First Day of Kindergarten! Whooo Hoooo

Addy and Addie Grace

Addy could not wait to go to school today.   She has a lot of friends from preschool in her class which is nice and I told her that school is fun because you hang out with all of your friends.  She said "And you can make new friends."  That's my girl.  She was in preschool when she was 3 1/2 and again the next year.  I think she was a little bored with preschool last year but that meant that she was really really ready for Kindergarten. 

Rattlesnakes Mating

A few weeks ago I saw two rattlesnakes mating. It was so cool. I thought it was a dead snake when i first saw them then i figured it out. I saw the little bottle of wine and lingerie.(laughing out loud) . Then they started moving and did the rattlesnake dance. Then my dog came toward me and we scooted out of there. It was so cool that once the dog was distracted up the trail I snuck back and saw one big old snake slithering away. I wasn't sure where his mate was so I left.   Last night I went on the same hike and saw a tarantula.  It was cool.  I bet it was a male because it is now their mating season.  He was brown with a yellow back.  I of course did not have a camera with me.  Every time I take a camera hiking I never see any animals.  Go figure!

Addy lost her first tooth!

Just four days before her first day of Kindergarten Addy has lost her first tooth.    The tooth fairy left her five $1 coins that were a goldish color and five one dollar bills.  This was terrific since Addy has been hankering for a Barbie and that 10 bucks would cover it. When she pulled it out you could see the panic on her face but she bucked up pretty good.  It did freak her out a bit though.  She has been Barbie crazy lately and Mimi and papa sent her some money for pocket money for starting kindergarten.  Her eyes lit up when she got the card and she said "can we go get a Barbie NOW!"

Barbie Joins Us on a Hike & Dressing Up

Opal loves to dress up.

Opal and her squirrel

Walking to School. Just Kidding ;)

Summer

Addyson and Daron are in the kitchen making pancake.  Daron is talking the pancakes.  When they flip a pancake Daron has it say "hey what are you doing?"  Addy says "my eyes are burning".  Daron says "hey it is really hot."  Then they had to explain to the pancake that they are eating him.   

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.