India

In short, India was great. I had a lot of emotional ups and downs. It went something like ... India-I'm so excited to see you!....India-you are so dirty and you have too many people.

What is up with all the spitting, peeing and trash in the streets? What's up with all the smoke? No , I don't want more tea and why are you waking me up at 6 am to offer me some? So apparently there are NO TRAFFIC rules that apply here??

Dear Lord make the honking stop. I feel dirty. You don't have a CT or MRI in this hospital? I can't handle any more starch.

A big mac, I just want a big mac. I'm right here-why are you bumping into me? You think your child has what now?

I wish I knew what you were saying. You said you knew how to get to my hotel, why are you stopping to ask random people for directions?

Didn't I see that same dog in that other village? Dude, stop starring at me!

These kids are so cute....

Jesus, Mary and Joseph I can't get on that plane again. I have a lot to be thankful for.

What's a blog?

Haven't blogged in many moons. I think I forgot how. The nice thing is coming back to this-there are finally nicer templates! Yeah.

So now I'm just talking to nobody since I haven't posted in so long, my fans are all gone :( . Big news people! (no I'm not pregnant) I'm going to India in 6 days!!! I've never been there but I have been itching to go on another international trip for a long time now. If you've never been to another country (a third world type) then you need to. You will seriously come back with a renewed outlook on life and your plot in life. I am so in need of this trip (hey, my life is great but as a resident it's easy to see the cup half empty at times....and I'm USUALLY a cup half full type of girl).

For the next few days I will be doing last minute packing. I'm all set with bug sprays, potions and lotions. All I need now is a mosquito net.

If I have internet access there I will try to keep a running update so you will know I'm alive since I don't think my iphone will work. (Caitie and Heather if you guys ever read my blog don't tell me about my many errors, I like to pretend that I have wonderful grammer with my commas and hyphens and everything else in perfect position and never any run on sentences never ever ever a run on sentence....ever).

Puerto Rico Summer 2009

Went to Puerto Rico with the Malones this Summer

Saw the rain forest at El Yunque

Visited the best beach I've ever been to - Flamenco beach

The cousins bonded...

It was a good time. Miss you already PR.

My Medical School Graduation

Me and Chris at the Marriott where my graduation was held.

Me and my classmate and now fellow pediatrician! Hoping we will be at the same training program in the future for fellowship. :)

Mom and Dad with me just after the ceremony. Their FIRST trip to Iowa!

At my graduation party that Chris put together. I didn't have to do a thing! I was so happy to have 4 of my tias come and celebrate with us. Wish all my tias could have come. It was nice to have them stay at our place, watching them play paco. And they cooked and cleaned with my mom too! It was awesome!

The parents with me and Chris.

Thank you Tia Rosa!

Some guy came to my door this morning. I almost didn't answer because I didn't know who he was, but since I saw he was holding flowers-I opened the door anyway. Turned out to be a flower delivery man. Thank you Tia Rosa for the beautiful flowers! I feel your thoughts with me today on my graduation. :)

Just Because...

Last week I came home and Chris had surprised me with these beautiful flowers. Pink tulips. My favorite flower and one of my favorite colors. He bought them "just because" which was so freakin awesome!

So today I bought him the new Mountain Dew throwback that just came out and is apparently only being sold for a few months. I know he's been wanting to try it. It's made with "natural sugar" instead of high fructose corn syrup. I don't know what it means by natural sugar-but whatever.

Grad Reception Chris is making for me.

Ana's Graduating In August of 2004 the long journey through medical school began. Ana had her ups and downs but with God's words ringing in her ears, unshakable determination and faithful dedication she has finally done it. 2009 has arrived and Ana can see the finish line. On May 15th, Ana Alvarado-Cary will be graduating from the University of Iowa Medical School and will begin as a first-year resident doctor. You are invited to celebrate this occasion with us at an informal dessert reception on: Saturday May 16th Time: 2pm Location: Englert Theatre 2nd floor Gallery 221 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Click here to RSVP for the reception

Match Day

Match Day 3-19-09. Me and some of my closest medical school friends - I will miss them!!

I'm holding my letter stating that I matched in Iowa. My first choice.

Even though I was excited about match day-it turned out to be a shock when I opened my envelope and found myself not at all happy seeing I matched with my top choice. Then I was upset at myself for not feeling happy. Now that I've had a bit more time to let things simmer...I am still very sad for only 1 reason-I miss my family in California tremendously. But the reasons I put Iowa as #1 are numerous. So if all my family members would move to Iowa life would be perfect. I know this will turn out for the best-but even still, I am already looking into fellowships in California and I'm counting down the winters left to endure here. Much love to all my Iowa peeps-and you all should seriously consider moving to CA when Chris and I head back in 3 years!!!

Disneyland 12-27-08

Me and my husband

Mari and Fernando

Carlos and Patti as Goofy and Grumpy.

We mean business people.

Not quite sure what's going on here.

Christmas 2008

Chris made sweet potatoe casserole for Christmas eve dinner. Although it was green-nobody cared because it tasted so good.

Chris and Fernando ruff housing with Jordan and Jaylee.

Chowing down at Tia Rosa's ranch. Learned that I really like posole!

Chris and I finally got to paint some rocks!

My sisters and me-wishing Elisa was here with us. :(

Christmas Eve Dinner Prep

Here's my mom showing Chris how to say "molcajete"

My mom helping Chris make his famous pumpkin pies

The finished product!

my birthday

My birthday was this last week. I am staying with my sister and brother in law in CA so it was hard to be away from my husband on that day. That morning I woke up and walked into the bathroom to get ready for work and found a laptop in there with a post-it note on top that read "Ana, play me." I thought it was going to be a funny birthday video from the Chen's -it turned out to be this song from Chris. I cried...


Be With You from Chris on Vimeo.

Iowa to California

I drove from Iowa to CA all by myself this past weekend. It was fun most of the time but other times it was extremely boring. By the third day I was very happy to be done. The total trip was 1900 miles, I drove 8 hours the first day going through Iowa and Nebraska, 12 the second day going through Colorado, Utah and Nevada and 6 the last day going from Vegas to Central CA. Here are some of the pictures I took with my phone while on the road.

JBeyer photography

Yesterday Chris and I were able to have professional pictures taken. It was so much fun. This video took me way to long to put together, it was my first time messing around with imovie so it's not very good-but at least the pics are. Check out John's site to see us and to find out how to hire our photographer. Thanks for working with us John-by far the best photographer we've worked with.

Patti and Mark Schultz

Went to a Mark Schultz concert tonight-here we are before the concert...can't see the sign I made very well.

This one is just for Pata!

Pedicures

Una and Evvy came over today. We got bored so I told them they could paint Chris's toenails...if they felt like it.

As Chris watched TV, the girls went to work. Evvy painted the left foot and Una did the right.

The finished product....lovely!