Life's a beach!

Just getting settled in from a "turtley awesome" vacation! 🐢 After a pretty tumultuous year concerning Gary's job situation and adjusting to working myself, boy was I happy to get to go on an actual vacation!! 🌺🌴🌊⛅

We decided to go visit the coast of Texas! Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport and even drove up to Victoria for the day. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rockport. The girls were thrilled because it was on the top floor and from our room, you could see the ocean. What a climate change though! A friend of mine had told me prior to us visiting down there not to even worry about my makeup or my hair because it'd do no good! And when I got out of the truck to go check into the hotel, my glasses immediately fogged up and the air was THICK with moisture and humidity!! I could just feel my makeup melting off my face lol! So needless to say, my makeup stayed in its bag the rest of the trip and my naturally curly hair loved having a break from being straightened! 💁

One thing I noticed was that down there, there is a Whataburger every couple of miles! Heaven! 🍔🍟🙏

Our first day, we ate breakfast at the hotel and then we went to Corpus and went to the Texas State Aquarium. That's a pretty neat little place and had an awesome up-close dolphin show that the girls loved. After that, we walked over to the USS Lexington. It is a World War II-era aircraft carrier which has now been turned into a naval museum. You could go inside and look around at the different planes used in WWII and ammunition and such. I, personally, thought it was interesting BUT I love history. The girls...not so much. For one, they were tired and hungry and HOT, and walking around a massive ship, looking at planes and stuff, that wasn't appealing to them. But they did pretty good.  They liked the view of the water and could see a lot of jellyfish below us. Before we left there, we stopped in the gift shop and we got the girls personalized dog tags. Great keepsake!

When we left there, we went to a little beachside restaurant called Blackbeards. It doesn't look appealing as its kinda run-down and very purple! But the atmosphere was very laid back and I thought the food was delicious!! I'd definitely visit there again! 

The second day, after eating breakfast at Ken's Diner (delicious) we went to the beach!! What the girls had been waiting for every since we told them we were going down there! So, we rode the ferry over to Port Aransas. Lanie thought that was neat, getting to drive your car onto a boat and riding it. The ferry line wasn't that long and the ride itself was probably three minutes. Once we got on the island, we went to a place called Bron's and we rented a golf cart! The island allows people to rent golf carts and ride around the town and the beach on. I think this was Gary's favorite part of the trip, getting to drive that little thing all over the place. We rode up and down the shoreline first. Before we went to Port A, I had bought a loaf of bread and decided I'd feed the seagulls while Gary was driving. Those birds are ferocious! They swooped in immediately to get the bread I was throwing, and the girls, who were riding in the back, FACING them, got scared because there was a huge flock of them! Lanie started to cry and this made me laugh. The louder she wailed, the harder I laughed. It was hilarious. Finally, we got out and we swam in the ocean and we built a little sandcastle. :) After some beach play, we drove back into town and ate at a place called Moby Dicks. Totally awesome place but wasn't too crazy about the food. But I think it's because I got fish, thinking it'd be like Long John Silvers but instead, it was actual fried fish 😳 Like, shaped like a fish and everything. 🐟 It tasted "okay" but not my thing. Lol! We then went back to the beach and we let Kaci drive the golf cart! She did a great job, but as I was observing from the backseat and hearing Gary say things like, "straighten up the wheel, keep to the right, slow down!" it made me realize in just a short while, my little girl will be actually driving!! Time soooo flies. We also let Lanie "drive"..(she sat in my lap and "steered") It was so fun.I'm surprised the girls didn't pass out on the ride back to the hotel from our exhausting day, but instead they stayed awake and wanted to swim at the pool once we returned! Wish I could siphon their energy sometimes!

Our last full day of vacation, we ate breakfast at a little cafe called JJ's Little Cafe and it was great! I love breakfast at places like that! 🍳🍴We were going to go to the Sea Turtle Farm but found out it was in South Padre Island...like wayyyy at the bottom and would be about a 6-hour drive, so we didn't go. Instead, we drove to Victoria just to go to the mall and take the girls to see Despicable Me 2. It was really fun. While at the mall, we went to James Avery and Gary bought me a charm for my charm bracelet. It's of a sandcastle. 😊 I love it!! My charms all have a little story behind them and its one of my most cherished possessions! 

