Day 14...Ali's Wedding Extravaganza!

Tomorrow I plan on doing an update on Katrina. I don't have all the info. yet but please keep praying, there have been developments and I believe Katrina will get her miracle!

So...today I am going to share a few pictures from my cousin's wedding. I never really blogged about it, just about how going to Utah was super hard on my health. Never mind that! This is the FUN stuff!

This wedding was unbelievable. It was so special to be in the Temple with Ali and Eric. Ali is one of the most beautiful people I know. She's gorgeous yeah, but that's not the kind of beautiful I'm talking about. Her soul is beautiful. She is wise, kind, mature beyond her years, she has a strong faith and testimony of the love of her Savior, she is generous and pure and so so fun to be with. There is not a time that we are together that I don't end up splitting my gut laughing!

Check out this stunning couple:

After the ceremony:

I love this picture of me with my mom and Grandma. I don't know if I have any pictures of just the three of us.

The Reception: (Watching Ali dance with her dad was definitely the most touching moment of the night, they were both so emotional and full of love for each other. It was beautiful.)

I truly love Ali like a sister and was honored to spend this special day with her!


Day 14 of the Healthy Home Challenge: "Plastic Islands?!?!"

Even though this book focuses on creating healthier homes, it also discusses how plastic has an impact on our much larger world.

"If not recycled or disposed of properly, plastic ends up in our waterways, degrading so slowly that there are now massive "plastic islands" floating in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Bit by bit, lighters, trinkets, grocery bags, and containers break into smaller fragments that fish, marine mammals, and seabirds mistake for food. This can be a lethal mistake--both for the animals and for us.

Suddenly, the toxins we've worked so hard to avoid in our home are found in the marine food chain, where they will make their way back to our dinner tables."

There are many solutions to cutting down on the amount of plastic in our homes and in our environment, but one simple and inexpensive solution is to use reusable grocery bags. I see these for sale everywhere and have accumulated quite a few. I keep them in my trunk and use them as much as I can.

I am still getting in the habit of grabbing them before I go into the store and have forgotten, but as a part of this challenge am recommitting to be more diligent in using these. Today at Target I whipped out my reusable bag!!

Day 7...All you need is LOVE!

It turns out a mother/daughter/grandson trip was just what the Dr. ordered. We had such a fun time! For Day 7 I'll let the photos do the talking! I realize less is usually more when it comes to photos in blog posts, but because this is pretty much our family journal...I'm including all of my favorites!

Lunch Date at the Bellagio:

Harrison wanted to take this picture made out of flowers home! It was gorgeous!

I love this little wave!

Pool time: Harrison was such a little fish and I loved working with him in the water!

I was so proud of him for swimming all the way out to me. I kept moving back and he kept kicking!

I didn't know my mom was taking this picture but I'm so glad she did because this was one of the most precious moments of the whole trip for me. Harrison and I were testing the water out and he got this very pensive look on his face. I asked him what he was thinking about and was expecting him to give his usual response to that question which is, "rally cars" or "x-games." But, he paused and looked at me and said, "I was thinking about mommy and grandma." He was so tender. Then I asked him what he was thinking about mommy and grandma and he answered, "just that I love them." It was a perfect moment.

All You Need is LOVE:

My mom surprised us with tickets to the Beatles LOVE show!! Harrison loves the Beatles and especially the song "Get back Joe Joe!" So, when the show opened with that song, I knew it was going to be an awesome night! I can't even describe how amazing this show was. I have never seen anything like it in my life. Harrison was mesmerized...
This is a night I will never forget, so GREAT!

On our way back to the hotel. He crashed...possibly tired from a "little" sensory overload!

After the show, we were just in time to catch the volcano exploding at the Mirage and then ended the night with sliders and frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity! Harrison could not stop "free running" and dancing after the show. He sat perfectly still throughout the whole show but he was obviously downloading almost every move into his little brain because he did not quit showing us his "moves" until he zonked in the car! Definitely the most fun night of our year so far!


Okay, on to Day 7 of the Healthy Home Challenge: (I am loving all your e-mails by the way! Keep up the good work and don't forget to leave a comment or e-mail me if you are implementing some of these tips in your own homes and I will send you a free copy of The Healthy Home Book!)

"We tend to think about pollution only when it's outside and far enough away that we can see it...but the main source of air pollution is actually in our homes."

"...Americans spend 90% of their time indoors--at home or in offices. And while we're there, we're breathing air that is usually two to five times more polluted with organic pollutants than outdoor air."

The simple (and free!) solution is to open your windows whenever you can to let in fresh air. The air outside is cleaner! So today, even though it was chilly and raining, I opened a few of the windows in our home. I have been doing this for several weeks now and know I am helping to dilute the indoor toxins with fresh, outside air!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 6...What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

No, I did not give up on my 30 day challenge. I just couldn't pass up an invitation from my mom to spend the week relaxing with her in sunny Las Vegas! On Mothers Day, I headed to Vegas with my mom and my son and we have been simply having the most fun week ever! Mostly relaxing by the pool, but we've ventured out a few times. I continue to feel stronger every day and think this week has been great therapy : )

More details about our adventures and lots of pictures to come!!

