Changes

Lots of changes right now. I have taken on a new, and yet not new, role at work and am feeling rather isolated. I like to be around people, know whats going on.....Will I get used to this?

Speaking of being around people, due to multiple reasons we have transferred daycare of the kids up closer to home. They are now in an actual center for 10.5-11 hours a day. A part of me feels sick at this decision we made since that is a really long day! but.....ont he other hand I have two very social boys who thrive being with other kids and learning from them and their teachers. Yesterday was the first day and a teacher commented that it was like they had been there all along. Just stepped right in and picked up the rules and played games with the kids....

So, my boys will be fine. It means:
- earlier mornings for all of us (I need to be waking the boys by 6)
- Routine with packing lunches and prepping for the next day
- Dad and I commute on our own down to work (about 30-40 mins one way)
- We are constrained to returning to our home area every day in order to get the boys - no more stopping at Nana's, etc.
- It is more expensive so we are tightening our belts and are blessed by family helping us with expenses. My parents really wanted James to have the preschool experience and with this new school they have that.
- When James goes into Kindergarten next year (Yikes!) this daycare has before and after care with shuttles to all the local elementary schools so he could shuttle with them....

We're hoping a few things will happen:
1) Nate will start saying more then 'dat' - love him but I am beyond ready for him to talk!
2) James will learn to sit and pay attention. He fidgets when he is not on the go so hopefully he will learn some patience :)
3) Mommy and daddy will start hitting up the gym at work. This new schedule does open up some time for me to go (didn't go today due to sever back spasms).
4) Organization all around. Yes we'll all be tired in the evenings but hopefully we'll get into healthy routines to make our mornings less hectic.

So, it's a lot at once. Feeling isolated at work and at home (we won't be seeing extended family nearly as much and we're just as busy as before so any friends we could see will be just as hard as before -- meaning it didn't happen very often).

Plus side? My kids will make friends with other kids who do live near home so maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to reach out thru them and meet some more people in situations similar to us. Dan and I both have to work to make ends meet -- no, not paying for daycare wouldn't help -- but I do have a plan to pay down debt.....but other things keep coming up like oh, food for our bellies and shoes for our feet.

Sigh. Tough economy eh? And we are all making the best of it, one day at a time.

Daytrips

Ah, the Aquarium. We joined Aunt Beck for a trip there this past weekend. She happens to work there and knows lots of fun details and names of the animals :) I have more pics I still need to upload but here is a sample:

This was after the aquarium - same day. I just love this picture. Reminds me of a cousin of mine :) Amazing how family genes are passed!

Time flies!

It has a been a month! Yikes! I will put some quick updates on here now and try to get on over the weekend with pics and more details:

--We've started mowing our lawn for the season - weekly and our lawn still looks long 4-5 days out
--James discovered that the stove top is indeed hot with a burn on his hand to show for it. He is fine but we were worried there for a bit.
--Nathan had a bout of something bronchial. Nebulizer, steroids, and antibiotics seemed to have helped but he still has a cough and runny nose about a week out. He gets a cough real easily, I'll need to check with the Doc on that.
--Finally got James' cavity filled....Dr. Smiles Dentistry
--I got back some news that my cholesterol is scary high and have been put on meds :(
--Looking forward to see-ing my sister in law married off here in about 2 weeks. The guy she is getting hitched to is a sweetie and long time un-acknowledged member of the family.
--Starting to think ahead to preschool in the fall for James and kindergarten next year! Gulp! My little guy is growing up so fast!!
--Weddings and babies and graduations -- Dan is FINALLY DONE!!! Yea! Passed his last class with a gorgeous A! I am sooo proud of him! (now, what should I go back to school for?) lol
--The cats(Mango and Marmi) are doing a good job of hunting stink bugs and entertaining us with their races. Mango is especially adept at jumping tall rails and ending up in the oddest places (like the top shelf of my closet)
--Tomorrow we are going on our first official trip to the dump in the truck :) Maybe now I can finally clean out the house and re-organize some? Woot woot!
--CANNOT Wait to see my big brother and wife in just over a week!!!

So, mostly healthy, very busy, long days, need to go grocery shopping, and oh, we need to get the tires checked on the Vue :) - whew

Teeth

I don't think I've posted on this yet, but back in January, D, me and James all went in for dental check-ups. It was James' first time and well...it's been a few years for D and I. No good excuse, just haven't gone.

Well, D came out of it with an ok mouth and a few cavities which would need filling.

James did GREAT with the cleaning and fluoride, but poor bugger has a cavity. We've tried twice to have it filled and he's gotten as far as the numbing needle, and wouldn't let them touch him after that. Last instance the Doc commented that it wasn't that bad yet and tried to pik it clean..ended up using a fluoride paste on that one tooth and we'll go back in a month, see how it looks. If the decision is made to have it filled then we will scope out a pediatric specific (been going to a family Dentist) dentist and see what they can do.

Me? I have/had mild periodontitis (bone/enamel loss) in my back teeth, I grind my teeth to abandon(just got my night guard today) and had 7 cavities!! The periodontitis required some scraping, and anti-biotic, and a check up at which everything was looking better. The cavities were filled on 2 different days. 3 one day, and then the other 4. The first 3 didn't even require numbing but I am still in pain from the second 4. Ouchy

But, our teeth are getting healthy, I guess, and I'll never avoid my 6 month check up to the dentist again! Who knows what happened but I'm in general going to be more careful in the future.

I'll post more on James as we go thru it.

Kitties

These sweet little girls are the newest addition to our family. Both have been in shelters and have moved around quite a bit but they get along great and have pretty good manners :)

This is Mango

She will be two years old in March and is the braver of the two. She is a torti and puts up well with the boys trying to play with her. She is not much of a snuggler but she does like to be close to wherever you are.

This is Marmalade, she will be 1 in March, and she likes to hide. Her story begins on the streets so she is a bit more skittish but she LOVES D. She searches him out to snuggle whenever the boys have settled down :)

They both love our bay window and the view

See, inches away and she is not running :)

After losing Mikey and Percy, and then Kaylee....I'm really hoping these girls will be with us for a good long time. I really am a cat person, lol. They are independent but want attention and let you know if they need something....

Ready...set...go

Ready .... set .....

Go! ....wait a second...

Um, Nathan...you were supposed to go...

Let's try this again....

:)

Birthday fun and more

The weekend started with a delicious steak dinner Friday night, yum yum and then some relaxing (been a long week). Now, I'm taking some advice from my mom and trying to slow down our weekends for both the sakes of my kids and me. Getting up Mon-Fri around 5-5:30 am and then no getting home some nights till after 6....makes for very long days.

So, we stayed in Saturday and continued work on a birthday suprise my husband and In'Laws had started the previous weekend. Pulling up carpet in the dining room, foyer, and hallways and then polishing the gorgeous hardwood floor beneath! It feels like a different house :)

James wanted to help, and was very good at wielding a hammer(under careful supervision)

No, we did not end up painting anything but that is next on the list...I think. We did however get ALL the carpet up (this pic is in the process). So many staples and nails....my fingers ache thinking about it but boy was it worth it!

Gorgeous!

Saturday night we went out with James's godparents to Denny's and had a very good linner around 3'ish...they have a claw machine in there that I gave into James to finally try because they had baby ogres in there (I want one!) and of course James pulls out a Mr. Plow on his second turn....

huh, beginners luck.

Sunday saw us finishing up the floor and then heading out to a Birthday event my hubby had planned for me :)
@ Chuckie Cheese, and yes, I did actually suggest this as an option. I think having kids has made me rethink what is fun. Just hanging and playing with them is so much fun!

We had a good crowd (thank you all!!) and I think everyone had fun too!