Today, on our way home, we took the girls to eat at the ORIGINAL Whataburger, which is a two story establishment and the girls (and I) thought it was neat! It was right by the ocean!! After that, I took Lanie to a souvenir shop so she could get seashells for some people. For July 4th this year, we got to spend it at the lake with my awesome family!! We stayed with my aunt and uncle and cousins, popped fireworks, rode the boat, ate great homecooked food and just relaxed. It was great! Well, while we were there, Lanie collected nasty clam shell looking shells from the bottom of the lake and wanted to take them home. Like 20 of them! Lol! I told her to leave them at the lake and once we went to the beach, I'd make sure she got some actual pretty shells. And she did. 😊

We made it home safely and we had an amaaaazing time. My friends who have visited that area before helped me with places to go and places to eat and I appreciate that so much! Our last 9 days have been absolutely wonderful and unforgettable. I wish every month we could go to the lake and then to the beach and be with family and friends. That would be paradise to me. ❤ I'm so thankful for my family, friends, and the memories we've made!! Glad to be home in my bed though! 😴 G'night!!

Slacking again

So it's been two months since my last post! I'm doing well and enjoying my summer off! Sleeping a lot and having busy moments too. So far this summer, the girls and I have been swimming quite a bit! 

This was in Balmorhea, Texas. The girls had never been there before, and the last time I went was when I was little. It's a natural spring pool with some man-made additions to it. It has moss/algae in it but the water is crystal clear. And COLD! 

I have to say that the cold water is torture on my scar. I guess it's the nerve endings or scar tissue (are those the same things? Lol), but I can't just wade out into a pool of cold water. The super cold water creeping up on my scar at the bottom of my back is KILLER. I don't know how to explain it. So, when I swim, if the water is super cold, I have to either stay where the water is below my waist, OR I have to just dunk myself or jump right in wholly! It has to be sudden or else I can't stand it. Here's a pic of me trying to adjust to the water:

But look at that pretty water! 😊

We went to Balmorhea again today with my Aunt Kim and Aunt Beverly, my cousins Amanda and Shelby, and my Mom, and all 7 of our kids: Kaci, Lanie, Jake, Brody, Bailey, Syrena and Marley! We took coolers full of sandwiches and snacks and drinks and we stayed for about 5 hours. It's about 1 hr 45 min from Odessa and so we definitely made the most out of the trip. I enjoyed getting to chat with Amanda the whole way there and back. Amanda is my cousin closest to my age and she's also the one who is a teacher at the school I work at, who helped put in the word for me to be hired! :) Love her lots! 

Anyways, guess I'm gonna sign off now and go to bed! I am swimmed out! 😘😘

Pretty memorable Memorial Day!

Well, my three day weekend came to a close and it was pretty relaxing but busy day! I stayed up kinda late last night reading, and when I woke up 6 hours later, I cleaned the house a bit and then the girls and I went to the water park with my mom! It was very crowded but we had a good time!

I plan on spending A LOT of time at the water park this summer! May even freeze my tanning membership for the summer and just get some rays the natural way! :)

After the water park, we rushed home and got ready and went out to my cousins house for her daughters birthday party. My cousin, Amanda, is who got me my job at the school, and she and I are pretty close. Her daughter turned 3 today! It was nice, like always, to get to be with my family. We all get along so well and truly love each other and are pretty tight knit. I'm so thankful that we see each other often, and are so close. Here is a picture of Kaci with one of my other cousins daughter, Bailey! 

Well, closing off and going to bed. Ready for our final countdown of school days! 8 days!!! Gonna be BUSY and GREAT!! :) 

My life is so different now!

So here I am, writing in my old blog, inspired to write again because I saw a coworkers daughter write in her own blog! 

That's right, a COWORKER! Ha! I have a full time job now! So many things have changed since I've last written. I am now 32 years old, I was 27 when I started this blog. My husband and I have been married nearly 13 years now and our children are now almost 11 and 6! 

Here they are! This was taken for Career Day at school. Lanie wants to be a 'grocery store girl', which is funny because she comes from a family of grocers. :) Kaci wants to be a teacher!

As mentioned, I now have a full time job. I work for the school district as a Pre-K aide! I work at the same school that my kids go to, Hays Magnet Academy. What an adventure that has been but I love it!

