Weeks 39 & 40, Birthday Bashes & Trying to Stay Afloat

Wow, okay, I did it again.  Somehow, two weeks have passed, and I've skipped another blog.  October has been CRAZY!  I won't lie, I've been a little overwhelmed this month--just trying to stay afloat!  The month started out really great, with my birthday!  My wonderful Mother watched the boys for us from Thursday night until Monday night!!  It was so nice to just spend time with Davey--as every parent out there knows, it is a rare occurrence to have more than a few hours alone together at a time.  We did a little birthday celebration with my side of the family during those 4 days, but other than that, it was just the two of us :)  We mainly relaxed--we both just really needed to rest I think!  In my daze of late, I have had the recurring problem of forgetting my camera, so I unfortunately don't really have many pictures to chronicle Week 39.  But, other than rest, we did go out to eat a couple of times, and I have to brag on myself a little--I created the BEST burger EVER when we ate at Red Robin.  Seriously, you have got to try this if you ever find yourself eating at a Red Robin!!  So, in addition to the burger, add the following:  cheddar, bacon, guacamole, fried jalepeno chips, a fried egg, and chipotle mayo--O.M.G.  To put it into perspective, the other place we ate out at was Wasabi, a nice Japanese restaurant--this burger was wayyyyyyy better than my beloved sushi!

Speaking of food--I'll just use this as a segue-way into part of the whirlwind we encountered over the past 2 weeks.  So, if you have been reading the blog recently, you'll know that we switched to "real food" a couple of months ago.  Well, we're still doing real food, but we've recently made an amendment to it.  Over my birthday, we were worried that Davey had a relapse with his MS.  Thankfully, according to the neurologists, it was "just" a really bad migraine and not a relapse.  That said, it scared us both.  So, I began to spend all of my free time for the rest of that week researching diets that could potentially help out with MS.  Well, there was one clear winner from my little research--the Paleo diet (pronounced pay-lee-oh, as in Paleolithic).  The Paleo diet has also been referred to as the "Primal" or "Caveman" diet.  The essentials are that you cannot have ANY dairy, grains, beans, legumes (including soy and peanuts)--which basically leaves meats, vegetables (no potatoes or corn though), and fruits.  It is most definitely still a "real" food diet, it's just much more restrictive, as it is completely eliminating two food groups.  Now, I've never been a fan of eliminating any food groups, but I'll tell you what--if this helps Davey, I'll be the Paleo diet's biggest fan!  I decided to do the diet along with Davey to support him, and also to see if it made me feel better too (and, weight loss would be an added bonus!).  In addition to the restrictions above, the "Autoimmune Protocol" calls for the removal of the following as well:  eggs, night-shade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, and spices derived from peppers), nuts, seeds, alcohol, chocolate, and NSAIDS (aspirin and Ibuprofen).  I am not following the AI Protocol, but all items on this list should be in moderation anyway on regular Paleo.  For Davey though, it is very important that he DOES eat some very specific foods--3 cups of leafy greens per day, 3 cups of sulfur-rich vegetables per day (cabbage, onion, asparagus, and mushrooms), fermented vegetables, seaweed, organ meats, grass-fed beef, wild caught fish, and 2 cups of berries per day.  So, I think I've finally managed to work ALL of that into his daily menu plan!

I won't lie--it has not been an easy transition.  For me, it has mainly meant a loss of time--many hours preparing food, as everything must be done from scratch.  I feel like I have a good grasp on the nutrition and science behind the diet now, so the massive cram sessions I've had the past couple of weeks shouldn't have to happen much anymore thankfully!  I haven't found the diet itself to be that hard to stay on though honestly--which has been a HUGE shock (and blessing!).  That said, for Davey, this has been much harder than he thought.  Never struggling with his weight, he has NEVER been on any type of diet--much less one that is at the same time super restrictive in terms of what he cannot eat as well as what he needs to eat.  The poor thing is missing his pretzels, cereal, and bread pretty badly!  But, Davey being Davey--I know there is not one chance that he'll cheat at all, so I'm hoping things will be easier for him down the road!  For our family, it has been a very difficult financial pill to swallow,  BUT the most important thing thus far to come out of this is that Davey's little "throat clearing cough" that he's had since being diagnosed with MS has diminished very drastically!!  You cannot put a price tag on health, so it is totally worth it for us.

