No Joke, So Busy

We do have other children, but this guy is stealing the show lately when it comes to taking photos.  I won't bore you with details, but I can sum it up by saying that he is perfect!  And I love him.  And I just want to stare at him all day but if you remember my little neck problem from staring at the other kids when they were babies, I am trying to refrain.

We are approaching the end of the school year which means summer planning is in full swing and Severan's surgery is getting closer and closer.  Since re-joining Facebook I have connected with a few Craniosynostosis groups and that's been helpful and several friends have friends that have been through this surgery, so we have them to reach out to as well.

Since I made the decision to be a Coach with Beachbody I have been swamped (daily) with learning the business and the products.  And an added bonus is the motivation I have to keep up with my own healthy habits and I love that aspect of the business.  Today I finished 'Block 1' of P90X3 which means that I am 1/3 of the way through the program.  In 30 days I lost 5.5 pounds, 2 inches, and 2% bodyfat.  Given that it took me a long time to put the weight on, this is quite encouraging and I'm happy with how far I've come.  I have found that early morning workouts (5 am) are best for me and they really set me up for success the rest of the day. I'm really excited to see how my body changes in the next 30 days especially since I am going to add in some running too.  My goal is to run the BolderBoulder on Memorial Day, which means I need to start training YESTERDAY :)!

I have a Challenge Group starting on April 21st that is going to rock!  Those that join the challenge will be doing the Focus T25 workouts, drinking Shakeology daily and will have an accountability group to help keep them on track and achieve their goals.  I've been drinking Shakeology for a week now and David starts tomorrow.  We both love it!  If you're interested in joining me for the April 21st Challenge Group, or you just want more information on Shakeology, send an email to jessicaglyon@gmail.com or message me on FB.

Until then, I'll keep taking pictures of my baby!

Changes

Time is not stopping for us over here so we're making the most of it.

Severan is consistently sleeping 8 hours at night now (Thank you Jesus and my fulfilling milk :) so I guess it is time to move him to his own room.  (If you could only hear me sobbing over this, you'd feel really bad for me!)  He is just growing up too fast.

Blaine and Hannah are on Spring Break this week and much to Blaine's disappointment we are not on the beautiful island of Maui.  Instead we are here in "boring Colorado."

Several weeks ago (when I was many, many, many weeks post-partum) I was still wearing maternity pants and feeling very uncomfortable and, well, fat and discouraged.  I had only lost about 20 pounds with breastfeeding alone so I knew that in order to lose the last 30 (yes, I gained 50+ pounds with this pregnancy) I would need to actually make an effort but I had several problems:

1. I now live in CO and running outside with a new baby and two other children is not really feasible.  It's cold and who knows when it will actually stop threatening to snow.

2. With Blaine in school full-time, HG only part-time and Severan practically attached to me I don't have the option of heading to the gym for an hour or more.

3. I felt overwhelmed when I thought about the weight I have to lose and seeing no good options for me.  (Cue the "Poor me" music.)

However, when I was three months pregnant I found several women on Instagram who were not only really fit but they were inspiring, motivational, and were interested in helping others achieve greatness - both physically and spiritually (Traci Morrow was one of these people.)  I followed them through my pregnancy and so as I pulled those maternity pants on several weeks ago, feeling utterly defeated, I knew what I had to do.

And I did it!  I signed up to be a Beachbody Coach so I would have some accountability in my own fitness journey and eventually I hope to support others as they pursue their fitness goals.  What attracted me, ultimately, were the results I saw from those that went before me and the program I started is only 30 minutes a day for 90 days so that was a huge selling point.  I mean, come on - who doesn't have 30 minutes a day!?!  I don't feel good - mentally, physically, or emotionally - when I am not physically fit and if I am going to have my best life, then I need to have my best body.  David and I started 17 days ago and I LOVE IT!  Blaine even enjoys doing the workouts, so that's an added bonus.

And I am happy to report that I'm not wearing those maternity pants anymore :)  Thanks to Kelly Holton (aka: Colorado Fit Mom) for helping me get started.

So, look out for some posts about fitness as well as the good ol' posts about our awesome family and the faith that holds us together.

