So I'm kinda flipping out.
Last Thursday I went in for a bio-physical ultrasound - which was used to determine the size of the baby. Looks like baby is big - ok - we knew that...I'm huge! LOL At that point he was measuring 7 pounds at 35 weeks - with 5 weeks to go and gaining an average of .50 - .75 pounds per week....he'd be getting MUCH bigger by my due date. And I guess that the baby's tummy is measuring too big - in the 95% percentile - which is not so good. Now - this can be caused by my blood sugar levels which I have been trying to control but my body is just working against itself and they are what they are - kinda out of control! Which the Doctors assure me, is not my fault in any way. I'm eating really well, smaller meals more often, taking insulin and barely gaining anything.
So I went in today for my 36 week appointment with the OBGYN. The nurse measures my fundal height – it is 40!!! It should be about the amount of weeks pregnant you are - so I should be about 36. Hmmmmm.....I am now measuring 4 weeks larger than I should be.
Baby has not dropped at all…he is still happily tucked up as high as he can be in my ribs - not at all engaged or ready to come out. I have to report that my sugars are still a bit out of whack and they checked my blood pressure - which is a little high at 120/90 from what I’ve been keeping it at (I’m still on meds to keep it low and under control).
The Dr. comes in and reviews my bio-physical u/s from last week and is a little concerned at the baby’s belly size. So then he does an internal check to see how my cervix is – Apparently it is “ready” he says and 1 – 2 cm dilated already. Ok he says – we’ll induce Monday at 37 weeks.
OMG – WHAT???
No way! I’m thinking – no way can I have this baby on Monday! I have still another week of work – I am not ready to pass anything off…my files need attention..I have LISTS of things I wanted to leave for my replacement and I just have too much to do, I have my work year-end audit/going-away lunch next Wednesday, the crib is on order and is at least another 3 weeks or more away, Anthony & I have only done 2 out of 6 prenatal classes, I have a board meeting to attend, both sets of my BIL/SIL’s are away – one on a week ski trip the other in Hawaii for two weeks, my own sister won’t be here from Thailand till April 2nd, my baby shower is supposed to be on the 29th, OMG – I don’t even have a freakin’ diaper bag and anything ready that needs to be. I have so much to get yet – nursing top/pj’s, slippers and housecoat for the hospital, all baby stuff in general…ACK! Not to mention that Noah has a big competition in Lethbridge the following weekend and another in Edmonton the weekend after that…so…NO, I can’t have a baby on MONDAY!!!
Well, it looks like I don't really get a say. Baby is coming next week whether I like it or not - whether I am ready or not.
OMG….I am a basket case!
I know so many other pregnant moms that would be thrilled to be delivering 3 - 4 weeks early - but I'm just not. I don't feel ready - I'm NOT ready! I'm enjoying being pregnant and was looking forward to finishing work next week and taking a couple of weeks to relax and prepare for our new stage of life with our new baby.
It's all out of my control now!
And I really wanted an April baby. Sniff sniff - I want my Easter baby!!!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Baby's 3-D Ultrasound...
Just for Melissa - here's the only video we got. Baby didn't co-operate very much so the video isn't that great.....but here they are - 3 short clips....
Life in the pregnant lane....
So this week I am 34 weeks pregnant. Technically, if I go full term, that is a mere 6 weeks away. But I have a feeling this baby boy will be early. I'm due April 13th, but am hoping for an April 7th delivery. So 4.5 weeks away. Yikes. That is really soon. One of the moms that I met online was due April 6th and had her baby this week - 4.5 weeks early...a healthy baby though and already at home. Kinda freaky! There is just so much to do...and it feels like so little time.
We really have been procrastinating a bit - we have bought a co-sleeper bassinet, some clothes, a case of diapers, a couple blankets...and uh - that's it!!! We borrowed a car seat but have yet to buy the baby essentials, a crib, dresser, stroller and all of the other fun things a baby needs.
My friend was planning on having a shower for us before baby came so I kind of put off buying things that people would most likely want to give baby...however, time is running out and I'm not sure the shower will happen any time soon.
The pregnancy itself is going ok...a few little things...low iron and I have glucose intolerance - which just started out as me having to check my sugar levels 4x a day and eat regularly and eat more and less of certain foods...but the sugar numbers remained crazy and I ended up on insulin as this kid is growing, growing, growing HUGE! I'm used to it now. Timing every morsel of food, insulin 4x a day, sugar checks 4x a day - my life is regulated by eating. It's ok - I have never been a good eater so really, it's good for me. My weight gain has been good - except for this past week I packed on some weight - but that could just be water retention - yeah - let's go with that! ha ha ha Otherwise - I'm starting to have trouble sleeping - or staying asleep, peeing a lot, starting to waddle when I walk, and the heartburn is just killer - 24/7! I should buy stocks in Tums!
And still...our lives are busy....no-one could dispute it. I just finished up at the Herald but still have 3 weeks to go at TC. I hope I can make it - every day is a chore. Anthony is really busy with his company - he has a new partner which seems to be working out really well. Jordan is working and gearing up for finals. He leaves in about 8 weeks for Europe for the summer. Noah is busy, busy, busy...she left this morning for a gymnastics competition in Montreal....it'll be a tough one as it is HUGE competition - the biggest she has ever attended and kids from all over the world compete here. We'll hope for top 35 maybe? But from past history it seems like the western girls don't fair as well as the eastern trained girls. Must be our laid-back western attitude. LOL But really - we have put no pressure on her and we have no expectations - just that she goes and does her best and enjoys the weekend. At the same time, this meet is also the world cup qualifier - so for her to be there to watch that level of gymnastics is simply once-in-a-lifetime! I so wish I was there too...but Dr. said no way to flying at this point. party pooper. I'm sure missing my drinking buddy moms.
We drove to Vancouver two weekends ago for a real whirlwind trip - but we made it in 10 hours each way...not bad for winter - I'm pretty sure we can't make it that fast in the summer...but then again you are trying to pass the slow-moving RV's in the summer months...but the weather and roads were really good and we had a great time. Noah did pretty well considering she has a hyper-extended knee injury. She won bronze on beam and came 10AA.
It's going to be a busy few months with gymnastics - we have a meet almost every weekend and her diving coach also has her slated for some diving competitions...I guess our new baby is going to have to get used to lots of car travel and bleacher sitting! Oh well....train them young!
While we were in Vancouver we met up with the wedding photographer that did our wedding...and she took some pregnancy shots for us. I never did this with Jordan or Noah so I'm happy that we did this time. I'll post a few!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Happy 2009!
Wow - so here we are...in another year already...where does the time go?
2008 was a crazy, strange year but all in all productive and fulfilling in the end!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Family & Friends!
I hope that this note finds you all healthy & happy! Our lives are so busy that we are finding it hard to keep up with everyone and the Internet via Facebook & Blog Posts seems to be the norm now.
So happy 2009!
We are all doing well...happy and grateful for the wonderful things that life can bring.
I guess our biggest news is that we are expecting a baby in April! A baby boy! I am just entering the final stretch - the third trimester. So far I have been feeling pretty great...with the exception of tiredness, and some trouble breathing...oh and a slightly painful fibroid in my uterus....but really, I feel better than lots of pregnant people I know! LOL
I went back to the Calgary Herald for the Christmas Fund again, in addition to my regular job, so it's really been a crazy busy few months. I'm looking forward to things slowing down to a dull roar!
Christmas was fun, we spent it in the beautiful North Haven house...and it was lovely! We hosted Christmas Day Brunch for Anthony's family and Christmas Dinner for some of my family and friends. Boxing Day saw the arrival of our good friends the Willicks who came to stay during their son's hockey tournament. It was so great having a house full of people all week.
Life is moving along at full speed ahead. We are looking for a new house and hope to put the two we still own on the market...even though it's not the best time to sell, it is a great time to buy! So we are keeping on eye on the areas that we would love to live in and we'll see what comes up.
Anthony is busy with his painting company and still works at least 6 days a week. He is getting very excited about the baby and has said that maybe we should have a few more after this one...ha ha ha! Funny guy, huh? No really, there is such a big age gap between the kids, it might be really nice to have a couple that are closer in age....we'll see...maybe we'll just let nature do it's thing and see what happens.
Jordan is very busy in his second year of University. He has added a second degree now so his first major is German with a minor in Russian and a second degree in International Relations. It's all very cool and we are so proud of him! He has been accepted into a University exchange program for this spring in Germany to study at a University there and then take on a two-month work experience project. So once again, he'll be spending the spring & summer in Europe! Lucky kid!
Noah is in her final year of gymnastics and gearing up for some competitions all over Alberta and in Vancouver & Montreal. She has also joined a competitive diving club and learning all kinds of great new skills. It looks like she be competing in both sports this year - geez - she is an amazing athlete!
She is now in grade seven and still in the Spanish program and doing well. She joined the volleyball team at school and did really well, and she also started Band this year - she is playing the TUBA! She's a busy kid as she is also still involved in Girl Guides as a Pathfinder, but it seems to work for her! She is happy and healthy and as funny as ever...one can never say that kid doesn't have a great personality!
And that's the Coles' notes version of where our lives are right now. And all in all we are expecting a very exciting 2009!
Wishing you all a very happy and magical 2009!
With Love,
Allyson, Anthony, Jordan & Noah
xoxoxoxo
2008 was a crazy, strange year but all in all productive and fulfilling in the end!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Family & Friends!
I hope that this note finds you all healthy & happy! Our lives are so busy that we are finding it hard to keep up with everyone and the Internet via Facebook & Blog Posts seems to be the norm now.
So happy 2009!
We are all doing well...happy and grateful for the wonderful things that life can bring.
I guess our biggest news is that we are expecting a baby in April! A baby boy! I am just entering the final stretch - the third trimester. So far I have been feeling pretty great...with the exception of tiredness, and some trouble breathing...oh and a slightly painful fibroid in my uterus....but really, I feel better than lots of pregnant people I know! LOL
I went back to the Calgary Herald for the Christmas Fund again, in addition to my regular job, so it's really been a crazy busy few months. I'm looking forward to things slowing down to a dull roar!
