The post you've been waiting for..... Payback time

Yep. As suspected my amazing marathon of a day demanded payment in the form of two days in bed. The pain was outrageous, that fatigue crippling, the guilt was ever present, the "I'm sorry"s were flowing and my friends were sympathetic and understanding. I managed to make it to dinner out last night because it was some of our friends last night, and it was ok. So not quite two days. That recovery time alone  is definitely improved on some levels from my experience in the bay area, but  I tend to think it is more the adrenaline from being on vacation and seeing my friends that really shortened the timeframe. Today has been a bit of a struggle, but I did hang out at another friends pool for a few hours and catch up with her. My exhaustion level and physical shut down dictated our hasty departure but it was a good time to leave and the kids and a marathon day of  swimming, hiking and more swimming. Now we're home and Wrapping up the day and I still believe it was worth the payment.

Accomplishing the improbable

I would say my stamina has been tested in many ways since we moved to Hawaii, but yesterday was one heck of a pop quiz. 

We are in Maui having a mini reunion with friends from California. There are several families joining us and it has been an amazing trip so far. One thing Maui has that we love is the aquarium. Our son is especially into sharks and sea life right now, so we had to go. I actually made reservations a week or so ago to do the behind the scenes tour of the aquarium which in and of itself is incredible to me, since I never would make non refundable reservations in California because I just never knew if my body would allow it. But, I digress. It was also decided among the families that we would go to the kids’ favorite restaurant in all the world- Slappycakes for breakfast. So, the day began with a two hour breakfast of making our own pancakes and chatting with friends, followed by a 45 minute drive to the aquarium, an hour long walking tour and then meandering around the ocean center. When we left there it was time for the football game and some lunch with friends at one of the resorts on the beach. Lunch and drinks at the sports bar, four hours of 3 different pools, four different families, a visit from our daughters old teacher all followed up by dinner, a movie and a sleepover with R's bestie at our condo completed the day. 

At one point my friend even asked how I was feeling and remarked on the day I had. And I felt the need to point out to my husband several times that my body was still functioning at a decent level after a full day already. It allowed me to enjoy my friends as I wanted to, not how my body dictated and it allowed my amazing and selfless husband to sit and watch the football game with friends and drinks since I was perfectly capable of walking around and swimming with our kids by myself. It was a day out of a movie. At one point I was strolling through the resort looking for the "pirate pool" to find my child and some friends, holding a juice in my hand and revelling at the normalcy of my actions in this storybook situation. Can there be a better vacation, day, life than wandering in the sun through a beautiful beach resort drinking tropical juice in your bathing suit looking for a group of friends after leaving another group at a beach side bar/restaurant? After a day at the aquarium and a fabulous unique breakfast? In my world the answer is No and until a few months ago the answer would have been “if only my body would let me”. Thank you Maui for giving me that day and universe for giving me this life.

Friends, island hopping and feeding the soul

Today, our blessed life has brought us to Maui. Our daughter’s friends from California have descended upon the Island so we had to hop over for a mini reunion. Four of her close California friends, another family from the school AND her old teacher are here within 5 miles of each other. So, a 45 minute flight and an ocean view condo just had to be done. There has never been a question in our minds that we lead a blessed and unique life, and yet another experience has proven it as I sit here with my cup of coffee looking out at the ocean and blue skies of west Maui. 

Sitting by the pool for hours on end catching up and laughing with good friends we have known for a child’s lifetime and watching our son and daughter wrinkle from endless amounts of time in the pool playing with friends feeds the soul like nothing else. 

I cannot express how much I love Hawaii and how happy I am to be living here. My soul feels at home here in a way I cannot even describe, but it doesn’t come without sacrifice and sadness as well. I miss our California community, the school, the neighborhood, so having such a huge group of true friends surrounding us has definitely lifted spirits I didn’t realize were slipping. It has made our daughter realize she will not lose these friends that she held so dear, and it has made me realize that simple conversations and laughter with good friends is an integral part of who I am. Oddly it has also reaffirmed my decision to move here. Before we came to Maui, I was wondering if this experience would make me question the move by reminding me of what we left behind, but it has done the opposite. I have realized I will not lose that community of amazing people and that it wasn’t built in a matter of months but years, so I can build another one in time. It has also allowed me to enjoy these people in a way I couldn’t in cold foggy Northern California since the weather and outdoor lifestyle prolongs my days and stamina. But that is another post...

Experiments, sleep and oops....

It has been a while. I wish I could say this was because I have been feeling so great that I haven’t had time to write. Sadly, not the case. However, I am on the upswing now!

I had a(nother) moment of not so bright. I will never learn apparently not to push my boundaries. 

I visited my new Dr with a great sigh of relief learning she is awesome and I look forward to working with her. She, however, got the un-brightness ball rolling with an explanation of anemia of chronic illness. I am anemic- surprise surprise- and have been since I was pregnant with baby #2. Many many women become anemic during pregnancy, I am not unique in this, but my numbers just never recovered. I began taking iron supplements and everything was fine. Fast forward 6 years to a drs office in Hawaii where my Dr tells me that this anemia may be due to chronic illness and inflammation not iron deficiency…… Well, I’m sure you can guess what came next. Yup, I decided to test that. So, after 6 years of balanced blood levels and no anemia symptoms I stopped my iron supplements and plummeted into sleeping 18-19 hours a day and being cold in 85 degree weather. Oops. 

So, that is why I have been absent for awhile. Sadly my parents visited during that time, so I didn’t get to really spend the time with them that I wanted. It was fantastic to see them and have them experience our sweet little town though! 

Anyway, back on iron and feeling back to my normal. I solemnly swear to never test that theory again.