Non Birthday....Birthday Dinner

Because Josh's birthday fell on a Wednesday this year, we decided to have a birthday dinner with some of his friends on the following Friday.  Kris, Tarrah, Allison, Ryan, and Austin joined us at Zizzi's Restaurant in City Center.  It's an italian restaurant that is probably one of our favorite italian places in Newcastle.  However, it doesn't even compare to Josh and my favorite italian place in the world, Roman Cucina, in Sunset Beach, CA.  The food was good, the company awesome, and overall it was a fun night out with friends.  Here are some pics from the night.

Kris and Tarrah

Austin, Allison, and Ryan

Josh and I

The Guys

Austin and his dough stick

My yummy chicken salad with avocado.



Thanks everyone for joining us to celebrate Josh's birthday...again! Everyone helped make it really special.

Quarter Century Young

Today marked Joshua's 25th birthday and though many like to say that he is now a quarter century old, I still feel that we are so young and so I like to say that he is now a quarter century young.  Josh pretty much spent his entire birthday day studying.  Poor guy, he has a parasitology final on Monday and a genetics midterm on Tuesday.  No fun! 

So I tried to keep from distracting him by doing what I do best, shopping. :) I took Julie to Grainger Market in city center.  It's a huge farmer's market style warehouse near the Monument Metro stop where they sell just about anything you can imagine for a price lower than you can imagine.

Inside Grainger Market

  For instance, we went to the veggie/fruit store where I got coriander (cilantro), red grapes, two pink grapefruits, a red bellpepper, two red onions, and four bananas for under 5 pounds.  That's less than $8.00 people!  My only complaint when shopping there is that I am limited to buying only what I can carry home.  Josh would probably say that's a good thing.  I also got some tea (we are big hot tea drinkers now), and a beautiful pink gerber daisy plant for my kitchen.  I had an orchid last term, but unfortunately it died while we were away for Christmas break.  If I can't have a dog, I need a live plant to nurture and take care of.  Isn't it fabulous?!

Then Julie and I walked around city center and went to Subway on Grey Street.  She had been craving it and it was delicious.  We even convinced the workers to take our picture inside the store.  I'm pretty sure that they thought that was extremely strange.

But wait, what was this post supposed to be about?  Oh yes, Josh's 25th birthday....I got sidetracked.  When I got home from our shopping extravaganza, it was time to frost the birthday cake.  I had gotten up early and baked it, so it was more than ready for some frosting and decorations.  I think it came out really well!

It was extra sparkly!

Then I made one of Josh's favorite dinners.  Beef and broccoli from the Biggest Loser cookbook.  If you don't already have it, I highly recommend it.  I have two!

After dinner, our friends Kris, Tarrah, Kevin, Julie, Ryan, Allison, and Austin came over to help us celebrate by eating icecream and opening a couple of presents. We all had a good time eating the cake and socializing.  Thanks everyone for helping us celebrate Josh's 25th birthday.  It was so much fun and everyone made it very special.

A new no-spill coffee mug from all the friends!

Austin & Josh with the card I found with his name on it.

Scrapaholic

Apparently, the first step in the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem.   Well, I have a scrapbooking addiction.  I can't help it, I'm drawn to all the beautiful girly papers, the stickers, ribbons, funky scissors, brads, and sparkly things.  The sound of paper cutters and the smell of gluesticks has this affect on me that I just can't explain.  My scrapbooking addiction began in college after I started dating Josh.  I decided to do a one year anniversary scrapbook for us and from then on I couldn't stop. I've made a scrapbook every year that we have dated (4 years), a football scrapbook for Josh, an engagement scrapbook, a honeymoon scrapbook, and I'm currently working on our wedding one.  I even had a table at our wedding dedicated to displaying all my scrapbooks.

The amount of money I've spent on scrapbook supplies is probably equivalent to a downpayment on a house.  Luckily, it has been spread out over many years so I guess it's not so bad.  Just don't tell my husband.  Somehow, I was able to squeeze some of my supplies into my suitcases set for the UK and I went on a couple adventures to find scrapbooking stores in Newcastle for supplies. 

Today's afternoon has been spent doing nothing but wedding scrapbooking.  With 800+ wedding photos to work with, it's going to take me lots of time to finish it, so I suppose it's a really great thing that I have absolutely nothing to do for the next few months.  I pretty much take over the sitting room when I'm scrapping.

