The Robinsons

Happy 1 Month!

2012-01-31T07:00:00.002-06:00

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

This is a print hanging in Parker's room. My friend Christina made this and gave it to him as a gift- love it!

Dear Parker,

I can't believe that you are one month old already- it literally feels like we just brought you home the other day! I also can't believe we have spent an entire month of being home so much. Before you came along, I rarely spent much time inside- always out and about. But, being born in the winter, we really try to avoid getting you out too much in order to avoid you getting sick at this age. Surprisingly, I am incredibly content to spend all day every day with you at home. Of course, we have our little outings to Target (frequently), the grocery store, or to Meredith's house just to beat the cabin fever occasionally.

In your first month, you have changed so much physically- look at these pictures below! You were born weighing less than 8 lbs and at 19.5 inches. At 4 weeks, you are now 10.2 lbs. and ~21 inches. Your facial features are starting to become more defined. We have had some baby acne pop up this last week, but it already seems to be fading. You've also outgrown your newborn clothing and NB diapers. You are wearing 0-3 month outfits really well and size 1 diapers. As exciting as it is to see you grow so quickly, it is also bittersweet to see the true newborn stage fade.

One of the things we worried so much about before you came was if you would have feeding difficulties with your cleft lip and palate. You have been a champ- especially with your weight gain. We have now increased your breastmilk amount to 4oz every 2-3 hours.

You still sleep most of the time, but you have really become more and more alert. During the day, you eat every 2-3 hours, at night every 3-5 hours. After each feeding we have playtime followed by a nap. You love tummy time on your playmat. And yesterday- you rolled over from tummy to back! Your Daddy and I were in shock. I'm sure it was a fluke, but I joke that you are a little overachiever as this is a 3-6month milestone! You are so attentive when we read books, and you have really become a fan of our walks every day this last week with Jack now that the weather has been so nice! You mostly sleep on the walk, but you are very much at peace!

You are so incredibly loved by your Dad and me. We just sit and look at you all of the time still. Your favorite place to sleep is on your Daddy's chest- it's very sweet to see! Jack is loving you more and more- he licks your hands and feet as often as I let him. You just take it and never cry when he does so. You have also had so many visitors come by from our days in the hospital, to almost daily visits at home- we are so blessed with family and friends!

Your buddy Jack wants to be wherever you are!

I can't wait to see what the next month brings. You are such a joy, and I love being your Mommy! I thank God daily for you and for your addition to our family.

4 Weeks

2012-01-26T19:46:00.000-06:00

The plate in the middle was a gift from our friends, the Duncans. The Mad Platter is a "paint your own pottery" business here in Columbia, and they will come to the hospital after your baby is born to get their footprints on a plate that they personalize for you- such a cute idea and great gift!

So Parker is now 4 weeks old! I just can't believe it was 4 weeks ago today that he came into our lives- it still feels like just the other day that we were at the hospital!

In January- my camellias are blooming and beautiful!

The weather has been pretty nasty lately with gray skies, cool temperatures and a lot of rain. The last two days have been such a wonderful blessing with temps in the 60s and sunshine. It's been easy to get cabin fever being in the house all day, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to get outside, get some exercise and take my boys, Parker & Jack, outdoors!

Jack was so excited to get outside

Now I'm just ready for Parker to be big enough to go in the jogging stroller and get back to running

We are quickly outgrowing our newborn clothes!

One of our biggest concerns, and the biggest concerns of Parker's doctors, is that he be able to feed adequately and gain weight. He is eating so well, especially with the Haberman feeder. We have actually had to slow down the flow on his bottle because he is eating so quickly. We went back to the doctor today to recheck his bilirubin level. It was half of the value it was 2 weeks ago, so that is going in the right direction. His weight check- 10.2 lbs!! That is fantastic, and Dr. Painter was very impressed. We are so blessed that he has done so well with eating.

After their bath- the babies are out

We hung out with Meredith and Colin and their 15 week old daughter, Madeline. They actually took a bath together, and it was so incredibly cute! It's amazing to watch Maddie and think that Parker will be sitting up like her, cooing, and laughing/interacting so soon!

It is so much fun to go through this new experience with friends!

We also had a visit from one of Spence's best friends from college, Olivia.

Finally figured out the Moby wrap... it is very convenient to have my hands free to cook dinner, clean up while he sleeps against me.

It's been a great week. I am really surprised by how much I am enjoying being at home with Parker. We have a great routine down now with playtime, reading books, now going out for walks with Jack, etc. Four weeks of parenthood have definitely proven to me that this is the most wonderful job I have ever had!

Parker loves his daddy- he's already being groomed for sitting in the recliner and watching tv. Now Parker just needs his own robe.

3 Weeks and a great visit from Kim

2012-01-20T17:49:00.001-06:00

The Robinson Family

Another interesting week! First of all, I cannot believe we are now at 3 weeks old! Parker is quickly outgrowing his newborn sizes and fitting nicely into our 0-3 months outfits. He is eating great still and downing 3 oz. of breastmilk every 2-3 hours. I have no doubt he is over 9 lbs. now and measures over 20 inches. I just want to push pause to slow him down already!

I just finished the book, On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. I think it is a great framework for establishing a routine for a baby, and I am trying out a lot of the suggestions that are already showing success. It suggests a routine of wake/eat/play/sleep during the day, making the most of alert time and to get the baby used to play and awake time during the day. I'm trying to do a bathtime at one of the last "day feedings" to prepare him for night time. At night, we are trying minimal stimulation other than his feedings, and he is stretching out his sleep times to 3-4 hours. Hopefully in another month, we will have a good routine established. I highly recommend this book- will keep up with our progress (wish me luck!)

can you say Alert?

Tummy Time

My stepmom, Kim came to visit us this week, and we had such a great visit! She was incredibly helpful, helped feed Parker at night so that Spencer and I could sleep more, and helped in a million other ways. The most relief came on Wednesday. I had been having a lot of achiness, fatigue, and fluctuating chills with hot spells, and my temperature was almost 102. Spence quarantined me from Parker, and the next day I had to go back to the doctor where I was diagnosed with mastitis. We were so thankful it wasn't the flu! But for about 24 hours, we were so nervous that I was really sick and would infect Parker! I would not have known what to do if Kim hadn't been here to help out! (I am feeling much better, inflammation is going down, fever is gone, and I am on antibiotics- praying it goes away!)

Jack and Parker are so happy!

Jack stole a rubber duck and has decapitated it.

Jack wants to play with Parker

Kisses

Jack loves to kiss Parker- surely Parker's immune system is getting strong!

Last night of her visit. I know two boys who will be very disappointed!

The only thing we did not accomplish was coming up with her grandmother name. Any suggestions? I told her if she doesn't come up with one that I'm going to call her "Big Momma"- not a flattering name, so the pressure is on!

2 Weeks

2012-01-13T16:04:00.000-06:00

I can't believe our little boy is 2 weeks old now! He is getting so big so quickly and I just feel like it's happening right before our eyes.

This was a big week for us. On Wednesday, we met with Dr. Chen, the Plastic Surgeon who will perform the cheiloplasty (lip repair) on Parker. He was pleased with his weight gain, said we will move forward with surgery at 10 weeks as long as he is 10 lbs and healthy (I don't think the 10 lbs will be an issue!). He also explained how he will do the surgery to us, and even drew out a very artistic and geometric drawing of how the repair will be done. It should take about an hour and a half for the surgery, and then we will stay overnight in the children's hospital to ensure he recovers well. Our surgery date is set for March 13th!

Dr. Chen's quick sketches

Here is P on his 2 week birthday with Dad during bathtime!

another cute frog towel

Dad getting me all cleaned up!

a sweet moment

Jack loves being involved in everything!

On Friday, we had our 2 week well visit with the pediatrician. Dr. Painter was really pleased with his weight gain. He said everything else looked great, and our bilirubin check continues to fall.

Weight: 8 lbs 13 oz.- 57% (7 lb 15.8 oz at birth)
Height: 19.75in.- 32% (19.5 in. at birth)

such a big boy!!

Newborn Picture Preview

2012-01-10T14:42:00.000-06:00

Here are a few of the the sneak preview pictures that Amanda took this weekend:

Can't wait to see all of the pictures! I know I'm his mother, but I just think he's the cutest thing I've ever seen!

A visit from Mimi

2012-01-08T19:53:00.000-06:00

My mom, Dede

We've had pretty much our entire family visit in the last few weeks. This weekend, my mom came into town. We've had a great visit, and she has helped out a lot to allow me time to rest. One thing I continue to realize about myself is that I have a difficult time accepting help- I feel like I need to do everything myself. But, it's been very nice to have help, and to force myself to take more breaks.

