Kauai, Hawaii day 1

Hello Ladies and Gents!

For Thanksgiving this year we have been invited to spend t

he week in Kauai, Hawaii with my in-laws at their timeshare condo thingy. :-) So, my goal is to update daily. We'll see how it goes.

Day 1:

Well, day 1 could technically be yesterday but I don't

really count it because we spent most of the day on a plane or waiting for a plane. I got about 200 pages read in my book, watched The Time Travelers Wife and listened to some music. I also took a benadryl to help my ears. Descending planes are torture. I spent a lot of time praying during the 34000 ft drop. I can't de-pressurize my ears. I never have been able to. We finally got to Kauai around 6pm Hawaiian time (that's 10pm Dallas time). Pam & Tim had gotten here a few hours before us, so they had already come to the condo to check in, unl

oad their things and get back just in time to pick us up! On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Bubba's Burger to eat dinner. I didn't get a burger though. I had a chicken sandwich, no fries or onion rings though. I was quickly reminded that I am on vacation so it's okay to get a burger. lol. My thoughts were, well my body doesn't go on vacation though. haha. Anyway, we got he

re, showered and I passed out by like 8:30 or something because of my lack of sleep, long day, and benadryl. James apparently got in bed, watched TV, tossed

and turned, pretty much slept on my side of the bed and I had no idea.

I slept on the right and he slept on the little travel pillow... good thing I don't turn much in my sleep. Pam & Tim got up at like 5 am to get down to the south shore for some scuba diving. We decided that sleeping in would be worth while. I woke up at like 6:30 ready for the day. I put on my workout clothes and went for a run by myself. It is so beautiful here. So breath taking. When I got back, I sat on the back porch that stares out on the ocean and read the Word. It was so awesome.

Then we go to have a informational breakfast at the resort and got lots of information about things to do on the island. Gina, our hostess, told us about a trail to the beach that was close enough to walk to. So, we did. Here are some of the pictures we took along the way:

Chickens are literally EVERYWHERE! And crowing at 5:30am.

After the beach, we hiked back, got ready and went to dinner at a "mexican" food place. We all got a brazilian meal. hehe. It was surrounded by all these shops so we did some shopping. :-)

James hates this face. :-)

Today was a great day.

Tomorrow we're taking surfing lessons and going to a luau.

Monday the 16th but felt like Friday the 13th (if I actually believed in all that mumbo-jumbo)

So, first off, I'm exhausted. I stayed up last night reading till midnight. So not complaining about it though. I really enjoy reading. I wish I did it more often. Hopefully this all make sense...

Yesterday was Davis Deep Clean day! I really didn't deep clean but I got rid of all our 'piles'. James was very thankful, he hates them. We moved our desk so that we could have more room to put up our fun little Christmas tree. In doing so, I found some picture frames that I'm not using at home right now (I'm out of places to put them). So, I took it to school. This morning I took it out of my bag to put a picture in and have up in my classroom. It was dusty and so I took the glass out of the frame and started to wipe it off and sliced the inside of my right index & middle finger right above a joint.. ouch! I don't have a sink in my classroom so I went to the nurse's office to wash and bandage. I get all doctored up and head back to class. Lately, I've really been beating up my hands. It's like I don't know where they are exactly and they get hit on everything.

So right after lunch I go to stop by the nurse's office again to see if one of my students stopped by to get his meds (it's his first day and I have a student teacher). As I go to walk out of her office into the school office, I walk out of the door, shut it normally behind me and BAM! What in the world... something hit me in the head. I was in shock. A clock fell off the wall and freaking hit me in the top of my head. I didn't know what to do. I just kind of stood there in silence holding my head with one hand, the other on the counter, just trying to figure out what just happened. The nurse came out and checked my head, no blood but an automatic red spot and bump. She gave me some ice and i got to have a headache all day long. Pretty crazy say. Cheri, in the office was impressed that I didn't use any profanity or cry. I didn't say anything because i didn't know what to say, i was in shock and I didn't cry because it took everything in me not to... and I was using everything. it really hurt. Anyway, all is well. I didn't go workout tonight, at the advice of the nurse and I'm just laying on the couch now. it was a weird day. :-)

old but posting anyway

I'm just going to jump right on in:

In March, James and I decided that I should get LASIK eye surgery. I am so happy we made this decision. It has been fabulous. I did not realize what a blessing it was though till we got out on the lake. Just amazing that I can jump in the water, wake board, tube- whatever and not worry about contacts. I highly recommend it if you are considering updating your eyeballs. :-) Here is the video James took of the computer screen, from behind a glass window in the waiting room:

During Spring Break I got to drive with Granny out to Mt. Pleasant to meet Sarah Katelynn Hamilton for the first time. Who is she you might ask? Well, she is my cousin Kristin and her husband Mike's sweet baby girl. It was just a day trip. I hadn't been out to their house yet either so that was nice as well. Sarah is so beautiful and I actually get to spend some quality time with her this month too! Yea!

