The Delivery of our sweet JD

So it's been almost a year since my last post...oops! A lot has happened since then and my husband and I are so in love with the new addition to our family.

JD entered the world at 11:26am on April 11. He was 7lbs, 10oz and 18.5 inches long.

 I want to recap what I can from the hospital so that one day JD can read about how he came in to the world. It was a very exciting morning for the two of us. JD was a "Frank's breech" baby so we checked into the hospital for the scheduled c-section around 9:00 that morning. They brought me into the operating room around 10:50 where they prepped me for surgery. What I remember (it's been a few weeks), they gave me the numbing meds via spinal cord- key words were bend forward like a shrimp it will feel like a bee sting. Needless to say that was the most horrible bee sting I have ever felt but within minutes my toes were tingling and I was strapped down to the table. They did the catheter (my favorite part as I was up every 10 minutes to pee!), draping over my head and pulled the tools over at this time is when Clint entered the room. He was a hot mess- he was so excited that he was crying. I thought he was worried about me, I remember reassuring him that I was OK. The anesthesiologist let us know that they had started and she would tell Clint when he could stand up and watch. I felt no pain but a lot of pressure and the moment they told Clint he could stand up I remember being able to take a deep breath and feeling the loss of pressure from the inside. The smile on Clint's face as JD arrived is something I will never forget. Clint said that when he stood up they pulled him out butt first and as they turned him over he pee'ed everywhere! They brought him over to the warmer and checked all his vitals. I am, of course, still on the table and looking over at my sweet baby boy. He was crying, feet and hands were blue but what a cute little thing he was. After he was wrapped up they handed him to Clint to carry to the nursery for cleaning and weighing. Clint was so excited that he started to walk out of the delivery room, the nurse had to ask him if he was going to show me our baby!

 So now that Clint and JD were gone Dr. Kim had the ever so fun task of putting me back together. What I did not like was that I had nothing to distract me from what the doctor was doing. Next time I will have to bring music! There was lots of pushing and I started to feel sick. I was given an injection in the arm to make the uterus shrink and the anesthesiologist also gave me something to help with the nausea and to calm my nerves- I liked that medicine! Don't remember to much following that other than being in the recovery room and the nurses pushing on my belly, OUCH! I know that once I could wiggle my toes that they brought me back to my room where I got to finally hold JD in my arms for the first time.

 Now, there are pictures of me holding him but I really don't remember actually getting him. Funny what medicine does to you. I do know that day 1, I was really itchy, breast feeding was harder than I thought, and cuddling with JD was awesome! I was hungry but could not keep anything down and as soon as I was given pain meds I would start going in and out of sleep, even in mid sentence. That night I ate ice chips and JD slept on my belly just as he did when he was inside. It was fun to see him move and finally know what he was doing inside of me! Day 2- I was finally getting the hang of things and got to get up and walk around. The hospital had a dinner for Clint and I that evening, complete with table cloth and battery operated candle! I ate a lot that day! Friday AM, Dr. Kim came in and said I was free to head home!


 Our car ride home was so precious - I sat in the back with baby, he was sooo tiny in the seat and we stopped at Baby Beach to put JD's feet in the sand. Clint was worried about the sun...we had absolutely no idea about anything...funny how things have changed in 15 short weeks!

Pale shade of green?

Well it is confirmed- we have 1 baby growing strong!

Tuesday was the appointment in Ohau and we were not only able to see our little comma but also able to hear the heartbeat.  It was amazing, Clint was doing the video and I don't think I have ever seen him smile quite so much. We both stopped talking....that is amazing in itself!

After we left the doctors office (quite relieved) we, of course, went to Target! I purchased my first maternity clothes and Clint and I went through and looked at all the cute little baby stuff.  I believe he did play the video every 5 minutes while he walked around!

This week for me has been interesting- I am losing weight.  Why? No, I am not throwing up, just not eating. I feel horrible. Almost like I had way to much wine the night before. My bagel and cream cheese would not work this morning but funny that a glass of milk and now a smoothie seem to be helping. I am hoping that when I stop taking the progesterone and the estrace next week that will help as well. I am on hormone overload! Yes, even the crying has begun. I cry over baby socks, puppies, kittens- yea, I know really stupid stuff.  Why was I praying for symptoms last week?  Well it is all worth it and its all for a great cause....our sweet little nugget (aka comma)!