Until then, I will leave you with a healthy home tip that doesn't require me to be at home to apply! This is a perfect tip considering what I've been up to this week...

Day 6 of Healthy Home Challenge:

Got sun?!?!

"In recent years the media has given sunshine a bad rap...the truth is that the health benefits of moderate exposure to the sun outweighs the risks. Exposure to the sun causes us to produce vitamin D, and vitamin D is probably the closest thing we have to a miracle vitamin."

Just a few of the benefits:
strong bones and teeth
regulates immune system to ward off infections
helps to prevent certain cancers
slows the aging process
and triggers the release of serotonin promoting a positive mental outlook

No wonder I'm feeling so happy this week! Another free and easy tip...get some sunshine this week!

I will resume the challenge when I get home in a few days, stay tuned.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 5...Walking away from my (health) problems...

I was blessed enough to attend my beautiful cousins wedding last month and although I have no regrets, the trip left me struggling health-wise. She was married in Utah and my mom and I drove and planned to stay for just a few days. I had been feeling strong and felt confident that I would do fine. I brought my portable oxygen concentrator with me in case I needed it.

Well, I was surprised at how breathless I was. I needed to be on my oxygen nearly the whole time. I have spent so much time in Utah over the years but this trip was really hard and it was eye opening. I'm realizing that my body is definitely not as strong as it used to be. My baseline has dropped and even just a few days at a higher altitude affected my lungs more than I expected.

Anyway, my mom and husband were both understandably worried and wanted to get me into the hospital right away. However, I felt like I was just there as I did 5 weeks of I.V.'s in February and March and couldn't do it. I just couldn't go in. I told them to give me a few days to rest and try to recover on my own.

Against Ryan's wishes, I dragged myself onto my treadmill. I cranked up my oxygen to 5 liters and just went slowly, very slowly. It was so tough the first time especially because my lungs were so tight. I kept a careful watch on my saturation and just kept going.

Everyday, I have been feeling more energy. I am definitely not back up to 100% but I'm honestly convinced getting on my treadmill despite feeling like I should actually be going to the ER prevented me from ending up there!

This week I got on the treadmill five times and walked a mile each time I got on. I have resolved to make this even more a part of my health routine as I can really see how it has helped me overcome this set-back.

P.S. Here's a picture of the gorgeous bride....have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry?! I wept when I saw Ali, she is an angel in my life and I will never forget being there on her special day! Totally worth it : )



Day 5 of Healthy Home Challenge:

This is another tip that costs nothing and is so easy to do.

The book talks about how toxins enter our homes and one of the ways is through our shoes. "Toxins don't just waft it--they also walk in." When we walk in our homes, our shoes track in dirt and other contaminants that can be harmful...especially if we have kids who are playing on the floor!

The simple solution is to have a basket by your door or a shoe rack in the garage where you can remove your shoes before entering the house. Of course you don't need a basket or a rack, the important part is just to remember to remove your shoes before walking through your house!

I put a basket by our front door so we can have a place to put our shoes when we come into the house. Easy!

****REMEMBER to let me know if you are applying any of these tips in your own home and I will send you your own copy of The Healthy Home book as a gift!!****

Summer Highlights: Part 3 of 3

ALOHA!

In July, my mom treated our whole family to an amazing week long adventure on the beautiful island of Kauai (my favorite island). Here is a marathon photo journal of our vacation : )

This was the view from our room the first morning of our trip. We were definitely in paradise!

Grandma Coco and Harrison exploring the resort grounds.

Poipu Block Party: games, food, and dancing!

Poipu Beach Day

Hike to the secret waterfall cliff jump

Making Lei's

Pool Time!

Ethan and Harrison bonded over conversations about and acting out all things "CARS!"

Puka Dogs and Hula Dancers
Love this pic. of Soph and Jaydie watching the show, sweet cousins!

Hanalei Bay, Caves, and End of the Road Day Trip

This is what Harrison and I were doing while they were exploring the caves!

Grandma Coco's Birthday Party!!

I think she liked it!

Although I was pretty sick for the majority of this trip, it will be one of my favorite family vacations ever! It was so wonderful to be with the family in such a spectacular place with so many fun things to do and see. The kids were all so good and Grandma Coco was "SUPER GRANDMA" with grandma prizes and sleepovers and planning our activities and spoiling all of us! I tried to narrow down the pictures for this post but there were too many precious memories I couldn't leave out!

Only a few days after we got home, I ended up in the hospital. When I got my PICC line placed, I asked them not to numb my arm with lidocaine because I thought I might be allergic to it. The doctor told me I could not find one grown man in the whole hospital go through that procedure without lidocaine. When he asked me how I could stay so still and calm while getting my PICC I told him I just transported myself to End of the Road in Kauai and visualized my family and I all back there at the beach. All I felt was gratitude and overwhelming love for my family and it was enough to take away the pain. I am so blessed to have people, experiences, and memories to help make the occasional setbacks more bearable, remind me how precious life is, and motivate me to keep going!

Aloha!