This week, Parker got his first bath at home. He was not a fan of the "sponge bath" method- but hopefully he will come to love bath time. It's hard to catch him when he is awake and not wake him up to bathe!

Love these hooded towels!

Not a happy picture

Finally clean and happy! He is so handsome in his monogrammed gown

And- our first bag of dirty diapers from the diaper genie- impressive!

On Saturday morning, we had our newborn photo shoot. Amanda with Amanda Joy Photography is a local newborn photographer that I found on a random internet search (http://www.amandajoyphoto.com/). She was amazing- so patient, so good with Parker, and such a perfectionist with getting just the right position and pose. I was incredibly pleased and impressed. I can't wait to get her touched-up photos soon and then send out announcements. My mom took a few pics during the shoot with her phone:

He is just so angelic here!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T19:28:00.000-06:00

A few more pics just because....

asleep with his daddy

he pretty much sleeps all the time

here is an alert moment

all balled up

double fisting his milk

At home with our newest addition!

2011-12-31T08:42:00.000-06:00

My grandfather was driving through town & stopped by
to meet his first great-grandson

After 3 nights at the hospital, we finally got to bring Parker home to Rook Branch Lane- just in time for New Year's Eve. Spence helped get us home and introduced Parker to Jack, our furry child. He immediately went up to Parker and gave him a huge lick on the face. He has been very sweet and loves to check on the baby. Needless to say- very curious. I think he's starting to realize that he is #2 behind his brother, so we really need to try hard to give him extra love!

Parker is wearing a gown made by Spencer's great-grandmother. His dad, Spencer, his brother Daniel, Daniel's son Jim, and now Parker have all worn it home from the hospital. Super sweet!

Loved the staff from post-partum. They were all super sweet!

Parker getting his first kiss from Jack in the driveway

Our first family of four picture- again, Jack kissing Parker! Our home feels so much more complete!

Debbie (Honey) holding P in his new room and chair

Spencer's mom, Debbie, was sweet enough to stay for our first week with Parker to help out. It was so nice have some help around the house, help with Parker in order to let me sleep more at night, and we just love having her around in general! Thanks Debbie!

Parker in his crib for the first time. He rarely cries- but looks very upset in this picture!

Welcome home Parker!

We have been so blessed to have so many visitors since Parker was born. Spence's cousin, Nan, and her 3 month old, Luke, were driving through town on their way home to Charleston and stopped by for a visit.

After a long day- both of the boys asleep. Parker loves to sleep on his daddy's chest.

Parker Fox Robinson

2011-12-29T18:07:00.000-06:00

Spencer and I are so thrilled to announce the arrival of our sweet baby boy!

Parker Fox Robinson

was born on Thursday, December 29th at 0653, weighing in at 7lbs, 15.8 oz, with a length of 19.5 inches.

My sweet boy!

I have never felt so full of heart and love as I do right now! I've had so many people tell me "you just will never know how much you can love someone as when you bring a child into the world....." At the risk of seeming cheesy, I couldn't agree more. I just find myself staring at this sweet, tiny bundle and not wanting to do anything else but be with him!

Anyhow- a little recap. We were so excited that my dad and both of Spencer's parents were able to be here for Parker's birth. I went in Wednesday morning at 530am to be induced. After, 2 rounds of Cytotec, Dr. Risinger broke my water at 630pm, and we started Pitocin at 800pm. Long day, needless to say. Fortunately, we had several visitors that helped us pass the time. I did end up getting an epidural at about 1100- which made things a lot more comfortable.

My MICU friends came to visit- Kala, Jessica, & Jess

consistent late decels all night- only I would take a pic of it!

The late hours of the night were very stressful for Spencer and me, because we knew by watching my strip that Parker was having frequent and consistent late decelerations (heart rate) with most contractions. My nurse was frequently making changes on the Pitocin, having me change positions, putting on oxygen, and trying to compensate for it. Every time the door opened, we were anticipating that I was going to the O.R. for a C-section. However, at 500am (the next morning), Dr. Risinger came back in, was not concerned, and gave me another hour to be ready to push. This made all of us feel tremendously better, and for an hour and a half- all 5 of us slept (see pics!).

Spence & Debbie sharing a surface to sleep on

My Dad finally able to rest

Praise God- I only had to push a little over 10 minutes, and Parker came into the world with a vigorous cry, and very active!

Finally, he's here! They laid him right on my chest as soon as he came out- I loved every second of it.

My Dad, Spence with Parker, and Spencer's Dad

Parker with "Sport"

Parker with "Big Daddy"

Some of our best friends, Wes & Erica, came to visit and brought Chick-fil-a

Some of our favorite people all showed up at once for a sweet visit! Philip & Kelsea Walkley holding Parker (Memphis), Brett & Katie Sterba with J.P. (Charleston), & Collin & Meredith with Madeline (Columbia)

Meredith with her daughter Maddie, and Parker and me.

Kelsea is one of my closest friends from college. We were both in each other's weddings- she happened to be in town visiting family! What perfect timing! While I was laboring the day before- she took about 20 laps with me of walking around the unit!

Look at that head of hair!

the cleft is on his left- this profile
shot shows the less affected side

So, as I've mentioned in previous postings, we knew after 20 weeks that he would be born with a cleft lip and palate. The lip was exactly as we were anticipating. It is on the left side extending up just below his left nare. However, the palate is a lot more involved than we were expecting. It is actually bilateral (both sides of palate) and not just a small amount on the left side. If you take a pen light into his mouth, you can see openings on each side that go directly into the nasal passages. Of course, this makes feeding a bit more difficult, and will require more repair than we thought. Dr. Chen (Plastic Surgeone) came to examine him right after he was born, and said he would need at least 3 surgeries now. Praise God, it could still be so much worse!

A good shot of the cleft lip

still an absolute doll!

However, I have to give major praise to our hospital, Palmetto Health Richland, for all of the incredible resources and consultants we met with daily during our stay. We had awesome lactation consultants, breastfeeding consultants, and a speech therapist who gave us great information and help with feeding issues. We felt we received excellent support!

The Haberman Feeder

The Speech Therapist showed us several different methods, and we finally decided on using a specialty bottle/nipple called the Haberman specialty nipple. It takes a bit of practice, but Parker does GREAT with it. Occasionally with feedings, milk does leak out of his nose and mouth, but we've figured out our own tricks and goals on what works best. Please contact me if you have any specific questions- I'd love to give you my thoughts!

Here I am using the specialty bottle/nipple

36 Week Update

2011-12-07T12:27:00.001-06:00

At my 36 week appointment yesterday, learned that Parker's head is engaged in the pelvis, and that the cervix is 50% effaced with no dilation....yet. Very exciting- it's all starting to become very real that he will be here very soon!

Last night, we went to a Breastfeeding Class. Spencer was not excited to go, but to my relief (and his)- there were about 9 couples there- all with the man in tow. It was really helpful, and I think we both learned a lot about feeding a baby in general. The lactation consultant who ran the class, Denise Altman, has her own private business here in Columbia and came highly recommended by a close friend, as well as my OB office. She offers several great classes, in-home consultation, and is a wonderful resource! If you are interested in what her company offers- check out their website:

http://www.feedyourbaby.com

Much of the information from resources and from some physicians has led me to believe that breastfeeding will not be an option, but I was very encouraged to hear from Denise that it is very much an option, and as Parker's cleft only extends ~2.5mm into the palate, he may be able to do well with it. We also discussed specialty bottles/nipples in case he cannot. We will just see when he gets here! Fortunately, our hospital has great resources to help us after he is delivered.

This morning Spencer and I met with Dr. Chen, the plastic surgeon that we have chosen to do Parker's cleft repair. We have heard glowing reviews about him from my OB office, the MFM specialist, speech and occupational therapist friends, surgery residents that Spence knows well, as well as multiple other healthcare professionals in the area. He actually is the team leader of the Columbia Cleft Team, and did a fellowship in craniofacial abnormalities.

Our appointment was great! He will come see Parker right after he is born for his first exam. Then, around 3-4 months, he will plan to repair his lip with his first surgery. Between 6-8 months of age, he will then plan to repair Parker's palate. We will know more specifically what his plans are when he first examines Parker. Overall, he was very informative, and made us feel very comfortable with having him as our surgeon!