Week 5

So this week our little nugget(s) are the size of apple seeds. This is also the week that normal women find out they are pregnant. I know that I am fortunate for knowing early for a few reasons.  I have been taking prenatals now for 4 months along with extra calcium. I had my last glass of wine with Partice at the gallery a week before the transfer and have been able to eat healthy and nutrient rich meals for the last few weeks. The unfortunate part is the waiting game. Since we have learned earlier we have had more waiting - the 10 days after the transfer, and as of today we have another 10 day wait to see just how well our transfer went. We are, of course, hoping for twins.
This week I have noticed some subtile changes.  Sleep seems to happen more frequently. Now, I do wonder if it is baby or the fact that I have caught a cold. Yes, a cold! Tuesday was the sore throat followed by Wednesday - Friday sore throat, stuffy and coughing to today just sounding hoarse and my ears feel clogged.  BOO!  We have also layed off the shots this week and are using the "alternate method" to let my poor rump heal. Tonight, however,  I have brought the ice pack to the gallery with me and will resume shots when I return home at 10.  You will never hear this from me again but I am glad to resume the shots...
Looking forward to the next set of changes!

Positive Positive

The long 10 day wait is over!  We are positive, positive that we will be having a baby!

Saturday morning we were up early so that Clint could do 8am Crossfit and I could be at the lab early for the first of the 2 blood tests.  With all that done we headed to baby beach, we hoped that it would bring us some luck- around 1 we needed to head home so that I could get ready for work and decided to stop by Cilantro's to get my favorite - Nachos!  As life would have it I get the news as I am being handed my food. I run outside and meet Clint with a huge grin, give a giant thumbs up and we both become teary eyed in the parking lot!  Like high schoolers we jump on our phones to start spreading the news that the first test came up positive.  It was so exciting and wonderful to know that everyones prayers had been answered and that we are FINALLY becoming parents!
Today's news while exciting and awesome was nothing near the excitement of Saturday. I let Clint answer the phone today to get the news- figured it was his turn, I like to share! :) I will be sleeping easy tonight, and am excited to share the news with Rotary tomorrow.

Remember the date....8/23, that's when we find out how well it all worked!

Embryo Transfer

Clint and I ate our way through Oahu. Upon arriving Wednesday we went to Chili's for lunch, drove around the north shore and for dinner stuffed our faces at Red Lobster.  We did enjoy our ride around the island, we saw a cove with 30+ turtles and was amazed at the beauty of the north shore and inner Oahu. I still find it amazing how each island is so different. Before our gorging at Red Lobster we managed to get pedicures and do some mall walking and people watching at Ala Moana.
Clint was up early on Thursday morning for work. He walked a few blocks to the nearest Starbucks. I got up around 7. I was a bit tired as we about froze from the AC and a inconvenient fire alarm rang all night. Of course Clint did not hear a thing! Christine our PA calls around 7:15 to go over the day with me since it is her day off and will not be there for the transfer.  At this point I am starting to get excited! Clint comes back and we head out for our next meal- Denny's, where we both order 2 eggs.  He finds this so amusing! We head back to the hotel, pack up and over to the Doctors office we go.  I am drinking my water so that my bladder is full for the procedure.  Clint and I also showered last night as we can have on NO perfumes (like from deodorants, soaps and lotions).  We are finally brought into a waiting room where we wait for Dr. Frattarelli.  When he enters he tells us that out of the 7 embryos that 4 have made it to the blastocyst stage and he will be giving us 2 of those and freezing the other 2. If for some reason the remaining 3 turn into blastocyst  he will then freeze those as well.  Now that my bladder is full, we are taken into a curtain room where both Clint and I put on booties and hair nets, I change from the waist down and wrap up in a sheet.  We walk across a small hall way and into the transfer room where I get to lay on a bed with a giant harness.  There is a TV screen to my left that has my name on it. I verify that its me and then its magnified and we get to see our 2 embryos. Pretty cool to say the least. Clint is video taping everything so I see mostly his back and the back of his head. The embryos are sucked up into a turkey baster, brought into our room where a very thin tube is placed through my cervix and the eggs are placed into the top of my uterus.  At this point (still looking at the back side of my husband) the nurse also has a sonogram on my belly and we all of a sudden see 2 bright spots at the top of the uterus. There they are in the easy bake oven! From here I am transferred to another bed, wheeled out and lay there (with a VERY full bladder) for 20 minutes. During this time Clint is texting and emailing everyone we know pictures of the embryos.  My favorite response was from Aunt Manda back to Clint- "awe, they look just like you"!
So here are the rules: for the next week- no swimming. I am to drink plenty of fluids that include juice, sports drinks and of course water. No alcohol, smoking or drugs- really?! Continue with the progesterone injections (will be using the suppositories to let the bruises heal for the next 3 days) and my favorite- continue my normal life, minus really strenuous activity. Oh darn, just when I was thinking of training for a marathon!
When we left the dr's office the first thing we both did was to put on deodorant when we got to the car! We made a trip to Target to browse around, found Puka Dog in Waikiki  for lunch and then sat on the beach until it was time to go home.  We were picked up by the "Adult Hendersons" brought home showered and then to Outback for a quick dinner.
Last night I slept like a champ- apparently it poured all night?  I am feeling fine- like nothing is new other than my butt still hurts.  We now have 22g needles, apparently the 18g are for drawing out the fluid not injecting it. I cannot express the amount of pain the 18g needles are- these 22g are a piece of cake! I am so thankful for that.
So now the waiting begins... August 8th!

