Speeches

If you have some spare time (and haven't heard these yet) I would take the time to listen to Obama & McCain's speeches after the election. I was very impressed with Obama's amazing speech, but also with McCain's concession speech. They were both very respectful (except for the McCain crowd at a few points), and both did an EXCELLENT job.

Obama's:


McCain's:

Happy Voting!!!!

We'll give you a hint...

Wtih about 3 months until baby Syring makes his entrance we decided to give everyone something to talk about. We have a first name picked out but we're going back-n-forth with a couple of middle names. So, for your entertainment the initials will be R.O.S. or R.A.S.
Feel free to guess what the name is, we may even let you know if you're right:)
Here are a few recent pictures, mostly kitty:

One More Winter For Us!

We just found out Wednesday night that Mara will be doing her clinical rotations (for the next 2 years) in Phoenix, Arizona!
We are really excited since it was our #1 choice. Colorado was #1 for a long time, but we found out they have 3 "out rotations" that each take a month, so Mara would be gone for 3 months out of the year next year, which didn't sound that appealing for either of us. Especially with the kid on the way!
We are just speculating right now, but I think we'll be moving the last weekend in May so we can start our lease June 1 there and avoid paying two rents. Hopefully the 24 drive time in the U-Haul won't be too terrible...but I can't sugar coat that one...:)
We are looking for places to live, daycare, and school/work for me. Not sure if starting a PhD program is the best idea if we are only guaranteed to be there for 2 years. I would have to leave in the middle of it, so it might be best for me to work for 2 years. I still have to see if I can find a program that will work with me in that area.
We are also REALLY happy that so many of our friends got their #1 choice as well. Our friends Brian & Jenny, Sasha, and Jackie are all coming to Phoenix with us as well so we are going to have some great times (when everyone isn't in the clinic!). Our friends Greg & Nicole live there as well, as does Mara's Aunt Heather & her family so we have people to show us around as well!
We are also happy to be out of Kirksville, and be somewhere with mountains, hiking trails, and places to shop other than Wal-Mart! Not to mention the lack of a winter...:) Greg had said that the Midwest has 4 months where you can't do much (winter) whereas the Southwest has 4 different months (summer) where it's too hot to do much. But the high the rest of the year is between 65-80! Perfect golfing weather...:) Here is an idea of the weather spread for the year in Phoenix. It shows record highs & lows, and the average high & low for each month:

Well, back to studying. Mara has Pharmacology and I have Biochemistry exams on Monday. Woo-hoo!

Baby Syring Update

We had another appointment today and he is growing just like he should. His heart rate was in the 160's and he was moving all over the place! The video Mike posted just doesn't do his acrobatics justice, he rolls around all the time.
Nothing else too new with us. I am knee, um, no elbow deep in exams and we are on two exams a week for the next few weeks. Finals are only 5 weeks away!
Well, sorry it's so brief but I have an exam at 8am tomorrow and then a pharmacology exercise where we have a very expensive mannequin that we need to keep alive as we go through a clinical case. (Yes, there have been groups that have "killed" their mannequin by making an inappropriate drug choice!)