Hunting For Brain Lesions

Yesterday Tom and I took Caleb to Banner Desert for an MRI.

They had to put him to sleep since there was no possible way for him to be held still for an hour inside the machine.

He hated waking up.
I'll keep you updated on the findings inside my child's head.

Catch Up

A few weeks ago we went to the zoo with Mandi and her Grandma and her Sis-in-law. It was a lot of fun and a great way for the kids to spend their last day of Christmas break. Caleb was not cooperating for pictures, instead he decided to head butt my chest by throwing himself backwards, but Mandi was lucky to click the camera just in time when he was on his way up.

Four Generations

Tom's Grandma Chambers has come for a visit this month. We had her and his parents over for dinner last night, it was great to see her. It's been many years since Tom and I saw her last, I think even before we had kids. So it was great to sit and visit and catch up.

Back Row: Grandma Chambers, Kraig & Karen

Front Row: If you don't know who these people are you shouldn't be reading this.

And I hope she doesn't kill me.

I promised I wouldn't post this picture, but this was just the absolute funnest thing we've done in a long time. Mandi and I took the babies and rode around the zoo in this lovely bicycle contraption. And boy did we get a work out. It was exhausting, we only went for an hour, but managed to circle the zoo a few times. Every time we would get to the top of a huge hill and then go down the bottom, Mandi would say, "let's turn around and go back up!". Yeah, you can tell who's been working out and who hasn't in that relationship. Aaahhh!! I was tired.

And speaking of working out, Yoga 5x a week is going swell, probably because it's only two days in. I wrangled my husband into working out with me yesterday and gleefully kicked his trash. It was great. He even called me Jillian and I swelled with pride. And even old Paul is hanging in there, except when I dropped a laundry basket on him and he howled in pain, I might have dropped a tear myself.

Tomorrow, tomorrow!

Those two words have my mind singing with the musical Annie, one of my obsessions as a child. If Ms. Hannigan can turn nice in the end, doesn’t that mean there is hope for us all? I certainly hope so, because lately I’ve been a beast. I think I have crazy nerves about accomplishing my yoga 5x a week, starting this week. I’m feeling more determined than ever, it’s like my last chance workout, if I can’t get my act together, and start doing something, anything, than I feel like I’ll never climb past my twelve pound gain since the summer. Sure there have been some thyroid setbacks, but I can’t let that get me down. Tomorrow I will overcome with yoga. Tomorrow I will feel more peaceful with yoga, about myself, about Tom’s residency, about our future. Tomorrow, tomorrow! Can’t come soon enough.

Yoga 5X a Week

I’ve decided to challenge myself. And I’ve decided to do it publicly so my human weaknesses won’t win out and make me a failure.

You see the other day I was walking along when someone (who had been walking behind me for awhile) asked me if I was still doing yoga every day.

First of all, I’ve never been doing yoga every day, at best maybe three times a week, but never once a day, and most consistently twice a week for a very long time.

Anyway, I was all of a sudden consciously aware of my love handles that I desperately tried to pull my jean waist over in order to diminish their appearance, and my inner thighs shamelessly brushing together as I continued to walk.

Was I still doing yoga every day?

No.

Over the past six months I’ve been lucky to get in five times a month. So after months of wanting and wishing I were more active, I’ve finally deciding to start the doing of it. Now despite the obvious benefit of being a yogi, there are several reasons for this challenge, as follows:

1. Inner yoga peace?
2. A goal, any goal to get me out of my daily feeling sorry for myself that I pick up vomit all day, live with my mother and have no education slump.
3. I’ve thought long and hard that this “slump” might just be depression, and I’m so not ready to be beaten by it, and exercise always helps me with mental wellness.
4. To stop the consistent migraines and headaches that have come to plague me since my yoga absence.
5. To tone my thighs. Just had to throw that in, because seriously there has to be some physical benefit, right?

