So much to write....

Since my last blog was about Mother's Day and stuff that happened in May, I'm not so behind in what I have to write about for June!! 

Ok so the end of May, Tim and I were registered to do the Hisbiscus 15k, which for those who don't known-9.3 miles. I don't know why but I get runners anxiety before any run honestly. So that morning, we had to wake up at like 0400, to be there by 0500. That was a mess for me since I am soooo not a morning person, although I made sure to grab some coffee before heading out the door. For weeks prior, I researched what I should eat and all the things to do before your long run, since it had been a long time that I covered that distance. I was driving Tim crazy, asking him questions about if I should change anything in my run, diet, and which kinds of gels or gu's to use... (There are way too many to choose from). Needless to say, I figured it out. When we got to the location, I was super excited and seeing the huge crowd of other runners and walkers made me feel proud to be involved. I never seen serious runners like I did that morning. There was a half, 15k, and a 5k, and I guess the half was a big deal to some. (Maybe for qualifying purposes?) Anyhow, there were people sprinting for warmup. Like, serious sprints! Just watching them made me exhausted and made me

Feel like I would've been done at that point, who needs 9.3, or for them, 13.1 miles more?!?! But, it was a sight to see. Then, before lining up, of course I had to pee... Well the lines at the restrooms were ridiculous! I was not about to wait so I contemplated on holding it. But then I thought, i don't know if I can hold for that long lol. So I did the unthinkable, found a big hidden tree and pulled a camping squat. I'm ashamed but I felt so much better!!!

Once the race started, Tim and I tried to remain at a normal pace. There was a part of me that was like "this is too slow", but Tim kept me grounded for good reason.. We had hills to conquer and if I would've been at a flat pace I would've never made the hills without walking. But I didn't walk once! Not once! And that was my goal.. We ran that whole sucker and finished at a 1:40. Couldn't have asked for a better person to run next to and accomplish another goal with. (Love u hubby) 

              This was before the start

       We survived! And got medals!!

 

So after the running high and soreness, Tim and I finally got the kayaks out! It was a great day although the clouds came in near the end of time. The water was so blue and yes, I won't lie, I was scared of seeing sharks... But we didn't paddle out that far and it was a good first kayak here on the island!

                     Kayak selfies

                     Love this water

Then the next highlight was my parents came for a visit!! 

                  Aloha to the Baker's

They were here about 8/9 days and it was so nice to show them around and spend time together! For three of those days, my parents wanted to stay up at a resort here and one of those days, we went up to their hotel and did a kayak tour and spent the day the rest the hotel. We snorkeled, swam, kayaked, saw turtles, fish, ate dinner, and...just so happened that there was a movie being filmed there with Zac Efron! (Call me what you want, but that was awesome!) I even snuck a shot of him lol. It was a great time and the memory banks are 

now full! And so is my camera😂.

It was a great visit and I was sad to let them go back to SC.. Maybe they'll come again? Who knows.  Since they left thugs have been back to the grind. Mason still has baseball practice three times a week and games every Saturday. He's also been attending the Youth Center camp when they go places he enjoys going. Madison is in her Middle School summer enrichment program at her "soon-to-be" school, where she is taking Orchestra and Storytelling. The Orchestra was mandatory since she wants to be in it this year. That's from 8:30-12:30 so her summer has been cut shorter than it would've been. But both kids are doing good! Can't complain. And Tim has been gone for the last two weeks in school so life has been a little

Nuts while he's been gone. Thankfully he returns this afternoon, and he should be with us for at least a few weeks straight before leaving again. 😐 Such is the life of a military wife! Oh, and before I forget since I won't be posting till July... We are running a 10k on July 4th with some new friends. This run should be cake compared to the last one! And... I'm getting my first colonoscopy and endoscopy on the 29th of this month, so please say some prayers For me that day. Lord knows I will be a nervous wreck and will need all the prayers I can get, lol!! For the day prior too!! Make sure you all get them colons checked when you can😉! Until next post....