Our Gift is Type A

Oh how I love the Christmas season!  We put our tree up weeks ago, I've been listening to Christmas music for even longer and my growing Santa-like belly fill my heart with joy.  And there is nothing quite like celebrating our Savior's birth with Influenza... Type A to be more specific.  And it's even better when you're eight and a half months pregnant!

That's right.  Last week, starting around Wednesday morning, David started feeling achy and had a mild cough.  By Wednesday night he was having hour long spells of the chills, a fever and terrible body aches.  The next morning he was able to get a doctor's appointment and they confirmed that he had "The Flu" and put him on the miracle drug Tamiflu.  His doctor also wrote prescriptions for myself and the kids as a preventative measure.  Thursday morning I didn't feel great but I chalked it up to this very rough pregnancy I've been having.  David was down and out so I was on full kid duty and was trying so hard to stay focused on taking care of their needs I didn't realize I was getting so sick.  Friday rolled around and I took Blaine to school and went to my regular midwife prenatal appointment and realized just how sick I had gotten.  Baby's heartbeat was strong and he was moving like a champ so they told me to go home and rest and stay on the Tamiflu which should shorten my symptoms.  By the time we got home David started to emerge from his sickness and I started to go downhill quickly.  He managed to muster the strength to care for the kids Friday evening while I came down with the fever, chills, body aches and the worst cough I've ever had.  Saturday was another day of the same for me but David continued to improve and the kids were happy to watch movies and play around the house most of the day.  Wow, it's been rough.

It's taken me almost five days to write this post.  David had to make a quick trip to Portland for work but is back in the saddle here now.  Today is the first day that I am not coughing to the point of wanting to vomit - so I consider that an improvement!  After yesterday, Blaine's holiday party at school (which I was in charge of), I think it will hopefully be a relaxing time until we celebrate Christmas and have this baby.  One good thing about being under the weather is being forced to lay on the couch here in front of our beautiful Christmas tree with the fire crackling, listening to Christmas music.  It is nice to slow down like this, I just wish I wasn't hacking up a lung at the same time!  I am praying to get well (much more quickly than the snails pace I'm recovering right now) so I can have all my strength to deliver Baby Sev.  

Santa brought us a fancy new camera for Christmas (thanks Santa :) and we've really been enjoying that.  Here are a few pictures we've taken with our very amateur abilities.

Mister!

Yes, Mister is hugging HG.  And yes, Mister is holding a stick.
You fill in the blanks. :)

Right after this picture was taken a bird took HG's sandwich away.
Then there was devastation. :(

Well, If You Must Know

It's been a while.  I know this.  So, in a nutshell...

Blaine got a mo-hawk.  But his curls are making a comeback
and I think he's going to have a curl-hawk here pretty soon. 

Blaine and David caught some fish.

They cleaned them.

We ate them.  (Mmmmmmmm!)

We watched Daddy play softball.  The best part of the game though
was when my sweet Mister asked me, "When is this gonna be over?  And
is Daddy's game going to be on TV?  I'll just watch it later." (LOL)

And then May came.  And apparently it snows in Colorado.  IN MAY!

Blaine made a super cool volcano with Ms. Sara.
But then he ran out of vinegar.  (What a project!)

Oh, did I mention that it SNOWED in May?

Tug had a growth on his eye.  The vet had to remove it surgically.
He is now sporting a cone so he doesn't paw at his stitches and
I think his eye might be permanently droopy post-op. :(  Poor thing.

Mister is still in swim lessons but now he has a fancy swim cap.

I went on a women's retreat with our church.  It was, hands down,
one of the top five best weekends of my life.  God worked
very powerfully this past weekend.  I am a grateful lady today.

More of Crooked Creek Ranch, where the retreat was held.

My kids' favorite cousin had her 1st birthday party this
weekend too.  She loved her cake.  More than any other
one year old.. ever.. I think!

And of course, Hannah G never turns down a cupcake.
Wouldn't be right.

Every time we go to see Uncle Steve (and I do mean, EVERY time)
Hannah fake cries and says, "I don't yike Uncle Steeeve.  He's a big guy."
Which is funny because she says it every time and he's not big.
Clearly she is "not" liking this book at all!

Her favorite party favor: noise makers!  Oh, I'll
get Aunt Sarah back for this someday :)

Oh, there is a lot more but I can't remember any of it right now.  I do know there are only two more full weeks of school left after this one and then it is officially SUMMER break and next week marks one whole year of David's employment at Trada!  Not to mention the biggest news of all - some little person around here is turning 3 in a month!  Wow, time flies when you're having the busiest and craziest life ever!

I'll be sure to update you all again when the kids are like 9 and 7!  Ha :)

A Little Bit of Crazy In Iowa

By the grace of God we have made it - to Iowa, that is.  Des Moines to be more specific.  The kids and I (plus Tug) are on our way to Michigan (yes, driving) and it wasn't until about three hours into the trip that I realized there wasn't any turning back and I wondered in the back of my mind if I had made a huge mistake in taking on this monster of a trip and not because anything bad happened but because at three hours I realized that I had another six hours to drive, just today, and I wanted to vomit.

The good news is that it was a great trip to our halfway point!  I literally built a wall, with suitcases and pillows, between the feuding duo in the backseat which made the drive lovely.  Nearly every electronic, sticker book, and snack known to man was at their (the feuding duo's) disposal and after nine and a half hours of driving it turns out that we only had to stop twice!  I consider today's drive a victory.  Mainly because I only had to yell once (ok, maybe twice.)

We will spend the week in Michigan doing all kinds of fun things.  Well, the kids will be doing fun things and I'll hopefully be sleeping in and lying on the couch most of the day.  (Shhhh, don't tell me family I am using them for a break!)

With another long day ahead of us tomorrow I suppose I should get some shut eye.  I asked Tug if he could drive the second leg of our trip but he just stared at me.  Guess that's a 'no!'

33 Wonderful Years Plus!

Where has the time gone?  I celebrated a birthday, my mom has been visiting (leaving tomorrow), we've been busy with lots of activities, and we've had multiple meetings at Blaine's school and at the STAR Center.  Same ol' story though - I'm just flat out exhausted at the end of the day so the blog sits and waits.

On the weekend of my birthday (October 27th) nine years ago I was visiting Austin, Texas for the first time.  I was living in Houston at the time and David and I had just had our first date two weeks before.  He invited me to celebrate with him and we never looked back after that.  I had a lot of fun reminiscing and having fun with the kids who wouldn't be here if that relationship hadn't begun almost a decade ago. :)  Of the last 33 years of my life, the last decade has by far been the richest, most blessed I have known (or perhaps I'm just more aware now!)  Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special and full of love.

flowers for my birthday...

 

and snow for my birthday...

Mister super happy about the snow.

GG arrived last Wednesday just in time for Halloween festivities.

Waiting for GG.

Happy to wait :)

Both kids were excited to get dressed up and ask for candy since they rarely get to eat it.  Hannah was scared of D's costume and even though Blaine was nervous to go up to the houses he did super!  We were so proud of him but the best part is that he was more excited about handing out candy than he was about getting it.  In fact he ate one piece of candy and then hasn't asked about it since.  (Victory!  This Mama says :) Hannah, on the other hand, has had her fair share but hasn't cared about it much recently. 

David, my favorite poultry

I always have a list a mile-long when my mom comes - from shopping, to day-trips, to organization, to shopping, more shopping, and more organization... there is never enough time to do it all!  And the kids keep GG on her toes, demanding her attention every moment they can.  We appreciate and love her so much.  Thanks Mom!

 

She helped me make gifts for Ms. Ali and her co-workers...

 

 

She hiked with us in the Rocky Mountain National Park...

 

She helped Hanny and I shop...

She went to Boondocks Fun Center with Blaine to spend his allowance...

She was able to meet and love on our newest family member... Ms. Peyton.  (I am the oldest and Peyton is the youngest grandchild on my mom's side of the family.)

And she just helped us all have a whole lotta fun :)

And now we're all really tired!

 

 

And a lot happening in Blaine's world but I'll have to leave that for another day.  He has finished 11 OT sessions at the STAR center and we're starting to learn more about Sensory Processing Disorder and how it is affecting Blaine specifically.  Life is just sometimes rough for our Mister!  We've had two long and in-depth meetings at Blaine's school and while we're not impressed with our options right now, we're continuing with the public education system because we've invested so much at this point and we're halfway through the year.  The administration has and continues to be diligent and helpful and are seemingly putting Blaine as a top priority.  It's been exhausting to say the least...

 

I've been working on this post for hours now - multitasking at its finest!  Now it's time for bed.