53 days to go...

Well this last week has been full of pre embryo activity!

Let's start with Thursday, Clint left for Ohau!  Friday was to be egg retrieval day and with that being said Clint would have a 2 hour window to do his part- deliver the sperm.  Well as all things go they moved the retrieval date back a day to Saturday.  So poor Clint finds himself in Ohau for a few extra hours but I think both of us were glad that he was there and ready if he was needed. Thursday evening he met with Julie from Pacific Egg Donor Inc, I had no idea but Clint was getting to meet up with our donor.  He called with so much excitement - he went on and on with how awesome of a job we did picking her (let's just remember, she was my first choice). He also said how much the 2 of us had in common and a few minutes after that she friended us both on FB.  I did not think that I would want her in our lives but have completely changed my mind for a few reasons. One being- if there are ever any medical problems. I also like the idea of our possible babies knowing who she is and what a giving person she is. Lastly, I don't think any child is hurt by having a few extra people to love them! She is such an extraordinary young lady, I myself cannot wait to meet her and give her a huge hug!

So Saturday arrives, 7:45am I send a message to our donor letting her know that we are thinking about her and that there are so many people praying for her. Looks like our prayers have been answered at this point because at 9:45am I get a text : Mission Accomplished! Whoo hoo is all I can say! We had a bit of wait time on Saturday but they let us know they were able to harvest 53 eggs! From this point they fertilized 10 and placed 27 into the freezer!  We would have to wait till Monday to see just how many embryos we would have. So now the real fun begins....progesterone shots!

I can very easily say I have a WHOLE new respect for IVF/donor egg moms. We are the crazy bunch that want children so bad we will endure 8+ week of shots with the biggest needles (not long but thick) and a fluid the consistency of Vitamin E oil.  While I was excited for Clint to get back I was also scared shitless. Really you want my husband to give me shots....my husband who will get a pair of scissors and cut skin growths off his leg, the same man who has also NEVER given anyone a shot! AND lets not forget draw him a picture of where to give me these shots- really!!?  So the night went as this: Clint picked me up from work, I grab the ice pack I brought with me to work and ride home with it attached to my right butt cheek.  So we get home and it is finally shot time. Clint readies the GIANT dart,(I refuse to look at the needles, so he has put everything into a purse of mine and uses it as his DR bag) makes some marker marks on my rump we get into shot stance.  Shot stance looks like this: we are left hip to left hip and I grab the back pocket flaps of his shorts, he has one arm around my back and holding on to my waist- you know it might just be easier to take a picture.  Needless to say I hear, "here I go"- "O Crap!!, I am going to have to redo it- it all ran out" to my reply of "WHAT??!!!"  Yes, that is right, the fluid ran down my leg and NOT into my cheek!  So here we go with injection #2 for the evening- first icing the left cheek and poke and all done!  Whew! I get my massage on the injection site to ensure that I don't get lumpy butt syndrome. So not that bad, well at least that was until about 3:45am when it became uncomfortable to lay on the memory foam mattress.
Sunday was a fun day, I sat very carefully on every and anything that my butt came into contact with. I have bruises- 2 of them, one on each cheek.  Cheryl and Jim came over to the house after church and before I left for work.  Upon entering the house she says- "Can I see your butt?", well at least I am getting some sympathy!  So lets fast forward a few hours, ice on rump on the way home, ready for shot #2 (really its the 3rd one but #1 did not count).  Ready and jab...not so bad!  Good job honey! Massage was good too!
Here it is now Monday. I get up and am not sore where I was injected last night.  Clint got word from the PA that we have 7 embryos growing strong!! We attended Crossfit- which greatly helped the soreness. Our dear friend Vicki Jackson came by around 2 to show Clint how to better give me the shots and also recommended that we go by the pharmacy and get  22g needle vs the 18g darts we are currently using.  I am in agreement with that, unfortunately that will happen for tomorrow! BOO!! Hope tonights injection goes as well....

