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WordPress A Post A Day/Week #40 ~ Describe Your Last Vacation

Describe Your Last Vacation

Well my last vacation with my family was in June, but I want to tell you about the last “adult” vacation I had.  It was a surprise vacation for me from my Husband for our 10th Wedding Anniversary.  He took me to Cancun.  We stayed at The Royal.  An all-inclusive adult only resort.  It was amazing!

I wanted to back up though that tell you what happened at before we left.  We were to be leaving on Easter Sunday.  The Friday before we went out to dinner with some friends for Indian food.  My stomach was feeling odd before we left.  I thought it was hunger pains. To make a long story short, by the next morning at 4:30 a.m. I had driven myself to the ER.  I was diagnosed with an appendicitis.  A couple of hours later I was in emergency surgery for an appendectomy.  Come Sunday morning, Easter morning, I was recovering in the hospital.  Needless to say, we were not flying out for my surprise Anniversary trip that day. Andrew had to change all of the reservations for a week later.

Our trip started out with a driver picking us up to take us to the airport.  We had cocktails on the plane and a great flight. We laughed, held hands, talked and enjoyed ourselves.

Our shuttle picked us up from the airport. We arrived at the resort and it was just beautiful.  Not too large either.  Just perfect! After registering in a private registration area while drinking champagne we went to our room.  There were rose petals on the bed, champagne on ice, chocolate covered strawberries and other sweets and an amazing view of the ocean.  It couldn’t have been better.

The coolest thing about this trip was that Andrew planned it all and each day was a surprise event.  We would get up in the morning and I would quiz Andrew on what I should be wearing, what I should bring.  Bathing suit, no bathing suit… water shoes… good camera, waterproof camera… things like that.  It was fun and exciting.

One of the days we walked down the road from the resort.  To my surprise we were going scuba diving.  It was my very first time and I got to do 2 dives that day.  It was amazing.  It rained a bit that day too, but it didn’t matter.  I just couldn’t believe that I got to actually dive in the ocean the first day that I learned to dive and with only a very short instruction.  Amazing!!

Since it was an all-inclusive resort we got to enjoy all the wonderful food. There were several restaurants on the premises that we had access too. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner was always a special treat.  Something different each day. Japanese, French-Mexican, as well as several others. Small private dinners with a private Chef. Sharing a table with people from around the world.  It was so cool!

My favorite breakfast of all time.

As you could imagine the sunsets were amazing in Cancun.  I can never resist them.

Each night there was a different show in the central area.  Every one would gather and relax on the comfy couches and chairs.

The pools were beautiful.  Surrounded by in the sand cabanas and lounges.  Relaxing never felt so good. Being able to hang out at the swim-up bar while enjoying the weather. This resort is a must to visit again. The beaches and sea was always calling my name.  We even swam in the rain.  It was coming down so hard it stung my skin at certain times.

On another day we took a cab to the local water park.  Andrew had signed us up to be Dolphin Trainers for the day.  Talk about smart animals.   Wow, these dolphins were so cool.  This is one thing that I would love for my children to do sometime.  We were educated about them.  We swam underwater with them.  We played with them.  What a cool day that was!

The last day we were there I was surprised with a Hummer Jungle Tour.  I got to drive my own hummer while following our guide in his.  Our first stop was to the Mayan Ruins not far from our resort. Our guide gave us a private tour.  I loved listening to his stories. He was well-educated and knew so much about the history of the area. Our next stop was at a cenote.  They are underground caves and natural springs probably a good 30 feet under the ground.  We climbed down the make-shift stairs and ladders.  There were underground docs built.  Stalagmites hung from the ceilings and walls.  The water was crystal clear.  We swam, jumped from the ground floor in to the pool, swung from the zip-line and dropped into the water.  There were hammocks hung over the water and small lanterns to light up the cave.  It was nothing like I have ever seen before.  After swimming we had lunch.  There was a misunderstanding of how long the tour was, so we had to skip the second cenote and the zoo.  Since we had to get to the airport I got to haul ass through the jungle on the way out.  So fun!  What a fantastic trip this day was and the best way to end the most wonderful trip.

 

 

 


One last thing… my gift from Andrew.  A beautiful set of diamonds set in platinum… an Anniversary Ring.  🙂   xo


In My Skin – Day 116

Weight:  184

Size:  14

Exercise:  1.28 Miles on the Treadmill and Yoga for an hour.

I took my youngest Son to the gym with me today.  His first time.  I thought that he would do fine since he is almost 5, goes to Preschool 3 days a week and has stayed at our home with sitters and has had a few sleepovers… no such luck.  I fell terrible!!!  He cried.  I couldn’t believe it.  I left him though.  Crying.  How terrible is that!  After 15 minutes I went and peeked in on him, then 10 minutes later once again.  I just couldn’t help myself.  Well, he did just fine and said that he would like to go back another time.  Thank goodness.  I just felt so terrible that he cried.  I am just one of those Mothers.