May oh May

I completed a 10K for my first ever "Virtual Run", which is basically a run you can complete anywhere during a certain time frame.  By track, road, treadmill, etc.  After you complete this run, you get your shirt (if u order one) and the medal by mail.  The run was the Super Mom run.  It was either for a 5k, 10k, or a half.  I chose the 10k.  I figured I had been running enough for the last two months that a 6.2 miler wouldn't be so bad.  Plus, I wanted to dedicate it to my mother.  Mother's Day is always bittersweet for me.  I am truly blessed with two amazing children that I honestly couldn't have asked for any better one's.  (Although this pre-teen/early teen drama and attitude I can deal without, lol).  I am pretty lucky.  And then there is the absence of my own mother on this day.  There have been many times where I would have given anything to pick up the phone to tell her about something or get in the car and drive over to where she lived.  Even though it's been many many years since her passing, I still remember as if it were just yesterday.  So, for this Mother's Day, I ran for her.  I ran for all the happy memories we once shared, and for all the pain that still remains with the passing days.  I ran with her in my mind, heart, and feet (lol) the whole 6.2 miles.  And for once, I didn't feel like giving up.  Maybe it was the Gu energy I took, I don't know.  But I felt awesome out there.  Here are a few pics from that run.  Also, I like to believe I am SUPERMOM!

My personalized bib

After the run, I felt on top of the world!

Tim and I, our after run selfie ;)

My proof on the Garmin

Mason has also started baseball here for one of the leagues.  He has been doing much better than he was previously, and I believe baseball has helped a lot.  He loves to play sports.  He is on a team where he is the oldest and tallest one, but he's learning more fundamentals then he ever has with all the other teams he has been on.  His coaches are on point, and their practices are hard work.  But, he's learning stuff he may have thought he known, but didn't, from some professionals.  Games have begun as well, and their team has lost one, won one.  Next game is this Saturday, so we shall see how that one goes.  He's the handsomest baseball player I have ever seen :)  I don't care if I am biased.  He is my future MLB player.

Mason, getting ready to bat

Best view from all of his games

Madison has been doing well.  She has taken a liking to going hiking with me, sometimes.  So we get out there and do a few miles.  Sometimes we bring the dogs, sometimes we don't.  She's pretty much barely home anymore.  She has become fond of one of her friends, and they are always out doing something.  Sleepovers, movies, out to eat, you name it.  I am fearful now of what her teen years are going to look like.  I have one that won't leave the home, and one that never wants to be here.  Total opposites.  Maddie's growing too fast!

hiking feet selfie

Selfies;)

Her itchy thighs from exercising them...

Both kids with mutts

Tim's also doing well.  He's been super busy with TDY's and conferences, Helicopter rides, and meetings with the SMA.  Never a dull moment in his job, that's for sure.  This job keeps him occupied.  I like to say that I think he likes it, but sometimes you can tell he misses having soldiers to yell at and control.  Lol.  I guess you never lose that part of you when you have done it for so long.

On that note, I just wanted to share that Tim and I are competing in my first ever 15k, which is 9.3 miles.  Last leg before the half marathon.  I have been running as much as I can, and preparing for this for a while, and I am anxious to see how it goes.  There are going to be a few hills involved, which I am not thrilled about and will most likely have to walk, but I am hoping for a decent time.  I will have pictures to post in my next blog--if I survive it.  9.3 seems so long.  Ugh, what was I thinking?  Just kidding, I love the torture.  Until next time...  Love to all!

Almost May already?!?!

