Dahlstrom Girls at Sea World!

My sister, Dayna, is visiting this weekend. We have been looking forward to doing the Dolphin Discovery at Sea World for weeks. Sadly, it sold out literally seconds before we arrived at the reservation center. We were able to pet and feed the bat rays, however. That was so fun! While not as photogenic dolphins, they do have an elegance and grace about them. They're slightly slimy, because of their mucus coating, and their mouths tickled a little as they sucked small fish out of our palms.

Sea World was followed by a ride on the wooden roller coaster at Mission Beach and fish tacos at Don Bahia in LJ. Life is good in Sandy Lameo!

Don't Look, Mom!

When I was growing up, motorcycles were strictly off-limits. It's taken me almost two-and-a-half years of living with Mr. Motard to actually learn how to ride a little 50. It's fun! I don't see myself ever having a bigger motorcycle of my own, but it's fun to ride around on the minibike.

Mom, don't worry. Rowdy never lets me get on a bike without my wearing a good helmet, gloves and close-toed shoes.

Good Reads

My goodreads.com list is a mix of things that I've read recently, things that are on friends' lists that I have read at some point in my life, and some of my favorite books.

I have just finished Three Cups of Tea. It's pretty incredible that a guy who was living out of his car raised the funds to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He's not an ordinary person by any means--how many of us would be able to learn several languages as quickly as he seemed to?--but he is an example of what a person can do when suitably inspired.

So now I'm without a read. Unfortunately, I am a picky reader. I am not a fan of mass-market books. My favorite fiction comes from the 19th century. I like biographies, history, sociological explorations, and travel books, mainly. I tend to read the same books over and over. Part of me feels like what I ought to be reading are radiology journals and textbooks, to brush up on my work skills. Technically, I should be reading the next book for our Relief Society book club--A Train to Potevka, but I don't feel particularly motivated to pick it up.

So, any suggestions?

I'm Still Here

One of the nice things about having Rowdy home is that things get done around the house.

We were eagerly awaiting our tax return so that we could start working on some home upgrades. Our living room and stairs will get wood floors and our master bath's gross carpet will turn into tile this week. We're getting the windows on the west side of our house tinted to block the sun and improve our power bills tomorrow. Rowdy and Keiler are going to re-landscape an area on the side of the house to improve the drainage. We're also hoping to get plantation shutters in the ground floor, though that might have to wait a bit. I'll post pictures as things progress.

My running has progressed to running 2.5 miles, with my pace about 9:45/mile. For me, that's a huge improvement. I was probably running 12 minute miles before I undertook the 3-2 program. This Saturday, I'll be doing a St. Patrick's Day 4-miler. I'm definitely going to keep going with the program. Starting next week, I'll be doing 400-m repeats, tempo runs and long runs, with swimming and something else, spinning or kickboxing, as cross-training.

I had lost about 10 pounds on Weight Watchers, but I must admit to gaining back a couple of pounds last week in the aftermath of the dessert party and taking care of the leftovers. That's okay. I know how to get back on track. I can't believe how great I feel and how comfortable my clothes are now. So many things I'd put aside because they didn't fit right are now back in the lineup. It's like having a new wardrobe.

He's Home!

Check out Rowdystyle for the news release!

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!!!

The TPN was just discontinued. That's one of the biggest hurdles Rowdy had to cross to be able to get out of here. Maybe he'll go home today!

The light at the end of the tunnel is probably not a train

Rowdy had a small bowel follow through today. If you've never had one, you drink a delicious fluid that shows up under x-ray, and pictures are taken of your small intestine as the fluid goes through it.

There was actually good news--Rowdy's not obstructed anymore and just has a short area of narrowing where we saw the obstruction 12 days ago. We talked with the surgeon and the gastroenterologist, and they looked at the films. Right now, surgery is still not a good option. His bowel isn't obstructed anymore, things are passing through it, and he only has 20 cm of small bowel to spare before he's really in trouble.

So what that means now is that Rowdy has to keep advancing his diet while the TPN is being weaned away. The steroids will be given orally starting tomorrow. We're looking at a possible discharge of around Thursday or Friday or Saturday, depending on how things go.

I have not completely processed all of the things that I've learned during the last two weeks. My testimony of how Heavenly Father loves all of His children and is concerned about each one of them has been strengthened. I also know that there is a plan for each one of us, and whatever our circumstances are, we can be happy. I have a small increase in understanding of and a greater increase in appreciation for the Atonement and the resurrection of our Savior. Whatever happens in the future, I know that Rowdy and I will get through it together and be stronger for it.