Here is a picture of SOME of the awesome people I work with:

If I had a staff group picture handy, I'd post that, because I truly work with some amazing people, and I want to show them all off. I have made many new friendships and met so many parents whom have grown to love me as I love their children :) 

I work the same schedule as my kids - we go to work/school together and go home together. I get to see them every single day, all throughout the day. I get to eat lunch with my oldest everyday as well, something I know she will look back on and cherish. 

Another positive report: WEIGHT LOSS!! Woot! Since January of 2012, I have lost about 38 pounds!! BIG accomplishment for me, although I didn't really TRY to do it, it just kinda happened. Then once I started working and wasnt at home all the time anymore, the weight continued to come off. I am now the smallest I've been since I was in high school! Add to that the nice and straight figure I received from my scoliosis surgery and VOILA! Great combination! I wear sundresses now and more form fitting clothing and I am so proud of my figure! Having an hourglass figure is a lot better for my psyche than being all crooked, BUT I wish I had learned to love myself even when I was severely crooked, because it doesn't matter what you look like, God made you the way you are for a reason! So no matter what kinda curves you have, ROCK THEM!! 

Here is a picture of me since the weight loss:

Woot! 

Working has been a challenge for me though, some days being better than others. I still hurt, daily, never ceasing. But thankfully, I've taken advantage of seeing a pain management doctor on a monthly basis and the meds help me get through the day. For a while, I stopped seeing a pain management doctor because I had a myriad of feelings about seeing a pain doctor. I worried what others would think of me for taking so many pills, I worried about the stigma of "pain pill abusers", I told myself I didn't need them. But when I'd go to bed crying because I was hurting, I'd kick myself for letting negative thoughts stop me from doing something I truly needed in order to have a quality life.  So off to the pain doctor I went!

Some people might think that having this surgery would alleviate or greatly reduce the pain I once knew prior to the surgery. But that's not true. The surgery straightened my spine and stopped it from progressing. I knew going into the surgery that I would never be pain free. If you are reading this now, and contemplating having a scoliosis fusion surgery with the thought that the pain will disappear, you will be disappointed. You basically trade one pain in for another. BUT, GOOD NEWS!! The pain is SOOOO much more manageable. The use of exercises, stretches, heat/cold therapy and medicine can do tremendous things. I WOULD HAVE MY SURGERY AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT. That is how GRATEFUL I am that I had it. Yes, my days are sometimes hard, I can't do all the things I'd like to do, I have to watch myself and not over-do things, but I am PROUD of my full metal spine! In fact, I made this picture just today: 

I do have a super spine now!! :)

What I usually do on a work day, is I take a dose of medicine on my way to work, usually another dose at lunchtime and then once I get home, I take more plus rest on my heating pad. This keeps the pain at bay and makes my day more functional. Once I've rested a bit after work, I'm good to do a little housework or errands or whatever. My husband and my girls are also a big help sometimes! I usually do not take pain meds on weekends or when I am off work, unless I do a lot of housework or errands. I just have to listen to my body, and take medicine when I know I will regret it if I don't. 

So taking pain medicine responsibly doesn't make you an abuser. I've learned that. But, funny story...one day I was standing at the kitchen counter and about to take some medicine and as I put the medicine in my mouth, my daughter comes up and says, "Mom, what's a pill popper?" Lol! She's heard me refer to myself as that and don't kids just have the best timing for asking questions such as that?? Hahaha!

I know I've said this before in past posts, BUT, I AM going to start writing in thus blog more often! June is Scoliosis Awareness Month and I am hoping to get the word out about my blog for other Scoliosis Friends or someone who may be facing this process with a loved one, or themselves. I am ALWAYS willing to talk about my experience and daily life with scoliosis and with a fusion, so please, if you are reading this and are dealing with this in any way, I'd love to hear from you. But please note, I am just an average and everyday person, by no means a medical expert in any way, so while I can talk about my own experiences and offer encouragement, you should always seek the professional advice of a doctor who practices orthopedic spinal surgery! That being said, please contact me at my email, mobley_925@yahoo.com! I look forward to hearing from you! I must go to bed now but will write more tomorrow!! Goodnight!!