Just for Mommy

Every once in awhile you need to do something just for you. I think being a mom we have a hard time doing that. Someone else is always on our minds. The things we need to do are always on our minds. So even when we do something just for us it turns out that it isnt just for us.

Am I being cryptic enough yet? LOL Ok ok. I went and did something that I have been wanting to do. Just for me. But then I got to thinking. And it ended up being something for someone else. Let me know what you think!

Before                                                                      After

So my just for me new look ended up being an 11in braid that was donated to locks of love. :)

Big Birthday party

The boys party was CRAZY. I have never felt like I talked to so many and so few people all at once. There were 16 kids here. I think we had 30 or so adults. My boos are spoiled and want for nothing. It looks like a toy store exploded in my living room. With all that said it was worth it. Though I do know why birthdays only come once a year. It would kill the parents if there were more. As you can see it took me a few days to recover. So here are some pics...

The cupcakes say: Owen & Ethan’s 1st wild rumpus

The cake was designed and created by Renee at Sugar cake design

Photos in this blog were taken by Christy at Christy Fall Photography

Choices

We were given a choice today. I knew all alone this choice was ours to make but I thought that we wouldn’t have to make it. I thought that the choice would be made for us.

Owen had another head check today. When all the measurements were taken I was told that though Owen did have a growth spurt (his head circumference grew a whole cm) his cross measurements maintained the same difference as our last check. This tells us that we may have seen all the change in his head that we are going to see. He isn’t completely symmetrical and his soft spot not yet closed completely yet. BUT with no change in the difference in 3 weeks with a growth spurt is it worth it to keep the helmet on?

So that is the choice we have to make. Keep the helmet on and hope we get a little more change OR be happy with the results we did get and ditch the helmet.

What do you think?

If we decide we are done I have to decide soon or go in for additional measurements for the government because they regulate the helmets. If we decide to continue with the helmet I need to call to make another appointment for in 3 weeks.

Owen's head just before getting the helmet on for the first time

Owen's head today

A very late thank you

Last month (I know I am bad) I got a message from a friend telling me she hoped I didnt mind but she knew it was safe. She gave my address to a friend of hers who saw my blog and wanted to send something to the boys. After asking a few questions I decided it was ok.

Not long after that I got a package from a sweet woman who sent the boys all kinds of things. Toys and coloring tools. It was a very nice package that came with an even nicer note.

Well then came my birthday, the holiday, the boys birthday and New Years and before I knew it, it is the next month and I still havent sent a thank you. So I decided to do it here.

To the gifter (I am not calling her by name out of respect and privacy)

Thank you so much for reading my blog and caring enough to want to send my boys such a kind and generous gift. They love the trains. I cant wait to see how they do with the crayons. Mega Blokx are a big hit. Again thank you so much. I am sorry it took me so long to write this I should have done it sooner.

Love,

Amber, Erick, Owen and Ethan

12 month appointment

Friday the boys had their 12 month appointment. I was worried that Ethan wasnt going to get his shots because he had a fever the day before and was still warm when we were at the office.

The good news

Ethan got his shots and both boys are growing well.

Owen

Weight: 21lbs 2oz

Length: 29.5in

Head: 47cm

Ethan

Weight: 21lbs 14oz

Length: 29in

Head: 47in

The bad news

Ethan's murmur is still audible so he has to see a cardiologist. We still have to see the GI in SF the first week of Feb. AND after months of no eczema on either of the boys Ethan's whole tummy is rashed and Owen's whole back, up his neck, around his ears and in his hair are broken out. This is the worse I have seen it and nothing has changed to cause it.

New year new goals

Just before the end of the year I had a check with my ob/gyn for the cyst I had. Well the good news is it is gone. The Ob brought up a good question... When do you want #3? Woah I was not expecting that. This time last year I was having my 5 year IUD put in. So I asked a few question in response to his question. I asked him a bunch of what ifs. Like "What if I did get the IUD out when would "normal" fertility return?" "Seeing as I didnt have normal fertility how does that effect me?" "Once we do get the IUD out how long would we have to try on our own before he would step in and help again?" So after those and about 6 more questions I left (IUD still firmly in place).

After that appointment I came home and talked to Erick. It was a long SERIOUS talk. I told him everything the Ob said about how he thinks we will need clomid again, we can have it whenever we want once the IUD is out, he does not have the ability to monitor me on clomid so we would be on our own again, normal fertility returns in the first 3 months of removing the IUD. I gave Erick all the facts. We talked for a long time and together we decided that now is not the time. A LOT of what went into the decision was me.

I am not happy with me right now. Before the boys I dropped 40 lbs. I felt good. I felt I looked good. I had energy. I want that back before we add to our family. I want to feel good about the way I look and feel. Dont get me wrong I am still down some of what I lost before the boy so I am still not as heavy as I have been in the last 5 years or even in the last 2 years. But I have this yucky "twin skin" so I look heavier then I am. So what Erick and I decided is that in 40-50 lbs or 4 years (when my IUD would need changed) we will reevaluate and discuss adding to our family again.

The new goal
I want to get back on the eliptical. We have one in our garage. I havent been on it sense I found out I was pregnant. I also want to get back to drinking my water. I was drinking 2 ltrs a day. Now I am lucky if I drink anything at all all day til dinner. I am also going back to some of the foods I ate before pregnancy. I hope to be a healthier and happier me.

First workout
Just did my first new years work out. 20 min on the eliptical. 850 steps. That is an avg of 42.5 rpm. Not bad for my first workout in 2 years.