Hitch, Take Two

About 3 years ago I had my own episode of the movie Hitch, but we never figured out what had caused that reaction. Last night I experienced the sequel... but I can pinpoint the culprit this time...

Over the past few years peaches have gradually started causing me problems, but none have been severe enough to make me give up my favorite fruit. It started with mild itching in my hands and forearms when I would peel them, I just attributed this to the fuzz. Later this progressed to itchy lips and throat when I would eat them, but I could sap the peach in the microwave for a few seconds and it took care of it.

Then last Thursday, I got some peaches out of the freezer to make cobbler, after pealing and slicing them I got a pretty set of hives on my hands, but didn't really think much of it. After we pulled the cobbler out of the oven I snitched a few bites, but didn't eat much since it was pretty late. About an hour later while laying in bed reading I was feeling super itchy, and noticed that I was breaking out in hives and a flush rash up my neck, into my scalp, and all the pits - knee, elbow, arm... pretty much any warm place. So I jumped in the shower, took some Benadryl, and a few puffs of my inhaler and made myself lay in bed and be calm.

Well, because I love peaches so much, and am completely sutbborn, I refused to believe that it was the peaches that caused this reaction, so yesterday I pulled the cobbler out of the fridge and had a pretty good slice. With in 20 minutes I was having horrible stomach and intestinal pain. But I busied myself with some weed pulling and yard clean up. As I was doing these chores I was getting really hot, and itchy, but again in denial, assumed it was just the heat and weeds. A bit later Brian got home from work and commented on how red I was, and when I took off my sunglasses he immediately told me to get in the shower and take Benadryl. That's when everything went completely crazy and my tongue felt tingly and swollen and my lungs started closing.

So off to the ER we went... the whole way there I was still battling nausea, and as soon as I walked in the door I emptied the contents of my stomach... I guess that's a key to getting treatment in the ER more quickly- that and being the color of a stop sign- because they immediately took me back and got me hooked up to all the gadgets (pulse was racing at 127, and my blood pressure was really low) and an IV started with a drug cocktail of more Benadryl, Pepcid (also has a histamine blocker), and a steroid, and gave me a breathing treatment to open my lungs.

Once things seemed under control, and I awoke from the drug induced sleep, the Dr. discussed with me that I should probably avoid peaches (duh), and said that systemic allergic reactions like this just compound, meaning the next one might be worse, so he gave me an Epipen which I have to carry with me from now on. He also said that it is likely that my body will have another flare up in the next few days until the peaches are completely out of my system, so until then I have to take an oral steroid to help keep that from happening.

The worst part of all of this is not that I have to carry the stupid Epipen, or even that I can't ever eat peaches again(no more peach poppy seed cake from Slice of Life), but that our goal and dream of owning a peach orchard some day can't possibly happen. I guess it will have to be hops (which the nurse said would be a much worse allergy to have than peaches.)

So my plan now is to fast from fruits for at least a week, contact an allergist to see what other foods are in the peach family and possibly have more allergy tests. But I am seriously freaking out about eating anything right now...

Learned: Trust your body the first time.. .being stubborn and choosing denial really isn't a good plan.

The Mermaid Chair & Sammy's Hill

I started Sammy's Hill on my trip to Atlanta. It was pretty funny, I even laughed out loud several times. Sammy is an aide to a politician in DC, who is unlucky in love, a hypochondriac, completely neurotic, an always finds herself in the most unimaginable predicaments. From a racy email being sent to all the wrong people, dealing with a completely high witness who is supposed to appear before the entire congress. Many laughing moments carry you through the political parade as candidates jockey for positions during elections.



Over the Thanksgiving Holiday break I found many morning greeting me with a cup of coffee, my cozy antique chair, and this book. This book was an amazing poetic journey of a woman coming home. ... to take care of her mother, to find herself, to find truths, to find love.

"I felt amazed at the choosing one had to do, over and over, a million times daily -- choosing love, choosing it again, how loving and being in love could be so different." was my favorite quote from the book. It reminded me of how true, and how important, it is in my own marriage. Too many marriages end because those involved don't realize how important their daily choice to love is, to choose love even when you don't feel love.

Learned: Like the ebb and flow of the sea, so is the need to read stirring in my soul.

Remodeling The Bathroom

Over spring break I decided to remodel the bathroom. It was the only room in our house that has not undergone complete renovation... Brain pointed out to me that I always start these big projects when he is working his 12 days straight, and is unable to help. Thankfully Summer came over to help with the demolition, even though she was giving her own bathroom a face lift! Also my dad came over to help (as well he should since he was the one that suggested the project be expanded from just floor and vanity, to include the shower) It was so nice to spend a few days with my dad too!

Maddox was a good helper (most of the time), and only lost patience after 5 days.

