Derrick's 27th Birthday

Derrick finished his truckload of tests yesterday (6 tests in two weeks), just in time to relax and enjoy his birthday today (although he still had to go to school).


School
Want to know what he does all day while I'm at home watching soap operas and eating bon-bons?

Well his last test was the anatomy lab practical test where he walks around the anatomy lab (with cadavers everywhere!) and identifies structures that the professors have marked. He feels that he did a pretty good job on the test. Last night he didn't know what to do because he didn't have any more tests to study for, so he counted the structures he had needed to know for his last test, and he totaled up 693 different structures in the back, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and arm. Structures can be landmarks on one item, like the biceps brachii (biceps muscle) has a long head and a short head, and the triceps brachii (triceps muscle) has a long head, lateral head, and a medial head- hence the triceps and biceps.

Here is the breakdown from his test (YIKES!):

Muscles: 124 structures, 15 questions on test

Nerves: 56 nerves, 10 questions

Vessels: 120 arteries & veins, 15 questions

Lungs & Trachea: 19 structures, 5 questions

Heart: 38 structures, 6 questions

Abdomen: 46 structures, 8 questions

Spinal cord: 12 structures, 4 questions

Ligaments & Mesenteries: 26 structures, 3 questions

Other structures: 7, 1 question

Osteology: 195 bones & their landmarks, 15 questions

Ice Cream
For his birthday, he received one card a few days early, so he took his family out for ice cream. He and Dayton shared a cookie dough sundae, and I had a mint chocolate chip milk-shake (but we dreadfully miss the BYU Creamery!).

He also got himself a few doughnuts for breakfast (very much against his wife's wishes), and he asserts that he performed well on his test yesterday because he had those wonderful doughnuts filling his tummy and giving him energy.




Presents
Today, he got a loving card from Dayton. When I told Dayton to tell Daddy Happy Birthday, Dayton did it and then said "I want biday cu-cake." He remembers his recent birthday well! Sorry buddy, Daddy got Snickerdoodle cookies instead of cupcakes.



We gave Derrick a universal remote control because he's been complaining that two remotes is too many.



And he got a little cup to hold our toothbrushes! Derrick wasn't sure what it was for at first. Dayton quickly snatched it away and added it to his play kitchen plates and cups; he said it was Dayton's cup.



We have an electric toothbrush that we share, but we each have our own head for it, so the trouble has been storing our heads from day to day. This is the contraption Derrick had created that we've lived with for some time... If you can't tell, it's an upside-down paper plate with two toothpicks stuck in it.


Hooray for the new toothbrush cup! Clearly this is more exciting for me than Derrick.



Beach
We also went to the beach to throw some family time into the middle of Derrick's school week. It was our first time there since we've lived here. It was nice! The beach included swings and slides, an area for dogs, and a nice covered patio with a barbeque. Dayton had a lot of fun. He loved bouncing and kicking around in the sand. He also got to watch a dog chasing after a ball thrown in the water. The sweet dog even bounded up to us and shook himself off!

Video

Pizza
I NEVER let our family eat out anymore. Derrick got REALLY lucky when he asked for pizza tonight and I said yes. He ordered thin crust barbeque chicken pizza from Gino's East (jealous, Dad?). I know what you're thinking... a remote control, toothbrush cup, and now pizza! One lucky guy!



World's Greatest Dad
Derrick is a wonderful person. In podiatry school, he's enduring some of the hardest things he's ever done, and he's doing it for our family. I know he loves us and would do anything for us. He's a VERY patient and loyal husband, a fun and loving father, and an amazing friend. He doesn't judge, but he always listens. We love you Daddy!