At the Beach

Our First Day Here and We Headed to the Beach! :)

We are really enjoying our vacation! 

Bridge to Sunset Beach

Last week we had warm enough temps to cross over the bridge and go to the beach--FOUR times! It's just a three minute drive from the place we are staying to the beach, which is great for short outings.

Beautiful Beach!

I'm so glad Mom encouraged us to go away for a long stretch of time. It definitely took us the first week to settle in--find the stores and foods we needed, get the dogs into a new routine, get ourselves settled in to a new place,  and recoup from the travel. Now we are settled in and really enjoying this time together.

Wishing The Pier Was Open

I feel completely overwhelmed by this trip--by the ability to go away at all; the ability to enjoy it so much more than any other time we have tried to travel; the ability to have 'space' from medical appointments, doctors, PT, counseling and the grind of appointments; the ability to take this time for us; and the ability to have time away from the demands of our house and to-do lists. 

Sometimes a little bit of guilt creeps in too, because I know how incredibly fortunate we are to be able to do this.

Overall, though, the trip just feels like one big victory.

A Fog Is Rolling In

I keep smiling at Mom and saying: "I'm so happy we did this! I am so grateful we are doing this!"

The Beach is HUGE!

I know how very blessed we are to be able to do this and have this gift of time and space.

Mom LOVES the Beach

Our days have been low-key. My energy has been up and down. That's one thing about chronic illness--it doesn't magically go away when we are in a wonderful healing environment. The bad days and the symptoms are still there. 

Definitely Different Weather Than Back Home...

Still, the fact that I can do this at all amazes me. I did exceptionally well with the travel here (which I was anxious about). My pain stayed under control and I rested well in the car. The first couple of days here I was flying on adrenaline, and then crashed out a bit! :) 

Having less stress, fewer demands on my time, and giving myself permission to be less social and more quiet, has helped though. 

Walkway We Discovered for The Rolls.

The weather was so great our first week here, that we took the opportunity to go to the beach, which is very handicapped accessible. Since it is just a three minute drive, we can pop over for an hour, watch the ocean, and pop back home. We've discovered this particular boardwalk to the beach for the Rolls. Then, once we get to the beach I can walk around a bit or just sit and watch the water.  

Over the past year my ability to sit upright has improved, so I'm able to go and sit up for an hour or more while we hang out at the beach. Not struggling during every moment I'm sitting up makes life much more enjoyable!

Gershwin's First Trip to the Beach

We've taken both of the little ones, so that will be Monday's Dog Blog! :)

Is That SUNSHINE?

Our afternoons at the beach have been our big outings so far. Otherwise, I've gone for a massage once each week. We've taken a nice StRoll around the development in which we are staying (on a golf course). And we've hung out at home. The weather is cooler now, so hopefully I'll have energy for a lunch out, a little shopping, or trip to a coffee shop.

I've spent time writing snail mail, working on a hand sewing project, listening to a book, and watching TV with Mom on our new Roku device. How wonderful it feels to take time to watch a TV show or a movie together! Mom has taken time to read a book and go for lots of long walks with the little ones. One day she hit 17,000 steps! Let's just say the puppies are TIRED! The upside of how tired they are? LOTS of cuddle time for ME! :)

We've also met several people--either when we've gone for the beach or when Mom has been out for walks with Gershwin and Tovah Rose. Everyone is super friendly here.

And we've enjoyed fresh seafood, which is something we can't get at home--fresh caught shrimp, flounder, sea bass, and a fish we can't remember the name of (oops). 

Very Calm Ocean Waters 

While I don't feel 'magically better' here at the beach, and I struggle to make sure that I don't have unreasonable expectations of what I will get 'done' while I'm here, I do feel this has already been, and will continue to be, a time of great healing--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It's the first real and true break we've taken in 15 years. 

I'm at a place health-wise that I can truly enjoy this experience. Even if I have bad days, we are here to rest and recuperate, not go hiking and scuba diving! And my bad days are nothing like they were even a year ago.

We're so appreciative of the support and encouragement we have received from all of you, letting us know how much you also hope for this to be a special and restorative time for us. It has buoyed us and reminded us to enjoy and savor this time together.

Blessings,

Emily

Monday Dog Blog: Enjoying Vacation

All Strapped in for a Safe Trip

We're happy to report that the four of us have arrived safely in Sunset Beach, NC. 

The little ones traveled wonderfully, sleeping most of the way with only one little episode of carsickness. I was so proud of my little ones.

Too Exhausted to Stand Up and Eat

We're all a bit tired from the packing, traveling and settling in, but we're very content and are definitely in vacation mode, as evidenced by Tovah Rose and Gershwin deciding to eat lying down. 

Nightly Ritual: Asking to Join D and A on the Bed

At home with Dad and Abbie, Asher is experiencing his own form of R and R in the form of LOTS of spoiling. Dad sends daily reports and some photos, all with his trademark sense of humor:

"Asher is doing just fine. Home alone with me today, so lots of singing and bonding."

"Just challenged Asher to a "stand off" as to who is the "toughest". He bounced up sorta engaged like he used to. We soon became big buddies again. Amazing how he still has some memories of the old days and doing battle with me."

"Asher is doing fine, gave hints of wanting to wrestle me. Told him, but first you must not run when I sing for you! He is still thinking over the conditions. Will let you know the outcome."

Lots of Snow in PA!

"See what we have to put up with the companion and his BIG addiction. To SNOW!"

"Asher has had plentiful bites of snow and is doing fine, though a bit ambivalent about my singing."

