New home update

Moving is quite the adventure. It is a ton of work. We loaded up the delivery Uhaul on Thursday. It took all day. We had dry weather, cold, but dry. I can't believe we had so much stuff, we even had to rent a smaller, 2nd delivery trailer. But we did it and we were all exhausted and sore the next day.

It was really emotional between Thursday and Friday saying goodbye to all the people we knew, especially my mom. I think she took it the hardest. Someone brought us doughnuts on Friday morning, the day we were heading south and we said goodbye to them. The last order of business was to clean the house on Friday and load any last minute items. We had to leave our cats behind, a neighbor is taking care of them and it was hard to leave them. Our dog went with my parents. I will be going back to get them as soon as we find a place to rent up here in CA...should be soon.

We are staying with my husbands sister Laura Juden and her husband Brett Juden. They are being very generous. We have our own room and the kids and I am grateful to the Juden's. Their dog is sleeping with them on the bed and they absolutely love that.

We got the Uhaul unloaded within a few hours thanks to Brett J. and his friends. I have gone and lost my jewelery box. It's somewhere in a box in the storage unit....I'll find it someday. For now, I only have 1 pair of earrings, good thing I like them.

I had a talk with Brett J, the day we came down and he told me the story of how they moved up. Laura got a job up here and they had to be down in a week. He said he didn't want to move either. But said that the place just grows on you. He told me also all about the trails that I could run on.

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day here. It is like we jumped forward to Spring.  Today is a nice day also, but a tad cloudy.

I ran today, I'm taking my resting break this week, so only did 10 and I wore shorts! I couldn't believe it. I also wore a long sleeve shirt and a sleeveless vest, but was a little too warm. I was warned that I should bring my mace because a dog could chase me. Well, a Pomeranian barked at me, but the owner was there. I think I could have handled it. Nice little kick...hee hee!!

The girls are starting school tomorrow at their new school. I'll have to drive them and pick them up as it is 6 miles away. And I hope they make friends soon, that helps moms attitude.

I've met a few people, men, but still. They seem nice. One works at the prison and is also with the Del Norte search and Rescue, which I would like to join. Brett J. said he has flown over the ocean in a helicopter while giving someone CPR. That is interesting.

We still have a lot of work to do ahead of us. Moving to a new home, my husband starting a new job in a new city and state, all while training for a ultra marathon and being at its highest mileage...yup, lots to do.

Kayla's note to the Tooth Fairy

This is the letter that my daughter wrote to the Tooth Fairy that night she had her Tonsilectomy.

 

"It says tooth fairy, just in case you did not know, I lost those teeth from my dokter pulling them out. It was not the dentist, I was getting my tonsils out. So um..can you give my $4 and 4cents? It's okay, I'm not trying to forse you. but now I can't say the T.H. sound. but I can sleep way more better and eat lots of icecream. So please give me 4$ and 4 cents if you can. From Kayla Horton."

My daughter's Tonsilectomy to cure her Sleep Apnea. Silly pics and video.

Today my daughter Kayla got her tonsils out to hopefully cure her Sleep Apnea as I mentioned in a few blogs ago.

She was very scared when she woke up this morning and on the way to the hospital.

All she could have this morning was water, but was cut off at 7:30AM.

When we arrived at the hospital, I was able to explain to her about the Doernbecher Children’s hospital and how children who are much sicker than she, come there for treatment and how anyone of those children would love to trade places with her and just have to get their tonsils out. She was starting to feel a little better, but still nervous.

In the waiting room, she was able to make a necklace and bracelet, thanks to a generous volunteer group. When we were called back, she was met by a very nice nurse who did a very great job in explaining to Kayla how she was going to take her pulse, temperature and blood pressure. But when it was time to undress into a gown, she was hesitant and I had to do it for her.

When it came time for them to give her what we call "silly juice" she was very reluctant and it took her about 10 minutes for her to take it. She kept asking questions like whats in it, what is it going to do to me and why. They even had to tell her they were going to give it to her through her nose if she didn't drink it. After the silly juice, she was funny. Below are the pictures and video.

She did lose her two front teeth that were loose upon going into surgery, but she is fine with it. She keeps making fun of herself and how she sounds with those two teeth missing. We keep reassuring her that she will start to sound normal again. She is also back to bugging her sister.Naomi says to her “Kayla say something” and Kayla said “something” Plus she is saying she can’t wait to go to bed to test out her sleeping.


