Madison Baby Shower

Rebecca and I started the day off by celebrating our upcoming birthdays. For the fifth year in a row, we treated ourselves to pedicures:


My Mom and Rebecca threw me and the baby a fantastic baby shower this weekend!

Scott and I love eating breakfast on the weekends at Lazy Jane's cafe. It was also the perfect venue for a shower. There was just the right amount of space and a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Every detail turned out perfectly! Mom and Rebecca gathered all my favorite people and all of my favorite foods in one place. Food highlights included Craig's cake (same as our wedding), chocolates from Gail Ambrosia, and salads from Lazy Jane's.

Soon-to-be Grandma Jeanine signs in the guestbook.


People enjoyed a glass of wine upon arriving.
Mom, Pat, Andrea, Jeanine, Barb:

ErikPuffer:
Lisa and Maria:
For our first activity, we decorated onsies.
Peggy, Lori, Barb, and Jeanine:


Peggy, Lori, Barb, Emma, Erik, Susie, Jen, Rebecca:

Anna, Dana, and Emma:

Mom, Rebecca, and Kelley:

Susie:
group shots:
the finished products:

For our second activity, we enjoyed Lazy Jane's food.
Mary and Pearl:
Mom gave a toast, and then everyone introduced themselves.

Jen:Shelby, Bernadette, and Anna:


Guests enjoyed cake while I opened presents with Rebecca and Dana's help.


Erik, Maria, Torey, Andrea, Pat:

Kelley, Dana:
Jeanine, Barb, Jen:


My reaction as Erik explains his turtle/monkey/alien toy:


Required belly photo:

Trip photos

Here's a few photos from the trip. Below are a few people that I joined in a trip to a local arts center. They included a few nurses working in Uganda and one medical student from University of Minnesota.

The arts center puts on a show every Sunday of musicians and dancers. The performance includes music and dance from several of the major cultural groups within Uganda.

One highlight of this trip was being invited to eat in people's homes to meet their families and eat local food. Here's me with Dr. Asiimwe and his wife. Dr. Asiimwe spent time in the U.S. to do research training at Case Western in Cleveland, then returned to his home to set up a research center in a rural part of Uganda.

Fun with the Smiths

Coca and I are enjoying time with the Smiths. Rebecca is an amazing chef; she could run a B 'n B. We had steak for dinner, breakfast tart, massages, manicures, and this is only the beginning.

Coca is being really patient with Ava and Olivia. Unfortunately we weren't quick enough to snap a picture of Coca cleaning the steak (very gently) off of Olivia's fingers. They're best friends during meal-time now that Coca knows that Olivia drops a lot of food from her high chair.

Ava is such a grown up now. She has a very sweet personality, and she's a helpful big sister. When she saw me knitting, Ava said that the little sweater was very cute.

Here's a picture with a happy Olivia:


Coca and Ava spontaneously joined us a little later. Olivia was not happy about loosing the camera to Bryan. Ava and I thought it was hilarious.

Update

Well, I am finishing up in Mbarara this week, heading back to Kampala hopefully Saturday. Things have been going well - I had the opportunity to meet the Dean of the medical school, Dr. Nansera (who has visited Wisconsin previously), and a variety of other people. Many of them are interested in collaborating but all of them are so busy and underpaid with their positions. It will be a matter of looking into funding sources when I get back to the U.S.

This medical school (MUST - Mbarara University of Science and Technology) has been a pioneer in "community based education" for medical students - getting them out of the city and into the villages. Hopefully some of our students will be able to visit here and join those visits to the villages to engage in public health activities at some point this year.

Visit to Lisle and Chicago

While Scott is in Uganda, Coca and I visited my family. Coincidentally, Jeff traveled through O'Hare airport on his way to California from Switzerland. It was great to see everyone at Brad's apartment. Somehow we ate a full dinner at 3 pm...