"We lead by 6 at halftime. Asher is handling the cheerleading side, great somersault just a few minutes ago. G and T would have been awed!"

Tovah Cleans Gershwin's Ears (A Regular Grooming Routine)

As for Tovah Rose and Gershwin, they have had no problems transitioning to the new place and new routine. 

Daily Wrestling Match

Mom is walking them three times a day, since there is not a yard for them to play in. And they are exhausted! 

Sibling Negotiation

Watching the golfers (and barking at them) is definitely the highlight of action here.

One Tired Pooch

Tovah Rose, unlike Gershwin, rarely stops. We've caught her sacked out like this quite a bit since our arrival. We think 1. its all of the walks, and 2. she must know she is on vacation too!

It's so fun to have the little ones here with us to enjoy this very special time.

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily

Monday Dog Blog: Snowy Send-Off

Winter Wonderland

Thursday brought us a gorgeous snowy send-off before heading to the beach. I love snow. Especially a beautiful one like this. 

I Wish I Could Have Ventured Out for Some Cool Photos!

The snow has been getting deeper and deeper and deeper. And these little ones are completely unintimidated by it.

Regardless of the weather, these two spend a lot of time at the fence jumping up and down with joy over passing cars, trucks, snow plows, people and dogs. Thursdays often bring a trifecta of joy: mail truck; garbage and recycling truck; and UPS. Add in a snow plow or some people and dogs and life is extra grand. 

I don't know if Mr. Pogo Stick realizes how close he comes to clearing the fence. Our neighbors report that they love watching our joyful little ones. So, today, I set the camera to take ten photos in ten seconds. Here's the result. :)

That guy can JUMP! 

Hemlock Covered in Snow

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily

Packed!

Tovah Wears Her Shades From Lanadoodles

Tovah Rose would like to announce that we're all packed and ready to go to the beach. 

Mom and Scott Expertly Pack the Car

As I sit here watching the gorgeous snow fall, I'm happy to say that it is Thursday and the car is PACKED and ready to go! Other than all of our last minute things, we are ready for our Sunday departure. (Waiting on dog harnesses to arrive, going out to a concert Saturday night, finishing up looking over maps, etc.). It feels good to know we can relax a little bit before hitting the road.

Thanks to Scott and all of his time in the Navy, we have a perfectly packed car!

Cheerful Help From Scott

To be honest, packing took way more out of me than I thought it would. Despite setting aside three weeks for the process, I found that maintaining my 'normal' daily schedule of appointments and activities of daily living and adding in what needed to be done to prepare for six weeks away left me exhausted and overwhelmed. A few days, it definitely tipped me over the edge. 

I apologize for mostly going MIA in terms of communication the past few weeks. Some days this reminder of my limitations brought me down. Instead of simply adding in the job of packing, I needed to have it replace other daily activities, but this is difficult to do when I want to make sure that I get in some PT, massage, counseling, etc. before we are away for so long.

I am prepared for the first week at the beach to be a 'recovery' period from the trip preparation and the travel itself, which is never easy for me. We will be driving halfway, stopping to visit friends Sunday night, and finishing up the trip on Monday.

Ready. To. Go!

The good news is that hopefully all of our preparation and hard work will pay off. I've tried to think of everything we might need, even renting a recliner from a Rent-a-Center so I will have a comfy place to rest! :)

We're so ready for six weeks together in a new place. We're feeling incredibly blessed to have this opportunity that we never imagined might happen.

Here we come Sunset Beach, NC!

Blessings,

Emily

Happy Valentine's Day!

We just wanted to

WISH

YOU

A 

Happy

Valentine's Day!

Blessings,

The GREATs

Note: Thanks to Aunt Ellen for the photo shoot! :)

Monday Dog Blog: A Visit with Fuzz and Packing

Home For A Visit

Mr. Fuzz came home for a visit this weekend--our last before we head for the beach. We never thought he'd still be hanging in there, but he is. Asher never liked dog beds until old age kicked in, and now he loves his memory foam bed. Still, we're not sure how he finds smooshing himself up against the wall comfy?

A Favorite Spot

He'll be in excellent hands at Dad and Abbie's, where Dad reported this evening that: "Asher has adjusted, recalls the basics--where to go for the treats!!"

Helping Dad in His Study

I've taught Dad to iMessage and take photos on his new iPad, so we're making progress with technology and will be able to keep in good touch regarding Asher while I am away. (For those who know my dad, these are major technological milestones!)

Dad likes to 'compete' with Abbie regarding who Asher follows around the house and/or spends more time near. I received the above photo with the caption: "I'm winning".

Please Take MY Picture

Gershwin was particularly 1. photogenic today, and 2. eager to have his photo taken while I was trying to take photos of a knitting project.  He kept jumping up in front of the camera. 

This guy is a little concerned about all of the packing going on here. As we set up the front seat of the car for me today, Gershwin followed us out into the garage, put his paws up on the front seat and cried. I promised him he's going with us.

Maybe You Could Knit Something for Me?

Gershwin is the one to really follow in his big brother's footsteps, and has increasingly become my 'velcro dog'. I can barely reach a seated position on the sofa or in the recliner before he is in my lap! And how could I resist that sweet face anyways?

After last week's blog post, I did learn from Buddha's mom that the litter mates have the very same high pitched 'girly' bark! It would be so fun to reunite the two some day.

I'm not sure where Tovah was for photo ops this week. Probably going after a pair of slippers or something. 

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily