MSTP Retreat & Chicago Wedding!
Helping to furnish the bachelor pad!
It was one of our first weekends back in action and we sure made the most of it! The MSTP had a joint retreat coming up with Ohio State, and I had a baby I needed to coordinate care for. Tricky business. On Wednesday night I drive to Cleveland to make my poster and drop off Drew with the bachelors and Grandma Kath. Thursday morning I woke up early in Cleveland in order to make it back with enough time to present my poster in Pittsburgh. It required that I curl my hair in the biomedical science tower bathroom, but I was able to make it!
Just a few short hours later we drove back to Ohio to attend the retreat. We spent the evening in Salt Fork enjoying the resort. I was so tired from the newborn mixed with many miles on the freeway, but I held my own and caught up with fellow MSTPs.
Dale assisting me in making my poster, or begging for ice cream, you decide.
So many miles we necessary to coordinate care for Drew. The retreat is definitely not made to accommodate single parents without family in the area that could step in for overnight care. Part of me wanted to bring my little baby with me to highlight this trouble, but the other part of me wanted to sleep a full night in a hotel bed. Just another thing to consider when I have the opportunity to impact policy. I am looking forward to the day when I can provide my colleagues with substantial maternity and paternity leaves! Family first.
Salt Fork, OH. Not too shabby.
Wildlife, begging for hotel food.
After the retreat I jumped in the car and drove back to Cleveland, pumping down the highway and overflowing milk over my legs. We met up with Kathy back in Cleveland who was showering Drew with love. We snuggled in for the night and got ourselves ready for the next big adventure. The next day we were driving to Chicago for Paul's friend's wedding. Foley and Ashley had recently relocated to Chicago for Foley's fellowship which meant we were able to sneak in and visit them as well!
We rolled into downtown Chicago where Foley and Ashley met us on the street and welcomed us to their apartment. The apartment was so nice. Everything was so modern and perfectly decorated. I love Ashley's style when it comes to home furnishings. It's everything I wish I had if I could just get to cleaning up my messy home! We put Drew into the Boba wrap on Ashley and scampered off to the wedding. Mike and Ashley went for a walk and were greeted with numerous "awwww's". Ladies love babies, its true.
Medical school mini reunion with Mike and Ashley!
Paul and I had a wonderful time catching up with he's friends from home. It seemed like everyone made it to the wedding - definitely a high yield visit home! I feasted on the amazing buffet of food and many kinds of meats. The food was out of this world. We danced, sipped coffee and ate our cake. It was a wonderful night out together. Ashley and Mike were kind to keep us updated with pictures of the little guy while he ate and snoozed. We were so fortunate they could babysit!
Snoozing baby across many state lines.
Sunday morning we went out for Brunch at an orange restaurant down the street. I enjoyed some freshly squeezed juice and massive slices of french toast. The men were studying for the written boards, so Mike had a study day planned and Paul and I had to get back on the freeway to Cleveland. It was a whirlwind of a trip, but a great one indeed.