Dr Raley's Blog

Weekend in Dallas

Yes - we got lucky, we got the random weekend away from the kids.  This getting much tricker with 3 kids.  Both grandparents had to trade off.  One got the baby and the other got the twins and would switch.  It gets almost too confusing for me to put together but so far when we have left the grandmothers have been able to figure it out.  Everyone should try and get some time away.  It can be very refreshing.

We have several friends that live in Dallas and sometimes when we go we are able to catch up with them.  On Friday, we ate with some of Dr Raley's friends from college, one couple lives in  the Dallas and the other came up from Austin.  I really enjoy spending time with them.  We ate at Mi Cocina which is one of our favorites in Dallas.  We wish they had one here.  We would be regulars  - for sure.  On Saturday, we went out with some of Dr Raley's friends from residency.  This was great because they got to discuss different issues within their practices.  We ate at St. Thomas Ave Beverage.  When we first started going there there was almost nothing around it.  Now it is town homes galore and would be a great place it live if you were single or newly married.

But now we are back  in Tulsa trying to work our way into a summer time routine.  This takes me about all summer.  So in consider trying to plan some time away, it can be great.

Skiing Solitude, UT

Today was a perfect day for skiing in Solitude.  Warm weather, sun and still great snow.  We are having a great time.  Dr. Raley's snowboarding has improved greatly.  Last time, each time we would meet up he would say "I want to leave and go home."  This time we have been able to ride the lifts together, he says "I am having the most fun I have had in a long time.  This is great. "  I am not an overly adventurous skier. One of my instructors, last time said to me "you will not get yourself in trouble on the mountain.  You ski within yourself." Well ,I do like to stay on runs where I know I will not fall and I feel comfortable on.  But that does not necessarily improve your skiing. Dr. Raley is more adventurous.  He get us up in areas that I know once I get started I can get down but would probably not have gone up there on my own.  But snowboarders can always plow down.  I can not power snow plow down a hill that is too hard.(My thighs might never move again, if I did that).  So this has been great for me.  I have gone down slopes that were hard but within my ability. I feel as though my skiing has also improved this weekend.  We have a half day tomorrow and then to the airport.  Hopefully, all flight home will work out.

Destin, FL

I had someone ask for more information on grocery delivery in Destin, FL.  I have used yourbeachbutler.com for delivery.  You can register on their site and shop.  I always shop about 1 week before I go but I think they request at least 72 hours.  You can choose the time to have the groceries delivered.  Many times the resort will open the condo for them prior to your arrival, so everything can be there prior to your arrival.  You can request special items also, which I really like.  I really like the Publix brand yogurt at Publix, so I always special request it.  They offer a lot of other services such as babysitting and day trips.  I have not used those but their grocery delivery service has gone well for me.  If you are staying further down from Destin, in Seaside or around that area, I believe there is another service that offers delivery down there.

When we go the beach, we are lazy, spending most of our time at the beach or pool.  For the first several years, our daughter did not like the sand.  This is kind of an issue at the beach, so everyone had to split time between the beach and pool.  I will say that I had not planned on this.  If she had on flip flops or water shoes that somewhat helped but we had to figure out a schedule where someone was always with her at the pool still allowing for beach time for all the adults.  Not necessarily where you want to spend your time at the beach but we worked through it.  Now she really likes the ocean and sand. 

But items I think are a must for the beach are shovels, pails,  if you kids are old enough those bigger shovels are great to dig holes, matchbox cars are great for boys and I have seen some people bring plastic princess doll toys for the girls, of course the blocks that help build the sand castle are always good. I also like those balls from the pool that you get wet and can play catch with.  The bags with the holes that you can stick all the sand toys in are great for washing things off and then keeping everything in there for the next day. Goggles or masks are great for the pool and ocean water. No complaints about the salt in the eyes.  Sunscreen is a necessary item.  I like to use the stick sunscreen on the face to keep the lotion from dripping in the eyes.  I also like those nylon coolers that can collapse down.  Where we stay does not provide beach towels, so check to see if you need to bring them or not.

We have found that resorts with other families are really great for kids to make friends for the vacation.  Also check with your resort about whether or not the pool is heated.  If you go early in May or late is September you will want a heated pool.  If your kids are not school age and you do not mind the occasional hurricane Sept. is a great month in Destin.  No crowds and normally great weather. 

Water safety is always a must at the beach or pool.  My rule growing up in the ocean was that I was never allowed in water that was higher than waist deep in case of a drop off.

Hope this info helps if you are going that way this summer or planning a beach vacation anywhere.

Solitude-the last post

I promise,no more posts on snowboarding-however just needed to show you all a couple of pictures-at least proof to myself that I did actually do this.  Ended up boarding with a college student from Peru who was working at the resort during his "summer break".  He was the one that took the pictures. 

Solitude, at last

Well if you were keeping score at home, the snow was up 3-0 over me and the snowboard.  However today I gained a little victory.  Less crashing today-and  when I did not hurting quite as bad-and actually learning to ride that thing.

Solitude, Utah has been a great place.  Anticipate will come back next year.  My kids have learned to ski fairly well and Tori and I had a good time.  Of note though-taking kids skiing is really hard work.  You know how hard it is just to get your kid dressed?  -now add 2 more layers, the gloves, ski boots (which are impossible to get on/off), helmets, sun screen and the equipment. Then they complain b/c it is too cold, or they are dressed to warmly, do not like their ski teacher, etc.-you know the drill- Really a pain.

Still Solitude

Well, what a difference a day makes.  Maybe finally get the hang of this snowboarding-I mean I still fell a whole lot-but made some improvement.  Need a kevlar vest (anyone from TPD out there) though for the consistent falling onto side and chest. 

Cannot resist talking again about Bedlam Basketball-I mean how often does OU beat OSU twice in the same year-especially at Gallagher IBA?  Looks like we may be dancing in the NCAA tourn.-however, I am still not sure that we are that good.

Had snow last night-same in Tulsa today?  Looks like the flu maybe slowing down some. 

Solitude

Solitude Ski Resort in Utah is where this post is coming from.  The snowboarding adventure starts tomorrow.  More pictures and maybe some video later.

Beach Day 3

Yesterday bugs, today possible tropical storm.  Last time I was down here and it rained I was in Medical School-minus wife and kids-alot of tequilla-so the rain didn't matter.  However, now, this condo is is starting to get pretty small-we may come home a day early. 

Looks like there are alot of colds/allergies/coughs/ear infections right now.  A little primer on colds-not much helps-mainly just time.  You can try OTC meds for kids over one, under a year try and stick with bendaryl (about 1/4 tsp for every 10 pounds of body weight every 6 hrs).  It is difficult to tell the difference b/w colds and allergies-especially in young kids.  You will hear that little kids cannot have allergies-I do not believe that.  They can certainly have food allergies-so why not seasonal allergies? 

Anyway-if your the ears and lungs are clear-most symptoms will resolve within about one week.  Common viral illnesses can last even longer.  Suction out the nose, squirt in the saline and be patient.  Call for appt. if there is ear pain or high fever. 

The Beach-Day 2

Great morning-cloudy windy afternoon.  Biblical like swarm of these love bugs-maybe Brian B. or Shannon K.(if you read this blog) can ask your dad's-both bug guys from OSU what these are really called.  By the way-did anyone read the book the Beach?  Great book-kinda like Lord of the Flies for the college set-but the movie with DiCaprio I thought was pretty weak. 

Beach

The best thing about having a blog that I can post all of those "boring" vacation photos that everyone wants you to see that most of the time you really do not want to see in the first place.  So since you are already here-here is Day 1 at the beach-quality is not great-the iPhone can only do so much.