Bienvenido a nuestra casita

REWIND

to August 1st, when I originally typed this but never got around to posting it.

It's taken me longer than usual to get settled in our new home. Several days after Derek began his rotations, he was in a car accident. A woman pulling out of the McDonald's parking slammed into his car, t-boning the vehicle. The woman agreed that she was at fault, to make a long story short she was deceitful and did not have the insurance that she said that had. It's been an added stress that we didn't need, but I'm grateful Derek was not injured. Since then we purchased a new car and sold our Saturn, I guess taking all the calls for my dad's used cars in the classified ads as a child paid off. I listed it on craigs list, we received a lot of calls and we sold it in two weeks! We were happy to see it the car out of our hair but it did have a lot of sentimental value. It was the car Derek purchased right after his mission, it drove us to our first date, to the temple and away from our wedding reception. It also gave us two good years here in West Virginia, we planned to drive it until it died but the accident gave us no other option but to sell.

Derek has been rotating with Dr. Wolftor at a family practice, he has really enjoyed it. Each day brings new challenges but it's exciting for him. He enjoys procedures because he's doing more than taking the medical history of the patient. He's done well with diagnosing illnesses, he admitted to feeling mentally drained when he returns home. It's a lot of work having to remember all the things you've learned in the past two years of medical school and learn more on top of it. We can't believe that it's already been eight weeks, he's completed family medicine rotation and he will be moving on to family medicine 2 with Dr. Ahmed.
We also received Derek's COMLEX scores back. He didn't fail like he thought he did. He did very well and we're so pleased with his scores.

 We're finally settled. I do have plans to re purpose a few more things but that will be a gradual process throughout the year. I'm a frame and fabric hoarder (for those of you who don't already know) . I typically find my frames and fabric at yardsales or swaps. I had frames stashed away in our storage closet, since moving here I've re purposed them for the family room and Acalias' room.

Our new home is definitely an upgrade from THIS!

Welcome to our living room, I love that I no longer have 5 doors to work my decorations around. Notice my collage, yup I had all those frames tucked away in storage. I plan to add to it gradually as Acalias grows. I wanted more color in our living room so I painted them sage green and blue to go along with the pillows covers I made before we moved.

The amenities include central air and heat, I didn't think that existed in West Virginia but we're in heaven in our climate controlled home:) We also have a laundry room that I forgot to snap a picture of, I stuffed my treadmill in there too so it's a bit snug but it works out great.

The kitchen

The backdoor leads to a forest, literally. We have deers hanging around back all the time. We store our bikes out there with our grill. The door closest to the living room is a half bathroom, the door next to it is the laundry room/ sauna running room.

The 1/2 bathroom located on the main level and full bath upstairs.

The hallway leading towards our rooms.

Skoey says "Hi"

I'm opting to not share my bedroom. It's not very presentable, since moving here I've been working on one sewing project after another. It's spacious, we have our desk and bookshelf in it as well. I love all the storage space we have here. It's also very nice not to have the baby in our room anymore.

Acalias' room/ guest room (hint hint mi familia)...it's currently occupied by Grandma Nativa who came out as soon as she could to help out with Acalias. She will be here for a month so maybe my blogging will be more consistent with her around to keep Acalias entertained. It's so nice to have her here, I love having visitors, especially family.

Yup, had these frames stashed away too...

and these frames too. 

I wanted to do something special with Acalias' blessing suit, it's so tiny. Seeing it brings back a flood of happy memories and feelings we felt when we first brought him home, we love him so much.

So that's our new home!

 We are 1hr 45 min from Pittsburgh, PA, 4.5 hours from Washington D.C, about 4 hours from Columbus, OH, 5 hours from Kentucky and 5 hours from Richmond, VA

Home Sweet Home

Acalias was finally discharged from United Center Hospital on Saturday, September 17, 2011. We had spent the entire week in the hospital. We are so thankful for all of your prayers, Acalias is recovering and is doing well. Here's what led up to our week long stay at the hospital. It was a very long week, hence a very long post.

Derek had spent most of the early morning hours trying to calm Acalias. I just figured he was fussy and teething so I went to Stake Conference while Derek stayed home with him. When I return Derek said he cried all morning and that he had given him albuterol treatments. Acalias had RSV when he was younger so we had some leftover treatments. It seemed like to was such a chore for him to breathe so we thought a hot bath would open up his airways. His conditioned worsened so we took him to MedCare, the urgent care near by. The wait time at the urgent care is always shorter so we figured we'd be in and out in an hour.

