Halloween 2012

Yes, I realize it's almost December, but I just realized I never blogged about Halloween this year.

 

Kaleb was the Hulk and he had a lot of fun playing the part.  We made his green muscle mass out of batting and duct taped stuffed into an oversized workout shirt and of course applied green makeup to his face. (he wasn't a fan of that!)

To top it off we got these fun hulk hands!!  LOVE THEM!!

 

We had a hard time coming up with Sasha's costume, but once we decided on Kaleb as the Hulk, it seemed only obvious that she should be Black Widow... but since black skin-tight leather doesn't come in size 12 month, we decided to make her into A black widow.  She liked it!



 

So part of the reason we all thought it would be fun for Kaleb to be the Hulk and Sasha be Black Widow is that their cousin Christian was going to be Iron Man and it was gonna make for some fun group pics... well this picture was taken at one of the trunk-or-treats we attended... but that Iron Man isn't Christian and Sasha isn't in it... Best laid plans, huh?

Our kids were very well-behaved while trick-or-treating, something I can't say for most of the little monsters we saw who pushed to the front and went around the trunk circles four times.  Kaleb always said Thank You and we even trained Sasha to say Please ("Meees") for her candy. 

The Hulk chomping on some grub!

When planning Sasha's costume, I was a little worried she would get annoyed with her extra set of legs but by the end of the first night she was cuddling with them like well... they were a part of her.

Halloween night, my sis Jess and my bro Chris and their families joined us at the mall for Trick-or-treats.  Here are the wives and the kids.  Such a fun little group! 

The Changing of the Hair

I am not someone who likes to change her hair.  It's expensive and it "throws off my groove."  I have to think of ways to style it, and when I'm already feeling pressed for time and brain-cell usage it usually doesn't interest me. (plus, let's be honest I do like my hair)

 

Well about a year ago when my sis-in-law Tashina was going to cosmetology school, she and I joked about all the fun things she would do to my hair, and semi-sincerely I laughed about becoming blonde.  Well, Ammon overheard that comment and wouldn't let it go, so a few months ago Tashina and I made plans to make me blonde.  I gave Ammon the option of having me grow my hair long again or go blonde and well, essentially he said I'm good to go. 

 

So back in October we finally did it.   I got sick with MRSA the next day (see previous post) so please forgive the delay in bloggage.  My before:

 

During (took SO long cuz I hav so much hair and it processed fast, so Shina had to constantly go back to take the bleach out of the highlighted parts.)

Here are the after pics, about a month later:  (obviously Tashina styled it as well)

It's not exactly as blonde as I planned, but I think it goes really well with my skin-tone, and that was my biggest fear about becoming blonde.  Since we are doing family pics this weekend you will get better images soon. 

Well at least you have your health...

 

I always love that statement because it's so true. So many things can be wrong, but if you're healthy it's so much easier to deal with it all! That being said, I wanted to give an update on my (and my family's) health.  This is more of a journalistic entry, so probably more detailed than needed.  Sorry!

KNEES:  I've had some inquiries about my knees occasionally, so here's the update.  Are they better?  Yes... than they used to be.  It's impossible without some SERIOUS knee surgery involving cutting and reattaching tendons and clearing out the torn maniscuses (manisci?) for me to ever have knees that are "all better."  However, that being said, the injections I did a few months ago did improve things for my walking, and as long as I'm good with always exercising some but not too much or the wrong way they only bother me a lot when I first get up (from anywhere) after sitting for more than 30 mins or if I'm on them for too long at one time... Oh and stairs are still SUPER hard... and kneeling hurts so bad... but a lot of that can be improved with more strengthening and weight loss... that brings me to the next subject.

THYROID:  Over the last year it's been really hard to lose weight, even when I'm on diets and exersizing I didn't see many results.  Plus I was always tired and having serious mood swings.  The weirdest thing was that I would often get food stuck in my throat.  I didn't know if that was related, but turns out I had a swollen, underactive thyroid.  For those who don't know, the thyroid helps with metabolizing food, so people who don't get enough thyroid hormone gain weight easily, have a low body temperature and require more sleep, among other symptoms.  Well, after a few tests, I got approved to be put (back) on some thyroid medication.  I haven't been very good at dieting lately, but I haven't gained weight since being on the meds, which for me is ALWAYS something to celebrate.  I scheduled an appointment to see my doctor about how my body was handling the meds, but turns out I came down with a MRSA infection the same time, which brings me to the last subject...

MRSA (This gets really gross):  So back around the 4th of July, my dad got a few little red spots on his right leg.  Within a week, those red spots became large, infected holes.  He got hospitalized, had the infected flesh removed (very large holes in his shin and calf) and was on disability for three months.  My dad the work-horse was finally able to use his 600 hours of sick time.  We (Ammon, Kaleb, Sasha and I) and my mom were the only ones who visited my father while in the hospital.  Others would've found time except on the third day they determined it was MRSA, (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)  a highly contagious bacteria.  The hospital required every visitor to have full gownage on after that, so my mom recommended no more visits. 