No scrapbooking addict is complete without their box of goodies.

Their stack of papers.

And their compartment of knick knacks.

Here's an example of one of the pages I completed today.

Although I've admitted I have this problem, I'm not ready to do anything to get rid of it.  So back to scrapping I go.  Hey, there have to be worse addictions out there. :)





New Term, New Friends, New Fun

Now that I was back in Newcastle, it was time to make some new friends as most of my SO friends last term had moved onto warmer Grenada.  Last term, Sarah G. created a blog for SGU SO's coming to Newcastle.  Because of her blog, I was able to get in touch with my new friend Julie.  We talked lots and sent multiple emails back and forth to each before she and her fiance' Kevin moved to the UK.  She and Kevin even ended up finding a place to live right down the street from us in Jesmond and I was super excited to meet her and have a friend near to our flat. 

Last week, Julie and I took a trip to the MetroCenter.  It is a massive mall in Gateshead (the city across the river).  We took the metro to Central Station and then a 2.80 pound roundtrip train ride to the MetroCenter. Here's what it looked like as we arrived.

Julie and I walked around the mall for a bit, it really is very overwhelming.  And then we decided that we needed to walk over to the IKEA across the street.  Julie was in need of some things for her flat, and I never have a problem looking at home furnishings. :)  You can see the IKEA to the left of this picture.  To the right is a Toys R Us, Staples, and Costco.  It really does feel a little like the USA.

We spent quite a while walking around IKEA.  We both said we were thankful our men weren't there because we would have had to have been in and out in mere minutes.  Men are never patient while shopping.  I didn't buy much, but I found this cute little pitcher and some fake flowers that I thought would look good in my kitchen.

So cute huh?!

We then went back to the mall to have lunch.  At this point we were starving and we went to my most favorite restaurant in Newcastle so far, Nando's.  It's a chicken place that has different kinds of spicy sauces and the best fries I think I've ever had.  We ate some great Mediterranean salads and fries and talked for probably two hours.

My salad.  Doesn't it look yummy?  Makes me want one right now.

Julie and I at Nando's.

After lunch, we decided it was probably time to head back to Newcastle, so we headed back to the train stop. 

Overall, it was a really fun day, and I am so thankful to have found a new friend.  Julie and I get along really well and I really enjoy her company.  I'm sure there will be many more outtings and adventures in England with my new friend.

Let IN or kicked OUT...that was the question

Because of my 3rd knee surgery (see this post), I couldn't head back to the UK at the same time as Josh.  I thought I would love being at home for an extra two and a half weeks (and of course it was nice), but I missed Josh a lot and I was jealous that he was back in Newcastle with all of our friends.  I couldn't wait to get back.  But there was one thing standing in my way...besides an obvious 10 hour airplane ride, IMMIGRATION CONTROL at London Heathrow. 

For most SGU students and spouses, this wouldn't be a problem, you show your passport, your year long VISA, and in you go.  However, I have NO VISA.  Because Josh and I got married in late June last summer, by the time I received my new passport with my name changed on it, there was only one week left until our flights left for the UK.  Not nearly enough time to get a VISA.  I thought about pushing my flight back so that I would have time to get one before I left, but honestly, I didn't trust that Josh would find a flat acceptable enough to me without me being there.  Yes, I know, the important things, VISAS vs. places to live.  Anyway, they let me into the country on six month visitor clearance, which was fine because we planned to go home for Christmas anyway. 

My original plan was to apply for a VISA when I got home at Christmas time, however, after looking at the cost of VISAS (about $400+), and seeing how much time I was actually going to be back in the UK (less than 4 months), I reasoned that since I left the country for almost 2 months, how could they not let me back in?!?  This theory seemed well thought out until the week before I was going to head back to the UK and I started to panic.  I kept thinking, "Oh my goodness, they are going to reject me in London and send me on the first plane ride back to the states.  What was I thinking?!"  At this point, it was too late to apply for a VISA, and I had already paid to push my return flight back once due to my knee surgery, so I decided to just give it a go.  I have never been more nervous on a flight.