Yoga was wonderful though.  I did just over a mile on the treadmill, then went to yoga.  It feels so good to stretch and work the other areas of my body.  It is amazing how out of shape I feel in just about 6 weeks of not going to yoga.  It really has always been an important apart of my life and I need to keep it up right now.  This particular yoga class is what I call a “gym yoga class”.  It is not a smooth and rhythmic like I am used too.  It is quicker and more structured, but it works for me still.  I would say that it is the first one at a gym that I actually tolerate.

I have been feeling pretty tired still… physically tired mostly.  I guess I will just hang in there and hope that it will pass.  🙂

xo

In My Skin – Day 113

Weight:  186

Size:  14

Exercise:  7 Miles on the Treadmill

Just got back into town on Friday night from Cancun.  I think walking 7 miles today after having surgery 3 weeks ago and having a week off on vacation is pretty damn good.  I was completely exhausted afterwards and mostly all day, but I am happy that I did it.  Another thing, I was famished all day.  I think that is a good sign for me though.  Usually it means that my metabolism has sped up and I am burning.  I like that sign.  All-in-all I feel really good.  🙂

xo

In My Skin – Day 103

Weight:  186

Size:  14

Exercise:  5.30 Miles on the Treadmill

I walked mu butt off today.  I was only at .77 miles and got that damn shin-splint again.  I slowed way down until it went away for good.  I am tired today.  Still building my stamina back up after the surgery.  I really need to try to keep this up while on vacation all next week.  My Husband said that we would be busy each day with different water activities.  I wish that my BodyBugg was waterproof.  Damn!  I will just have to figure out a way to log it.  🙂

xo

Where have all the great Housekeepers gone?

I have had at least a dozen, maybe more, housekeepers in the last 10 years.  I have been stole from, lied to, quit on, had things broken and so much more.  Why isn’t there anyone out there that has pride in what they do any more?

I have a busy household with 7 people.  I could really use the help.  My current housekeeper didn’t show-up yesterday.  Granted we really needed her here since I just had surgery on Saturday and I am stuck not doing much of anything.  She did show up today, but things are starting to pile-up and the dust is starting to get out of hand.  You would think that someone being here 4 days a week and 3 hours each of those days would be able to get a lot done.  I was thinking about it today… where have all the great housekeepers gone?  Well, I need one.  🙂

Post Appendectomy Surgery – Day 3

Feeling much better today, not as sore.  Especially when I try to sit up, or try to lean back.  I think that the healing process is going to not take as long as I thought.  I like the idea of that.

Appendectomy Incisions - Day 3 Post SurgeryI took more pics of my incisions today.  I like how they are healing up thus far.  My bellybutton incision is shaped like an “H” though and freaks me out.  I wonder what my bellybutton will look like a month from now?  I am a 2-piece bathing suite wearing girl and can’t be walking around with a crazy looking bellybutton!  LOL!

Tomorrow I am going to try to get up and walk around the block again a few times.  I didn’t today, but did get up and shower.  I also went downstairs and hung out at my desk a couple of times.  Nothing too exciting.

My weight was down to 186 this morning, which had me jazzed.  It is crazy how much your body reacts and swells and then holds on to all that fluid.  I am happy it is coming off though. I have been working too hard not to keep every pound of me that I loose.  I deserve it!  🙂

xo

In My Skin – Day 92

Weight:  189 Post Surgery

Size:  14

Exercise:  Once around the block, 1/4 of a mile.

Frustrating when you come out of surgery and have just gained the 5 pounds back that you thought took 90 days to get off.  From what I am told it is just “post surgery weight” & it should come off pretty quick.  My poor stomach is soooo bloated, I look like I am 6 months pregnant.  4 incisions now live on my stretch mark free tummy, which kind of pisses me off.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m NOT really that vain, I am just proud that I took such good care of my skin over 4 pregnancies and now in one day, BAM, 4 new little scars to enjoy!  Lovely!  The nurses insured me that they will pretty much disappear, so we’ll see.  I will keep you posted on my healing progress as I am able to start exercising more.

I did have my Husband walk a lap with me around the block today.  The doctor, well nurses, my doctor doesn’t really talk much, said that I will heal faster if I walk a little each day.  Stay strong, but not to over do it.  No regular exercise until I see my doctor 10 days post surgery.  That will be next week sometime.

I feel like I am back at the beginning of my weight loss battle, which sucks.  Keep a positive outlook is what I keep telling myself.   It will all drain away and the weight will come right off.  Maybe if I am lucky even a few extra than before.  🙂

xo

My Emergency Appendectomy Yesterday

4 Incisions - Day After My Appendectomy

We arrived at this wonderful, very informal, little Thai Restaurant.  The Owner does all of the waiting and busing… the Wife does all the cooking.  And amazing cooking she did.  I haven’t had Thai Food in Arizona since we lived here.  I have had it in CA when I visit, but not here.  It was amazing!  My hunger-pains were gone after dinner and the fullness just set in.  I felt like I had a brick in my stomach.