Cleft Lip & Palate Posting

2011-12-06T10:58:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow I will be at the 36 week mark! The time is flying by like crazy, and I am just in shock that he will be here so soon. Expecting a baby soon around the holidays makes for a crazier than normal Christmas season, but at the same time- very exciting!

So, one thing that I haven't written about on here is the fact that Parker is going to be born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. At my 20 week anatomy ultrasound scan, we found out about this. I am minimizing a great deal on here what an emotional roller coaster that was and still at times continues to be, only because we have had our time of "grieving" an abnormality with our child, but also because over the last 4 months, God has really helped us to have a better perspective on the situation and move forward in how we will handle it.

At P's 29 week scan- you can see the cleft on his left lip.
It's the darker line from his lip border reaching
up towards his nose.

One of the things that was helpful for me was to read information not only from clinical standpoints, but also a few blogs that people in our situation used to document and educate others on the challenges and surgical repair processes of their own children who had clefts. I hope that maybe someone can be encouraged as we do the same with Parker over at least the next year!

What is cleft lip/cleft palate?

A cleft is a separation in the lip or roof of the mouth (palate). They can occur in anyone, but are twice as common in boys. Approximately 1 in 600 babies born in the U.S. has a type of cleft. Clefts are the fourth most common birth defect in the U.S.

Incomplete Cleft Palate

Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip & Palate
(What Parker has)

Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip & Palate

What causes it?
Exact cause is unknown. For most cases, no single factor can be identified. Some can be associated with syndromes or birth disorders. Between 85-90% of individuals with a cleft have no other physical problems, and when it is "isolated" like this, the cleft is believed to result from an interaction between genes and the environment. From all of our tests and extra ultrasounds, it appears that Parker's cleft is an isolated problem, meaning that there is no suspicion of a syndrome, and all of his other anatomical markers are within the norm.

Again, the cause isn't fully known, but the most important thing to remember is that it is NOT that you, the parent, did something wrong- it is not your fault. In the first 10 weeks of life, the left and right sides of the face and roof of the mouth join together. if they don't join correctly, an opening in either the lip or the roof of the mouth can result (cleft).

What are some issues to expect?
One of the biggest issues is with feeding. Depending on the severity of the palate involvement, babies may or may not be able to breastfeed. Regular bottles/nipples can also be challenging due to the baby's inability to form a good seal/suction. There are many options for specialty nipples for bottles, and a lactation specialist can help in offering suggestions for feeding difficulties.

Hearing can be an issue, as cleft babies have higher risk of ear infections. Most require tubes to be inserted by an ENT to drain fluid and prevent hearing loss. Teeth can be affected with palate involvement, and orthodontics is usually a need. Speech problems can also be common, and often it is necessary to work with a speech therapist starting as early as about 6 months of age.

How is it repaired?
Surgical repair is almost always needed to correct the cleft. Virtually all children born with cleft lips or palate who receive appropriate care go on to lead normal, happy, healthy, and productive lives! Each individual is unique, and their situations and surgical plans will all differ to some degree.

Repair to the lip is typically done first per standards of care and is done at about 10 weeks of life or later.The lip can be repaired in a single step or in multiple procedures.

Repair of the palate begins after about 6 months of age. Depending on the severity and complexity of the palate, it can be done in one surgery, or can be done over a period of years in developmental stages. The primary goal of repairing the palate is to achieve acceptable speech.

It is also helpful to be seen by a Cleft Lip and Palate Team of specialists available in many larger areas. Besides surgical closing of the clefts, these individuals may need additional help with feeding, teeth, speech, hearing, and social/psychological development over time.

What type of specialists participate on the treatment team?
-Audologist (assesses hearing, which can be affected with clefts)
-Surgeon (often a plastic surgeon, an oral/maxillofacial surgeon, craniofacial surgeon, etc)
-Pediatric dentist (if prosthetic pieces are needed for the mouth)
-Orthodontist (straightens teeth and aligns the jaws)
-Geneticist (screening for syndromes, counseling parents for genetic implications)
-Lactation specialists (help with feeding problems and alternative feeding options)
-ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat physician for issues affected in these areas)
-Pediatrician (monitors overall health and development)
-Psychologist (support family and assess any adjustment problems)

-Speech-Language Pathologist (assesses speech and feeding problems)
-Other specialists (treat specific aspects of complex craniofacial anomalies)

A dear friend of mine ordered me some fantastic educational references from the Cleft Palate Foundation. If you or someone you know is expecting a child with this condition, the contact information is:

Cleft Palate Foundation
1504 East Franklin Street, Suite 102
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
800.24.CLEFT (242.5338)
www.cleftline.org, info@cleftline.org

The facts I've shared on this posting were found in their resources.

Just for fun- a few well-known people born with cleft lips and/or palates:

Tom Brokaw- News Anchor

Cheech Marin- Actor

Peyton Manning- NFL Quarterback

33 weeks

2011-11-16T20:31:00.001-06:00

Had a great appointment today. I had an ultrasound done of Parker, and everything looked really good. First off, with the polyhydramnios, I've had to monitor my weight closely to make sure I don't gain too much too quickly. Today, I actually was 2 lbs less than a week ago- a great sign. Then, my amniotic fluid index, which was 33 at 29 weeks, dropped to 26- much closer to normal (<20). A total relief! All I can say is that God is so good! I could not make it through all of this without having faith that God is sovereign and in control.

He is measuring about 5lbs 1oz- a big boy in the 70th percentile. Some cute pics of the boy:

Sweet face

He had his feet by his face, curled up in a ball

I love his little feet and toes

So my friend Christina is incredibly talented, and knitted him a little fox stuffed animal. It is so adorable- I had to show it off! She also sent me a print that she created that I'll post soon. It's so much fun to receive all of these sweet gifts and know that he will be around soon to see them himself!

32 weeks

2011-11-13T20:46:00.001-06:00

So we've made it 32 weeks- every week, I thank God for extra time for Parker to develop, grow, and mature. My doctor's appointment went well last week- still measuring high, but nothing to worry about. Just to keep a close eye on everything, I'm going back this coming Wednesday for another Ultrasound. He is still kicking nonstop, reminding me frequently that he is in there. Week 32, most babies are about 4 lbs, 17 inches long, and are about the size of a squash. I'm also experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions these days.

This is a good bump shot with Suzy from last weekend- he's getting so big!

I had my first experience of a stranger crossing the personal space boundary. A visitor in the ICU has now 3 times put both hands on my stomach and given it a good rub- each time giving me a shock. I'm surprised that A) this is the first time it has happened, considering I hear stories frequently of this. And B) I just can't believe people find it acceptable to go and lay hands on a very personal area of a complete stranger. I'm a touchy feely person, but oh my- that's a bit much!

precious diaper cake

Today, I was so blessed to have another baby shower, this time with my sweet coworkers from the MICU. My friend Kala (who came to Hawaii) hosted at her house with help from some others, and we had such a nice turnout! I was overwhelmed with more sweet gifts- lots of books (my favorite), outfits, accessories, diapers, and a pack n' play. I have wonderful friends, and we had such a nice time!

Crazily- I think we have pretty much everything we need for when Parker makes his appearance. I love just sitting in his room and going through his clothes and looking around wondering what it will be like when we have this child in our home- very exciting!

diaper wreath- so creative!

Kala's house looked so cute all decked out for Baby Parker!

Amber, Amy & Jess

Jess, Jean, myself and Jessica- love my friends from work!

My sweet friend Amy- she is 38 weeks pregnant now and will be having her baby boy, Jack, any day now!

Go Hogs! One last visit home....

2011-11-07T19:18:00.000-06:00

Spence and I had a great weekend in Northwest Arkansas. As we flew back on Friday- Spencer kept reminding me that this is our last trip home with just the 2 of us. It's so crazy to think that we are going to become a family of 3 (+ Jack). As my bump grows ever larger, we are realizing how close we are to becoming parents. I'll be 32 weeks on Thursday!

Here we are with Michelle Duggar- NWA celeb!

One of the highlights when we got to town- we went to lunch with my family and ran into the Duggars! Spence and I have to admit that their show is a guilty pleasure of ours!!! Jim Bob and Michelle were taking their daughter Jessa out to lunch for her birthday, and they were so excited to see my grandmother, Libby, who they knew from the post office for years. They were even nicer in person than they seem in the show.

Rachel and me- one of my oldest and closest friends!

My stepmom (Kim), Mama, Vicki (Kim's mom) and my friend Rachel threw a very sweet shower for Parker on Saturday morning. It was so fun to see SO many people that I never get to see on our quick trips through town. We were so blessed to receive so many nice gifts that we desperately need as we anticipate P's arrival.

