2009 In with a bang, or not?!?!

The last half a dozen years Lisa and I have been together our new year’s routine has been pretty mild. It typicly goes like this: We stay home and I fall asleep by 10pm she stays up till midnight long enough to wake me up for a New Year’s kiss. Then we both go to sleep. I know, I know, we’re way too young to be this boring. So last year was the first year I made an effort to stay up with Lisa till midnight. It worked out but we still stayed home and had a quite night together. This year Lisa and I wanted to pull out all the stops and go crazy for once. Our plan was to ride a train to Boston to celebrate first night with 1000’s of people parting around the city. It would have been a great time and I was hoping to blog some silly and unusual pictures. But Mother Nature has spoken loudly and we got the message… Winter Storm Warnings, Bitterly cold with temps below freezing, and I’m still getting over my chronic cough… Hmmm maybe its best if we stay home for new years one more time?

Merry Christmas

2008 has come and gone. Boy has it been and interesting year. As I was uploading all the newest Christmas pictures to our computer I couldn't help but spend some time looking over many of the pictures and videos Lisa and I have taken this year. We have folders full of images of our friends and family over this years events, Wether it was birthday parties, baby showers, camping with friends or many of the other things I couldn't help but feel lucky to have the friends and family to have shared in all these good times. I just wanted to take this chance to say thank you to everyone who has been there for us this year and we can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for us.

I hope everyone had as much fun this year as Tyler did opening his big gift!

When your struggling to breath

So I’ve had an interesting month and I apologize that I’ve neglected the blog. As my last blog entry starts to mention a couple weeks back. Lisa, Sally and I took a 5 day road trip to Pennsylvania. I had a whole blog entry describing out trip typed out and ready to post but never had a chance because I’ve been very sick the last few weeks.

You see the Friday before we left for pen I caught some kind of cold, I spent most of our trip coughing up a lung. When we returned home that Friday Lisa insisted I see a doctor but I refused because I felt I was getting better. The rest of that week I spent most of my time after work coming home downing mass quantities of cough medicine and struggling to get what I felt was precious needed sleep. Another week went by and even my co-workers started coming to me insisting I have my serious sounding cough checked out. It finally took 2 hours of chronic coughing that was so violent it scared me, I couldn’t stop coughing long enough to catch my breath.

I was in the doctor’s office the very next day, While I don’t recall quite what the doctor called my condition it was something about "sever upper respitory congestion combined with bronchial spasms” She also said it was possible that my delay in treatment could have caused a buildup of fluid in my lungs. I was prescribed several medications and sent home from work for several days, I have been medicated now for about a week. I still have a small cough but I feel much better then I did a week ago.

Regrettably when you’re struggling to breathe blogging isn’t the first thing on your mind. I’m sorry if I left people hanging and wondering if we were all still in Pennsylvania.

We are all home now and looking forward to seeing our families, loved ones, and friends over the next few holiday weeks... Merry Christmas to All!

Month One

Yesterday was another multi-doctor trip into boston for lisa and I. Our first stop was for me to be examained and questioned about my first month on the medication, It seemd to have gone well and I was asked to continue. Our other appointments were Lisas for her weightloss surgery. She had another meeting with the phyciatrist and a group session. They wouldnt let me in for the group so waited out in the lobby enjoying my ipod. Journey to the center of the earth is a great movie. Even if its on a 2.5 inch screen!

Anyways It was a very productive afternoon in boston. Once again both our doctors issued stern recomendations that we both make weightloss a priorty to acheive our personal goal. To celibrate all the good news Lisa and I went out to dinner... Hey Now! We both drank water, ordered salads and passed on our breadsticks!

Update on Doctors

Well i had my last medical doctors appointment yesterday, he gave me the OK to see the surgeon. The appointment, although seems like an entirety is on Jan 22. I finish up the rest of my appointments tomorrow. I have my last psych evaluation and my last group and on Dec 16 is my last nutritionist appointment. Once that's all done it's just a matter of of waiting for the surgeon appointment. I can't believe i started this only in September, 2009 is looking to be a start to the new chapter in my life with my hubby and furture family :)

Blog Tag Continues!

Ok so i've been slacking... I haven't had a chance to update the blog.
So here is the first in my gotta catch up posts!

As I commented here is my responce to Megans blog tag:
The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Tell 7 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag.