Christmas was fun, we spent it in the beautiful North Haven house...and it was lovely! We hosted Christmas Day Brunch for Anthony's family and Christmas Dinner for some of my family and friends. Boxing Day saw the arrival of our good friends the Willicks who came to stay during their son's hockey tournament. It was so great having a house full of people all week.
Life is moving along at full speed ahead. We are looking for a new house and hope to put the two we still own on the market...even though it's not the best time to sell, it is a great time to buy! So we are keeping on eye on the areas that we would love to live in and we'll see what comes up.
Anthony is busy with his painting company and still works at least 6 days a week. He is getting very excited about the baby and has said that maybe we should have a few more after this one...ha ha ha! Funny guy, huh? No really, there is such a big age gap between the kids, it might be really nice to have a couple that are closer in age....we'll see...maybe we'll just let nature do it's thing and see what happens.
Jordan is very busy in his second year of University. He has added a second degree now so his first major is German with a minor in Russian and a second degree in International Relations. It's all very cool and we are so proud of him! He has been accepted into a University exchange program for this spring in Germany to study at a University there and then take on a two-month work experience project. So once again, he'll be spending the spring & summer in Europe! Lucky kid!
Noah is in her final year of gymnastics and gearing up for some competitions all over Alberta and in Vancouver & Montreal. She has also joined a competitive diving club and learning all kinds of great new skills. It looks like she be competing in both sports this year - geez - she is an amazing athlete!
She is now in grade seven and still in the Spanish program and doing well. She joined the volleyball team at school and did really well, and she also started Band this year - she is playing the TUBA! She's a busy kid as she is also still involved in Girl Guides as a Pathfinder, but it seems to work for her! She is happy and healthy and as funny as ever...one can never say that kid doesn't have a great personality!
And that's the Coles' notes version of where our lives are right now. And all in all we are expecting a very exciting 2009!
Wishing you all a very happy and magical 2009!
With Love,
Allyson, Anthony, Jordan & Noah
xoxoxoxo
Friday, October 31, 2008
It's been awhile...
Yes, I know, it's been some time since my last blog update. August 9th, I believe. Looking back at the calendar now, I would have been 4 weeks pregnant that weekend.
And yes, that means Anthony & I are expecting a baby...YES, I said a BABY...next spring! After 3 - 4 years of not really trying to prevent it...it happens out of the blue!
I was feeling pretty tired and cranky and really, blogging was the last thing on my mind!
And honestly, it's been a roller coaster ride...lots of different emotions and feelings of happiness mixed with stress and uncertainty.
At this point I am now just about 17 weeks....and so much has happened since August!
We are living in the new house...well, sort of...we have not moved everything in...just what we need to live...not all the junk! There is still A LOT of little things that need to be done...some light fixtures, the main floor bathroom sink/lights, fence and yard worked on, paint touch ups...etc. etc. etc. And we still do not have a fridge, dishwasher or an oven, but the cooktop is installed and we have out old little bar fridge and my GF lent me a portable little counter top oven. However I have not felt too much like cooking. But with Christmas coming I'm going to want to do some baking...so I hope those appliances come soon!
Jordan is still in the old house as it's closer to school and the train to get to work. I think he enjoys it, but he is buying all of his own groceries, which is a wake up call! He eats a lot!
Jordan doesn't have too much to say about the new baby-to-be, but he says he hopes it's a boy, of course.
Noah is still in gymnastics but not really enjoying like she has in the past. There are coaching issues that do not appear to be changing so I think she is on her way out. It makes me sad as she still loves the sport so much, but she comes home feeling bad after training and I hate to see her like that. I feel pretty let down by the whole club and the attitude it has.
She has however, been invited to join a competitive diving team...so she is trying that out 4x a week right now. She seems to enjoy it. I asked what she loves about it and one of the things she said was..."Well, for one thing, no-one screams at you in diving!" Hmmmm....kinda puts THAT into perspective, doesn't it?
Noah is very excited about the new baby...and she has done very well, keeping this little secret to herself for quite some time now! Naturally, she hopes it is a girl!
Anthony wants a boy but thinks it's a girl.
I think I'd prefer a girl but think it's a boy. But I change my mind all the time.
I was so, so fortunate, that I haven't have one moment of morning sickness! There were days where I didn't feel great, but I was never sick. Which is so different from being pregnant with Jordan & Noah. But the tiredness...THAT is another story! I'm still tired and waiting not-so-patiently for the second trimester burst of energy!
However, we did get a little surprise when we went for my first prenatal appointment...
...apparently my left ventricle (in my heart) does not relax, which is kinda dangerous. I had these chest pains and shortness of breath last December and was sent for an Echo last January. Well, somehow the results were not read, or read incorrectly by my family Dr. and nothing was ever relayed back to me that there might be a problem. 9 months later....When we went for the 1st prenatal appointment I said that I was really having a hard time breathing and Dr. said oh that's normal in pregnancy, and I was like...no, this isn't normal. It's not normal that after one small flight of stairs I feel like I'm having a heart attack! So she said, didn't you have an echo last January?, and I said yes and she said that she would go back and have another look at the results...well she did and was pretty upset because she missed seeing this heart problem! She was freaking...that and the fact that she thought it could be twins because of the size and location of my uterus! Oh vey...so she referred me to a high risk OBGYN and a Cardiologist.
Since then, I am being treated with medication to control my blood pressure, which is controlling my heart problem...so for now...we just wait and see and take it easy. The number one rule is....NO STRESS. ha ha...yeah right.
We also went in for a Nuchal Translucency ultrasound to check on the probability of having a baby with Downs Syndrome...and the numbers looked really good. Yesterday we had an Amnio, which was a little painful, but tolerable. The results won't be known for another two weeks though. So much fun!
Well, that's it for today...I'm supposed to be taking the weekend off to rest after the amnio, but I still have a ton of stuff to do! Halloween tonight for one thing! Silent Auction for the gym tomorrow night....
And yes, that means Anthony & I are expecting a baby...YES, I said a BABY...next spring! After 3 - 4 years of not really trying to prevent it...it happens out of the blue!
I was feeling pretty tired and cranky and really, blogging was the last thing on my mind!
And honestly, it's been a roller coaster ride...lots of different emotions and feelings of happiness mixed with stress and uncertainty.
At this point I am now just about 17 weeks....and so much has happened since August!
We are living in the new house...well, sort of...we have not moved everything in...just what we need to live...not all the junk! There is still A LOT of little things that need to be done...some light fixtures, the main floor bathroom sink/lights, fence and yard worked on, paint touch ups...etc. etc. etc. And we still do not have a fridge, dishwasher or an oven, but the cooktop is installed and we have out old little bar fridge and my GF lent me a portable little counter top oven. However I have not felt too much like cooking. But with Christmas coming I'm going to want to do some baking...so I hope those appliances come soon!
Jordan is still in the old house as it's closer to school and the train to get to work. I think he enjoys it, but he is buying all of his own groceries, which is a wake up call! He eats a lot!
Jordan doesn't have too much to say about the new baby-to-be, but he says he hopes it's a boy, of course.
Noah is still in gymnastics but not really enjoying like she has in the past. There are coaching issues that do not appear to be changing so I think she is on her way out. It makes me sad as she still loves the sport so much, but she comes home feeling bad after training and I hate to see her like that. I feel pretty let down by the whole club and the attitude it has.
She has however, been invited to join a competitive diving team...so she is trying that out 4x a week right now. She seems to enjoy it. I asked what she loves about it and one of the things she said was..."Well, for one thing, no-one screams at you in diving!" Hmmmm....kinda puts THAT into perspective, doesn't it?
Noah is very excited about the new baby...and she has done very well, keeping this little secret to herself for quite some time now! Naturally, she hopes it is a girl!
Anthony wants a boy but thinks it's a girl.
I think I'd prefer a girl but think it's a boy. But I change my mind all the time.
I was so, so fortunate, that I haven't have one moment of morning sickness! There were days where I didn't feel great, but I was never sick. Which is so different from being pregnant with Jordan & Noah. But the tiredness...THAT is another story! I'm still tired and waiting not-so-patiently for the second trimester burst of energy!
However, we did get a little surprise when we went for my first prenatal appointment...
...apparently my left ventricle (in my heart) does not relax, which is kinda dangerous. I had these chest pains and shortness of breath last December and was sent for an Echo last January. Well, somehow the results were not read, or read incorrectly by my family Dr. and nothing was ever relayed back to me that there might be a problem. 9 months later....When we went for the 1st prenatal appointment I said that I was really having a hard time breathing and Dr. said oh that's normal in pregnancy, and I was like...no, this isn't normal. It's not normal that after one small flight of stairs I feel like I'm having a heart attack! So she said, didn't you have an echo last January?, and I said yes and she said that she would go back and have another look at the results...well she did and was pretty upset because she missed seeing this heart problem! She was freaking...that and the fact that she thought it could be twins because of the size and location of my uterus! Oh vey...so she referred me to a high risk OBGYN and a Cardiologist.
Since then, I am being treated with medication to control my blood pressure, which is controlling my heart problem...so for now...we just wait and see and take it easy. The number one rule is....NO STRESS. ha ha...yeah right.
We also went in for a Nuchal Translucency ultrasound to check on the probability of having a baby with Downs Syndrome...and the numbers looked really good. Yesterday we had an Amnio, which was a little painful, but tolerable. The results won't be known for another two weeks though. So much fun!
Well, that's it for today...I'm supposed to be taking the weekend off to rest after the amnio, but I still have a ton of stuff to do! Halloween tonight for one thing! Silent Auction for the gym tomorrow night....
Saturday, August 09, 2008
5 positives about my husband....
My 5 POSITIVE THINGS about my husband for this week
1) He took some time off this past weekend to spend it with me looking all over town at dining tables and patio sets for our new house. He was very good about not complaining even after many stores.
2) We found an "Irish Coast" table that we both loved and luckily it was a floor model that was on sale and ready to buy. We decided to think about it as all of our cash is going into the new house right now...but Anth got up early the next day and figured out how to make it work and went to buy the table.
3) Noah really wanted to go to a rock climbing camp this past week as she had the week off of babysitting. And even though Anth would have to drive her there each day (and interrupt his work day), he agreed to it and took her down there to register and pay. And she was so happy and loved every minute of it!
