my coastal home

Edisto Beach, SC-  it is one of the non-commercial beaches.  It is a small island that is RARELY crowded.  I have heard it gets busy around the 4th of July, but I have personally never seen it.

Jon’s parents own a home on the island and we always have such a great time there.  It is just BEAUTIFUL!  One of my most favorites places to be! 

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*~* You get on the island and are welcomed by a farmers market…

*~* Once you are on the beach you see…

…dolphins feeding in the bay…

… beach chairs sitting side by side..

…GORGEOUS sunsets…

…and breathtaking sunrises…

…Good Morning Edisto!!…

…coastal wildlife…

…and crazy talented nephews that will ‘jump over the sun’ for me and my camera! 

I just love Edisto!!!

~ Kristina

Starting anew

When I was younger I was so active.  I ran, I climbed trees, played in the fields, you couldn’t keep me still.  Fast forward a few years…

After I had Lily I had, well still am having, difficulty loosing the baby weight.  I was tired a lot, had no desire to really do much and just felt all around blah…  As the years passed it got worse.  My attitude about life was just- blah!  I didn’t want to go out anywhere, didn’t want people to come over.  I was taking naps almost every day.  I was very sensitive to the cold.  It felt like daggers in my back in the winter.  I would take LONG hot baths trying to warm up, which usually didn’t help.

I did some research and learned my symptoms were similar to those with hypothyroidism.  I had my doctor do lab work which confirmed my suspicions.  I saw an endocrinologist shortly after, she prescribed Synthroid and followed up with more lab work a month later.  My TSH/T4 levels were normal and she was happy, but I wasn’t.  I was still having all the same symptoms.  She didn’t feel it necessary to look into anything else.  This was 3 years ago.  I have not been treated since then…

Until now!  3 months ago I started seeing a reproductive endocrinologist.  I have no intention of getting pregnant, so the reproductive part of this Dr. is of no interest to me. (by the way, reproductive issues is part of the low thyroid as well, which explains why I wasn’t able to get pregnant after trying for over 2 years).  I have heard he is a great Dr.  He listens not only the symptoms, but also looks at the lab work.  He takes into consideration your life situation and works with the patient to find a cure.  He is a very good doctor.

He prescribed the Synthroid for me and we did lab work 4 weeks later.  My TSH/T4 levels were very good, but again I was still tired all day with no desire to do anything.  (My house is a MESS!!!)  He looked at the lab work some more and said that my T3 levels were not where they should be, so he prescribed something for that as well. 

I read a few forums on the new medicine and most people said they felt a significant change within 3 weeks of starting the medicine.  I am finishing up week 1 of this new medicine and I feel so much better!! It is 1:30, in the afternoon, right now. By this time last week I would be nearly passed out from exhaustion, laying on the sofa, letting Lily watch a movie.  Just so I could rest, sleep, to have enough energy to put together a simple supper.

I am cooking, cleaning, sewing, editing photos, playing, gardening, reading… I feel  like a new woman!!  I have even lost 2 pounds… not a lot, but a start.  I am so excited to start living my life again!! 

WAHOOO!!! 

Birthday Party Time

Yesterday Lily turned 6.  I cannot believe how fast the years have passed!!  I cannot believe that I am a third of the way to 18!!!  AAHHH!!!  Please- someone tell me how to pause time :)

Just a few photos from the party.  We had a family party this year.  It was nice, not much fuss, not a lot to do and plan… just us, just family, lots of fun!!

*~*WATER FUN*~*

**My Favorite photo from the weekend!!**

 

*~*PINK FLAMINGOS*~*

*~*SUMMER TIME MEANS WATERMELON*~*

*~* AND HOMEMADE ICECREAM *~*

It was a GREAT weekend (despite the frustrations from earlier) I love getting together with my family.  We have so much fun!!

 

~ Kristina

June 3rd

It is that time of year again.  The time where I think back to the year 2006, and think about what I was doing at this time of day…

I was laying in the hospital, in labor, hoping my precious baby would be born VERY SOON!!!

She turns SIX years old tomorrow- June 3, 2012.  I cannot believe how fast time has gone by.  In my mind she should still be barely 3, still thinking that all is right in the world, no one is mean.  That people are all fair and loving.

This Birthday was spent with tears and arguing and yelling and phrases like “I don’t like you” and “ You aren’t my friend anymore”…  voices, sounds that I don’t like, words that break my heart… all between friends, all because of a toy. 

I wanted to tell the friends to leave, I wanted to hug her and tell her all will be alright.  Instead of comforting her like I wanted (shielding her from the arguing) I had to tell her that life will never be “fair”.  That sharing with friends is a way to share Gods love, even when we don’t want to.  That we need to take turns with others and that it is ok to let other people play with our toys.

  We go to church regularly, we have play dates, friends over, VBS, etc… but she does not have siblings or even cousins that live close enough to come over a lot.  Most of her friends attend public schools so the play dates are not as often as I would like. She is not exposed to chances to share regularly like I would like.

She is not use to having to share.  It is something she needs to learn to do, happily and with joy, but I don’t quite know how to teach her that without having someone over here all the time.  I would love to have friends here alot but at the moment there are a few things that prevent that- another post, another day…

She is also slightly OCD.  She loves to organize and clean and make things neat.  The rule-  A place for everything and everything in its place-  well, she practically lives by that rule in her bedroom.  Odd character trait for a 6 year old, huh.  And it frustrates her when people put things up in the wrong place.  Again- something I am trying to teach her is ok, as long as it gets put away.

Anyway-  all that to say

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Treefrog!!  I love you, oh so much!  I pray for joy and happiness for you all the days of your life!! 

Love~ Mama