Addyson starts Kindergarten August 26th

She is organizing her room and toys

We put up a new rod to hold all of her dresses

She designed a new dress for her barbie and I sewed it.

She loves her heels

Princess Dress from cousin Haley

Watching a movie at Salon while I get my hair done.

Adrenals of an 80 year old and more fun facts.

Finally, I have found a place that blends traditional western medicine with natural and nutritional approaches to restore and regenerate health and wellness.  Last year I found out from a local Dr. that I had a low thyroid.  Hoping that this was the reason for my fatigue I was excited to start the medicine.  I was also hoping by some miracle it would help my migraines and nauseous and vomiting episodes.  Oh yes I have had a fun few years let me tell you.  Some of the episodes were due to a neck injury and the physical therapy that followed but not all of it. 

Luckily, a friend had found a physicians assistant that looked at your hormones, blood work, vitamin levels etc. and came up with a full body approach.  I had been on a daily medication for migraines that wasn't working and it lowered my already low blood pressure.  Like 80/50 as opposed to my usual 110/60.  I was so sick of being sick.  So sick of being tired. So sick of not wanting to plan anything because I never knew if I would be stricken with a migraine and in bed for three days in excruciating pain wondering how many DAYS this would last. It wasn't like I could go to bed with a migraine med and feel better tomorrow. 

I finally me the p.a. and was put immediately on progesterone to counteract my outta whack estrogen.  Estrogen causes inflammation and blood to clot while progesterone causes the opposite.  With a family history of heart disease and strokes I didn't need inflammation or clotting!!  It has made an immediate difference. 

Still not feeling 100 percent and actually don't remember what 100 would feel like.  After thirteen vials of blood they discovered I have the adrenal function of an 80 year old.  I told her I feel like an 80 year old.  Makes sense.  Although looking at the blood work it seemed like all of my numbers were in range.  I need to ask her about that.  She said my insulin level was less than 2 which is really low.  I told her I have no appetite and often forget to eat while I am home.  She said to eat small meals with protein and that I would have to regulate my blood sugar since my body can't do it for me.  I also have a high homocysteine, cardio number.  Again this is something that causes inflammation and can lead to heart attack or stroke.  The good news is increasing your B vitamins and folic acid can bring that number down.  I have plenty of iron in my blood but no iron storage reserves.  Luckily, increases my vitamin B and magnesium and vitamin D should help that issue too! 

Bottom line is that taking vitamin B, D, magnesium will boost my adrenal function and not just put a band aid over the problem.  I also need to add Ashwaganda which is an herb that supports adrenal function.  I am on a new thyroid med that will help my T3 number too. 

Hopefully when I am 80 I will have the adrenal function of a 43 year old.  Fingers crossed. 

Addy,Daddy, Aunt SaSa, Grandpa Andrews, Wheelers and more!

Daron said 

"What will I do if we have a girl? ". Lucky for us he figured it out fast!

The dogs love it when addy wakes up in the morning. They all cuddle on the floor.

Poor Grandpa Andrews has to have surgery for a torn medial meniscus (I think that's right) he NEVER sits still though.  Nothing can keep this man down!

Uncle Dan and Mimi Nagle chillin at the pool with Lisa and Jen C who are visiting from KY.

Happy 46 th Uncle Mel and Aunt Pam. We love you!

Bathing beauties and cleaning beauties below!

Princess beauty at the very bottom.  

Created a Monster!

Daron and Addy and I were making up songs with a rap app that we have on the IPad.  We wanted each of us to say a part of the song.  Addy wanted to say it the same way we just had done.  We said no just say your part.  That made her mad she started to cry.  Not a real cry but an I am mad pay attention to me cry.  We asked her to go to her room if she was go cry that loud.  She went to her room watched herself in the mirror and made up a song.  These are the lyrics we remember. 

You taught me how to walk
You taught me how to draw
You taught me everything
Now you don't love me anymore...

It was geared at Dad but he stayed strong.  I had already made her "cry" twice today.  The first time I wanted to take the dogs to the creek so they could run and swim.  15 minutes top.  Cried the whole time there and stayed in the car for the first ten minutes just to spite me.  I don't remember the second time though I think it was when I made her wash her hand before we cooked or was it when I wouldn't go to the table to feed her her noodles and asked that she brought them to me and I would feed her her noodles from my chair.  That was not acceptable. We have created a little monster.

Texas visit

Houston Texas Visit

Addy liked playing with all of Haley's dolls

Spoonbill Stork  my favorite!

Zoo

Cooling off after the zoo

Rain in Utah before we left

Swimming in Uncle Jason's pool

Walk around the neighborhood

Flamingo exhibit

New Chimpanzee exhibit

Cool Chimpanzee exhibit at the Houston Zoo

Pretty area near the zoo

Beautiful spot near the zoo

The Spoonbill Stork came us to us at the zoo.  Exciting.

You know it is a bad day when you wake up to a dead rooster in the bedroom.

I have discovered that I am a winter gal. We have crashed into summer here and the air conditioning has been running full time.  I hate that.  I miss the spring days were we had the doors open and the windows open.  On the way to the store yesterday the sign outside of the Ramsay Shop said 110 degrees.  What the heck?  It is a bit more humid but not like Houston.  I can still take the dogs for a walk in the evenings without breaking a sweat.  Addy and I drove forty miles north to Navajo Lake in Duck Creek with Opal Luna and Eddy.  We were on a search for less than 100 degree weather.  We found it!  We even got to swim in the lake. 

We are lovin our new dogs especially Opal which Addy still pronounces "Oval."  We did however have an awful thing happen a few weeks ago while Daron was in Salt Lake City working.  Addy and I woke up to feathers.  It is never a good sign.  Then we saw our Rooster in Addy's bedroom.  I hate to admit my first thought was "no more early morning cock-a-doodle-doo's" then my brain remembered that the chickens were fenced in and inside their coop that was closed up.  CRAP. Then I looked outside and saw Jemima and Cayenne our most favorite chickens laying in the yard along with a newer hen.  Crap. Crap. Crap.  The saving grace was that there were hardly any feathers around which means it happened fast.  They looked like they were sleeping and looked peaceful.  That really helped.  I also was going on a two day migraine and neck pain and had a chiropractor visit 45 minutes from when I found them so I was numb to say the least.  Addy was a trooper.  She told me that the dogs were bad and that we weren't allowed to pet them today.  She also held the bags while I scooped them up.  We only had room in the freezer for Jemima and Cayenne our sweet little girls.  Can I just tell you FOUR chickens in a box is heavy.  Especially when you have neck issues.  Anyhow, I have no idea how they got in the coop, I have no idea how we didn't hear the rooster squawking and we are NEVER introducing our cats to Opal.  Ever.  Addy reminds me that Opal is half wolf and half dog and that it is her nature.  What a smart girl I have.  Daron reminded me that only one out of the four chickens were laying eggs and now we don't have chicken poo everywhere.  I miss them and I miss their little noises and giving them our leftovers and they do have personalities but a chicken break is in order.  Luckily, our good friends have six chickens that lay and we can get fresh eggs from them.

I can't help but think the rooster was testing fate.

Happy hens on we would soon realize their last day.

Not a good morning when you wake up to a dead rooster in the bedroom

Opal carries her food dish into the living room and onto the new rug every day.

On a more positive note Addy has been LOVING swim lessons, making fairies and building fairie houses.

A Rare Cloudy Day = Picnic with Dogs!

We found out that Opal Luna likes the water!  Fast Eddie was hesitant at first but then he fell in the only deep area in the river and seemed to enjoy it as well!  Opal Luna even stuck her butt in the water. 

Favorite Photos