4) My sweet hubby asked me on two dates this past week. The last one was a great dinner at a cute little restaurant we love & a movie that he let me pick -which he loved! It was fun!
5) Poor honey has been working his hiney off on the new house - sometimes staying well past 8 pm at night. I think he is getting lots done and I am not nagging him to come home. Works well.
6) My dear hubby has been affectionate and caring this past week. Sending me "I love you" text messages and such. I like it.
1) He took some time off this past weekend to spend it with me looking all over town at dining tables and patio sets for our new house. He was very good about not complaining even after many stores.
2) We found an "Irish Coast" table that we both loved and luckily it was a floor model that was on sale and ready to buy. We decided to think about it as all of our cash is going into the new house right now...but Anth got up early the next day and figured out how to make it work and went to buy the table.
3) Noah really wanted to go to a rock climbing camp this past week as she had the week off of babysitting. And even though Anth would have to drive her there each day (and interrupt his work day), he agreed to it and took her down there to register and pay. And she was so happy and loved every minute of it!
4) My sweet hubby asked me on two dates this past week. The last one was a great dinner at a cute little restaurant we love & a movie that he let me pick -which he loved! It was fun!
5) Poor honey has been working his hiney off on the new house - sometimes staying well past 8 pm at night. I think he is getting lots done and I am not nagging him to come home. Works well.
6) My dear hubby has been affectionate and caring this past week. Sending me "I love you" text messages and such. I like it.
My self-care for the past week...
So my self-care has been lacking a little the last week. But I do have some things to report...
1) I spent an entire day purging the bedroom & my closet; throwing out stuff, putting together garbage bags of clothes to donate etc. It may not sound like normal self-care, but it really is, as it's good for the mind & spirit to have a clutter free closet!
2) I have been making & eating healthy dinners just about every night. I have some great cookbooks and as long as I pre-plan a few meals and shop in advance, it is stress-free to make a great dinner that everyone appreciates. As well, I have still been losing weight - at a slowish pace, but it is still down a little each week.
3) Finally booked myself a hair appointed. It has been too long and my hair needed some attention!
4) I wore a skirt. Hmmmm.....is that really self-care? I think so. I rarely "dress up", at least not to go to work. But I found a nice summer skirt in the back of my closet that I haven't worn in ages, so I did one day and I felt great.
5) I have been trying to have nice hot showers when I am stressed or tired at night. I find it gives me some down-time and gives me a little more sleep-in time in the morning.
6) I learned some meditation and deep breathing exercises. Definitely relaxing!
Ok - 6 isn't bad. I'm still working on this...hopefully the list gets longer with time as I learn to put myself first in line for taking care of!
1) I spent an entire day purging the bedroom & my closet; throwing out stuff, putting together garbage bags of clothes to donate etc. It may not sound like normal self-care, but it really is, as it's good for the mind & spirit to have a clutter free closet!
2) I have been making & eating healthy dinners just about every night. I have some great cookbooks and as long as I pre-plan a few meals and shop in advance, it is stress-free to make a great dinner that everyone appreciates. As well, I have still been losing weight - at a slowish pace, but it is still down a little each week.
3) Finally booked myself a hair appointed. It has been too long and my hair needed some attention!
4) I wore a skirt. Hmmmm.....is that really self-care? I think so. I rarely "dress up", at least not to go to work. But I found a nice summer skirt in the back of my closet that I haven't worn in ages, so I did one day and I felt great.
5) I have been trying to have nice hot showers when I am stressed or tired at night. I find it gives me some down-time and gives me a little more sleep-in time in the morning.
6) I learned some meditation and deep breathing exercises. Definitely relaxing!
Ok - 6 isn't bad. I'm still working on this...hopefully the list gets longer with time as I learn to put myself first in line for taking care of!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I like this....
"Privacy is not a right that should be expected in a relationship, but more of a gift that is given as an expression of trust. " via an internet friend.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
It's close!!!!
The hardwood floors are going in RIGHT NOW! Yippee! The Copper Hood fan was installed, the plumber put the hot water tank in....stuff is getting finished..... The end really is in sight!
Ok - my sister just arrived and we are going out for some martini's....
So I'd better post my 5 positive thoughts about my honey for this past week....
1) He has been working so hard - 7 straight days last week on the new house trying to get it finished so we can finally move into it.
2) He got up early on Saturday morning and did all of the dishes (there were lots!) and cleaned up the kitchen before he went to work. Normally Jordan does the dishes but he was working lots and spending the rest of his time at Folk Fest, so they were stacked up. Noah was having a newly made friend sleepover that day and I was concerned that the house be somewhat tidy before her arrival. BTW - Anthony NEVER does the dishes.
3) He shopped for and made healthy dinners two nights in a row this week - without me even asking or hinting. He told me afterwards that he didn't want me to think that I was the only one responsible for cooking dinners.
4) He helped our friend move some of her things to her new house yesterday even after working all day and being dead-tired and me knowing he didn't really feel like it.
5) He has been helping Noah purge, clean and pack up her room each evening for a couple of hours for our upcoming move.
6) He has been more affectionate and easy to be around all week. This may be because I have been affectionate and easy to be around as well.
It really is so nice to be able to sit and think of all of the good things going on!
Ok - my sister just arrived and we are going out for some martini's....
So I'd better post my 5 positive thoughts about my honey for this past week....
1) He has been working so hard - 7 straight days last week on the new house trying to get it finished so we can finally move into it.
2) He got up early on Saturday morning and did all of the dishes (there were lots!) and cleaned up the kitchen before he went to work. Normally Jordan does the dishes but he was working lots and spending the rest of his time at Folk Fest, so they were stacked up. Noah was having a newly made friend sleepover that day and I was concerned that the house be somewhat tidy before her arrival. BTW - Anthony NEVER does the dishes.
3) He shopped for and made healthy dinners two nights in a row this week - without me even asking or hinting. He told me afterwards that he didn't want me to think that I was the only one responsible for cooking dinners.
4) He helped our friend move some of her things to her new house yesterday even after working all day and being dead-tired and me knowing he didn't really feel like it.
5) He has been helping Noah purge, clean and pack up her room each evening for a couple of hours for our upcoming move.
6) He has been more affectionate and easy to be around all week. This may be because I have been affectionate and easy to be around as well.
It really is so nice to be able to sit and think of all of the good things going on!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
My self-care for the past week (or so)
So along with my 5 positive thoughts about my DH each week - I am going to try and post 5 things that I did for my own self-care each week.
Self care being...taking care of number one - myself!!!
So lets see... I think I have to actually a little past a week...bad me!
1) I got my self a cute little pedicure!
2) I had a great 50 minute massage at our hotel in Denver...it actually hurt for DAYS afterwards...so I know it was good! ha ha
3) I went to see my therapist...it seems like weird "self-care" but it is exactly that!
4) I decided not to go into work tomorrow so I can sleep in a little and go with DH for a nice long walk with the dogs.
5) I made a nice healthy dinners this week and have been making sure that I take my vitamins, fiber and goji each day for my health!
Ok - so the goal is to actually be able to find 5 things that I do EACH WEEK just for myself! I know that sounds easy - but for me, obviously not so. I'll try again for next week!
Self care being...taking care of number one - myself!!!
So lets see... I think I have to actually a little past a week...bad me!
1) I got my self a cute little pedicure!
2) I had a great 50 minute massage at our hotel in Denver...it actually hurt for DAYS afterwards...so I know it was good! ha ha
3) I went to see my therapist...it seems like weird "self-care" but it is exactly that!
4) I decided not to go into work tomorrow so I can sleep in a little and go with DH for a nice long walk with the dogs.
5) I made a nice healthy dinners this week and have been making sure that I take my vitamins, fiber and goji each day for my health!
Ok - so the goal is to actually be able to find 5 things that I do EACH WEEK just for myself! I know that sounds easy - but for me, obviously not so. I'll try again for next week!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Oh what a busy month!
It's been a couple weeks since I posted and we have been busy, busy busy! I just can't seem to settle into a nice calm life...it just turns to chaos, it seems.
But I did not want to miss posting my positive thoughts about my hubby...
1) DH did not complain about the fact that I went for a pedicure and a leg/under arm/bikini wax last week.
2) Had a lovely time at an MX race that DH was in and he didn’t even get upset when he ran out of gas and had to push his dirt bike across the finish line. It was a great day of just hanging out.
3) After about 7 months without one, DH finally went and got a new propane tank for our BBQ yesterday and even re-arranged the deck area so it is more efficient. (This is funny, as I have complained about not having a tank or being able to use the BBQ before but have tried hard not to say much about it for the past month or so, yet Monday his dad asked him to go bring him a filled tank…which he promptly did!)
4) DH has been pretty snuggly in the mornings before I get out of bed. Love to wake up and feel him reach out to me before I have to jump out of bed.
5) DH complimented me on the dinner I made last night. (I am trying to cook more!) I'm making a roast with veggies tonight.
6) Bonus - had a great time in Denver for DH's friends wedding even though I only knew a couple of people there. DH made sure I met lots of people and had fun
But I did not want to miss posting my positive thoughts about my hubby...
1) DH did not complain about the fact that I went for a pedicure and a leg/under arm/bikini wax last week.
2) Had a lovely time at an MX race that DH was in and he didn’t even get upset when he ran out of gas and had to push his dirt bike across the finish line. It was a great day of just hanging out.
3) After about 7 months without one, DH finally went and got a new propane tank for our BBQ yesterday and even re-arranged the deck area so it is more efficient. (This is funny, as I have complained about not having a tank or being able to use the BBQ before but have tried hard not to say much about it for the past month or so, yet Monday his dad asked him to go bring him a filled tank…which he promptly did!)
4) DH has been pretty snuggly in the mornings before I get out of bed. Love to wake up and feel him reach out to me before I have to jump out of bed.
5) DH complimented me on the dinner I made last night. (I am trying to cook more!) I'm making a roast with veggies tonight.
6) Bonus - had a great time in Denver for DH's friends wedding even though I only knew a couple of people there. DH made sure I met lots of people and had fun
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
being positive
So I'm still reading "that book" that I was talking about a few posts ago...the one where I won't maybe post the name just yet...(gotta see how this plays out, first! ha ha)...but there is a group of women that also subscribe to the theories in the book that have an Internet group that I belong to and one of the things you must do each week is share 5 positive things about your husband.