Parnell's 7 Random things!
1. I used to have blonde hair when I was young, It changed as i got older and now its brown
2. I'm 5'11" but I find it easier to tell people I'm 6' tall
3. My left foot is a full size larger then my right
4. I dislike peas because my older brother told me they were alien pods when I was 6
5. I hate talking on the phone because the speakers hurt my ears.
6. I used to hate my name because it was diffent, now I like my name because its diffent.
7. My dog sleeps at my side and my cat sleeps on my head.

Parnell's 7 Tagged Bloggers
1. No one said no tags backs - Megan Platenik
2. Josh Platenik
3. Leah Palifka
4. Mandy Sullivan - Ok to repond on Myspace
5. Leah Sullivan - Ok to respond on Myspace
6 thru whatever.. All my friends on Myspace!

Blog Tag

The Plateniks tagged us in this little game of blog tag.

The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Tell 7 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag.
So...here's the randomness:


1. I have been teaching children for 11 yrs
2. We were engaged in the parking lot of a TGIFridays
3. I love disney
4. I have three tattoos and want more :)
5. I have 6 stuffed eeyores
6. I love build a bear workshop
7. Im a horrible speller :)



I however don't know 7 people to have them repost this :) Sorry Megan

The horoscope says it all!

Ok, now before anyone gets the idea that I’m a believer of hocus pocus and mystic mumbo jumbo; let it be known I’m not in fact I’m a firm believer in facts and science. But I do find horoscopes amusing to read and will admit once in a great while they do, oddly enough line up with the events of my life. My horoscope for today is one of those.

It reads as follows: “You're finally going to start seeing some positive results, today -- your current projects seem to all be turning the corner at the same time. And while you are certainly going to be busy right now, you are going to feel exhilarated by all of the activity, too. Your buzzing brain is feeding off all the stimulation, and it's getting faster and smarter, to boot. This is not the time for slowing down -- it's time to hang on and just enjoy this wonderful, unpredictable and slightly dramatic ride!”

Hmmm Maybe there is something to all this hocus pocus stuff. There sure does seem to be a lot of witches and strange characters around today! Just look at this picture of me and my co-workers…

Look at my toothy smile! (Seventh from right in back)Happy Halloween Everybody!

Mark it down folks!

Yesterday was an important day in the lives of Parnell & Lisa! Once again Lisa and I found ourselves bouncing around Boston hospitals yesterday, but for once we didn't leave Boston feeling like we wasted our time. Two very important things happened,

The first was Lisa and I met with one of Lisa's weight loss doctors to discuss her new workout schedule. She now has an official doctor recommended fitness routine that she seems very motivated to start and stick too! We're asking for everyone's help and moral support as she starts down the road to her weight loss surgery and her new dedication towards dieting and exercise.

The second hospital visit was for me. After many trips into Boston, A painful biopsy, and nearly eight months of delays I finally received my instructions and first month's supply of medication from the research group at MGH. I took my first injection under their supervision last night.

Last night I was lying in bed waiting for sleep I thought about us finally taking the first steps towards having a child of our own and for the first time feeling like we might really have a chance. Maybe I'm getting my hopes up to much. It would be a devastating disappointment if things don't work. But I don't want to think that way. I can't think that way right now. For the first time in a long time I want to be positive. I hope I can give Lisa the support she deserves.

I woke up this morning with the most energy and in the best mood I've been in a very long time! Is it my high hopes or the medication doing its job? Either way I like it!

A birthday to remember!

This past Saturday was my birthday, As my great aunt pat put it, I turned 35 years young. I woke thinking the day would pass like any other. However on Saturday morning I got up, Got dressed and then headed outside to start some yard work. As I was walking out the door Lisa stopped me and called me into the kitchen. When I got there she surprised me a gift card, a card, and a Lemon cake with lemon frosting that she baked herself.

Later after I finished my work outside we decided to take a trip to best buy to use the gift card. With it I got a couple of movies. Which reminded me I wanted a small dvd shelf for my room in the basement. We checked the Christmas tree shop, and then had lunch at IKEA. We didn’t find a nice little shelf I was looking for but Lisa and I had a great morning together.

