Mail Surprise!

Working hard on my thesis and defense presentation.  All that writing has me a little burned out.  Want an excerpt?

"TLR2 has been linked with detection of LCMV.  In vitro and in vivo cytokine responses to LCMV infection were found to be TLR2-dependent.  IL-8, in vitro, and IL-6 and MCP-1 in vivo, were all found to be TLR2- and MyD88-dependent (357).  Unexpectedly, IFN-I production in mice was also found to require TLR2, but not MyD88.  However, recent studies have shown that some viral ligands are able to induce IFN-I production through TLR2 on the endosome, while bacterial ligands could not, demonstrating the plasticity of TLR2 functions (19).  Further, the proinflammatory responses observed during LCMV infection of CNS glial cells was determined to be TLR2, MyD88, and Mal dependent (355).  Beyond innate immune responses, MyD88 has been identified as a critical component of the adaptive T cell response to LCMV infection.  MyD88 deficient mice are unable to control viral replication or spread in a manner that doesn’t involve IL-1R1, IL-18R, or IPS-1 (23, 149, 356, 357).  LCMV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells have impaired functionality in the absence of MyD88 leading to a reduced cytotoxic T cell response (149, 268, 356)."

Asleep yet?  You're welcome to any insomniacs out there!

Anyways, with February 24th looming on the not-so-distant horizon, I do have a fun story to share!

Remember when you used to get actual mail?  Cards, packages, even bills?  Remember when every now and then, you would get a complete surprise?  Sure, now I'm surprised when I'm actually home to receive my recent online purchase, but when was the last time you were really surprised (in a good way) by something that arrived in the mail?!

Well, last week, I came home to find not one, but two slips indicating that I had missed package deliveries.  One I was expecting (online maternity purchase).  The other - I had no idea.  I pestered B about.  Surely it was for him or he knew what it was.  Nope.  It was a couple of days before I was able to get to the post office.  My mind was racing.  Who was it for?  What could it be?  To my surprise, it was for me, marked "FRAGILE" and from B's cousin Kristyn.  WHAT??!!

When I got home, I hesitated opening it.  OK, I tore into the outer paper wrapping and found a bubble wrapped box, congratulating one "Dr. Hayes" with a card.  Being a little superstitious (I'm not quite there yet), I almost waited to open it.  OK, so I opened it so carefully that I could tape it back together perfectly in case I was supposed to wait until I was done.  Not really sure why I did that...  Anyhoo, here is what I was greeted by...

A whole box of these adorable Hazmat gingerbread guys!  Aren't they cute?

Each one was individually placed in a zipper bag and layered with bubble wrap.

I love this guy!  He reminds me of, well, me, looking out from the BSL-3 lab.  "Let me out! Let me out!"

After a couple of quality control tastings, the rest were placed in the freezer to preserve them for my committee members after my defense.  If these guys don't sweeten them up to pass me, I don't know what will!

I have to send a HUGE thank you to Kristyn, her mom Anne, and Grandma for the card and for making these for me!  I love them so much!  I might have squealed with delight when I saw them.  Maybe. :)  Love you guys!

Why my husband is awesome!

I know I've said it before, but I couldn't nearly say it enough.  My husband is one of the greatest people on Earth and I am a very lucky girl!  I might have to dedicate a page of my blog to just how great his awesomeness is!

Here's a preview of his latest endeavor:

So, our previous attempts at getting a quality picture for our Christmas card were a complete failure.  Either my eyes were closed, T's eyes were closed, someone wasn't looking at the camera, etc.  Here are some of those outtakes:

So, we planned for our friend Colleen to come take our family picture on Saturday afternoon.  I stressed and stressed over outfits, because unlike the last attempts, these were more posed and less action.  On the morning of the photo shoot, I found the perfect maternity dress that would coordinate with T's dress.  B just had to wear a navy sweater which made him happy because I had strict instructions not to buy him something that he would only wear once.  I showered late that day, so that I would be in the best "shape" for pictures, and got T dressed after her nap so her dress wouldn't be wrinkled.  It was perfect.  While we were waiting for Colleen to arrive, we were all hanging out in the kitchen.  The usual question came along, "What do you want to have for dinner?", to which I replied a couple of options, both of which I would need to start ASAP.  Both were met with not enough enthusiasm for to actually get to work, so whatever we had, it was going to be a quick and easy meal.