Anyway, the challenge officially starts this Monday, the 18th. It continues on until scheduled bunion surgery, which is not scheduled, but will mostly likely be in a couple of months? Hopefully Paul can hang in with yoga 5x a week until then. Paul being my bunion’s name. (Amy named it, thought my bunion needed a serious name, except it’s my Grandfathers name as well, so that doesn’t really work. So if anyone has any other bunion name suggestions, I’m all ears, but it must be a serious name, until then, said bunion will be referred to as Paul.) Paul doesn’t hurt today and I think he’s just as excited to start on Monday as I am. Woo hoo. Right?

Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve. The boys unwrapped Christmas robes and pj's. Caleb lasted a whole hour before he puked on them. Yeah.
Christmas morning. Don't they look excited?

Checking out the goods.

Caleb coming in to see his stash. He played it cool. It's always a bit overwhelming.

Tyler & Gina stayed with us for about a week and a half. So we had seven little boys all under the age of seven. Lots of fun.

Wyatt, Collin, Talin & Wesley.

The highlight was Collin getting his own leapster.

Talin showing off his didj.

Wesley with his favorite stocking stuffer.

Ryder was a little put out at opening presents, apparently he wanted to be doing something else.

Wyatt & Wesley & Tyler with the nerf guns. Christmas day was spent being hunted by little boys.

Caleb on his favorite toy, a scooter. Unfortunately he can't ride it himself, so he either is screaming at someone to help him or screaming because no one will. Stupid Santa.

This is what Collin has been doing the entire Christmas vacation. At least he's been quiet.

Tyler and Wesley with their matching shirts. Doesn't he looked thrilled to look just like his dad?

Tyler and Gina got this big rolling ball for Christmas. We took the kids down to the park and rolled them in it. It was fun.

All the kids took turns, even Gina and I got in for a turn (not at the same time).

Noah was the first one in tears. Surprisingly enough he was the only one.

Trying out my new camera that Tom got me. So needed a new one.

Christmas chaos. Mandi and Nate came over for dinner and we unwrapped more Christmas presents.

Gina & I chillin on the couch.

The house was surprisingly quiet with seven little boys, we can only thank the gameboys for that.

They were so into their games we had to remind them to eat.

Isn't he adorable? Ryder and Caleb became little buddies while he was here.

Noah, Ryder & Caleb.

Santa brought Talin & Collin new suits. Here is Talin in his. Can't believe this boy turns eight in four months!

Collin looking handsome in his.

No, they are not Hitler Youth. They are trying to mimic the pose from Saturday's Warriors. Didn't come out right.

Couldn't get Caleb to hold still to take a decent picture, but he was quite a doll himself in his Sunday outfit.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. We certainly did, and we loved spending it with all our family!

Weak Stomach

We had Kraig & Karen (Tom's parents) over for dinner last night for his birthday. It was a gorgeous night, so we ate outside. Lasagna and bittersweet chocolate pear cake.

The best present was a pair of Suns tickets for Wednesday night. Tom has lived in Arizona most his life and never been to a Suns game, so I figured at 31 he deserved it.

Kraig and Karen had to leave after dessert to sing in a Christmas program, but oh did they miss out! We spent the rest of the evening lounging all over one another and watching the Wizard of Oz.

Then we got suffocated and the lounging ended.

Hope this was a cleaner birthday post for those of you with weak stomachs, can't stand a little necking eh?

Happy Birthday Lover.

Collin Turns Six

Yesterday was Collin's official birthday, we celebrated on Saturday with a Harry Potter party.

The Gryffindors

vs.

The Slytherins

After the trivia dueling there was pizza.

And Cake. Can't believe he's six!


Then we opened the presents.

If you look closely you can see who is on his pins. Hilarious! The long awaited for scooter.

This is the boy who refuses to ride a bike because he only wants to ride a scooter.

I think we know what Caleb wants as well.

It was an exhausting day with lots of kids, but well worth it for Collin.

We love this boy, life would be a whole lot duller without him around!

Happy Birthday Collin!