As I got off the plane in London, my heart was racing and I was so anxious to just get to the immigration line where I would see the person who would determine my ultimate fate.  As I was pushed (I was in a wheelchair) toward the woman behind the glass, I smiled and said "Hello!"  and she said in a monotone voice "hi."  So intimidating!  I thought to myself, "This is not going well already."  She grilled me with the normal questions, "What are you doing here?", "When are you planning to leave?", "Who are you visiting here?", and then came the tough questions.  "Why didn't you get a VISA in August?", "Why didn't you get a VISA in December?", "You've been here a long time already."  I thought for sure she was going to take me to some back room where they locked me in like a possible terrorist and then sent me back stateside ASAP.  I wanted to scream at her "Just tell me already!!!  Take me out of my misery of the unknown!!"  I also really wanted to say to her, BELIEVE me, I don't want to live here permanently, I am a CALIFORNIA SUN kind of girl.  After about 10 minutes of questioning, she looked at little me in my wheelchair, and she stamped my passport.  Six more months baby!!! 

I wouldn't suggest taking a gamble like this to anyone else. But I was very thankful it worked out the way I had hoped.  I arrived in Newcastle airport as planned, and Josh was there waiting for me with open arms.  I am so glad to be back here in the UK with Josh.  Term 2 is already weeks underway, and I can't believe we have less than 4 months before we leave this country.  I intend on enjoying all my days here and taking full advantge of what the UK has to offer.

Ding ding ding...Round #3

I'm pretty sure that in a previous post, I mentioned my knee injury.  Well I guess it's only fitting that I tell the whole whopping story. 

Round #1: Once upon a time, in a faraway land of Bakersfield, CA, while I was a senior in high school, I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) while at a gymnastics practice.  I was a Level 9 competitive gymnast through most of my young life.  I had a custom brace made and continued to tumble on a torn ACL until a few months later, I tore my meniscus (cartilage) too.  At that point, the orthopedic doctor and my parents agreed that no more gymnastics could occur until reconstructive surgery was done.  So the summer after I graduated, I had an ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair.  The surgery of course was not the most fun thing to go through, but I figured after 6 months of physical therapy I would be much better off.  I even began coaching gymnastics as a part-time job in college about 12 months after surgery.  Things were good.

Round #2: Unfortunately, 18 months after the surgery I started feeling unstableness in my knee, and while coaching a gymnastics class, it went out on me.  A drive home and an MRI later, my surgeon confirmed the worst case scenario.  The ACL along with the meniscus were torn AGAIN.  I had a second opinion done and sure enough he said the same thing.  So, in December 2006, I had my second ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair on my left knee. Aside from knowing what to expect from surgery, the second surgery and recovery were no easier than the first. But I prayed that I wouldn't have any more problems and that this was the last knee surgery for a long time. 

In the summer of 2008, I started having severe left knee pain again.  I had been pretty active during the two years following surgery #2.  I had started running regularly, among other things.  I had a third MRI done and my second surgeon said that again my meniscus was torn.  He also said that there was a small cyst that had developed in my knee.  He suggested a possible arthroscopic surgery, but I was hesitant to go back under the knife unless it was really necessary.  We agreed that I would keep it in mind and continue to watch it for awhile.  If problems persisted, I would contact him.  Luckily, I had no real issues for quite some time.  I continued running regularly, running some 5K and 10K races, and was about 5 weeks into training for a half marathon when I reinjured that darn knee again.

Round #3:  In November 2010, while my parents and I were traveling in Scotland, we witnessed a woman being robbed of her purse.  In an effort to save the older woman's personal belongings, I ran after the guy and attacked him by jumping on him and trying to grab the purse.  He threw me off him and though I had the purse in hand, I landed funny wrenching my knee and causing extreme pain.   ACTUALLY, I was putting on my shoe in the hotel room one morning, my knee popped loudly, and I fell down in pain.  It is NOT an interesting story, and almost embarrassing to tell people.  The one I made up is way better.

My parents drove us back to Newcastle as fast as possible.  It was an agonizing car ride, one I don't want to do again any time in the near future.  Josh rented me crutches from the Red Cross here in Newcastle.  They were the strangest pair of crutches I've ever used (and I've used lots).  Apparently, this is all they have here in the UK.  Here's a picture of them.

I was on these things for almost 4 weeks!!

I decided not to go to the Doctor and to just wait until we went home for Christmas to see my surgeon.  It takes forever to see a specialist here in the UK due to socialized medicine, so I figured it wasn't even worth trying.  When I got off the crutches, I still had a major limp.  Since our main method of transportation in the UK is our feet, this made leaving the flat very difficult.  Needless to say, this princess was stuck in her English castle for weeks.  I think over the course of the six weeks before we went home to CA, I only left the flat about 5 times. 