Gosh, where it the time going? We have already been in Hawaii almost half a year. Six whole months!! It sure doesn't feel like it but it's definitely going faster than I expected. I'll admit, I wasn't too happy last month and a few prior to that, but Hawaii is now growing on me.. Just like Oklahoma did after a while. Sometimes I just sit outside and am in awe of how beautiful this place is.  And while the beauty is a perfect reminder of how awesome God is, I still find myself longing to be stateside at times. I know I don't have island fever yet, I just miss simple things, like normal time zones, winter-spring weather, and Hobby Lobby lol. I miss some of these things and as they may sound petty, some people will probably laugh with jealousy of me being here on this tropical heaven.  Yet I will be jealous of those who may be still getting snow and freezing weather! (I am from Jersey...)

One thing I am feeling wonderful about is my running. I have slowly found my love to run again, and not be in pain. While its been humid, rainy, and super windy here currently, a treadmill run sometimes is all I am in need of to just de-stress and feel like a rockstar. My goals are being reachable and I love that! With the 10k that Tim and I completed this month, I decided to sign up for one next month. Not just a 10k, but a 15k instead. I didn't put the numbers together while signing u's up--realizing now it's 9.3 miles. That's almost a HALF!!! I am trying to train as much as I can but lately it seems my farthest is the 4 mile zone.. I need to be running at 6-8 miles but every time I push myself to that level-the lower discs in my back aren't happy! And I fear of being back to when I was training for the OKC half marathon. I don't ever want to feel that way again. So I been taking it slowly and if I have to walk at this 15k, then I know running long distances isn't for me. Maybe I'm meant to be a short distance runner only? I shall soon see. 

Mason has been doing better also. Tim and I enrolled him in a city league and even though he's the oldest on this current team, he's been doing better. I swear he is a natural athlete. Anything that includes a ball, he's a rockstar at! I can only pray that this leads him to some scholarships or the major leagues!!

Maddie is doing well also. Little miss popularity. She's also going to be starting a summer enrichment program here for violin. That will begin middle of June till middle of July. The kids' summers here are short. They get out June 3rd and go back end of July. We are also thrilled to say that my parents will be visiting the first week in June! That will be an awesome time and we have big plans for them while they are going to be here. It will be nice to be around some family again. 

And my main squeeze-Tim. He's been doing a lot of traveling right now and so when he's traveling, he's sending pics of what he's up to. Helicopter rides, tours, dinners, etc. rough job huh? He's finally getting the hang of working with civilians and is already thinking about what it will be like if and when he becomes one lol! I've heard that too much! So when it happens, I'll be just as in shock as everyone else...

Until next time...

Ford Bridge 10k

I signed Tim and I up for our first 10k here on the island. It's the Ford Bridge Run, which takes place at Pearl Harbor. The bridge is approximately 4,672 feet long and it's an actual drawbridge, that was used for warships to pass through during Pearl Harbor. From this bridge, you can see the USS Arizona Memorial. 

In the morning, I was feeling pumped. I had a cup of coffee, (as I do before every morning run), or I pity those around me. We arrived at the bridge where there was around 3,000 runners, walkers, and joggers. I couldn't believe the turnout.

On the sides of the road were people warming up, doing crazy sprints, and all kinds of yoga-looking stretches. As for Tim and I, we just wanted a selfie before the race. We weren't doing it to win lol. Just our present to ourselves. 

(This pic doesn't show even 1/2 the ppl)

All went well up until mile 3 for me. I had a side stitch, probably from my gum chewing, and it was already warm and humid out. I don't do well with those two issues of weather. At one point, an older man ran in front of me, and he had on this pink t-shirt with Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me". I tried to follow him as long as I could, until it didn't seem too noticeable, but that verse motivated me. Not enough to pick up the pace but enough to NOT STOP. It was a little jolt that I needed. All kinds of runners were out there today. Even kids, although not mine. They were sound asleep while we were breaking our sweat!

Once we were done, we grabbed some water and headed to breakfast just Tim and me❤️. 

(Yup I was in pain here....hey if your still pretty looking after, you didn't push hard enough, lol) 

Until the next one!!! Muah!

