Terry's Brain

For those of you who know us personally you are aware no doubt that Ter-Bear has a brain condition. No not that, Doofus-ism is not really "condition" per say. A real condition. He has an AVM:

"Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are masses of abnormal blood vessels which grow in the brain. They consist of a blood vessel "nidus" (nest) through which arteries connect directly to veins, instead of through the elaborate collection of very small vessels called capillaries. Some people are born with the nidus, but as the years go by, it tends to enlarge as the great pressure of the arterial vessels can not be handled by the veins that drain out of it. This causes a large collection of worm-like vessels to develop (malform) into a mass capable of bleeding at some future time."

Well 2 1/2 years ago he had gamma knife surgery (a non-invasive radiation surgery) to correct the condition. A process that takes a few years to see any real results. Well we are please to show you all now before and after pictures of Ter's brain. Know that the AVM is not gone but it is decrease in size by a good bit. He may have to have another surgery in the future to completely get rid of it but looking at the new picture makes me feel very optimistic that he will someday be with out the AVM.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Now I know that this may not look like much to ya'll but aside from the fact that it looks smaller Terry himself has been feeling better (much fewer "episodes" -the right side of his body would go numb) Woo-Hoo!

Federation Forset

Terry and I are hikin' machines! Well not machines more like novice. Well me anyway. Terry's way more into it than me. As a matter of fact, remember the evil trail from a few post ago? Well while I was in VA Terry went back to it and hiked all the way to the lake that's at the top of the mountain. I have no desire to ever see that damn lake so he "had" to go with out me!

Anyway our latest hike was to Federation Forest State Park. We drove about 50 miles to the world's lamest trail. Don't get me wrong it was pretty but very boring. Not much to see, no real payoff and ya'll know how I'm all about the payoff! The only thing it had going for it was the very old growth,

some gigantic trees,

really pretty fungi,

and the "Hobbit House"

More like a small gnome village really. I guess for years now hikers have been helping to create this little village in the woods. It was very cute. But not really worth diving 100 miles round trip and walking nearly 5 miles. My legs are still killing me. Although I am getting use to this hiking stuff. It makes Terry really happy so will keep at it. Plus it's good for me, too. I want to be healthy for our future kids. Stupid exercise!

Here's a few more pics of the Gnome village. Enjoy.

Home at Last

I'm now recovering from a fantastic weekend with missed friends and family! I had such a nice time. I got to see my brother for about an hour during a layover in Chicago. I stayed with The Baylers.

And yes I got the best response out of Nicole just like I knew I would. It wouldn't be funny to explain, you just had to be there.

I saw my beloved Hallmark Girls. This is an old picture but it works for my purpose here. I could have put my apron on and started ringing people out. It was so comfortable. Like I never left. Good times!

I got to spend much needed time with my "Surrogate Family" The Kalgrens. Unfortunately some very important members of this family were not in attendance which was quite heartbreaking for me (Melissa & her boys, Roddy and his family) but I took what I could get. Steph (the BFF) is the one with the blue shirt w/ the white bird. Karen and Steven (the two right above Steph) are the newlyweds. I'm not going to name them all off but if you have questions just ask.

I got to eat at the best Mexican Restaurant on the planet: Rey Azteca!

I think had I had more money I could have eaten there everyday and I would have! If you live in the Hampton Roads area and you like mexican food GO THERE!!!!! Get the cheese dip! And maybe Chili Colorado.....yummmm, Chili Colorado!

It's too bad I didn't have more time to spend there. I would have loved to go to PA to visit more of my family. Sad. But I'm glad I got what time I did. I am however very glad to be home. I missed Terry very much. And I was nervous about the baby the whole time. I didn't want anything to happen being that far away from home.

I seem to be showing some signs, though! I have no control over my body temp or my emotions! I had a gnarly hot flash on the plane home. I thought I would burst into flames! I burst into tears for no reason at all and then suddenly it's over. I love the smell of coffee but now I can't stand it! WTF?! All else seems to be going well.

Boulder Falls

Terry & I went on a hike yesterday to Boulder Falls (Marked easy in the book, I checked!) It was so nice. The trail was nice and flattish. There were lots of people out, but not too many. And there were a bunch of families with little kids. That made me happy to think that we could bring our kids with us. It was nice exercise but I didn't fell exhausted afterward. A good day. Here are a few pics.

The falls stand about 75 tall. They were so pretty. Much better but less water than Bridal Falls. With only half the work. I fully intend to go back! ASAP.

So far pregnancy if going fine. I've suffered no morning sickness yet though I fully expect to wake up every morning puking. I had a little heartburn, my boobs are sore and I can smell something gross from a mile away. As a matter of fact I have so few symptoms that I'm wondering if those 2 positive preg test were wrong. I hope they were right. I've told almost everyone I know. "Hey guys, just kidding!" Well see Oct 2 if I need to sue the shit out of the preg test company for making me lie to all my people!

Well my trip to VA starts in 2 days! I can't wait to see my friends. I'll be there about a week. I'm pretty sure most of them have no idea I'm knocked up. I'm excited to tell them face to face. I think Nicole will give me the best reaction. We'll see.

