Believe it or not, Byron IS actually going to be done with his fellowship this summer. He has been looking into various practices and is starting to interview for jobs. But really, what could be better than a job in Phoenix?
Nothing, right? Right now it is 75 degrees and sunny in AZ. Always sunny! Big draw. Mexican food galore. Mmm... Mattas, Filibertos, Serranos, El Charro, Mi Amigos, mmm. Big draw. Our family is in AZ. Our little Sam is #26 grandchild on BOTH sides of the family. All of the Garn cousins are there and the majority of Burnham cousins are there too. That's a LOT of family. Many people would think this is a reason for not wanting to live somewhere, but not us. We love these people and want to hang out with them on a regular basis. Huge draw! He did Residency there and has lots of connections. Big draw. I could go on and on about all the things that are pulling our hearts back to the Valley, but I won't, it would take too long. So again I ask, could there be anything better than a job in Phoenix? Well, DUH! Yeah, a job in MESA!
For real? Well, I guess we'll see next week. Byron is interviewing with a Pediatric Cardiology practice that is based in Phoenix. They service the entire Metro Area including Mesa. We have always dreamed of how sweet it would be if Byron didn't have to commute to Phx. With the building of the new Childrens Hospital in Mesa, we thought that maybe that would be a reality somewhere long down the road. Well, it might be sooner than we think. The Phx group needs a guy in the Mesa clinic. Hmm, isn't that interesting. The problem is that Byron has been in training way too long (news flash there!) and he is too subspecialized. He is training this last year in interventional catheterization within pediatric cardiology, but not many practices need an interventionalist right now, including the Phx group. 
The new hospital won't even be done for another year, and the cath lab will take even longer to get up and running. So initially Phx was talking about not needing a cath guy right now and we were looking into other options. Now they are interested in making some arrangements, giving Byron enough cath cases in Phx to keep his skills up until he can get up and running at the new Mesa hospital. OK, sign him up! I can already smell the orange blossoms! Just kidding. We are not jumping the gun, we know that there are about a billion if's and but's that need to be resolved and that the timing just might be off. Then we will go somewhere else and yes, Mom, we will still be happy! But even in our very realistic even doubtful minds, it is all very exciting! We can't wait to hear what the Phx group has in mind when he interviews next week. Wish him luck!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What could be better than a JOB in Phoenix?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Fall Favorites
Our fall was jam packed with visitors and projects and get-aways and beautiful weather and FUN! Hence the lack of blogging. I am going to try to quickly post some of the highlights so I can get back to randomly posting nonsense. It started of with a WONDERFUL visit from my two sisters, their two kids each, and my mom. 
We had 5 adults, 2 big kids, and 6 kids under the age of 3 here in our tiny little house. It was GREAT! (No, we're not polygamists!!)
We mostly took care of kids, a lot! But it was so fun to do it together and to see and hear how they make things work in their homes. My sisters are FABULOUS moms and it was so healthy for me to be with them for an entire week and pick their brains. We couldn't even fit everyone in our cars so we only did two excursions that were musts: pumpkin farm and church (and church we decided could only be an hour because it was during naptime for 6 babes!)
The weather was GORGEOUS and we spent all our time outside. I'm not sure if right now I miss my sisters more or the weather....just kidding guys! What a fun time we had!
We then had a great visit from Grandma and Grandpa Garn. Grandpa was presiding at a Stake Conference in Grand Rapids so we packed up our crew and joined them for the weekend. It was wonderful to be with them for extended periods of time to visit, but also to hear them speak and testify of the Gospel. It was such a treat for us! We were so lucky to have Grandma stay with us longer for almost a week. 
The kids got to really know her and do fun things that Grandma Garn is great at doing. She is one of the most positive people I know and I love having her contagious attitude around. I put her to work helping me with projects I have been wanting or needing to get done. 
She helped me bottle 24 cans of chicken, start assembling I Spy Bean Bags, and made Jack a vampire cape for Halloween. It was so fun to have her here and we are so glad they are no longer on the other side of the world; the other side of the country is much better! 
Byron and I were able to have the get-away of a lifetime! If you've never been, you HAVE to go to FORT WAYNE, INDIANA! OK, so I am being sarcastic, but it really was a fabulous time! Anywhere without kids is a great place to be! PLUS, if you meet up with really fun people, it is even better! 
My sister and her husband were coming out to the midwest for a wedding so my mom and my other sister and hubby decided to jump in on the fun. We got to do all kinds of great things that we don't get to do with kids. We went out to eat 6 DELICIOUSLY GLORIOUS times, saw two movies, played a round of goofy golf (don't ask who won, or lost...), went to a musical, slept in, worked out, and went shopping. Most of all we talked, and talked, and talked. UNINTERUPTED! It was amazing.
And thanks to good friends who helped out with our kids, they survived extremely well without us. Hmm, guess we better go again! By the way, if you ever have the chance to go to this restaurant, GO! It was so dang good! Go Fort Wayne! And hooray family!!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vampires, Cheerleaders, and Harry Potter, OH MY!!
So this is about as generic a post as it gets--kids in Halloween costumes (no offense to everyone else who is doing the same), but it has been over a month since our last post and as junior partner on this blog it is all I can muster tonight.
In order of appearance:
Special thanks to Grandma Garn who was here in MI for the week of Halloween and made this cape for Jack's costume.
Max was also Harry Potter last year (although with a different cloak). Needless to say we were very glad when we were struggling to decide in the very week before Halloween that he chose a costume that we already had on hand.
We had a hard time deciding between the many costumes we had for Lucy, but anyone who has lived in Ann Arbor and knows the passion for all things UofM will understand why this won out.
Sam really disliked this costume (and we really are not sure whether it is a dinosaur or alligator). He wouldn't keep the hood on and so the best picture of him is with the hood off. Still pretty cute though.Finally, this is really disgusting.
Both boys hit the Jackpot . . .
and participated in the ritual of sorting the candy.
and when we put it all together in one bag it totaled . . . .
--Byron