Rick's Bakery Petit Fours- amazing! The Hogs were so cute.

Pi Phi friends Mindy and Sarah- so fun to see them!

My sister-in-law, Suzy, mother-in-law, Debbie, Suzy's mom, Suzy, and cutest nephew ever- Jim!

Erin, Lori, Miriam, Kim & Susan- loved seeing everyone!!!

LOVE it!- Spencer trying on our new Baby Bjorn, carrying around Mickey Mouse for practice. Looking good Spence!

I do have to boast- the Razorbacks were once again victorious on Saturday night against the Gamecocks. We've received many congratulations from our Clemson and UGA friends. The game was fun, as was tailgating. It's always so nostalgic to go to campus and the games.

2 years in a row of Arkansas vs. Carolina with Brian & Jenny

On Sunday, Spence's Aunt Margaret hosted a wonderful brunch for family and friends before we headed home. It was a perfect weekend full of activities, friends, football, and fun.

Hanging out with the Eldridges and Coverts

Dutton family pic- my brother James surprised everyone and flew in from NYC to be a part of the weekend! It's so rare for all of us to be together- such a treat!

Wooooo Pig Sooie!

2011-11-03T19:17:00.000-05:00

Last year when friends came into town

2010 Game Score from USC- Go HOGS!!

Spencer and I are leaving for Fayetteville, Arkansas tomorrow morning. I am so excited for a couple of days at home. It will be a jam-packed weekend of activities, baby showers/brunches, and of course the Razorback and Gamecock game. Very excited to see lots of family and friends! Although we love living here in Columbia, SC, there is not even a question of where our loyalty lies. The razorback red is packed for Saturday night, and we are bringing heavy coats for the cool NWA weather that night.

A little over a week ago some of our closest friends here threw us a wonderful shower to help celebrate little Parker's upcoming arrival. We had a really nice time, and received some great gifts! We are very blessed to have such wonderful friends & family! It's so exciting to receive all of these things, knowing that our little boy will one day wear the outfits, play with the toys, and be wrapped up in the blankets and such that we've received.

Wendy, Ellen, Lauren, Colleen & Debbie after the shower

Spencer and Ben- Ben had a very impressive board for bets placed on day and time frame for Parker's arrival

And of course- this week was Halloween- Spence dressed Jack up in last year's costume since I was at work. Isn't he the cutest??

29 Weeks!

2011-10-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend with Spencer's mom, Debbie, visiting us! She came last Wednesday, and sadly left us yesterday. It is always so much fun to have her around, and as a bonus- she left us with leftover homemade soup, chili, and other snacks as usual. We shopped, cooked, worked on the nursery, and just enjoyed her tremendously! Best mother in law ever :)

We went to my 29 week appointment on Friday and were able to see Parker in another ultrasound. I haven't seen him since our 20 week appointment, and it was so exciting to see his sweet face. It's amazing to me how big he is getting and he is looking more and more like a newborn. I've been feeling really extra-full lately, and for the last week have been very uncomfortable.

We did learn that I have what is called polyhydramnios, meaning more amniotic fluid than is "normal." It's nothing to be alarmed about right now, but just to watch. It made sense why I have been feeling larger than is normal, though! My uterus should be measuring 9cm right now above my belly button, but it is actually 12cm above it. No wonder I feel his feet in my ribs during his kick sessions!

cute little feet- they don't always feel little!

There he is in 3D with his R arm by his face

This is a pic of some of our best friends, Meredith & Colin and their brand new baby girl Madeline! She was born October 15, and is absolutely perfect. We visited them last week, and got to hold her. It was extremely sweet, and is such a reminder of what is coming to us very soon!

Colin, Meredith (with Madeline) and Spencer & me- she looks amazing for <1 week out!

Back to Reality

2011-10-12T17:21:00.002-05:00

So, Hawaii is over. I can't believe we have been home for nearly 2 weeks! A month went by so quickly.

Back to my baby Jack!

However- we are so happy to be home to Jack- our golden retriever! He stayed with my parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas the whole time. I think it was a luxury vacation for him. They have a giant pool that he swam in daily (hope his hair didn't kill the drain!), had 3 dogs to play with daily, got to roam the woods on his own, and my 13 year old brother, Mitchell, threw the ball for him for ~1 hour each day! However- I think he was excited to see us- as you can see in the pic to the right- we couldn't get to sit still at all when I came to get him.

Jack LOVES swimming. Sorry Jack- no pool in Columbia.

My friend Meredith and me. So, she is actually 12 weeks
ahead of me, but somehow I look a lot bigger.
How is this possible?

I will be 28 weeks tomorrow. It is crazy to say out loud- I feel like I still have so much time until he comes into the world. But we are now in the last trimester- only 12 weeks to go! That seems so impossible. Here is an updated belly pic. My doctor's appointment went really well last week. Then we made appointments for the rest of the pregnancy- and there are only 6 left- and that is going every 2 weeks, followed by weekly the last month. Oh my gosh!

By the way- we have a name:

Parker Fox Robinson

Parker is a name we both just really liked. There is no significance- just a name we kept coming back to.

Fox is Spence's middle name. It was his grandmother's maiden name, so we thought it would nice to use a family name- plus I think it's a nice way to name him after Spence since he says no to Spencer III.

I am just so excited to meet the little guy!

More of the Big Island

2011-09-23T02:07:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed our 4 days on the Big Island. Now the reality awaits that we are returning to the real world in just a few days! It's bittersweet! This has been such an incredible experience- definitely opportunity of a lifetime to spend a month in Hawaii! It's amazing how quickly the time has passed...

Black Sand Beach

Black sand

Gold sand from our beach

Basik Acai- an acai bowl (smoothie in a bowl with fruit/toppings- A-mazing!!

Spence body surfing

Hawaii Volcano National Park

2011-09-22T23:30:00.000-05:00

Big day- lots to cover! You may want to skip my commentary!

To drive from one end of the island to the other takes roughly 2.5 hours- that shows you how big this island is. We made the full circle today, giving us a great view of the island of Hawaii. Driving north, we got some incredible views of the ocean on the left from clifftops, with some beautiful waterfalls on the right feeding into the ocean.

One stop that was worth the time was Akaka Falls. It is a nice, paved short hike with some beautiful falls in several places with incredible vegetation.

420 foot waterfall

look at the size of that fern!

We finally arrived at the National Park. Unfortunately, it was a dreary, rainy day. There was a volcanic spot that was currently erupting, but only a glow could be seen after sunset. It was still worth our effort- there is a lot to see at the Park.

First stop- the steam vents. In Kialauea Caldera, there are numerous fault lines. Rainwater sinks through the ground where it is heated by the rocks with liquid rock running below. The hot water turns to steam and rises through the fissures. Just placing your hand above them- you can feel the intensity of the heat.

Halema'uma'a Crater
Next- the Jagger Museum. It was interesting to go through and learn about the activity of the volcanoes, the science behind it, and the history here in Hawaii. Additionally, we were given more history on the Hawaiian culture and beliefs- especially concerning the goddess of fire/volcanoes, Pele.

Don't worry- I held my breath the entire time

Pele- goddess of fire

There are constant blendings of science with ancient beliefs

The Thurston Lava Tube is really fascinating. What is a lava tube? Well, I'm not sure I fully understand how it works, but basically, lava flows underground leaving walls and roof, remaining empty post flow creating a tunnel. You enter and exit with tropical forest on both ends.

leading into the tube

once inside- nice and cool, well lit- total length- ~ 1/3 mile long

We finished our time here with a great 4 mile hike through Kilauea Iki Trail. It begins with ancient tropical rain forest, takes you to a recently lava paved crater basin (with more steam vents), and ends with another trail through tropical forest. The forest is at 4,000ft- nice and cool and beautiful. Then, you find yourself in a hot, steamy, black wasteland- such a contrast- it was crazy!

beautiful, verdant trail

then stare out into the dark, black crater

Spence is thinking, "how did she get me on another hike?"

there were bamboo orchids blooming everywhere in the wild!

Kayaking & Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay

2011-09-21T23:30:00.000-05:00

Several friends who have come to the Big Island before us made the strong suggestion that one of our "must dos" was to take a kayak across the Kealakekua Bay to the Captain Cook monument. According to the guidebooks, this is the best snorkeling in the state of Hawaii, and we quickly agreed. We strapped our kayak on top of the jeep, and then kayaked a mile across the bay to some of the clearest, bluest water with an incredible array of fish. Our biggest regret is that we did not buy an underwater camera to capture the fish that we saw. So, I'm posting some pics of what we saw from internet sources. We spent a few hours snorkeling. Great experience- we highly recommend!

