Dimond Update

Cute Jamie. Funny, too. Danny just told us tonight that he thinks we should have a baby. We won't if it's going to look like that monkey! Ha, ha! Do any of you read Scott and I's (sp?) blog? We update it...sort of regularly....

So here are our updates:

• Surgery was a success! I only have about a one inch cut on the side of my you know what. No results yet to know if the lump was cancerous. I'll let everyone know. I'm also proud to say I didn't take any pain medication after it was all over. We've been trying to cut back.
• I'll say it again...Scott and I are ALMOST finished with college. It's going to feel like a long haul to the finish line with a week and a half more of hard practicing, the recital, one last paper, one more presentation and one more final to officially graduate from college.
• We are one week shy of being married for one whole year!! Congratulations us!
• We still don't know what we are going to do when college is officially over except fly to Kauai. At this point it is the closest place to go...and the cheapest!
  
• This is a secret: Scott is one excellent cook!!

Love you all. Check our blog for updates every once in awhile. Hope to hear from everyone soon!

Petition

News ....















Ok, its a joke, but 10 Months is TOO long!! Adrienne could have had a baby by now!! and NO ONE would have known because no one ever posts!!! Think of the horror ....





Not that it wouldn't be cute ...


So - here is my post:

Jamie Updates:

1. I start school in one week. My classes will be: weight training, ballroom dancing, health, choir. A perfect Spring schedule.
2. I can't wait to move in to my new house for many reasons: it will be clean; I will be able to do a cartwheel in my bedroom; it will be clean; I will meet new girls (and guys cough*); it will be clean; there is a flower garden; it will be clean; I will have my very own laundry room that I can use any day of the week; it will be clean; there will be a TV so I can watch LOST!!; and .... IT WILL BE CLEAN!!!!
   
   
   
   
   
3. Still looking for a car, although Ad saved my life by letting me borrow hers. Thank you!
4. I'm actually starting to miss the Winter weather.

Alright you guys are all tagged ... or smacked ... or pinched ... or nudged ... or poked ... whatever term works for you in order to get you to POST!!!



..... please?

I love you all to death.

List of Supplements

Many of you have asked me to give you a list of the supplements I am taking. I buy these online at emersonecologics.com. My doctor has given me access to her discount because she trusts the brand and manufacturer. The entire list costs $350.00 a month. Insurance will not cover them. Many of these are available at Wal-Mart or a health food store and may be less expensive. Some of the supplements are common and good for the general public. A few are specific to my personal needs for amino acids; so if you don't recognize the name, it's probably a chemical I am missing (based on my genetic testing). I have added the brand name next to the supplement.

I have also listed the names of the two tests I had done to analyze my biochemistry. The first test was saliva, urine and blood and involved taking several medications and determining how the body detoxifies the substances. The second test was blood only and analyzed my body's genetic variations that affect its ability to detoxify specific toxins, medications, and foods. Both tests produced interesting and valuable information about why my body reacts the way it does. The genetic test showed that I have four genetic "weaknesses" from both sides of the family that impair the detoxification process and can have an adverse effect on the nervous system.

Please e-mail me or call me if you have any specific questions. I have lots of information -- too much to put on the blog. I will do my best to explain anything you want to know about my tests and the results. The most important thing is that I am getting better!

Please talk to your doctor about recommended dosages.

1. B-Complex (Vital Nutrients)
2. Magnesium (Glycinate) 120 mg. (Vital Nutrients)
3. Omega-3 Fish Oil ~ ProEPA Concentrated Pharmaceutical Grade Molecularly Distilled ~ 1000 mg. (Nordic Naturals)
4. NAC N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine ~ 600 mg. (Verified Quality Natural Products)
5. DeTox Formula (Vital Nutrients)
6. SAME ~ 200 mg. (Integrative Therapeutics, Inc. Vitaline)
7. Reduced Glutathione (Pure Encapsulations)
8. Liquid Iron w/Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 (Integrative Therapeutics, Inc.)
9. CoEnzyme Q10 Powder ~ 20 grams (Vital Nutrients)
10. Glycine Powder ~ 250 grams (Vital Nutrients)

Lab Test #1 ION Profile (Individual Optimal Nutrition) ~ Metametrix Clinical Laboratory
Lab Test #2 DetoxiGenomic Profile (Genovations)

