Saturday, April 30, 2011

serious bug

I'm about to head in to see my OMD on a Saturday morning.  

It's been 7 days since the first sign of, what appeared to be, food poisoning.  Since then, I've felt crazy nauseous every day.  I've maybe eaten 1/2 meal each day - and even water makes me nauseous. 

No fever.  No pain.  Only CRAZY loud gurgling in my intestines & nausea like a pregnant woman on crack (and nope - not preggers! ;-)  Let's hope he can help!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

on the mend

After 4 days of our family battling with food poisoning symptoms, I think we are finally on the mend (knock on wood).  I haven't felt this sick (nor have Mahalia or Dan) in AGES.  We've been laid up on the couch (or in bed) for two days straight - eating ice chips & barely eating anything . . . or if we tried, it wasn't pretty.

Anyhoo - now that I'm upright . . . thought I'd share one of my favorite photos from last week.  At Mahalia's school, they were teaching about the death & resurrection of Jesus and the Easter story. Being that Easter is my favorite day of the year, I was glad they're teaching her this story.

She was SO excited to show me the tomb across the parking lot from her classroom.  Hilarious that the tomb has a lock on it, right?  I guess it's in place of the stones for touring purposes :-)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

adrenaline rush

For the last two weeks, I've been really burdened to pray for Mahalia's physical safety (which isn't something I think about hardly at all).  But today, I found out why . . . 

Being that the kiddos are on Spring Break, a bunch of us went to the beach - 5 kids & 3 moms.  As you can imagine, with that many folks, there was a bit of stuff to carry from the car.  I looked like a pack mule!  As soon as we hit the sand, the kids were OFF to the water.  I had my hands full of blankets, food, chairs, umbrella etc.  One of the moms was at the water's edge keeping an eye on them, so I was focusing on getting the gear all set up.

When I glanced down to the get an eye on the kids (about 25 yards from where we set up), I noticed Mahalia was up to her neck in water.  I set everything down & got really focused, but there were plenty of adults within 10 feet of her, so I didn't panic . . . then her head bobbed under the water and no one reacted . . . I started sprinting to the water . . . literally running out of my shoes . . . then throwing off my sunglasses, hat & shirt . . . leaving a trail behind me.  I dove into the water & by the time I got to Mahalia, her head had gone completely under the water three times!  

I grabbed her & held her as she sputtered to get the water out of her lungs . . . then I realized I wasn't cold (the water was freezing) . . . and I was completely wet - head to toe, and was breathless - but not in the exhausted kind of way . . . in the kind of "adrenaline just took over & I just ran 30 yards in about 5 seconds flat".

My friends later told me that it was like watching a scene from Bay Watch.  They hadn't seen Mahalia go under until they saw me running like a mad woman towards her.

Thank God for adrenaline.  Thank God for the spiritual heads up.  Thank God that my only child is ok!

The post script is that while I got everything else off, I couldn't get my pants off in time & dove in with them on.  Fortunately I didn't loose my keys, but my phone got completely wrecked.  So after playing for a few hours & dropping our little friend off, Mahalia & I spent 2 hours at the phone store getting a new phone.  Yes, I have insurance.  No, they don't cover water damage.  Boo! 

And to top the day . . . after an hour drive home, 2 hours at the phone store, and putting everything away . . . as I was bending over to put the cover back on the sand box (to put the sand toys away) my pants split out the back side.  Ah - I did take a picture of it, but am still setting up my new phone & can't send the picture to myself yet!

Monday, April 25, 2011

destination

As we've wrestled through career stuff, we're considering a move.  Don't know where.  Don't know when.  Don't even know if we will.  But it's officially on the table & doesn't seem to be going off the table.

I have fought the idea of moving for MANY years.  LOVE Los Angeles & really don't want to move . . . at all.  However, we've stalled out here, it seems & it appears as though a move may be our final option before homelessness (which, although the weather is good here for that sort of thing, doesn't seem very fun).

I've been talking to God about this a LOT.  Apparently he hasn't gotten the memo that I love my friends here, the weather here, the schools here, our church here, the fashion district here, and the dancing HERE!!!

But the other day, as I was talking at God (notice I wasn't talking to him) he mentioned that he himself is the destination . . . not a job, not a location, not a group of people . . . not even passions nor family.

So it appears as though I'm on a new adventure: Destination Jesus.  Though I often (ok, let's be honest here - I wish daily!) wish I knew what was next on this journey, it seems as though I don't have to wait for a new season or a move to get to my new destination.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

yum!

One of my goals this past year has been to become a better & healthier cook.  

I'm trying to incorporate WAY more veggies & a lot less meat, processed ingredients etc.  Not quite going vegetarian - but a definite step in that direction.

Today I made this little gem (thanks to my friend, Erin's recipe) . . . grilled veggie sandwiches.  Delish!!!

It has tons of marinated veggies (then broiled) on a toasted roll, with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes & fresh herbs mixed in.  Yum!

Come over some time & I'll make it for you.

Friday, April 1, 2011

renewed thankfulness

After having 3 interviews over the last 3 weeks, I've had a renewed sense of gratitude for the time that I've been able to spend at home with Mahalia.  I won't be going back to work until June-ish, so am soaking up EVERY moment with my kiddo.

Yesterday it was 90 degrees!  Yes - on March 31st, it was ninety degrees people!  So we went & got her a new, shorter haircut (fewer tangles & not as hot for the summer).  We also decided it was hot enough to run through our favorite fountain, but realized her swimsuit from last year was too small.  So we ran to the store & got a new swimsuit.

Here's to my last weeks at home with my kiddo!