A Hygienist's High

This might not seem like a big deal to most of you, but something amazing happened today.  About six months ago I saw a 51 yr old patient who had 8 localized areas of  4-5mm pockets depths.  This means he had some localized areas of gingivitis.  As I do with all my patients I explained to him what this meant, how it is a big deal, and finally what he can do to arrest or reverse his gingivitis.  What I didn't expect was his concerned reaction.  Dr. Loftus told me that he always overreacts, but he seemed genuinely concerned with this new information. 

Well, as I said earlier he came back today.  The first think he said to me was, "I hope my gingivitis is gone, I've been 'C-shape flossing' everyday just like you told me to!"  Surprisingly there was only one interproximal area of 4mm pockets!  The best part about all of this was how excited my patient was.  He really cared about improving his oral health.  I helped and educated a patient who actually listened and changed. It happened, just like all my professors said it would. Oh the thrills of being a hygienist :)

24 sounds so much older than 23

I'm only a year older, but now when people ask me how old I am I have to say 24.  I know 24 isn't old, but it sounds a lot older than 23.  Some ages just sound older than others, like how 21 sounds so much older than 20, and how 50 sounds a lot older than 49.  So it's official...I'm 24, not 23..and there's nothing I can do about it.  Even though I had to work it was a great day.  The girls I work with treated me to Cheesecake Factory, and Sean made me a delicious steak dinner.  After dinner Sean invited some friends and family over for cake and ice cream.  It was a great day!

Our apartment is pretty small, I was was worried not everyone would fit but they did!

  

  

Sean did a great job decorating 

Cruise to the Bahamas!

It's official!  I've booked our cruise to the Bahamas for October 25th-29th.  We're so excited!  I really wanted to go to the Bahamas for our honeymoon cruise, but going to Mexico just worked out better because we had a reception in California.  We wanted to go for our 2 year anniversary, but it turns out I have to book my vacations six months in advance because patients schedule their recall appointments 6 months out.  But, it will be for our 2 1/2 year anniversary instead :)

Our 2 year Anniversary!

 I can't believe we've already been married two years.  The time has flown by!  Especially this past year, it seems crazy to think that I've already been graduated from hygiene school for a year.  Whenever couples would say that they've been married for two years I would think to myself, wow that's a long time, and now that's us!  People still call us newlyweds, but I don't really feel like one anymore.  Especially when we lived in Utah in our BYU ward, there was always some couple that had just gotten married, we stopped being newlyweds after two weeks.  So, when do you stop being "newlyweds"?
  So, Sean will be the first to tell you that he's not much of a romantic, but this year he really did a great job!  I was very surprised, and happy that it's only taken two years for him to catch on :)  Here's a snapshot of what our anniversary was like...

Unfortunately I had to work all day, but when I got home this is what I came home to!  The path leading up to our apartment was covered in pink, red, and white roses!

Like I said, Sean has never done anything like this before...so I was very surprised and happy!

The path of roses continued into the house.... 

 ...into the bedroom of course!

So sweet!  With two red roses for two years!

As if that wasn't enough, I found more roses with a sweet pea candle!

And no anniversary would be complete without Ghirardelli Chocolates with carmel!

After I found all my surprises we went out to dinner at a Japanese-Tepan restaurant where we both had chicken and steak dinners.

Of course, Sean had to find a way to get Kobe into our evening :) 

And if the night wasn't perfect enough, we went hot tubbing! Sean did such an amazing job!

Rachel came to visit!

One of my best friends, Rachel came all the way from New York City to visit Dallas.  I've been spoiled lately because I got to see her at Chelse's wedding in August, but this trip was even better because I got to see her more!  Sean and I both love Rachel and wish she would just move by us already!  We had a lot of fun while she was here, we got to spend most of the day on Saturday with Jess, Will, and company.  We also got to see some friends from BYU-Idaho.  I know it was a quick trip, but we were so glad she came :)  The best part of all is Sean and I are going to New York City in July to go and visit her!  Sean's never been to the east coast, so we thought it would be a perfect time to go...get to see a fun city and visit Rach while we're there.  Of course we've already bought tickets to a Yankee's game so Sean can fulfill his life long dream :) 

Trip home to Chicago

Well, as most of you know my dad has been in and out of the hospital since his third heart attack over the holidays.  Sean and I have been wanting to get back to Chicago to visit him and the rest of my family since we were there on New Year's weekend.  The weekend after Sean's birthday seemed like the perfect time to go visit since my youngest brother was playing in his sectional tournament.  Daniel is a senior who is 6, 7'' and is an amazing basketball player, and I haven't been to a home game since I graduated high school, so it was good to see him play one last time in our gym.  The best part of it all was his team won!  Dan did a great job and played a really great game.  We're so proud of him!

I think this pic looks sweet!  Dan was waiting to sub in. 

At our high school when they win sectionals the team gets to cut down the net.  Sean thought it was a weird tradition, but I think it's kinda cool.  :)

Dan and Chris after the big win!

Happy Birthday Sean!

Sean turned 25 on March 4th!  All he kept saying throughout the day was that he was a quarter of a century old, and how he was getting so old.  It seems crazy to think that this is his 3rd birthday we're celebrating as a couple.  I hope it was a fun day for Sean, I had to work but we still got to be together a little.  I woke up and made him breakfast in bed (even though he always wakes up before I can get in there).  We had a true southern meal; bacon, grits, and fried eggs.  Our friends Cori and Mark have been staying with us for the last few days, so it was fun to have them there too.  I luckily had a long lunch, so I came home and we had lunch together.  After I got home from work he opened his presents, then we went bowling with Gerret and Sarah, Kylie and Mike, and Cori and Mark.  He doesn't have school on Thursdays so hopefully that made the day even better.  He got a lot of calls from his family and friends, and I know that made him really happy.

 

I got Sean a black on black New York Yankees hat (he's been a closet Yankees' fan for years) and some new Pumas.