Sleeping Giant

We live on the east side of Kauai about a mile and a half from the ocean. Every day I drive home and turn inland at the only navigable river on the island, past the old Coco Palms hotel (the one where Elvis stayed....it never reopened after the 1992 hurricane), and along a narrow volcanic ridge that leads up to an overlook with the stone foundation remnants of an old Hawaiian palace. The elevation is about 200 feet and the old settlement looks over the Pacific ocean. Just past the foundation walls, I look left and below to the Wailua River and to the right at Opaka'a falls (you've seen these falls if you've been to the temple) that drop a hundred feet to a pool. Past the falls, I drive around the shoulder of the Sleeping Giant--a high ridge (probably 500 feet high) with Norfolk pines and albesia trees. Our home is nestled on the back side of the Sleeping Giant next to a small stream.

A short distance from our home, a trail moves into the forest, along the north shoulder of the Giant. The trail leads sharply up to the pinnacle of the Giant's head. A very narrow rock escarpment forms the chin of the Giant. Near the top, a head-high opening leads from the back side of the Giant to the ocean side in just ten steps. Above the opening is the top of the chin with a few rocks conveniently located for seating. On many occasions, we walk to the top, scale the cliff and settle into the rock seats to watch this:


this.....




or this:

Poli'hale

Poli'hale is on the West side of Kauai. This beach is probably ten miles long, all sand, dunes, and the Pacific Ocean. The last strands of sand end where the Na'pali (cliffs) begin to rise hundreds of feet into the sky rendering a round-the-island car ride impossible. On some weekends it has a lonely, end-of-the-world, feel. Not so on the 4th of July!

We arrived Thursday evening just before sunset. A pacific sunset often includes a bank of soft clouds, ringing the horizon like a protective net softening the fall of the sun into the ocean. The sun's descent fires the clouds with an orange glow marking our downed star. On this night, once the sunset's glow faded into a black blanket laced with star light, we saw the sharp crescent of the new moon just above the horizon following the sun into the void. Then, we turned down our lanterns, stood on the dunes with a soft breeze cooling our skin and gazed into the night at a million, million suns, and a million, million galaxies. I wonder about all those people who question whether there is any life up there. I can't see it, but I know they are there...millions of worlds enjoying their own sunsets and watching our star winkle at them.

The next morning I attacked the Sun Shade! This is a blue, spring bar design purchased at Kirkham's many years ago. No floor, open sides at the end and I couldn't remember how to put it up! To many springs and bars that didn't spring! After several collapses I am beginning to feel a bit self-consicous with Sarah and our friends laughing at me on the knoll (seriously, I know they were cheering for me!). Nonetheless, I soon remembered the technique and sprung a shade to shield the shinning sun. Yeah!

The location, however, proved to be a bit of a problem.

With my shade standing ever ready, we swam in the ocean, threw the feezbee, played a family game of football (Sarah threw two straight touchdown passes!), rescued two stranded "quads" (you know, the four wheel motorcycles) and soon found ourselves standing just beyond the reach of the waves with the sun beginning its drop back into the clouds. As this happens, there is an undefineable point when one no longer feels the strength of the sun ray. It is as if the sun gathers all of its strength within itself preparing for the night to come. A visitor, as we were, is left with a feeling of perfect temperature and only the soft caress of a breeze slipping down from the rock walls at our back. The thickness of the atmosphere allows our eyes to look easily in the direction of the sun. We sit, visit, share stories, and watch the sun mark the end of a wonderful day.

And then the night!. You see, in my focus to raise the sun shade, I placed the two open ends parallel with the beach and close to the dune where we parked our cars. A few vehicles drove on the beach near our sun shade during the day. Certainly, they would stop after midnight or so. But no...not tonight! And, with each passing vehicle, I realize there is an unmarked freeway with traffic moving on both sides of our sun shade! A large party a mile or so to the north enticed a steady stream of quads, trucks, and other 4x4s gunning their engines through the sand first to the party, and then back to check their fishing lines, back to the party, and then back for a beer, and then back to the party....all.....night.....long. Oh no...this is not all...the party includes very loud music (at least that is what they called it) that blares long into the night leaving my mind a jumble of thoughts pushing sleep far from me.

As you may have guessed, and as is very common, we slept under and around the sun shade. Kaylee and her friend in the open and Sarah and I under the sun shade. As each truck's lights blazed through our little open bedroom, I was startled from whatever thoughts of sleep I had, and worried the trucks wouldn't see us. Sometime during the night, however, I learned something very important. You see...Sarah was still asleep and, not only asleep, but she slept through the night and did not hear the music or see the lights or hear the engines! Now...and I write this for her brothers and sisters and all who have every dared to wake Sarah...how is this possible!

