The Garskes

I've had a hard time thinking about this post.  It's been nice to have this cast on my foot so that I have other things to dwell on lately...But here I go anyways...

My best bud Annie and her equally fabulous husband Ben, just moved back to the glorious land of Target. We've been friends through it all - even Clovis, New Mexico.  This tiny island would be so different to me if we didn't have the opportunity to become better friends with them. Annie has been there for me through every infertility issue, and many other bad days too.  I look up to her so much - and am amazed at the ease of our friendship.  We have so much in common, it's actually a little bit scary!  We have explored every beach, been on vacations together and they were the first people we called when Miss E was born.  Matt and I both agree that friends like these don't come around very often. We also agree that this is not the end of our friendship - even if they have gone to the dark side (aka out of the Air Force into normal life -I am only jealous that they're there and we're here).  I see lots of vacations together in our future.  Lots of shell hunting, restaurant finding and much more happy times ahead.  We miss you guys already and can hardly wait to see what our next adventures will be.  (hopefully that Grecian cruise in June 2010!)

Light at the end of a VERY LONG tunnel!

After 15 years, 4 Podiatrists, 2 Neurologists, 2 Orthopedic Surgeons, plantar injections (which ARE NOT as fun as they sound),  and Wiki-wiki - the local witch doctor...I have FINALLY made progress with my ever present ankle/arch/toe/foot pain.  I had previously been diagnosed with plantar fascitis - begining 15 years ago - when the first podiatrist fitted me with some sexy orthotics to wear in my shoes.  Since that day, I've had them re-shaped MANY times, lost twice, and even used them as weapons (that story will come out later).  I hated those things!  They NEVER worked.  I tried so hard to get any relief from this annoying pain - but it seemed like the more I tried, the more pain I found.  Enter, Dr. Cravin...

A little over one year ago this wonderfully intelligent doctor came into my life.  The only reason we met was I had completely exhausted all other doctors associated with feet and he was my last option. Being an Orthopedic Surgeon, he looked at things a little differently, and actually listened to what I was telling him.  Not more than 5 minutes into the appointment, he suggested that I had Tarsel Tunnel syndrome in my ankles (yep BOTH ankles).  He decided that I needed to try steroid injections in my ankles.  By doing this, he could distinguish if that was indeed the nasty problem I had been plagued with.  The injection wasn't fun, and I couldn't walk very well for a couple of days...but after that...R-E-L-E-I-F !!!!!  I was in tears, but this time not from pain!  Someone had finally figured out what was going on with me!  And then 2 weeks after the injection, I found out I was pregnant and had to stop treatment...so fast forward to 2 weeks ago...Doctor Cravin had moved, which I was bummed about - because that man is my HERO...but I set up another appointment with a brand new doctor, who decided that I indeed needed surgery and NOW...fast forward to today...I had my surgery and I am home from the hospital!  I cannot imagine my life without this pain.  It's been so long that I don't remember life before it.  I will have to be on crutches for 2 weeks, and then in a boot for 6 weeks after that...and then they will operate on my left ankle....followed by the same drill...And then...!!!

I can hardly wait to get back to my spin class, and get my turbo kick certification, and WHO KNOWS!!  A new outlook on life has begun.

In LOVE again!

I know that I've reached a point of "oldness" in my life when I can fall in love with a vacuum.  I will admit it - the Dyson has got me hooked!  I challenged my old vacuum - (which I thought was pretty good) to the Dyson...and let's just say  - I kicked my old vacuum to the curb, immediately went out, paid a small fortune and brought home the Dyson Animal Absolute.  

LOVE!

How pathetic am I?

Letter to Miss E - Month 4

Exactly one year ago today, was one of the happiest days in my life.  Your daddy was on call and early in the morning he had to go to the hospital to check on a patient.  I was bummed that he had to leave, so we decided that we'd meet up for a lunch date.  We had been doing a lot of fertility treatments, but nothing seemed to be working, so when I was getting ready for the day I decided that I would take a pregnancy test - my monthly ritual - because your daddy wouldn't be around to talk me out of it.  (He didn't like it when I'd get sad over the negative tests)  I didn't even look at it as I set it on the sink.  I showered and was washing my hair when I looked over at the stick, it looked different this time, but I knew not to get my hopes up.  I finished, and picked up the test.  It was a small, blue "+" sign.  I had taken hundreds of tests before, and none had ever looked like this.  I took another, and another.  I took every brand of test that I had ever taken previously only giving me negative signs - just to see what they looked like as POSITIVE!  I was skipping around the apartment, dancing with our kitty Sushi - he was the only one that knew other than me.  I told your daddy at Chili's during lunch - we both cried, and rushed home so we could call family and friends with the good news.  From that day on, you have given me the most joy that I've ever experienced in my life.  Thank you my sweet baby girl.

The past month you have grown and changed so much!  You are rolling over from your belly to your back - both ways - all by yourself.  You are sleeping 9 hours at night - IN YOUR CRIB - with one feeding in the middle of those glorious 9 hours.  You LOVE people, especially when they talk to you and make faces with you.  You went on your first mini vacation away from your house.  We went to a beautiful hotel with Ben and Annie, and we took you swimming for your first time.  You didn't like the bright sun, but luckily Aunt Nicole sent you some sunglasses that saved the day!  We all had so much fun taking pictures of you in the pool.  I think that you are going to be a good swimmer like your daddy.  You have giggled a few times, but smile all the time.  You have the cutest laugh!  You have started teething, which makes you drool constantly. You love your tongue, and will gnaw on any finger that is close to your mouth.  You are starting to copy the faces that your daddy and I make, you are so smart, and STRONG too!  You love to stand up by yourself by only holding onto our fingers.  I think that you are going to walk before you crawl.  

You have brought so much happiness into our lives Emmy.  I hope you always know how happy you make us, and how much we love you.  You are such a sweet, intelligent, fun and BEAUTIFUL girl.  We are so lucky to be your parents.

love

Momma