Haircut...

Well, I figured it was time for a change (I haven't had a haircut for almost a year now). So I had pinned a few ideas knowing that my hair is wavy. Here's my sad "before" shot this morning:

(not great lighting and I had just woke up- can't you tell?)

My after, I am in LOVE with right now.... But first, let me tell you about how it finally happened. I posted on facebook to see where I could get my cut (our Great Clips shut down) and I had no where to go (unless I wanted to find a different great clips). I found somewhere while waiting for responses and called them when I was on my way to see what store they were closest to and found out that they were booked with appointments today and as a walk-in I would have to wait until Tuesday (not going to happen). So then I looked on facebook and someone DID comment. I started my travel to that hair place and then called when I was in the same complex as they are and found they had a 20 min wait for walk-ins. Well, when I was on the phone, I was parked in front of another hair place and decided to call them. The stylist who answered the phone said her appointment earlier was moved and so she was free. Well, I hopped my little self over there and she was a sweet lady (who has curly hair so she understands and had the vision that the cut would look good with my hair wavy or straight). It was a miracle! 

So now, without further ado, here is my after:

(haha, kidding. That's not even all the hair that got cut off...)

Ok- here it goes:

(Can you tell she'd not taken a photo with an iPhone before?)

(back and front view thanks to the mirror. 

Oh look, the gal who did an AMAZING job with the cut!)

(Side view- blurry again but still)

Here's the photos I brought for her to go off of:

 

It's amazing how good you can feel after a great hair cut, right? As Chris reminded me though, I need to remember to wear sunscreen more but it's all worth it :)

I can still put my hair in a tiny nub of a ponytail (which was my request). 

I wonder how everyone else will like it...
The answer to that is as long as I love it, it doesn't matter too much.

Crazy weeks

(2/7)
Well, a couple of weeks ago, we noticed Declan wasn't 100% (after throwing up and diarrhea and a temp of 102) so I took him to the doctor (even though his fever had broken) just to get looked over because I felt something was still a little off. Of course, mother's instinct was right- he had an ear infection in his left ear. The doctor, aware of what Declan had just been through, prescribed an antibiotic that he would only need to take once a day (for 10 days) but we needed to be aware that it was going to cause some diarrhea (that he was already trying to get over). She also recommended that we get some baby yogurt to get some good bacteria in him to help his system kick this. We made a follow up appointment for two weeks later. Declan had been getting a really bad diaper rash so we were slathering him up with cream and giving him a bath (which seemed to help short term) but the bathing started to flare up his eczema on his left shoulder. I was looking high and low for the little sample we were given from the dermatologist's office last April and with no luck, I called their office to get the name of it. They spelled it out for me and everything and told me it would be behind the pharmacy area even though it was an over the counter but if I wanted they did sell it at the office as well. I thought I would try my luck with calling around a few pharmacies to see who might carry it in stock. Turns out that it's a hydrocortisone lotion that they have to special order (because it's not asked for very much). I had called 10 different pharmacies with no luck. I decided to bite the bullet and just go to the dermatologist's office and pay the extra $6 for the lotion (that he needs to have 3x a day). Declan was seeming to be on the mend of all this stuff and just before the two week follow up, he started walking. He was still getting a little grouchy towards bed time so we had chalked it up to teething perhaps and gave him a round of tylenol. I went very hopeful to his appointment (although, he had just started up with a runny nose and a really bad cough- bad enough that we had given him his inhaler the night before the follow up, as well as turned the humidifier on, and a few nights prior Chris didn't come to bed until midnight because he was concerned about the massive coughing). I knew that the doctor would be kind enough to check out his cough while we were there too. She was and listened to his lungs and said we were smart and right to get his regimen going and to use the inhaler every 4 hours until he sounds better so we can avoid any lung problems. She also then checked his ears. First the right (no infection from the first visit and still looked good but hairy), then the left... a sigh. "Well, we need to give him something a little stronger".  She looked over her notes and we talked about why we used the last medicine (because of the vomiting and diarrhea) and she asked how he was doing in those departments (which he was completely over both). She then prescribed another antibiotic that was stronger (and needs to be refrigerated and he needs to take with food) that he'll take twice a day for ten days with another two week follow up. The doctor warned me that this will give him diarrhea again and if it gets really bad to call her so we can fix that up (oh the joys of parenthood).

