Panama City Beach....here we come!!

Yesterday morning we got up early to leave for vacation.  I was up at 3:00 a.m. with the hopes of immediately leaving, but we didn't actually pull out of the driveway until 4:30 a.m.  We had a perfect day for traveling - sunny skies, cooler temps, and we didn't encounter any heavy or delayed traffic at all!  I can say I definitely enjoyed leaving that early, but it had it's downfalls too!  I'm not a good night driver and my contacts were making my eyes tired so we had to stop so I could put my glasses on, but then just a little bit later the sun was coming up so we had to stop again so I could put my contacts back in so I could wear my sunglasses.  We actually stopped quite a few times.  Shawn and I both hate driving long distances, so lots of stops are a necessity for us - stop for gas, stop for a drink, stop to stretch your legs, stop to change drivers, stop for this, stop for that.  LOL!  Right when we got into Panama City, we had about 10 minutes of driving through some very heavy rain, but that was it.

We got to the condo about 4:30 p.m. and to say that it is nice would be an understatement!  It's amazing!  I think I said that about a dozen times last night.  It's very clean, very roomy, and very comfy!  The pictures on VRBO don't do it justice!  The owner's have thought of everything!  I think my favorite parts are the covered garage parking, the floor to ceiling windows with a view of the ocean, and that big comfy bed (which requires me using a step stool to get in cause it's so tall!)  I'm going to include a post all on it's own of the Palazzo and our condo later when I get a chance to venture around and take more pictures of it.

After we unloaded the car and got everything into the condo and unpacked, I took a shower and got ready for dinner.  We went to the Boars Head Restaurant for dinner.  It was right across the road from our condo and Shawn said he had heard great things about it.  It was good, but definitely pricey.  Shawn got the 'M'lady's cut' prime rib dinner and I had the special filet which were medallions of beef tenderloins sauteed in beef and garlic butter.  Like I said, it was good, but definitely pricey.

After dinner, we went drove down Front Beach Road to check things out on our way to Walmart to get some groceries for breakfast and lunch at the condo throughout the week.  I also was looking for a new shirt for our beach pictures later this week, but no luck.  I'll try some other places today and Monday and pray that I can find something I like and then able to coordinate a new shirt for Shawn to go with it.

After all that excitement it was time to come back 'home', change into my jammies, and relax.  When I crawled into bed,  climbed into bed last night, I thought I had died and went to heaven.  I've never been in a more comfortable bed in my entire life!  I know I was wore out from the entire day of traveling, but that bed was simply amazing!  I was laying there and just kept saying "oh my gosh", "this bed is amazing", "this bed is so comfy", "feel these sheets, they are so soft", "oh I want a bed like this at home".

Cortisone injections are a God sent!

A couple weeks ago, I wrote this post about my recent diagnosis of Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome.  Dr. Marienau had prescribed me a combination of taking Tylenol and doing leg lefts.  While that helped some, I was still in alot of pain and unable to do some normal activities, so I called and left a message with Dr. M's nurse that I was still having problems.  A few days later they called me back and set me up an appointment with an Orthopedic doctor.  Monday morning I met Dr. Renne and his staff.  Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable.  I had x-rays taken and everything looked fine.  Dr. Renne agreed with Dr. M's diagnoses of Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome.  They gave me a sheet of things to do and not do - no kneeling and squatting, but to continue with the leg lifts to strengthen the thigh, two Tylenol three or four times a day whether needed or not for two weeks, when to use heat and when to use ice, water aerobics or a recumbent bike, talked to me about using MyFitness Pal to help me lose weight.  He said for every one pound you gain, it's like adding four pounds on your knees.  The plus to loosing weight is for every one pound you lose, it's like taking off four pounds from your knees. 

He also gave me a cortisone injection since we are traveling next week.  I think I was most wigged out about the injection because I hadn't even thought of getting one and hadn't read up on it, so I wasn't sure what to expect!   It didn't hurt and so far it hasn't bothered me. I'd just always heard bad things about them so when he said he would give me one, I was unprepared for it! LOL!! It was funny cause he was telling me he could give me one as an option if I wanted and then he said "say like for example if you were driving to the Grand Canyon next week..." And I said "oh you mean how like we are driving to Florida next week?" He said "yeah, I better go ahead and give you one". LOL!! I'm glad he did too cause on Labor Day I took a little couple hour road trip with my sister and Gavin and by the time we got back my knee was killing me from the driving and felt so heavy! I was already concerned about our drive to Florida so I'm glad I got it now!