The monument is the white obelisk on the left

Moorish Idol

Yellow Tang- there were schools everywhere like this!

Whitley's Boxfish

Slate Pencil Urchin

Butterfly fish

Bullethead Parrotfish- these were the most beautiful fish we've ever seen- they were huge!

Orangespine Surgeonfish

Pinktail Triggerfish

Sunset from the hotel

I can't help it- the sky here is magical at sunset!

The Big Island of Hawaii

2011-09-20T23:00:00.000-05:00

Our sweet jeep for the rugged terrain of the Big Island.
Really, we didn't need the 4WD for exploring, but
it was really fun to take the tops off and drive the island!

Tuesday, we travelled to the the Big Island of Hawaii. Through Spencer's program we were able to get a great deal on a room at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort. It was a beautiful resort in the northwest tip of the island. As I've mentioned in earlier postings, the Big Island is the youngest of all of the islands of Hawaii. It is the only island with active volcanoes. It is also the most diverse of the 3 islands we have now visited. Landing in Kona, you are in the middle of black rock everywhere- just like there was a recent volcanic activity, and the only life you see for miles is random areas of grass growing on this black rock. Then, our resort appeared in this beautiful green section and looked out over a really nice bay with clear turquoise water with a soft beige shoreline.

black lava rock everywhere- here areas of grass growing on it

view from the resort

view of the resort from the beach

Spencer had worked the last few nights, so we took the opportunity to just relax the rest of the day. The resort's beach area was great, and the pool was very relaxing!

Twilight from the pool

I will say that the best meal I've had the entire month was at this GREAT place in Kailua-Kona called Island Lava Java. I had a spinach wrap that included the following roasted vegetables- eggplant, summer squash, butternut squash, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, carrots, and red & green bell peppers with hummus and macadamia pesto. Oh my- I would do anything for this recipe. It was AMAZING! Spence had more fish tacos- very tasty.

BEST wrap I've ever had- LOVED it!

Fish tacos with black beans and homemade fries

Diamond Head Hike

2011-09-17T03:13:00.000-05:00

my first whole pineapple

Kala and I started off this morning at the Kapiolani Community College Farmer's Market. It was a great Saturday morning activity, and had we known that there would be so much delicious food there, we would have skipped breakfast at the apartment. There were so many vendors with fresh fruits and vegetables, tents with freshly made food, and other interesting items- I think I'll definitely go back next Saturday. I did buy my first whole pineapple and accomplished cutting it up on my own. I'm not sure why I was so intimidated by it- it was really pretty simple! It is also delicious!

Kala and I did split a homemade popsicle- 100% local ingredients. It was blueberry lemonade with fresh blueberries & homemade lemonade with lemons and sugarcane from here in the islands. Best popsicle I've probably ever had. And we split some kettle corn too. It's probably best we did a hike next....

Diamond Head Crater

Another "must do" item from all of the guide books is to hike Diamond Head. This is a hike in a volcanic tuft/crater in the southeast corner of the island. You drive through a tunnel in the crater to park. The hike is from the crater floor to the highest point overlooking Waikiki, the Pacific, and the mountain range behind us. Through a series of switchbacks, intense staircases, tunnels, etc...we only climbed a total of 560 feet, but it was a spectacular view. Well worth the effort. Plus- it definitely counts as my workout for the day.

Waikiki to the right where we stay

A lighthouse below from the other side. It is amazing how dry this area is!

Spence and I split a delicious shaved ice after the hike- very refreshing!

Spence is back at work today. Brandon, Kala & I spent the afternoon on the beach and watched the sunset. They leave tomorrow- it's been so much fun to have friends here to experience this with!

I'm going to miss sunsets like this

Hanauma Bay, Exploring, & Waikiki

2011-09-16T15:11:00.000-05:00

Hanauma Bay (courtesy of Google)

One of the "best places to snorkel" on Oahu is in Hanauma Bay. It is a curved bay formed within a volcanic cone that has been very popular for many years. It has a great reef area that attracts some really beautiful fish and is extremely popular- ~3,000 visitors a day (& that is what they close it off to). We left our cameras in the car, so I'm including an aerial picture taken from google images. If you are in Oahu- you should definitely go once- you see an incredible variety of beautiful fish. However, I think I prefer our snorkeling at Shark's Cove- it's MUCH less crowded, it's free, and overall, it's just a more fun overall experience.

Post-snorkeling shot

Afterwards- some more exploring of the volcanic cliffs overlooking the ocean.

Brandon exploring some of the caves

This goes all the way through to the other side of the highway. Love the rock layers!

And, how can I not include our new buddy from Waikiki? This guy was sitting at a bar at the Hilton when we walked by- it was difficult not to be stunned. Then, he passed by us walking the shoreline with a frontal view- oh my. Never have I seen anyone in such a skimpy g-string. We then had to pass him on our way home- as Spencer's dad often says, "sometimes, you can see too much."

Pearl Harbor & The North Shore

2011-09-16T03:43:00.000-05:00

We were all really excited for our trip to Pearl Harbor today. We got there early, beat the crowds, and had a really memorable time touring the USS Arizona Memorial, going through the museums, and finishing with a walk through of the USS Bowfin Submarine. I was really moved by the whole experience- I think that this inscription speaks volumes:

The Memorial gives some really incredible views of the ship that still lies in the Harbor below.

Oil from the devastation on Dec. 7, 1941 continues to linger in the Harbor- after 70 years!

Kala & I, touring the area

We headed up to the North Shore again for an awesome afternoon. First stop: the Waimea Bay Jumping Rock- Brandon & Spence had a great time jumping off this ~30 ft. rock. I was a little jealous- so far being pregnant has kept me from ziplining, surf lessons, paddle boarding, and now cliff jumping. I guess I'll just have to come back!

Spence & Brandon with some locals contemplating the jump

Brandon diving head first

Spence- so adventurous!

So apparently you aren't supposed to jump from this rock- for liability purposes....

Next was another stop at Shark's Cove for some GREAT snorkeling! We saw so many great fish today- it was fun to go out in groups together instead of Spence and me just trading off one at a time so someone could watch our belongings.

Our new favorite beach is an area called Sunset Beach just up from Shark's Cove. It's a pretty large area with VERY soft sand and great waves. It is also appropriately named, as it is a perfect place to watch the sun disappear on the horizon.

Sunset Beach

The boys created a ramp to ride the board into the water from the slope

Sunset on Sunset Beach

Of course- how can I post without discussing food? We had another stop at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. No Hot & Spicy Shrimp this time- instead very garlicky Shrimp Scampi- delicioso!

Paddle Surfing, Lanikai & Friends

2011-09-15T03:09:00.000-05:00

Breakfast from Hula Grill

We are super excited that our friends Kala & Brandon have come to Hawaii to vacation with us in Oahu. We started off with an awesome breakfast buffet looking out on Waikiki Beach. Then after some errands- Kala & I cheered the boys on as they taught themselves to paddle board in the ocean.

Spence & Brandon ready to Paddle Board

We finished up our day on Lanikai Beach again- by far our favorite beach to just relax on. It's in a residential area, filled mostly with locals, and is very laid back.

The Bishop Museum

2011-09-13T01:19:00.000-05:00

I gave Spence a break today and let him have an entire day to sleep after the last 3 night shifts. I think he feels like he needs to get up early each day to spend time with me- so today was his day off. Instead, I took the car to the Bishop Museum. I spent a total of about 3 hours there. It was interesting to have a fairly comprehensive history of the islands from time of Creation to today. I was actually very impressed with the quality of the museum and its collections. I will say that $18 for a ticket seems a bit much, but for future visitors- I think it would be a nice rainy day activity if you are into museums....

This is a series of art panels that tell one of the "Creation" stories of the Hawaiian Islands. There is a huge emphasis on the life of the sea, the colors, ancestry, science (the moon, constellations), and nature itself.

The Hawaiian Hall included 3 stories of incredible history. The marine life hanging from the ceiling was really fun, and the exhibits on the bottom floor gave an interesting idea of what ancient Hawaiian village life looked like

A small model of a Hawaiian village

Uliuli, rattles made of gourds decorated with feathers, have been used in hula for centuries

Kahilis are these large feathered structures on poles around this room. I have been wondering about all of the feathers used in capes for chiefs, on these kahilis, on leis, etc... Apparently, birds & their feathers have so much significance because they have the ability to fly, being the only creatures able to reach the heavens and the gods.

