Happy Easter

Happy Easter!
We had a very blessed Easter. The entire family got together at Joel & Valerie's house for brunch. We had a yummy spread of pancakes, quiche, bacon, sandwiches, pastries, doughnuts, fruit, cheese, bread, etc.
After everyone ate, the kids got some Easter baskets and then we had an egg hunt. Actually, 2. We did one for the older girls and then one for all of the little kids!
Miguel read a story about the reason for Easter. The celebration of Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection into eternal life with the Father. What a beautiful love story. Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Thank you for taking the burden of all of my sins so I may live forever, with you.
Above are pictures of each of the grand kids (from both side of our family) in age order. More Easter pictures can be found on my smugmug.

Easter Egg Dyeing

The family got together at Joel & Valerie's house tonight to dye Easter eggs. This was Colin's first time, and though he had fun dyeing 1 egg...the fun wore off after about 5 minutes. Colin did have a blast playing with Christian, and the grown-ups had fun dyeing eggs! More pictures on my smugmug.

Digi Scrap Collab - Week 5 Challenge

Here's Emily's Challenge:
Week 4 - 'Silly Faces'


Have your LO to Emily by next Wednesday night. She'll post the LO's on Thursday and the next challenge host will be announced. Anyone is welcome, and if you're new to Digi questions are welcomed. We'd love to help.

***Edited 4/14/09***


Journaling:
The many
silly faces
of Colin

6 Month Comparison

Colin - TOP Brennan - BOTTOM

6 Months Old

My Brennan is 6 months old!

Newborn

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months
4 Months


5 Months
6 Months

He's changed so much in the past 6 months! Isn't he just the cutest little thing you've ever seen? Though he looks like an angel, I can assure you that he is not! He is definitely our diffucult child. He likes to cry...a lot. We love him more than anything though and we are so blessed to have him in our lives. I took him in for his 6 month portraits, and I'll get them back next week, so I'll post them then. Brennan also has his 6 month doctor's appointment next week, so I'll post about that after it!

Brennan's First Haircut

I took Brennan today for his first haircut. His hair was looking pretty scary...a little Albert Einstein-ish! He did well. Actually, really well. No crying at all. He sat in the little race car and held onto the steering wheel. It was adorable. More pictures are on my smugmug.

Future Musician?

Everyday, and I do mean EVERYDAY, Colin tells me: "Mommy, I play drums, piano & guitar." It is the cutest thing...EVER. Here are a few pictures that I snapped recently.

***I'm still looking for the one that I took of him playing his guitar.

Digi Scrap Collab - Week 4 Challenge

Here's Casey's Challenge:
Week 4 - 'Vacation Memories'

Share your favorite vacation memory or memories and why it was one of your favorite memories.


Have your LO to Casey by next Wednesday night. She'll post the LO's on Thursday and the next challenge host will be announced. Anyone is welcome, and if you're new to Digi questions are welcomed. We'd love to help.


***Edited 4/6/09***

Journaling:
A few of my
favorite photos
of us during
our visit to PR
in March 2008.
We visited the
beach, rainforest,
historic buildings,
Old San Juan, &
family. We ate the
best food ever and
watched my in-laws
renew their vows.
What a blast!

The Grocery Game

Yes ladies and gents, I'm playing The Grocery Game! I'm slightly addicted. It's so much fun to see how much you can save!

For the last 3 weeks, I have been collecting coupons and stockpiling items that are really low-priced. I've even gotten a bunch of stuff for FREE or nearly free. It's amazing!

The first week I got $68 worth of stuff for under $10. Last week I got $168 worth of stuff for around $20. This week I got $123.36 worth of stuff for $17.07 Those prices are my stockpile prices only...it doesn't include my weekly groceries.

Including my weekly groceries, this week I spent $87.58 for $218.04 worth of groceries. I'd say that is pretty awesome!

Brennan

Brennan is my little miserable baby. He just cries and cries and cries. The only time that he is semi-happy is when he's being held. I love the little boy to death, but man oh man, it can wear you down.

Miguel and I have noticed the crying spells getting worse over the last 6 weeks or so. He's to the point now that he's started waking up several times a night crying and not napping very much or well during the day. He's pushing his bottle away, pulling his hair, scratching up his face. It's not fun to watch or hear.

