Tuesday, July 15 RENEE

While the kids are likely sick and tired of the stories and detailed flashbacks, being back where we first began our marriage and family has made for some incredible reminiscing.  Often I will be walking somewhere and have an instant recollection of a memory that occured at that place over a decade ago. Sometimes these memories are sweet and special, other times they are sad or sentimental.  It can be overwhelming to come face to face with the past.  I was a young bride here.  I experienced my first pregnancy and birth here.  I was a student and a student worker on campus here.  And I had my first dive into the depths of depression here.  And all in one day, I may be confronted with all of the emotions that came with those stages and phases of life.

Greg and I have shown the kids all over campus, as we walk through and around it on a daily basis. They have seen the cafeteria where I washed windows and worked as a laundry girl.  We have eaten ice cream from the Seasider where I worked for a very short time as an ice cream scooper/cashier. Looking back I think I may have been a little stingy with the ice cream scoops.  I also remember getting stuck in the huge walk-in freezer in there; terrifying. We have walked down the long hallway where I attended many classes, the testing center where I stressed over tests, and the reading and writing center where I worked editing people's papers when Julia was a baby.  My favourite job I had at BYUH was at the Career Development Center. It has since moved, but the glass doors where I entered and exited still bring back many great memories.  I loved working there, and some of my most precious friendships are from people I met there.  One such friend, my "boss" and someone I endured pregnancy with, (will have to pull out old photos of us pregnant together when I'm home) is Wendy.

This morning we finally managed to align our calendars to find time to meet at the beach with our kids and catch up. It was delighful to see her.  She's a breath of fresh air and so easy to talk to, plus I adore her New Zealand accent.  We talked about where we are in life now, kids' schools and activities, how we are and want to raise our teenage daughters, mutual friends, and much more.  Of course I didn't take any pictures.  I was too much in the moment.

Eventually we had to part ways as I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for Julia for the middle of the day.  She has still not gotten rid of the cough from her bronchitis weeks and weeks ago.  We were able to get her some great cough syrup and an antibiotic to clear things up quickly.  We also got to go to BYUH health center where I went when I was pregnant and when Julia was an infant.  More memories. Unbeknownst to me, the same doctor who was there at her birth still works there!  And... he remembered us!  He was almost teary eyed as he described my unusual birth circumstance, and even pulled out his leather-bound surgery diary to show the record of my c-section and Julia's birth (and had his nurse make us a copy for our own safe-keeping).  He posed for a picture quite happily and then as Julia and I walked away, I was overcome with the memories of this sweet man.

I was young, unprepared, and scared when I was rushed in for my emergency c-section just days before Christmas.  My OB was there, along with an anesthesiologist, our pediatrician, and Dr. Nielson, the doctor from BYUH.  Dr. Nielson patted my arm and told me everything would be okay.  I remember feeling relieved and reassured as I knew there would be a priesthood holder taking care of my baby and I through our surgery.  He came to visit us in the hospital room later and again, I felt of his sincere presence and concern for us.  As poor undergraduate students, we were not financially prepared for the expense of a c-section birth.  Paying each doctor who was there and assisted us was obviously mandatory, and we knew we would have a long road of monthly medical payments to make.  Dr. Nielson's bill came in the mail with the total sum due being $0.00 and his handwritten note of "Merry Christmas."  To us, it was a miracle.  Next to our daughter, the best Christmas gift we received that year.  Memories.

We spent the afternoon collecting flowers and making leis for our company who will be arriving late.
The aroma of these flowers and leis bring back all sorts of feelings and memories as well.