25 days and counting

Not too much excitement on the quest for baby.  I started to take Estrace last Sunday 2mg a day and then sonogram every week to check the uterine lining. It does look as if the calendar is set - July 22nd for egg retrieval and at this time I will begin progesterone injections (boo) and then July 27th for implantation.   On Wednesday I go in for more blood test, Thursday I move up to 4mg of Estrace per day, Friday I go to Ohau for another sonogram and more blood work.  The best thing I can say about the Estrace is that I have not had any hot flashes! That is a more than welcome relief! Just can't wait until the 27th and then the 10 days following to know if it worked!

Donor!

Things on the baby front are progressing nicely.  At the beginning of March we narrowed down and chose our donor.  This was quite a tedious process. We had it down to 3 and then went a bit deeper into their bio's and medical history until we found our match.  Clint would continuously laugh- "this is like match.com for a baby"!  We chose our beautiful young woman for a few reasons. Let's start off with she has 3 siblings, green eyes, an athletic build, blond hair and is 5'2". Now as many know, eye color is sort of a big deal for both Clint and I as we have blue eyes.  So why green?  Well, her parents have blue eyes and her siblings had either blue or green eyes so that helps our chances.   Athletic build- lets just say if we picked a person who hated sports or did not play sports, enjoy exercise or dance this child may not like either of us- its that genetic potential thing.  She is a former volleyball player and now runs. Her brother even plays volleyball at the collegiate level.  She also, (love it) has some meat on her  bones and my favorite picture was her with a running bib on and a bloody knee!  While she does not necessarily look like me, she is defiantly has my build.  Other things we liked about her was that she is very smart, has held office positions in school (outgoing) and most of all decided to be a donor because her host family (when she was abroad) used a donor for there child.  We will be the 3rd family that she has helped to have children.  All of the nurses and consultants have sung her praises so I feel as if we have made a good decision.  Now comes the waiting part- we start our cycle with her sometime is July and will be ready for harvest Aug/Sept.  So fingers crossed- this time next year we will be parents!

End of the Thyroid ordeal!

Last week I spent about 42 hours in the hospital in Honolulu for the iodine radiation.  Interesting experience- first I had to keep to an iodine free diet for 2 weeks prior to the hospital stay. This diet sucked-that is the only word for it.  I had to cook everything from scratch from mayo to bread.  I even made tortillas from scratch!  The 2 days prior to my hospital stay I was collecting gear that I could bring into the hospital that I did not mind turning radioactive. I packed old t-shirts, shorts some cross sitch and of course my i-phone. I had to go into the clinic to have TSH shots on Sunday and Monday at 2:30pm.  Fun times, the first injection did not hurt but started to later and then left a huge bruise while the second injection neither hurt nor left a mark! So after 2 weeks on this diet I took the long 20 minute flight to Honolulu and got the Kaiser hospital.  Needless to say I was told that this hospital was so much better than the one here in Maui and not to my surprise it was terrible! We arrived at 2:00 and I was to take the radiation at 2:30.  Well here it was 4:20 and they were just coming in to give me the very unecassary pregnancy test. Mind you I had not eaten since 9:00am! Then after a severe headache and a crying bout at the nurses station I was finally given the pill at 5:15pm...now I had to wait an hour to eat.  6:15, dinner did arrive, it was gross but at that point I would have eaten road kill. So no pain just a few chills and bouts of sweating while sleeping elevated. Night 1 was the pits!  The next morning 5am the nurse came in and quickly dropped off some juice and crackers. I asked for a banana  because of a few calf cramps and was assured it would be brought to me at breakfast- cool!  That was until they forgot to bring me breakfast- at 9:30 I started an inquiry and everyone said "you did'nt get your breakfast?" Humm, no!  If there was one thing you would have thought they would have learned - feed this girl or she will eat you alive = big fail!  So after my banana and oatmeal came I did a quick workout to help sweat this stuff out. 30 seconds on 30 off jumprope for 10 minutes then a round of tabata squats- 20 seconds on 10 off, 8 rounds. Good sweat, shower and then to drink more water (had 8 pictures total by the time I left), watch some TV and do some cross stitch! Thursday morning was so much better, I was out by 9:30! We made a quick run to Target (since we were in Honolulu) and we were home later that afternoon.
The following week was interesting as my poor hubby had to sleep on the sofa since I was still Radioactive! Needless to say I am very thankful that the cancer did not spread and that the treatment I had to undergo was painless (with exception of the iodine diet). So the last ordeal is to get this my thyroid medication levels back to normal.  This I know takes time and time is something I thank God for!

