Whistler or Bust

In all the years I lived in BC, I had NEVER been up to Whistler. This trip, I was determined to go! The forecast called for rain but I still wanted to go.

The Sea to Sky Highway was spectacular to me. There is a lot of work being done right now to widen it and make it "safer" for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The construction caused some delays but nothing really upsetting.

I was happy to see that parking was free. I expected there to be huge parking costs. For all the tourists to go through the town site, it would create a lot of revenue. So we parked and walked through the bustling town site until we found the gondola to the top of the mountain. Nathan and Nicholas could barely contain themselves with all the sights and people. Nicholas positively skipped the whole time. I didn't realize his face could grin that much.

The gondola ride was pretty. We could see other lifts taking extreme mountain bikers to various trails. I think it's great that Whistler as a whole has created bike trails and obstacle courses for the enjoyment of these adrenaline junkies. Nathan was gobsmacked about the whole thing. I think he was envisioning himself on those trails. I, as his over protective mother, was having heart attacks over the idea.

At the top, we walked around in the rain and I felt the most clear I have in a long time. I found a sort of peace that has been lacking for too long.

Stephen talked to a "host/guide" about the building of the peak to peak gondola from Whistler to Blackcomb. It seems like such an impossible idea to me but they are progressing on schedule. I think when it is done, it will be an amazing ride.

After a quick bite to eat, we took a couple of photos and headed back down the gondola to the town site. Poor Nathan was freezing. He doesn't have much meat on his bones. LOL Nicholas couldn't stay still if he'd wanted to. All that fresh air gave him super stamina.



On the way back down the Sea to Sky Highway, a work crew stopped us and told us to turn around and head back up to Squamish (a small town between Vancouver and Whistler). There had been a rock slide earlier in the day and they were having problems clearing it. They had cleared it once, got traffic moving then it had slid again. This was the one we were stuck behind. We chose to continue down the highway and wait until the it opened up again.

The only other choices were to sit in Squamish listening to the radio and then heading back down when they said the road was open again or heading back up to Whistler and down the other side which would apparently take us about 12 hours.

As it was, we sat behind the slide for just under 2 hours. We got out of the car, walked around, talked to strangers, and generally just took time to enjoy the stillness. Strange that I saw it that way. There were hundreds of people walking around and cars for as far as you could see but I saw the stillness of the mountain, the woods, and the stream we were close to. I was able to get back the serenity I felt at the top of the mountain, even for a short period of time.

The rock slide extended our day a little but the view was beautiful and I'd say our day was a success.

Our Visit to White Rock

One of our first days of vacation, we went into White Rock to meet up with an online friend Twila and her family. Stephen, our boys and I got there first and just walked around in the tidal pools until Twila and company arrived. We walked around the pools for a while longer with our friends then headed back to the towels for lunch.

I was amazed by the amount of life in those pools. We found all kinds of interesting things. There were millions of little tiny snails, little fish darting here and there, crabs of all sizes (a lot had been eaten by the seagulls so we mainly saw the empty shells), and what looked like a baby shrimp.

Depending on where we walked or poked the sand, we'd get spurts of water from buried clams. A couple of us got sprayed pretty good. LOL The kids had a blast trying to dig those little boogers out of the sand but the clams were often too fast and dug themselves deeper.

After lunch, Nathan, Nicholas, Logan and Makenna all played in the sand and tidal pools. Nicholas didn't go to far from me but he did finally start to dig and spray sand everywhere.

Nathan and Logan seemed to hit it off and played together digging for treasure. Beautiful Makenna played here and there but somehow got missed by our picture taking. Hopefully Twila captured more photos than we did. LOL

It was so nice to see Twila, Noel, Logan and Makenna again. It was a short visit but I enjoyed it immensely.

Quick Medical Update

I've received the results of my latest round of blood tests. Almost everything was normal except for 2 enzymes (I think) that were elevated. They usually indicate a breakdown in the muscles like after a hard workout. Sadly, I had NOT just done a big workout prior to the blood tests.

The doctor has basically ruled out a minor stroke because that would have only affected one side or the other. I already figured that much. So the doctor is building on the idea of MS or I Don't Know as the diagnosis.

She is referring me to a neurologist and letting him/her send me for an MRI. She thinks that I'll get a higher priority if I'm referred for the MRI by a neurologist. I'll believe THAT when I see it. LOL

Until then, I am waiting, waiting, and waiting some more. I'm just continuing to do what needs to be done and hoping for the best.

I'm Home

Hello my lovelies. I am home now and trying to recover from my vacation. LOL I dropped Stephen off at the airport this morning so I'm back online too.

I have a few stories from our vacation and I'll be writing them in separate posts as I think about them. I have to dump the contents of the camera as well and see what Stephen took photos of. He didn't take many apparently. Men! LOL Don't they understand that us women need something visual to reminisce over?

I'll be back with the gory details later.

Taking a Hike

I'm outta here for my holidays. I'll be back home...um, later. LOL Maybe I'll even have photos to share.

Love and Squishes. Isn't THAT a lovely image. GAG!

Aye Matey!

A sweet friend and fellow blogger posted about her son's fascination with pirates lately. It reminded me of a story about Nathan.

Nathan and I were standing in a long line up at Timmy's. Nathan was looking around, fidgeting like a little boy full of energy. Half way through our wait, Nathan pipes up, "Look Mommy, a Pirate!"

