Too good to pass up

This is what happens when your husband pulls all the foil wrapped and bagged mystery meat from the freezer. I thought we had chicken breasts but it turned out to be pork tenderloin. I was a bit disappointed because I have another amazing meal that I do with tenderloin but after throwing this meal together I was not so sad anymore!

HERE is the recipe for our dinner tonight. This isn't turning into a foodie blog, although I am one at heart. I just want to pass on amazing recipes that pass even my über snobby and persnickety palate. BTW this one is a keeper!

We grilled the meat and Phil through on some hickory wood chips in a foil wrapped pouch over the coals. Oh my goodness! Divine! The hickory did overpower the marinade just a wee bit and I was sad because the marinade is so good, but none the less it is still a winner.

Have I said enough how good this is? Someone please tell me to stop already.

Hungry?

Try these so yummy recipes I made recently.

First up Key Lime Pie. Fabulously rich and tart.

Dinner tonight was Sloppy Joes.

Both are incredibly easy and better than anything you will get in a can or at the grocery store.

President Hinckley

My mom just left a message that President Hinckley has passed away this evening. To say that he will be sorely missed is an understatement. He was the Prophet of my generation and I am just sad. But this is good news, he has served well, far beyond any man and will now join his sweet wife Marjorie.

Here is a story confirming via the LDS website and go here for a lovely tribute.

Over!

Yesterday Phil took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). It is an extremely grueling and difficult test in all aspects of the physical and biological sciences as well as verbal reasoning and writing skills. Phil has prepared diligently and tirelessly for the past 4-5 months.

I dropped him of at ASU early morning and picked him up 5 hours later. He reported that it was harder than any of his practice tests but yet he felt calm, cool and collected. He immersed himself in the test and I believe he did well. We won't know for 4 weeks the test results. If he scores well we will start the application process for medical schools. I am so proud of Phil and the dedication and effort he has applied.

So after 5 months of study and one crazy 5 hour test what does Phil do when he gets home? He mows the lawn. Go figure.

Next step: EMPLOYMENT! (yay!-anyone hiring out there?)

Dear Camden

Dear Son,

Today you are 21 months old! Or would have been. Your dad and I lay in bed last night wondering what you would be like. You would be running around like a busy toddler getting into everything and keeping us on our toes. You would be talking up a storm throwing in some intelligible words now and then and the rest would be the language our family would understand best. You would be in nursery! We would have dressed you so cute, like a little young man perhaps in a nice suit with some killer ties, your lovely locks all slicked and tousled. I always wonder about your eyes. Are they deep and brown like Dad's or lively green like Mom's?

After your Dad fell asleep I awoke in the middle of the night thinking more about you. I remembered when we rocked in the NICU, the nurse asked if I wanted to hold you. Of course I did. I hungered for you. She took you out of your warm temperature controlled isolette, IVs and monitors all over your fragile body, and placed you in my arms. She told me about Kangaroo Care, where we lay skin to skin. I placed you under my shirt and felt your feather weight 4 pound body resting on mine. I loved touching your skin, it was ever so soft just under your sweet chin, where you had the most chubs. Sweet Heaven. We both dozed. Then a bit later you were getting too cold, so back in the isolette for you. And I was hurting from the surgery that brought you here. Back to my room.

I miss you. We pray every night thanking our Father in Heaven for the gift of You. For Eternal Families and joyful reunions. We pray that we will be righteous enough to return and be worthy to be in your presence. This is our goal, our hope.

Love, Mom

Food & Celebrations

Phil's birthday started with me rising at 5:30am to make a fabulous breakfast consisting of Orange Vanilla French Toast with Raspberry Orange Syrup, Crisp Bacon and freshly squeezed orange juice. Breakfast in bed of course! (PS, don't tell Phil this picture of him is up, he forbade it, seeing it was 6 in the morning and such. Shhhh! I am being inherently disobedient)

Dinner that evening was a Manly burger I found from HERE. Thank you Picky Palate for the pic and a wonderful burger.

Then this weekend I made a most scrumptious Mint Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream Cake. You can get the recipe HERE. We offered to share it with some family and they in turn invited us to dinner Sunday evening. Yummy tacos and guacamole, they had a spread!

Phil took the honors of donning 30 white candles to his cake and lighting them while we serenaded in traditional birthday manner.

(See him blow out the flame thrower- I mean 30!!! Candles)

After taste buds and tummies were properly satiated and children were tucked into bed a little Rock Band ensued and Reed & Phil jammed.

And where was I? Watching these rockin' buns.

It was GOOD.

Spotlight!

My dearest cousin Krystal posted about me this past week but since she has a private blog no one can see it! I commented to her that her payback isn't as sweet due to this minor detail but in the name of fairness I am stealing her post for you all to revel in how awesome I was when I was younger. Please don't feel bad if you weren't as trendy, didn't have the same fashion sense and incredible hair, not everyone can be as cool as we were. It's okay.

"I am dedicating this post to my beautiful,amazing, talented, cousin Heather in hopes that she won't kill me for sharing these pictures with all of you. Awhile back Heather posted a not so attractive picture of me on her blog and I threatened to get back at her. That sent me into a wild search for some equally not as attractive pictures of her. I suddenly realized that I had no unattractive pictures of her...just more of me. I will post them for the sole purpose of an interesting read, and remember Heather they are so much worse of me:)

Heather and I were born in the same month, June. Just 1 year and 14 days apart. Best cousins from day one, both of us blessed with an amazing sense of style.

Heather and I went to most of high school together, and did many high school things together. Dances, sports, spirit week...

We helped each other get ready for this dance. Remember the date with Trevor and John?

We helped each other get ready for this day of spirit week at school. (No, we did not go to school at a juvenile detention center; our school was under major construction, hence the fence and barbed wire.)

Heather and I both ended up going to the same Dental Hygiene school. Unfortunately not the same class. We still got to see each other a little.

Heather was a bridesmaid at my wedding. I wish I knew what they were talking about! This picture cracks me up!

I have so many good memories of growing up with Heather. Let me list a few of my favorite:

• Endless games of Stratego, and Sweet Valley High
• Sleep overs and Clean Slate
• Walking each other home at night down the spookiest lane ever
• Talking about high school drama, boys, and thinking our lives were so hard at the time
• Huge waffles with peanut butter, syrup, and whipped cream
• Eating everything covered with ranch dressing
• Braces from Dr. Augat

Heather I love you! "
Krystal

Birthday Interview

H: What's tomorrow?

P: My birthday.

H: How old will you be?

P: The BIG 3-0.

H: How does that make you feel?

P: Sad. (laughs) Depressed.

H: Any other emotions?

P: Fat.

H: Shut up.

P: That's what it's supposed to be right? This is like the big hump. (laughs) You gonna leave that off?

H: What do you want to be when you grow up?

P: Come on, this sounds like I'm 15. I'm 30 and am still not what I want to be.

H: Silently waiting

P: A doctor.

H: Why?

P: So I can make money, have a secure future, a happy life.

H: What has been your greatest accomplishment?

P: Marrying Heather. (We both laugh) It has been actually...and it will continue to be.

H: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

P: Having a job, some kids, with Heather having those kids, literally. (Laughs) You gonna put that down?

H: What are you going to do tomorrow? (Your birthday)

P: Study for the MCAT. What are you going to do tomorrow?

H: Make money so you can stay home and study for the MCAT.

What is your perfect day?

P: (non PG response given, content has been edited) I find out what I got on my MCAT and I pass. Least perfect day is the same, except I don't pass.

Phil gets up to take out the trash, signalling end of interview.

Stay tuned for Phil's birthday "celebration" and lots of yummy food, since food is love here at our home.

One more thing...

Just when you thought my political stumping was over.

This was in my front yard Sunday morning as I opened my front door to welcome my Laurels as we commenced for a meeting. Not what I was expecting. I holler for Phil and ask why the sign is there?

He doesn't know but suspects his brother placed it as a joke. He called Reed and we confirmed that it was not him. Well, Phil stomped over our well manicured Bermuda and pulled the offending sign out.

A word, if I may. To all you Ron Paul supporters:

I respect Congressman Ron Paul. I think he is a fine man, a doctor even. Very honorable. I think he has some good ideas but takes them a wee bit too far to the extreme right. Bless his little heart for standing up for what he believes in.

I don't share the same extreme beliefs and would appreciate you keeping your signs out of my nice lawn. Yes, we are in a nice handy cul-de-sac that happens to face Baseline Road. No, you may not use my lawn as free advertising space for the oncoming traffic. I admire your politcal gumption and activism. Do not assume the liberty that I am a willing participant and please, kindly ask for use of MY property.

