It has been so long since I have updated again.  I am mostly updating for those of you who don't use facebook.  I am on facebook now and update there more frequently.  If you use facebook too then look up my name! Kristina Higdon Yoder

Today just happens to be my sixth wedding anniversary! What a great six years! Here are some picture updates...

Reid growing up too fast!

Enjoying the applesauce!!!

At the zoo in Indianapolis.

In the pool...Reid loves the water!

Just chilling!

Ryan and I today!  Hope you enjoyed the picture update!

It is so sad that is has been so long since I have updated!  I have been busier than I could have ever imagined with my residency program. Life is crazy but God is good! There have been some hard times and continue to be this year but I'm trying to persevere.

I actually am on facebook now too and update there a lot more frequently so if you are a member then check out my site and add me as a friend! Kristina Higdon Yoder  Here are some recent pics! Take care friends!

CHRISTMAS 2008

STAYING WARM BY THE FIRE IN BRRR COLD MICHIGAN!

What a sweetie!!!

VALENTINE'S DAY WITH MY LOVE!

   It Has Been So Long . . .

It has been so long since I have updated and so much has happened since my last update.  Time is exceptionally precious to me now so that is why udates are few and far between.  I will try to be better about updating though.  However, we lost our camera in the move along with many pictures (I'm very upset about this) so I only have recent pics and not any from our last days in Ohio or our moving process.  So, we lost pictures of our vacation, my graduation, Reid for those several months, as well as our friends in Ohio.  Anyway...I am trying to get over this!

So, lots has happened as I said.  I will just insert pics as I tell the recent happenings.  First of all, I graduated and am officially a doctor as of June 7, 2008.

I started my OB/GYN residency in the middle of June and it's been a marathon since then.  Residency is intense.  It's hard and it's often not fun.  It has good moments too but it is a lot of adjusting and sacrifice on multiple levels.  I see Ryan and Reid when I get home in the evening but I have lots of reading to do as well which makes my time with them slim.  I get up at 4:45am, I am at the hospital by 5:45 then I work all day and get home somewhere between 6 and 7pm.  On nights that I am on call (which is six nights/month) I don't come home until around 10am the next morning so I go a day without seeing my boys.  It's hard and there have already been lots of tears.  I am praying things get better as I get more adjusted and that I can make it through these next four years.  I pray my relationship with Ryan will stay strong and that Reid will not be scarred from his mom not being home with him except a few hours a day.  Ryan is still looking for a job.  It has been a difficult process and we are praying the right thing comes along soon.  On the other hand, it has been so nice for Reid to be home with his Daddy for the past year.  I have been so thankful that he has not had to be in daycare yet. 

On another note, Ryan and I celebrated our 5th anniversary on July 19, 2008.  It has been a great five years and I pray for many more.  I was actually working at the hospital for 24 hours the whole day of our anniversary so we really did not do anything exciting.

We have moved into our new house and are settling in well.  We miss the green-ness of the Athens area and our old familiar life and friends there but we are trying to get used to a faster paced metro area.  We are still looking for a church which has not been really successful yet but we know God will lead us where we belong.

The big news....Reid turned 1 on August 14, 2008.  As all important days...I was on call at the hospital on his birthday and did not see him at all that day.   I did have a few tears about this, especially since it was a really hard night, but I was allowed the entire weekend off so that was nice.  We had a little party with family memebers who came up so it was a good weekend.  Here are some pics:

My Baby When He was a Baby:  Reid Jackson Yoder  9#2.5oz.  22in. long  8/14/2007

Before and after . . .

Our Bundle of Joy

Reid is growing up so fast.  He is so precious to us.  He learns new things daily and his expressions make us smile.  He has been walking around things since 9 months but now he is walking on his own (for the past month).  Here are some pics of his ever incresing personality:

Reid with Lilly.  He loves to play with her and she is so good with him.  His new thing is he loves to give her hugs!

Reid and Daddy at bathtime!

Playing outside in the little pool.

PARTY PICS:

The party room and the cake.  We had a jungle/safari theme.  I think Reid liked all of the visual stimulation!

