I am determined to get my body back! I don't do diets... like at all and since I am having a hard time getting to the gym because of Miss Lady, Joe and I decided to bring the gym to us. I am starting with my Pilates thingy and he will be getting his SMITH thingy. I have another 10 pounds or so to lose and Joe has to gain about 20. Having this machine, the laptop, my new camera, and Photoshop... I don't think anyone will be able to drag me out of the house, let alone my pajamas. Oh, did you notice my pink toolset? Joe got it and a pink tool belt for me for Christmas... aren't they adorable?

My Little Tony Hawk

Anyone who knows Blake, knows that he loves all things wheels! He got this skateboard for Christmas from his dad and he simply can't get enough of it. Almost everyday after school, before he even comes in the house, he has to take at least 10 minutes to scoot around the cul de sac and up and down the neighbors driveways'. It definately gets A LOT of use!

It's funny... when he first got it, he was so concerned about scratches and gettin it all banged up! Man, you should see it now. I think he is pretty close to needing another one. Now he loves to crash it into the curb! He works on his own "tricks" and claims that he is the next Tony Hawk. Blake is very sure that he will be teaching Tony a thing or two down the road!

I bought it... Finally my DRebel

So I finally gave in to temptation and bought it. Despite the fact that I already have 2 cameras that work perfectly fine, I "needed" this camera! Here is my reasoning... with Blake, swear I took pictures every day. With Makena, I think we have the birth ones and then like 5 more... uh, yeah, she is 3 months old already!

That is my excuse and I am sticking to it... and thats what I told JOE!

As requested.... new photos!

So, Blake's birthday was this past week. We took a family trip to Sea World and went rock climbing for his party! I will spare the ones of me, since all you can really see is my bottom!

First Experiences With Cancer

So, for those that know me, one cannot dispute how close my father and I are and have always been. Where I am, he is, and vice versa. Since he retired, almost 10 years ago, he has struggled with one health issue to the next. From heart attacks, to stents, to bypass surgery, to damn near renal failure, to stroke.... I suppose it was just a matter of time before cancer hit. Like it was the next step.

Papa had been feeling even worse than he normally does daily. About a year ago, he had gone to his primary care doctor and complained about some things... nothing was done. Since we moved in the new house and things started to settle down, he felt it was time to see a primary care doc again, but one closer to the new place. After a routine urine test, blood was found, and he was sent to a urologist who then found a tumor in his bladder. He had it removed a couple of weeks ago in an outpaitient procedure. I called for the pathology report last week and it was confirmed that what they had removed, was in fact, bladder cancer .

The doctor told me not to worry ( uh yeah ok doc) and that he will be re-checked in 3 months. Strange as it is... both my dad and myself don't really know what to do, what to say, what to think, or how to react to it. He won't change anything he is doing now, namely stopping smoking, and just seems like he is fed up with the health problems and wants to literally give up. I swear if it wasn't for Blake, I think he would have already. I am 99% sure that he wouldn't even have gone to the doctor in the first place.