April and May were busy but nothing really important going on. Jam

es turned 27. I gave him the ESV Study Bible and a new pair of white board shorts for our lake adventures. We celebrated at his Aunt Robin's house as well.

April 9, I cut off my hair for Locks of Love. Here are some pictures.

A big decision was made at work. My principal called me into her office

one day and notified me that my services would not be needed next year. Just kidding. She asked me how I felt about teaching first grade. I knew this conversation would be coming soon, just didn't think it would be this year. I was dreading it to tell you the truth, But as she was talking to me about moving I just felt this peace with it. My only real concern was having to add grading papers and the general stress of it feeling like a first year teaching new curriculum. So, after talking to James and taking the weekend, I told Mackie yes. I am excited about the move. I get another year with my kids. This class this year has been quite the experience, a blessing. My students are so amazing and my parents are right up there with them. End of year 2010 will be very difficult for me. I love these kids. I think I would take just about all of them as my own if I could. I pray for qualities they have for my own unborn children. I am going to miss working so closely with Denise and Alexis as well as looking forward to working closely with Emily and Penni in first grade. I also found out that I will have a student teacher in the fall. That should be interesting since I am teaching a grade I've never taught before. But I am just hoping that she sees what it is really like. :-)

Ummm, the end of the school year was busy and now it's summer. I am watching two little girls who attend a private christian school near me. They are Maggie, 7, and Rachel, 9. Sweet, sweet girls. I am at their place 3 days a week which equates to about 20 hours a week- give or take some. We make food, draw, read, write, watch TV/movies, swim with Mrs. Barnes and Braxton, go to places. It is very laid back and rewarding. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect summer job. The money we get to put towards the house downpayment is great too! :-)

We've gotten to spend a lot of weekends at the lake with friends and family:

James and I met with a fabulous Realtor, named Jeannette Escutia. She has taught us so much and just really knows her stuff. We don't feel pressure from her to buy and buy now. She does not want us to have buyers remorse. She knows we don't plan on buying for a while but that we are learning about what it is that we want exactly (location, amenities, money, ect..). That has been fun.

A few of my favorite things

Favorites (in no particular order):

Williams-Sonoma

I love to cook and any gadget that makes it easier or more fun is awesome. This store has so many interesting things!

Lululemon Athletica

I just love the way their clothes look. My only complaint is how expensive they've made it. Boooo!

Banana Republic

Allen Outlet Mall is all I have to say! Their sales are phenomenal!

Old Navy

Cheap & Cute!

Yoga

This activity has made me feel so much more calm, relaxed and given me physical strength.

Cooking & Cookbooks

Goes alone with my fun in the kitchen!

Lipton Iced Tea To Go

I don't like room temperature water but flavor makes me like it and I will drink a lot more water through out the day! Plus, if you buy ones with anitoxidents it helps your body!

Tom Thumb

(Forrest & Preston location)

I went there for the first time yesterday. James commented how he didn't want me to go to the Wal-Mart close to our home because of safety so I decided to try TT. I walked in and everyone was SOOO nice and SOOO helpful. A lot of times, with the recipies I cook, WallyWorld doesn't have it all and I end up either never making it or making it without what I needed. Needless to say, I probably won't go anywhere else for my major trips. :-)

love field

I had to drop James off at the airport at 6:15 this morning and won't get to see him till Frodsy night.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

I was tagged 25 times on Facebook for this...

1. I really love ice cream and I don't think that I could ever give it up. Good thing I can make my own, with splenda instead of sugar, skim milk instead of whole milk, and fat free half & half instead of heavy whipping cream. :-)

2. I am a better driver when other people are in my car.

3. I really, really love my job. My school, my kids, my parents, my coworkers, my boss... is there anything else? Spring time is best- the kids just start to get it about this time and we teach the most fun things in the spring: USA/Presidents, Dinos, Farm Animals, Texas.... It's just so much fun! :-)

4. James and I have a queen size bed but we sleep so close we really only use half the bed most of the time.

5. Other then my parents house, I have never lived in one place for more then a year without moving. Because of this, I feel like I have to rearrange out apartment since we singed another year long lease.

6. I really want to have a baby but I know right now is not the right time. God will tells when it is though so I have peace in knowing that. I do bug James daily anyway.

7. James and I have never spent more then 2 nights apart, which sucked, until this coming week and it may be up to 2 months in a row.

8. I really, really love HOT YOGA. It's the best workout ever. it's quiet, peaceful, hot, and challenging. I don't fall for all the "gods" "feel the earth" "spiritual" stuff but it is a good time for me to spend in prayer with the Lord as well as relying on him for strength.