She is going to be just fine. I’m glad it’s all over with. Now, I just have to wait for the bill. Hummmmmmmmmmmmm. I think I’m getting a headache with that thought. The bill,oh the bill.

11 things you may not know about me.

I didn’t walk until I was 18 months old. I think my legs somehow knew what I would one day do them; they just wanted to rest more.

I have had two surgeries in my life. One was a c-section with my 2^nd daughter, Kayla. They wanted to do a c-section because she went breech 2 days prior to delivery day. However, she was so far in my birth canal when the surgeon finally came around and I was given a choice to delivery vaginally or c-section, I chose c-section. But do regret my decision; the next several days were very painful. And, I lost a lot of blood when I gave birth to her and felt myself floating up. The other surgery was to remove a Dermoid Cyst on my right ovary.

I don’t drink alcohol at all. And the real reason why I don’t is because many years ago, I prayed and asked God to make me absolutely ill when ever I drank it. The next day my prayer was answered.

I’ve been married before Brett. With my first husband, we were young and immature and getting a divorce felt more like a breakup. He lives close to me and if I run into him, I will hug and greet him kindly, but we don’t have any other contact.

My hair is naturally curly. My very first hair as an infant was a curl.

Biking was my first obsession. When I was 17, I would often ride by myself 30 miles to the Washington/Oregon border. It was always such a thrill. 

I am a trained Doula and have participated in several births; a few paid, but mostly volunteer. I love to watch them, but learned, I really am not nurturing, so haven’t been attending any births. I've attended still births, single mother births, witnessed a baby almost being dropped while the mother had it standing up, been mostly a babysitter two a 2 year old so that the father could be in the room with his wife, been told things by drugged up mothers that I wish I hadn't heard...

I cut my husbands hair and I’m good at it. This is funny because I once cut my boyfriends hair when I was 17 and really messed it up.

Not only am I scared of driving in the snow an ice, I'm terrified of spiders, flying bugs and being in rivers and oceans if I can't see the bottom.  What's funny is that we have a pet spider, it's been living in our bathroom since the summer and it's not my first pet spider.

I’ve only had one dentist my whole life. He’s watched me grow up and now he is my kid’s dentist. I send him a Christmas card every year. 

I don’t like Chocolate, but love Skittles and have a very unhealthy obsession to orange flavored Tic-Tac’s. I can eat a box of Tic-Tac’s in about 5 minutes or less. 

Sleep Apnea

2 more nights.

2 more nights until my youngest daughter, aged 7 gets her tonsils out.

I am really looking forward to it.

She has Sleep Apnea. She has it bad.

When we took her to OHSU, the doctor took a look at her tonsils, looked at the video that I showed him and knew instantly she has it. 

It is hard to watch her struggling to breath at night. She isn't getting a good nights rest. I'll watch her sleep for a few minutes and in those few minutes, she wakes up often. She looks like she is gasping for air, she looks like she is going to throw up, her little stomach sinks in so deeply. And she snores, loudly.


So, 2 more nights.....

Below is the video that we showed the doctor and further reading. 

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea

A new chapter in my life

Photo of my family

My husband is getting a job with his Indian tribe, which is located in Crescent City, CA. It is a job that he has been wanting, a move that he has been wanting and I'm happy for him, I really am. I've always known that one day a move to Crescent City, CA from Hillsboro, Or (40 min from Portland) would come.

We are leaving Friday, January 21st, 2011. I've lived in the Portland area my whole life, 36 years. I am a big city girl with a big city spirit and mind. Hillsboro has a population of 90,000. Crescent City has a population of 10,000. I am not happy to leave.


My family lives in Portland, my friends live in Portland, Forest Park is in Portland. My kids, ages 9 and 7 have their friends, their life....


A few weeks ago, between a private moment between my husband and I, I cried and it was very heavy and emotional. He was willing to let go of the job to save his marriage, but of course, I wouldn't let him. I love him and want the best for him, he has to take it. I told him that night that I would be okay and adjust and I will.

It is so hard for me to watch my two young children cry about moving, it absolutely breaks my heart.