Thank you.

Again, no offense to Pon Paul supporters. I take my leave...again.

P.S. Go HERE for dinner.

Are you informed?

Are you keeping up on the political happenings this year? I have watched every Republican debate and am trying to make an informed decision on who will make the cut for me. It is so important to take advantage of the freedom we have to participate in elections. We can make a difference! Every vote counts. So if you haven't been paying attention it is time to sit up and take notice. Quit slacking! Get registered and get informed!

**February 5th is our state's primary. BE there.

(Quietly stepping off soap box and regular blogging topics to resume)

Anniversary Day

Good morning my Love. Have a seat, read your paper while I make a scrumptious Anniversary Breakfast. Mmmmm, German Apple Pancake dusted with Sugar and fresh grapefruit juice.

We then part ways so to speak and you get in a practice MCAT while I tidy up the house and myself.

We are off to our Suns vs. Hornets Game! You indulge me in a few poses and a great pucker.

Great story this year. I decide to buy tickets to the game and want to upgrade our seats. I purchase what I believe to be a fabulous steal! Lexus Club tickets: sit behind the Suns basket in theater-esque seats and have access to private bathrooms and food service if we weren't cheap, but we are. I was sooo mistaken. The Lexus Club "tickets" I bought are really just passes, I still need to buy seats. So I do, and I buy the cheapest nose bleed high-altitude seats I can find. Because we are going to sit in the cushy Lexus Club anyway right?

Wrong.

The Lexus Club passes are just that. Passes, where we can come and have drinks and then return to our seats. That's right, we can't even sit in the club. We are informed that they just changed that this season. Crap! What a rip. So off we go back to our oxygen required seats all the way on the other side of the arena, near the tip-top. Oh, well. I tried. Never again will I spend money on game tickets when we could have had better seats at home. With my own personal potty. And FREE food and drink.

Lesson Learned. And you are in charge of next year's festivities.

The Refiner's Fire

2005 brings many things. I graduate from hygiene school, pass my boards and get AZ State's permission to practice and administer anesthesia. Joy! I can make some good bucks now! I get my first job at University Dental.

You hit school hard and think you want to be a lawyer. I do all the research and then you think you want to be a dentist. Again, I research. Wait, now you want to be a PA. Okay. I research and we start pursing the course. After shadowing a PA you decide you don't want to be always working for the "man". Why not go all the way you ask yourself? Again, I research and encourage you to pursue your dreams. You make a big commitment (finally) to become a doctor. This process has brought us into 2006. But we will come to that in a moment, still some big things for us in '05. First the requisite family picture, this time courtesy of the Gunnell clan.

The biggest news of all of 2005 is that we are pregnant!!! Hip, hip hooray! We conceived in August 2005 and let everyone know as soon as we knew the following month. I remember testing on the day my cycle was due and getting those 2 pink lines. We showed my mom via web cam and she ran screaming through her house in Utah "Heather's pregnant!!" Needless to say we weren't the only ones thrilled.

We go to the doctor and sit through the ultrasound appointment. We ooh and aahhh over the amazing life within me. The pictures are cascading down to the floor as the tech analyzes and prods my abdomen. We have no idea that a 45 minute ultrasound is not the norm. And she wasn't just being generous with the exclusive photo-op our child was getting.

We go into the examination room and await the doctor. The nurse returns with some disturbing news. Devastating really. Something is wrong. The baby has a bulging abdomen. This could be normal at this stage of development but probably not. They send us to a specialist for a higher level ultrasound. We leave, pictures in hand. We head over to your parents and you and your brother Reed give me a blessing. We cry.

A few weeks later we go to the specialist and he wants to do an amnio. We agree and we await the results. We did learn we were having a boy. We leave happy but anxious.

The nurse has been trying to contact me but kept missing me with work. She wasn't specific on the phone and I always returned home too late to call her back. Finally the doctor himself calls me at work. In the middle of the day. The results are in. It's not good. In fact it is the worse diagnosis we could receive as far as chromosomes go.

It is fatal.

I can see myself in my mind's eye as I am listening to the doctor read the lab report and tell me my child will die. In fact I should have miscarried. If he survives he will be retarded and could have all manner of physical deformities. Somehow I thank him and hang up. I collapse on the desk in the break room sobbing. My co-workers and dentist rush in to me. I tell them I can't stay and they need to reschedule my day. I drive home through bleary eyes. You are contacted and come home to a hysterical wife. You don't know yet. I tell you and together we cry.