All better!

Last of the Vacations and on to the New Year!

We have really been blessed with a lot of travel these last few months. We went home to Ohio for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I have LOVED it. I've been able to recharge and get better perspective being away from California. I've also had a MRI on my left knee to see what we can do to make it more comfortable. Declan is learning and growing up so fast and so is Penny. The kids are just growing up so fast. I'm also getting anxious about getting to the gym again- I have found that it's a great escape for me. I'm also excited to start the new year and do things better.

We have done so much traveling that we are grateful to be back home and to get back into a good routine. We had great holidays visiting our families and to really enjoy ourselves with them. Of course, there are things that we didn't end up doing or people that we didn't get to see (or see as much as we wanted to). I don't know why but the kids ended up getting sick for both holidays. I have an amazing friend who came through for us with having the right medication for Declan so we didn't need to have a prescription filled during the holiday. They had bad coughs and diarrhea and vomiting. But we're all better now and trying to get back on the right time zone. Penny really understood Christmas this year (at least decorating the tree, opening presents, and recognizing the baby Jesus' birthday as well as her own birthday). Christmas morning was spent at my parents (where we were staying), followed by birthday cupcakes and ice cream for Penny's birthday celebration, and then off to my in-laws for Christmas round 2. She got into unwrapping presents so much she wanted to help everyone unwrap (once she got the hang of it). Declan thought the paper was AWESOME (which it was) and was in really good spirits. We have been so grateful to the friends we felt we could call on to transport us to and from the airport on these many trips because without them we would be at home (or calling a minivan cab).

The kids got TONS of things including the Hello Kitty pajamas (which she would live in if I let her) and a quilt for Declan made by my sister (that can be used for toy cars with the applique roads). Declan is officially walking as of this past week and babbles like no other. Penny got mistaken as a kindergardener when we had company for dinner (they asked when she started kindergarden and then I said she had just turned 3...) Penny is done being potty trained but due to the style of pants for girls (leggings generally) she needs some assistance to get them off. I'm still very conscious of the parks we go to so I know exactly where the bathroom is (and that's IF they're one there). She's pretty good at holding it when we need her to as well. Speaking of growing, here are the kids' stats for their appointments: Penny is a whopping 31 lbs (50%) and 36.5 inches tall (so she is CONSTANTLY bonking her head on the kitchen island). Declan is a whole 22 lbs 2 oz (but at his last appointment a few weeks ago from being sick he was up to 23 lbs), 29.75 inches tall (just .25 inches shy of needing to switch car seats) and 46 cm for his head (25-50%). The doctor and I attribute Declan's small weight gain do to the fact that he was very ill a few weeks prior.

I feel like I've been able to do some more reflecting as I've been away from the hustle and bustle of California. I'm coming to know who my friends really are and ways to cultivate those friendships better. I'm learning to still be cautious to those around me because of bad situations that have arisen but be true to who I am. We've been instilling some pretty good habits in the home as well (utilizing some Christmas gifts from this year and last). I look back to where I was not even a year ago and to see how far I've come with what I've had deal with and overcome and I'm happy with what I see. Life isn't perfect yet but it's getting closer every day. Chris and I have been able to set aside some couple time once a week and we're able to have some great discussions/conversations (they don't last more than half an hour usually). We're trying to find a way to get me back in the gym this year (I've been twice this new year). Chris has been on a really crazy schedule, getting him home anywhere from 7-8pm (and still riding his bike). I'm hopeful that a solution will be happening soon because I have some goals I need to keep on regarding my weight. The MRI on my left knee came back to say that my arthritis is just getting progressively worse but there's nothing torn to be mended. That means no surgery but I can have lubrication injections if I'm still in pain to help with the bone-on-bone (with a little bit of cartilage). The cold weather from the holidays made it really bad (where I was taking as much pain killer as I was allowed to in a day). I know as I continue to lose the weight that it will take more pressure off my knees (although it won't heal my arthritis but hopefully make it a little more comfortable). I hate being told my restrictions for exercises (no squats or lunges that are more than 45 degrees and no running for long distances). I've been doing really well on just sticking with the bike because that and the elliptical don't cause any pain.

Well, sorry it's been a while since my last post. Here are some last minute pictures to make you smile: