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!