Once home, I had my 4th MRI of my left knee and the doctor informed me that my small meniscus tear had turned into a rather large one.  On top of that, it had "flipped up" and jammed itself in my knee joint making it impossible to straighten out my leg and very difficult to walk.  Surgery #3 was a must. To say that I looked extremely pathetic for about 8 weeks until surgery would be an understatement.  I had surgery on Jan. 5, 2011 to trim off part of my medial meniscus.  Trimming your meniscus is not an ideal option at a young age as you can never get it back and it usually leads to arthritis, but it was my only option.  Needless to say, left knee surgeries are still in my future.  I think my ortho doc would rather not have to see me anymore.  My left knee looks like a canvas for doctors to do art on.  Here is a picture of it now.

I like to think it looks like a face. The two dark spots are eyes, the long one in the middle a nose, and the small thin one off to the side, a crooked mouth. Kinda like this :--/

Surprisingly, this surgery was by far the easiest recovery I have experienced so far.  I was walking within days and I had little to no pain.  I never even touched my pain killers.  Let's just hope this is the last one for awhile.  Because the score is currently, KNEE: 3  STEPHANIE: 0.

The End

Tis the Season

Josh's finals for Term 1 came and went.  He did very well on all of his finals and we were both thrilled with his grades for Term 1.  What a relief it was to make it through his first term of medical school!  We only allowed ourselves one day after finals to relax before flying back to California.  Our flight out of Newcastle left very early in the morning, but I didn't mind.  I was so ready to be back on US ground. 

We were picked up at LAX by Josh's Dad and step-Mom.  They drove us the two hours home to Bakersfield.  We decided to stay at my sister-in-law Kristin's home.  The first couple of days were spent visiting family and friends, catching up on sleep, and getting some much needed doggie time! 

Abby, Oliver, Doyle, & Pip

But after about three or four days, I decided that Christmas could not possibly happen if we didn't immediately get a Christmas tree.  Now, in the Fairman family, it is always tradition to cut down your Christmas tree from a Christmas tree farm.  However, I had a difficult time convincing Josh that cutting one down was necessary.  So to the generic parking lot with Christmas trees we went.  I don't know if the sales person was just really good, or if Scrooge had gotten ahold of my Christmas spirit for the night, but to Josh's and my surprise, I picked the first tree we looked at.  I guess I can't complain too much, we still got a great looking tree.

Next up on the list was taking it back to Kristin's house to be decorated.  A Christmas tree is never complete without lights, ornaments, and of course a star!

My handsome star hanger upper.

My Mom has always done an annual Christmas letter and card for all her friends and family.  Now, with a family of my own, I decided that this tradition was something I wanted to carry on for myself.  So I had Christmas cards made and sent them out to all our close friends.  Here's what the card looked like.

I had so much Christmas shopping to catch up on when I got home, that Christmas Eve was here before I knew it!  Yet another tradition (can you sense a theme here?) is getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve to hang your stockings in for Santa Claus.  I think Josh was a little embarressed of my childish ploys (thats nothing new), but he played along well and was such a good sport for the pictures.  Here's us in our new Christmas PJ's.

This was the first year where I actually got to stuff stockings.  It was so thrilling!  Santa was good to us.



Christmas day is always a busy time for us.  We are blessed to have our families so close to each other (all in Bakersfield), but sometimes that makes for a very hectic holiday.  In order to make it to all our families houses, we had to wake up fairly early on Christmas morning.  Some of us were not ready to get up. :)

But once he saw that there were stockings and presents, he cheered up rather quickly.

Kristin, Me, Josh in front of the tree.



Josh and I both got new wool coats for each other for Christmas.  A very fitting gift since we live in super cold England.

Next up on the list of things to do was Christmas morning at Dad Scurlock's house and then breakfast and presents at Mom and Dad Fairman's. 

Opening presents at Mom and Dad's

Josh getting a little Pip loving.

After breakfast, back to Kristin's we went to get ready for the day.  Dinner at Grandma Wetterholms, dinner at Dad and Donna's and dinner at Grandma Catie's were all on the agenda.  And we were able to make it to all of them.  It was a wonderful first Christmas.