New Adventure

Today was the doctors appointment we have been waiting for- the infertility specialist!  He has a great success rate and check out every possible thing he can on both me and the donor.  So far the only good news I have is that I have a good uterus!  Our next step will be to find the egg donor - so fingers crossed that this process will not take to long and that we find the best possible donor out there!

Post-Op Thyroid removal Day 6

OK- now it seems that I have gotten my head back on straight.  I wanted to write this blog in hopes that someone who is going to have this operation reads it and unlike all of the other blogs out there - will NOT scare the life out of you!
First I am going to go through the last 8 days-
Tues- Oct 26: 9:30am appointment with Dr. Song over the next days procedure. Much relief after speaking with him.  11:00am appointment at the hospital with the nurse- all procedures for check in are done at this time. I am told to call into the hospital after 2pm and they will tell me what time to arrive the next day.
Wed- Oct 27:  I am told to be at the hospital at 10:30am, with the usual, no food past midnight, take a sip of  water and the last (hooray!) high blood pressure pill.  We arrive at the hospital and I go into a very nice area, IV is placed in my arm and all is going well. Surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm and as usual it was pushed back to 1:30pm. No big deal I am now full of saline and am going to the bathroom (nervous pee) every 30 minutes- this continued later too! :) I was then brought to the recovery area- given some nice meds and the last thing I remember is the doors in the operating room opening. Next thing I know I am waking up and the nurse looking at me asked if I taught spin classes and handed me an ice pack that I continued to use off and on the next 3 days.  So the funny part is I woke up talking- if you know me you know this is usual and a very good sign!  I remember being sore and I had the nurse roll a blanket and place it behind my neck then I used the triangle bar above me to pull up a bit. I still find it funny how that you use neck muscles to sit up. When I arrived in my room I ate a regular meal- some delicious chicken, rice, chewy green beans, ice cream, grapes, hot tea and water- I was apparently starving.
This is where I really start noticing things- the drain tubes hurt, and I had to pee again. Through the night I would sleep, take meds every 4 hours, watch TV, fall back asleep and usually make a trip back into the  bathroom every 30 minutes to 1 hour with 8 to 10 oz of fluid. I sleep upright, I love the air compressors on my legs and even my bed was comfortable.  I was in NO real pain- my only complaint was the drain tubes.
Thurs- Oct 28: By morning I was a bit sore and I noticed that I would wake myself up with funny vocal noises.  My throat was a bit more irritated, I did continue to sip water but now it felt like I was swallowing it down the wrong pipe so I would begin choking and coughing- it was uncomfortable. I was also draining- it reminded me of having allergies that have turned into an uncomfortable cough. This I know was normal, since they apparently placed a small breathing tube and another instrument to watch the vocal cords in my throat during the operation.  It was irritated- sleeping up right was the best thing.  Again, with the meds I was on I had no real pain.  I do not take Vicodin but instead use Ocycodone.  The nurses were in to take a second calcium reading,  breakfast came and then it was a waiting game.  Dr. Song returned to the room around 9:30 and said that my Calcium reading were better 8.7 and now an 8.9 and that he was going to remove the drain tubes and I could leave to go home at 10:30.
The drain tube removal- yuck! I had 2 tubes and tube 2 hurt and was the only one that collected any fluid.  He sniped the suchers holding them in- small amount of pain and pulled them out- not to bad but tube 1 did make a whistling noise that I was not expecting- yuck! They added bacitracin to the site and covered told me to do the same over the next few days.