Because I know that I am not perfect...and I know that I tend to hide affection and emotion...this is my new accountability to being positive about my husband. This can - and maybe should, also be done for your children...but this is where I am starting...
so here is me being positive...
5 positive things that I must say about my spouse this week....
1) I appreciate that my husband is here at home with me...right now...waiting patiently for me to get off the computer.
2) I love that my husband went on a wild goose chase looking for "Collins" glasses and "parfait" spoons at the mall one day.
3) I'm grateful that my husband drove my DD and the girl she is babysitting to swimming lessons this week.
4) I was happy that my husband took our friend and myself to earls (after her wedding shower) for martini's when I know he would have rather went home to bed.
5) I appreciate that my husband was nice to me when I had a bit of a hangover after said martini's.
Not too hard...but it took a little bit of thinking.
Because I know that I am not perfect...and I know that I tend to hide affection and emotion...this is my new accountability to being positive about my husband. This can - and maybe should, also be done for your children...but this is where I am starting...
so here is me being positive...
5 positive things that I must say about my spouse this week....
1) I appreciate that my husband is here at home with me...right now...waiting patiently for me to get off the computer.
2) I love that my husband went on a wild goose chase looking for "Collins" glasses and "parfait" spoons at the mall one day.
3) I'm grateful that my husband drove my DD and the girl she is babysitting to swimming lessons this week.
4) I was happy that my husband took our friend and myself to earls (after her wedding shower) for martini's when I know he would have rather went home to bed.
5) I appreciate that my husband was nice to me when I had a bit of a hangover after said martini's.
Not too hard...but it took a little bit of thinking.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Being Blah...
It's Monday. And I had to work. And it's rainy. And the living room windows leaked all over the floor. And it's "Stampede" time - yay - not. And the new house isn't ready. And the old house isn't ready. And I have PMS. What else could make a Monday more Blah?
aaaaaargh.......
Ok - let's be more positive here!
I did have coffee (well, I had green tea!) this afternoon at Starbucks with a friend, which was lovely. Actually - I would not really have considered her a friend until now. She is a friend of Anthony's family - someone that he grew up with - and in the 10 years that we have been together - she has been away for most it - going to school , living & working overseas. Anyways - whenever she came home, we always enjoyed a dinner at my in-laws or something and I've always thought she was pretty cool. So Saturday I went to her wedding shower...and together we had a great time enjoying lots and lots of wine. Then we convinced my husband to take us to Earls for martini's...and you KNOW I love those yummy babies! So...we got pretty happy and quite enjoyed ourselves. And today we went for a tea and a chat and it was quite nice - something that I will look forward to again in the near future.
Oh yeah and Anthony's brother and his wife have moved home from Australia! It was great to spend some time with them this weekend...besides a quick visit last year, it's been a couple of years! After a few hours though, it was like they had never left! Weird.
And Thursday I am getting together with both of my sisters-in-law...It has been a while since all of us have been living in the same city...so it should be fun. We are the three "Mrs. Palaschuk's"...married into it.
Tomorrow I am going to my second personal therapy session...we are looking back at childhood trauma and how it can (or has?) manifested into PTSS. It's funny - the more reading I do on the subject, the more I realize that I had a screwed up upbringing. I mean - I knew my life was not your typical Brady Bunch family...but I've always felt above it though...like I overcame and prospered because of it. But maybe I've been wrong? Maybe *I* AM the problem...ha ha
Anyways...I'm open. I'm into healing what's wounded. We'll see.
Jordan got a second job and is working lots of hours...finally! That lazy bum! He has a lot of saving to do to make it to Europe for a term abroad.
And Noah has a babysitting job this summer. Watching a girl from the gym who is just a couple years younger. She seems to be enjoying it and I know she loves the moolah! She is still saving away hoping to have enough to go to Disneyworld with her friend in the fall.
I hope she saves enough, because I am trying to convince Anthony that would be a perfect time to have our "real" honeymoon!
Ok - we did have a real honeymoon - we went on an Alaskan Cruise. (WITH OUR WHOLE FAMILY TOO!) So maybe you can see why I have always wanted another one...just the two of us.
For our anniversary this year, Anthony gave me a choice of three things:
1) A traditional Hawaiian Vacation
2) Another Alaskan Cruise
3) A return trip to Puerto Moralis
But I have another idea....we have always wanted to go to Australia (Anthony's mom's heritage) and have never found the time or a babysitter...or the money. But if Noah is already gone for almost two weeks...then I would only have to find someone to watch her for another two weeks and we could take a whole month off! We could do New Zealand, Rarotonga &/or Australia....now THAT is a honeymoon!
I would have to take that time off of work...but it would be worth it! Anthony is pretty flexible...I mean we don't even know what he'll be doing in a month let alone 4 months...so we can make that work.
As for money - I have plenty of aeroplan points to use up - so we could get there no problem. We have friends of friends in New Zealand and Anthony's family in Australia. Maybe we'll even sell one of the houses by then...then there are no worries! I think its the perfect plan.
Anyway - just need to get the hubby on board! He likes the idea in general...or a "loose" plan...but I need it nailed down. Concrete. I need a REAL LIVE PLAN! Ah...there is that patience thing again.
So what else....?
Ah yes...my good friend Melissa and her family came for a visit. Although I didn't feel like we had a lot of time to just hang out and catch up and relax, it was still great. It's so cool too because we met on-line! She is such a good friend and an inspiration. Hopefully we will make it out her way soon as well. I should say that we do catch up on facebook...that wonderful time sucker!
To the minute update...
1 - Taz just peed in the laundry room on the floor and on my wonderful new sweater!!! Bad dog!
1.2 - I'm now doing a load of laundry.
2 - I'm making meatballs for dinner. The kind from M&M's so don't think I went all Julia Child here or anything.
So that is it for today. My blah ('ish) Monday!
aaaaaargh.......
Ok - let's be more positive here!
I did have coffee (well, I had green tea!) this afternoon at Starbucks with a friend, which was lovely. Actually - I would not really have considered her a friend until now. She is a friend of Anthony's family - someone that he grew up with - and in the 10 years that we have been together - she has been away for most it - going to school , living & working overseas. Anyways - whenever she came home, we always enjoyed a dinner at my in-laws or something and I've always thought she was pretty cool. So Saturday I went to her wedding shower...and together we had a great time enjoying lots and lots of wine. Then we convinced my husband to take us to Earls for martini's...and you KNOW I love those yummy babies! So...we got pretty happy and quite enjoyed ourselves. And today we went for a tea and a chat and it was quite nice - something that I will look forward to again in the near future.
Oh yeah and Anthony's brother and his wife have moved home from Australia! It was great to spend some time with them this weekend...besides a quick visit last year, it's been a couple of years! After a few hours though, it was like they had never left! Weird.
And Thursday I am getting together with both of my sisters-in-law...It has been a while since all of us have been living in the same city...so it should be fun. We are the three "Mrs. Palaschuk's"...married into it.
Tomorrow I am going to my second personal therapy session...we are looking back at childhood trauma and how it can (or has?) manifested into PTSS. It's funny - the more reading I do on the subject, the more I realize that I had a screwed up upbringing. I mean - I knew my life was not your typical Brady Bunch family...but I've always felt above it though...like I overcame and prospered because of it. But maybe I've been wrong? Maybe *I* AM the problem...ha ha
Anyways...I'm open. I'm into healing what's wounded. We'll see.
Jordan got a second job and is working lots of hours...finally! That lazy bum! He has a lot of saving to do to make it to Europe for a term abroad.
And Noah has a babysitting job this summer. Watching a girl from the gym who is just a couple years younger. She seems to be enjoying it and I know she loves the moolah! She is still saving away hoping to have enough to go to Disneyworld with her friend in the fall.
I hope she saves enough, because I am trying to convince Anthony that would be a perfect time to have our "real" honeymoon!
Ok - we did have a real honeymoon - we went on an Alaskan Cruise. (WITH OUR WHOLE FAMILY TOO!) So maybe you can see why I have always wanted another one...just the two of us.
For our anniversary this year, Anthony gave me a choice of three things:
1) A traditional Hawaiian Vacation
2) Another Alaskan Cruise
3) A return trip to Puerto Moralis
But I have another idea....we have always wanted to go to Australia (Anthony's mom's heritage) and have never found the time or a babysitter...or the money. But if Noah is already gone for almost two weeks...then I would only have to find someone to watch her for another two weeks and we could take a whole month off! We could do New Zealand, Rarotonga &/or Australia....now THAT is a honeymoon!
I would have to take that time off of work...but it would be worth it! Anthony is pretty flexible...I mean we don't even know what he'll be doing in a month let alone 4 months...so we can make that work.
As for money - I have plenty of aeroplan points to use up - so we could get there no problem. We have friends of friends in New Zealand and Anthony's family in Australia. Maybe we'll even sell one of the houses by then...then there are no worries! I think its the perfect plan.
Anyway - just need to get the hubby on board! He likes the idea in general...or a "loose" plan...but I need it nailed down. Concrete. I need a REAL LIVE PLAN! Ah...there is that patience thing again.
So what else....?
Ah yes...my good friend Melissa and her family came for a visit. Although I didn't feel like we had a lot of time to just hang out and catch up and relax, it was still great. It's so cool too because we met on-line! She is such a good friend and an inspiration. Hopefully we will make it out her way soon as well. I should say that we do catch up on facebook...that wonderful time sucker!
To the minute update...
1 - Taz just peed in the laundry room on the floor and on my wonderful new sweater!!! Bad dog!
1.2 - I'm now doing a load of laundry.
2 - I'm making meatballs for dinner. The kind from M&M's so don't think I went all Julia Child here or anything.
So that is it for today. My blah ('ish) Monday!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
And then July begins....
It's been more of the same around here.
Since I last posted, Anthony & I went back to Compeer for another race - but this was a Hare Scramble, rather than an Enduro Cross that we went there for last time. Anthony did AMAZING! Maybe because we were there racing a month ago so he was a little more familiar with the terrain and the obstacles they threw in. He was 4th in the first motto and 2nd in the second motto which gave him 3rd AA - a great start for this series!!!
