Complex Content

I fear putting too much content on each blog post, as I might lose readers if things get too complex, but this is just one of those posts...

On Wednesday, Erik had his last day of his first two years of medical school. This marks a very special thing as from now on, Erik's time will not be spent in the classroom, but in the hospital doing rotations. I know that he is very excited for this new change, but at the same time, sad not to be in class with the 50-some other students friends that have joined him every day. Wednesday night there was a Farewell Banquet held for the second year medical students that we attended. Erik, being the president of the first and second year class, handed out some awards and also gave a speech. I was able to attend the dinner with Erik, but upon talking to our babysitter right before Erik's speech, Skogen had been screaming and crying (not his usual), so I had to leave. To say that I was devastated that I missed Erik's speech would be an understatement. I was so proud of him and wanted to be there to support him and to smile at him while he was up there. I actually cried all night and all day the next day. It was a hard thing for me to miss... not to mention that I had to walk about a mile *alone* downtown, in the pouring rain and 30 degree temperature, with a knee-high skirt and open toed shoes on, in the dark, to get to our car to get home, all because Erik wouldn't pay $3.00 for parking (gotta love his tight personality!)... but I won't mention that! Erik has done such a great job these past two years balancing medical school, family, intramural sports (he played every one!), volunteer work, church, the Army, and much much more. He is a very talented person and I'm confident that he will make a great doctor someday. I am so honored to be his wife! What did I do to deserve this?!

Erik and his "right-hand-girl," Vice President Sue. They have worked very closely together over the past two years. I know he's sad to not have her around next year.

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Last night Erik and Maida had a camp fire in our back yard. They even ate dinner out there! This was our first fire of the summer, and maybe our last since we're moving, so I thought that it was worth documenting.

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As if missing Erik's farewell speech the other night wasn't bad enough, I have to miss his birthday this year, too. He is 28 years old TODAY and left this morning at 3:00am for his Army drill weekend. Before arriving on base, he needed to shave all of his hair off, so he let Maida shave his head last night. She did a great job!

While Erik was in the shower after his hair cut, and I was cleaning up the kitchen, Maida decided to put some of Mommy's makeup on! Why she put it in her hair, I have no idea!

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To end, I would like to ask for some advice. Skogen's got a rash. I know, I know - he's got Maida's sensitive skin! However, Maida never had this:

I have been thinking that it's just eczema, but there is nothing that will make it better. These pictures don't really show the intensity of it. It's actually on his eyelids, too, and have little raised-up, puss-filled, spots besides the redness and sandpaper feel. I keep Aquaphor on it all the time (hence the greasy pictures). I even wake in the middle of the night to apply more cream. It just keeps getting worse and worse. Anyone have a baby with anything similar? When I'm out in public, people always stare at his face and then give me bad looks. I know that it looks just terrible, like I sunburned my baby's face! Anyway, we are seeing the doctor next week, but thought I'd ask blogland, also, if anyone else has had experience with something like this.