James posed with me for this Pic, as you can see. Not to scared of the mouse....
In the background there you see a machine, it's one of those air things where they blow things around you and you have to catch...tickets :) I was told I couldn't pick-up off the ground but nothing else was illegal, so I grabbed off the ceiling as many as i could. Oie, it was hard! I hear someone has pics or even a video of this....
I managed to grab a bunch of big tickets worth 50, 100, and 200 respectively. Sweet. I also had tickets stuck in my shirt, shorts, shoes and hair when I came out, lol.

Nate enjoyed it all but he was so overwhelmed, lol. He ended up eating(or dropping) the piece of cake he was sharing with me....oh well

Yes we had 30 candles on there and James helped me blow out each and every one!

So not your typical 30th birthday I suppose but I had fun. Thanks for all the tickets those that came out. Got some fun things for the kiddos :)

Boys

We've heard a few times over the past few days how energetic boys are and that they go, go, go....then drop from sheer exhaustion.

This describes my boys to a T. Won't sleep for fear of missing something. Always getting into something. The need to run outweighes any reasoning. sigh

Now, I am still working on getting energy (in fact see-ing a new doctor today) and wish I had more to give them! They would run, play, and just go all day if we would let them.

Getting them to relax usually involves the telly or books.

I did sign James up for gymnastics classes beginning in September and cannot wait! I think he is going to really enjoy it :)

Nathan is still growing and just amazes me everyday. Body parts, word recognition, people....but above all this boy loves music! Grams...piano lessons right? Seriously! Nate has good rhythm and I'm fairly sure is going to be very musical. Need to provide outlets!

So, busy busy but doing alright :)

Check-ing In

Things never quite work out like we plan do they? I've never been a good goal maker, not one to really see the future picture, whether big or small. Somewhere along the line I picked up the old adage of "Live for today!" huh

Well, this way of living doesn't work so well when you have a family counting on you. I've watched our money go to bills and cost of living each month for over two years. I've carefully logged, after the fact, where that money has gone but have been very bad about sticking to any kind of budget let alone planning ahead. We've also had just enough to scrape by....not going to cut it anymore.

I recently had a passing thought of James as an teenager. We were discussing food and being polite. I was telling him the same thing my dad used to tell me "Try a little bit of everything. Don't stick your nose up a food when out at someones house. It's not polite."...in my passing thought James replied to this with an "Oh, ok mom, whatever you say". Very teenage boy, lol. First time I had thought of my son as anything more then my little boy...

When I told my husband about this he asked if I ever had any thoughts about us? I just looked at him. After a few minutes I told him that I just thought we'd always be...never thought more about it. Dangerous. We need to grow together, tackle new hobbies together...stuff like that. I have no fear my husband loves me and that we will grow old together but I never really thought about it before. It's like he has been a part of my life forever and will always be there....

I can be a dreamer though...just not when it comes to my personal life. Right now I am going thru some changes and well...they are taking a very long time for me to work thru. Dealing with my thyroid disease, working thru weight and other hormone issues. Attempting to start budgeting, planning ahead.

My husband said to me the other night "I want you to be happy. Find something that makes you happy" He was referring to my job. Now....I've been in this job for 2.5 years. Longest time I've been anywhere let alone sitting at the same desk working with (for the most part) the same people. I've gotten comfortable...

but some things are happening that are shaking up this comfort and I find myself completely torn on what to do. Literally. I can imagine, to some degree, life both ways and have no idea which is better. Are there more then 2 choices? Well, yes...but for now I am limiting myself out of sheer survival. I am NOT a good decision maker.

So, here I sit. Finding ways to relax, yet thinking ahead at the endless possibilities....
but are they endless? I've had 2 people close to me lose their jobs due to lay-offs in the past week! Makes it even harder to shake things up....when there is so much un-certainty out there.

but, changes need to be made, for the sake of my entire family and my own peace of mind. I need to find a way to break out of my shell and start taking control. Start little right? Get bigger. Don't assume. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Keep plugging forward...towards that end

Now, I just need to figure out what that end is.