After leaving Avon we decided to swing threw Brockton and visit my family. As always they were very welcoming, they invited Lisa and me to stay for dinner but since we had plans to watch my sister-in-laws kids later we couldn’t. In the time we had we all went out and had ice-cream at friendly’s Thank you guys so much! It was great spending that time with you guys.

Turns out the all important reason we left Brockton got canceled and we could have stayed… I’ll admit I was a bit upset. I don’t get to spend much time with my family and I was rushed away for nothing. Lisa and I ended up heading home. As soon as we got home my buddy Jared called and we ended up meeting up with him and his wife for the evening. It was a very busy birthday! So busy I didn’t even get to try my Lemon cake until 1am Sunday morning.. It was Yummy!

I also wanted to thank everyone who sent me the cute on-line comments and greeting cards. Thank again everyone. You all made my 35th birthday a great day!

Hear Ye. Hear Ye

Last weekend was a busy one. Not only did we spend most of Saturday in a corn field, But the very next day Lisa and I spent the whole day at one of our favorite theme parks: King Richard’s Faire! We got to see a few comedy acts, musical plays, a torture show with knife throwing and visited many wonderful shops selling everything from costumes, statues and real armor and weapons. As always it was a great experience, Lisa got a kick out of watching me with a Yard-of-beer in one hand, and a large turkey leg in the other happily chomping and drinking away as we strolled around the faire. We love walking around seeing the various shows, and performances, it was amazing seeing so many people including attendees in medieval costumes. We even saw a few odd costumes that really seemed out of place: A SG-Atlantis team and a Star Wars Sand-Trooper…. WTF? Wrong time and galaxy guys! Whom I kidding I chatted with the Atlantis guys for awhile waiting for the joust.. Nice guys but they way out geek me!

We forgot to bring our camera, but I was able to take a few pictures with my cell phone. Here is a link to all the pictures from my phone.

Carving up some fun

This afternoon lisa, myself and some friends found ourselves lost deep within a corn field. Around every corner we found dead ends, wrong turns, and lots of laughs. This is the first time i've ever been to a corn maze, it was a great time!





After successfuly navigating our way out of the maze we took a short hayride to a pumpkin patch to find just the right pumpkins to take home and carve.

After finding just the right pumpkins. We took them home and had a great time carving them into Jack'O'Lanterns!



Click Here For More Pics from corn maze and our fun carving the pumpkins!

Look at This!

Things are a moving and a shaking over here and it's about damn time! First a shameless plug for our new blog design! What do you think? Ever since I realized I could edit the sites html code I've been tweaking away! Grenier Blog 2.0 is now On-Line!

Also I just wanted to chime in on my thoughts about Lisa's weight loss surgery. Lisa and I are both nervous and excited about her surgery, things are moving faster then I expected. I've always been wary of the idea of weight loss surgery. But I've been by Lisa's side and have watched her try over and over, only to fail and get discouraged. While I'm nervous about her surgery, I'm relieved that the method she choose is much less evasive then others and adjustments can be made quickly if needed. That's important to us. We both feel the extra support she will be given by the medical staff will be just the kick start she needs. Maybe even the kick WE need, I know once she starts losing a few extra pounds it'll kick start my motivation to work out and lose some myself! However my condition doesn't help my own weight issue either. In fact, I tend to gain weight when not taking my treatments. But there's more good news: Lisa and I received word from MGH about delivery of the delayed medication! It was explained MGH should have this medication onsite as soon as this Monday! Woot! With any luck well be scheduling an appointment to pick up my first batch very soon. I'm eager to not only see if this treatment method helps Lisa and I become parents but I'm thankful to have this chance to help MGH learn about my condition and maybe someday use what they learn to help others similarly afflicted.

Good news all around! Here's hoping come this time next year, Lisa and I will be lean, mean, baby making machines! (At least all the practice will be fun!)

Doctors Apponiment for Lisa

Well i had my next doctors appointment for the weight loss surgery. I went to see the exercise physiologist. He was very nice and explained that this was the first appointment and that he was there to gather information about me. He took some measurements and general info. He went on to tell me that he wants me to complete a mile test, where i walk on a treadmill and then let him know that how long it took me and then what my heart rate was. He then needs me to fill out a questionnaire and bring it back to him in two weeks. He said that once he has all that information he will be able to tell me what type of exercises he wants me to do and calories he wants me to burn. So I will post once i know more. Thanks to all for supporting me on this journey. It was a hard choice to make and i only want to be healthy and happy and be able to be there for a future child. love you all... Lisa

Patient or Side Show?