9. I take forever to get ready in the morning when I could be up and out in 30 minutes... it's just a preference of mine.

10. I have become so attached/dependent on my iPhone, I don't think I could function for a while.

11. I have a love/hate relationship with the gym.

12. I like my clothes to match my activity. i.e. working out- the gym v. yoga, golf, tennis, ect....

13. I turn my hangers backwards in the closet and anything I haven't worn for an entire season (like a sweater through the winter) is given away to donations. This is really hard but good... and it makes room for new things.

14. Having my toenails painted makes me feel pretty but when I try to paint my nails, I wipe it off long before it can even dry because it drives me crazy.

15. I love being crafty but usually don't know where to start. I often copy others and always make a big mess.

16. I am scared to death of giving birth to a child. The same fear I had with my surgery, I am scared of the unknown pain it can cause.

17. I wish my mac had microsoft office programs.

18. I produce more gas then my husband does and it could get worse with my new diet. Good thing he loves me so much.

19. I'm excited about learning to wakeboard.

20. I want to see the world. I've seen a beach in Mexico but I want to go see ruins and things, Ive seen Jamaica... wouldn't mind going back someday. I've been to Hong Kong and Xian, China and want to go back.... I want to fill my passport up as well as see the United States. I was about an hours distance from the Terracotta Warriors in China and didn't see them... I am crazy.

21. I check fb constantly throughout the day from my phone just to see if I have any updates that actually apply to me.

22. I love to read but it usually only gets done in the summer when I am by the pool. That is my happy place.

23. I am quite double jointed in my elbows. I even think it looks gross.

24. I secretly love it when James tickles me (now that he learned how to do it in a gentle, girl way) but will never say that when he is doing it. :-)

25. I hate doing laundry more then any other house hold chore. :-)

On and on and on

I don't want to begin this blog with "it's been a while" again so I am just going to begin...

James and I decided to resign our lease for another year here. They offered us the same price we're paying now and a $100 visa gift card. Can't be that. We'll be paying the same but it will feel like so much less monthly because when we first moved in, we took all our discounts off the front end and did not pay rent for 2 and a half months. Our hope is to save a lot and be in a house by the end of April 2010. :-)

I had a doctors appointment a couple of weeks ago, another post-op check up. I am blessed to tell you that everything came back NEGATIVE! This is fabulous news. I don't have another appointment till June to, hopefully, find the same results.

Last April, I had a physical at my family doctor. Everything came back great except my thyroid results. He ordered more test done and decided that we would just watch it to see if there were any changes in 6 months. Well, 6 months went by and I hadn't gone in. Lately I have been so tired. Usually, I just think, oh well... I work with 5 year olds, of course I am tired. But even on the weekends or extended breaks, I have still been tired. I get rest. I work out. I am not a perfect healthy eater but I am definitely a healthier eater. The only fried food we ever eat is Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets, no fries. We buy low carb, low cal, low fat, fat free, organic.... you name it. I work out. I do Yoga around 3 times a week and cardio other days in the morning... not to mention I am up and down ALL day long at work. I usually get 6-8 hours of sleep a night. That varies depending on what day of the week it is. On the weekends I get even more. I have dark circles under my eyes for the first time in my life. I know I am getting older but it shouldn't happen when I am getting rest. I have dry skin, water retention, among other signs I don't feel like mentioning to everyone. :-) The last one that bothers me just about as much as feeling tired all the time is that if I skip working out like 2 days in a row, I can physically see a difference in my body. It grows. I should not see something like that in just 2 days. It's frustrating. So anyway, I went yesterday and talk to the doctor and had more blood taken. The Nurse practitioner looked at my blood work done a year ago and went ahead and put me on hypothyroid meds. The prescription insert says that it will take a few weeks to feel any results. I hope and pray this answers some questions. The doc said I will definitely feel better. I sure hope so. One thing I did today was look up hypothyroidism and food. I want to help this as much as I can. In the past couple of years, I have worked hard to make changes in my diet and I have a few more to make now that I have looked into this. One of my favorite foods is pasta... for the past year or more, I have switched to wheat pasta, now I need to cutback completely as well as some other great things the Lord has blessed us with. :-/ I have to train my brain (and taste buds) to not like or care for foods that can reverse the effects of my medicine. I also have to eat 5-6 times a day instead of 3. Each meal should be around 300 calories. Here are some things I have to begin eating or eat more of:
Foods with Iodine:

• Cow's milk (does this mean skim milk because that's what we drink)
  
• Eggs (not often, but we can add more)
  
• Salmon (I am going to have to find ways to cook this and like... bleh)
  
• Seaweed (sushi!)
  
• Strawberries (no problem in the summer, I have a strawberry-banana smoothie almost everyday!)
  
• Tuna (can I put mayo in it???!!!???)
  