OMG

Ok, so here I am, way behind on posts, and lying in bed with my first(and I pray my last) sinus infection. It's actually quite funny you see. I went in for some scans last week, for my girly parts, and while those parts were "possibly" normal, there was two unexpected findings.. Some spots on my liver, possible cysts, which I have to follow up with an ultrasound in 3 weeks along with another CA125, and left maxillary sinus disease, which is a Big name for a serious sinus infection. After my scan the doc asked me if I had been sick and I honestly haven't been. No colds, or flu. Maybe a slight sore throat a week ago. So when I left the doctors office I was baffled because I was at a loss. However, the next night, I soon found out what this sinus infection finding was all about. It was hibernating in my nice warm sinus cavity just waiting to rear its ugly head. And what an ugly head it is. That night I had never felt so bad. I felt like someone had shot my in the left side of my face. My eye, cheek, ear, and even upper jaw was filled with excruciating pain and a pressure that I can only describe as hell.it was literally hell in my head. I had chills, fever, pain, pressure, and just looked like one of those characters off the walking dead.  It hurt to talk, walk, eat, and never mind trying to blow this infection out of my nose-holy Lord! My ear drum went out with it. I wouldn't wish this on an enemy of mine.. Ok well maybe I would. Just kidding.

Ha, a little humor to make me feel better

So it's been a few days now and I have googled every home remedy and tried just about all of them. I also read a lot of unnecessary things too, that I probably shouldn't have.  And just when I feel like I think I'm recovering, I get pain and pressure all over again, and my head feels like it's a 15lb bowling ball.  However, since I'm on round the clock 800mg Army Motrin, I haven't seen the fever come back.  I hope this is what they call on the mend. 

              Isn't this the truth!!!! 

I had a lot to write about but I can't focus too long on a screen. It hurts my eyes.  I promise to catch everyone up soon on how things went before this unfortunate thing. Love to all! 

Maddie's 12!!!

We had a great time for Madison's birthday party on Valentine's Day. She had invited 7 girls and we were suppose to spend it at the beach and bbq, however, the weather didn't allow that at all. We had all kinds of rain and wind so Tim and I googled what we could do indoors with a bunch of Tweens, that would be fun and not in our house lol. So we did a Mall Scavenger Hunt at one of the malls here. We had a list of things the girls had to do and get during the scavenger hunt. Things like finding change on the ground, taking selfies doing stuff like dressing up and trying things on, to asking store workers for a job application. It was hysterical. Tim took 4 girls and I had the other 4. We all had a time limit and we all were on the hunt. It was funny watching the girls figure out stuff and use their brains when it came to certain tasks that were on the list. I realized I had thrown the lists away so I will try to name some of the tasks: find a photo booth and take your picture. Find a ketchup packet. Try on matching outfits. Find silly hats or wigs and try them on. Take a picture with a superhero. Find "Adam Levine" and get your picture with him. Sit in a car. Buy a frappachino and share it with your team. And several more. Here are some pictures from the mall ;)

Find the photo booth

Try on sunglasses

Take a pic with a superhero 

Look! It's Adam! 

Match outfits

Try on new shoes

Share a frappe

These are just a few.. I took a few too many pics. And at the end of the mall hunt, we got Madison her second holes pierced. With all her friends there to cheer her on. 

Maddie getting her piercing 

(She chose red for her BFF~Chelsea)

And she didn't cry like her first ones lol! It was a great time. We came home had a little bbq here, opened some gifts, and then four of the 7 girls spent the 

night. Ughhhh. Just kidding ;). It went well. Surprisingly. The girls did spa facials, makeup, and watched movies. I had gone to bed after 10, and they were all still awake. Everything sounded peaceful till about 0400 am and I seen lights on and heard talking. So out of bed I went to see what the heck was going on at 0400! One of maddie's friends seemed to be having a reaction to the face mask or makeup... Benadryl to the rescue. At least I knew one would be going to sleep shortly lol. I told Maddie enough for tonight and they all needed to hit the sack. 