When you already know you’re different physically, and your already very self conscious about yourself and your appearance. It doesn’t help when a doctors finds your differences so interesting they need to call in other doctors to show them. This has happen to me so many times I’ve lost count.

Why can’t a doctor just treat you for what you’re seeing them for with out making you feel like a strange creature on exhibit at museum? The worst of these doctor provoked spectacles was during my first trip to see specialists at Mass General. I had to strip down to my birthday suit and get examined, next thing I knew I had a group of 4 doctors of mixed genders standing in front of me pointing at me and talking to each other. They were speaking English but what was said was so technical it might as well have been a different language. They pointed at my face and jaw line, they manipulated my arms to check my movement; they examined my extremities to check growth and development.

The more they became fascinated with me and all my differences the more and more self conscious I became. I’ve always known I was different because of my condition but these people were pointing out things about me I never even noticed. Things no other doctors had ever bothered to tell me, it got to me and I really started getting scared and upset. At some point I guess they finally noticed the fear on my face and they called the creature show to an end. All but one doctor left and the doctor who stayed behind did their best to calm me and explain the things they were discussing. It didn’t help. I left mass general feeling more self conscious then ever before in my life! It was rough! I know I’m different and there isn’t anything I can do about it. I wish I was normal! I wish I could magically fix all my problems both physically and mentally but it’s not medically possible.

A note to all doctors out there… Don’t make your patients feel like a freak show! It makes them extremely self conscious and anti social, Trust me I know! I’m not really sure how to end this rant except to say thank you to all those who have stood by me and who have not treated me differently, to say thanks to all those who haven’t passed judgment on me for things about me that are out of my control. These people don’t need to be named, they know who they are. To them I offer my sincerest Thank You! To everyone else I say… Who the hell are you to pass judgment on me? I’m a nice guy who just has a few problems and of you can’t see past them ... it’s your loss!

Art Imitating Life

Ok, I don’t know if you would consider the Garfield comic art or not.
I guess that could be debated if anyone really cared that much about a comic strip. However I’m only mentioning it because I saw a Garfield strip that reminded me of my own cat.

She loves sitting on my keyboard and making sure she is the center of my attention!

It has begun...

Well as most of you already know we are going to be doing infertility route for our child barren ways. Well one of the things that needs to happen in order for us to do this is I (Lisa) need to loose some weight. Oh fun you may say, most of you all know me and have see me and know that i have been heavy pretty much my whole life. Well until recently we thought it was just because I was lazy :) LOL OK well I am but I actually have a condition called PCOS. It causes my body to think that i need every last drop of sugar and fat and stores instead of breaking it down. Well after finding this out I went on medications and with the hope get it under control, well those meds made me very sick, I began to loose my hair and have some, well let's just say i was sitting for a long time in the bathroom :) Well I had to come off the medications and tried a bunch of weight loose programs. I lost weight with Nutrisytem and was very happy with the results the only thing was it cost 400.00 dollars a month, so we stopped. I then went on to try south beach (yeah didn't get far with that one), then on to Ali, yeah another waste of money I kept forgetting to take the pill. So after trying the diet way, i have decided to make the big step and have weight loss surgery. Yes some might think that its the easy way out, but I'm sick and tired of being this heavy and caring all this around on my bones and joints and want to be here for my future child. If i don't do this it could take more years and longer and it will keep me further away from being pregnant. I have already started the process. I went to the medical doctor on September 15, it went really well, and i just went to see the phys/counselor on September 24Th. The next steps are to see the nutritionist and the exercise counselor and then go through 4 weeks of behavior modification classes and then to meet with the surgeon. You may ask well what are getting done are you getting done gastric or lap band? Well after careful thought i have chosen to have the Lap band. I would rather something that can monitored and adjusted vs cut and reconnect organs. So hopefully we will have a surgery date in the next month or so. We will keep ya posted :) thanks love ya all........Lisa

Welcome Zack!

Congradulation Bob and Leah!

Welcome to the world little Zachary! This past sunday we got to visit the tired but very happy parents. Their new baby boy zack is simple adorable! Aunt mim couldn't help put pass out photos of the new baby, I'de post some here but i felt it best to let them do that themselves!