Last weekend we went to Raymond for the Provincials & Amateur Western Nationals. It was three days for Enduro Cross racing....in crazy heat and wind and dust galore. Anthony woke up sick on the Wednesday with a cough, sore throat and runny nose and achy etc. He was not a happy camper...and was being a bit of baby if I do say so! he he But he went to the track and luckily for him, there were not enough entrants to justify holding a qualifier round...so one less race each day for them! He did ok - you could tell he was tired and did not have the energy to beat the top guy. The two others are about the same skill level...but he just didn't have enough energy to overtake them. He came in 4th in the first two days races. But on day three...he was on fire! He rallied and battled for the 2nd place spot! I was so proud of him. Considering in his practise run he sprung a leak in his oil line and was thinking he might not even be able to race. But he was able to do some repair work..and got back in the game! So after the Enduro Cross series...he is 3rd overall! Whoo Hoo - way to go! I'm sure much thanks should go to his ever supportive wife....Ahem.
We booked our flights for Denver today...Anthony's good friend Chad is getting married in two weeks. We have 4 out of town weddings this summer...lot's of fun!
It seems like EVERYONE is getting married and/or having babies this summer. Sigh. Let's not even bother going there.
Noah goes back to gym tomorrow. We have not signed her 07-08 contract yet. Hmmmm. Not gonna say much about that either.
I've been feeling very much removed from the gym lately...a good thing. I still have things to do to finish up...but I feel free and no sense of obligation to continue volunteering my life away for a bunch of ungrateful, whiny, SOB's.......OK - and I digress.....
So it's July. Only 9 weeks of summer left...what a pessimist, huh? I can't help it. I really can't stand being here anymore...I'd rather be almost anywhere than here. I'd like to be with my family and my husband of course...but not here. I need a change of scenery.
BTW - the North Haven House....yup...you got it...still not done. In fact, not really any further along than when I posted two weeks ago. I'm trying so hard not to speak openly negative about it...I hope this doesn't count!
Ok - time for more Soprano's. I have not watched TV in about 10 weeks! But we are renting the Soprano's series and watching it from the beginning. And I wonder why I am saying so many more unflattering swear words of late! bad me!
Since I last posted, Anthony & I went back to Compeer for another race - but this was a Hare Scramble, rather than an Enduro Cross that we went there for last time. Anthony did AMAZING! Maybe because we were there racing a month ago so he was a little more familiar with the terrain and the obstacles they threw in. He was 4th in the first motto and 2nd in the second motto which gave him 3rd AA - a great start for this series!!!
Last weekend we went to Raymond for the Provincials & Amateur Western Nationals. It was three days for Enduro Cross racing....in crazy heat and wind and dust galore. Anthony woke up sick on the Wednesday with a cough, sore throat and runny nose and achy etc. He was not a happy camper...and was being a bit of baby if I do say so! he he But he went to the track and luckily for him, there were not enough entrants to justify holding a qualifier round...so one less race each day for them! He did ok - you could tell he was tired and did not have the energy to beat the top guy. The two others are about the same skill level...but he just didn't have enough energy to overtake them. He came in 4th in the first two days races. But on day three...he was on fire! He rallied and battled for the 2nd place spot! I was so proud of him. Considering in his practise run he sprung a leak in his oil line and was thinking he might not even be able to race. But he was able to do some repair work..and got back in the game! So after the Enduro Cross series...he is 3rd overall! Whoo Hoo - way to go! I'm sure much thanks should go to his ever supportive wife....Ahem.
We booked our flights for Denver today...Anthony's good friend Chad is getting married in two weeks. We have 4 out of town weddings this summer...lot's of fun!
It seems like EVERYONE is getting married and/or having babies this summer. Sigh. Let's not even bother going there.
Noah goes back to gym tomorrow. We have not signed her 07-08 contract yet. Hmmmm. Not gonna say much about that either.
I've been feeling very much removed from the gym lately...a good thing. I still have things to do to finish up...but I feel free and no sense of obligation to continue volunteering my life away for a bunch of ungrateful, whiny, SOB's.......OK - and I digress.....
So it's July. Only 9 weeks of summer left...what a pessimist, huh? I can't help it. I really can't stand being here anymore...I'd rather be almost anywhere than here. I'd like to be with my family and my husband of course...but not here. I need a change of scenery.
BTW - the North Haven House....yup...you got it...still not done. In fact, not really any further along than when I posted two weeks ago. I'm trying so hard not to speak openly negative about it...I hope this doesn't count!
Ok - time for more Soprano's. I have not watched TV in about 10 weeks! But we are renting the Soprano's series and watching it from the beginning. And I wonder why I am saying so many more unflattering swear words of late! bad me!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
My world on a Thursday morning...
Thursday is sleep-in day, because Noah has late entry at school. We love Thursdays! Anthony & I took the dogs on a nice big loop around Dalhousie...about 6 km I think. It took 1 hour and 3 minutes.
Now I am sitting here updating my blog when I KNOW I should be doing one of 3 things:
Go to work, because I was sick on Monday
Go to the gym and finish my work there
Clean and pack the house
Nope. I need a fourth choice, please.
Last weekend Anthony & I went to Pincher Creek for a EX Race. We got up at 5am to get there in time for sign-in but ended up getting there a little late...luckily they know Anthony well and let him sign in late anyway.
The course was insane (to me) ...I took some pictures and video but I still can't figure out how to get the videos off my camera and onto the computer. Anthony was doing well despite a bad start. He caught up to fourth and stayed there for a while and fell back into fifth after some crashes. (One crash was pretty spectacular and he is still in pain every time he moves!) Then he had major trouble getting up this crazy hill that had worn down after so many laps and he (and quite a few others) were stuck trying to get up. He eventually made it, and ended up 7th overall. Which still puts him tied for 3rd overall in the series. Not too bad as there are a few really fast guys that he has to battle to stay in the top three...but I think he can do it.
Sunday was also Father's Day...and I was happy that Anthony could spend that day doing one of the things he loves the most...dirt biking! I bought him a new (totally awesome and cool) helmet to protect his noggin' and KTM bike stand. (Plus some poo-poo-pouri which I will leave at that)
I am so thankful that Anthony is a great dad to Noah & Jordan. We all have our moments but 99.999% of the time, he is so amazing and we are lucky that he is in our lives.
This weekend we are supposed to be heading to Compeer for the first race in the CMA series but Anthony is still pretty sore...so we may not go after all. I think I'll be disappointed as I really enjoy getting away together from the daily stresses.
The week after is the Raymond race which wraps up the EX series for this year with the Championships...it's a three day race and I have a feeling it'll be crazy!
There are still lots of races in other series' that we have marked in our calendar. For the rest of the summer, there are very few free weekends left. But I know that it's important to Anthony and I am willing to give him that time to enjoy what he loves. I enjoy it too though...I guess I should add that.
Melissa is coming to town in a couple weeks so that will be great to get in a nice visit, however, I don't think the new house will be done, which means we will have to stay in the half-packed, mess of the old house. Sorry Melissa!!!
The house is coming along though...just never, ever fast enough. The granite finally went in on Tuesday - it looks great! The hardwood has been ordered but won't arrive till late next week...then we have to let it sit out and acclimate as it comes from BC and it is soooooo dry here compared to Vancouver.
We picked out the carpet for the top floor and basement...and it is ready to be delivered but they are not done painting....oh yeah, AND the basement flooded last week with all the damn rain we had! I tell ya...it never ends!
Oh well. Life is good. I am trying to be thankful for what I have and I know I am lucky.
I have a fantastic husband and great kids and a good family to spend time with, friends that care about me...yup...life is good.
Now I am sitting here updating my blog when I KNOW I should be doing one of 3 things:
Go to work, because I was sick on Monday
Go to the gym and finish my work there
Clean and pack the house
Nope. I need a fourth choice, please.
Last weekend Anthony & I went to Pincher Creek for a EX Race. We got up at 5am to get there in time for sign-in but ended up getting there a little late...luckily they know Anthony well and let him sign in late anyway.
The course was insane (to me) ...I took some pictures and video but I still can't figure out how to get the videos off my camera and onto the computer. Anthony was doing well despite a bad start. He caught up to fourth and stayed there for a while and fell back into fifth after some crashes. (One crash was pretty spectacular and he is still in pain every time he moves!) Then he had major trouble getting up this crazy hill that had worn down after so many laps and he (and quite a few others) were stuck trying to get up. He eventually made it, and ended up 7th overall. Which still puts him tied for 3rd overall in the series. Not too bad as there are a few really fast guys that he has to battle to stay in the top three...but I think he can do it.
Sunday was also Father's Day...and I was happy that Anthony could spend that day doing one of the things he loves the most...dirt biking! I bought him a new (totally awesome and cool) helmet to protect his noggin' and KTM bike stand. (Plus some poo-poo-pouri which I will leave at that)
I am so thankful that Anthony is a great dad to Noah & Jordan. We all have our moments but 99.999% of the time, he is so amazing and we are lucky that he is in our lives.
This weekend we are supposed to be heading to Compeer for the first race in the CMA series but Anthony is still pretty sore...so we may not go after all. I think I'll be disappointed as I really enjoy getting away together from the daily stresses.
The week after is the Raymond race which wraps up the EX series for this year with the Championships...it's a three day race and I have a feeling it'll be crazy!
There are still lots of races in other series' that we have marked in our calendar. For the rest of the summer, there are very few free weekends left. But I know that it's important to Anthony and I am willing to give him that time to enjoy what he loves. I enjoy it too though...I guess I should add that.
Melissa is coming to town in a couple weeks so that will be great to get in a nice visit, however, I don't think the new house will be done, which means we will have to stay in the half-packed, mess of the old house. Sorry Melissa!!!
The house is coming along though...just never, ever fast enough. The granite finally went in on Tuesday - it looks great! The hardwood has been ordered but won't arrive till late next week...then we have to let it sit out and acclimate as it comes from BC and it is soooooo dry here compared to Vancouver.
We picked out the carpet for the top floor and basement...and it is ready to be delivered but they are not done painting....oh yeah, AND the basement flooded last week with all the damn rain we had! I tell ya...it never ends!