Well, early September Kaleb got a few little bug-bite type spots that seemed overly painful at the touch.  Like a nasty pimple, we would "pop" them, cover them in Neosporin and a bandaid and they would get better in a week.  Well, the 8th one on the 3rd week got to about the size of Kaleb's palm.  If you look at the pic below, the pink was all the infection.  We had to squeeze all of that puss and blood out and it was excruciating.  He screamed.  A LOT!  We went to the doctor, who cultured it, and the week we had to wait for results, he got 5 more.  Eventually, we heard he too had MRSA, he was put on antibiotics, and the spots went away.

 

 

In early october, I started coming down with flu-like symptoms, plus I had two very memorable pimples. Memorable because of how painful and puss-filled they were. By the 14th I was officially sick (I took a morning nap after a decent night's sleep. Nuff said). That night I noticed a strange pimple in a private area. My worries of MRSA grew stronger when the next morning it was about two inches in diameter.  It was constantly painful and only ice packs brought any relief.  Since I had a doctor's appointment for my thyroid previously scheduled for the next night, I waited until then to seek medical help.  By then it was the size of a tennis-ball.  I hadn't slept in two nights, and I was constantly nauseated.  The doctor gave me a shot for the pain (isn't it weird when shots for pain are so painful?) and lanced it.  She said the infection was really deep, but she was able to get enough for a culture.  (The procedure was still SUPER painful because the area was so bruised and the shot was only for the surface cuts.  sledgehammer to your crotch. oh it hurt)  She put me on the same antibiotics kaleb had been given and some pain meds (Oh sweet wonderful sleep) with the suggestion to use heat to draw the infection out so it will drain.  The next day was probably the worst between the cuts and since it had gotten to baseball size.  That night it started draining and took another week to heal completely.  The whole time, I couldn't walk very well (Ya know, cuz normally I'm such a super-model) and couldn't go 30 mins without painkillers.  I went through 20 days of antibiotics.  While mine was still healing, Kaleb got another spot, so the doc quickly put him on more meds.  No more spots for either of us since, and so far Ammon and Sasha are MRSA free.  FINGERS CROSSED!

A month later there is still an area I can feel some harder scar tissue.  Kaleb has some pretty nasty scars from these suckers.  I quickly became the go-to girl about MRSA worries around my extended family, so just an FYI about what to look for with MRSA (or at least the MRSA we had)

1.  Pimples/ in-grown hair type of spots that feel bruised, more painful than usual. 
2.  Until it gets a head on it, doctors can only cut it open to test it. 
3.  Speed of growth, it gets bad real quick.  Once it gets bigger than your thumb-print I would worry
4.  If it gets opened up, neosporin can help, but only with that one.  It can stay in your system even after a ton of antibiotics, so if you see multiples, see a doc (before it gets to the 8th)
5.  Greenish puss was a common theme with Kaleb's bigger ones and my three. 

All these things are little setbacks that make things a little more difficult, and yes I'm anything but a "healthy" person, but I do still have my health in all the ways that it counts most.  The MRSA infection did remind me of that.  So let's hear it to health!  Woop Woop!!

 

 

Sasha- 13 Months

Okay, so I'm a month late, but just in case you didn't know, Sasha was 13 months... last month.  I started school and got sick (more on that incident in a later post), so that's my excuse. 

 

Well, as always Sasha continues to be so STINKIN adorable!  But this month she started getting an attitude.  Things need to be done her way!  That's it!  If not, she throws these silly little mini-tantrums.  One time she got annoyed with me, walked to the other side of the room whining, let out a frustrated "GAAAAAH!" type yell, then came back to me ready to take what I had to offer.

 

Some things that drive me crazy is how she will just completely dismiss all direction.  We tell her "NO!" she looks at us and slowly keeps doing what she was doing (like grabbing full cups of cold water off the end tables).  We could scream till we were blue in the face, but unless we physically prevent her, she doesn't seem too motivated to listen.  Some might say that she just doesn't understand, but trust me, she is waaaay too smart for that.  As soon as I leave the room, poor Kaleb starts hoollering to me that she is doing something bad; and that happens VERY consistently.

 

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore that little ball of fire.  She is so hilarious and SO bright.  She says "BEEBEE" for Binky and "Baba" for Bottle; Ball is "ball" and she likes to greet people with "Hi, Dah."  The one I can't figure out is why she calls lights "Buh Bo," but maybe thats because most other things are buh or boh.  She folds her arms when asked or when she hears "prayer" (except when everyone is watching.)  She understands that when the TV gets turned off it's time to leave the TV room, and she figured out how to slide down a slide on her own... on her tummy. 

 

Sasha loves to dance and spin, and one night Kaleb showed her how.  It just cracked us up. 

