My last few Ship Shape posts have either been on our instagram or YouTube channel. Here’s the last two videos that I’ve done for Ship Shape: staying fit and healthy while sailing the world with kids.
Doing yoga with our kids. Sara Wood from Riki Tiki Tavi and her daughter and Ellamae and myself.
I apologize for the delay in an actual blog post. It seems to be more convenient lately to post pictures and videos to our instagram, facebook, and YouTube sites.
After a few people inquiring about a blog update I decided to throw one together.
When I first returned to the boat December 22, I came back to a very sick husband. We spent the first week together trying to figure out what was ailing him and get proper treatment. After deciding the first doctor was missing something, we found another. He seemed to be on to something and treated Christian for systemic Salmonella tyhoid! After 5 days of IV antibiotics and 10 days of oral antibiotics he did feel better. We were back to surfing and taking day sails and long hikes. But 5 days after the antibiotics were finished he started to feel sick again. He went back to get follow up labs and one of his levels were increased 3 fold! The doctor recommended taking out his gall bladder, assuming the tyhoid was festering in it and won’t dissipate until it’s removed. Needless to say, we went and got a second opinion, or rather a third one at this point. This doctor stated that Christian did have salmonella in the past, but that’s not what is wrong at the moment. The level that increased was the “proteus ox-19” aka Rickettsia. It resembles salmonella when tested for it. So Christian is now on a 3 day IM (injection/shots) of cephalosporin treatment. We will retest labs on Tuesday and go from there. We are trying to remain optimistic about this. He already feels better, so fingers crossed…
In the meantime, we’ve been on surf trips, hiking trips and lounging by the poolside with fellow cruising families. There are a lot more older kids this year, which is great for Nina. And a few younger ones. Specifically, Zoey on Empyrean, has become Taj’s best buddy.
I’ve been able to start focusing on my “ship shape” boat fitness workouts and yoga ashore with other cruisers. In fact I was asked to speak about boat fitness at the “women who sail” gathering here in La Cruz on January 13th! I also signed up for a 10k run on the 15th. I’m not much of a runner, but I figured I could pull it off for one day for a good cause (green awareness in Mexico). Thanks Katrina for organizing all of this!
Boat school Christmas Vacation is ending today.
Ellamae will be returning to the boat in a week!
Hopefully Christian will return to full health soon. We’d like a clean bill of health before we set sail southbound from the Puerto Vallarta area.
Stayed tuned.
In the meantime here are videos we made and some pictures to look at.
Shanti from S/V Shawnigan
I accidentally spelled Yelapa as “yalapa” on the video. Oops!
Las Posadas celebration
Christmas Eve potluck at Marina La Cruz (Banderas Bay)
Kids camp out, organized by Marina La Cruz
Liam’s (S/V Riki Tiki Tavi) birthday party.
Talent show at the Marina La Cruz amphitheater.
45 peso haircut (2.25 USD)!
Beach day with S/V Luminesce, S/V Mango Mango, S/V Empyrean, S/V Riki Tiki Tavi, S/V Wild Rumpus, S/V Raireva, and S/V Shawnigan
Well, the little bugger turned 3 and is quickly filling his daddy’s shoes. From skateboarding, diving head first into pools and holding his breath for which feels like forever, climbing up to the second row of our rat lines, to a new fascination for matchbox cars. Taj is definitely Christian Lauducci’s son.
We had a great day yesterday celebrating with our cruising friends in La Cruz. Boat school as usual in the morning, which this time included math and reading in the form of making GF Brownies! Yet another boat, Cat2fold dragging down on us, was successful re-anchored with the help of fellow anchorage peeps. Taj, of course, was butt naked on the rat lines, watching the whole process. Another reminder of how good our Mantus anchor is. Apparently the area in which we are anchored in is know for lousy silty holding. We haven’t had any issues the whole three weeks that we’ve been in his spot for our own boat, but this is the second boat that has been rescued from dragging down on us in the last week!
After the excitement of boat dragging shenanigans, and a nice windy and wet dingy ride to shore, it was time to prepare for the party. La Cruz Marina is super family friendly. With a poolside deli and picnic area right in the Marina, it is a perfect kids birthday party location. 10 other kid boats attended and more non-kid boats as well! SV Alert, Cape D, Cielo Grande, Coastal Drifter, Kenta Anae, Nomi, Raireva, Riki Tiki Tavi, Terrapin, Valella Valella. Also present: Sea Fox, Wino Rhino, Landfall.
Four birthdays in the last 8 months and I’ll be the last to have a birthday since leaving on our adventure. All have been amazing thanks to the cruising community. Thanks for all the well wishes. Looking forward to many more sailor/cruising birthday celebrations in the years to come.
Josie
04/12/2016
A Family Afloat 