The whole project has lasted 12 days. I started on Wednesday during break, and it was just finished last night. By the end of the first weekend we at least had a working shower so we could stop traveling to the parents in the evenings.

Currently we have a fully functional bathroom, all that needs to be done now is the baseboard, knobs, and towel hooks. But I really consider it done!

The best part of the whole thing was that it cost us less than $1000 when all was said and done!

Well.... enjoy the pics!



Learned? A project I thought would be finished in a week, but took a lot longer... reminded me I am not the best judge of how long things take....

A New Adventure

Hello to all my readers (faithful, and passersby), I wanted to share something new and exciting with all of you...

The other day a friend of mine and I were commenting on our exploding closets and how we still have nothing to wear... So we came up with a solution:

It just so happens we are about the same size, so why not do a clothing swap once a month! The brilliance of it is that we automatically DOUBLE the size of our closets and who wouldn't want that??!!!

I am super excited to expand our wardrobes (at no cost to us) and rejuvenate clothes that have lost our love. Also who knows the stories we will be able to share (Maybe a real life "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants")!

We decided to keep track of how this new adventure unfolds at our new web site Castle Closet. We are planning our first "swap" later this month...so click on over and check out our progress! We are also including some of our favorite fashion spots you can check out on the web...



Can't wait to see how this turns out. AND if you know either of us, and live close, we would love to TRIPLE or QUADRUPLE all of our closets!!!

Learned: A HUGE "thank you" to my friend Summer who took our idea, ran with it, and made us this fun blog to record our adventure!!

My Chocolate Speaks To Me...

...and this is what it says....



Learned? Eat more chocolate.

My Current Addictions

I haven't been able to run since Moab, I went once last week and immediately had knee pain. I knew I loved to run but now that I can't I long for it even more. Every sunny afternoon, every runner I pass in my car, every time I hear a song that I love to run to, or doing laundry and folding my running clothes, I realize that I am in withdrawal. So to fill the void I have a few new addictions to confess: addictions...

First I am loving Weeds a Showtime series about a suburban mom/widow, who also deals pot... I am finding it completely hilarious and captivating though it can be raunchy and ridiculous.

While waiting for the next instalment of Weeds you can find me curled up with my second addiction.... I finally found another book that I could get into and love. I am currently reading The Time Travelers Wife. I wanted to read this when I saw the movie was coming out, but never got around to it.

I am hoping that by the time I have exhausted Weeds and my book I will be able to run again.

Learned: My acupuncturist said that there is happiness outside of running, though I am finding enjoyment from my current time fillers, I still long to run.

Updating Technology

I am pleased to report that I have finally joined the wireless age. I am posting this from the comfort of my couch, with no cords attached. Last week we got a new laptop, but I haven't done much with it because I didn't have wireless set up. After HOURS of messing with the dang router, and the stupid settings, I finally got it up and running andhopefully sucure. I did it all by my self, with no help from the companies technology support (I did call, but am still awaiting a return call).

Now, I know that this may not seem like a very big accomplishment for most of you, but for me technology in general gives me anxiety.

I am super excited to blog,facebook, watch hulu, netflix, and do work (ha, ha) all from the comfort of my bed,couch, or anywhere else in my house!!

Learned: When in doubt, just start clicking buttons!

February 3rd? More like April 3rd.

Today I took the day off to take care of Madison, who came home sick from school yesterday. And what a great day to stay home! If felt like spring and it is only the beginning of February.

I thought Madison might be able to go to school today, so I got up at 5:00, did an exercise video, and got ready for work. When she got up, she looked pale and rosy cheeked, and had a fever, so I ran into work to get plans together for a sub.

Once I was finally home we all ran over to the video store and rented some movies, and grabbed a few groceries for lunch. Finally we settled in on the couch, Maddox in my room, and watched a movie. Then we all took a great nap!

When we got up it was absolutely beautiful out side, so the boy and I headed out to do some yard work, while Madison relaxed on the couch. Maddox helped me clean out the flower beds in front (something that needed to be done early fall). It looks so great now. Little tiny green nubs are poking through the dirt, a promise of some beautiful spring flowers.

Then we went and played in the back yard, swinging in the swing, and digging in the sand box. We were able to play in the yard wearing only light jackets till 5:00 when the shadows slid over the fence.

When Brian got home I just couldn't pass up a fair weather run, so I headed out. It was so nice to run outside with out being bundled up and breathing icy air. I got in a great 4 mile run in less than 36 min! Yeah!

Learned? This warm weather makes me eager for spring, but it is awful early to be getting this warm and makes me concerned for our local produce and fruit trees!

Twilight

I just bought my tickets to see Twilight this weekend. In August, while on our Vegas girls get-a-way, my friend Vycci got me hooked on the books and we have been planning on seeing the flick together since. My excitement in this series has been renewed and I can hardly wait to be reunited with my fictitious friends in Forks, WA!