In the picture above you can see the steri strips are still on, the site of tube 2 only had to covered for 2 days while tube 1 was taking a bit more time to dry up.  It looks like someone grabbed a drinking straw and poked me with it.

The rest of Thursday is still a bit of a blur- I know I slept a lot, I remember watching Gray's Anatomy but have no idea what happened.  I continued to take my pain meds now every 6 hours.  Again- no real pain, just very uncomfortable and felt like I had on a tight turtleneck.

Fri- Oct 29: 5:00am wake up to take thyroid meds. Set out my next pain pill to take at 6 along with the antibiotics and calcium pills. 5:30am rolls around and I get out of bed and threw up.  Nothing but bile and drainage- Clint said that would have made any Coast Guard proud.  I also threw up a lot of air- it by far was the strangest being sick experience.  However I followed that by not taking a pain pill but an Aleve instead and ate half a mini loaf of banana bread.  For the most part of Friday I slept, and coughed in the evening we went to our usual Penne Pasta for dinner- again did fine and went to bed.

Each day since has gotten better- Saturday after a small shopping excursion I did take a 3 hour nap and Sunday I made it the entire day without one, even went to church- still a bit hoarse so did not sing and ...hello it was Halloween and I wanted to see the Parade on Front St.

Monday I did go into work- around 10:30am I was feeling it so went home and napped again- Clint brought me some lunch around 1 to eat- worked on some things for the trade show on Thursday and we did go out to eat for my mother- in - laws birthday followed by a walk down Front St.

Tues- Nov 2:  A no nap day and went out for Clint's b-day. The highlight of the day was the removal of the steri strips!! Dr. Song placed a huge glob of the bacitracin on my neck it was like an oil slik!

The above picture was taken a few hours after the steri strips were taken off.

Thurs Nov 4:
Day 8 and looking better everyday- the super glue is a bit itchy! :)

There are a few things that I truly think helped me with my recovery...
1. Fitness. Being in shape and taking care of myself helped more than you can imagine.  I also think that this helped with the pain aspect as my first week of Crossfit was worse! Needless to say I have to wait 1 more week to start back at 60% in the workouts. By the end of November- I should be almost back at 100%!
2. Most important... positive attitude!

Update- one of my 6 nodules was in fact follicular carcinoma. I will be meeting with the endocronoligist in the next few weeks.  Good news is that 99% of everything has already been done...WhooHOO!
Picture update:
Nov 12, 2010- using Mederma 3x per day.  Still a bit of tightness, which I call healing! Started back at Crossfit on Wed.

 11/26/10

Picture update: April 24, 2011- everything is great- after the 8 week 3x a day use of  Mederma, I now use it once a day and at night I put Vit E oil on it. Did you know that Vit E is also good for those fine lines? :)

People only notice if I point it out! 

Post-Op

So this week was step 1 in the hopes to have a baby on the way by this time next year.  Yep, the thyroid is gone.  So I am now in the process of recovery.  So far it has not been bad just irritating.  Itching at the incision site, and lots of soreness at the site the drain tubes were. It also feels like I have on a really tight turtle neck that can't be removed.  I just keep telling myself- it is better than yesterday and will be even better in 2 weeks!
So my daily journey goes as far- thyroid meds- 30 minute wait, breakfast, 2 calcium pills, antibiotic.  Still feel a bit crazy from the drugs that have been in my system and have issues concentrating- lists are my friend and no I am not driving! Take a bath, change clothes, new bandages, wait for my hair washer to come over as I can't get the sterry strips wet yet.  Clear my throat for the 1000 time today. Fix my hair and off to Kahului we go to get pillows and a chair.
Clint has been a total prince- bringing me water when I threw up, helping me wash all the tape off my back (it was everywhere) checking out the holes in my neck and just being as good to me as he always is.
So the rest of the day the meds will continue and I think we are going to try to get to some of the halloween parades in the area- just getting out is good and then I can get another nap in!

Miss Kitty

Miss Kitty

This is the sweet little feral cat that comes to visit.  Most mornings when I leave for work she is sitting under the palm tree by the door. She will patiently wait in this spot until food is brought out to her. In the morning she is usually alert and will not approach the bowl until you leave or step back a few feet. It is my suspicion that she has kittens somewhere because she is not gaining any weight and returns in the afternoon.