I will end this post, leaving for another time, a description of our trek home, the thorns in the bushes, the local Hawaiians at the watering hole, the call to the police and our game of scrabble; but, please somebody help explain how Sarah slept through the night on the beach at Poli'hale!

Father's Day

During the years I lived at home there was a time when dating and other high school activities often resulted in coming home late at night. My parents did not give me a curfew. But, when I came home I became aware that my father, who slept on the side of the bed nearest the door, was not able to sleep deeply and restfully until I carefully opened the door and said, "Dad, I'm home." Often, a few questions were exchanged about the evening while I sat on the edge of the bed. Usually, Dad would say, "I'm glad you're safe and that you had a good time." Sometimes, he would say, "It's a little late isn't it?"

I often remembered, if the night was lasting too long, that if I didn't come home soon Dad would not get a good night's sleep. I also became accustomed to inquiries about my activities and, consequently, I know I chose not to do certain things that would have been uncomfortable to discuss with my Dad.

Almost thirty years have passed since those middle-of-the-night discussions ended. Sometimes, I yearn for those days when I was expected to let you know that I was safe and that my activities were proper. Even so, you have had reason to sleep deeply and restfully most of those thirty-odd years since I last creaked open the door and whispered that I was home. I hope to always so live.

Thanks Dad

In a recent post on our site, you will find several photos of Mushu, the CAT: He owns everthing! Today I found that, not only does he own everything, "heee haaas (twirlling his tail!) a schedule!

My schedule--that I did not clear with Mushu--involved bombing our house since Sarah was in Oahu and Dan was on the river. Bombing our house is necessary, from time to time, when the ratio of fleas is six times the number of cockroaches discovered in the pantry in the first week of June. BUT! only when it is cleared with Mushu's schedule.

Well....today I had everything ready. The doors closed, cupboards open, bombs prepped and windows closed. And, then I remembered! MUSHU!! He won't like being bombed, I thought and, not wanting Sarah to come home to a wooszy putty cat, I decided I needed to find Mushu and move him somewhere safe. Where's the cat, where's the cat?....where's that da..Oh excuse me....m cat!

Oh...I remembered...he sleeps during the afternoon....hmmmm....where? Upstairs? I pulled boxes from the loft and looked behind them where, I am told, Mushu has a hide-a-way. I thought, after many boxes moved, sweat running down my face and no CAT, that it was pretty hot.

Downstairs to find a flashlight and I started looking under the beds. Our bed...Dan's bed...Kaylee's bed (under the giant bean bag? Nah he wouldn't do that) No CAT!

Not much time left. I have to pull the pins on the bombs soon or there won't be enough time before Sarah's home (and, you all know how Sarah and chemicals mix!) Where is the CAT! There's no where left to look! Back under the beds...I must have missed something....wait...what is that lump hanging down from inside the box springs? It feels like a body, but it doesn't move. My schedule needs this BODY to move. I pushed and pushed, prodded and jabbed...not a sound, not one indication of life. Is he DEAD!! (maybe :) just kidding Sarah!) Well...I need to bomb this house and that CAT is going to move! So, off with the sheets, off with the top mattress (I missed the fan...but only barely...)and then, up with the box spring. What? nothing? that lump is still in the same place...only now upside down. I still can't reach him with my hand. Shake the box spring...tip it one way and then the other....then I looked inside a small hole in the underside of the box springs and I saw the EYES staring back at me: "You are messing up my schedule!" But...I stammer...I have to bomb the house.

Finally, I pull Mushu out of the mattress and take him outside. Outside you say? Mushu has never been outside--at least with permission. I decide the safest place is in the cab of our truck (window down and its not too hot outside).

Two hours later, I opened the door and Mushu's eyes glared at me from under the seat. "YOU disrupted my schedule!!" But, I try to explain, "the house is nice and clean, I'll give you water with ice in it....even some canned gravy that you like."

Then, Sarah came home. You would think Mushu might run to Sarah and tell her that his schedule was disrupted. No! All night, Mushu sits under the piano. Sarah's tried to coax him out...I pulled him out and set him in Sarah's lap. The only response is the glare of those large saucer shapped eyes staring up at you and then he stalks back to the piano having shared this thought: "My schedule...DON'T ever mess with my schedule!!"

Okay......remember Mushu "owns everything!"