Learned? I know that I am so lame for being this excited about a movie. But what could be better than a weekend away with the very best of my friends, and vampires!!

(Keep us in your prayers, as it will just be the kiddos and I heading over the hills to Denver, as Brian has to work.)

Time Flys (Again)

Once again I have let more than a month pass since posting. So I am sure that there must be a really good excuse....

This is what I have been up to for the last month:

Getting myself and two kids up, dressed, fed, lunches packed, and out the door before 6:30, teaching all day, running to and from practices and games 3 days a week, and trying to find time for my own runs.

I also had my first parent teacher conferences at Middle School. They went amazingly well, I didn't have one parent upset with me!!! And an large portion voiced their praises of how their students are doing in Math!

I have been taking an online book study about geometric thinking. This is another portion of the two week summer classes I took. There is one more book study and two more weekends that we meet. When that is all over, I will have an additional 12 credits which = one more horizontal move on the pay scale! The best part is I didn't have to pay for any of the credits!!!

I have once again found myself entranced with some books. I just finished a really amazing Christian work of fiction, that revolutionized my relationship with my "Papa". The book is called The Shack, and is about how a man overcomes a major tragedy in his life through a weekend spent with the Trinity. I suggest that everyone read this book, it is written in a very non "religous" way, and I came away thinking this is how God would really talk to me. I am going to read it again and journal about it here, because there are some really deep things I want to ponder more.




The book I am currently reading is about an Atlantean god who was raised (and abused) as a human. So much tragedy has happened to him in his first 21 years of life, and at times I think "How much more can one person endure". I am to the part where he has come of age and his god powers have been restored to him, I am anxious to see what happens next. Though it is a very captivating book, there is some content that makes me hesitant about recommending it, so I am not posting the title.


Learned? I seem to forget the world (at least the cyber one) when I get into a book. But I really need to put more effort into recording important things when they happen, because as I am nearing 30, my memory seems to be fading....

29 Came and went, Along with a lot of other stuff!

I have been completely enthralled in the Twilight series, and just finished it this evening. So this explains my absence for the last month, any free time I had was spent in Forks, WA.

Below are a few of the important things I want to remember about the last moth:

My 29 birthday happened at the beginning of the month. We celebrated at a great wedding:

Congrats Ashley and Gerardo! (Not sure if I spelled his name right)

I also painted the house...
Before:



After:



I went to Vegas with my kindred spirit, Vycci. We stayed at the New York, New York. We shopped, we soaked in the pool and the sun, ordered room service (a $15.00 pint of Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream) while watching a chick flick, got pedicures, and we went to my first Vegas shoe, KA', and had an ENORMOUS steak for dinner, and thoroughly enjoyed the three days of uninterrupted girl talk! It was a good birthday celebration for the both of us, both having August birthdays!



Maddox is officially potty trained. We have had no accidents for quite a while now. He only wears a diaper to bed at night! Yeah Maddox!


I enjoyed a last HOORAH! the weekend before I went back to school. We went rafting through Glenwood Canyon with the Turners, for their daughter's birthday. It was such a blast! I also went on a wine tour for my sister-in-law's sister-in-law's 30th birthday! Happy birthday Kelly!




We also showed our ultra conservative side by taking Madison shooting. Brian and I both agree that it is important for our children to learn how to use guns, and through that learning develop a healthy respect for their power, though it will be years before we take Maddox. She was even brave enough to try the pistol (with Brian's help). She was surprised by the amount of kick it gave. I have decided that I want a little revolver of my own!



Madison started practice with the Academy team for soccer. We are all very excited to see what this season brings. The Academy team is an invitation only team that focuses on player development. In order to increase the level of competition for the games they will be playing against boys their ages. At first the girls were bummed, wanting to play older girls, but now the idea of playing boys is a bit exciting. I am so proud of how hard Madison works on this sport. She is so talented in so many ways!

Last but not of least importance, I had a very successful fist week of middle school. I have a great group of students, and am loving teaching math all day long. I was so nervous to start, but now that the first week is under my belt, I am super excited for the upcoming year!

Learned? Don't put off blogging so long, there is just too much that happened, and I wanted to write about, but now I can't remember it all. Though it was well worth the time spent lost in my books!

My Motto

Teach me daily... my motto. Of course this stems from be being a teacher, but it really goes a bit further. I have been contemplating this "blog" thing for quite some time now, and really the only thing holding me back was not thinking I would have anything to write about. But I realize now that I am full of useless information that I want to remember and share with the world. I plan to remind myself of all those things that I learn each day. So here I go I have taken the leap, and started to blog.

SO... What did I learn today? Setting up and posting my first blog was much less painful than I had originally thought! It took less than 10 minutes!