Pain

 I woke up Saturday morning with a lot of pain in my lower back that shot down into my left leg. I spent the entire day laying in the recliner. I had such big plans for the day since Sammi and Clare and Cierra were coming over to make Christmas goodies. Unfortunately, Eddie was sick and therefore Cierra did not come. The other girls seemed to have a great time together in the kitchen while I convalesced in the living room.

I had Patrick give me a blessing and I prayed many times for healing. I also dedicated part of my fast to healing my body. I called Dr. Mike on  Sunday evening and left him a message to see if I could get in on Monday.  He was able to see me on Monday and it helped somewhat. On Tuesday I called Emily, my nurse practitioner, to see if she could prescribe a steroid as that helps with the inflammation. She was able to do a virtual visit and Erin was able to pick up my prednisone.

 I was back to see Mike on Wednesday and again today which is Friday. I am tired of sleeping on the floor or on the couch. Last night I tried to sleep in our own bed but I think the mattress topper was the problem. Through all of this my family, my  husband and daughters and sons have been extraordinary and helping me accomplish the things that need to get done.

I know that I live in a mortal world with a mortal body, and that mortal things happen. This includes injuries and pain and suffering. With the amount of pain I was in over the weekend and early in the week I shed many many tears. I thought of my Savior and how he suffered in the garden of Gethsemane for me. The pain he carried is unimaginable. I am thankful that the pain I carry will have an end; my body will heal, and all will be as it should be. 

I am thankful to know that this pain is temporary, even though it feels like the last week has been an eternity. In the beginning of the week, I told people I would rather give birth, than go through this pain because at least labor ends.. I no longer feel that way. Although I do want this pain and discomfort to end. Life goes on.

Swimming with Family

The Saturday following Thanksgiving we all went to the Clintonville Rec center to have a family swim.  There were a few other people there but mostly it was just us.  The water is warm and there are a lot of toys and floatation devices that can be played with or worn.

We used to love going to Wittenberg.  After all, they have a water slide.  This pool doesn't have that but the toys make it all worthwhile.  I can just float on a pool noodle and enjoy being with my family.  

Henry was so cute wearing someone's googles.  They don't fit water tight but he didn't care as he never went under the water.  

All the children enjoyed throwing balls and playing with squirting toys.  It is a zero entry pool with a ramp so anyone can enjoy being in the water.  The smile on Eddie's face says he's having fun.  He was a little leery at first and didn't want to get off of his dad but it didn't take long and he was splashing about.

Afterward we met up at Culver's and enjoyed some butter burgers and custard.  

It is obvious by the chocolate on his face that Eddie enjoyed his custard.  

It was a fun and relaxing morning with the people I love most!

Cayman Parrot Sanctuary

For days we drove past the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary with a closed sign on the gate.  On Thursday we finally saw it was open.  We paid our small fee to enter and found out that they rehabilitate injured birds that are native to the island. Some of them will be released back into the wild while others have been in captivity too long to ever go back.

This is Coco.  He talks and dances and shows off.  We found him very entertaining.  When we came back to him to do a Marco Polo, he didn't do anything except try to pick the lock to get out of the cage.  

Parrots aren't the only things in this place.  These lizards are everywhere.  Although I think this one was a different species than the dozens we encountered.

Several turtles made their home here as well as about a dozen guinea pigs. 

The birds were the main attraction with several kinds to watch.

Those who are permanent residents had lots of toys in their cages. 

We saw love birds who were sitting together two by two.  Except for one set who must not have been speaking as they were apart.  There were doves but mostly just beautifully colored birds.  It was a fun visit.  When we came in we were told that this place is very interactive and asked if we wanted to hold the snakes.  I said no thanks.  She said that they hear that a lot. I guess the thing that I recognized about these tropical islands is that their wildlife is very different than what we see here in the Midwest. All are so beautiful.  I cannot imagine how people can think that all of these marvelous creations happened randomly.  God is good! 

 

Pedro St. James

On Pedro point there is a "castle" that was built hundreds of years ago and in the last 50ish years has been rebuilt.  It burned after a lightning strike.

It was quite elegant for the time.  I love the wrap-around porch on both of the upper floors.  The ground floor had a kitchen and even a jail.

There were some meeting rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors were political meetings were held.  Thus the shutters on the "windows".

I loved this bedroom on the 3rd floor.  I can imagine that mosquito netting wasn't in everyone's home.  I'm  guessing that the wealthiest people had it.  The hardwood floors are beautiful!

I could sit on the porch and look at that view all day long and totally enjoy the breeze coming off of the ocean.  

Cemetery

Something fascinating that we saw were the cemeteries and graveyards.  The graves are not six feet under but rather only a few feet under.  It makes sense as with hurricanes and big waves that can erode the ground away, you don't want your loved one's caskets floating out to sea. 