Brennan's had a cold for about a week. Nothing major...just a runny nose, congestion and a dry cough. When he went into his screaming bloody murder fit this morning, I couldn't take it anymore. I called the pediatrician, and they decided to have us come in.

We saw the nurse practitioner. She listened to his tummy, talked to us about formula and solids, looked into his eyes, ears and throat and determined that he has a little bit of fluid in his right ear. It wasn't red, but she said that it could turn into an infection, so she's treating it as one just in case it was causing pressure. She also is having us stop baby food and only give him formula and rice cereal to see if all of this has something to do with food. If the last two things don't work, then at Brennan's 6 month appointment (in about 2 weeks), they will increase the dose of his Prevacid and chalk it up to his reflux. If that doesn't work, then they will consider a 'behavior problem'. What in the heck is that?

Anyway, after a very frustrating 6 weeks (and getting a little worse each day...), I'm looking forward to the easy-go-lucky Brennan that we used to have! I'm really hoping that the antibiotics work, and that the fluid in his ear was bothering him, though, I don't really believe that to be the case.

Brennan's Doctor Appointment - Updated

We just got back from Brennan's doctor appointment where the pedi. re-checked Brennan's head shape, and told whether or not he thinks Brennan should go for a helmet consultation.

First, the pedi. was very impressed with Brennan's torticollis improvement. He said he would no longer classify him as having torticollis. Yay! He was also impressed with the fact that Miguel and I did all of the stretching exercises ourselves. He was saying that most kids with torticollis that have that much improvement have gone through some sort of PT or OT.

Now the head...

The pedi. said that Brennan's head is much BETTER than the last visit (at 4 months). That being said, it is still slightly flat. The bulge that was in the front of his forehead has greatly improved, and there is only a small ridge in the back of his head. Perfect, no. Liveable, sure. The pedi. said that he doesn't feel it medically necessary to have the helmet. At this point it is strictly cosmetic. He said that he's leaving the ball in our court...if we can live with a little bit of noticable asymmetry, then don't bother with the helmet. If we want the 'perfect' head, then go have the helmet put on. The pedi. also said that since his head will still be growing for the next 4-6 months, the more he sits up, his head will get better...but not perfect.

So, yes, our prayers have been answered! Praise God! We don't NEED the helmet. Now, the tough decision...spend a ton of money (which won't be covered under insurance now since it's cosmetic) to give Brennan a 'perfect' head, or do we forego the helmet, let him have a little bit of asymmetry and hope that it's gets a little 'better' over the next 4-6 months?

What to do, what to do. Miguel and I haven't decided yet.

Digi Scrap Collab - Week 3 Challenge

Here's Bonnie's Challenge:
Week 3 - 'It Makes Me Happy When I...'

What delights you? What lifts your spirits? What's the one thing guaranteed to cheer you up when you are down?

Have your LO to Bonnie by next Wednesday night. She'll post the LO's on Thursday and the next challenge host will be announced. Anyone is welcome, and if you're new to Digi questions are welcomed. We'd love to help.

***Edited 4/1/09***

Journaling:
It Makes Me Happy
When I...
See my boys together.
Nothing brings a smile
across my face faster
than this. They are a
joy in my life!

Again...

A few years ago, probably about 4 or 5 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My grandmother, mother and sister all have this condition. I was put on synthroid. About 2 months later, I stopped taking the synthroid and my thyroid levels have been normal since then.
I noticed about a month ago that my neck looked 'fat'. I asked a few family members if it looked fat, and everyone said no...but I knew it was. I went to my OB/GYN the Wednesday for a well woman visit, and she felt my neck. She said that my thyroid is in fact enlarged. She sent my blood over for a TSH level.
I just got called this morning and they said that my TSH level is elevated (31.4...normal is 0.3-4.0), which means that I, once again, have hypothyroidism. I'll be started on synthroid again, and my blood will be re-drawn in 4 weeks to check the TSH level again.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
• Coarse, dry hair
• Dry, rough pale skin
• Hair loss
• Cold intolerance (can't tolerate the cold like those around you)
• Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
• Constipation
• Depression
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Decreased libido

I have a vast majority of those symptoms, but just chalked it up to motherhood, little sleep and poor diet. I guess I should have trusted my instinct about my 'fat' neck! ;) Hopefully I'll be feeling more energized soon!