The Miss Kitty of the afternoon is a completely different animal.  She will walk by the door to see if we are home then go to her spot again and wait for more food. However, when we go to get the bowl she hisses at us!  As soon as the bowl is on the ground she is eating, we can sit next to the bowl and even touch it although we still get hissed at.  We laugh at how cranky she becomes and laugh at the "hissy fits" she has every afternoon!

It will be fun to see what comes of her in the next few months- our goal is to tame her enough so we can at least pet her.  I will say she is an easy pet- no messes and the only noise she makes is when she hisses at us in the afternoon! :)

Fantasy Football

Football life in Maui is a bit from the "norm" of what I have been accustomed to my entire life. Today we wake up at 7:00am and the games are already on.  So we watch football, computers on to watch our individual players play in there games.  "Throw to Grant, Throw to Grant" Clint yells- lol they threw to Driver instead.  Off to 9:30am church service we go. Clint has in phone in his pocket- 40 minutes into the service Brian is texting- did you see that play???  Clint's sad response- No, I am in Church! Comments of a Saturday PM  Service begin, checking Fantasy scores the entire way home.  Now it is 1:45, Cowboys play in 15  (the late game) and my sweet man is sound to sleep on the couch. Me happy- like playing fantasy and am thankful that Clint has taken his toes out of my hair!

Pre Marital Counseling

Our first session is over and my portion of the "homework" is done. It was a really good read "Fall in Love, Stay in Love". The first 2 chapters plus the questions in the back.  I know how things can fall apart but I can also see how to keep it together.  I do think it will be important to revaluate the 10 questions every year- I can easily see how things like "domestic support" and "family time" would in fact change. We have no children now, it will be interesting to see Clint and I in this dynamic.  I have no doubt that it will be hard but I know we will pass with flying colors!
We are finishing up Texas area football for the day here in Maui - just had a strange thought, if all goes as planned (God's will and fingers crossed) I will be pregnant this time next year...during football season! It is a great thought and with a great partner.

My sweet Clint!

I have the most incredible man.  I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have someone in your life that shares your passions and joys and for life and the things in it.  We have both had an interesting path to each other, I would not change a thing and thank God every day for this blessing.

The invitations have been sent - days draw closer to October 17th.

I cannot wait!

Hump Day at Aina Nalu

Let me just first say I kicked FRANS ass yesterday! It was my first time doing that workout- gonna hopefully raise my weight and lower my time...the next time we tackle her!

Now for the Aina Nalu.  I have a love, hate with her.  I love our "for the time being" place- but the loudness of it is getting to me.  I am so happy when some people leave and go home, for instance the screaming kid from last week. I did not think any kid could cry so much...in Hawaii.  My other beef are the baby coconuts that are falling from the trees and denting up the cars.  Hello! They are larger than giant acorns- just waiting to be knocked out by one on my way in the door! That would really hurt and quite honestly be funny at the same time.  I have already told the front office who does not seem concerned. Last and the least we have a new parking monitor at night. This person is an idiot!  They have left a note on my car the last 3 days. Monday- please go to the office you have an invalid parking permit. What? I paid $100 bucks- the office gave it to me. Tuesday- another note, you have a counterfeit parking pass.  Seriously? Office adds some numbers to the pass.  Wednesday- another note...this time Clint is going to the office to take care of it.  I think this parking person needs to be hit with a baby coconut!  We have one more month, 30 days and we will be in our new home! Breathe slowly until then.... and I will keep feeding kitty cat.

Texas

I have now spent 76 consecutive days in the state of Hawaii. This morning while looking through Face Book I came across a video - Gary P Nunn singing "What I like about Texas"- the video just shows pictures of Texas and lots of Lone Star Beer.  To tell you the truth, it left me a bit home sick.

Thursday night, college football season starts.  Besides seeing the Bluebonnets in April, I think football season in Texas is my favorite time of year.  Friends gathered around TV's in local dives, backyards and living rooms. The smell of BBQ in the air- the tiny bit of crisp cool air that surrounds and brings a promise that winter and the dreaded "cedar season" is on the way.  Being able to wear my A&M jersey with a mini skirt and boots- getting a nice sunburn at the game and then heading over to Northgate for a cold beer- yummm.  OK since we will be back in October I am thinking if we have sometime we might need to go to a game.

I think Texans as a whole are football fanatics.  Friday nights is all about our high school teams, Saturday our favorite college teams and all day Sunday is about our pro teams.  I think I am going to be a football widow at church again- especially if the Cowboys are playing!

