around here.

When I first moved down to Central Florida, I was thrown into a complete tailspin. Not only did I leave my family and friends, but I moved to a place where there were more cows than people per square mile. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I can hear them from my backyard. To a Jersey girl, that's pretty freaking nuts. It's not to say that I have to travel 15 miles to get to the nearest store-- the nearest  WalMart is a mere 5 minutes away-- it was just the fact that I felt totally disconnected with life as I've grown up to know it.

The pace is different-- people don't drive 40 in a 25 (I found that out rather quick- got a speeding ticket in the first 3 weeks). People drive the speed limit? Yeah, people actually do. And if you don't, you'll be sorry because cops around here have noooothing else better to do than sit and wait. That was annoying at first but after a while, I came to appreciate it. Now I'm one of those people who get honked at when I sit at a green light too long rather than the other way around.

I also began to love the scenery. And the smells. There's nothing like the smell from the orange juice plant in the next town to wake you up. And the jasmine and orange blossoms. I'm telling you, Florida in late March to early April is a smorgasbord for the senses-- the warmth, the colorful Crape Myrtle trees in bloom, and the smells of life.

We also live in an awesome neighborhood with amazing neighbors. It's one of those places you remember from when you were young- when people who lived next to eachother TALKED to eachother. Actually, here the hospitality is so great that we're invited to just go into some neighbor's homes without even asking (which we don't, but the thought is nice).  

It's the perfect place to raise kids. I can picture our backyard with a swingset in the corner of the yard that gets good morning sun and afternoon shade. I picture our kids calling our neighbors "aunt" and "uncle". I picture them learning to ride their bike out front. I picture them running with the dogs outside and playing with the cats. 

Good things to come.

radioactivity

A few months ago I had routine blood work done and found out that my liver enzymes were high. Of course, my mind was flooded with scary possibilities-- is there a growth on my liver? Do I have cancer? An ultrasound revealed that my liver looked normal despite the high enzyme count, but apparently they found "gall bladder sludge." It is apparently as gross as it sounds. I love how the medical profession can get away with some of these terms when it sounds like some stoner off a 3 day bender came up with it. ;)
So I was scheduled for a "hydescan". My doctor told me that it was a more definitive test to look at my gall bladder function, so I'm thinking it's like an ultrasound but better. No problem... until the woman from "nuclear medicine" called me to schedule the appointment. I'm sorry, did you say nuclear? Count me out.

My mom convinced me to go ahead with it though. "Why wait to see if there's something wrong? If you're pregnant, you can't just go and have it removed." That's why mom's are so good-- they just think of things we don't.

So this morning I spent 90 minutes laying on my back staring at a screen that showed all of the fireworks and light-bright dots that were going on in my liver, gall bladder and intestines. Luckily it was all padded and was quite comfortable- I'm sure I drifted off here and there- 90 minutes is a long time to stare at the ceiling.

The radioactive material apparently takes a full 24 hours to leave your system though. The nurse encouraged me not to be around little kids or anything (or anyone) that is "growing". HA! I'm so glad she told me though-- and glad that today was a holiday so that I wasn't seeing any kids! I'm a walking microwave!

Counting down the hours until my insides won't glow anymore...

let's bring you up to speed...

3 years ago I moved to Florida to pursue a new job, a new geographical location, and a relationship. Breaking away from my life in New Jersey-- where I was born and raised for 27 years-- took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. At first I was very homesick and depressed and surrounded by farms-- um, I'm from New Jersey-- what in the world could Central Florida have to keep me interested? One day I sort of work up and embraced the change that ultimately helped me find myself.

Life has been pretty good to me thus far. Dave and I have adopted (or rather, they *found* us) 3 dogs and 4 cats. The furry kids keep us very busy and I love my life with them. They are beautiful souls (sometimes neurotic as hell, but yes, beautiful all the same). We've moved into a home that we love. We're planning on getting married in 2012. AND, here's the kicker, we're on the road to having a child.

What road?

The road that doesn't include birth control.

*gasp*

I know!

It's throwing me for a loop. Hence the blog. I'm hoping it'll help me process all of the feelings involved as well as document this time in our lives... because it's sorta big... and a part of me is ready for it... but another part of me still feels 12...

So you see where I'm at. ;) See you soon.