1/2 Cup Of Drip

Every once in awhile life sends you reeling in a new direction. As for me it was a gallbladder attack. It really is too soon to tell how much change has permanently sunk in. As for now I am being a very good girl. I have said goodbye to my yummy,creamy white chocolate breves in the morning. No more espresso. I am very happy with my 1/2 cup of drip watered down with milk and a little creamer. In fact I don't usually drink more than half of it before I am running out the door to work. As for the rest of the day I am tracking my calories on an app on my phone. So far it's fun and easy to use,I have NEVER counted calories before. Plus it tells me all of my nutritional information for the day,it's shocking to see the nutritional value of the food you eat. I think I need a multi vitamin or something...I am eating to keep my gallbladder happy and hoping weight loss is an added bonus. At the end of the day when I log my final calories it says "If every day were like today you will weigh (this any) pounds in 5 weeks!" Hahaha! I love it,1,650 calories a day isn't brutal punishment after all..

With Vern's help the flowers and garden got planted. I am so thankful he loves gardening like I do! I give him full credit for the garden. He turned the soil,cut he weeds,added and mixed in the new dirt and then planted 6 zucchini,2 tomatoes and 3 peppers. Our tiny urban garden is done! Essentials only this year due to our unpredictable weather. The cucumbers will get planted later this week,I just hope the weather cooperates! As for me I have taken a new approach to gardening this year. I purchased my pricey must haves first like my Hydrangea,Lilacs and Clematis. So far my attempt at bulbs is successful. The Gladiolas have green leaf sprouts 2 feet tall! This weekend I added color and aromatherapy. Bright pink Million Bells in a pot with Chocolate Mint and Pineapple Sage hang above a small flower garden filled with various types of Basil,a Snapdragon,and few Columbine and a Gerber Daisy to name a few. Did you know there is Cinnamon Basil? I didn't,it smells WONDERFUL!My eclectic Cottage style garden is well on it's way...I just need to post some photos! I have to say..by the time we were done we sat in awe of what we had accomplished and created together. It looks like a park! Go Wonder Twins!ha ha

As for that dreaded bathroom clean I mentioned it my previous post-I did it. Me,gloves,a sponge and a spray bottle of Bleach water attacked every inch of it. It smells like a swimming pool. Happiness.

AND...tonight I started back on the coupons. They sure have piled up on me!Looks like my evenings will be busy cutting and sorting.(I am hoping that it also serves as a distraction from snacking.) Eating healthier isn't cheap so I am especially anxious to save money where I can these days.

Once again I re read my post and smile. Yes..life has it's way of working things out in good time. Barely one week later and all is well. No more pain and illness,no more messy house but most of all we DO have a happy healthy family :)

Beauty

 Windows and Reflections WIN 

I'm Getting Older In My Smart Age...

I think the best thing about being sick is feeling better. In the future I am going to try to remember to bask in that glorious moment as long as possible. Here's why. As soon as I started feeling better it was hard not to do a little light housework. Vern had been busting his behind trying to run this house,work AND unpack from our camping trip. Oh bless his heart..:) He did a great job! BUT..one man cannot keep up after Del and this house,it requires at least a 2 person team. So I did a few dishes,cleaned counters,folded laundry and it felt great to be able to be up and around. I had been in bed wayy to long! As time went by I finally started coming out of my Vicoden induced haze and it felt good to hold a conversation and come back to reality.The pain and pills had me out of my mind for 4 days.
 By that evening my eyes and brain were returning to full focus. It felt good just to sit at the table and eat a meal on our new deck with Vern. I had missed him so much even though he was right there the whole time taking care of me. This was the highlight of feeling better! In the future,this is the moment I am going to try to have to remember to savor a little bit longer.
Soon after the downside started to hit me...coming back to face all the things that have been stacked up while you were out can be enough to make you want to go back to bed!
2 dirty dogs that haven't been bathed or brushed for weeks,
A bathroom I was so sick in that I'd rather just torch and rebuild to erase the horrid memories (jk!),
piles of coupons that need cutting and organizing,
tons of clients rescheduled.....
 And a house that has suffered,
3 days of Del living there alone and cooking for himself,
a deck remodel,
2 dirty beach dogs,
and no woman's touch for almost 2 weeks.
THESE are the times when I tell myself...."Take it easy,don't do too much too soon." "Don't worry about the little things,sometimes a spotless house is overrated."  and for me that seems to help alot but I won't lie...it bugs me. As I continue in my Faith I have yet to master my skills as His servant. Serving Him,others and myself (in that order) isn't always as easy as it sounds :)

Attack Of The Gallbladder

I'm alive and feeling so thankful to be getting healthy! Guess who has an angry gallbladder? Lucky Me. It's a long,long story and it's not over yet but I at least wanted you all to know I am on the mend. I have faced the sudden reality that I can no longer eat fatty foods,red meat,cheese,coffee etc etc as much as I used to... if at all. I lost almost 15 pounds in 10 days and I assume that will continue but at a more reasonable and healthy rate. I see my new Dr. in a few days and I am hoping I have more success with her than I did with the Urgent Care Dr.. I will write more later and tell you more but for now I just wanted to check in :)

Frustrated

 I think has been almost a week since I have written anything..? It's hard to know where to start...