We struggle with what to do. Doctor's tell us we should abort. I read up on it and can't fathom doing that. Besides, who are we to decide when one should live or die. We keep him.

Christmas 2005

We need to get away but are hesitant with our son's "condition" and the fact that doctors tell me we can lose him at anytime.
We go to Germany and Rome. I am 5 months pregnant. We walk all over Europe it seems and on the way find every public restroom. Note to self: don't vacay far far away without access to the loo when pregnant.

You quit your job in March of 2006 to pursue the rest of your classes at ASU.

April 24, 2006

Camden Brown Gunnell is born via c-section at 12:10pm at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix at 36 weeks.

April 27, 2006

He leaves us.

I will detail Camden's story in a later post. For now you can read about us by clicking the link on the R hand side near the bottom of the blog.

I go back to work end of May-early June. 6 weeks after our son was born. You continue school. Your job is to get good grades and pump up your resume for medical school. We both work hard. I get called as YW president of our ward in August 2006. We are both shocked, even the bishop. (He was sure I was too young, but apparently the Lord thought otherwise.)

Fast forward 1 year.

Summer 2007 you graduate! Yea Phil! You now hit the books hard preparing for the beast of an exam called the MCAT. It is our ticket to med school. Do or die.



I lose the 30 pounds I gained while pregnant and 10 more that were hanging on from hygiene school. This is tough. Very tough. No benefits from nursing for me. Just the old-fashioned diet and exercise. We have waited the required "physical, emotional and psychological healing" period prescribed by doctor and have been trying to conceive-to date for one year. We are unsuccessful month after month. This hurts me. But we keep on truckin'.

I am so grateful to be your wife. I have grown since you married the 18 year old girl. We have become stronger together. Testimonies and faith cemented in our beliefs. We know we will see Camden again. He is ours. He is perfect. Now we just need to live accordingly so we can return and be with him. I want to have more babies with you. I want to stand by your side as you get your medical degree. I want to travel the world with you. I want to grow old with you and see our children grow. I want you.

And I have you. Thank you for six wonderful years. Here's to Eternity.

The Early Years

2002 we start life together. Living it up in a 600 square foot apartment. 2 months after we are married your sister Allison (who did my hair) and I decide to go "natural". I am convinced this was not my natural brown, I am not blessed with deep rich dark chocolate locks she gave me but below is the result. As I walk into the temple for Stephanie's wedding I hear your mom audibly gasp and see Allison smack her arm. It was drastic and I haven't done anything like it since. Below is our first Married Family Photo which you grumbled about taking.

9 months after we marry...no we did not have a baby, we bought a house. A real upgrade! 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a whole spacious 1100 square feet to ourselves. We didn't care, it had it's own walls and a garage. I can't find the pics of this house but at least I have proof that we shared household duties. We stayed in this house for about 2 years.

Next family photo in 2003 I am blonde and short. I loved it. You are still handsome and working for PDS. You move to greener pastures and more green for a job in Phoenix with Merchant's Info Solutions. I still work in the dental field having finished all my pre-reqs to get into hygiene school. I am a master planner and finished all the requirements in one year and get put on the waiting list for one year. I get fired for the first time in my life for "business reasons". Bull-honkey! I believe because I got accepted into hygiene school. Still don't know the real reason. But I am not bitter! I float around in various offices temping and spend some time at Bed Bath & Beyond. To this day I have the urge to organize their merchandise when I shop but I am getting better.

In our spare time we fly across the world to visit friends and your mission in Germany. We go over Christmas holiday and enjoy every cold minute of it. We walk and walk all over Berlin and the north country. We see amazing architecture, beautiful countryside and I brave new foods.

We are still in love and working together towards our goals of higher education. You finish classes at the community college level and get accepted to ASU's Business College focusing on Computer Information Systems. The education marathon begins.

2004 brings another family photo-mom without you I don't think we would be this diligent.
I start at Rio Salado's School of Dental Hygiene, Class of 2005. 15 months of stress, studies, clinical work, nasty mouths, more stress and thousands of dollars mold me into a Registered Dental Hygienist. You graciously (looking back now stupidly) slow down your schooling to pay the bills and work hard at what you do.

Next: 2005-2007 The Refiner's Fire