Babies, Babies and more Babies...

So apparently there is a HUGE baby boom going on. And its not just people my age (I always hear how I'm "at that age"- and seriously in this case that does not apply).

I have just learned that my closest Aunt is pregnant, she is 37 and this will be her third child- I am excited to be involved more in this baby's life, I was so young when she had Brandon and Tony. She is due early next year.
And after a long time trying I am also happy to report that Fred's oldest niece, Gail is pregnant too!!!

Our dear friends Jake and Carrie's third baby is due in a couple weeks, and my old co-worker Jillian is due at the end of July with her first child. Four babies on the way! And apparently my cousin Tony and his wife will be working on baby number two over the summer LOL!!!

I am excited for the most part about all of the new arrivals but also a bit worried, three out of four of these babies are "high risk" pregnancies for one reason or another... so I hope they and their mothers stay healthy and happy!
My love to you all!

A Family Weekend

So this weekend my cousin Tony and his wife Ann, along with son Samuel came to visit. It was a rare time when many of the D'Angelos (my mom's side of the family) get to spend time together. During this visit the two newest D'Angelos finally got to meet! It was adorable to see them together. And of course I went crazy taking pictures of both of them- they are beautiful, if I do say so myself : )
We had a good time, first at the Zoo and then at the Rochester Heritage Festival. We laughed, ate and drank- and enjoyed this rare moment when we are all together. The weekend ended with a wonderful dinner on Lake Saint Clair.

W.T.F!!!

People suck.
So after another, yes ANOTHER trip to the ER tonight I find myself extremely disgruntled with our health care system and the way in which patients are treated in our hospitals.
We're treated like ignorant, bothersome objects- not people.
I knew more about my condition than the three hospital staff I encountered and only the doctor knew what the hell I was talking about when I listed my diagnoses. WHAT?!?!
"You can't possibly have two blood clotting disorders, you must be mistaken..."
Really, you wanna tell that to the 2 inch clot in my left leg!!! WTF!!!!
Maybe I should just buy my own ultrasound and save them the damn trouble! seriously!
But alas, I get sent home with this news, "Well your ultrasound was normal but that doesn't mean you don't have a clot, I mean it could be so small we can't detect it- so you should follow up in a week in case it gets bigger and then we can see it."
What?
Huh?
Ok, yeah sounds like a great idea...glad I wasted 4 hours to hear that!
Please, shoot me!

Rest in Peace

So sad...an acquaintance's father dies, a co-workers infant cousin dies and now a dear friends' cousin's baby- only 15 month old, passes away suddenly.

I can't help but be deeply affected by all of these events. Death is such a major, yet often inevitable, part of life. I feel deeply for these people and in every single case- wish I could do something, anything, to help ease the pain.
But I know there is often nothing anyone can do. Nothing to say. Nothing will change what happened. Nothing will bring that person back.

And when its a child its almost more heart-wrenching. I am not a mother but I can only imagine that it is the single worst thing that can happen to a person; the loss of a child. Your children are supposed live after you, no one should ever have to bury a child- the pain is impossible to imagine.

I remember when my friend Colin died, we were 8. I remember the way his mother screamed and shook at the funeral. It was horrifying. I didnt realize it at the time, but that sound has stayed with me forever...

You are all in my thoughts and in my heart.

One year ago...

My life changed forever. On Santorini, Greece I was afflicted with a deep vein thrombosis while on my honeymoon. Due to the serious nature of deep vein clots, and their tendency to travel to the heart or lungs (pulmonary embolism) I was airlifted to a hospital in Crete where they had a Vascular Department capable of providing surgery should I need it.
I was hospitalized for four days and forbidden to fly (due to the altitude changes). Finally, 12 days after my hospitalization I was allowed to fly back home.
Upon arriving back in Michigan I was admitted to St. John Hospital and diagnosed with Factor V Leiden and a severe Protein S Deficiency, my health, and life, as I had known it would be forever changed.
I am now required to be on anti-coagulation therapy for life, either in the form of Coumadin or a shot, Lovenox (Celexane). I wear orthopedic compression stockings to keep my leg from swelling and to increase the circulation. I also visit the doctor weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) to have my blood levels drawn and adjust my medication accordingly. I usually have to schedule at least an hour or two every day to elevate my legs and I now sleep with a pillow "wedge" that allows my legs to be elevated. I must refrain from eating foods high in Vitamin K and need to be careful with any meds I take, as many interact with Coumadin. It is not easy. It is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. But it has made me appreciate so much in my life.

Now, one year later I am so thankful. I am thankful to be alive. I am thankful the clot did not travel, or kill me, or disable me for life. I am grateful for all that my body can do and I try not to concentrate on the things I can no longer do. I don't take my body for granted anymore- and I think that is a lessen few learn until much later in life.
I can only hope this appreciation will benefit me in the long run and save me from some other illness because I pledge now to take care of my health, and make it my top priority.

Its not easy. I usually have one day a week were I am in a lot of pain and may sometimes need to cancel plans or activities. My left thigh is now two inches larger than my right, making pants difficult to wear. My stocking is uncomfortable, hot and somewhat embarrassing to wear in the summer- I often catch people looking at it, and then quickly looking away and I can see the questions in their eyes. No one expects to see that on someone so young...
But all and all I am doing incredibly well. I can run a half mile and exercise intensely four days a week. I have regained a full range of flexibility and about 80% of my strength back in that leg.
I'm a survivor and I am happy to be here.

I hope to live the rest of my life clot-free, although I know that is unlikely. But one thing is for sure, I am going to do the best that I can and never take my health for granted again.

Mother's Day

Fred and I spent Mother's Day with our Mothers, Fred's oldest sister, Dawn, our step-fathers and Fred's step-niece Jenna.

We had a Surf N Turf BBQ and it was absolutely delicious! The menu consisted of shrimp cocktail, cooked shrimp, grilled Talapia with a bourbon glaze, sirloin steaks, grilled asparagus and roasted red skin and sweet potatoes. My husband is an amazing cook so I left the meal to him while I prepared the dessert (my only culinary specialty); strawberry, chocolate whip.

Everything turned out really well and we had a wonderful day.

Just about half way there...

Well, here we are- four months into the shape-up quest and things are going ok. I am just about at the half-way mark, two stubborn pounds away. Jillian's 30 day cut hasn't been as successful as I had hoped with shedding the pounds, but it has been tremendously helpful in shedding the inches. I have noticed a huge change in the size and tone of my arms and I am finally losing inches in the butt and hips- which always makes me happy since I am "generously" built in those areas LOL.
So all and all things are going well. I would like it to be a quicker process but I did give myself a year to take it off, considering it took me three years to pack it on, I think that's probably fair. Besides its hard to be a good girl all of the time ; )
I have a goal weight in mind but a goal size might be more realistic, weight can be deceiving and I fluctuate a lot from day to day-and I know I've been putting on muscle since I've dropped inches but not necessarily always pounds. So we'll see how things go. I am so excited that summer is just about here- I can get outside for my workouts! : )
And Fred wouldn't let me post his pictures but he is doing very well, he is down 25 pounds now!!!