drunk classmate try to figure out how to operate our camera (she was holding upside down.) We had a great time, but I had to laugh at us "getting ready" for the dance. Richard's prepation vs mine: I attached some pictres that caught the action.

Do your chain hang low

I am really excited to post this, I have been looking forward to it since Christmas. Here's the story:

In my family it is perfectly acceptable to give presents from the dollar store. My 11 year old brother, Garrett, went out shopping for our Christmas presents at Dollar Tree. When his eyes landed on the "bling" he knew that was the perfect present for everyone in the family. He gave everybody in the family (including my grandparents) bling. I mean really what more could my grandfather want. What 75 year old man doesn't hope to get a large plastic $-sign on a chain. The best part was when he gave my grandma her $-sign glasses that were broken. He gave them to my grandma and said, "uhh sorry they kind of broke while I was wrapping them." Ahhh, dollar store quality. Here is a picture of us with our bling. I got rings, Rich, Jordan, Lauren and Braden got chains. Jennie got glasses and Garrett wore a bracelet and rings that came with mine. Definitely an awesome christmas present.

Husband Tag

What is his name? Richard William Sedwick-He grew up going by Richard, was called Dick in High School and college, and I was introduced to him as Rich. He goes by any of them.

How long have you been married? It will be 4 years on August 20th

How long did you date? Rich had this big thing that he wanted to date for at least a year before we got married. We met on August 30th 2003 and got married August 20th 2004. Not quite a year, but it was close enough that he was okay with it.

How old his he? 25

Who eats more? I am a pretty good eater, but with snacks I think he eats more.

Who said I love you first? He did,--he told me ahead of time that he was almost ready, but not yet.

Who is taller? Sometimes I think I am taller than him when I have heals on. When we look in the mirror it isn't even close.

Who can sing better? Richard

Who is smarter? We took physics together and I beat him by a lot on the first test, but then he got motivated and we ended up with the same final grade. So I think we are about equal.

Who does the laundry? We try to do it together

Who does the dishes? Rich does, because I cook dinner more...it is only fair

Who pays the bills?Usually me, I don't want to be in charge of it, but that is how it goes.

Who sleeps in the right side? Rich

Who mows the lawn? Last year we had three acres of lawn to mow, so sometimes we would both take a riding mower and get it done quick. When we couldn't do that, we would just split it depending on our schedule.

Who cooks dinner? When I am around it is me.

Who drives? No preference. We both do.

Who is more stubborn? RICH!!

Who kissed who first? Haha..kind of a funny story. See before we started dating I realized that I had gone in for the kiss with almost every guy I dated, so I was determined not to do it again. However, we got home from a date and he told me that he had fallen for me and leaned in, then wussed out. He kissed me on the side chin area, so I kissed him on the lips. A week or two later he told somebody that I kissed him first. I was so bummed, I really thought I let him kiss me. I guess it doesn't count if he chickens out.

Who asked who out first? He did

Who proposed? He did and it was great. It involved a lot of balloons, a scavenger hunt, and he and my dad singing and doing a guitar duet of Danny's Song by Kenny Loggins. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL!

Who has more friends? hmmm...I think he does.

Who is more sensitive? No contest...me. Water works are part of the package with me.

Who has more siblings? Me. I have 4 and he has 1.

Who wears the pants? I pretend I do, but I think Rich lets me to appease me.

Rich you are the best. I miss you a lot when I am rotations. I can't wait until I am back full time and we get to hang out everyday. Love ya.

I guess I'll tag MeiLani, Heidi, Katie and Andi

In Sickness and in Health

On Wednesday night I got sick and it was awful. I think I was sicker than I have ever been before. I was staying with the Castillos in Danville and they were taking good care of me, getting me pedialyte and gatorade. About midday on Thursday I passed out on the way out of the bathroom. The Castillos were leaving town in the middle of Thursday night for a trip and were worried about leaving me by myself if I am passing out. In the midst of doing all their packing they made arrangement for their family member to bring Rich down from Richmond. Rich left straight from school and came to pick me up. We didn't get home until 2 AM and he had to take a test at 8 AM (not to mention that he lost all that study time driving to and from).

I know that in the temple we don't say the words sickness and health, but Rich really was there for me in sickness. He is a great guy and so selfless. I really wanted to thank him and everyone else for taking care of me.

Not to be a downer but....

This last week I have had a lot of experiences with death. I came to the weird realization that WE ALL DIE. I know it sounds crazy that I just realized this, but a few patients I saw this week helped this lightbulb turn on. I had one patient that was in the hospital, because she had become extremely anxious and stressed. She was worrying that her husband was going to have a heart attack and she said she just couldn't handle seeing one more family member die. Then, I had another patient that died after a routine surgery. Basically, I came to the conclusion that you die early or you have to see people around you die. Either way...there is no escaping it. This is good motivation to live your life the way you want, so that you won't have any regrets.