"Ain't no need to watch where I'm goin'; I only need to know where I been."
-Tow Mater (Cars)
Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas and happy New Year! We hope 2011 has been a good one for you. We think of you often, and are grateful for your good influence in our lives. The husband and I always talk about the great people we know, and how lucky we are to have been up and down life’s roads with you. This year has been an especially exciting ride—and though we have no idea where (exactly) we are going, our hearts are full of hope, happiness, and gratitude because of the good places our family has been this year.
The husband and I are busy surveying the map for potential places to call home during his residency. You see, 2011 marked his final full year of medical school. (!!!!!!) He should win a Piston cup for all the miles he has traveled this year. He traversed the trails to, from and in Texas for two months, doing medical research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The boys and I flew to the lone star state to be with him for two of the eight weeks he was there. I will never forget how good it was to see him at the Hobby airport. Jdog (who coordinated his first crawls forward in our temporary Texas apartment) kicked and smiled with delight when he saw his dada. Atrain ran to him with open arms. He and the husband swam in the complex pool almost every night—swim caps, cochlears and goggles on. The husband’s work in medical school over the past three years set him up to receive multiple interview invitations for Radiation Oncology residency programs. By February of next year, he will have traveled from sea to shining sea and most everywhere in between. We are excited to explore new avenues ahead.
This year I traveled from toilet trainer, to aspiring writer, to breastfeeding mother, to resident adviser, to car seat carrier, to toddler toter, to half marathon runner, to adoring partner, to anxious, stressed and overwhelmed “I don’t know how I am going to make this work” med student wife and mother of two(-er)…and back again. It has been a bumpy road, but I’m amazed by how small the scrapes, bruises and scars seem now—quite literally. But, I will always have the small stitch of a scar below my right eye to remind me of the battle wounds I sustained the year when I transitioned to mothering two children. If you want the full story, visit my writing blog, thethoughtpuddle.blogspot.com, a project I began the day I went to the ER to get my face glued back together. I love being a mother, and I love that scar. Other incredible roads I rolled over in 2011 include: glorying in the grotesque “dirty dash” mud run with Famous, vacationing on Block Island with the husband and his family, wrestling my sisters in the kiddy pools at my family’s summer party,
and feeling my heart grow as I watch my boys learn to be brothers.
Atrain has been on a few amazing rides this year. He learned all about what it means to be big: to wear big boy undies, to earn big boy rewards, to endure big boy expectations, and to be a big brother. He loves to stand on furniture, flex his muscles and exclaim, “look at how big and tall and strong I am!” Of course he is all of that, but the biggest thing about this boy is his heart. He loves and protects all that is near and dear to him. He is a big inspiration to us—going down the roads less traveled with his cochlear implants, and doing it ahead of his age group’s speech and language milestones. We love him and are so proud of him. The biggest moment of his year was going on the Splash Mountain ride at Disneyland, and slaying the firework show as his larger-than-life alter ego, “Darth Atrain.”
Jdog (aka J, or Jar Jar or diga diga) has been a happy little traveler. He brings his content, calming presence with him on every ride—and he is hilarious. He loves being (playfully) squashed by his big bro, mimicking every crude body noise he hears, tickling his own eyelashes before going to sleep, playing “car cars,” toddling down the hall and squealing with Aaron, and snuggling with dada. His personality is the perfect addition to our family. We couldn’t love him more.
Even though our family’s physical destination may be a little uncertain, we’re grateful for all the good places we have been. We are thankful for your influence on our journey, and for the constant guidance of our Father in Heaven. We wish you the best with all the roads you traverse in the upcoming year.
With love, the husband, MJ, Atrain and Jdog Family
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