Oh well. Life is good. I am trying to be thankful for what I have and I know I am lucky.
I have a fantastic husband and great kids and a good family to spend time with, friends that care about me...yup...life is good.
Friday, June 13, 2008
TGIF!!!
Seriously! It feels like the longest week ever...and even though I am heading into a crazy busy weekend as well...I'm glad that it is almost MONDAY!
What does Monday mean? That there will be a new chief at the gym! It's the AGM and at about 8pm - I'M OUT OF THERE!!!
I will sit on the board as Past President (for an additional TWO years!!!) but I am happy just to be rid of the never ending stress and crazy parents & coaches.
Even with that excitement on the horizon, I've felt kinda blue this week. I think it could have a lot to do with the weather - overcast, rainy, windy...it sure doesn't feel like summer! But it has been really hard to shake. It could be just that I'm busy and have not had a lot of down time. The work at the house is going at a snails pace...kinda like watching paint dry. And it could be that someone is coming back to town that I am not looking forward to having in or near our lives. I don't know - probably a combination of everything. I've been taking lots of Goji & B Vitamins but even that doesn't seem to be helping much.
So much needs to happen at the new house - Carpet, hardwood, appliances, baseboards, front door stained, laundry room cabinets, bathroom fixtures, door handles, deck built, railings up, light fixtures ordered/installed.....YIKES!
I have the new phone lines ready to go in next week and our cable & Internet will be switched there in 10 days...so I'm really hoping that the house will be livable by then! I am pretty sure that we will have to live without hardwood on the main floor while it acclimates a while longer...but the rest of the house should be good to go. XXX - Crossing Fingers - XXX
What does Monday mean? That there will be a new chief at the gym! It's the AGM and at about 8pm - I'M OUT OF THERE!!!
I will sit on the board as Past President (for an additional TWO years!!!) but I am happy just to be rid of the never ending stress and crazy parents & coaches.
Even with that excitement on the horizon, I've felt kinda blue this week. I think it could have a lot to do with the weather - overcast, rainy, windy...it sure doesn't feel like summer! But it has been really hard to shake. It could be just that I'm busy and have not had a lot of down time. The work at the house is going at a snails pace...kinda like watching paint dry. And it could be that someone is coming back to town that I am not looking forward to having in or near our lives. I don't know - probably a combination of everything. I've been taking lots of Goji & B Vitamins but even that doesn't seem to be helping much.
So much needs to happen at the new house - Carpet, hardwood, appliances, baseboards, front door stained, laundry room cabinets, bathroom fixtures, door handles, deck built, railings up, light fixtures ordered/installed.....YIKES!
I have the new phone lines ready to go in next week and our cable & Internet will be switched there in 10 days...so I'm really hoping that the house will be livable by then! I am pretty sure that we will have to live without hardwood on the main floor while it acclimates a while longer...but the rest of the house should be good to go. XXX - Crossing Fingers - XXX
Monday, June 09, 2008
I'm home sick.
So I went to work with good intentions this morning.... but I only made it 5 hours in and needed to come home. I am brain dead & exhausted.
Last Thursday was Anthony's and my 4th wedding anniversary. It was a crazy day with a million things going on but we still managed to have a nice lunch out together and a wonderful dinner at Muse. Unfortunately at one point near the end of the dinner, the conversation somehow turned to a touchy subject and dinner was abruptly over. Not the way I would have liked for it to be...but there are some things that have been brewing and not dealt with that I have become super-sensitive about. And PMS probably has not helped the situation in any way.
Anywho...it is over and we have moved past it. I will look forward to anniversary #5.
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."
~ Booker T. Washington ~
Actually - this October will mark the anniversary of when we started dating...and then we will be heading into our 10th year together! CRAZY!
This past weekend Anthony brought me with him to the Real Estate Investment group that he belongs to. It was a two-day intensive workshop that filled my mind with millions of thoughts and ideas. It was jam packed with information....and I will never remember it all...and I took pages, and pages and pages of notes. It was a really great experience. I joined the group as well as Anthony's spouse so we will be able to attend the monthly & special meetings together from now on. There is so much to look forward and prepare for to and we work together so well..it should be great!
“Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.” ~ Henry Ford ~
Maybe my busy crazy weekend is why I am home sick now. My brain is overloaded. Or maybe I was in a room with 700+ people and maybe I just caught a bug. Anyways - here I am. I am going to bed. I should head out to the garage but I have zero energy.
Last Thursday was Anthony's and my 4th wedding anniversary. It was a crazy day with a million things going on but we still managed to have a nice lunch out together and a wonderful dinner at Muse. Unfortunately at one point near the end of the dinner, the conversation somehow turned to a touchy subject and dinner was abruptly over. Not the way I would have liked for it to be...but there are some things that have been brewing and not dealt with that I have become super-sensitive about. And PMS probably has not helped the situation in any way.
Anywho...it is over and we have moved past it. I will look forward to anniversary #5.
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."
~ Booker T. Washington ~
Actually - this October will mark the anniversary of when we started dating...and then we will be heading into our 10th year together! CRAZY!
This past weekend Anthony brought me with him to the Real Estate Investment group that he belongs to. It was a two-day intensive workshop that filled my mind with millions of thoughts and ideas. It was jam packed with information....and I will never remember it all...and I took pages, and pages and pages of notes. It was a really great experience. I joined the group as well as Anthony's spouse so we will be able to attend the monthly & special meetings together from now on. There is so much to look forward and prepare for to and we work together so well..it should be great!
“Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.” ~ Henry Ford ~
Maybe my busy crazy weekend is why I am home sick now. My brain is overloaded. Or maybe I was in a room with 700+ people and maybe I just caught a bug. Anyways - here I am. I am going to bed. I should head out to the garage but I have zero energy.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
So things are crazy....
Well, I feel crazy.
A friend of mine from the gym is dealing with the loss of her brother – he was killed on his motorcycle last week. Poof – just gone. It was so sad especially as he left a young wife and three kids under 7 years old behind. I feel for her. I know how I felt when my mom died – it was beyond devastating as I’m sure it will be when I lose a sibling. The same week, a murder/suicide happened a few blocks from our house in Dalhousie…a man killed his wife, his 4 & 6 year old children and the roommate that rented their basement...he let his one year old live…but he killed himself. It was sick and sad and completely numbing.
Blogging is a funny thing. I think of it as a bit of a diary, yet you really can’t pour it all out as it isn’t really the place to air your dirty laundry, is it? I mean, if I really said all of the things that I am thinking and feeling I would probably make an awful lot of people very upset. There is a situation that I am dealing with now and I know that if I told the world about it I would feel better but it would just hurt too many people in the long run. So what to do? Keep it in? Hope it heals itself? I don’t know. It is stressful and I am not really dealing well at all. I am waking up between 3:30 am and 4:00 am in a cold sweat every morning and laying there stressing and worrying myself sick.
Ugh.
I’m tired.
This has been going on long enough.
But I have faith – which is the topic of this quote I have been thinking about…
“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith!”
~ Margaret Shepherd ~
So what else is new?
We have a huge gymnastics competition in Calgary – The National Championships for Women’s, Men’s & Trampoline & Tumbling…. and I signed up a long time ago to be on the LOC as Awards Coordinator. If I knew then what my life would be like now – I never would have done it. It has been stressful and I have not been focused in any such way. Luckily we have some great team members that have been on top of things.
Still doing my best to avoid bad carbs and caffeine…and I have been doing pretty well. My biggest weaknesses are wine, martini’s and mojitos. I can pretty much stay away from the bread and crackers and junk food no problem. But the drinks… I miss them…given my current stressful situation…they are helpful to relax, you know! I have been pretty good though. If Anthony & I go out and the menu has something enticing, I’ll order it. Anthony has been working out & losing weight for quite a while now…it’s nice to be able to do it together. We are still walking together – he goes 7 days a week and I go 4…as the days I go to work early just don’t work into the schedule. I feel better – I feel trimmer…there is still a long way to go…but it’s a start.
My blood pressure is coming down. The walking is helping. I am not really ready to take on a big jump into hard core working out - But I will be ready one day in the near future. Anthony is keeping track of my readings twice a day and recording them into a spreadsheet to take to my doctor. Hopefully I can wean myself off of the meds soon. It’s one of my steps to a healthier/happier me.
I have been slaving – yes SLAVING, away in our garage, purging like crazy. I know, I should have done it 8 years ago when we bought the house…but I didn’t so here I am…shoulder high in crap! I have found stuff that when we last moved was thrown haphazardly into boxes and should never have moved along with us. Toys, clothes, baby bedding, tapes, bills from the early 90’s! You name it, I’ve found it. I have probably spent about 30 hours in there so far and the end is not in sight. The problem is – some of it has memories and trying to decide what to keep and what to junk, what to donate, what to save for our Breast Cancer Fundraiser garage sale…Ugh. It’s all so much. I think so far we have donated about 15 bags to charity and taken at least 30 bags to the garbage.
My gym life is almost over – thank God! My term as President is over in 13 days. Yippee! I can’t wait to pass this off to someone fresh. I need t get away from the constant bullshit. It’s just such a weird situation at that club. No one really seems to want that place to be successful. It’s all about ME, ME, ME! (or THEM, THEM, THEM, really) If it doesn’t directly benefit the parent or their child, they want nothing to do with it. It’s such a frustrating place to be…when you know what has to be done and you have to fight for it every second of the day, it gets tiring. I have done so much to move things forward and I am proud of what we have managed to get done in the past few years despite the nagging parents but I’m tired. I’m over it. Someone else can take on this two-year-old migraine!
13 days and counting….
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.”
~ Oprah Winfrey ~
A friend of mine from the gym is dealing with the loss of her brother – he was killed on his motorcycle last week. Poof – just gone. It was so sad especially as he left a young wife and three kids under 7 years old behind. I feel for her. I know how I felt when my mom died – it was beyond devastating as I’m sure it will be when I lose a sibling. The same week, a murder/suicide happened a few blocks from our house in Dalhousie…a man killed his wife, his 4 & 6 year old children and the roommate that rented their basement...he let his one year old live…but he killed himself. It was sick and sad and completely numbing.