 We had a good time in Sekiu despite a few hang ups. The rain was off and on but well worth it for the huge agates we found. We made a funny memory..Vern and I running down Vista beach after we realized it was NOT going to stop monsooning anytime soon. We had on plenty of warm clothes and rain coats but it was pouring! My pants got so wet and heavy that I had to hold them up while "running"  to the truck while also barefoot and with pockets full of rocks! By the time we got to the truck we were soaked through 2 layers! Looks like my raincoat isn't so waterproof after all?! Thank you Chevrolet and Vern for providing me with a truck with seat warmers!

 Trevor was still fighting Bronchitis so he was not quite his perky self during our trip. As for me I got the stomach flu on Friday and have been throwing up everything I have eaten since. Today was day 7 . Vern has also come down with a tummy bug but his symptoms are different. We have barely worked this week and when we were at work,we probably shouldn't have been. Sooo for the first time in a LONG time,I am going to the Doctor tomorrow. In fact, I don't think I have ever been to urgent care for myself..? After many phone calls and unhelpful referrals I finally started to learn how to play the medical insurance game. They make it really inconvenient for sick people to find a Doctor,holy cow..I had no idea it was so complicated and corrupt! In the process of all my efforts I also made a follow up appointment with my new Doctor so I can begin to establish some type of medical records. (New Dr. won't see me for 1st time visit to address tummy issue,was told to go to urgent care,covered by insurance,then I can go to new Dr for follow up. Don't you just love insurance?!) I just hope they can figure it out. I don't know how many more days I can live on soup broth and water....

 Since we have been home I have also spent time on the phone with my 401k company. That was eye opener! I have never had anyone tell me that they are taking (a percentage of) my money and I can't have it back until I retire or quit my job!? STUPID! "Someday" when I have enough in my account they will "allow" me to take a loan on it and pay myself back...WHHHHAT?! I am so stupid for not learning more about it before I started investing...on the bright side my nest egg is safe. I will be so thankful when I am older but mannn,that was a reality slap in the face!

 While in the process of all of this 401k and medical insurance mess I also realized my driver's license is expired! SINCE JANUARY! "No worries" I thought "I will pay my late fee and renew on line." Half way through THAT process I was told I could not renew online because my license was more that 60 days expired. I have to go to the DMV. Seriously?! Why do all these companies take my money yet be so difficult when it comes to helping me in return?! Can't something just go right for a minute? Oh wait it just did..Clearblue Easy just confirmed that I'm not pregnant. Thank you God! I highly doubted I was but it's nice to have the peace of mind.

 I hope my next blog is full of happier news. This week has been a rough one. Things will get better,they have to :)

Another Weekend In Paradise

3 Days Away

We are headed off to the coast again. A relaxing 3 day weekend of camping in the rainforest and plenty of beach combing to celebrate Vern's birthday. This time it will be Vern and I and our 3 kids. Our first family vacation with the 5 of us and I am so excited! Chipper and Maxine just adore their big brother Trevor and I am also hoping Vern and Trevor have some much needed guy time. As for me,I just need to get outta here..see some new scenery. I need a few days of naps in the afternoon and hot showers in the rain. My feet and toes need the softening touch that only miles of barefoot beach combing can provide. I have promised myself I will bring out my Nikon and quit taking all my photos with my cell phone for a few days. Usually Spring gets me in the photography mood after a long drab winter but this year my mood has been as delayed as the warm weather.
 I will pack a huge duffle bag of sweatshirts and comfy pants,all my favorite things to wear,long socks and rain coat and boots. Matching or not,I really don't care. I might bring my blow dryer...for the dogs lol! But seriously,they get really wet and cold on the beach...;) Worse than that..I am hoping Maxine has enough outfits with matching hair accessories for 3 days. She has grown out of most of her baby clothes and her hair is so long I have to put it up every day so she can see. Besides,she just looks so cute :) A bag for me,a bag for the dogs,extra clothes for Trevor and extra sweatshirts for Vern (because they never pack enough)..and they wonder why women pack so much...ha ha

So if I don't find time to blog before we go,I hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! :)