Day 15 - A picture of your family.

Day 14 - A picture of you doing something that makes you happy.

Couldn't decide between these 2 pics... so posted both. GARDENING and EATING RIBS both make me very happy!

Day 13 - A picture of something you hate

SMOKING!!!!! Need I say more?

Breakaway from the photo challenge...

Just a quick breakaway to do a normal post! AAHHHHH FEB IS ALMOST OVER!!!!! Where the hell did the month go? Not complaining though, means it's closer to our OVERSEAS trip! So excited I can burst... all the finances seem to be sorted now. So hard part is over! Going overseas with my hubby is one of my dreams come true!

Work has been good this week, not too bad. All the changes that are happening with the new company that has bought us are quite interesting! Definitely going to be a more exciting year than last work-wise.

Had a great week socially as well. Louzanne (see photo challenge Day 2) has been in Joburg for work this week, so she's been staying over here by us! So Monday night we invited Andrew over and has some pasta, had a great time! Tuesday Chris and Louz and I went out to my current favourite restaurant Grand Central in Melrose Arch (their grilled cheddar and caramalised onion burger is my favourite burger EVER!). Wednesday night we just had a braai (BBQ) at home, and went to check out Andrew's new townhouse he bought! We weren't really planning on seeing Louz again last night (she had meeting in the afternoon and went straight to airport), but due to a house-keys slip-up, we had to go to the airport too and ended up having supper there! So yeah, not a very "healthy" week, but did get in a tiny gym session yesterday before the key-crisis! And according t the gym's unreliable machine, lost a bit of weight and body fat.

Been awake now since like 3AM, mind too busy for sleep :-( Have to get up for work in an hour's time. Obviously then I'll fall asleep again in 45 mins time, just so that I'll feel like a bus hit me when I DO have to wake up! Damn you Murphy! Anyway, at least it's Friday! Tomorrow moring's going to be busy... have our first regional SATSA (SA Transplant Sports Assoc) meeting for Gauteng, where we'll be electing the committee. Going to be intereting! Hopefully the rest of the weekend will be quiet, with a bit of squash thrown in!

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

Our little family! Love my hubby and our 2 "childrens"! I can spend an entire weekend just with them quite happily. I'm a very lucky girl!

Day 11 - A picture of your celebrity crush.

Johnny Depp! Used to be a lot crazier about him than I am now, but loved him in movies like Benny & Joon, Chocolat, Pirates of the Carribean, and many more. I suppose I've always like the rebel thing. And that he's HOT! (well mostly!) And a great actor!

Day 10 - A picture of you when you were little.

Day 9 - A picture of someone who has gotten you through the most.

Definitely my family! They've had to put up with years of coughing and other CF unpleasantries! Visited me in hosp if I was there, and in the 2 years before my tx, they were basically my servants, because walking was a mission, especially up the stairs! They were always positive and very patient!!! EXTREMELY lucky for parents and a sister like them :-)

Day 8 - A picture of someone who makes you laugh.

The hubby! Not so much jokes that he tells, but if I'm sad/down he can normally get a smile out of me with some teasing and cute nicknames!

Day 7 - A picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on your life.

My donor. I suppose it's pretty obvious, but my new lungs saved my life, and also changed it tremendously. Because of the lungs I moved to a new city, started my life over in Johannesburg. I could do a million things I could only dream of before. Met Chris, you know the rest. So therefore my donor and her family had the biggest impact on my life. The picyure is of me with my donor's sister. We met is Aus in 2009, where she lives. Have also met up with her last year Feb when she was visiting SA for the anniversary of her sister's passing. THANK YOU.

Day 6 - A picture of you fave band/artist.

This was a tough one, because I like a LOT of music! And if I had to pick a band/ artist I'd never be able to decide. The Beatles, Nirvana, Marcy's playgroud, Coldplay, Simon& Garfunkel, Madonna, Leonard Cohen, The Parlotones, Karen Zoid, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groba, Nora Jones, Emminen even some stuff... you get the picture.

But my favourite classical composer is pretty easy. Frederic Chopin. And to add to the love I already had for him, they've recently started speculating that he might have had CF.

"19th century Polish-French composer Frederic Chopin died at the young age of 39. The generally accepted explanation for his death was that he succumbed to tuberculosis, but speculation has arisen in the last decade or so that Chopin may actually have suffered from cystic fibrosis. The argument makes sense when you put the pieces together. Historical accounts of Chopin’s health condition do fit the profile of CF. He was 5’7”, weighed a mere 140 pounds, and battled lung disease from early childhood. The fact that he fathered no children has led to suspicion that he may have been infertile. He also had a sister who died of lung disease in her teens."

You can read an interesting article here. I have just always love the way his piano music are so full of expression, and playing it if you're feeling down help, but also even when you're not, it's still just beautiful. (don't get me wrong, I don't play often anymore, but I used to). I played this piece for my grade 7 UNISA (university of South Africa) exam... one of my favourites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmsSfJiGVJU&feature=related

Day 5 - A picture of somewhere you've been.

Gold Coast Australia 2009!

Day 4 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn't have

I LOVE Salt & Vinegar crisps!!!!! I would give up cake or sweets or chocolate anyday without blinking, but these I could NEVER give up! Not just specifically Lays, but any brand, and also S&V flavoured popcorn. And when my tongue starts hurting I'll switch to tomato flavour or sour cream & onion... now I'm hungry :-(

Day 3 - A picture of you and someone you miss.