Awsome job on creating a mirlcle Leah and Bob, It was great sharing your joy with you on sunday! Lisa and I are realy looking forward to the holidays this year so we can see the rest of the newest family additions and catch up with everyone else!

Blood, Blood They came to take my Blood!

One more step we had to take! I'd been meaning to post these pitures but have been busy, then I forgot. Once I started relocating my original posts it reminded me to post this. This was me earlier this year getting my blood study done at Mass General Hospital. they took blood evey ten minutes for twelve hours. It was one hell of a night! The relsuts of this test were a double edged sword. it proved i lacked the hormones needed, but that proof is what got me acceptble into the reaserch study. Heres hoping that finaly starts soon! Well keep you all informed!

Update for Sept 24th

Here is another update on things family and friends might care to know.

1st. The wonderful side effect caused by my trashed hormone system known as depression has been affecting me for months now but especially over the past few weeks, Its gotten to a point were I’ve noticed myself becoming more and more distant and disinterested in things I once enjoyed. I know you might ask… If I’m aware of this why have I just let it happen? Why haven’t I sought treatment?Well, because I was instructed to stay off my normal treatments in preparation for the research treatment that’s been getting postponed over and over threw out this past year. Now I’ve gone nearly two years without the proper treatment of my condition and it’s been a hell of a ride. I think the worst of it was this month on the anniversary of my mothers and brothers deaths.Lisa and I had talked about my current mental state and decided we had enough of false hopes and treatments that keep getting delayed. Last week we decided to call the research dept at mass general hospital and drop from the Kallman’s program and to start me back on my normal replacement therapy medication.Oddly enough the same day I was set to send notice to the research group pulling myself from the program, I received news from them explaining that the medication was now available and their treatment could be underway in as little as two weeks…Well it’s about damn time! Maybe it’s just another stall tactic, who knows? I’m starting to think their research is really based on the effects of causing high hopes and then stalling a full year to measure stress levels… Anyways I guess this is good news but I’ll let you know what happens in two weeks!

2nd. Mondays Movie was 88minutes! A very good mystery thriller! 4 out of 4!

3rd. I started listening to a new audio book this week called “Brisingr” It’s the third book in a series about fantasy dragons and magic.

Other than that, everything is the same for Lisa and I. Have a great Week!

Update for Sept 18th

The following is a few events from the past week that others might consider worth mentioning.

1st Lisa had her first consult with doctors about her weight loss efforts, she tells me everything went well and the doctors have given her some guidelines to meet, such as loosing 25lbs with the help of a nutritionist and counselor. We’re both excited about her starting this process as it is one of many first steps to our healthier future and parenthood.

2nd Monday was movie night at my place again. Rather then costing my buddies extra cash for take-out dinner I decided to treat them to dinner and a movie. I cooked up some chicken strips and a pot of my famous “Mustgo” short for “Must go down the throat” It’s basically a cheeseburger macaroni but everyone seems to really enjoy it. The food and movie went over well; my choice for this week movie was “30 Days of Night” a gory vampire flick set in an Alaska. The last few months of movie nights have been filled with action, guns, thugs, cops, and gangster, I wanted to change things up a bit and expose my friends to the kind of horror movies I enjoy. It went great and this movie received praise from 3 out of 3, (yeah only 3, we had and empty chair this week)

3rd This event actually happened late last week but I just wanted to thank Uncle Joe and Cousin Bob for helping Lisa and I with her exhaust problem, I have since purchased and installed the new gasket and replaced the needed bolts with some nice stainless steel bolts and lock washers. That pipe is not going any where now. I also wanted to thank you for the hot soup and willingness to help when Lisa and I arrived with a broken exhaust and dripping went from trying to fix it in the rain.

4th Wednesday Lisa found our dog running around loose in our yard free from the harness we keep on her. She called me from work and told me about it… When I got home I went out and found the pieces of the harness. To my eye the harness looked cut as if someone has taken a knife to the harness and cut it off the dog. I looked over the dog and found no cuts or scraps on her… I don’t know what happened but were going to have to start watching our backyard to ensure we don’t have something serious happen to our dog.

Other then that life is status quo:Lisa is still working at the day careI’m still working at LH Still no word on my treatment with the research group, I’m about to give up on that!