Wednesday, February 29, 2012

ALL THE WILD.......ZIBRAS?

Did you know that along the California coast around San Simeon there are wild zebras?


Originally part of William Randolph Hearst's collection of animals for his private zoo, they were allowed to roam freely around his property and his "La Cuesta Encantada" known today as Heart's Castle.  Most of his animals were donated to local zoos, but a few of those silly zebras managed to get away.  Today, they have multiplied into herds and roam San Simeon's gorgeous rolling hills and coast line. 
 Quite a surprise really, when you're driving down the street and bump into a heard of zebras, which is exactly what happened to my Dad and I last week.  We managed to pull along side of the road and snap a few pictures.




"BEEP BEEP!" from THE LITTLE ROAD!


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A BIRTHING STORY: BY THE GIRL ON THE RIGHT

My best friend Nakia and I have something pretty special.  Aside from loving each other unconditionally, were the type of friends that can finish each others sentences.  We make those calls to one another just out of the blue because we just know when something is wrong with the other.  We think and work better together than any old married couple because we think and look at things in the same way.  That's just the way its always been with us.  I think when we met each other those years back, some little cosmic switch was flipped and we've been tuned to one another ever since.

(This was several years back. She might kill me for posting this, but I love this picture!!)

This whole past year I have been anxiously anticipating Nakia having her 2nd baby.  I wasn't able to be there for her first one.  We live about 700 miles away from each other, and unfortunatly it was just the way it went back then. It broke my heart not to be able to be there.  So long story short, I was damn well determined to make it for this one!!  She was originally due for a c-section on February 8th, but about 2 weeks prior they started monitoring her because she was leaking amniotic fluid.  Figuring there may be some issues that might arise, (and there was no way I was going to miss this baby!) I decided to leave Seattle early and head strait to her.  The crazy thing is, an hour before I would have made it to town, she called me up and said "Can you get here in an hour?!!!"  I've never driven so fast in my life, but I made it with a few minutes to spare!!  There was a reason I felt the earge to leave early!
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I signed my life away to the hospital, threw on some scrubs, chowed down a quick sandwich and ran right into the OR.


(Not Joking!!)
Being able to be by my best friends side while her baby was delivered was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I swear my little scrub mouth cover was soaked with tears and snot. Her doctor let me come to his side of the curtain and showed me inside Nakia's stomach.  He showed me the outside of her cervix, and several of her organs.
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  I've watched my fair share of Grey's Anatomy to be more interested and fascinated by this paticular experience then grossed out.  Honestly, I really just wanted to have the bragging right of literally knowing my best friend inside and out!
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I stood to the right of her and held her hand while her doctor worked diligently and lovingly on her.  A few grimaces, sharp pains and tight hand squeezes........ Then all of a sudden, that sound we all were so anxious to hear.
 A sweet little cry.
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The doctors brought this sweet little peanut around the sheet and placed him in my arms.  I held him close to Nakia so she could see and touch him.  It's amazing to see that face for the first time and it was so amazing to be part of his very first few moments.  That element of fear and amazement of what's to come, its all right there, just as raw as it could be.
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The doctors bundled him up and had me carry him out of the OR to meet his proud new papa, brand new big brother, and lots of additional family and friends.  I managed to hold it together pretty well up until that point when I walked through the door and saw all of Nakia's friends and family all huddled around the door, so excited and so happy.  Here I was holding the center of all that amazement.  That's when it really hit me, and I just broke down and sobbed
My best friend of all time, just made this sweet little amazing thing!
How flippin cool is that!!!!

I'm so proud of my best friend.  I never thought I could love her any more than I already do, but after seeing how much strength, beauty and compassion shes had over the last few weeks, I love her more then I ever have.  I love this little peanut too.  He's just as strong willed and loving as she is.  The other day I was cuddling with him and decided to sing him a song.  He looked up at me, squeezed my finger and gave me the biggest grin.
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Yep, this peanut and me.  Were going to be buds.


And Nakia, how could I not love her forever!


"BEEP BEEP" from THE LITTLE ROAD!!