These are just some of the friends I miss... Landi Louis and Lynn... :-(

Day 2 - A picture of you and someone you have been closest to for the longest.

Louzanne has been my longest closest friend. We met in pre-primary school when we were 4 or 5. Which means we've been friends for about 21/22 years! That's a long time!!! Since we were 18 we haven't been living in the same city, which sucks, but every time we see each other it's like nothing's changed. This pic was taken a few months after my tx when she came to visit in Joburg and met the new lungs for the first time!

Day 1 - A photo of you with 15 facts about yourself.

1. Used to be quite serious about my gymnastics until I went to high school.
2. Always fantasised about living on a farm as a child
3. Was obessive about playing piano (and 3 recorders) and classical music in general through my school years. Wanted to become a composer.
4. Never had any boyfriends at school, think I was seen as a nurd!
5. The most "naughty" thing I ever did was get a tattoo at 16.
6. Thought for many years that I didnt have CF and Drs had made a mistake.
7. Favourite foods are : ribs, steak, salads, potato, lemon meringue pie, garlic bread, cheese, jelly babies, chips, fruit cake... sure I missed a few!
8. Not a big pasta fan, but eat it because it's easy to make.
9. Used to wish I lived like 200 years ago, until I realised they had no proper meds and I would've been dead long ago!
10. I'm a cat person (as if you haven't noticed)
11. Chris and I met on the internet.
12. My blood pressure goes through the roof if I enter any Doctor's office, even if I know everything's fine. I get nightmares about medical stuff!
13. My biggest fear in life right now is rejection or cancer!
14. I was born 12 days early
15. I never had proper swimming lessons, because of my health, my dad taught me in the neighbor's pool. Always loved swimming/splashing around, maybe because we've never had our own pool.

30 day photo challenge!

OK so I stole this idea from Jac : Here's how it works:

Day 1 - A photo of you with 15 facts about yourself.
Day 2 - A picture of you and someone you have been closest to for the longest.
Day 3 - A picture of you and someone you miss.
Day 4 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn't have.
Day 5 - A picture of somewhere you've been.
Day 6 - A picture of you fave band/artist.
Day 7 - A picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on your life.
Day 8 - A picture of someone who makes you laugh.
Day 9 - A picture of someone who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 11 - A picture of your celebrity crush.
Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
Day 13 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 14 - A picture of you doing something that makes you happy.
Day 15 - A picture of your family.
Day 16 - A picture of you and someone you do weird things with.
Day 17 - A picture of your favourite song.
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 - A picture of something that inspires you.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 - A picture of something that confuses you.
Day 23 - A picture of something you crave.
Day 24 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 25 - A picture of your favourite memory.
Day 26 - A picture of something that mean's a lot to you.
Day 27 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 28 - A picture of you last year and today with a description of how you've changed.
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 - A picture of yourself.

What a week!

This week flew past at an amazing pace! Before I knew it it was Thursday. It's definitely because it's been so busy at work, barely had time to eat! We took the littens to the vet for the first injections today. They were very well behaved! Also got another de-worming tablet and some new food! Next visit will be in a month's time! Love them sooo much! They bring us a lot of joy and laughs, I'm sure it's been beneficial for my blood pressure :-p

Been pretty good about going to gym too, went on Monday and Wednesday, and will be going tomorrow too. Really enjoying it!!! Last night we went to a housewarming, and this morning we went out for bfast after the vet visit. Other than that it's been a peacefull day! Hopefully the weekend continues like that!

Kitty pics

Our tickets for Sweden are BOOKED!!!!

On Friday we booked our tickets with British Airways, got a really good price, so SOOO EXCITED!!!!! So Chris is def coming with, and we're spending about 10 days in London (well in and just outside London!) and might be doing a week in Scotland, but either way, it's going to be more than 2 weeks in the UK after the Games!!! Going to be AMLOST a month off from work, longer than I've ever been off since I've started working! Plus it's out of the country, so work can't call me the whole time!!! Don't want to jinx it, but really hope something medical will not stand in the way of this holiday!

Feeling a lot more inspired for gym now, which is great. Even went to gym on Friday after work. Gym is a lot quiter now than it was in Jan, so luckily all those "new years resolutions" people are gone, yay! Didn't have to que for a treadmill :-)

Chris and I are also married for 6 months today :-) Time has really flied, been awesome :-) We're broke after paying for the plane tickets, but having some ribs at home tonight! Hope your week's going to be a good one!

3 year health report-back...

So my 3-monthly and 3-year anniversary check-up was yesterday. Took up half a day with all the things I had to do! Had to wait forever for the x-ray, then saw the dietician, went to visit some friends in section 7, lung functions and finally saw my Dr Williams.

Bloods were all good, hba1c test (measures blood glucose over last 3 months) is not quite right yet, but quite a bit better than last time. With the advice and eating plans I got from the dietician it should be close to fine next time. Let's hope. And that I don't get too fat in the process! (as my sugar gets controlled better I gain weight easier :-(... ugh)

Lung function was 100%, x-ray was fine, not much else to report. Since the last time I've had an x-ray taken (13 Jan 2010), they now print them on paper, and give you a CD to go with it! Managed to scan on the paper so here it is below! Also a pic of me and my Dr!