As we waited in the waiting room, Acalias cried incessantly so Derek paced around while holding him. His name was finally called and the medical assistant checked his oxygen level, it was only at 80% when it should be 100%. He had intercostal retractions and rapid breathing. The Doctor rushed in and told us he didn't have the equipment to help us so he suggested we go to the ER. In my mind I was frantic, I wanted to run out of the room and take Acalias to the ER. The doctor kept talking and I could see that Derek was just as frantic as I was. He sent a referral to the ER and we were on our way.

On our way to the hospital, Acalias continued to struggle to breath. He was turning pale and falling asleep. I cried, feeling helpless and wanting to be at the ER right at that moment. We checked in the ER and the woman didn't bother to look at our son, in order to triage, she just told us to sit and wait. Derek stood and watched the woman continue to work, after a few minutes he told her that Acalias needed oxygen and to see someone now! A doctor came out to look at him and got him in as soon as she saw just how urgent our situation was. By then Acalias was limp, pale and wheezing. In the room 5 ER employees awaited him, while one put him on oxygen, the other held an albuterol treatment. Three nurses held him down trying to find a vein to insert an IV. After pricking him in both arms, they called in someone else who found a vein in his foot. I felt so anxious watching them prick him like a pin cushion. I had the same thing happen to me when I was in labor but I figured it was my dark skin and their lack of experience with dark skinned people. I guess Acalias and I have "difficult veins". They also taped monitors on his chest and a O2 monitor on his other foot. His oxygen level steadily rose up to 85% and after an hour we can see that he was starting to feel better. He was a bit annoyed with all the wires on his body, but seemed to be feeling a lot better.

It was a struggle to keep the oxygen on him and distract him from pulling off the wires attached to his chest.

The ER doctor came in and told us that we needed to admit him so that they could continue to monitor his oxygen levels and await the results to diagnose him. Shortly after he left another doctor came in and asked us if he had a fever and talked about shipping us to another hospital that was better equipped for babies. She was very aggressive with her questions, I almost felt like we were being interrogated at a police station. I could feel my heart rate increase as I pondered Acalias having something else so traumatic occur that he would need to be in a children's hospital an hour away. The doctor left and the ER doctor returned, both doctors were obviously not communicating with each other and that was evident as they both continued to swap places with different suggestions. Derek verbalized what I was thinking, the ER doctor assured him that the ER doctors were on the same page. We were then taken up to our room.

Our room had a sign near the room number that informed anyone entering that they must put on special gear. We were in isolation because they hadn't yet diagnosed Acalias and used extra special precaution when entering. The nurse strapped a hugs tag that limited us to the fourth floor, we weren't allowed to leave the room with him so the tag seemed useless in my mind.

The next few days were a sleepless blur. Doctors, nurses, residents, student nurses, IV teams shuffled in and out with the same mundane questions. Each time Acalias would finally dose off, someone else came in to do blood work, check vitals and so forth. The monitors blared with every tug and pull. I was thrilled to see that his oxygen levels improved each day. The Doctor said that we would be released as soon as his oxygen stabilized above 95%.

I missed my energetic little boy, it was so difficult to see him like this. I cried a lot. Prayed for strength and hoped that they would find out what was causing all his symptoms.

Three days later, we were still in isolation. The Acalias I know began to reemerge, he was squirmy and wanted to go out beyond our small room.

Thank goodness we at least had a big window with a breathtaking view.

Finally we were told that he was infected with para influenza which caused Bronchiolitis and a urinary tract infection. We were baffled by the UTI diagonsis, they later discovered high levels of sugar in his urin. The doctors started asking Derek about his diabetes and when he was diagosed. Derek was diagnosed at 18 months but his dad informed us that he was hospitalized with simar problems that Acalias had at 15 months. After dropping so many diagnostic bombs on us, they suggested we call home for support regarding the management of a toddler with diabetes. They lifted the precaution sign on our door and said we were free to walk around the fourth floor.

Yeah for wagons! they made this little boys next few days more managable.

His fever began to spike, although we were contnually being told we would be released the following day, something always came up. They continued to monitor his fever and monitor his sugars. Derek is currently rotating at United, so we were fortunate that he didn't fall too behind in his work.

We were in the hospital so long that Acalias began to identify the nurses because they all wear blue. He'd try to hide from them to avoid what he knew was coming. One night I'm pretty sure he kicked a nurse square in the face as she struggled to force an oxygen tube in his nose. I don't know why she thought he would keep it in his nose, after all he had already had his IV changed once because he yanked it out.

On saturday September 17th, they ran a few more tests, gave us a glucometer to monitor Acalias' blood sugars and sent us home. Halelujah!