Playing outside.  It was a beautiful day!

Cake and presents.  Reid was a particularly clean little one year old with his cake.  We were all very surprised.  He would only take one little piece of icing and then make sure his fingers were clean before grabbing more.  I had to shove his hand in in order for his hands to get this messy and he didn't like it!  He got lots of great toys and clothes.  His favorite still were the books that he got.  He loves books!

Well, I think that is a long enough update for now.  Who knows when the next one will be!  I hope everyone is doing well.  WE miss all of you that we have not been able to see recently!

New Happenings . . .

So much has been going on during the past couple of months.  I turned 27 April 23.  I do not know where the time goes but I cannot believe I am in my late 20's.  I try not to think about it too long.  I recently went home (to Indiana) for a week to help my Dad go through a few things in the house as well as to clean out my room and...wow...what memories!  I felt so sentimental as I looked through photos of my younger years.  Memories flooded my mind and I could not believe how quickly time passes.  It scares me sometimes.

On a similar note, we celebrated Mother's Day while I was home.  It is my first Mother's Day and what a special day is was.  I loved spending time with my extended family and celebrating the day as well as birthdays.  Mother's Day is still difficult for me as I think about my own mother and miss her so very much.  This year her birthday fell on Mother's Day and I always thought this was so appropriate as my mother was a near perfect example of what a mother should be.  I strive to be a mother like her but fear I fall short often.  I miss her so much and miss her influence on my life daily.

On a new Reid note...he has just started pulling up on things and standing and scooting around furniture.  He gets so excited to do it but it seems to wear him out by the end of the day.  He is so precious and I cannot believe how quickly he is growing.  He just turned nine months last week and seems to be having a growth spurt even as we speak.  I held him tonight as I rocked him to sleep and I could not believe how long his cute little arms and legs are getting.  I remember when he was just a small little bundle that fit nicely in my arms and now he sprawls out long across my arms.  I love him so much!

Ryan is doing well and continues to wait patiently for someone to contact him with a job.  He has applied to many many jobs and has heard very little but has had a few positive calls.  We are praying for patience but also that God would bring along the job he wishes for Ryan to have.

I finished my last week of rotations a week ago.  It's hard to believe.  I have nothing left to do before graduation so technically I am a doctor now.  I graduate June 7, and while I am excited, I am also terrified of the new changes and responsibilites I am going to have.  I feel pretty inadequate.  I am trying to enjoy my several weeks off until I start my rigorous 80 hour work weeks.

My last rotation was a hospice rotation and it really made me think about life and priorities and what really matters.  I really felt the urgency of how short life is or can be and it really impressed upon me the importance of enjoying each day and putting stock in the things that are most important. 

Transition is never easy.  We have become comfortable in our life here in Athens and the move to Michigan is not without some trepidation.  We feel it is meant to be and that it is our time to leave but it is still with some sadness that we leave this area that we have come to love and our friends and church family.  We know God has great things planned ahead but we hold tight to the familiar.  We pray for God to give us courage to venture into the unknown and know He will provide and comfort and protect and bless if we will only put our faith and trust in Him.

Happy Memorial Day this weekend!  We are heading up to Michigan to close on our house and to do some cleaning and painting.  Take care and enjoy the time off with friends and family.  Below are some pics of the last few weeks.

The crabapple trees on our campus.  They are so beautiful in the spring and they line the bike path on campus.  I have run this path more times than I can count and it holds many memories of runs, and walks with friends and family.  I will miss it much.

Reid and I on my birthday.  He is such a sweet boy and has such a good personality.

Mother's Day 2008

My little boy is growing up!  He has so many cute faces and expressions.  He is loving his new-found mobility and is getting more ambitious each day.

 We Got the House!!!

We found out today that we got the house.  We are excited but the reality of the responsibility...especially financial responsibility...is setting in.  Kind of scary!  Ryan is still looking for a job and we are praying something looks positive soon.  Nothing else that's new right now.  I have two weeks left until I am finished with my medical school responsibilities and I will graduate and be a doctor June 7!  Hard to believe.

Our new residence.  We will be moving to Michigan in about a month!