Randy+Brooklyn: January-March 2015 Update

January

Health Update
I have officially begun meeting with Tracy. This was my first month where I really started to shift the way I ate (I was already trying to eat healthier but this went to a whole other level). I am not perfect by any means but I have been hitting the fruits and veggies pretty hard---really focusing on live, ripe, living, nutrient/water-rich, raw foods. Tracy has sent me a lot of resources in the form of videos, books, blogs, recipes, etc.

She really believes that I can get rid of this tumor. Basically, she has asked that I work at this for a year. At first this seemed like such a long time but as it sank in it felt right. So here we go---month ONE! This work is really all encompassing---instead of focusing on one very specific problem (aka my tumor) I am taking a more holistic approach and trying to strengthen all areas of my body (the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.).

This month I have been busy trying to put in the work and time to improve my health. I've been reading and researching a lot (The Detox Miracle Sourcebook by Dr. Morse) and learning about various herbs and holistic tools that could be beneficial.

Starting to make changes!

Bananas about bananas!

Papayas are actually amazing---I used to hate them.

Making time for Fun

Time to burn some of our boxes from Costco!

Bonfire at our "secret" spot

Making Randy do all the work

Surfing at Puena's

February

Miracles Abound!
OK big miracles! The hospital I work at just opened a new clinic and as I asked my doctor about getting blood tests done he told me that they were FREE for employees!! This was such a big deal for me because I thought I would have to pay through the nose for blood tests---especially if I was the one requesting them. I got my results back from my January blood test and my prolactin levels are dropping---it came back as 88.0 ng/mL (my levels used to be at 107 ng/mL when I got it tested in September 2014). A normal range is roughly 3-26 ng/mL so I have a ways to go but progress is progress!! Gotta celebrate/harvest those wins ;)

In a way I am grateful for this tumor and for what is has taught me so far. Obviously nobody in their right mind loves the idea of having a weird lump bump in their brain but it sure can teach you some good life lessons. I am confident that I can get rid of it but I know it requires work and time. Despite my lack of patience, I am okay with doing the work. I know this is the healthiest and best thing I could be doing for my body and the future health of my children. I have even begun to receive compliments from friends and strangers alike---especially on the quality of my skin so no complaints or grumbling from this lady :)

Happy Chinese New Year
Randy and I went into Chinatown for the New Year with our friends, Chris and Jill, and met up with some of their family. We had such a good time together! There were a ton of booths selling unique food and souvenirs. You could even get your picture with a ram (year of the ram/sheep/goat). We watched the parade and fed the lion dollar bills for good luck. Jill and I even ran through the dragon---she said it was also for good luck! By the end of the day I felt like the luckiest lady in the world!

Chinese New Year in Honolulu

Jill feeding the lion

Time for the epic parade

Jill and I running through the dragon

A green lion

Chris and Jill

I may have had a little too much fun running through the dragon.

Work Happenings
Randy has been keeping very busy with work. We are so grateful for his job! Here he is on a vehicle fire. This month I have been busy with my residents, we took them to the Shanghai Circus at the Blaisdell concert hall. We also had our annual employee party complete with a hypnotist and mechanical bull---I was so stoked to try the bull since it was my first time riding one! I have to say I didn't do too shabby either. My inner thighs were definitely sore the next day though.

Randy hard at work

Photo booth time for Hoku, Selina and I. No one warned us it took the pictures so quickly!

Hiking Hamama Falls

Randy and I went on a hike date to Hamama Falls and had lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant on Oahu, El Mariachi, in Kaneohe. It was nice to see another side of the island and the waterfall was beautiful!

Thank goodness for self-timers!

Banyan trees are pretty incredible

My new beach towel ;)
March

Randy's Birthday
My love had his birthday this month and he is by far the toughest guy to shop for---he never seems to want anything! In a way I appreciate this, but it can be challenging. I even asked about making him a legit dinner or cake and he tells me all he wants for his birthday is breakfast food (pancakes, eggs, and bacon) and no cake. He said all he wanted to do was spend the day doing something outside with me so we did! I also got him a small gift of two burned CD's (remember the days of making someone you like a mixed CD?!)

We are a little old school because we do not have smart phones and we don't even own an ipod or anything so when we want music in the car we still listen to CD's or the radio. Lately, Randy had been mentioning he wanted some new music to listen to for his drives to work so I asked his friend to burn two CD's for me of new songs I found that he would like and he loved them.

Other March happenings
Randy and I went to the Bishop Museum together for the first time. I had never been there before and the place is huge!! We didn't even get to see everything because we ran out of time. This month I took some of my residents to a Celtic harp performance at the Kahuku library and Randy came to help me. One of my residents is obsessed with Randy so he was pretty excited when he came to our outing. This resident constantly tells me how lucky I am all the time to be married to Randy and how I better not give him too much trouble! ha Don't know if I can make that promise ;)

I also went surfing at Freddy's this month (next to V-land). This is a big deal for me as a beginner because I am trying to get used to surfing new spots and getting out of my comfort zone a little. I was even able to catch waves so I was happy and Randy was pretty stoked for me which helps me feel more confident about surfing.