Easter and Spring

Daron, Addy and I met Kirsten and her husband again this year in Las Vegas.  I think it is going to be an annual event.  Kirsten's husband always meets his family in the spring in Vegas so we might as well plan a weekend away as well.  I am still dying to get to Eugene Oregon to visit Kirsten and Chris Hirsch.  It will be like a high school reunion!

I enjoyed a $50 Ribeye, a $15 Margarita and NO HEADACHE!  whooo hoooo.

The Easter bunny came.  He also brought us really nice weather.  We were going to cook out in the sand dunes with some friends for Easter but both families bailed because we were all too tired!  Daron did however give lawn mower rides to the kids the next day!

I am teaching a Fairy Garden class and Addy and her friend posed for photos for my flyers.  OMG Addy is a ham.

Daron and I were in St. George at the neurologist for Addys school Easter egg hunt ut one of the other mothers  took some photos  for me.  Addy is no wall flower.  She told meshe has three boyfriends. Her dad who ruffled at the news asked if the boys knew about this and she said said "no!"  Like duh!  Samantha is in her class and her best buddy. Her mom has been a life saver helping out when a migraine hits and I need a break.

I have at least three play dates a week for Addy.  Being the only child it is as much for meas it is for her.  Thekids all run to the fence when I pick her up from school yelling "can I come overland play with Addy.  When can I come over for a play date. ". She is lucky to have a nice group of friends and I have found a nice group of moms to hangout with.

Spring and Summer Focus - ART ART ART

A good friend got married here in February and they blended two families.  They really liked the painting that I did for Daron 12 or 13 years ago (wow!) and I created one for their wedding present.  Here is a photo of the brides daughter Addison Grace holding the painting.

Fun Four Hour Hike

Ahh I am beginning to feel like a normal person again.  My friend Brittan and I went on an adventure just across the highway from Best Friends.  We planned to be gone one to two hours. I left the dogs at home so we could hike up, up, up.  My short cut added two hours so we totaled a bit over four hours but had a blast.  I also learned a “canyoneering” or rappelling term called “ledged up.”  We didn't get stuck but it required us to go up more than I had planned! 

Kane County has been named to National Geographic's list of BEST SPRINGTRIPS 2014!

I need to preface this by saying to all of our friends and families that I assume you know you are always welcome to visit us and explore southern Utah!!  We have plenty of room.  In fact we are so used to small areas that we only use one floor leaving the other floor open for guests.  We love guests. Please visit.  We would love to show you around and if we aren't up for it we would love to give you a map and send you on your way:).  Just off of the top of my head I am thinking the Lockes, the Wheelers, the Saffels, Uncle Bill & Jean, Uncle Tom & Dolly and the cousins, Uncle Jim & Tammy and Jude and his family and Tammy's kids and Aunt Margaret and Jonathan and Laura and Kristyn & her family and the list goes on people!  I know the Grand Canyon isn't going anywhere and Zion will be here for a long time but you never know when the government will shut down :) 

Not that I am surprised but I am excited! They also mention our friends motel Quail Park! Whoo Hoo!



http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-spring-trips-2014/

Kane County, Southwestern Utah

Photograph by Philippe Crochet, Getty Images

Kane County sits in the middle of southwestern Utah’s staggering geological smorgasbord: narrow slot canyons, polychrome cliffs, wavelike buttes, and world-class paleontological sites. From Kanab, the county seat, it’s 90 minutes or less to three national parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion), Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, and the rugged and remote 1.9-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the last area in the continental United States to be mapped. “What strikes people when they visit is the intensity of the outdoor experience available here,” says Kanab custom furniture maker Rich Csenge. “[There's] staggering natural beauty, trailheads everywhere, and the sense of eternity expressed in geology and topography that seems to change color and shape with every hour of the day.”

Click to read the rest!!!!!!

Best Husband EVER!

I am hoping Daron is right about the eggs.  

If he is not we have a ongoing list of possible migraine triggers and or solutions.  The list is ENDLESS.
See Cardiologist - since many people I have met and studies have shown heart issues causing migraines
See Pain Management Clinic
Mast Cell Disorder
DAO and Food Trigger Testing?
See local Intuitive.  I am not ruling anything out. 
Nerve Block?
Mini-Hysterectomy?
blood sugar too high
blood sugar too low
too much caffeine
not enough caffeine
too much sleep
not enough sleep
is it eggs
is it bananas?
is it soda
tea?
oranges
bread
gum
gatorade
yogurt
bread
my heart?
am I breathing at night?


If I look back over the four years I have had a migraine every month but some months are way better than others. I bought a twin mattress and put it in my closet and I put ear plugs in and at least now I rarely wake up at night so I am getting a good nights sleep.  I do however wake up in total darkness wondering where the heck I am!!!!  Since I had Addy I became a REALLY light sleeper but Addys room is on the other side of our closet so I can hear her if she yells. The cats, the neighbors who work on their truck at midnight and Daron coughing don't bother me though ;)

Praying that maybe I'm a genius for my Baby!

Here we go.  April Fools Day will be the start of the test.  Jennifer is going to cut eggs out of her diet completely for this trial period.  My theory is that they are the most perpetually eaten foods in our house.  When we got the chickens 5 years ago we most likely upped our egg intake and Jen's headaches during that period skyrocketed.  We got used to always having eggs so we've continued buying eggs a lot even after The Great Chicken Massacre of  2013.  In fact, I would say that since it appears that it takes something like 3 to 5 days to get them out of your system they are constantly present in Jen's system.  Just as headache is constantly in her system.  Welp, that's my theory, and if I'm right I will be the happiest man on the planet.  Fingers Crossed!!!!!!

Peptides!?!

My jaws been popping more than usual and I happened upon this and pulled out my night guard.  Since it seems to have more than just a physical component I am going to be more diligent in wearing it.  Watch out Peptides you are going DOWN!

Article:

Why Boxers Don't Get Migraines

Dr. Phillip Lamey, professor of oral medicine at the Royal Victoria Dental School in Belfast, recently shed some welcome light on a simple method to help prevent migraine headaches.

Dr. Lamey and his colleagues compared peptide levels in saliva samples of migraine sufferers and non-migraine sufferers. He found that people who suffered from migraines had peptide levels between 50,000 and 60,000 units, while non-migraine sufferers had levels of only around 500 units.

Keep Your Teeth From Contacting at Night

To lower the peptide levels in migraine sufferers, Dr. Lamey had 19 migraine patients wear an oral appliance while they slept that completely kept the occlusal surfaces of the upper teeth from contacting the lower teeth. Apparently, teeth-clenching at night produces the excess peptide production. The results of this study were quite remarkable.

Saliva peptide levels dropped to around 500 units in migraine sufferers wearing the appliance (the same levels originally seen in non-migraine sufferers), and the number of migraine attacks dropped to an average of only 40 percent of what these patients had previously experienced. Dr. Lamey has found that the device only needs to be worn each night for about a year—for 70 percent of his patients using the device, after one year their migraine attacks ceased completely.

Read more: http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/migraine-solutions/#ixzz2xY455iZC

Migraine Update. Ehhhh.

When I feel really bad and I can look at the computer screen I visit http://www.thedailyheadache.com/

Although I have suffered from migraines through out my life I have NEVER had them last this long. I have been tracking them for four years.  They started coming just once a month for two days - definitely hormonal.  Daron had to take a day off here and there to watch Addy because I have trouble moving and I throw up with my migraines. They started to come more often and more sporadically.  It has been a roller coaster of emotions from going to a neurologist or doctor with my hopes up only to be disappointed.  I felt terrible, miserable and guilty that I felt that way.  I finally through word of mouth found a hormone specialist who also helped boost my adrenal system and thyroid.  All good but not the "miracle" I had been hoping for.  I use to get a migraine and think "Oh it will last two days I can suck it up"  then four days now it is up to six and even eight days now when they come I just fall apart.  I have been seeing a new neurologist and Daron has to drive me since driving is a trigger.  The medications I take when I get a migraine weren't working that great after the first month or two so I started an anti-convulsant. It was AWESOME. I felt hope after three weeks like a dark cloud had lifted.  This tingle of hope happened just when the rash from the medication broke out forcing me to stop my miracle medication. Daron and I were both disappointed.  He had commented a few days prior how much more light hearted I seemed.  I am now on a new anti-convulsant.  Zonisamide. I refer to it as my "I don't give a sh*t" drug.  Nothing seems to bug me.  Sometimes things I would usually filter slip out of my mouth and it is like I am outside myself looking at myself saying "oops, oh well" I don't know if it is all bad though.  I am not as intense about cleaning the house, getting Addy to bed on time, ordering Addy and Daron around to pick things up etc. and I have heard Daron call me hurricane Jennifer in very long time.  (that is when I come home after hiking the dogs on a Sat. and yell out we need to pick up this kitchen, vacuum etc). The jury is still out wether or not it helps alleviate migraines or not.  I need to be on it at least two months.  I also think slower, don't calculate well and can't find words which was also a problem prior! LOL  My heart rate is way higher too so I need to talk to the Dr. about that.  What the hell!?

So I am actively

• thinking positively
• doing yoga
• energy tapping therapy
• finding my migraine triggers
• researching and trying medicines with my neurologist
• not driving over 15 minutes
• good nights sleep
• praying

Interesting Migraine Facts I found:

36+ million people live with migraine.
Migraine is a genetic neurologic disease that affects normal people.
It is a spectrum disease.
Globally migraine is the 7th leading cause of disability.
Not a SINGLE drug on the market today was originally developed for migraine prevention.
Migraine specialist consider only a 50 % improvement to be a huge success.
There is NO CURE for migraine.


Girls when looking for a husband I suggest that in addition to finding someone who will treat you like a queen and blah blah blah the most important is this: Find someone who will take off of work every six weeks and drive you three hours round trip to the neurologist and hormone doctor. Someone who will not flinch when you throw up in the car the whole way back and ask what they can do for you. Someone who will take care of your daughter after working all day feeding her, bathing her and playing with her while you lie in bed. Someone who doesn't get mad when you still have a migraine after day 4, 5, 6, 7, 8... Someone who despite your sour mood and failing attitude is always upbeat and positive. Girls if you can find another soul like Daron Andrews snatch him up and put a ring on his finger!

She is SIX!

Addy's hair is getting so long she wanted me to braid it.  I tried. We got rocks for the front yard and hope to get it in shape for the tourist season.  Last year it was less than perfect but we were putting our resources in other areas. Daron build Addy a loft bed for her birthday.  I would have died to have one of those when I was a kid.  I re-purposed some curtains for the bottom part and now she  has a fort on the bottom and bed on the top. It is pretty awesome. We had the carpets cleaned so  all her stuff was shoved in the closet which made her room look even nicer.  I am leaving it in there as long as I can.  We made a horse pinata for her 6th birthday which is today.  I kissed her goodnight last night and said "Let me kiss my five year old for the last time ever" and this morning I said "let me kiss my six year old for the first time ever."  Pictures of the finished Pinata etc. to come.

ave

The Joy of Healthy Eating

Quinoa, kale, sweet potato = good times

Fish Tacos = Good Times

Congrats Matt and Travis

When I showed Addyson Matt and Travis's wedding pictures she said "wait wait boys can marry boys now?"  I told her yes now than can.  She said " dad dad Matt and Travis are married! Yippee!"  Then a friend at the wedding posted this awesome letter that a stranger wrote them the day of the wedding.  So cool!