We're recovering well, Acalias still gets up a couple of times a night but hopefully we will get back into our normal routine soon. His blood sugars have been reading normal and we have a follow up appointment later on this week.

We are so fortunate to have a loving family that kept us grounded during this difficult time although we are so far apart. The members in our new ward showed their support as well. Several of the males stopped by to give priesthood blessings, the relief society by brought us yummy homemade food (the hospital food got old quick) and spent time visiting with us.

We are so happy to be home again, thank you again for all of your prayers.

Prayers Needed

Please pray for our little guy.

 We rushed him to the ER on Sunday, he was struggling to breathe.

Acalias was admitted to the hospital on Sunday. 3 days and 4 nights later we are still here.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Parkersburg, West Virginia 1/2 Marathon

My alarm clock went off at 5:00am on Saturday morning. I get so excited for races, the anticipation of it makes it hard to sleep. I made arrangements for a friend to pick up my packet so that I wouldn't have to get up at 4am. Parkersburg is an 1:20 minutes west of Bridgeport so we had to be on the road by 5:30am.
I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to the roads here, there are no lights and a lot of foliage so it's hard to see with the hovering mist of humidity. I'm such a bossy passenger, I'm so easily startled and I tend to be worse when I'm anxious to get to the race on time.

The race didn't start until 8am so we walked around with Acalias who loves to people watch. I'm not one to expend much energy running around the block to warm up like other runners do, maybe it would improve my performance if I did. I'm amazed when I watch the Kenyans stroll by with their fellow Kenyan runners, I think I speak for most runners when I say we are envious of how fast they can run. A 4-minute-mile would probably cause my heart to stop! I was excited for the race but annoyed that it started so late, it was already hot by 8:00 am. It was the first race I had been to where a lot of runners were shirtless. Weird. It's almost like being at the pool...old, young, thin, thick, it must be a trend that I didn't know about.

A few minutes before the starting gunshot went off.

There were over 1,000 runners in this race (2 mile & 1/2 marathon) and walkers as well, we were packed in on the streets. 

Me giddy with excitement to start the race already.

Wishing I had friends alongside me, I really need to join a running group,

it's nice to have someone to run with.

I uploaded a new play list for this race to keep me moving and grooving. I'm impressed with runners who run without music, the only time I did that was while I was on my mission. Last night after I organized the play list, I played the songs to help me visualize my pace. Acalias is so funny he would come wobbling in bobbing his rythemless body to the music. I wish I caught it on tape, he can definitely brighten up my mood on any given day.

Finally the gun sounded and I was on my way. I'm careful in the first few miles because I don't want to expend too much energy too soon. It's disheartening to see people walking by the 3rd of 4th mile holding a hip or their stomachs. Too much effort goes into training to be foolish and start off too fast. I set a goal to keep my heart rate at 170 throughout the entire race. I figured that if I kept my heart rate at 170, I would run a 9-minute-mile. The course looped throughout the country, I felt like I was taken back decades in some areas. One large man wore a pair of ragged overalls, shirtless in and old pickup truck blaring country music. Others sat around in their rocking chairs on their porches smoking cigarettes. Nothing like breathing in smoke while running up a hill. Good ole West Virginians, gotta love em.

I felt good throughout the race, my heart rate was at least 175-178 but as the heat increased around mile 6, I felt my head begin to pound. I thought to myself, I'm so hot I could melt into this asphalt! I should really train in various climates...but I really have no desire to...I can't stand the heat. I started drinking more water and Gatorade. I didn't pack any Gu because most races provide it along the course. I was hoping they would provide fruit, candy, anything!  I was let down every water stop. I'm ravenous by mile 8 but I figured Gatorade was my best option to get me through...thank goodness I ate the doughnut Derek brought me home last night too. By mile-10 I was at 1:34, I was so pleased with my time I thought I would definitely make my goal of 2:00. I began to push but by then the heat was so intense. Along with the water and Gatorade the water stations started offering ice and water sponges. I began putting ice down my shirt, in my sports bra and down my back. I should have put a few pieces in my thick head of hair...but I didn't think of that until now. I had my water bottles on my hydration belt filled with water and Gatorade so at each water station I began pouring water on my head, my face.

At mile 12 I see the LDS missionaries handing out water, it was so refreshing to see them serving in the community. I started running on my mission so I began thinking about the tips that all my previous companions gave me to keep me running hard.  I cranked up a fast beat song and pushed, onlookers had their hoses out so I paused a few seconds but kept on my way. My Timex beeped 2:00 and unfortunately I was still running. I saw the finish line at 2:03 and ran through it at 2:05:50. It was a bittersweet ending. I wanted to run it under 2:00 and I am still determined.