In the midst of all that, we did manage to capture a few cute moments with the boys--including a pre-Paleo cookie baking day!

Look at my darling big boy!

Couldn't you just eat him alive?!?!

Cheesing for the camera :)

Tommy making cookies for Ethan for after naptime!

Future Iron Chef ofc :)

Shake what your Mama gave you!

I love this picture--all the way down to his "Coppertone" bum peaking out of his pj's <3

"Almost ready Mommy--cookies getting too big"

Okay, so they're not the prettiest cookies ever...

Thanks Big Bro!  Yummmmmyyy!!

Ethan chilling on the floor like a boss :)

Ugghh--Tommy's new "thing" that Mommy isn't so thrilled with--"SSSHHHHH" whenever he doesn't  like what is being said--RUDE!!

Basketti mouth!

My three boys rough housing <3

Tommy looking like the cat that ate the canary--poor Ethy!

And, they are trying to smash each other--just as brothers should I suppose :)

"Who me??"  Not with this politician's smile!

Ethan giving the camera a little something extra!!

This week I was fortunate to have my birthday continue into another week with two more celebrations!  On Sunday morning, we went to TCC for their 20th Anniversary celebration before heading back to Bill & Susie's house for a joint birthday party for me and Donna--yay us!  Once again, as I was rushing out the door so we would be on time for church, I left the camera.  Thankfully, someone was able to capture this super cute video of Uncle Nathan and Ethan playing!!

Uncle Nate loving on Ethan :)

Oh yes, and how could I forget the best late present of all--NC State's victory over FSU (after losing to Miami on my real birthday!).  Needless to say, we were all proudly sporting our NC State gear on Sunday!  So, after the birthday party, we headed back over to TCC for a celebratory picnic.  Even though it was for TCC's 20th birthday, Tommy was super impressed at what a big party there was for "Mommy's birthday party"!  No need to correct him, right?!  The boys had a blast, as you can see from the videos below:

We all had a really nice time, and it was so great to see lots of old friends.  TCC will always have a soft spot in my heart, as it is the first church I chose to attend on my own, and Pastor Doug was instrumental in my becoming a follower of Christ.

Later in the week, my good friend, Staci, came into town for a week from Maryland.  It had probably been 4 years since we had seen each other, but it was just like old times!  Staci and I grew up playing sports together, and at good ol' FVHS we had quite the run together as co-captains of both the volleyball and basketball teams--ahhhhh, the glory days!!!  Anyway, she has 3 boys of her own now, and the youngest 2 are really close in age to Tommy and Ethan.  Thanks to Goggi, we were able to eat lunch together in peace without our boys in tow on Wednesday--it was so much fun catching up on the past and the present.  In fact, we had so much fun that we scheduled another little playdate, this time with the boys, for Friday!  The boys had an absolute BLAST!  Tommy and Sammy really hit it off, and it was just so darn cute to hear Sammy call out, "Come on Tommy!" as they ran around and around and went up and down the slides over and over again, and to hear Tommy yell back, "I'm coming Sammy (or Jammy, as it sometimes came out!)"  How cool would it be for our boys to grow up and be friends, even though they're in different states?!

Tommy and his new BFF Sammy!

The boy was cheesing like this the entire time--so cute!

"What're you looking at?  You gotta problem with me and  lion???"

"I'm coming Sammy!!!"

Doesn't he look like Tommy Boy, as in Chris Farley--not Tommy Catchings, when he's trying to impress the ladies and suck in his gut?!

Cheese Sammy!

Jailen says this is his lion now!

Sammy taught Tommy a new trick..greattttt :)

Why does he look so tiny here?!  Sniff Sniff

CLASSIC Ethan face!