I was distracted (day dreaming) so I started to brush off the comment until Nathan started to insist there was a pirate. I looked up and a very large man had just past us. He was one of the biggest freaking bikers I have ever seen! Large man, wearing a HUGE leather jacket, big honking boots and a skull and crossbones do-rag/head hankie.

I was flustered because what do you say? I wanted to correct Nathan but what is politically correct. 'Sorry honey, that's not a pirate...He's a biker.' I did try to get Nathan to reduce the volume of his voice but it was already too late. Half the occupants of Timmy's were grinning and trying not to snicker.

It took a few extra seconds but the biker finally turned around (looking very intimidating because he was scowling), broke into a grin for Nathan and said, "Arrrr Matey!" Then he turned back around and walked out of Timmy's.

As he left, the whole place cracked up. We could finally release the tension with laughter. I was a little rubber legged for a bit afterwards. Nathan was thrilled to have met a real pirate. LOL

A Lucky Anniversary

Today is Stephen and my 7th wedding anniversary. It is our "lucky" one because it is our 7th anniversary on the 7th day of the 7th month of 2007. Have you guessed that 7 is Stephen's lucky number? LOL

My loving Dad had to point out though, "Have you ever heard of the 7 year itch?" Nice! Way to help me celebrate Pops! LOL

Stephen called me this morning to wish me a happy anniversary and sent me a cute e-card. I also received calls from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Nathan and Nicholas are oblivious but I'll forgive them since they are so young. LOL

Wait and See

I saw my el Doctoro this morning. I presented all the symptoms of extremity numbness, weakness, mental confusion and difficulty speaking. The Doctor is a little worried but not enough to send me to the hospital immediately. I figure it can't be too bad since the symptoms seem to get better then get worse. They don't completely go away but they get less noticable and annoying.

The Doctor has sent me home with an almost full page requisition for blood and urine tests. There are a couple of fasting tests so I'm hoping to get them done tomorrow. (I THINK the lab is open tomorrow.)

She said that I'm presenting like a stroke, but not really and I'm presenting like MS, but not really. How's THAT for reassuring? LOL So now I need to get the tests done and get the results so we can figure out what to do next. She may also have to send me to a neurologist but we'll wait until the test results are in.

On a better note, my blood pressure was FABULOUS! The Doctor told me to start taking a baby aspirin a day now as well as the other meds.

Wait and see what happens is the way it is. I'm not going to freak out until there is something to freak out about. Maybe. LOL

General Update

Yesterday, after a week at home, I shuttled Stephen back out to the airport and sent him off to Ekati again. It was a good week together. We built 2 retaining wall type flower beds in front of the house as our "creative time" together. Well, Stephen did the work and I supervised, kept the children out of the way and played pack mule. My poor hands from carrying the bricks! LOL

Today is my honey's birthday. He's 38 and all by himself at work. I'm planning birthday stuff for when he gets home. I have one present for him but I can't reveal it because Stephen reads my blog too. He's also going to be away for our 7th anniversary. It is a lucky anniversary too...our 7th anniversary on the 7th day of the 7th month. I still have to come up with an anniversary present for him. Hmmm...any ideas?

Nathan had his kindergarten farewell ceremony last week. Both french immersion classes were there to sing a couple of songs and get their certificate saying they had just done a year of french immersion kindergarten. It was pretty cute listening to 53 kids singing songs about a Petite Poisson and Dino Dinosaur.

Nicholas has been back tracking on his toilet training because he didn't want Daddy to see his naked bum. It's all well and good for Mommy to see the nakedness all day every day, but Daddy causes naked phobias. Go figure! LOL

Nathan is going through "a phase" at the moment. He is now not only defiant to me but to everyone who sees him. His abilities to listen and think before he acts have gone on vacation. He is a lot more destructive and stubborn. But of course, this is seeing his behaviour in a negative light. To put it in a positive light, he is being more creative, inquisitive, and experimental. He is incredibly focused on his experimentation that he has shut out the distractions around him. (Hint: The distractions are Mommy, Daddy and little brother Nicholas. )

And I have finally gotten some sleep! Yahoo! Stephen's flight to Ekati yesterday was scheduled to leave at 6:45 am so we were up at 4 am to get cleaned up, dressed and to the airport. The kidlets both had little naps yesterday but I didn't. Even with the naps, the boys slept in until almost 10 am. It might have something to do with them both sneaking into my bed last night. What better way to wake up than to have 2 little monkeys play peek-a-boo with you around the pillow?

Despite the nice sleeping in, I wasn't able to move to get up. I've been struggling to move all day today. I can get short bursts of energy and get from Point A to Point B but it's taking a lot out of me. I just feel like I've been beaten up by a whole mess of people.

I've been having some numbness issues with my right side for the past month or so and it is getting worse. I think that whatever the main issue is, I keep aggravating it by getting up and walking, lifting, and just plain living. It has just been getting worse and worse over the past week and now my left side is being affected. I can usually still walk and function but there is numbness and heaviness to my extremities.

To prevent any comments of "Call your doctor", let me assure you that I have already done that. I called last week. I'm heading in on Friday morning and I'll hopefully be seeing my chiropractor before that. I wasn't too worried about waiting to see the doctor until this morning. Today has been the most difficult thus far. We'll have to see what shape I'm in later.

So there it is, boring as hell. I'm starting to realize that I have no life. LOL