Not the greatest pics, but it's the real deal.

Me sweating and so tired.

More finish line pictures here, behind the runner with the pig tails and here,

I look like I'm raising the roof with my arms flailing everywhere.

I beat my first 1/2 marathon (in 2006) of 2:07 so that made me happy.

 I placed 20th out of 53 in my age group (age 25-29),

444th overall place out of 909 1/2 marathon runners. 

Mommy & Acalias post race picture.

We have one after every race that I've run since he was born, it's our little tradition.

Derek said he cried when he saw me running towards the finish line, he wanted to go to me right away.

I hope to run this 1/2 marathon (depending on Derek's schedule), this 5k Halloween Hustle (it'll be my first race in costume, so exciting!!) 5k Turkey trot to end this years running season.

I really do plan on giving you a tour of our home one day.

Running in Bridgeport

Skofeild and I have been enjoying all the routes in Bridgeport. We have sidewalks and wider roads to run on! I'm a little crazy and wake at at 5:30 am to get my runs out of the way while Acalias is asleep and his dad is still home in bed as well. It's a bit creepish with how dreary things look with the darkness and humidity but it's a whole lot cooler than running later in the morning.

Stroller + dog + intense heat & car exhaust= an awful run!

There are allot of killer hills in this area. Hills are not my strong point so I've incorporated some steep hills at least 4 times a week. Thankfully Derek has several days when he doesn't have to be in until 9am so it gives me more time to run.

The best thing about running so early is the quiet calm. Most people are still asleep, the deers are frolicking about and I get to witness the beautiful sunrises.

I'm nearing the peak of this hill of Ridgeway drive.

This phone picture doesn't do it justice, it's so much more amazing in person.

This is the real deal, I didn't edit any of the following pictures.

This is at the peak of Ridgeway/Shearwood road run. The pictures were taken on two different days. The second picture was taken this week when a cold front rolled in, it was 58 degrees! So glorious for a woman like me who sweats way too much.

This makes waking up early to run so worth it!

I spotted a deer from a distance, they are all over the place but Skofeild likes to scare them away before I could get too close. I snapped a few pictures from a distance, as we drew closer he didn't move so I took more.

I love this picture. Good thing he was on top of the hill, Skofeild didn't notice him at all.

This was at the end of our 10 mile run this past Saturday near the trail head at Bridgeport park.

Not such a glamorous picture of myself but who looks great after miles of running? I had to highlight Skofield, he's kid-tested, mother approved. He is a great protector, without him I wouldn't be able to run so early in the morning. Anyone or dog who has ever approached me is instantly put in their place. I have some fun stories of how protective he can be, we're lucky to have him.

This year my goal was to run 1,000 miles. It's still my goal but it's been a bit harder than I had anticipated. I didn't add sickness, stress, fatigue into the equation. You'd think that stress would help motivate me to run but if and when it keeps me up at night, I'm far too tired to get up in the morning to run. Acalias still has his bouts of sleeplessness in the middle of the night and I opted to pack and unpack the week prior and after our move. Some days I just don't want to run at all! That's when I strap on my Rollerblades or strap Acalias into the trailer and head to the trails near our home. To date I've run 511.4 miles, I'm behind so somehow I need to log 122.15 miles each month to make my goal by 2012. That is 10 miles more than the 20 miles per week that I had planned...I hate to set a goal and fail so I'm going to push harder.

Acalias and I frequent this trail near our home. If only I was into fishing, the lakes are stocked with trout so there is always several people there fishing. It's a nice scenic paved trail. We give it two thumbs up.

The Parkersburg 1/2 Marathon is this coming weekend. I'm so excited! I feel stronger and I hope to run in better time than my last paved road race (2 hrs 18 min).

Stay tuned. Next week I will give you a tour of our new home...

He's Walking!

His first laugh, first tooth, he crawled and now he's walking! Our little boy is growing up so fast!

Here he is in starting position. He did this for months.

Acalias thinks that he should get to wear his dads tie when he gets home from work.

He was in such a goofy mood during this pictures.

Once he gets on his feet, he would laugh so hysterically that he couldn't walk more than a couple steps. 

We've been keeping ourselves busy. I typically cross train a couple days a week with the bike and trailer while Acalias naps. The bike trail has a park and Acalias loves the swings.

We also took him to the pool and it was a hit! Now we go twice a week.

Derek made this face to Acalias and now it's his go to face whenever he's intrigued by something. He has a tag from one of the beach towels, it kept him occupied as we packed up to head back home.

He's being flirtatious in these pics, he loves to get attention from anyone. Can you tell, he caught someones eye in this picture?