Blogging is a funny thing. I think of it as a bit of a diary, yet you really can’t pour it all out as it isn’t really the place to air your dirty laundry, is it? I mean, if I really said all of the things that I am thinking and feeling I would probably make an awful lot of people very upset. There is a situation that I am dealing with now and I know that if I told the world about it I would feel better but it would just hurt too many people in the long run. So what to do? Keep it in? Hope it heals itself? I don’t know. It is stressful and I am not really dealing well at all. I am waking up between 3:30 am and 4:00 am in a cold sweat every morning and laying there stressing and worrying myself sick.
Ugh.
I’m tired.
This has been going on long enough.
But I have faith – which is the topic of this quote I have been thinking about…
“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith!”
~ Margaret Shepherd ~
So what else is new?
We have a huge gymnastics competition in Calgary – The National Championships for Women’s, Men’s & Trampoline & Tumbling…. and I signed up a long time ago to be on the LOC as Awards Coordinator. If I knew then what my life would be like now – I never would have done it. It has been stressful and I have not been focused in any such way. Luckily we have some great team members that have been on top of things.
Still doing my best to avoid bad carbs and caffeine…and I have been doing pretty well. My biggest weaknesses are wine, martini’s and mojitos. I can pretty much stay away from the bread and crackers and junk food no problem. But the drinks… I miss them…given my current stressful situation…they are helpful to relax, you know! I have been pretty good though. If Anthony & I go out and the menu has something enticing, I’ll order it. Anthony has been working out & losing weight for quite a while now…it’s nice to be able to do it together. We are still walking together – he goes 7 days a week and I go 4…as the days I go to work early just don’t work into the schedule. I feel better – I feel trimmer…there is still a long way to go…but it’s a start.
My blood pressure is coming down. The walking is helping. I am not really ready to take on a big jump into hard core working out - But I will be ready one day in the near future. Anthony is keeping track of my readings twice a day and recording them into a spreadsheet to take to my doctor. Hopefully I can wean myself off of the meds soon. It’s one of my steps to a healthier/happier me.
I have been slaving – yes SLAVING, away in our garage, purging like crazy. I know, I should have done it 8 years ago when we bought the house…but I didn’t so here I am…shoulder high in crap! I have found stuff that when we last moved was thrown haphazardly into boxes and should never have moved along with us. Toys, clothes, baby bedding, tapes, bills from the early 90’s! You name it, I’ve found it. I have probably spent about 30 hours in there so far and the end is not in sight. The problem is – some of it has memories and trying to decide what to keep and what to junk, what to donate, what to save for our Breast Cancer Fundraiser garage sale…Ugh. It’s all so much. I think so far we have donated about 15 bags to charity and taken at least 30 bags to the garbage.
My gym life is almost over – thank God! My term as President is over in 13 days. Yippee! I can’t wait to pass this off to someone fresh. I need t get away from the constant bullshit. It’s just such a weird situation at that club. No one really seems to want that place to be successful. It’s all about ME, ME, ME! (or THEM, THEM, THEM, really) If it doesn’t directly benefit the parent or their child, they want nothing to do with it. It’s such a frustrating place to be…when you know what has to be done and you have to fight for it every second of the day, it gets tiring. I have done so much to move things forward and I am proud of what we have managed to get done in the past few years despite the nagging parents but I’m tired. I’m over it. Someone else can take on this two-year-old migraine!
13 days and counting….
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.”
~ Oprah Winfrey ~
Friday, May 30, 2008
5 weeks ago...
So it has been 5 weeks since I had a total change of ...well everything.
Seriously - 5 weeks ago...I was a mess. I felt that my life was a mess...but I actually had to have it pointed out to me to really get it.
I guess I've had a major AHA moment!
It's funny how at some point something changes and it creates the snowball effect and EVERYTHING changes.
In my case, for the better.
In 5 five weeks:
My outlook on life is different - better!
My marriage is as strong as it has ever been!
I have not had a Tim Hortons Steeped Tea Double/Double (in 5 weeks!)
I have eaten very little white stuff...meaning white flour & white sugar.
I have lost about 15 pounds.
I feel great.
I walk 5K, 4x a week with my hubby & dogs.
I have not let people run all over me & try and drag me down.
I have purged & decluttered about 20% of our garage.
I have put gymnastics second...for a change!
And in 17 days, my world is not going to be ruled by ungrateful, whiney, bitchy people anymore!!!
Here are some quotes that I have been thinking about lately:
"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed."
~ Earl Nightingale ~
"To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it more fit for its prime function of looking forward."
~ Margaret Fairless Barber ~
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
~ John Quincy Adams ~
“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.”
~ Winston Churchill ~
“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
~ Mother Teresa ~
"Love is everything it's cracked up to be...It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for."
~ Erica Jong ~
"Love cures people, the ones who receive love and the ones who give it, too."
~ Karl Menninger ~
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”
~ Mignon McLaughlin ~
"Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others."
~ William A. Ward ~
And finally:
"And will you succeed? Yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guaranteed!"
~ Dr. Seuss ~
Seriously - 5 weeks ago...I was a mess. I felt that my life was a mess...but I actually had to have it pointed out to me to really get it.
I guess I've had a major AHA moment!
It's funny how at some point something changes and it creates the snowball effect and EVERYTHING changes.
In my case, for the better.
In 5 five weeks:
My outlook on life is different - better!
My marriage is as strong as it has ever been!
I have not had a Tim Hortons Steeped Tea Double/Double (in 5 weeks!)
I have eaten very little white stuff...meaning white flour & white sugar.
I have lost about 15 pounds.
I feel great.
I walk 5K, 4x a week with my hubby & dogs.
I have not let people run all over me & try and drag me down.
I have purged & decluttered about 20% of our garage.
I have put gymnastics second...for a change!
And in 17 days, my world is not going to be ruled by ungrateful, whiney, bitchy people anymore!!!
Here are some quotes that I have been thinking about lately:
"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed."
~ Earl Nightingale ~
"To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it more fit for its prime function of looking forward."
~ Margaret Fairless Barber ~
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
~ John Quincy Adams ~
“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.”
~ Winston Churchill ~
“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
~ Mother Teresa ~
"Love is everything it's cracked up to be...It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for."
~ Erica Jong ~
"Love cures people, the ones who receive love and the ones who give it, too."
~ Karl Menninger ~
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”
~ Mignon McLaughlin ~
"Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others."
~ William A. Ward ~
And finally:
"And will you succeed? Yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guaranteed!"
~ Dr. Seuss ~
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Ah...I'm dreaming of Mexico!
Yes - so back to Mexico...it was amazing.
There were a few hiccups... like our first flight was behind schedule so we only had 10 minutes between flights and I was worried sick that we would miss it...but we made it....unfortunately, our luggage did not!
Normally - I would not have cared so much...because normally I pack a great carry on...this time, I did not. I was out running errands in the morning and when I got home, Anthony's mom was already there to drive us to the airport...so I just grabbed everything and we went to the airport. So, no, I did not have a change of clothes or my blood pressures meds or a freakin' toothbrush! Ugh - I hate it when that happens. Isn't that Murphy's Law? Pack it, you won't need it...don't pack it and you surely will.
So that was fine - when we arrived we spent almost an hour getting through customs...(and we had it good...others that arrived on Saturday waited about 3 hours!) Once through customs we realized that our bags were nowhere to be found. The guy at Continental was like.."Oh yeah, the bags never make in on the Calgary flight" I'm like...Hello? If you know that...fix it!
So it's my birthday as well....which we all know is not my favorite day of the year....but that's life.
So we grab a cab to the condo and the brides brother & his girlfriend are there waiting for us with keys to our unit...and they were also so kind as to make us some yummy cheese & ham quesadillas. Then we went for a long walk along the beach...it was pitch black...so that was kinda cool.
The next couple days we just hung out, walked along the beach, read books, swam, relaxed and enjoyed each other.
We helped the brides family with some of the wedding preparations and shopping and that was fun as well. Once everyone else started to arrive it became quite festive...I think there was about 80 people that came down for the wedding! That amazing for a destination wedding!
The wedding itself was wonderful and Anthony looked handsome as a groomsman....I'll have to post some pix when I download them. We met so many new people and hung out with some old friends - it was quite fun!
We did some amazing snorkeling trips and some scuba diving...and yes - I scuba dived!!! I know - I am usually such a chicken shit...but for whatever reason...it was important to me to try.
I did the "resort" certification course in which you have to do all the necessary functions in the pool first and go through a quick test of each skill before they will take you out. And even then, you can only dive 40 feet or so. You need the full PADI certification to do anything deeper - which Anthony has.
Before we even get in the pool, the nerves were starting. I had to get Anthony to go get me some Motrin...hoping it would help. It did not.
They made us put the tanks & gear on and carry it to the pool...good Lord...I though I was going to fall over backwards...it was sooooo heavy!
I get in the pool and get the regulator in...I can't seem to get my head under the water. face yes...whole head..no. I almost said FORGET IT! I'm outta here! But I persist and the dive master is patient. It takes some time. Meanwhile Anthony & Lorin are swimming about having a grand time. Ok - so I master getting my whole head under water. Then I am asked to sit on the bottom of the pool - on my bum. Nope...no way. I felt so out of control it was crazy. I just could not do it. I kept jumping up and going above the water line. Again.....thoughts of quitting and running back to the safety of the lounge chair sounded great! But I kept trying.... Anyways...after a while I just kneeled down and that seemed to be ok.
I somehow passed the tests that were asked of me...even though I was scared shitless doing them!
And so off we go...into the boat to take us to the dive site. During the boat ride I am starting to really freak myself out....I was shaking...but trying to maintain some type of composure for my husbands sake at least. The dive master Paul, says to me..."ok Allyson - so you & I are going to be dive buddies - and we'll stick together down there." Whew...did he really think I was going down alone?
We get to the dive site and the boats stop. And Paul is like...Ok lets go...sit on the ledge and fall backwards into the water! It's a good thing that I didn't think too long and hard about that 'cause I would never have done it...but I did it quickly and it was over and I was in. Thank God. Still alive.
The waves were crashing all around us and I kept getting sea water in my mouth but I was freaked out about keeping the regulator in my mouth and going down. We tried once and I panicked and up we went. I tried again and got a little further down and freaked...up we came. Finally Paul just pulled me down by my hand and that was that. I was under.
