Springing Forward

I have got Spring Fever.  It can not come soon enough.  I have so many plans for the months coming up and so excited that I can't wait for them to get here.  Because...

1)  I just started weaning Mason.  I've only cut out one feeding and I cried all day.  Something about knowing he's my last baby and it breaks my heart.  I want him to stay a baby forever!  I see why my older sister always complained about me getting whatever I wanted all the time (of course I didn't see it that way at all--I got hand me downs all the time).  As much as I LOVE breastfeeding, I am also excited to be moving on past this stage.  So I can...

2) Lose that baby weight!  I ordered my Advocare 24 day challenge... and I'm weaning myself off the bad junk food I've been eating lately.  I can not wait to get started again.  Looking forward to having energy, sleeping better, eating better, feeling better!  I love Advocare products and they WORK as long as you stick to healthy clean eating.  It is hard, but worth it.  Because I want to be 40 and fit with 4 kids!  My hubs is turning 40 next year (I'm not far behind him).  I have 3 years to reach all my goals physically:  still fit into my wedding dress, get into my favorite jeans, I'd prefer to wear my size 8 clothes again, and I'm not worried about the scales as much... but I'd be happy with my 145 lb weight goal (even better is my record 138 but I've been told I look anorexic at that weight even though I'm happy with it and feel great at that weight).   So that is a 30 pound weight loss goal!  Yep, I put on 40 with Mason---wow!  20 year high school reunion will be coming up next year -- so I hope to be close to my goals by that point!  Not even sure if I'm going or if we will have one, but just in case.   But I'm putting my goals out there so I'm held somewhat accountable.

3) Vacations.  I plan to start taking some new medications (I'm terrified to try them) for my psoriatic arthritis.  I can't walk more than 0.5 miles without my knee feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife.  My elbows throb in the shower while I wash my hair.  All my joints hurt most of the time.  I keep psoriasis in my hair even if I'm not having a flare-up on my skin.  I am so tired of it, and willing to try one of the new approved drugs even though there are several side effects I'm scared of.
I'm 37 and can't walk more than 1/2 mile -- what would I do when I'm 40 and we want to go to DisneyWorld again or another country where you walk everywhere you go?

4)  Cleaning out.  Yes mam.  Now that Mason and Mitt are outgrowing the last of the clothes - I can clean out my attic!!! Hallelujah!  If you know me, then you know clothes are a bit of my obsession.  Plus when you have older nieces, it all adds up!  Can not wait to get rid of all these plastic boxes that have taken over my house!  And baby gear.  I am drowning in a sea of toys!  I will be selling and donating a TON of stuff this summer.


All of that needs to happen June ;)  jk

Valentine's Day was very low-key for us this year.  I was a horrible wife and didn't even get Matt a card.  Told him I would make up for it by cooking whatever he wanted one day this week?  Does that make up for not being able to get to the store last week because I've had a sick child?

Merritt has been sick for 1 full week and then woke up running a high fever this am.  Ugh.  so this is as good as the pics got yesterday.  You can see Mason wasn't up for getting his pic made (nap time!).

Only way to catch his picture is while he is asleep and not moving!

and just for fun... since everyone seems to like his Mohawk hair...mati claire calls it his "chicken hair".  :)

Omphalocele Awareness Day 2016

Sorry, I'm a little late in posting.  O Awareness Day is Jan. 31st each year.  Its amazing to see a showcase of these babies.  Even remembering the ones that have passed.  In the MOO group, we get to know each other, whether through the multitude of questions posted or being located physically near another MOO (moms of omphaloceles).

This past year, several states have had the day legally recognized by the state government as Omphalocele Awareness Day.  Definitely on our way to be nationally recognized!

Awareness?  Yes, we need to let each mom that gets the diagnosis know that it is not a reason to terminate the pregnancy.  They will have struggles.   It will be hard.  Its heartbreaking.   The baby may make it or not make it.  In the words of my own OB/GYN, "it may or may not be compatible with life."  I'd say in MOST cases, the baby will be ok.  Or at least in my experience (despite what the statistics may say).  But you have hope, you have the MOO group there for you to answer your questions that most doctors can't, and you have an increase in modern medicine and technology on your side.

We've seen articles where the CDC says cases of omphaloceles and gastrochisis are increasing.  I might agree with that.  In the 4 years that I've been a part of the world-wide MOO group, membership has gone from around 400 to thousands!  Granted, some of those are GOO's (grandmothers or grandfathers of omphaloceles), DOO's (dads of omphaloceles), etc.   Most of us do NOT agree that so called "risk factors" are true.  There are SO many of us that had none of these existing factors to cause such a defect.  Personally, I don't smoke, I'm not obese, I don't do drugs, I wasn't taking any medications, and I'm not African-American.

It was just God's will.  Why you ask?  No, I don't think God is cruel, but He does allow trials and tribulations to test your faith.  John 16:33 says you have trouble in this world, but you will also find peace in Him.  I will go as far as to say, your family won't understand.  At times, your spouse/partner won't understand.  Your friends won't truly understand.  Who will you turn to?  God was my rock.

Merritt is a happy, healthy 3 1/2 year old who eats everything in sight.  Just the other night she put down 3 oysters, 2 shrimp, a salad, chicken, onions, mushrooms, grits, pasta, and milk.... at one meal! Yes, I wish my other kids would eat like she does!  I have no idea where she puts it, but food has never been her struggle since she was 2 weeks old.  She's odd for an O baby like that, but I know several other similar to her.  My point is that every O baby is different!  Some may have trouble with their lungs, their hearts, their stomachs, or have other genetic abnormalities.  In Merritt case, she has a VSD (hole) in her heart.  But it does NOT hold her back at all.

Merritt, we love you and thank God for you!  God is using you in great ways!  "Your people" love you!

Saw this on a new t-shirt the other day:  "Who needs bellybuttons anyway?  They just collect lent." :)