That injection is like a miracle drug straight from God!  My knee feels SO MUCH BETTER!!  In fact, I really don't feel any pain with it at all.  It's like I've got a new spring in my step!

Road trip with Tootie & Gavin

I've been wanting to go back to the Overlook Restaurant in Leavenworth, Indiana every since Shawn and I ate there a couple years ago.  When we took our day trip last month, I wanted to stop, but we didn't get the chance too.  So last Saturday I asked my sister and Gavin to join me on a little adventure.  We went to the Overlook to eat lunch and then drove the Ohio River Scenic road back home. 

We took the interstate to the restaurant cause it was fastest.  I was amazed at all of the color that is starting to pop out on the trees already!  I love fall time!  It's probably my favorite time of the year!  I had my sister take this picture since I was driving....I don't think it would of been safe for me to be snapping pictures driving 75 down the interstate!  All along the way, especially while we were in the Hoosier National Forest, there was alot of color already starting to pop!  It reminded me so much of Gatlinburg when we go there in the fall!  Shawn and I will definitely have to be taking some little day trips this fall so I can get my color fix!

The view of the Ohio River and surrounding area from the Overlook is simply amazing!  As you can tell by the pictures, the day we went was pretty gloomy!  And every seat in the restaurant has views like this!  The Overlook really is a neat place to dine! 

Not only is their views amazing, so is there food!  I had the roast beef manhattan again, and of course I had to get a piece of their coconut creme pie for dessert.  I forgot to take a picture of it before I started chowing down :(  I guess this just means I'll have to go back soon to get that picture :)

I had read online that there was a little general store in the area so we stopped in there to look around.  Too many breakable things in there for little Gavin hands.  He was in love with all of the marbles they had.  I didn't buy him any though, I still think he's too little for those.

Next stop on the trip was a pull off called Buzzard Roost Overlook.  Well I say pull off cause that's what it said on the Internet.  It actually seemed like it took us forever to get there - turn here, turn there, turn here.  I started getting worried on our way to finding it cause the car gas tank showed a quarter tank of gas and I can tell you that there was no gas stations in sight!  Once we finally made it, there was some nice scenery and lots of fall color!

After leaving Buzzard Roost, all I wanted to do was find a gas station!  As we were driving down the road, we came upon one quick!  Thank you Jesus!  I had to take a picture of the old school pumps.  And you had to go in to pay; there was no credit card swiper.  These old gas pumps reminded me of the ones at the gas station back home growing up.

We drove through a few more small towns on our way home, but there was really nothing to stop and see or take pictures of. 

On our way through Troy, Indiana, there was a covered bridge I wanted to stop off and see.  Right before we got there, Gavin fell asleep in the back seat so we didn't stay long or venture around much cause he was asleep in the car.  I didn't even realize that there were covered bridges in this area.  And upon further investigation from Bridge Hunter, there are a few more in Evansville and the nearby areas, which I will be going to photograph in the near future.  The bridge we visited was called the Huffman Mill Bridge.  You can go to Huffman Mill Blog to learn more about this bridge. 

And of course I had to take a picture of Gavin having a fit.  You really don't see much of the fit in this picture, but I can see that pouty red face and remember him screaming at us because we didn't want to stay at the park and let him play in the dirty sand.  We are a bad mommy and aunt!

And last but not least, when a little boy has to go, he has to go!

Wordless Wednesdays

Newburgh Fiddler Fest 2012 Food Booth

Last weekend was the Newburgh Fiddler Fest and our church had a food both down there again this year.  We sold brats, nachos and cheese, sno cones, chips, sodas, and water.  This year's weather was much different from last year.  Last year it was cool and rainy the entire weekend.  We only sold Friday and Saturday and didn't even bother with Sunday.  This year was completely different.  It was hot and sunny Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!!  And on Friday evening, they did the fireworks that they didn't get to do on the 4th of July because of the drought we were having.  The fireworks during this event was a huge hit, so much so that everyone was running out of food and out of change since it appeared that everyone was paying for everything with those crisp 20's that they had just gotten out of the ATM machines!!  We had to send Jennifer and Shawn on a couple different food runs Friday evening!  We had a great time working at the booth this year and enjoyed each other's company!  Thanks to Angie and her girls for heading up the event, Theresa and Dale, Michele and Elisha, Shawn, Jennifer, and April (she was our biggest FAN!).  Below are different pictures from throughout the weekend!

 

Friday night we had a constant line at our booth from about 5 to 9 p.m.!  It was crazy!

 

On Saturday, Alex, Elisha and Dale made signs to try and bring business in! 

Enjoying a yummy sno cone on a warm, sunny day!

We had a GREAT team of workers in the booth!