So- a somewhat nerdy post- what can I say? That's who I am! There's plenty of time left for more beaches, hiking, etc.

Hawaiian Trivia

2011-09-12T01:59:00.001-05:00

Those that know the real me will not be surprised that I have been doing a lot of reading about the island. Thought I would share some fun facts I've collected about Hawaii so far from books & the internet:

1. The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii. Kauai is one of the 2 oldest (which we visited last weekend), the Big Island is the youngest (where we will spend our last few days). The Big Island is aptly named- all 7 of the other islands could fit inside its land mass.

2. There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.
Vowels: A, E, I, O, U
Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W

3. Supposedly, there are NO snakes in Hawaii. I'm a big fan of this fact. The state is extremely strict on what is brought here from visitors. If snakes were to live here- it could kill off a great deal of the bird population.

4. Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States that was actually home to a reigning monarch (prior to the U.S. government overthrowing the monarchy).

5. The island is the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts and orchids.

6. Kilauea Iki (on the Big Island) is the world's most active and largest volcano.

7. Honolulu is the 11th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

8. Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.

9. Hawaii is the most isolated population center on Earth. It is 2,390 miles (3,850 km) from California, 3,850 miles (6,195 km) from Japan and 4,900 miles (7,885 km) from China.

10. Hawaii has its own time zone. It’s called Hawaiian Standard Time. There is no daylight savings time in Hawaii, which means that in summer, Hawaii is two hours behind the U.S. West Coast, while in winter, Hawaii is three hours behind the U.S. West Coast.

A Few Interesting Facts About our Hawaiian Experience:
1. We are 2 of the ONLY people here without tattoos- I swear! At the beach today- there were tattoos everywhere. One girl had them head to toe (including neck)- sorry, we were too afraid of her and her tatted boyfriend to snap a picture.

2. Saturday mornings- we start watching ESPN Gameday at 0400 when Spence gets in from work. What a great start to the morning!

3. According to Spence- a huge number of E.R. patients he has seen so far are patients with surfing related injuries- ouch! Not something he gets at all in Columbia, SC...

Kauai- Canyons and Catamarans

2011-09-08T23:00:00.000-05:00

Another one of our favorite days we have had on our trip so far!

Waimea Canyon

The morning started out with a drive to the Waimea Canyon. We had a view into the 3,567 foot deep canyon that is known for its reddish lava beds. It is a much smaller version of the Grand Canyon. it was formed by a massive earthquake that sent a number of streams into the Waimea River, ultimately carving the canyon's shape. The river continues to cut the canyon deeper and wider.

Views on the drive up the mountain- look at the contrasting colors!

A view into the canyon

If we had more time in the day, we would love to have done some of the hiking trails around the canyons. Apparently one takes you into the bottom of the canyon- that would be really incredible to do. But- we had a boat to catch. And a shrimp shack to check out.

Sailing the Na Pali Coast

Wow- definitely a highlight of our trip! We were hesitant to spend ~$100 each to go on a 5 hour dinner cruise from the south of Kauai to the Northwest Na Pali Coast- hands down, worth every penny! If you come here- you've got to do it!

We sailed with Captain Andy's on a 65 foot catamaran. The trip out was beautiful, but we got caught in a stretch of rain for a bit. However, the sky cleared, the sun came out, a rainbow made its appearance, and we saw one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. We even had about 10 minutes of watching spinner dolphins put on a show at the tip of our boat, doing flips in the water and showing off in groups of 4 and 5 at times- we were about 10 feet from them! We turned around at the exact spot we hiked the day before.

The green area is actually one giant hibiscus bush. I can't understand how it grows from the rock cliff.

Clouds were present most of the day, but it only added to the views

Sunlight peeked through the clouds and caught part of the mountain

Our captain, David, did a great job, as well as did the rest of the crew

Putting up the sail

The Na Pali Coast is really only able to be fully seen by a boat ride or by helicopter, and most of it does not have beach shorelines- just the cliffs. It was spectacular to tour by water!

Kalaulau Trail

2011-09-07T20:52:00.000-05:00

The water was the most incredible color I've ever seen

Trail view of Le'e Beach (our starting point)

Kauai is known as the "Garden Isle," and today we discovered the truth in its name. The Kalaulau Trail was recommended as a "must do" activity in Kauai by numerous people- and we agree- do not miss this hiking opportunity. We made a day of driving up the North Coast of Kauai checking out the beautiful beaches of this island. The road ends along the Na Pali Coast, where we began our hike from sea level at Ke'e Beach. We only hiked the first 2 miles (which took ~ 2 hours), and constantly changed elevation, taking in the views. We hiked into the first tropical valley to Hanakaiai Beach.

These trees have incredible root systems that start well above ground

The trail was challenging. It was very tropical and lush greenery surrounded you the entire time. There was a fruity aroma on most of the trail, which we discovered wasfrom thousands of guava trees around us- fresh guava fruits had fallen all along the trail. The views of the Pacific were absolutely breath-taking!

Here at the Hanakapiai beach, we scaled large boulders in the stream, waded through the lagoon, and played for an hour on the beach. There were caves hollowed out from volcanic activity that were pretty deep. The sand was the softest we've encountered in Hawaii, and your feet sank a good 6-9 inches in the sand when the waves came in. There were multiple warnings about not going into the ocean to swim (see sign & tally death count). We understood why quickly- when the powerful swells came in- the water would rush up to our knees and we could feel the power of the ocean working hard to pull us out into the deep waters.

one of the caves on the beach

Apparently, past the beach another 2 miles is the Hanakapiai waterfall & pools. Some friends we made from Arizona said it was definitely worth another 2 miles. We would have needed more time in the day to complete this part of the journey, but we'd love to do it again in the future! If you do this sometime- we highly recommend taking a Camelbak (we couldn't have made it without ours!) and some sturdy shoes. A snack would also be a good idea.

Kauai- The Garden Isle

2011-09-06T07:32:00.000-05:00

We made it to Kauai- is it terrible to say I was so excited for a vacation away from Oahu?

Kauai Beach Resort

Looking out from our balocony

One of our best meals in Kauai:

Seared ahi tacos and french fries covered in freshly chopped garlic and parmesan cheese.

So, I usually make great efforts to not be suckered into cheesy tourist trap experiences. Disclaimer: Spencer had worked until 4 a.m., slept only 3 hours, and then we were on a plane to Kauai. By the time we grabbed lunch and checked into our resort, there were only a few hours of daylight to explore the island. I was trying to pick something easy and relaxing. I'm pretty sure Spence will never let me forget this winning choice. Upside- we have not laughed so hard in a very long time...

We took the Smith's barge up the Wailua River 2 miles to the Fern Grotto- basically a lava rock grotto (cave) covered with hanging tropical ferns. It is picturesque, and the 40 minute boat ride each way was effortless and relaxing.

The Fern Grotto

On-board entertainment

Uncle Willy

So what was so amusing? Well, when we got to the docks- we were the youngest of the nearly 40 tourists by at least 40 years. I think there were several oxygen tanks in the crowd. The "entertainment" for the boat ride included being serenaded by a group of ukuleles with "famous" Uncle Willy leading the way. Apparently, he was in Blue Hawaii with Elvis. Spence was really freaked out by his "crazy eyes" and was convinced Uncle Willy had missed his evening dose of haldol.

Oh, and did I mention that we all had to stand up and learn to hula. Because I "made" Spencer go on this ride, I agreed to posting a picture of me in this humiliating scene.

Forced group activity- my favorite

Hey- it was still pretty. If you want to explore the Wailua River, i would recommend renting a kayak. (***The next 2 days were our best in Hawaii so far!***)

Beautiful coastline at our resort

Highlights from the weekend

2011-09-05T01:24:00.002-05:00

Spencer has to do a total of 12 shifts this month- tonight is #3. This has given me a lot of time on my own to rest and relax, read, and do a little exploration in the mornings when he's sleeping.

When craving donuts in Honolulu- try a malasada (Portuguese donut) instead from Leonard's Bakery. OMG- delicious! Especially when hot and fresh. It was great with a small coffee.

What am I reading? My dear friend, Christina Carlisle, recommended the historical fiction, Hawaii, by James A. Michener. She read it when here for a month last December. So far, I'm really enjoying learning some of the history, myths, and cultural influences on how this small set of islands came to be. I'm only on page 157 (of 1130!!), so I have a lot to go...

Yesterday, I was roaming the streets, and found this painting of the mythical goddess Pele (aka Pere). She is the deity of fire, lightning, dance and volcanoes. In the book- the first section describes Bora Borans discovering the Hawaiian islands first, and cursed because they forgot to bring this 'god' with them. As a result, their first village was destroyed by volcanic eruption. Apparently she is found in multiple Hawaiian myths, and it was neat to see this painting after reading some of this information on my own!

On my way to church this morning, I drove the Pali Highway and stopped at the Pali Lookout. I wish I had talent with photography and could capture how majestic the views are on this island. This highway includes tunnels through the Ko'olau mountain range, and is a stunning drive.

After these views- I was shocked at the site of the First Presbyterian Church of Hawaii at Ko'olau. Another recommendation from Christina- this church, when looking to expand their worship site, ended up buying a nearby golf course that was for sale, and it is situated in the valley of the mountains I drove through. It was a great service- highly recommend for those coming after us!

What a beautiful setting to worship God in!

The church sits in the valley below these mountains

The Punchbowl Cemetery

2011-09-03T14:13:00.002-05:00

It is impossible to not be moved by a visit to the Punchbowl National Cemetery.

They are currently about to lay sod in the middle, so this view
is not as green as is typical for the site.

It is situated in the middle of a crater formed ~100,000 years ago from volcanic activity and provides a great vantage point of Honolulu, Waikiki and the coastline. It's Hawaiian name, 'Puowaina' means 'Hill of Sacrifice'- which explains that it was once an alter where Hawaiians offered human sacrifices to pagan gods and killed violators of the many 'taboos.' After WWII, there was a huge need for a place of burial for the many soldiers who lost their lives in WWII, so the Punchbowl was then established as a new national cemetary.

At the center top of the staircase in the Court of Honor is a statue of Lady Columbia (also known as Lady Liberty or Justice) holding a laurel branch (signifying victory I suppose?). She is supposedly representing all grieving mothers, standing on a bow of a naval ship. Below her is an inscription from a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to a mother who lost five sons in the Civil War:

"The solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice on the altar of freedom." Very moving!

More than 45,000 men and women are interred here. On multiple marble walls to the left and right of the memorial are over carved 28,000 names of those whose bodies were unrecoverable or unable to be found.

This is an 'all spice tree'- they were numerous on the grounds, and I found them to be so fascinating- all of the tops have I assume been pruned to form a perfect ring of branches/leaves! It seemed to me to echo the laurel branch crown held by Columbia....

There is a really interesting series of displays detailing the battles fought in the Pacific throughout WWII, as well as some beyond that time. Spencer's grandfather fought in the Philippines, so it was interesting to personalize the war from that standpoint. I also have an uncle who served in the Pacific years later. It was interesting to realize how recent that war really was, as well as take in the significance of it all. It made both of us really anxious to visit Pearl Harbor in a couple of weeks.

Beach Day

2011-09-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

We decided to take it easy yesterday- Hanauma Bay was closed for snorkeling by the time we got there (it fills up early!), so we just spent a lazy day on the beach!

Kailua Beach- warm, beautiful water, great sand!

Unfortunately, Hawaii includes studying!

On the way there, we stopped at some great spots to take in the views of the ocean from some cool lava rock formations. Spence starts work tomorrow for four nights, then we are off to Kauai for 3 days!

The water was crazy below- if you happened to fall in, there's no question you would quickly lose to the power of the waves!

Low-key day

2011-09-01T11:46:00.010-05:00

Unfortunately, Spencer had a lot to work on all morning, so I took off and explored around Waikiki. It's a nice enough area, but just as I anticipated it is very 'touristy' and lacks a true view of local culture. It's pretty easy to walk through any of the resorts and enter their beach access, so I did some beach exploration. Those areas are much more crowded than some of the other beaches we have seen so far outside of this area. It felt good to just get out and walk for a few hours.

After lunch at the apartment, Spence and I headed to Moana Falls. This is a very short hike,
only ~1 mile each way, but it takes you through a lush valley in rainforest terrain. A very gentle slope starting at 400', ending at only 800'. You follow along a small stream that is surrounded by incredibly vegetation including eucalyptus trees, banyan trees, elephant-eared ape (ah-pay), bamboo, and others I cannot identify. The trail ended at the edge of a 160' waterfall that was really beautiful. Part of this area was used in filming the show Lost. It rained about 85% of the 1.5 hours that we spent there, but in a way, it made it even more enjoyable (though very muddy)- nice and cool at least!

We spent late afternoon on Lanikai Beach for about 30 minutes until the rain caught up with us there as well. But- the beach was really nice and sandy- not as rocky as some on the North Shore. We will definitely come back on a sunny day.

This led us to an early dinner at Helena's Hawaiian Food restaurant. This is definitely not in a tourist area, but it has delicious authentic local food and has been around since 1946. Actually, Spence and I got the idea from one of Adam Richman's 'Man vs. Food' episodes where he visited Helena's. We tried 3 different dishes- Laulau (pork steamed in taro leaves), Kalua Pig with cabbage (pig cooked in an underground oven called an imu, shredded and mixed with hawaiian sea salt), and Pipi Kaula Short Ribs, which hang from the ceiling over the open oven. It was awesome! The Kalua Pig was definitely our favorite. For dessert, we were served haupia, a coconut based pudding with a gelatin texture, surprisingly pretty decent. I'd say this is a definite place to go if you want authentic Hawaiian cuisine- and our total for dinner was $18- what a steal, especially here!

The North Shore

2011-08-31T12:16:00.015-05:00

Today we drove up to the North Shore, an area renowned for its legendary beaches. On the drive up, we passed by Dole Plantation and its 11,500 acres of pineapple fields- this can grow as many as 350 million plants! It looked very different from the rice, cotton and corn fields of southern Arkansas, but still beautiful. You can stop and take a tour, but Spence and I deferred when we saw the huge number of tour buses and cars in the parking lot.

Past residents have supplied our apartment well, so we borrowed snorkeling euipment and stopped in Waimea at Shark's Cove. This small spot is reportedly one of the best places to snorkel on the island. As you can see below- it is very rocky, but this is what attracts all of the beautiful fish to congregate in this area.

I am also including a few pics of just a few of the fish we saw from what I can identify in a book here. No, I did not take these pics- they are courtesy of the internet. I loved the snorkeling, Spence is not as big of a fan- he says it freaks him out a bit.

After getting a workout snorkeling, we were craving some beach time. We headed furthernorth to Turtle Bay Resort. Some of you may recognize this name from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"- I assure you we spent a good deal of time quoting different scenes as we chilled on the sand.

For dinner, we found the well-known Giovanni's Aloha Shrimp Wagon in Kahuku. I think that the economy of Kahuku must rely on shrimp trucks and shacks. There are 3 choices at Giovanni's. I chose Shrimp Scampi- delicious with a huge amount of freshly sauteed garlic (my fave!). Spence as always adventurously chose the Hot n' Spicy Shrimp. There were some choice words used in describing his dish, and I'm pretty sure it burned the entire way through his GI tract. You'll have to inquire with him about his exact thoughts- this is a PG blog.

Seriously- look at all of those red pepper flakes!!

And, immediately he needed a fruit smoothie in order to cool off.

We ended our night relaxing in the apartment watching another beautiful sunset. Another fun filled, yet relaxing day....

Aloha!

2011-08-30T11:51:00.008-05:00

HAWAII

After a full day of travel, Spence and I made it safely to Honolulu. We just keep telling each other- "I can't believe we are here for a month!"

Day 1 started with Spence going to Queen's Hospital to get oriented to the Emergency Room. Then, we drove out to Pier 38 to a restaurant called Nico's. It's located on the pier next to all of the fresh fish brought in daily. The head chef walks over at 0500 every day to pick out his daily supply, and we had some delicious ahi tuna plates for lunch- freshest fish I've ever eaten!

We then walked around Ala Moana Park and watched a ton of surfers taking advantage of some great waves. The water here is just beautiful, and it's amazing to look out and realize how far away we are from the nearest land!

We took a gorgeous scenic drive along Tantalus Drive and Round Top. It's a 10 mile long trek through a stunning preserved forest that gives some spectacular views from ~1600 ft. Below are some pictures from the drive- unfortunately, they don't come close to showing what we saw in person.

Our apartment overlooks the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor on Waikiki (pic below). We spent the remainder of the day cleaning, unpacking, and going to Wal-Mart to stock up on supplies for the month. I can't think of what I enjoyed more- watching Spence grocery shop for the first time in years (he was in shock of how quickly things add up), watching him help clean the apartment (he even mopped!!), or watching him cook his specialty, spaghetti, for dinner. Way to go Spence- I'm super impressed!

Progressive Christmas Party

2010-01-05T20:08:00.004-06:00

So- it's been way too long since I last posted- I thought no one was reading the blog. However, I have had a few requests, therefore, I am excited to bring it back!

I'll start with some pics from our "Rook Branch Progressive Dinner Christmas Party." It was an absolute blast, and only solidified that we have the most amazing neighborhood and neighbors out there!

For our party- we had ~24 people traveling through about 5 houses through the night with 2 houses of appetizers and drinks, heavy hors d'oeuvres at another, a dessert house, ending with an after dinner drinks location where we exchanged gifts with items "As Seen on TV."

Did I mention that it was a tacky Christmas attire also? Below are some pics from the night....

a great book

2009-08-06T21:26:00.008-05:00

So one of my favorite things to do in my spare time is to read. I haven't been able to read quite as frequently over the last two years since I was trying to read through school at the same time. I enjoyed the Twilight series among several others, but I am delighted to have a bit more spare time to read now that school is over. Currently I am reading Julie & Julia (pictured above)- which is the inspiration for the new movie coming out this Friday with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. The book is fantastic so far!! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something to read...

Work is going well for both of us, but very busy! Spence is now in the ICU for the month and has a grueling schedule. After finishing a 32 hour shift today, he has been in bed ever since (the last 8.5 hours)- and I'm thinking he'll sleep through tomorrow- deservedly so. I am continuing to learn a great deal every day and wonder if I will ever be able to retain it all. Overall- it is exciting to both be doing what we've longed to do for a long time now... here's a look at Spencer in his uniform- he appears a bit tired!

4 Years

2009-07-24T15:34:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, July 23rd, we celebrated four years of marriage. It's amazing to think of how much has changed in that short period of time. We've lived in 3 different states, started and finished school, started careers, bought a home, and many more things in between. We definitely consider ourselves blessed, and I can't wait to see what the next four years bring!

It's been a while....

2009-07-24T15:27:00.002-05:00

So it has been forever since I last updated on here. We have been settled into our new home here in Columbia for about 6 weeks now- I can't believe it! We absolutely love our neighborhood and neighbors. Above is a picture of us from our cul-de-sac party on the 4th of July. We've also gotten to spend a lot of time with the other residents in Spencer's class and their spouses/S.O.'s. We both are so amazed at how smoothly the move went and how quickly we have started to feel at home here in SC! What a blessing!

Work has also begun. We are both putting in some long hours at the hospital and are constantly studying on our off time to try and learn as much as we can. It's exhausting, but each day gets a little easier. Spence is finishing up his month in the E.R. and next month will be in the ICU. I am working in the Medical ICU and taking Critical Care classes also. Occasionally we run into each other at the hospital and get to have lunch together or just catch up. It makes it nice to see each other at work when many times we pass each other during the night or day.

That is a brief rundown of life currently. I promise more details in the near future!

Crawfish Boil Party

2009-06-02T11:05:00.002-05:00

Our friends Brian & Jenny were incredibly generous to throw us a Crawfish Boil Going Away party. We had an absolute blast- wish I had more pictures to share. We had a great turn out of friends and family. I believe that we polished off ~70 lbs. of crawfish, a huge pot of gumbo, and many other appetizers, snacks and desserts. Thanks so much for the party!

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It is very bittersweet right now for us as we prepare to move. The last 2 years in Little Rock have been so much fun, and we have thoroughly enjoyed being closer to our families and friends. It is definitely sad to leave everything and everyone here behind, but at the same time we are extremely excited to get into our new house and get settled.

Everyone please come visit us sometime soon! Our home will be open anytime to you!

Lauren's Graduation

2009-06-02T10:26:00.003-05:00

Graduation was long, but it was exciting to feel as though it is all finished. I take the NCLEX (board exam) on 6/3, and then I will begin my new job in Columbia on 6/26!

Just click on the pictures to see the stack.

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Spencer's Graduation

2009-05-15T23:06:00.002-05:00

We had a GREAT time in Pikeville last weekend. There were multiple events for several days, and Spence and I really enjoyed getting to visit with old friends. I really enjoyed seeing friends and coworkers that helped me get through those tough first couple of years when Spence lived in the library. It was especially fun for us to catch up with his classmates that we haven't seen in 2 years and find out where they were headed as well.

It is truly amazing how quickly time flies by... four years have already come and gone- amazing!

Congratulations, Dr. Robinson! We are all so proud!!
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Happy Birthday Mama!

2009-04-30T20:57:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was my sweet Mama's birthday. For those of you who know Libby, I know you'll agree that she is the kindest and most generous woman on earth! Hope you had a great day, Mama! (Sorry for such an old picture)

Close to Graduation

2009-04-30T18:24:00.004-05:00

We are getting very close to graduation day for both of us. I have 2 finals left and a presentation this next week. Then we are headed to Pikeville, KY for Spence's graduation on May 9th. The following Saturday, May 16th, I will graduate in Little Rock. Just one step closer!

These two pictures above are of Spence and myself when we were both toddlers. It's as though this was all meant to be!

My New Job

2009-04-16T20:45:00.003-05:00

Well, today I accepted a job as a nurse in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at Palmetto Health Richland. This is the same hospital where Spencer will be working, so it will be fun to work in the same place! It is a teaching facility, so I think it will be really educational to work in this environment.

Only a few more weeks of school left. I am definitely ready to be finished with writing papers, giving presentations, and examinations. Spence has one more week left of his last clinical rotation, which just seems unreal! We are gearing up for his graduation on May 9th in Pikeville. We're really looking forward to see a lot of old friends and celebrate his accomplishment! He will start his residency on June 24, so at least there will be a nice long break.

That's all for now. Thanks so much to everyone who has been following along on here. It's great reading your comments and being able to share details of the last few months with you!

Mission(s) Accomplished....

2009-04-14T21:30:00.006-05:00

So it's been a while since I last posted, but I have several exciting things to share! This last weekend, Spence and I traveled to Columbia, SC with 2 goals: 1) Find a place to live & 2) Find a job for me.

Goal #1:
We spent three solid days looking at homes all around Columbia and the surrounding towns. We kept coming back to our favorite from the first day of looking. The neighborhood is FANTASTIC, it's 7 miles from the hospital, and it is just the right size for us right now. So, we made an offer on the house on Sunday, and as of today we have officially signed the final contract. We are about to be home owners- Woohoo! Of course, nothing is ever final until the closing in May, but I will go ahead and post a picture of the outside. We'll reveal more next month.

Goal #2:

I interviewed for two ICU jobs while we were in town, and so far have one offer. I will know on Friday for sure where I will be employed. I am extremely excited because I know that I will get to work in the area that I have really been hoping for. Of course- it's even better to know that I have a job so that I can contribute to our new house payments- ha!

The trip took us about 10 hours & 15 minutes from Little Rock- not bad at all. Of course, it is very difficult to be home and trying to get back in the groove for school. In fact, I have a lot of work ahead of me through the evening (and early hours of the morning). So, that is the update for now. More to come....

Recovering

2009-03-23T12:10:00.005-05:00

So, we had an overwhelming, but very exciting Match Day last Thursday. Let me just say that I am thankful Spencer will be able to sleep through the night now that we know where we are headed. Thank you so much to everyone that sent your congratulations with messages or phone calls! It is so exciting to share this with all of you!

Thursday evening, we had a great dinner over at Debbie & Spencer's in Pine Bluff to celebrate with some friends our big news and our friend Jed's match as well. Jed and Anna Robinson are our best friends from Kentucky that came down for Jed to do his rotations in PB also. Jed matched Urology in Chicago- very exciting! The baby in
the picture is their daughter, Madeline, who is 6 months old.

Now that we know where we are headed, there are a million things to do. I'm applying for jobs in the ICU (please say a prayer!), we're looking for houses, and planning when we can go check everything out. If anyone has any suggestions or advice to give- we'd love to know!

2009-03-19T12:37:00.002-05:00

And the winner is......

Spencer's first choice- we are so excited!!

The Robinson Family Blog

2009-02-25T21:06:00.004-06:00

Hello friends and family! Spence and I are about to experience a lot of change in the near future.

March 19- Match Day! We will find out where we will spend the next 3 years!
May 9- Spencer's Medical School graduation in Kentucky
May 16- Lauren's Nursing School graduation in Little Rock
June- moving time
July- Both of us will begin new jobs

I hope that this will be a fun way for everyone to keep up with us and vice-versa. I'll try to post pictures and other fun information from time to time. Feel free to be interactive and post comments and your own updates!