A Downside :(

So call me whiny but this will be my first child and I want all the bells and whistles that come along with that. I want a nice baby shower, I want all my friends to be like "Awwww look how big your getting!", I want my mommy! Everyone we know lives across the country! We have discovered the downside to living in Washington. (I still don't want to move back, though.) On the off chance that any of my peeps would throw me a shower, the time that showers normally happen I will be too big to travel. Boo Hoo! Poor pitiful me, right! At times like these I really miss my friends & family. I will be seeing 3/4 of my clan in 6 days! Yeah! My Clan!

I go see the doctor on Oct 2. I'll be about 9 - 10 weeks at that point. They told me that there's no real point in coming any earlier than that because they can't hear the heart beat till about 10 weeks. Cool!

So I have an assignment for all who read this. I have a few names picked out for boys and girls but I would like more choices. Tell me what you got!

The Unexpected

So Terry & I went whale watching yesterday. We were on the Puget Sound in the San Juan Islands for 4 hours and didn't see a single whale. Sad. We did get a rain check to come back some other time for free so it wasn't a total loss. Plus we did see other stuff. We saw lots of seals...

See 'um? Right there on the rock. The little white thing.

And there. The little shiny black thing stickin' out of the water.

We also saw an eagle. He's right in the center of the picture.

And an eagle's nest. It's about 6 - 8 feet across. In the Y of the tree.

Oh and we saw lots of deer. Yes deer. There's an island (Speiden Island) that is home to 4 different kinds of deer for around the world. Long story short....2 dudes in the '60s wanted to make the 2 mile long, 1/2 mile wide island a wild game hunt for rich old guys who don't want to do any real work when it comes to hunting. They imported 4 types of deer to Speiden. The project didn't work and the guys couldn't get all the deer off the island. So they're all still there living in peace with no natural enemies on an island owned (now) by the guy the founded the Oakley Sunglasses company.

As we made our way into Canadian water's we passed the most northwestern tip of the USA. Stewart Island's Turn Point Light House. Whales can often be seen here. Sadly not by us, though.

We also saw some Jelly Fish. The biggest one's I've ever seen. The biggest one I saw was about 2 feet across. Moon Jelly fish I think they were called.

We saw a few Doll's Porpoises. I wasn't quick enough to catch a picture. But I did catch a nice sunburn all over my face & chest. It was nice and cool out there so I forgot all about the sun cooking me from the sky and reflecting off the water. I look like a lobster.

Anyway not a whole lot else to talk about....Oh wait there is one more thing. I'm Pregnant!! At least that's what the little pink plus sign said! Twice! I haven't been to the doctor yet but I will go (hopefully) some time this week.

It didn't take near as long as I was expecting it to. I thought it would take a few years. We haven't even really been trying that hard! I, of course, will keep you all posted.

To any of the Hallmark girls who read this, please keep it under you hat till I get there. I would like to tell as many people I can myself face to face. I know Holly & Jamie read this from time to time. I wanted to tell everyone face to face but I just can't keep it quite!! Hehe. If my own personal calculations are correct I'm due around May 5ish. Woo hoo! I think I'll call my Mom, Nappy & my dad Grand Papa (roll your tougue when you say that)! What do ya'll think?

Worth it?!?

OMG! Am I out of shape. Although I am over weight I do get out and do things. I walk my dog, we go to the beach, you know physical stuff. If I have a day off, I do things I don't sit around on my ass much. I just happen to enjoy food. That being said, Terry and I went for our first official mountain hike yesterday. I thought I would die. It was only 3 1/2 miles (roughly) round trip which would normally be no big deal, but this was quite literally a steady uphill the first half. And of course down hill on the way back. That was no fun either, my knees are killing me!

So anyway here's how it went. We got this book a few months back, "60 Hikes within 60 Miles - Seattle". All the hikes are labeled: Easy, Moderate, Difficult. So we start hiking and about 20 minutes in to it Terry says "If this is moderate I would hate to see difficult". At that point I start to feel bad about myself. I'm thinkin' "Man I can't let this simple path beat me" But it was so hard! About half way to the mid point (the payoff) I tell Terry "Go on without me, save yourself!" So he goes ahead of me and I slowly keep going. He's gonna go ahead, turn around, meet up with me, then we would head back to the car. Well because I kept following him I came to a point that I knew I had to finish. I had come to far to turn back with out the big payoff. So I press on. I call Terry and he has made it to the payoff. He says it worth it and he's so happy that I didn't turn around and go back to the car. Now I really can't disappoint him. He's so proud. I finally meet up with him and we make our way to the pay off. In his case back to the pay off. I pass a couple of old ladies on my way and of course there is now way in hell I can stop now!! OLD LADIES!!! I soldier on. There are some spots that I can't even believe that this is a real trail. It's like a foot wide on the side of a mountain and the path is covered with these giant rocks. It's insanity!!!

So finally after what feels like 5 miles uphill and 5 hours, I've made it. And all my pain and suffering was completely worth it.

Bridal Falls (The Pay Off)

The View

Terry in his Happy Place!

So after enjoying the sites we start to make our way back down the mountain. What happens next you ask? Well it rains buckets of course! By the time we made it back to the car I was completely soaked! And cold. I didn't really warm up till this morning in the shower. Welcome to the Pacific Northwest and it's beautiful rain forest!

FYI: The Hike was labled Difficult! I found out after we got back to the car. I could have killed that man!!