My girls are slowly adjusting and saying their own goodbyes to their loved ones. My daughter, Kayla who is 7, is having the hardest time. She cries and I cry with her, it's hard for me to stay strong. My daughter Naomi cried at church when she had to say goodbye to her teacher and that same night, my husband cried throughout the whole service, but I did stay strong.

I ran with my very good friend this past Sunday and this coming Sunday is when we have our last run together for awhile, until I return. But, I started trying to find her someone else that she can run with in the forest and I became emotional thinking it was a little hard because I have to leave. But I love my friend and want her to have someone to run with.

Last night, Monday night, my family got together for the Duck game and it was probably the last time we get together for awhile. They were yelling, cursing, laughing, crazy, kids running around, sliding on the floor cheering, dishes being broke, brother willing to give his opinion on everything and my mom said "you are going to miss all of this" and I agreed.

I don't want to go.

I just am wondering how long these powerful emotions are going to keep up. When will we find happiness? How long do I have to hold my little girls because they are so sad?

I wrote on my Facebook wall today, "before you complain about life, think of someone who went to heaven early."

For myself, I am trying to make the most of everything, make the fear of the unknown into a positive.

My friend told me today;

"It's a new chapter in your life. Embrace it! God always works in mysterious ways. Sometimes we don’t like or understand it or at the time, but down the road it will all come together. "

Discovering Lucy's

For this past Christmas, my sister in law had me to shop for. When I opened her gift, I discovered all sorts of treasures. I had running shorts, running pants, a running top, a bag and 4 pairs of running socks. They were all purchased at a store called "Lucy" Never until that day had I heard of Lucy’s.

That evening I tried on everything and found out that the pants were just a little bit too tight for my tastes and the top, oh the top. It was really tight, showed off all my belly flaws and it had not only a bra built in, but it was a push up. I looked in to the mirror and said "oh my."

Now let me stop and tell you the kind of runner that I am in case you don’t know. I prefer trails, muddy, muddy trails. I am not the type of runner that goes to the gym with all my makeup on and barely breaks a sweat. Having run 8 ultra marathons and 6 marathons, I believe if it doesn't hurt like hell, than you didn't train hard enough.

So, I decided I better take the two items back to this Lucy's when I get back to Portland.

I looked up Lucy's on the internet and discovered that there was one at the local mall.

I am not a mall shopper either. I prefer to avoid it as much as I possibly can. When my girls become teenagers, I will hire someone to take them. I learned where I should park so I can get to the store quickly upon arrival.

When I arrived at Lucy's at promptly 10 Am, when they opened. I walked right up to the counter and was greeted by the overly friendly and semi snooty employees. I told them that I needed to return the items and the one gal said that I would get a store credit. I said that was fine. She told me how much I had for a store credit and my mouth seriously dropped open.....$124.00 I said, "oh my!" She then wanted me to sign the return receipt and wanted me to give her my address and promised it wasn't for solicitation purposes. I had to refuse her twice. What part of no did she not understand? I wasn't giving her my address. She then got the hint, scribbled something on receipt and looked liked I hurt her feelings. Too bad!! I then asked her about the store and said that I could find something. She went on to ask me, what kind of exercise that I do and I said I was a runner. I then decided to add for shock value to the "perfect" employee that I preferred to run on trails, the muddier the better and she said "Oh, what fun!" Uh huh, right sure she thought that.

I went into the back to try them on. I decided to get a different size and just walked out and got them myself. After a few minutes, Ms. Snoot-ville came to check on me, asked me what size shirt that I wore and then said she was leaving 2 jackets on the bench for me just in case I would like to try them on. I then realized she was paid on commission. I ignored her and then later came out with my items and said that I wanted to just buy them. She then tried to sell me a box of sport wash which I declined cause uh, whats the point? Then she proceeded to tell me how much she herself liked my black shirt, how she has several herself and then gave me a tip on how I can get my clothes to come out really clean, wash inside out. Uh huh, whatever thanks.

I left the store, promising myself to never again return and wanting a shirt that read "I survived Lucy's.

Oh and I only had to pay $2.00 for my own money. Yipee!!

https://www.lucy.com/on/demandware.static/Sites-Lucy-Site/Sites-Lucy-Library/default/v1283456070703/Misc/lucy_mediakit.pdf