Therefore, they are buried in concrete vaults just below the surface of the ground. Some, like this one were quite fancy.

Most were like these.  Concrete with a stone marker.

Some were available for use.  The steel "handles" were still attached.

We saw several as we traversed across the island several times.  Finally we stopped at one just to check it out.  This one had some grass but most had sand between the lots/plots. 

 

Starfish Point

On Thursday evening we were signed up for a Bioluminescence tour.  It was too dark to get any pictures but the plankton glow when they are touched so as people went into the water and moved it looked like they were making snow angels.  I didn't go into the water as we were told not to stand up or we would stir up the jellyfish and could be stung.  As it was, three different women were stung.

Prior to the tour we went to Starfish point in the daylight.  We also stopped there as part of the night tour.  They were more fun to see in the daylight.

They were hanging out in the shallow water although you didn't even have to get your feet wet to see them.  

Each time I looked in a different place, there were more.  

They varied in size but pretty much were very similar. 

Except for this one.  It has six legs rather than the five all the others had.  I think starfish are really an interesting piece of the ocean creatures. They don't move fast and they don't do any cool tricks but they are beautiful!

 

Stingray City

On Wednesday morning we went on a snorkeling adventure.  There were so many different kinds of fish and coral.  I'm always amazed at the whole different life that lives beneath the water. 

I didn't stay in the water very long.  I think I was missing a part of my snorkel and I felt like I couldn't breathe.  

I enjoyed sitting on the boat visiting with the other people.  We stayed there for less than an hour and then headed to Stingray City.  This space is where the fishermen always cleaned their fish by the sandbar and so the stingray started coming there.  There is a natural reef further out so that also adds to the reason the stingray come here. 

Our guide, Logan, would dive under the water and come up with a ray and tell us what it's name is.  He let us come next to him and we put our chin down in the water.  

If the stingray felt like it, it would come and slide itself down the side of your face.  "Stingray kisses."

These are not the same kind that killed Steve Irwin.  They do not have barbs like that one.

We were able to hold a piece of squid and feed them.  The eat by suction.  They really have some good suction!  

It was fun to just stand in the water and have them swim by your legs.  

I would never have guessed that they were so soft.  Another adventure that I never expected to have.  It isn't one that I ever knew a person could do.  I'm glad we did it!

Turtle Sanctuary

Once we finished with the dolphins we went across the street to the Turtle Sanctuary.

These turtles were HUGE!  As we came to the edge to watch them, they came over near us.  Perhaps they thought they were getting some food.

There was a window where we watched the fish under the water.  This fish just stayed in the same place the whole time.  It has some sharp teeth.  I wonder if it is a barracuda.  

Another iguana sighting.  This one was not a blue iguana.  Did you know that the bright green iguanas eat the blue ones?  Cannibals!

In one place there was a chance to touch the turtles.  Wash and sanitize your hands both before and again after touching them.  These weren't nearly as large as the others. 

They all seemed to be the same type of sea turtle.

We were there at feeding time.  The guy walking on the dock was dumping what looked like dog food into the water.  The water appeared to come alive as they all tried to get to the food.

They were interesting but turtles aren't my favorites so it was a good experience but not great!  It was included in the price of our dolphin experience so we did it.

A close up of feeding time.

Swimming With Dolphins

On our way to Hell we passed the Dolphin Discovery Center and decided to stop on our way back.  We were able to go out into the pool area and watch the dolphins.  We weren't out there very long when Pat talked to one of the trainers and we were back inside buying the experience to be in the water with these magnificent creatures. 

Lately in the morning, I've been watching old episodes of Flipper and thinking how fun it would be to be pulled through the water by a dolphin.

The experience each person got was dependent on how much each one paid.  

We were able to have them up close and personal with each person in the group.

Dolphin kisses were had by all.

Everyone had the opportunity to have them float in the water by you and then when commanded they opened their mouth as if smiling for the camera. 

The look on our faces says it all.  

We really thoroughly enjoyed this experience. 

They feel so soft and velvety.  Very sleek.

A dolphin can pull or push 5x it's own body weight through the water.  

Luna weighed in at just over 500 pounds so pushing and pulling us was an easy thing for her to do.

We all got pulled through the water.

We put our right arm up out of the water and the dolphin came under us upside down and pulled us as we grabbed a hold of her fins.

We had the opportunity to be pushed on a kickboard.  She came up behind us and pushed one of our feet with her nose.

The people who paid the most got to have two dolphins push both of their feet and raise them up into the air rather than having the kickboard experience.  They said it felt like they were flying.  It would have been nice but it didn't matter.  

This was one of those things you think about doing one day in your life but never really think you're going to be able to do it.  Wish fulfilled.  It was amazing and we both loved it!