by the numbers

1 nasty infection =

4 surgeries
2 life flights
4 ER visits
2 ICU stays
1 ventilator
3 PICC lines
5 MRIs
3 Cat Scans
3 hosptial admittances
3 rehab admittances
5 blood transfusions
1 bone graft
2 rods
8 screws
30 pounds lost
endless pain killers
... 10+ weeks of hell

I hate you, MRSA.

Sandy Cay

I used to travel to this island with my family when I we lived in Honduras. It was our favorite place to go on vacation. Go figure, right?! It was beautiful. Off the north coast of Honduras was this little piece of heaven...Sandy Cay.

Sandy Cay was a small island. It was a little more isolated than the other the cays at the Bay Islands, and it was surrounded by spectacular corral reef. Sting rays, sea turtles, flounders, urchins, barracudas, sharks, angel fish, blow fish and every other fish in Finding Nemo. Other than the obvious amounts of swimming and snorkeling we did, we did other things too.



One thing Larry and I loved to do was hunt for and collect hermit crabs. We were fascinated by them. We would hope that during one of our 5-day visits that maybe one of them would outgrow its shell and seek another. I am sad to report that we never were so lucky as to witness a hermit crab out of its shell. We'd even put extra pretty and empty shells in there just to tempt them. It didn't work. Anyway, I was surprised to discover this photo tonight of one such collection. It made me laugh when I saw it. :)



Other activities we did were walk around the island and discover everything about it. We'd visit the other islands—all offering something unique and special. Fish. Eat sea food. Play games. Lay in the sun. At night we would laugh till we cried. Have bonfires, then count the stars in the Milky Way.



I'm thinking a lot about Sandy Cay lately. I have been thinking how I want to go back to feel the wind in my face we approach the island. To walk around and squish the sand in my toes. To swim in the ocean and taste the salt water splash up into my snorkel. And to listen to the lulling waves hit the shore as I fall asleep. Relaxation and isolation. You know, just check out for a while. Yeah, I could do that again.