Ethan v Jailen--Battle Lion!  Jai won :)

They're only 1 week apart--so cute!!

  

Captain Jailen at the wheel!

  

Tommy finally made it up the ladder so he could follow Sammy :)

  

The Hicks Brothers!

Davey and I cracked up at this picture of Ethan looking like a cute little dork <3

    

Down the slide!

  

The boys thought pulling the tree branches down and watching them bounce back up was hilarious!

I mean, doesn't it just look like tons of fun ;)

Tommy loves it!!

I love this picture so much--so adorable <3

 

Jailen says, "I'm stuck!"

The boys were finally getting worn down--look at how red Tommy's face is!

Ethan's artistic shot haha :)

Hopefully this will be the beginning of some new friendships, because I know that Staci and I will be friends no matter how many miles are between us!  From one good friend to the next--my best friend Leslie took me out ALL DAY on Saturday to celebrate my birthday since we hadn't been able to get our schedules to line up until then!  We did it up too!!  Sure, we ate too much, but it was all Paleo at least :)  And, we might've picked up a few odds and ends while we were shopping!!  But, the piece de resistance was dinner. Leslie treated me to BRASA!!  If you aren't familiar with Brasa, it is a Brazilian Steakhouse, where they walk around and give you fresh roasted meats all night!  And, another special birthday treat--we ran into 2 of my other friends while we were there--what are the chances?!  Good to see you Elisha and Chuckles!!

Thank you Leslie!!

Our waitress took a picture of us enjoying our raspberry unsweetened teas in fancy glasses!

Here's what I got from the "appetizer bar" before the meat started coming out--calamari, smoked salmon, shrimp, mussels, guacamole, asparagus, balsamic mushrooms, and olives--DELICIOUS!!!!

While I was out with Leslie, Davey took the boys over to Nathan and Sarah's new house to play for a while.   Davey said they had a great time, and that the boys LOVED playing with the dogs--as long as the dogs aren't in our house, I'm thrilled they loved it!  Davey said Ethan carried a fake pumpkin around EVERYWHERE (he's a little obsessed with them right now!), while Tommy threw a ball at Rolo's face and then asked, "Why you not catch it, Dog?!".

On Sunday, we ended the week with another awesome message from Jonathan at our church, Crosspointe.  Once again I find myself in the struggle of being still and making enough time for God.  When things get crazy, unfortunately it seems like I ditch that time first--the whole urgent vs. important thing, so it's always good to get a loving reminder of what I'm missing out on and what is truly important when we go to Crosspointe.  After church, we were fortunate to head over to my parent's house for lunch with my family.  Mom made sure there was plenty of roast, carrots, and squash for us, but she didn't pull any punches either--we had to resist potatoes, biscuits, and blueberry cobbler!!

Life Lesson--I have no idea what number this is....anyway:  The Goodness of Church

Let me start by making one thing very clear--Church does not equal spirituality or religion or a relationship with God.  And, all churches are not created equally.  They should be, but they're not.  Some churches are legalistic, judgmental, and in no way display the love of Christ.  And I am well aware that "the church" is not "a church building".  That said, there are soooooo many amazing church buildings with "the church" in them out there, and they play such a vital role--at least they have to me.  Church, to me, is safe.  It's family.  It's comforting.  It's inspiring and uplifting.  It teaches.  It serves.  And, above all else, it loves.  I am so very grateful for my church.  It reminds me of what is important in life--a gentle weekly tune-up for the soul.  Now, going to church surely shouldn't be the only time you're spending with God in a week, but there is something incredibly special about uniting with friends, family, strangers, and people of all kinds of backgrounds, races, and social statuses under one commonality--the journey to know God more, and to worship Him.  All of these different people become your church family.  They are there for you when you need them, and you are there for them when they need it.  And, together, you serve each other, your community, and the world to be God's hands and feet here on the Earth.  So, to my sons, I know it's not an essential tenet of faith to belong to a Church, but it is a truly beautiful thing to have in your life.