French Kiss

Max does this thing now where he grabs me by both sides of my face- sometimes grabbing my hair too- and pulls my face to his, and plants a big, open-mouth kiss on my lips. Sometimes there is even tongue involved. When I pull away from him, there are multiple strings of drool hanging between us. Kinda gross, but kinda the best thing in the whole world :)

Serenity Now!

The following blog might be an over-share :)

So, it all started when I woke up this morning and found that there was blood in my ear. Just a tiny, tiny bit of blood, but it was coming from my inner ear, so, of course, I Googled "blood in ear" to find a diagnosis, and things weren't looking good for me according to Dr. World Wide Web. I decided to call my doctor- the one that I've only seen once, two years ago- and made an appointment for later in the afternoon.

Okay, I have to admit that I was especially freaked out about the blood in the ear because someone who worked at Devon's company died of a brain aneurysm two weeks ago, and Devon mentioned that he was bleeding from the ear. Brain aneurysms are so scary (for obvious reasons), and I always wonder if people who have them have symptoms of headaches. I get a headache every single day! Call me paranoid, but I've got children to raise- I can't die yet!

By 9am, I was pretty certain that my condition was terminal. I was trying not to be dramatic about it, but when the front tire of my stroller went flat during the first 5 minutes of Stroller Strides, directly in front of a park, I won't deny that I thought God might be telling me to spend some time at the park with Lucy because, after all, I don't have much time left!

The kids and I made it to the doctor appointment, and the doctor checked my ear and saw absolutely no sign of blood. She asked if I felt any discomfort in my sinuses or my throat, and I said no but that I do get headaches everyday. I told her that I assume that my headaches are due to my neck aches, and my neck aches are probably due to multi-tasking while holding and/or nursing my 17+ pound baby.

So, the rest of the appointment went like this:

Doctor: Well, the headaches could also be due to stress. Do you feel stress?

Me: Yeah, occasionally. But I feel a ton of anxiety. Like, everyday I feel anxiety.

Doctor: I am going to give you a prescription to help with anxiety. Take it for a week, and call me if it doesn't help and we can increase the dose.

Me: How will I know if it is helping?

Doctor: Your should feel better and your mood will be better.

Me: MY MOOD WILL BE BETTER??? Oh, my husband will be able to tell me if it is working!!!

Did you catch that? I went to the doctor because of some phantom blood in my ear, and I left with a prescription for CHILL-PILLS!

Here are some of the thoughts running through my head--

What if I don't really need anti-anxiety meds? What if I am just exhausted because I have 3 kids, one of which is currently misdirecting his biological-mother-is-absent anger toward little 'ole innocent ME!

What if I just need a really good nap?

What if I like these meds? At what point do I stop taking them?

The side effects may include anxiety (WTH?), constipation, decreased sexual desire, tiredness, trouble sleeping, vomiting... what if I become even MORE anxious? What if I become a sexless puker who can't sleep or poop?????

Maybe I'm making a big deal out of something that really isn't that big of a deal. If it was so easy for me to obtain the prescription, perhaps the doctor sees many post-partum women who struggle with anxiety.

Maybe my mood really will be better.

Maybe I will actually feel less anxiety.

Hmmmm......

The jury is still out on this one. Thoughts?

Busy Birthday Boy!

Devon had a birthday (September 3rd), and we have been keeping so busy that his special day went unnoticed in blog-world! Sorry, Dev! So, now, two weeks later, I'd like to back-track a bit :)

THE BIG 3-9!!! His final lap of the 30's! I think it is safe to say that the 30's have been kind to Devon-- he upgraded his wife (yes, I SAID IT!) and welcomed two new babies, he was promoted at work, he traveled a bunch, and he is well on his way to meeting his goal of being in the best shape of his life by his 40th birthday (more details on that later!).

Devon really wanted to spend his birthday on the golf course, so he wisely planned a work-outing on his special day, meaning that he and all of his work buddies golfed on the company's dime. Smart man, that hubby of mine!

He got home just in time to have a 40 minute birthday party with the kids and his mom (dinner, presents, and a low-fat ice cream cake)...

and then we were out the door! Our friends, the Adcocks, gave Devon their tickets to the Seahawks final pre-season game! We sat in the Hawk's Nest, and we loved the seats!

Max got a ton of attention at the game. As it turns out, drunk football fans love babies!

Side note: I am pretty comfortable breast-feeding anywhere- restaurants, Mariners games, movie theaters, church... but I have found a place where I just couldn't do it! Not quite a La Leche League crowd, you know? So, when Max was ready, I went to the ladies room and sat on the floor and nursed him. You do whatcha' gotta' do!

We enjoyed the evening, Max was a super-fan, though he fell asleep before the game was over.

Devon had a great birthday :)

I sure love that 39 year old!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Forget January 1st- Today is a day to celebrate!

BACK TO SCHOOL.... a new year!

Joseph started the 5th grade today, and he wouldn't let me take the annual first day of school picture from our porch as usual, so I had to take it right before he walked out the door. But don't worry, I snuck a pic from the porch after he crossed the street and walked onto campus :)

After I got Joe out the door, it was time for Stroller Strides, and I lost some weight today! Not in my butt or thighs, but in my stroller! Today was the first time that I sat Max in the stroller rather than in his infant seat, and I could totally tell that the stroller was lighter without the infant seat. I was a little worried that he was too small and that he would be too floppy, but he seemed to love facing forward and was asleep within minutes!

AND THEN... the celebration continued because I got a package in the mail!

I received a Good Sheesh Box from Andrea, and, let me tell you, it was full of GOOD SHEESH!! All of my favorite things- from jalapeno potato chips and Junior Mints to pajamas and a candle, this box was full of love and was such a treat! Andrea even crafted a frame and put in a picture of my kiddos :) Thank you Andrea!! I feel spoiled and loved! Every single item was so thoughtful and so perfect!

New Year's Day is ending with all 3 kids asleep before 10pm. Wow! Maybe I should get off the computer and make the most of the time alone with my husband.

But before I go, here is one more pic of Lover Boy :) I kept checking on him in his crib when he was supposed to be napping, but I just kept finding this happy face!