Brennan's Doctor Appointment

I'm going to take Brennan in a little while for an appointment with his pediatrician to determine whether or not he thinks we should take Brennan to be assessed by the cranio specialist.
Over the past month or so, Miguel and I have been very diligent with re-positioning his head, and stretching exercises to help his torticollis (which is what caused the flat head). His ROM (range of motion) in his neck is sooo much better now, and I think the flatness has also gotten better. The question is, is it good enough to not require a helmet? I hope so! At least it hasn't gotten any worse!
I'll update in a bit with the doctor's opinion. I went ahead a few weeks ago and made an appointment with the cranio specialist (since the appointments are so far out), and if he the pedi. thinks we should go, then our appointment is for April 9.

Digi Scrap Collab - Week 2 LO's

Week 2 - 'Lovin' It'

My LO

Casey's LO

Bonnie's LO



Emily's LO

Check out Bonnie's Blog tomorrow for our next Digi Collab Challenge

The Love Dare Blog

So, I did go ahead and start a new blog to follow my journey through The Love Dare. I just have a simple template for now, since I couldn't get the one to work that I wanted. I'll work on it a little more tomorrow.
Not much posting up yet either, just the initial and some background.
It can be found here: Kristen's Love Dare Journey

The Love Dare

So a few nights ago, Miguel and I started The Love Dare. I'm really enjoying it so far. I look forward to reading it each evening and completing the challenge each day.

I'm considering starting a new blog to follow my journey through the book. Not sure yet if I want to do it on this blog or start a new one... I see pro's and con's to doing it each way.

Cute Little Brennan

We went to dinner with some family the other night, and this picture was taken of myself and Brennan. I just thought it was too cute and I had to share it!

Digi Scrap Collab - Week 2 Challenge

Week 2 - 'Lovin It'

Everyone loves something!
Tell us what you just love and couldn't live without by journaling it on your LO
Include a picture of this 'something' in your LO

Have your LO to me by next Wednesday night. I'll post the LO's on Thursday and the next challenge host will be announced. Anyone is welcome, and if you're new to Digi questions are welcomed. We'd love to help.

***Edited 3/21***

Journaling:
I never
would have
imagined
that I couldn't
live without
my iPhone 3G,
but she's my baby,
and I feel lost without
her. What a simple pleasure,
to have the internet at your
fingertips at all times...but
I can't live without it.
Oh, iPhone, how I love thee!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!
We had a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, applesauce, and irish soda bread. Mom has made it every year for as long as I can remember. I got a few good pictures of the family! More on my smugmug.

Digi Scrap Collab

Wanna join? Every Friday a rotating member of our crew will host a challenge. The following Wednesday night is our due date, then Thursday the layouts will be posted and the next challenge host will be announced. Anyone is welcome, and if you're new to Digi questions are welcome and we'd love to help.

Here's Emily's challenge: Find your oldest digital photo and scrap a LO that tells how long ago it was and what memory it holds.


***Edited 3/18***

Journaling:
Miguel bought me my very first digital camera for Christmas in 2002.
I can't remember the exact specs., but it was something pathetic
(according to today's standards) like 1.8 megapixels. The picture is
special to me b/c it was our first trip back to NY since moving to
TX, and I was so happy to see my Nanny! She is one of my
favorite people, and my hero!

New Layout

OMG! LOVES IT! Thank you Emily for my new AWESOME blog template. I can honestly say that this is better than any template I've ever made.

Em, we totally need to have a digi scrap class...so you can teach me all of your tricks!

5 Month Comparison

Colin - TOP Brennan - BOTTOM

I'm thinking that they boys look so different now! They have the same mouth, but that's all I see!

5 Months Old

My 'Baby Brennan', (as Colin calls him) is now 5 months old! I can't believe it! How the time is flying! He is similar to Colin at this point, but also different in so many ways!

Since turning 4 months, we have started baby food. So far he's had: peas, green beans, squash & carrots. Carrots are by far his favorite...who like peas anyway? He loves to eat. He taking 7 oz. bottles 4 times a day and solid food 2-3 times a day. He's a very good eater. He's not rolling over quite yet, but he's almost there. I'm sure that will start any day .

We've made an appointment with the cranio specialist, b/c the flatness on the side of his head doesn't seem to be getting any better. his torticollis has GREATLY improved, since Miguel and I have been diligent with the positioning and stretching exercises. His appointment is on April 9. I plan to call my pediatrician this coming week to see if he will have 1 more look at him before the cranio appointment.

He's starting to come into his little personality. He's not a very 'happy go lucky kid'. He cries quite a bit. He calms down as soon as you hold him. He has to see someone at all times...or he cries. Think he's spoiled? He has this little stuffed monkey that always seems to help quiet him down...and he tries to eat him! I told him hat we don't eat our friends...but he doesn't get it yet. He cracks up when he's tickled. He just LOVES that!

More pictures can be found on my smugmug (link to the right) in the '5 Months to 6 Months' folder.

Life Organization

It's been a long time coming, but the 'closet' of my life needs some spring cleaning and re-organization. I don't want to do it, and it's going to suck. Oh, it's going to SUCK...but it needs doing...

There are so many things that I want to be and do...but there just isn't enough time for all of it. There are so many plans that I have, aspirations & goals...but I can't do them all. Not right now. Not all at the same time.

Currently, I am juggling: caring for my boys, being a good wife, working 16 hours a week, spending time with family, trying (not doing a very good job) to be a good Christian, attending church, doing housework, starting a small online business, being an Assistant Organizer of a very active mother's group, Colin's Kindermusik class, finding time for friends outside of my mother's group, going to the gym, and getting the daily errands complete.

Here are some of the things that I want to do in addition (in no particular order...just as they come to me): have a successful online business, learn to sew, have a personal relationship with God (which requires time...time I'm not making for it right now), digi scrap more often (this is almost non-existent right now), play more WoW & Halo, become more active in church, foster loving Godly friendships, and work on my photography hobby.

So, if you can help me find some more time...let me in on the secret!

***I started this post on Saturday, but only got around to finishing it this morning 3/13***

I Need a...

Haircut.

I don't know if I'm up for a new style just yet...but I do at least need a haircut. Maybe tomorrow.

The question is: to bang or not to bang?

Colin is Sick :(

Doesn't he just look sick?

My poor Colin has been throwing up like crazy. He threw up this morning right after breakfast, and was fine right after. I gave him a bath, got him cleaned up, and he acted like his normal self for the rest of the day...

Until 5:00ish. He got whiny, came over to me and I just knew he was going to vomit. I put Brennan down just in time to be covered in vomit. It was all over me, Colin, the floor and the couch. I finally got Colin cleaned up and Brennan was screaming for food. By that time, and several vomitings later, Miguel was home, so he was able to help with Brennan while I finished getting Colin and 'the mess' cleaned up.

I made Colin a 'sick bed' on the floor in the living room, where he fell asleep around 8:00. We moved him to his room. Hopefully we will have a good night and he'll sleep through.

Brennan is Eating Baby Food

My baby is eating baby food. I can't believe it. Miguel and I gave him peas for the first time this afternoon, and he just loved them! Well, he didn't love them at first. It took a few bites, but now he loves them!

11 Years

Today Miguel and I have been together 11 years! I had just turned 15 when we started dating, and 11 years later...we've been married for 7 1/2 years and have 2 beautiful boys! My love grows deeper and deeper every day. All of our trials have made us a much stronger team. I love you with all of my heart sweetie!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Happy birthday to me! I had a WONDERFUL birthday this evening! We had family and a couple of friends over to have appetizers, cake & ice cream. I had such a good time spending time with everyone, and I felt so loved. Thank you everyone!

Chris Tomlin Concert

Miguel and I met up with a bunch of friends from church and went to the Chris Tomlin concert at Nokia Theatre tonight. All I can say was that it was amazing! I felt so blessed when I left there. It was more than just a concert for me. Unfortunately, we were sitting pretty high up and pretty far back, so my pictures didn't turn out so well, but I got a few salvageable ones...

Teething?

For the past week or so, Brennan has been extremely fussy. He's not been finishing his bottles and has been rejecting his cereal. His fingers are always in his mouth and when he gets like this...his pacifier doesn't soothe him. He's drooling quite a bit and he really only 'likes' his pacifier when I dip it in ice cold water.

To me, all of this sounds like teething...but it just seems so early. Especially when Colin didn't get his first tooth until he was 13 months old...and Colin's 'symptoms' were do different since he was older.

I've felt into Brennan's mouth, but I don't feel anything.

Thoughts?

Blog Template

Thank you SOOOOOOOO much Casey for the new blog template! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it! That was so kind of you, and it is totally me!

