Young's in Florida - Day 7

Well, the last full day in Florida ended on a VERY lazy note. We hung at pool and that's about it. We spent 4 hours laying around the pool and soaking up as much Florida sun as we could just so we wouldn't forget what it felt like....one word, HOT!! Some of us napped while soaking up the sun, isn't that right Paige :)

Not too many pictures to put up tonight...just of us dorks at dinner (Panera Bread) and on the beach tonight...

I took a poll asking if everyone had fun this week even tho we didn't make it to Busch Gardens or Sea World or even Disney and everyone agreed that even without those things we had the best of times and made many memories together. Tonight, the girls and I discussed how shitty (my word, not theirs) it was to be down here having all this fun without the one person who would have had the BEST time in the ocean, dad. We had a quiet moment on the beach thinking about it. If you look in one of the pictures of the girls and I on the beach, you'll see an orb hovering over us all....according to the girls, dad was there with us....I hope that's true.

Home tomorrow...goodness that sounds amazing. See you soon and thanks for checking in.

L

Pictures from today HERE

Young's in Florida - Day 6

Today was an AMAZING day for me. Not only did we sleep in, we lazed around until I made up my mind about Parasailing....of course I did a little research about which one would be the best. That decision made, we were off.

OMG, why I've never done this before is something I'll never figure out. It was just so awesome being 800 feet above the ocean looking down on the boat pulling me around and looking down on what I might see swimming in the ocean and it was really cool being as close as I was to reach out and touch the clouds.

After that, we spent some time in the pool and, of course, the ocean. While sitting on the same stretch of beach we've been hanging out on for the last week we FINALLY spotted some dolphins. We were a little freaked out by this because they swam REALLY close to the shore...we were all screaming JAWS..LOL. It was VERY cool.

I can't believe that tomorrow is our last full day in Florida...I'm ready to come home, I'm done getting my shit together and I'm ready to get on with whatever life has in store for me and the girls. It's amazing what a few nights down at the beach talking to yourself (or whoever might be listening) will do to put shit in perspective.

Thanks for checking in :)

L

Pictures from today go HERE

Sidebar....

While the girls and I are basking in the fun and sun, there has been a little activity at our house....Here are a few pictures of what's been going on (thanks mom)!! The first 3 are of my back deck ripped off my house, a new smaller deck will replace the old one and then another deck will be built down below (hellllloooooo party deck :)) The other pictures of my yard ripped up is where the pool will sit :) Emily REALLY wants granddad and Uncle Travis to put the pool up so it's ready for swimmin' in when we get home on Friday :) Not gonna happen sister, not gonna happen :)~

Thanks for checking in.
L

Young's in Florida - Day 5

The highlight of today is that I FINALLY found a Starbucks!!!!

To see pictures from today, go HERE

Thanks for checking in :)

L

Young's in Florida - Day 4

OMG, we FINALLY saw dolphins today....ok, so we saw them at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium but we SAW them!!

Our ONLY plan for today was to see some GD dolphins and we weren't disappointed. We all got up and around, got in the rental (that I like to call Renny) and drove (by memory, mind you) to the CWMA. We watched a sea turtle show, a dolphin show, checked out a few sharks, pet a couple of sting rays and spotted some otters. Fun stuff!! At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, they fix sick/hurt animals and release them back into the wild - unless they can't be released back into the wild and fend for themselves - which is why there are some pretty cool animals that they've had to keep.

At 4, we took a 'Sea Safari'. This entailed a 2 hour boat ride around the Clearwater Bay, a stop at Compass Key for some (MORE) sea shell hunting, spotting Hulk Hogan's house AND seeing dolphins in the 'wild'...that was some pretty cool stuff. I'm pretty sure the girls enjoyed every minute of it!!

Dinner at Crabby Bill's Seafood, a few Pina Colada's for me (there might be a shirt in your future dad that say's 'Don't worry, be crabby', perfect), a 10 minute ride back to the condo and (of course) a visit to the ocean. What day would be complete without it??

Tomorrow we might just hang around as we have nothing planned...I'm ready (but not ready) to come home. I'm so glad to be able to spend this time with the girls and that we had the opportunity to hang where we're hangin' but there is just something/someone missing. It's just not the same to be doing these fun assed things without the one person who was able to 'act' like a kid with the girls.

