The Titanium Cowboy Rides Again....

Check out this video of Mike and Scott!

Helen Said It's Because I Have a Big Heart....

... which is the absolute sweetest way ever of describing this past month.

Off and on I've had chest pain over the years.
The docs usual run a few tests and tell me it's all going to be fine. I love that part....
the "it's all going to be fine" part!

A few weeks ago, my normally low blood pressure was running kind of high, and I was having some weird visual disturbances (for lack of a better term), and chest pain again.

The scariest part for me was that, for the first time, I had chest pain WHILE I was running with my BFF around the lake.
Everything is always PERFECT in my world when I run with my BFF around the lake.
The chest pain was kind of a downer.
Chest pain and running do not sit well together in my mind.

My initial plan of action was to ignore it all.
*happy sigh* I love denile.

But, good sense got the better of me and I went to see my doc. So now we are running tests. Dumb tests. Scary tests. Annoying tests. My family and friends and co-workers have heard enough whining from me to last a lifetime or two. I don't do "patient" well at all.
(I'm sure that my family and friends and co-workers just read that whining part and nodded enthusiastically)
; )

So far, this month has (or will) hold: ekgs, echo bubble test, heart MRI (don't even get me started on the whole MRI tube incident), and a stress echo test.

I've also been wearing an "event monitor" 23/7 (not in the bath tub which is now officially my favorite part of the day.... I even do a little nekkid happy dance when I first unhook from the wires....shhhh, don't tell!).

There is no way NOT to focus on your heart beat when you are wearing the monitor. At this point, I can't tell what is anxiety and what is heart stuff. It's kind of frustrating.

I've heard terms and phrases like PFO, low ejection fraction, red and blue blood mixing, enlarged right ventricle, right bundle branch blockage...... but they still don't know for sure what's going on, and as scary as some of those terms sound, lots of the time they apparently are not that big of a deal.

The docs don't seem worried. My regular doc said I could go ahead and start panic-ing if I wanted, however. Comedian that he is, he thought it might make the whole thing a little more exciting since no one else is panic-ing yet.
*insert rolling eyes here*

The good news is that I can still run with my BFF!
I take the fact that they still let me run as a sign that everything will be just fine.

Plus..... just look at this perfect grandbaby. Have you ever seen anything more heart happy?!
xoxoxo

Reasons I Won't Be Quitting My Job Anytime Soon...

Reason number one: Unit Three's College Tuition
Reason number two: cute biking accessories

I am TOTALLY RESISTING this whole biking thing.
Seriously.
I am NOT a biker gurl.

But...
I bought a cute bell and a sturdy lock today....
just in case I want to ride to the gym tomorrow instead of drive.

And I really like this bag.

And this web site is pretty cool.

I wonder how late REI is open tonight?

I blame my biker (cow)boy.... and his so called "running" buddies. This is their fault.

I refuse to get hooked on biking.
*arms stubbornly crossed and feet planted firmly on the ground in running shoes*

(The bag WOULD look really cute on my new bike, though)

View from the back porch....

Walking and patting grandbaby Oliver to sleep...

eyes open.... then closed.

Good work, grandpa.

June 15th Horoscope....

Becoming Still

Aries Daily Horoscope

You may experience a lack of energy today. With the many social and work commitments you have, perhaps you feel that you are too busy and that life is taking you in too many directions. Today might be a good time to give yourself permission to put your health and spiritual well-being before your other responsibilities and practice the art of stillness. Try to find a space that is peaceful, and sit for a few minutes in quiet reflection or meditation. As you start paying attention to your breathing, let your thoughts melt away. With each breath you take, you should feel yourself relax and become more centered. Periodically returning to stillness can help you stay energized throughout the day.

Bird Feeders....

Directions for these are in the current issue of Ready Made.

DC {dear cowboy} and Unit four made them for a friend's birthday.
Aren't they GREAT??!!
I want them to make me a gazillion in bright colors to hang all over the yard.

This Post is for YOU, BFF....

Runner Gurl gets a bike.
See how my eyes are closed?
That's so I can pretend I'm running instead of biking.
; )

It's Official!!!

She's a graduate!!!

A hug from her big sister

A sweet smile from her little bro (who is only SLIGHTLY bitter that he still has two weeks of school left)
; )

Doesn't her dad look proud?

Congratulations Emmy!
xoxo

Two More Beautiful Boys....

This is a picture of Units One and Four headed out on a *gulp* road trip over Memorial Day weekend.
They had two and a half days FULL of concerts.

They were very sweet and allowed me to do my "momming" all the way out to the end of the driveway..... in my jammies... giving last minute advice about healthy eating, flossing and sunscreen.... taking one million and one pictures as I lectured.
; )

I love that they are brothers.
I love that they are close.
I love that they have each other.

I can't help myself....

I know. I keep stealing pics from unit two's blog. I can't help myself.
Can you even BELIEVE how beautiful this tiny baby grandson of ours is???

So in Love with these Boys!!!

Oliver's Stuffies....

I am slowing making sweet baby Oliver's family members into stuffies.....

*happy sigh*

I am a Coffee Orphan.....

This past week, my little coffee spot succumbed to the slow economy and closed up shop.

Good coffee isn't hard to find in the Pacific Northwest.

Coffee families are a lot harder to come by.

As I contemplate finding a new routine for my double-tall-non-fat-latte, I am fully understanding that it's really, truly, absolutely NOT about the coffee.

I will miss our little coffee shop, Lyle.
Thank you for everything.

And So He Is One Day Old....

Tiny baby Oliver, down to 5 lbs 5 ounces, is now safely tucked in at home with Mom, Dad and big brother Braxton. This little family is a perfect work of art.

Finding Important Things I Wasn't Looking For...

Today, while searching for a quote to use in Unit Three's graduation announcements, I found this...... beautiful, huh?

WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND WOULD SEE SCARY THINGS ON THE NEWS, MY MOTHER WOULD SAY TO ME, “LOOK FOR THE HELPERS, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING.”

~ Mr. Rogers

(I still haven't found the perfect quote for the announcements. Any ideas??)

Oliver Andrew Costante Candivi....

5 lbs. 12 oz.
18.75"
Born at 9:34am May 8th, 2009