After a few minutes, B turns to me and asks, "So, what if I planned a surprise date for us tonight and we're actually going to Dogwood with reservations for 6:00?  Colleen is babysitting."

Seriously?!  Yes, yes YES!!!  This was great for many reasons:
1. We hadn't celebrated our anniversary from October yet
2. I wasn't thinking about it all day and getting anxious about leaving T (I hate missing bedtime)
3. I was already dressed up and ready to go out!  Woohoo!

What a fantastic evening!  We got our family pictures, B and I had a lovely three-course dinner at Dogwood (check out their mission!) and then afterward we took a stroll to see the Miracle on 34th St. Lights in Hamden.  Legend has it that one year, the residents of a block on 34th street entered into a lottery pool and won.  Trying to decide what to do with their winnings, each house invested into an assortment of Christmas lights that each resident would put up each year.  The whole street looks like something of a Hollywood set!  It is even rumored that anyone who moves into the neighborhood has to sign an agreement that they will continue the tradition (that was begun in 1947) and decorate their house each year too.  Whether all of this is true, I can't say, but it certainly adds to the magical spirit of Christmas!  Click here to find out more.

This was my favorite house on the street, complete with a family of robots and the bar scene music from Return of the Jedi playing.  So nerdy, I love it!

Just like the movies...

B has been out of town since Tuesday.  He's attending a toxicology meeting and taking an exam to be certified as a toxicologist.  It's been a long road with him trying to fit studying time in at least 5 days a week and we're so thankful that the time finally came for him to take the test, even if it meanth his time away would be for nearly a week.

With him gone though, I've been pretty lonely and kind of just going through the motions.  Yesterday was day two of B's exam and he texted me when he was done that he was going to get some lunch and try to relax.  I got the things done that I needed to do and started to get ready to go home.  I still had to take Dru to the park, and pick up T from daycare.  I was possibly thinking of running to the store to get some construction paper for some toddler craft time.

As I was headed out the door, B texted me "Are you picking up T first or taking Dru?"

I replied "Taking Dru first".  Feeling kind of sad, I didn't elaborate on my plans and just got on my way.  I got home, grabbed DRu and headed to the park.  Now, Dru has a bad habit of running outof the park to bark at people walking by.  He'd never do anything, but his bark tends to make people nervous.  We always check to make sure no one is around before letting him off leash.  As we got to the park, the coast was clear and I let him run.  Just as I stood up, I could see through the tree in front of me that a guy was walking by the park.

"Oh great," I thought, "Now I have to grab Dru again".  But then I stopped.  I thought I recognized that walk.  But looking through the tree it was hard to be sure.  Trying not to look so obvious, in case it wasn't who I thought it was, I started to walk around the tree to get a better look.  Wait, what?  Could it be?  A few steps closer and there was no doubt, B had come home early and surprised me at the park!  I took off in a run and we hugged for a full five minutes, tears streaming down my face.  I had missed him so much in the couple of days he was gone, thinking I wouldn't see him for a few more.  He was able to stay home last night and go back this morning.  I am so thankful that after 13 years of being together, and 6 years of marriage, I still look forward to seeing him this much.  This was the best surprise I've had in a long time!  I love you B!

Can't wait to share!

If you're like me, you have someone in your life that you
love
cherish
adore
and would do anything for!
I'm so blessed that that person is my wonderful husband!
I'm so lucky to have a partner
that gets me
that understands me
that knows what I'm thinking without me saying a word.
Actually, that last part drives me crazy sometimes. See, when you have someone that special, you want to do things for them, surprise them. When they can read your mind, its a lot harder.
Calculate in that I am the worst liar in the world
(seriously, I cannot do it!)
and all my surprises go right out the window.
However, I am making an attempt at surprising my honey for Valentine's Day.
I can't say here what it is yet
(a certain someone reads this blog too!)
but let me just say that there are accomplices involved and the surprise will be television worthy!
I am so excited I am ready to bust!
Anyways, I had to share my excitement, even if I can't share the details.
Stay tuned for the wrap up
(after the actual surprise)
and to see if I can actually achieve my goal of surprising my hubs for once!

 

 This is us going to a wedding in 2009 and us about 10 years earlier!  Look pretty good together, huh?

He hates when I take self-portraits, but these are some of my favorite photos!

Another self-portrait of two love-birds!