After a long night of partying hard

This was at 0900 this morning. :P

Everyone was gone by 1230 and needless to say, the party was a success!! Yay for Tim and me. We are a great team! 

And our lulu made it safely to us!! Our house is still minus one but stormy is doing so good where she is. Heck, she fits in with the horses on 20+ acres and we get daily updates! I miss my old lady but we will see her again. 

Lulu was mad at me for something lol.

We love and miss you Stormy!!! Xoxox

Just a little

The house is finally done!! We have finished all the grueling work of opening boxes and finding a special place for all of our things: some things we couldn't find homes for so they are either in the garage or donated. We have donated a box or two of clothes and nick-nacks to the thrift shop here on post, in hopes of finding good homes in the future. I have saved the majority of hotel soaps and shampoos that the cleaning ladies would leave for us, after cleaning our room, and my plan is to drop them off at one of the many homeless shelters here. Not to be rude and say "hey-- some of these people need to wash themselves or whatever", but in hopes that they go to good use and not waste. I probably have over 40 items but I still know that's not enough for all the homeless here. It's our "pay it forward" for these people I guess. I'm really saddened by just how many people are homeless here. When filling out the kids registration forms for them to attend schools here, there's even a box to check if they are homeless. Sad to think that a lot of the kids that attend these schools don't have a home to go to. 

Both kids are slowly adjusting to their schools. Madison seems to be moving along faster than mason. He is having a hard time with things, and is really missing his Oklahoma friends. He really met some great kids there and he's been holding them to a pedestal. The kids here just aren't meeting his "friend" requirements. I pray he meets some great kids here as well, and builds some friendships as well. It's hard having to meet and make friends all over again after finding people you truly enjoy spending time with. This is the first "during the school year" move for us all, so please just keep Mason in your prayers for an easy transition and people to call his friends. And while on the Mason topic, we had to register him for FRESHMAN year!! Where did that come from already? I'm so not ready to be a high school student mom! :( 

Here's a shot of him at Freshman orientation... Whaaaaaa. My little bear is growing up way too fast.

Tim still isn't really "working" yet. He's been going in for little things here and there, so we have been able to spend time together. One of our favorite things has become hiking! Right outside our front door, is a hiking trail and we still aren't 100% sure how far it goes yet. We did 2 miles up the other day, and from the gps, it eventually leads to a stream. However, we didn't push it that far. Again, let me remind you, it's ALL UPHILL on the way out. On the way back its down, but that hike uphill kicks some serious butt!! It's been so refreshing just taking in the beauty and peacefulness of it. Here are some pics from our latest hike:

It's so beautiful here!! I still have to pinch myself sometimes to actually believe we are in HAWAII!!! I'm never leaving seriously! Yah, I know... That's not what the Army will say in a few years.. We are pros at relocating! It's sad already.

Madison has made a friend, well several actually, but one in particular that is highly spoken of. She finally had her first sleepover this weekend and had a blast. Tim made delicious homemade grilled pizzas and the kids helped make their own. It was fun. And yes, I overate. Whenever Tim cooks, there's no boundaries to how much food I eat! He's such a phenomenal cook, how'd I get so lucky?!?

Mine is in the sorta-shape of Jersey❤️

Yummy right? Ya I'm still full from my home shaped pizza lol. It was delicious that's for sure.

Well, one last thing before I close. I have another appointment this week for my lovely ovary that keeps acting up. I had another positive CA125 test, and even though my recent MRI didn't show a concern, the doc wants to do laparoscopic surgery to see what the cause of this issue is. I'm a bit concerned and this week, I will meet with him to discuss things as far as if I really need this surgery, and when he's planning on doing it. Please keep me in your prayers and my family as well. (I've never had surgery, general surgery, and am super scared), and I just pray for my doc to make the best decisions for me and fix whatever is going on. I'll keep everyone posted once I know more. 

Hugs to all!

And to end this blog, with a pic of my cutie!