Anyway, HI from sunny Flo-rida...we'll holla tomorrow :)

L

Today's pictures HERE

Young's in Florida - Day 3

Today dawned early for us (ok me) at 8a....We lounged around, looked on the Internet for fun things to do today and finally decided on taking a boat tour/dolphin watch!! This required driving a LONG way from the safety of our condo/pool/beach that we've been spending entirely too much time enjoying :) The first dolphin watch tour didn't leave until 1p and since I didn't know how far away Hubbard's Marina/John's Pass Boardwalk was, we left at 11a after a quick stop for breakfast and a latte at Dunkin Donuts (yeah for Paige, I have YET to have a Starbucks and I'm getting a little cranky about it). We get there in PLENTY of time so we meander up and down the boardwalk to see what it's all about...not too happenin, jus sayin. We spent entirely too much time at a surf shop especially since none of us surf but we picked up some cool stuff. We made it back to Hubbard's Marina for the Dolphin Watch just in time for them to tell us that they cancelled the 1p trip because of a storm brewing off shore, ok, super. So, we drove back to the condo, made a quick stop for some MORE groceries and decided on the way back to the condo to head back to the marina for the 5p Dolphin Watch....We show up BACK AT THE MARINA at 415p and are told they cancelled all trips out...wtf. So, no dolphin watch for us today. Note to self, call first gas is expensive here :)

On our way back to the condo (a second time) we decided to stop and play mini golf....half way thru 18 holes Paige and I wanted to throw in the towel, or at least use it to dry off. Jebus Martha and Kathy, it was hotter than H out and we were going up and down stairs and moving around and SWEATING, wth? Who knew that it wasn't cool to mini golf in 95 degrees?? Genius.

I put my amazing cooking skills to work on dinner - Chef Boy Ardee Ravioli. Everyone chowed down, I got a 30 minute smoke break before I was being begged to go to the pool because, geez mom, we haven't gone to the pool at all today!! After some time spent at the pool and Ally trying to catch a gecko or 15 we headed to the beach to watch the sun set and look for MORE shells. While Emily was in the ocean, she stepped on the biggest shell they've found and she's pretty proud of it....made me take a picture of it, look for it.

Tomorrow our 'plan' is to go to the Clearwater Beach aquarium and MAYBE get to go on a dolphin watch boat ride, JC I hope so because if I don't see some damn dolphins, I mean if the girls don't see some damn dolphins, there are gonna be some problems....LOL.

We still miss you, but we're having a FANTASTIC time in Florida....wish you were ALL here with us!!

L

Pictures from today here

The Young's in Floriday - Day 2

It was a laid back day today. I slept in, lounged on the balcony, got bugged to death until I finally got up, took a shower, put my suit on and packed a bag to head to the beach.

We started at the beach, everyone EXCEPT me put the 50 spf sun screen on. I got fried today, neat, didn't think it was possible...guess I was wrong. So the girls found like 50 THOUSAND shells that they insist on keeping, yeah not so much. After the ocean, we moved to the pool. From the pool we all showered and headed out to find something to eat. We landed at Bonefish Grill, which was yummy, and then the search was on for a Starbucks. Rosie has this awesome feature that allows you to search for 'points of interest' LOL, yep Starbucks. However, Rosie was smoking crack and led us to NOT a Starbucks. Neat...so I settled for Panera's latte, bummer.

We went for a 'walk' on the beach when we got back from dinner, but we were all creeped out because it was dark so we stayed REAL close to our bridge to get back to the condo....

Again with the crazy pictures today. Tomorrow I PROMISE there will be other pictures besides pictures from the pool and of the ocean, I mean, how many pictures can one person take of the same pool and the same ocean?? Boring....LOL, just kidding.

We miss all the peeps in Iowa, but we are having a GREAT time here in FL....wish you were here :)

L

Pictures HERE enjoy...I know we are....

The Young's in Florida - day 1

Holla from Clearwater Beach!!

Our day started EARLY....you know, 8a. We were dropped off at the CR airport this morning after having breakfast made for us by our awesome host last night - thanks Mike. After checking our bags, a couple of last cigs (me, not the kids) we headed in to go thru security, boy was that fun times. After going thru all that, it was hurry up and wait with the girls asking every 5 minutes if we could board the plane yet...um, the plane hasn't arrived yet :) Finally on the plane and we're off and in the air, 5 minutes in to the flight and Allyson's all, I'm hungry and I ate all of the snacks in my bag....For the love. So, I had to buy more snacks from the airline, nice.

We land, I sprint to the Alamo desk to get our mid size car (Pontiac G6, nice), wait for the luggage to come out on the conveyor and wait and wait and wait and wait....yeah, for the love. Luggage picked up, car found in the lot, luggage shoved into the car, Rosie found and plugged in and we're off like a prom dress. I felt a little weird putting my total faith in Rosie to get us to the condo, but GD if she didn't do just that RIGHT to it. JC, GPS is the shit.

We've had a full day already....we left, got groceries, found our way back without getting lost all without Rosie along for the ride, we've been to the pool and to the beach and played in the ocean...guess we've done all we came for....ok, j/k. According to Allyson, I owe her a shell bucket and we're gonna walk the beach all day long tomorrow....really?? This was supposed to be a relaxing vacation....LOL...