Here is to a great season in a new place- we will find a way to see the Big12 play! Gig'em Aggies and good luck to Garret Gilbert at Texas!

Monday blues...

Got a really bad case of the "Monday Blues"- I'd rather be playing today instead of working. So I am sorry if my usual optimistic out look on life is a bit off today- hoping that a workout and Tuesday make it go away! It is 10:15 and so far I have checked e-mail, sent e-mail proposal and a request for new business cards, this time with the correct phone number on it.  I have also combed the Pacific Biz journal looking for the Almighty Leads- not much to be found.  So as soon as my conference call at 11:30 is over and the iphone has completed its new software upload I will be on the road in Maui looking for the next customer of Alert Alarm!  OK yes with a positive face and outlook.

i-phone....Love it and at the same time I hate it.  Why does it take 65 minutes to load the software?? I guess Apple feels that we have nothing better to do in our day than to wait on an i-phone update. Urg!

Think I might make a run over to the book store and get the latest copy of National Geographic as there is a really cool story of DNA study with King Tut and his family.  They were talking about it on Fox News this morning.  I really need to listen to positive stuff in the morning, my blood was boiling before I left for work. Maybe instead of Monday Blues it is a case of woke up on the wrong side of the bed....  :)

Clint and I did have a pretty busy weekend.  Saturday we slept in till 7:45- new record! Did our shopping at Walmart, Kmart (return items), and Costco. Picked up Michelle and went to Tasty Crust for breakfast and then to the swap meet.  Trip back to Lahaina where I made Michelle do her laundry and then made her flash cards for school.  I hope to be able to use them later ;)!   Cowboys game on, LT game on the computer and the AC out....it was a bit hot! We put Michelle back on the bus and headed over to Amigos for some Mexican.  There was this guy playing in there...funny A UOO GAAAA!  Interesting take on a few songs.  Sunday was nice as well- Michelle walked over from the bus stop- we went to church, great message on worrying, and then we ate breakfast for Ohana Sunday, went to the beach and back home for Clint to do his draft. Good thing because Michelle cannot take too much sun! That girl turns red! We topped last night off with the owners pot luck and the most delicious coconut pie I have ever had!

I am praying that the rest of the day turns out for the better and that I get out of this funk!

Just Another Day

Just made a quick stop at Long's Drug store, was out of lip liner. While I was there and still not able to move my arms very well I also purchased some "Sore Muscle Rub".  My poor boss is going to have to do his ride along with a girl who smells like an old lady- oh well, I feel better! Another, really strange, thing is my right arm is swollen, never have had this happen before. Lets Google it... OK people who have also had swollen arms from working out the consensus is to RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate for those of you who might have thought I was talking about food).  Here is the dilemma- I have 2 more days of workouts then rest.  Not kidding, even though yesterdays WOD was tough I am going back!

Yesterdays workout....seriously.....
500 squats  (total)
50 sit ups    each
500 push ups  (total)
Run to the Noodle (as a group)
100 lunges   each
50 sit ups each
Run to the Noodle

Ok so I finished 4th out of 7 and did not feel bad...just tired.

So I was not able to complete everything on yesterday post (had to pick up the boss) so I am going to continue with what transpired through the end of Thursday.

After riding with my boss all day- pleasant experience, really, he is a nice guy- I of course went home.  Did a second stop at Long's Drugs. This time for ice packs.  I purchased a wrapping gel cool pack and also one that is placed into the freezer.  Right arm was wrapped before class to see if it would help.  I swear that my elbows were as big as my knees- freaky!  What in the world! Took off the bandage and headed over to the sweat box where I stretched and stretched. WOD 3 minutes as many KB push press as possible then 3 minutes of as many OH squats as possible.  Not to bad hummm my arm seems larger!

After quick shower made a quick trip to our hang out for a beer and some hula sticks (chicken in BBQ sauce, served with toothpicks) and headed back home.  Clint helped me wrap the gel around my right arm and then helped me tie the ice pack on the other- 30 minutes later  ice off and I am in bed.  I am very happy to report that this morning swelling is MUCH less and movement is MUCH greater so I am teaching a spin class at noon.

I want to figure out what part of Monday's workout made me so sore, upright row, straight press....thinking it was the assisted pull ups.  No worries though I will do it again. I love this stuff!