It's the middle of June already?

Holy cow! I just can't believe how fast time is just flying by! We've been busy with family trips to see family, working around the house and just..living.

So, Nathan is 1 years old now and is having diaper rash like no ones business. Actually, it's as bad as it was in the NICU, one year ago. I wonder if there is some correlation there? Well, we went to take him to RightTime medical Center (Dr. Sears is not open on Thursdays and would have told me to get him looked at.....right time is supposed to be a walk-in medical center) but we found out that take appointments and we would of had to wait upwards of 2 hours to be seen.....

We left. Took him to the Target walk-in clinic but they only see 18 months and up. Huh, as we were talking to the receptionist there the Doc walked out and asked what was up. We explained about the diarrhea and rash and she gave us some good advice. Bananas, plain crackers/toast, and a recipe for super awesome butt paste that I will be sharing with ALL my mommy friends :) He's already looking a bit better but the key is to keep him slathered so the poop doesn't even touch his skin and to keep the diaper as dry as possible. Serious deja vue from the NICU.

Otherwise he is healthy and wants to eat everything! Plays, climbs (loves this!), dances, sings (top of his lungs! Future opera singer), and is repeating back words to us! Understands so much already and is already trying to communicate back! Wow! We go see Dr. Sears on Monday for the official check-in but I'm guessing 28 pounds, close to 30 inches, and very healthy :)

We have already turned him around forward facing in the car and he loves it! He can see his brother better and the two of them just crack each other up on car rides. :)

James is having some issues with potty training, but, we are not defeated yet. Eventually he will figure this all out but I'm fairly certain jealousy over his brother and the demanding schedule we keep are both influencing. I have a feeling good social interaction/peer influence is going to be what finally breaks this trend. We really want to get him into preschool in the fall....but for the moment we are looking at summer camps or classes and hope to visit some soon in hopes of convincing him to use the potty ALL the time so he can go do those things! Maybe?

Dan and I are just taking each day as it comes. I am having some emotional mental issues right now but I think we have finally figured out the cause (hormones) and I won't begin to feel better for at least 2-3 months. I'm alright, just need to give my body time to re-adjust and normalize and maybe I should learn to relax and take it easy in there too....

Otherwise our grass is over-grown due to a disabled lawn-mower, the weeds are insane!, and the house is in need of some serious spring cleaning and steam cleaning. Maybe we'll get to some of that this weekend?

A good friend of mine told me to clear my calendar for a few weeks and find some time to focus on the house and begin organizing....well, up thru July 4th is busy but I think after that we'll make some serious efforts to slow down and make some changes.

More Park shots

Some happy photos to all of you for a happy weekend!

giggling on the swings!

Whoa, 3's a crowd!

James and Little A...what a cutie!

Yes, he climbed up here on his own :)

The boys turn!

James turns 3

A very full day of parties for James. We had some kids over for an earlier party with games and food and fun. Wonderful time! Then later we had family over for dinner and to share with James.

Yes, I made 2 cakes. Bit off a bit more then I can chew but, eh, it all worked out and it sure was yummy :)

Today we are resting and watching way too much tv but , s'll well.

Heres' too wonderful days filled with family and friends!!

Weight and health update for me

So the beginning of March see's me down to 200lbs (woot!) and another inch off the waistline. ironically my thighs and calves have gotten a bit bigger (building up muscle doing more walking perhaps? Who knows. I'm excited to see my weight go down and feel comfortable that my decisions really are making a difference.....what am I talking about?

Ok, so last November I went in for a physical. Less then a week later I get the results from my doc with a prescription for Sythroid....because I had been diagnosed with Hypo-thyroid. Huh? I called my doctor to verify, got a nurse who confirmed the results and recommended getting the prescription filled and to begin taking the next day. Doctor would want me back in 6-10 weeks for bloodwork to see how the numbers looked. I was in shock. I would have thought conditions like this would at least deserve a phone call from the doctor to me specifically and maybe even a face to face consult to make sure I understood all going on....

Nope and nope. Just the prescription in the mail with the blood work results from my physical. So, I start taking the medicine(next morning) and immediately call my mom. This stuff runs in the family apparently so she would have some good advice right? She did, I calmed down and wanted to wait till the next check-up before mentioning this to anyone else....

Sigh, so 4-5 weeks go by and I start to get really tired, some dizzy spells, and nauseas. The thyroid medicine takes at minimum 3-4 weeks to start see-ing affects. I started having this symptoms, took the pregnancy test to rule that out, and then called my doctor. Told me to stop taking the medicine and come in for bloodwork in 2 weeks....what? Oh, talked to a nurse not my Doc-doc but she was speaking for the doctor. So, like a good kid, I stop taking the medicine and call my mom. Shes' surprised but takes it with a grain of salt and says to keep her posted on the next appointment.

Well, about 10 days into being off the meds I start having some serious mood swings, depression, anxiety..... it was awful. On day 14 I go into to see my doc and he seems suprised to see me. eh? I tell him what I was told, why I am there, how I've been and inquire about blood work. He tells me to start re-taking the medicine, he'll draw blood(though he would rather have waited a few weeks out of me being on the medicine) and get back to me with results. This was on a Monday. Oh, did I mention that he thought the nausea and dizziness was probably being caused by other medicines I am on right now....I think he is a busy doctor....

Alright, so Saturday gets here and I have the results of the blood work in my mailbox at home. I open it to find my doctor says my levels are "in normal range" and tells me to stop taking the medicine. WTF? (pardon my language) I double check with everyone I know about this and get strong urging from my mom to see her Endocronologist...asap.

Alright, so am I hypothyroid or not. I was so confused at this point and not very happy about being swung around. Hypo-thyroid is a serious life long disease that you don't mess around with. Click the linky to find out more but basically hypo-thyroid is an underactive thyroid gland which in turn affects, oh, just about everything from metabolism, to mood stabilizers, to my organs functionality. Now, I am newly diagnosed and most affects are more long term should you not be discovered as having this issue. (Note to all, have it tested! It is more common then we think)

So, I schedule to see the Endo-doc....4 weeks out. 10 days off meds, serious mood swings and just feeling un-together. It get's better but man...it knocks you back. I used to be really moody when i was younger and always chalked it up to adolescence. huh

So I finally go in to see the Endo....no blood drawn. She takes a look at both the previous draws and proceeds to exam the thyroid gland physically and can tell right away that is defenitily off. Just by touch. Something about the texture of it but you would have to ask my husband for the exact wording....

So I start back on medicine and set up an appointment to see the Endo-doc 5 weeks out. That appointment is still over a week away but I'm feeling mostly alright. Been having tirednees issue, a bit un-together, and some depression symptoms in the last 2 weeks. Not sure if this is related to the medicine (since I had the issues after being on the meds for 2-3 weeks last time around) or is life is just getting me down.

All the snow, stuff at home, job.....

so anywho, I do indeed have a lifetime disease that will need to be forever medicated for me to function right. I always swore I wouldn't let something like this happen to me. I have been against vitamins and birth control .... essentially any meds you HAVE to take daily due to watching my mom and family members be pinned down with multiple meds.

So here I am....still trying to figure out what this all means but to get back to the original thought...weight loss. Being diagnosed hypo-thyroid is a dieters dream because you can place blame for all your weight loss issues on having an under active thyroid thus slowing down your metabolism and causing weight gain (short story). So....it's been niggling me in the back of my brain, every time I've stepped on a scale for the last 3 months whether the weight loss was my doing or the medicine.