• Yogurt (I burned myself out on this... maybe by summer)
  

Foods with Selenium:

• Brazil nuts (new to me. I hope they are good.)
  
• Cod (it just sounds gross)
  
• Crimini mushrooms (in almost every meal I can put them in)
  
• Egg
  
• Garlic (again, in almost every meal I can... fresh, not powder)
  
• Halibut (have to learn some recipes... I'm not a big fish person, this is going to be hard)
  
• Salmon
• Shrimp (now this is a seafood I'll eat any day!)
  
• Snapper (??)
  
• Sunflower seeds (no salt please)
  
• Tuna
• Turkey (we use turkey instead of beef!)

Foods with High Polyphenols (Acts as an anti-fungal):

• Apples (yum and I have a slicer)
  
• Blackberries (eeeh)
  
• Blueberries (eeeh)
  
• Broccoli (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week) (YUM)
  
• Cabbage (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week) (yuck)
  
• Cantaloupe (all summer long!)
  
• Celery (gross- this is a texture thing)
  
• Cherries (dipped in sugar? lol- jk)
  
• Cranberries (eeeh)
  
• Eggplant (no thank you)
  
• Extra virgin olive oil (Rachel Ray uses it in everything)
  
• Grapes (does the color matter... I eat both!)
  
• Green tea (I put a mix in my water!)
  
• Legumes (what?)
  
• Onion (I cook with it but I don't eat it, the texture makes me gag)
  
• Parsley (in my cooking)
  
• Pears (I can do this)
  
• Plums (not to fond of this one)
  
• Raspberries (in my green tea mix)
  
• Strawberries

Foods with Niacin (Is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone):

• Chicken
• Lamb
• Pomegranates
• Rice, brown
• Tuna
• Turkey
• Wheat

Foods with Riboflavin (Vitamin b2) (Is essential for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone):

• Avocados
• Clams
• Duck
• Lamb
• Milk
• Mushrooms
• Pork, fresh
• Yogurt

Foods with Selenium (Helps to convert T-4 to T-3):

• Brazil nuts
• Cod
• Crimini mushrooms
• Egg
• Garlic
• Halibut
• Salmon
• Shrimp
• Snapper
• Sunflower seeds
• Tuna
• Turkey

Foods with Vitamin B6 (Is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone):

• Avocados
• Bananas
• Barley
• Bok Choy
• Chicken
• Chickpeas
• Mangoes
• Pork, fresh
• Potatoes
• Rice, brown
• Salmon
• Sunflower seeds
• Sweet potatoes
• Tuna
• Turkey

Foods with Vitamin C (Boosts thyroid gland function):

• Cabbage, red (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week)
• Kiwi fruit
• Oranges
• Peppers, bell,red
• Pineapples
• Potatoes
• Strawberries
• Tangerines and other mandarins

Food with Vitamin E (Works with zinc and vitamin A to produce thyroid hormone):

• Almonds
• Avocados
• Brazil nuts
• Broccoli (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week)
• Mangoes
• Peanuts
• Sunflower seeds

Foods with Zinc (Boosts thyroid function):

• Barley
• Beef
• Chicken
• Crab
• Lamb
• Oysters
• Turkey
• Wheat

So there is some of the information I have found. I quit making comments next to them all because they start to repeat themselves. :-)

Other news, not related to my physical health, James has been put on a project in Houston for at least 2 weeks and could be as long as 2 months. He was told Friday before lunch and he has to be there Monday morning, totally NOT cool for so many different reasons.
1. They gave him NO notice to prepare. Not mentally - away from me, our home, church, friends, ect.
2. They did not ask him. He picked this company for many reason, one being that travel was not required. They believe in networking where you LIVE!
3. There's more but I just can't think of them right now. Besides the above is enough.
Here is an example of our week:
Sunday- Church & usually dinner with friends
Monday- a night to us
Tuesday Morning- Men's Bible study
Tuesday Night- I have girls bible study so he goes to meet with some of the husbands for accountability.
Wednesday Morning- Meet with a close friend.
Wednesday Night- We have home group.
Thursday- counseling (we have it every other week)
Friday- whatever we plan or do not plan
Saturday- laundry and laziness
His whole personal life is shot for at least 2 weeks. Please pray for him and fellas, check up on him! Call him, text him, whatever.
He got Twitter so that we could chat throughout the day... or at the very least, we will know what each other is doing- like we're there but not really.
We will get through this. We will have to rely on the strength of the Lord. It is going to be hard. Dinner alone, shower alone, sleep alone, workout alone... no fun. I pray we get to spend a lot of personal time in conversation with the Lord.

There's my update. I am sorry it is so long. :-)
God Bless!!!!!!!!!

PS- I have some really cool news I am not allowed to share yet but I had to say something. :-P