Just Add Water

I am a firm believer in the quote above. For the past 7-ish months, the tears are what has been keeping me going, cry it out. Sweat, eh....I could be doing more of that on a regular basis (more on that later). But when Nick asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday (cheers to 33) I said I need the sea cure.

La Jolla Cove

I have been a fan of the water my whole life, the picture below proves it. When we moved from Kingman to Phoenix the first thing I remember was hopping in the car to my "uncle" Greg's pool. I also remember I hated water wings, so the next thing we did was enroll in the City of Phoenix swim lesson program.

From there I went on to swim teams, high school swim and dive, to paying for college as a lifeguard in the summers. Swimming was life to me and the water was always something that was calling me, or whatever those Moana lyrics are. I loved our family vacations to the beach almost every summer. I would venture out to the ocean, we would boogie board and just play in the water. Once I scared my dad when I jumped off the highest cliff at Slide Rock in Sedona, I said "Well if that big man can do it, why can't I?".

My passion for swimming even became my side hustle, Elite Swim School. We were never without clients, and unfortunately had to turn some away due to work schedules not aligning. I loved being in the water with the kids and hopefully passing along my passion to a future swim instructor or lifeguard.

When I had my flare up this past August and I was explaining to my drs what I did on top of my day job, they all said in the same way and tone, "Uh yeah, you can't do that anymore". It broke me. This was my life, my passion and would eventually be our only source of income when that time permitted.

When it comes to pools and endometriosis, the chlorine acts as a xenoestrogen, which mimics estrogen, and I do not need more estrogen in my body since that feeds the endometriosis. Needless to say, I was not helping my situation by being in chlorine for 20+ hours a week. That is why, in the off season I was feeling ok and never had any issues with my period or cramps, don't get me wrong I was still in pain but it seemed to escalate June-September. Then when my body would have had enough that is when I would have the throw up pain I would experience for the past few years around August or September.

https://allnaturalideas.com/xenoestrogens-list/

This hiccup just means that I need to find a new passion that will not harm my body anymore. I am still figuring things out, but I know that what is to come is going to be an even greater experience than I could have ever imagined. I already miss all of my kids and families; I have met so many great people during the Elite Swim School journey but I cannot wait to see who I meet next!

On a happier note, enjoy some of these pictures from our 33rd birthday extravaganza!