Go here to see some (86) pics from today.....

Stay tuned for sure, 6 more days of the Young's meet Florida to come :)

L

Day of fun at the Dr's office :)

After spending the ENTIRE day going to just TWO dr appointments, I just remembered why we don't go unless we're BLEEDING or you can see bone in a gash so large it needs stitches!! J K & M, I mean really, would it kill them (them = dr) to actually meet with you at your scheduled time?? Because by the time we're seen, I'm too pissed to remember WTF I was gonna ask or say....for the love!

Allyson was first up today. We had updated xrays that showed NO bone sticking out of her finger, but the dr doesn't know WHAT is sticking out of her finger. So, we got scheduled for yet another appointment - an MRI. Stay tuned :)

I had the CT scan - I sat in the waiting room for 45 mins for a 2.5 minute scan. This is what pisses me off...I was the ONLY one there, the WHOLE time we were waiting...can you tell I'm irritated?? Fun times today :)

In between the appointments, the girls and I had a girl time out and had pedicures. Now THAT was some good stuff :) So, look for pictures of our pretty toes in the sand while in Florida :)

Thanks for checking in :)

L

Been a few things goin' on around the house....

Thing #1 - Today is day #2 of my 30 day 'vacation' from my real job, you know, the one that I get paid to do...I'm taking a little mental break and focusing on my 'other' job - being a mom :)

Thing #2 - The girls and I are maxin' and relaxin' (and we haven't maimed each other yet) together.

Thing #3 - The girls and I are gearing up for our trip to Tampa, Fl...every day it's all "mom, what day is this and what day are we leaving and what does riding in a plane feel like and why do I need to chew gum when we take off and what happens if we lose our clothes and what if we get lost in FL and what are we gonna do when we get there and is there really a pool right by the beach and are there sharks in the ocean we'll be in?" And on and on...I think they might be excited :)

While we're 'passing' the time waiting to get on that plane, I scheduled a few long over due Dr visits for us...yeah me. First up, me. I'm not sure if all who read this know this about me, but I'm not one to complain about being in pain. As a matter of fact, I would much rather deal with it than bitch about it OR do anything about it above and beyond taking my standard 800-1600mgs of my friend the Ibuprofen everyday. So when I'm making an appointment for a surgery consult with the ortho Dr, you know it's serious.

Almost 6 years ago, I was involved in a car accident with 3 tiny baby girls in my jeep and a truck. I was at a standstill making a left hand turn right in front of a fast truck who didn't see it coming. Totally my fault about causing it AND my fault that my BFF's daughter wasn't wearing a seat belt, thank goodness she's forgiven me for that little oversight. Except for some cuts and bruises, I was the only one injured with a broke in half talles bone (fancy for broke the f up ankle). I spent 3 days in the hospital, surgery, 2 wks in a half cast, 4 wks in a purple cast and crutches/wheelchair, 2 wks in a walking boot and I was 'good as new'. Yeah, ok...5 1/2 years of cortisone shots that didn't work and I'm all I gotta get something done here. My ortho and I have been talking surgery for 4 years and I've (again being the non pain complainer) been to scared to do it...So today, I saw my wonderful ortho to tell him I've finally decided to go ahead and do the out patient surgery we've been talking years about and he didn't give me the news I was hoping for.

These are my options (p/s they suck): Option #1: I can wear a brace (um, no) or I can continue to have the cortisone shots that hurt like a B and wear off in 3 wks instead of the 6 months they're supposed to last. Option #2: My ortho can fuse my ankle and subtolor joint which will get rid of the pain but cause other problems in my lower foot AND I'll have a locked ankle. And last but not least...Option #3: I can have ankle replacement surgery in Iowa City. Huh...really. So, I have to have a CT scan tomorrow and then I have 3 wks to think about what I'm gonna do about this.

Allyson has an appointment tomorrow with her finger ortho (we're a mess in this house, huh?) to see about doing something with the finger she broke last October doing her scooter stunts in the street. It's straight up growing cricked and the bone is sticking out - something she JUST informed me of 2 wks ago. So, we'll see what he has to say tomorrow...we'll keep you posted for sure.

This afternoon we (including my BF and 2 of her kids) were at the Winterset pool havin' fun in the sun!! We had to work on our tans for Florida ;) To see the pictures taken, go HERE.

Thanks for checking in...

L

This xray was taken today, neat huh? When I went in I thought the wonderful Dr. Galles would tell me he would schedule me for out patient surgery to remove the screws and bone spurs that are causing me pain. Too bad it's not gonna be that easy of a fix.