O.M.G.! Did you see what I just wrote?! Two months, two weeks, & six days until we sail away to Alaska, and I could not be more excited! Ok, I actually could ... and I will ... but for now, this is still incredibly exciting! Here's what I've been reading lately:
Handy little book, this is! I've also checked out books from the public library about each town we're visiting. Yes, I'm a nerd, but a thorough nerd. Wanna see our actual ship?? Huh? Do ya?!
I. CAN'T. WAIT.
So, since the last post, I have had the extreme pleasure of eating oodles of delicious food. I tell ya, I'm a lucky gal. We celebrated a co-worker's birthday by going to a Brazilian steakhouse, & it was my first time at a place like this. The concept: you pay roughly $20.00 (though work paid this time) and eat endless meat. They also have a lovely salad bar, with more unusual things than you find on a typical salad bar, but the main attraction is the meat. (That's what she said.) Personally, though it was all very tasty, my favorite was their flan. I dare say it was one of the best flans I have ever had.
Before.
After.
In addition to this luxurious lunch, I took another "Lunch Express" cooking class with my dear friend & co-worker, Amber. We've done this one other time, and I loved it, although I was coming down with strep during the class & didn't know it yet. (No wonder swallowing that food was like swallowing shards of glass ...) This time we did the St. Patty's Day lunch, and basically what happens is you get to watch a chef explain & cook the dishes, and a very nice lady brings you the dishes while you're watching. They have hands-on classes, where you actually prepare the recipes yourself, but lunch isn't nearly long enough for all that, so we just watched and dined. Our menu during this trip?
Sweet pea soup, with Gentleman's Relish on soda bread
Classic corned beef reuben with Guinness dijon mustard
and potato salad
And sticky toffee pudding with Jameson ice cream
Holy moley - they had to *roll* us out of there. It was all so delicious, and we can't wait to try another class. Since they send you home with the recipes, I may actually have to try this one at home. Well, minus the pea soup - my guys would never, I repeat, NEVER eat that.
(I loved it, though, as you can see!)
After all the yummy eating on-the-job, it was time for spring break. We started the week off with a trip out to spend the day with some of our favorite people on earth. Their home & their ranch are like a fortress of solitude for us, and it was a fantastic way to start off Z's much-deserved vacation.
Wide open spaces.
The boys, running through said wide open spaces.
Our resident goofball.
First sight of bluebonnets.
The feast Malcolm prepared (they're too good to us!)
Charlie, quite possibly one of the best dogs to walk the Earth.
Monday started a string of sleepovers, and having kids over to play. We had to squeeze in an appointment to a specialist this week, because I didn't want to have to take Z out of school again - he had already missed five days since January before spring break came around. Our poor kid ... the crap he has endured for the past five years with his suspected allergies have finally gotten to him. The week before spring break he had a minor meltdown, born out of sheer frustration about being sick again with a double ear infection. We have battled snot, coughing, mucus, ear infections, and sinus infections over and over and over since he was very small. We've seen his pediatrician, we've seen an allergist, we've seen a different pediatrician for a second opinion -- all to have no better results. Finally, we got the break we needed when a dear friend of mine recommended a pediatric ENT. Thankfully, we got an appointment over spring break, and finally got Z checked out with specialty cameras, scopes, and CT scans of his entire head.
Getting his hearing tested.
Getting a CT scan.
He has *always* been the BEST patient - never complains, never fights me, just takes what I tell him to without resistance. He was just as good going through these tests, and I'm so glad we did them. Turns out his hearing got an "A" in his right ear, but a "C" in his left ear. His sinuses are so swollen and inflamed all the time, it's actually affecting his hearing. We had no idea! The CT scan showed how irritated and puffy his sinuses are, on a good day, and we talked extensively with the doctor. He came up with a plan of treatment for Z, which we have been doing for a week now, and already we have seen VAST improvement! Hallelujah! When I asked him yesterday how he's feeling after being on this medicine for a while, his response was, "Mom, I feel GREAT. Seriously. GREAT!" My heart melted. Finally, my son is feeling a real version of good instead of the warped version he's only known up to this point. I'm praying this treatment continues to work for him, and that we have found our answer. Thanks again to Becca for recommending our new favorite doctor! And, going to his office, we found the coolest tissue box holder ever:
You can get them at Target.com. Yeah, we're ordering one.
To reward him for enduring this appointment on his vacation, we let him have his neighbor friend spend the night that night. The neighbor friend has a little brother who worships the ground they walk on, so he spent the night, too. It was lots of laughs, Star Wars, and popcorn while camped out in the living room.
Friday, we took off to a new state park we had never been to before to camp. We rented a cabin over the phone, and it was so much better in person than we had ever dreamed it could be by looking at pictures online. We didn't want to leave!
A wrap-around porch! They knew the way to our hearts!
Even had our own little porch light.
He was thrilled about the bunk beds!
Aaron hunting down something that flew in.
Our view from the deck, looking left ...
... and looking right.
Down at the shore, looking back up at our cabin.
Aaron, enjoying the quiet.
View from the shore.
We did lots of hiking, exploring, walking, playing, and campfires. It was absolute bliss.
Little fella in the tree by our porch.
Another little fella on the hiking trail.
Everything was so green!
Is he seriously that tall?
We cannot wait to get back to this cabin! We're already trying to figure out when we can get back, and Z is hoping to take a friend next time. It would work out perfectly, since there are 4 bunk beds. It's great to see him love camping, to love running around outside, and not have to depend on video games or tv to keep him occupied. He even told us, out of the blue, how much he loved us both when we were all sitting around the campfire the first night. It's moments like that one that spurn these trips we take. Knowing that we're bonding, he's enjoying himself, and we're making memories, make each trip worth every penny. Can't wait until next time!
I think that catches us up to today. I am so thankful that Z stayed healthy and got to have what he calls "the greatest spring break ever". His Christmas break was so miserable, I was just hoping his sinuses would cooperate. (Mission accomplished!) Now, we're back to school & back to work, dragging ourselves through the routines. Our hearts are still camping, but we have to suffice with knowing we will eventually get there again, & hopefully sooner than later. We are now getting so close to our huge vacation this summer, it's all we can think about since spring break is over. I guess you could say we live to take trips - that's not so bad, right? I love my boys, I love to eat, and I love to travel. Life is good, and since that doctor's appointment, I think life just got a whole lot better for everyone.
Until next time ... love, peace, & chicken grease to you all. xoxo