Happy Valentine's Day

I used to be into Valentine's Day much more than I am now. In fact, I really couldn't care less about it at all. So, if Miguel didn't do or say anything, I would be okay with that. If we didn't have special dinner plans, I would be okay with that.

That being said...Miguel surprised me with a beautiful card, one of my favorite chocolate bars, and a gift certificate for a special mani/pedi at a spa that I like. We also went out to dinner last night for sushi (one of my favorites!), went shopping at one of my favorite stores, and finished off the evening at a coffee shop.

It was so nice. It was so nice that even though he knows that I don't care about Valentine's Day he made it special. It was so nice that we had a full evening out...alone. It was so nice to have adult conversation that didn't involve the words mommy, papi, be nice, stop it, calm down, relax, lower your voice, no yelling, eat your food, no, no, no, etc. Now, I love my boys with all of my heart, but it was definitely a much needed evening!

Thank you Miguel for planning such a nice evening. I truly had a great time with you...my husband, my friend. *Muah*

New Blog Template...

But I don't like it. Maybe I'll change it soon, maybe not. It's an old one that I used a few years ago that I just updated. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now...but it was time for a change, so here it is. Take it or leave it ;).

Maybe my next template will actually be a NEW one. Maybe I'll start working on one and totally surprise you all. Maybe it'll be cool. Maybe not.

4 Month Appointment

This morning Brennan had his 4 month well baby visit. For the most part everything was ok.
He weighs 14 lbs. 3 oz (50%) and is 25 inches long (75%).
He got 2 shots and handled them really well! What a trooper! He has been sleeping a little more than usual today, but it's due to the shots.
The doctor sais that socially and developmentally he is doing wonderful! He was all smiles for the doctor today!

We have 2 small (but could become a bigger problem...) problems. I noticed (and brought up) and his 2 month appointment that he was turning his head to the right quite a bit and that the right side of his head looked a little flatter than the rest of his head. At that time, the doctor said is was a mild case of case of torticollis. Well, I've been trying to correct it for 2 months by turning his head to the left and holding it there for a minute or so during each diaper change...but it really hasn't seemed to help. In fact, I think it's gotten worse. It is obvious that he favors looking to the right, and because of it, the right side of his head has gotten even flatter...which is causing his forehead to bulge a little bit. The doctor agreed with my observation, and now says that he has moderate torticollis. He told us that we need to be much more diligent with stretching his head to the left and giving him much much more tummy time (he HATES tummy time). He also wants him sitting up more. He wants me to call him back in a month to month and a half to see if things are getting better (or worse :( ). If it doesn't seem to be improving, then he is going to send us to some kind of cranio-specialist to have him fitted for a helmet, which would help re-shape his head. Please keep him in your prayers. I don't want him to have the helmet for 2 reasons...1. he's my little baby, and I don't want anything to be wrong with him. 2. It's really expensive...doctor said about $3000. Granted, insurance would cover some (not all) of the expense, but we would still have to pay a hefty chunk.

Ok, sorry for the really long post, but I wanted to get it out there. We can use some prayers for all of you pray-ers! Thanks!

4 Month Comparison

Colin - TOP Brennan - BOTTOM

4 Months Old

My little Brennan is 4 months old. Where has the time gone? He has a precious little smile, and such a wonderful personality.
He has been giggling and batting at toys for weeks (just shortly after 3 months), and is so much calmer than Colin was. He is definitely my 'laid back' child.
His reflux is improving greatly. In fact, I think I may start to wean him off of his Prevacid in a month or so. He's a great eater...7 ounces 5 times a day with a large bowl of cereal 3 times per day.
We have his 4 month well baby visit tomorrow, so I'll update after we see the doctor. All in all, we have such a wonderful baby!

Blog

I think I'm going to do a blog makeover soon. I just need to make some time for it! Keep a look out, b/c it's a coming!

...maybe even today!

I Promise...

I will update soon. I'll be back updating a few things as well.

Super Bowl Party

This is the first year that I haven't worked Super Bowl Sunday in a few years, so I thought it would be nice to have a little party! Almost all of the family came over, except those that were sick (and almost all of the rest of us ended up sick anyway), and one of my neighbors/friend came over. Another friend was supposed to come as well, but she ended up with the flu! These two pictures are of everyone with their 3D glasses on watching a few commercials. The rest of the pics are on smugmug.