For the last month I have not counted calories and for the first 2 weeks I actually put on a few pounds...but once I started kind of watching again (still not counting) I've started to lose again. Sooo, I've hypothesized that I am in control of my weight....sort of, which is a nice feeling. I am 8 pounds away from being pre-pregnancy for James! Very exciting. I think when I reach that goal I shall have to reward myself somehow...

Lot's of Snow!

Kaylee chasing after Dad who just went into the house.

Nathan sitting in a newly shoveled spot eating snow

The snow nearly as tall as James

Nathan not so sure he's liking the snow here

Nice tall car so we can still see it

Our fence has 3 rails....snow is up to the second rail. That's a LOT of snow!

Very snowy

So, it's a girl

So we have been discussing adopting a girl into the family and it worked out we met this little one and just could not leave her behind. Dan has always wanted a Siberian Husky and well...she's gonna be a lot of work but she is down right adorable

Turns out she has some Star heritage (great grand dame was in 8-below) so I have a feeling she'll fit in real well with us ....so long as the head butting doesn't become too obnoxious.

anyhow, we met her just before the new year and are in the process of altering our schedules and our lives to incorporate having a very energetic dog around

She gets these great bursts of energy and just needs to run and then we'll come back in (because we are frozen) and she'll get some water and then collapse, like below


and here.

She has taken to both kids in different ways. James is a true playmate and when she sees him its time to go go go, most of the time

Nathan has been the recipient of many baths from her already and I think she sees' him more as a cuddle buddy. Someone else crawling around on the floor, around the same size as her...for now

As for how she see's Dan and I...no idea

Now I must admit, I have been cat owner all of my adult life and really don't understand dogs. I mean, I know their man's best friend and for the most part just want to recieve your love and attention...provided you've proved to them already that you deserve it. Huh

Well, if we can get thru the house-breaking and obedience and come to play/live together then I think all will be well.....I'll let you know in 6-12 months :) with updates along the way, promise

Christmas Day Fun

We kept to ourselves Christmas Day and just relaxed at home as a family. All was well until it was time to figure out dinner....hmm. We'll do better next year :)

Anywho, we were awakened by James around 6:30 that morning but not because of presents under the tree. He had come to our bed to snuggle, aw sweet. We told him to go to the living room and then gifts commenced.

future fisher

Nathan learning the fine art of opening presents

vroom vroom

Rock band was Dan's Main present...with the guitar of course

James had to try it out too

Christmas Eve (before they crashed)

"Cheese"

all dressed up

giggly happy very full baby boy

wiggle worms make it tough for Papa to open presents

saying Happy Birthday to baby Jesus

Playing Mario Cart I believe....very intense

Twas the week before

As we settle into the holidays and get ready to celebrate the season with family and friends I wanted to take a brief minute to write Happy Holidays to all and may your days be merry and bright :)

Remember to slow down and enjoy everyday of the holiday
Call one person you have not spoken to in more then 6 months
Make/bake one thing new whether for yourself or family
Take one extra long shower, hot
and remember to tell those close to you how much you love and adore them

Merry Christmas and many happy returns from us to you

Quick Update

I officially hit my first weight goal, down to 210. I think the calorie cut back is really having an effect! I got down to 210 a lot quicker then I was expecting and I'm honestly not starved on the 1600-1800 calorie a day diet.

Second update, my little Nathan is a chunk :)

6 months old
20.3 lbs
28 inches tall
Go ahead from doc for all veg, fruit, grain...work up to meat and yogurt by 9 months, dairy by 1 year and nuts, honey, fish by 2 years.

Tried carrots tonight and he loved them!

Almost done Christmas shopping and 11 days to go. I honestly cannot wait for my boys to open the presents I've found for them (all 3 boys mind you, not just the wee ones). Yea!

Now, off to my bed with me and pics soon. Nathan is crawling to pulling up to cruising every chance he gets. James is singing, talking full sentences, and just about potty trained (crosses fingers).

Good stuff

Christmas Cards are in process...may end up being belated Holiday Cards but we are thinking about every single one of you out there!

My little man

James and Grandpa