I tried my best to be brave, be seriously...I was a mess inside. Paul held my hand (the whole time, I might add) and off we swam....Anthony & Lorin and the rest of the group swam off and Paul and I hung out and he pointed out all kinds of great sea life. Very cool indeed.
So inside I am still a nervous wreck...remember here, that I am a crazy claustrophobic control freak with high blood pressure to boot! Probably not the best combination to have 40 feet under the water. I feel sick.
So I make some kind of motions to Paul that I feel sick...well shit - they didn't teach us those hand signals!!! I think he thinks that I am enjoying this!
But the puke is coming...I can feel it and I can't stop it......sure enough I rip the regulator out of my mouth (a HUGE no-no, of course!) and let er' rip....Paul is freaking and trying to shove the regulator back into my mouth...but I am not done puking so I flight him. Meanwhile I could be (should be) asphyxiating...on my way to DEAD! But finally I put the regulator back in and breathe...thank God! Paul looks slightly panic stricken...but I feel better. We are surrounded by my puke floating around us and the fish are coming...so we swim away and let them have their lunch.
We swim around some more and enjoy the sights...I was still freaked out but doing a little better. In hindsight it would have been safer to shit my pants underwater but who can choose?
The dive lasted about 40 minutes. I never once checked my air tank levels...bad me...but Paul did and he said I did amazing...most mothers do as they have been taught good breathing techniques for childbirth.
So it's time to go up...
Pull up the rope...slowly...I try not to panic and rush to the top...knowing that my lungs would explode.
I keep my breathing regulated...Ok - almost there...I can see the light....
I get to the top...pop my head out of the water...waves crashing all around us...and promptly puke again. and again. .
I get on the boat and puke some more.
My poor husband...I know he was proud of me...but I'm sorry he had to endure that.
So that was my very first ever scuba diving experience!
Fun and EXCITING times!!!
You know...even after all that I will do it again. It is a learned thing. And I have to learn to control my fears and my panic..and not just for scuba diving...for life itself!
We also went snorkeling and I was also sick in the water doing that...and on the boat! Weird! I have spent lots of time around boats so I'm not sure if it was just nerves or an upset stomach or seasickness...who knows. But this morning I did read about a bracelet that you wear that gives constant acupressure on your wrist that helps keep the sea sickness at bay. http://www.psibands.com/
I haven't looked at it yet but I will for our next trip around water!
I celebrated both my birthday & Mother's Day there and missed our club meet & Noah's competition...but you know what..it was worth every minute of it.
By the way, my darling husband...so thoughtful, brought my birthday gift with him.
Beautiful diamond solitaire earrings..
a book on Love poems/quotes..
the new Van Morrison CD..
some really cute stationary..
and a card that brought tears to my eyes.
Wow...what a lovely bunch of gifts.
I guess I could forgive him for totally ignoring me on Valentines Day?
All in all...this was quite possibly one of the best vacations that Anthony & I have ever been on. It was 11 days of pure heaven. The town is so our style...laid back and low key...great restaurants, friendly people, beautiful beaches, the 2nd largest coral reef in the world....
We loved it so much, we are seriously thinking that we would like to buy one of the condos. And there are three for sale....
Stay tuned!
There were a few hiccups... like our first flight was behind schedule so we only had 10 minutes between flights and I was worried sick that we would miss it...but we made it....unfortunately, our luggage did not!
Normally - I would not have cared so much...because normally I pack a great carry on...this time, I did not. I was out running errands in the morning and when I got home, Anthony's mom was already there to drive us to the airport...so I just grabbed everything and we went to the airport. So, no, I did not have a change of clothes or my blood pressures meds or a freakin' toothbrush! Ugh - I hate it when that happens. Isn't that Murphy's Law? Pack it, you won't need it...don't pack it and you surely will.
So that was fine - when we arrived we spent almost an hour getting through customs...(and we had it good...others that arrived on Saturday waited about 3 hours!) Once through customs we realized that our bags were nowhere to be found. The guy at Continental was like.."Oh yeah, the bags never make in on the Calgary flight" I'm like...Hello? If you know that...fix it!
So it's my birthday as well....which we all know is not my favorite day of the year....but that's life.
So we grab a cab to the condo and the brides brother & his girlfriend are there waiting for us with keys to our unit...and they were also so kind as to make us some yummy cheese & ham quesadillas. Then we went for a long walk along the beach...it was pitch black...so that was kinda cool.
The next couple days we just hung out, walked along the beach, read books, swam, relaxed and enjoyed each other.
We helped the brides family with some of the wedding preparations and shopping and that was fun as well. Once everyone else started to arrive it became quite festive...I think there was about 80 people that came down for the wedding! That amazing for a destination wedding!
The wedding itself was wonderful and Anthony looked handsome as a groomsman....I'll have to post some pix when I download them. We met so many new people and hung out with some old friends - it was quite fun!
We did some amazing snorkeling trips and some scuba diving...and yes - I scuba dived!!! I know - I am usually such a chicken shit...but for whatever reason...it was important to me to try.
I did the "resort" certification course in which you have to do all the necessary functions in the pool first and go through a quick test of each skill before they will take you out. And even then, you can only dive 40 feet or so. You need the full PADI certification to do anything deeper - which Anthony has.
Before we even get in the pool, the nerves were starting. I had to get Anthony to go get me some Motrin...hoping it would help. It did not.
They made us put the tanks & gear on and carry it to the pool...good Lord...I though I was going to fall over backwards...it was sooooo heavy!
I get in the pool and get the regulator in...I can't seem to get my head under the water. face yes...whole head..no. I almost said FORGET IT! I'm outta here! But I persist and the dive master is patient. It takes some time. Meanwhile Anthony & Lorin are swimming about having a grand time. Ok - so I master getting my whole head under water. Then I am asked to sit on the bottom of the pool - on my bum. Nope...no way. I felt so out of control it was crazy. I just could not do it. I kept jumping up and going above the water line. Again.....thoughts of quitting and running back to the safety of the lounge chair sounded great! But I kept trying.... Anyways...after a while I just kneeled down and that seemed to be ok.
I somehow passed the tests that were asked of me...even though I was scared shitless doing them!
And so off we go...into the boat to take us to the dive site. During the boat ride I am starting to really freak myself out....I was shaking...but trying to maintain some type of composure for my husbands sake at least. The dive master Paul, says to me..."ok Allyson - so you & I are going to be dive buddies - and we'll stick together down there." Whew...did he really think I was going down alone?
We get to the dive site and the boats stop. And Paul is like...Ok lets go...sit on the ledge and fall backwards into the water! It's a good thing that I didn't think too long and hard about that 'cause I would never have done it...but I did it quickly and it was over and I was in. Thank God. Still alive.
The waves were crashing all around us and I kept getting sea water in my mouth but I was freaked out about keeping the regulator in my mouth and going down. We tried once and I panicked and up we went. I tried again and got a little further down and freaked...up we came. Finally Paul just pulled me down by my hand and that was that. I was under.
I tried my best to be brave, be seriously...I was a mess inside. Paul held my hand (the whole time, I might add) and off we swam....Anthony & Lorin and the rest of the group swam off and Paul and I hung out and he pointed out all kinds of great sea life. Very cool indeed.
So inside I am still a nervous wreck...remember here, that I am a crazy claustrophobic control freak with high blood pressure to boot! Probably not the best combination to have 40 feet under the water. I feel sick.
So I make some kind of motions to Paul that I feel sick...well shit - they didn't teach us those hand signals!!! I think he thinks that I am enjoying this!
But the puke is coming...I can feel it and I can't stop it......sure enough I rip the regulator out of my mouth (a HUGE no-no, of course!) and let er' rip....Paul is freaking and trying to shove the regulator back into my mouth...but I am not done puking so I flight him. Meanwhile I could be (should be) asphyxiating...on my way to DEAD! But finally I put the regulator back in and breathe...thank God! Paul looks slightly panic stricken...but I feel better. We are surrounded by my puke floating around us and the fish are coming...so we swim away and let them have their lunch.
We swim around some more and enjoy the sights...I was still freaked out but doing a little better. In hindsight it would have been safer to shit my pants underwater but who can choose?
The dive lasted about 40 minutes. I never once checked my air tank levels...bad me...but Paul did and he said I did amazing...most mothers do as they have been taught good breathing techniques for childbirth.
So it's time to go up...
Pull up the rope...slowly...I try not to panic and rush to the top...knowing that my lungs would explode.
I keep my breathing regulated...Ok - almost there...I can see the light....
I get to the top...pop my head out of the water...waves crashing all around us...and promptly puke again. and again. .
I get on the boat and puke some more.
My poor husband...I know he was proud of me...but I'm sorry he had to endure that.
So that was my very first ever scuba diving experience!
Fun and EXCITING times!!!
You know...even after all that I will do it again. It is a learned thing. And I have to learn to control my fears and my panic..and not just for scuba diving...for life itself!
We also went snorkeling and I was also sick in the water doing that...and on the boat! Weird! I have spent lots of time around boats so I'm not sure if it was just nerves or an upset stomach or seasickness...who knows. But this morning I did read about a bracelet that you wear that gives constant acupressure on your wrist that helps keep the sea sickness at bay. http://www.psibands.com/
I haven't looked at it yet but I will for our next trip around water!
I celebrated both my birthday & Mother's Day there and missed our club meet & Noah's competition...but you know what..it was worth every minute of it.
By the way, my darling husband...so thoughtful, brought my birthday gift with him.
Beautiful diamond solitaire earrings..
a book on Love poems/quotes..
the new Van Morrison CD..
some really cute stationary..
and a card that brought tears to my eyes.
Wow...what a lovely bunch of gifts.
I guess I could forgive him for totally ignoring me on Valentines Day?
All in all...this was quite possibly one of the best vacations that Anthony & I have ever been on. It was 11 days of pure heaven. The town is so our style...laid back and low key...great restaurants, friendly people, beautiful beaches, the 2nd largest coral reef in the world....
We loved it so much, we are seriously thinking that we would like to buy one of the condos. And there are three for sale....
Stay tuned!
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