a momentous year (labor to Labor Day)

Kelvin and I have been up in Humboldt County for almost exactly one year (we started work last year on Sept 1st, the day before Labor Day weekend). 

It is amazing what has happened in these twelve months.

In terms of work, I have:

- done 57 deliveries (29 vaginal, 28 c-sections, with 3 sets of twins among those [please note that I mainly take back-up call so my c-section rate really is not 50%!])

- diagnosed cancers of the breast, colon (2), uterus (2, + 2 hyperplasias), fallopian tube (1),  pancreas (1), skin, and blood (1)

- delivered my first (term, singleton) breech baby vaginally ("Where's the attending? Oh! I'm the attending!) and been challenged with doing other "firsts" as the "boss"

- lost two patients (one who died the week after she "established care" with me, and the other the week after I saw him and diagnosed the pancreatic cancer)

- helped 7 people quit smoking

- managed two very scary postpartum hemorrhages, worse than any I'd ever seen in residency

- helped three key diabetics go from HgbA1Cs of 13%--> 6.1%, 10.2 --> 5.9%, and 8.6 --> 5.7% (in three months). WOW!!! (This may be my biggest accomplishment so far)

- been stressed and exhausted to the point of tears (but less often than happened in residency ;)

- been frustrated by patients who have demanded more of me than I could give

- been blessed by patients who have let me take care of them

As for the "non-work" stuff we've done since moving to Humboldt County, you've probably heard about it on the blog, but check out this photo book which I put together on Shutterfly with a free promocode:

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.


I'll say it's been a great year!

Sans S & S :(

We loved hosting Serena and Shabu, and enjoyed having Brad in town this past weekend! 
Here are some of the latest snaps-- we actually had some sunny weather for them, too (and I was blessed to have a call weekend without many calls)!

Trinidad

Delicious dinner at Larrupin Cafe, Trinidad (thanks, Serena!)

Manila Dunes

Pep on the move

Shabu takes a break!

These two are too adorable...

Trying to escape from the car when leaving Holly Yashi (dangerous shopping trip).

   Peering through the car windows ... (can you see Pep in the backseat?)

  Hiking duo

Tired from a busy two weeks! ("identical flops")

We miss you, Serena, Brad, and Shabu (even though you snuck onto the dining table and ate our raw beef for our spring rolls. I hear you're sorta paying for it)!

Shuck 'n Cruise

As I'm sure you've figured out by now if you're a regular reader of this blog, Kelvin and I love oysters. Serena has been in town for the past two weeks and, thankfully, she, too loves oysters.
We weren't aware that you could go on "Oyster Cruises" from Eureka until I noticed a blurb on it in Sunset Magazine.

On Wednesday evening, we went on our first "Shuck n' Cruise" (although we didn't actually have to do ANY shucking, which was perhaps the best part of the cruise [they did the shucking for us]; it probably should have been called "Slurp 'n Cruise" or "Eat 'n Cruise").  We had "all you can eat" oysters for the hour-long cruise.  I think I put away about one and a half dozen oysters (Kelvin probably more), which made it well worth it!

Mmmm....

We had a lovely, sunny evening in Eureka but it was still chilly on the 'Madaket' Boat we took.

We were reminded that 60-80% of all of California's oysters come from Humboldt Bay and MY OH MY are they tasty!

Brad actually joined us in Arcata this weekend and made a delicious mignonette sauce to go with the fresh bought oysters we enjoyed at home today. Can't wait for Oysterfest 2013!

County Fair

On Monday, we bundled up and headed to the Humboldt County Fair in the Victorian town of Ferndale, which is usually a bit warmer and sunnier than Arcata, but wasn't on Monday night.

It was one of the "free admission nights," however, so we lucked out there!

We saw some kids holding baby alligator (reminds me of the time at the MN state fair I got in line with a bunch of 5-year-olds to milk a cow); I was tempted here, but declined.

Kelvin enjoyed some wings (by the tsunami room!)

Alyssa and Rob joined us -- here are some shots in the exhibit hall.

Award-winning alcohol

Awesome cakes!

Purse cake (reminds me of Cathleen's awesome luggage cake for our wedding)!

Centennial Cake

 Mini houses

Loved this library one!

Quilts

Old wedding photos

this explains itself...

The FLOWER room!

I so wish I had a green thumb! The basil I bought (and tried to grow) a couple of months ago is long-dead.

Amazing succulents

We had a great explanation from the beekeper about the (not-so-secret) life of bees and why Humboldt Co honey is amazing (I bought some raw honey to try to desensitize myself to the local pollen and improve my horrendous allergies).

(pointing out the queen bee!)

We're sorry we missed the mule- and horse-racing which does go on at the fair, but perhaps another time...