After we got home I went to bed pretty early, about 8:30 after our babysitter was picked up by her Father.  I read for a while.  The pain was still bothering me, so I sat on the potty thinking that maybe I was constipated.  No luck.  I tried again an hour, or so later, no luck again.  I decided to get some of it out by vomiting (now understand this is something that I would not usually do, but that brink was just so antagonizing).  It all was just sitting there and came up very easily.  My stomach ache started getting worse and worse as the night went on.  About 1:14 a.m. I decided to use a 15 minute laxative that I had in the medicine cabinet (also something that I don’t like to do).  I just was feeling so terrible.  So, I waited about 15 minutes, or so then was able to go.  Thank goodness, I thought that was is it.  No such luck!  I ended up vomiting, and vomiting, then drying heaving all damn night.  My “brick” in my stomach got more painful and more painful.  I couldn’t sleep, so I thought that maybe I could walk the food through. I went downstairs and did some laps around the house.  That didn’t work either.  The pain got to the point that I couldn’t feel comfortable sitting, laying down, walking, or anything of the sort.  It was terrible!  I sat watching the clock.  When it was finally just a minute after 4:30 a.m.  I got dressed, grabbed my water bottle, cell phone and my book.  I woke up my Husband and told him I was going to the hospital.  Needless to say he was freaked out!  “Wait, don’t go, I’ll call Dad and get him to watch the Boys. I’ll take you!”  I told him I couldn’t wait another minute, I was in so much pain.  I drove myself.

I got into the car and of course it was on empty, blinking at me, ding-dong at me.  Ugh!  I stepped on it and make it to Gilbert Hospital in less than 10 minutes.  I wasn’t even finished with registration and two nurses were standing next to me and took me straight in and started taking my vitals and other information.  Following they put me straight in a room and told me to take everything off and get into a gown.  I vomited, well dry-heaved twice before a doctor even got in there to see me.  I barely remember talking to the doctor, or the Medic that came in to put in my IV and start my fluids, etc.  I was in so much pain by that point that everything was such a blur.

My Husband showed up sometime around 5:30, or 6 I think.  He had to wait for my Father to get there to come and watch our Boys. Apparently he had been calling and texting me, but I hadn’t been checking my phone at all.  I was so happy he was there.  He is always so wonderful in taking car of me.  Before he got there they had already had me do a urine sample and also gave me a Cat-Scan.  While he and I were there in the room someone, I can’t recall if it was the nurse, or doctor… nurse I think, came in to tall me that I had an Appendicitis.  Wonderful!  That was the not in my mind at all!  Funny thing is though that I kept thinking about people who have their organs flip inside of them and need surgery.  I also saw on this one show, it was either Mercy or House where this man was being carted in the hospital on a gurney with his intestines coming out though his bellybutton and he was saying that it didn’t hurt at all.  Yep, that is ow my head works.  Always weird thoughts.  Anyway, my appendix didn’t even cross my mind.

The doctor, Dr. Tahir, came in and informed me that my surgery would be put off for another 45 minutes, or an hour due to an even worse emergency.  I had two doses of low milligram Morphine by then and was pretty tired after being up all night.  Going into the operating room I remember, but the recovery room and being taken to my ICU recovery room I don’t remember at all.  I was in and out of conscience for several hours.

Andrew brought the Boys, which is always wonderful.  They all walked in with a gift.  Andrew beautiful roses with deep, deep green filler (I am going to try to paint a little tomorrow with them as my model).  Alex with The Host.  Devin with The Blind Side movie.  Pierce with the new Usher CD and Reed with the new, hmmm, well I’ve forgotten what music CD that was.  They all walked in one at a time with grins on their faces and happy to see me.  Each kissed me and gave me my gift.  I just love how loving they are and how thoughtful Andrew is.  He teaches them to be such wonderful little gentlemen.  They stayed for a while, then gave me my kisses goodbye and were headed home for dinner.

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful.  I read my book, Zen and the Art of Vampires by Katie MacAlister.  Dozed off.  Woke-up to beeping noises when my meds ran out. Had dinner, which consisted of chicken broth, jello, apple juice & water.  They asked me if I would get up and walk a while to get my body and bowels working and moving.  I walked for about 15 minutes, which felt fine.  They didn’t give me any pain meds after my surgery.  I did ask for some in the middle of the night, but I don’t know if she just forgot, or what happened.  I fell back asleep and never got any.

Andrew showed up with the Boys sometime after 9 this morning.  We hung out, talked about the wonderful Easter morning that they had with Daddy, Grandpa and Connie and I looked at the pictures that Andrew took.  I have the most beautiful Boys ever!  I buzzed the Nurse after about an hour, or so to ask about being released.  Dr.  Tahir showed up about 45 minutes later and discharged me.  Home we came.

I am stuck in bed for the next week, or so.  I am hoping that I will be up and around more in a couple of days though.

I forget to mention that I wasn’t worried about the surgery.  I was more concerned with having 4 holes and scars in the middle of my stomach.  I was lucky to have 4 children and no stretch marks.  Yes, 4 c-sections, but those are at the bottom of my bikini line. Now I have 4 laparoscopic holes.  Just wonderful!  They said they would heal and wouldn’t be able to see them.  I guess I’ll see! Maybe I will post a before and after here at some point.

Anyway, that is my Appendectomy story.  Yuck huh?  LOL!  🙂

xo