We were invited to the wedding in Hawaii.  I am thinking we should have gone!  Darn it!  Congrats Matt and Travis!

Saying goodbye to a part of the community

Click to see an amazing tribute video http://vimeo.com/86454191

The whole community is mourning the loss of a beautiful thirteen year old girl today.  I pasted a small part of an article from today.com.  If you google Jayci Glover you will find many articles about this little girl.  The community embraced her and her fight.  Every time I leave the house I see at least one person with a Team Jayci shirt.  Addy and I atTended the parade welcoming her home and it was truly amazing and special.

“We just reached a decision… to just come home and try to let her be in her home with her two little sisters for as long as we can. We don’t know how long that will be. We don’t think it will be too long.”

Jayci’s family first started to suspect something was wrong in January of 2013 when the girl who had always been very thin suddenly started to gain weight. Then, she noticed a lump on the left side of her neck, which launched the family on a long medical odyssey.

She and her mom essentially moved to Salt Lake City, a five-hour drive from their home in Kanab, for her treatment. Last year, Jayci endured six rounds of chemotherapy, had a bone marrow transplant and underwent radiation.

Courtesy Heather Glover

Jayci Glover was always very slender, as this 2012 photo shows, but her illness caused her to gain 160 pounds in one year.

Her illness upset her endocrine system and triggeredCushing’s disease, which caused the teen to gain 160 pounds on her tiny frame, Kelly said. As her story spread on social media, most people have been wonderful, but some have been leaving cruel comments about her weight, she added. Her mom says Jayci is coping fine.

Most Amazing Wedding

Daron, Addy and I were invited to an amazing wedding deep in the heart of Zion National Park.  There is a privately owned plot on ten acres with a beautiful house on it.  They rented the house and had a very magical wedding.  The bride has a daughter named Addison.  That is our connection - our Addy's are best friends.  The groom is a police officer in Arizona and he has three wonderful kids.  They had a very small wedding so we felt privileged to be invited.

Addy's Valentine Party!

Addyson hosted her first Valentine Party.  She hand made all the invitations and decorations.  She set the table, made goody bags, decide who to invite and  made it happen.  She was so excited she couldn't sleep and her teacher said she couldn't focus in school.  I picked up four giggling girls from school and two boys were dropped off by their moms.  They decorated cupcakes, played horses outside, played with stuffed animals and ended with a cartoon.

Happy Birthday Mom! A February Spring?

Happy Birthday Mom! My beautiful Mom hit a milestone this year - well technically not until the 18th of the month.  She will always be 50 in my mind! She is still as positive, energetic and social as ever. 

Mary at 69 hiking the canyon!

My Uncle Mel has had a rough go of it with surgeries so we are praying he is on the mend and will be up and at 'em again soon. We love you Uncle Mel, Aunt Pam, Kris and Jon!!!!

The weather has been really really nice.  It feels more like spring.  Which is nice although I was hoping for snow so I could use my snowshoes again! Also our Alaskan Malamute is much happier in a foot of snow.  I am concerned that  the trees will start to bloom and the tulips will come up.  Daron said he saw some of the tulips starting to peek out.  Last year we had an early spring followed by a freeze which resulted in no apples, no plum cherries and no apricots for the season.  Bummer.  The year before I dehydrated apples and apricots and made jam out of the plum cherries.  It was awesome! 

Addy has her own style!

Lisa and I are definitely sisters.  I take my neighbors dog out for hikes, supplement her meals, line her dog house with hay and make sure she has clean water.  My sister does the same for many animals.  She has one dog in particular that she watches over.  She has inspired other officers to do the same.

The Andrews Fur Babies

Bella Blue

Bindi Boo

Opal Luna and Fast Eddie with Addy and Lisa

Miss Opal Luna

Should I Use My Powers for Good or Evil?

Favorite Family Photo

Professional (but laid back) Photo Shoot