 My favorite part is when she hobbles dizzily out of frame.  THIS GETS REALLY LOUD SO TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME.  Sasha screams when she gets excited. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39zSQpezteg

 

A couple of other quirks is that she always has to carry something.  At the park it's sticks and leaves, at home it's any random toy, her water cup, my water bottle, books.  She likes to throw things aways, so when she does make it into the kitchen, she will often throw WHATEVER is in her hand into the garbage.  She also LOVES closing doors, and gets SO mad if things get in the way, especially people (how dare you!!), and probably her all-time favorite thing in the world are cats and dogs.  Anytime they're on the TV she looks at me like "Yippy!!" flails her arms, tries to hug the TV.  She is too scared of Bowser (who isn't), but she is always following my poor sister's shih tzu when we visit. 

 

 

 Here are some adorable photos to remember her 13th month:

 

Kaleb sharing his hat so nicely

Sasha smacking Kaleb in the face with the hat, ya know, cuz that's how to put hats on.

 

 

Sasha realizing the hat is too big

"I'm on the edge..."

Petting the tree

"The sand just won't come off.  I let go, but it is still there!!!!"

Ready for prayer

The mad scientist has stolen kaleb's cup!

A picture of innocence

Sasha's First Birthday

Sasha's First Birthday Cake

I did cupcakes since i thought the cake would not be enough, and well, I wanted Sasha to have a smaller piece of cake than that giant flower!

Sasha LOVED all the attention!  Here she is just soaking it all in during the birthday song.

Here's a photo of Sasha blowing out the candle. THAT's RIGHT! 

She blew out a candle at one year old!!!

And of course everybody cheered once she blew it out, so she had to scream her excitement!

Like most one-year-olds, Sasha was a little confused about having a cupcake placed in front of her.  Daddy gave her a few little tidbits that she enjoyed...

Then she just dug in.  She ate most of it...

And wore the rest.

Sasha got so many presents from friends and family (You guys are AWESOME!!), and she enjoyed opening all of them!

She also liked smacking the wrapping paper to open each one!

She wasn't such a big fan of being one of the presents, though.

 

 Sasha has loved each one of her toys... it's now just a matter of which one...

But of course, her favorite is probably the Iphone... or should I say EYE-PHONE? 

GET IT?!?!  EYE-PHONE!!  THAT's a joke, son!

But I think Kaleb enjoyed Sasha's birthday even more than she did!

SASHA IS 1 YEAR!!

That's right, my little baby is now a toddler.  She is growing up so fast I often wish I could stop time.  ALMOST.  At her doctor's appointment she was 30.5 inches (90th) and 20 lbs, 4 oz (25th percentile) which is the same height but 5 pounds lighter than Kaleb was at the same age.  So she is tall and thin, but no matter what the stats say, I still think she is the prettiest little girl I've ever seen!

 

 And of course because she is so tall and weighs so little, it just encourages her climbing habit!!

 

 Every day, she finds some new way to scare her parents, or at least she tries to. 

Maybe it's just that she wants to be just like her Daddy!

 

All of the walking she is doing means A LOT of running into stuff.  A funny quirk she has acquired is patting the right side of her face with her hand whenever she bumps her head.  It's like she's saying, "Shake it off!"

 

Lately, we love to tickle her ribs and her belly so of course, she has gotten so much more interested in them.  She does know what her "belly" is and will peek at hers whenever we ask her about it. 

Sasha has grown out of the baby tub. Not because she is too big, but because she will attempt to escape it throughout her bath-time.  We just decided it's easier to just let her bathe in the big tub.  She has been pretty good about not standing up too much, but since she is such a squirmy little fish, it's often hard to bathe her no matter where she is. 

It turns out Sasha knows how to kick a ball, and she is better at it than I am (not saying much),   I see a future in Soccer!

It still shocks me how fast she is learning to speak.  She can say "Bah Bah" for Bye Bye (although often she will just blow kisses) and "All Bah" for All Done.  She often likes to make little monkey noises, but will bark whenever there is a dog around.  She has also learned to do High Fives on command, and Kaleb is in the process of teaching her "Knuckles."

This little girl is SUCH A HAM!!!  She just loves attention, but continues to be difficult to photograph since she is constantly changing what she does.  ALWAYS on the move!

 

So SILLY!

Ammon got this shot on a spontaneous photo shoot with her.  It made us laugh so hard, cuz she totally looks like she is modeling her diaper "with attitude!"

There is still no problem with STRANGER DANGER.  This girl loves EVERYBODY!!!  Her doctor, random people at church, elderly flirts at the grocery store.  She also still loves to cuddle, which I greatly enjoy!  One downfall to this is that she now prefers to have company in bed with her, which is usually this butterfly pillow pet (thank you, Llama and Eric) or her purple bear. 

Here she is giving me a good squeeze!

 

One of my favorite things is to watch my kids dance!  And the great part about Sasha is her variety of moves at such a young age.  She can do the classic twist with her arms and hips.  Then she can also stomp her foot (almost to the beat), but my favorite moves have to be her Maniac Dance (basically running in place, kinda) and YES, she does the Head Banging!  It's awesome!!

 

AND OH, does she love bubbles.  For those of you that came to her birthday party, you witnessed the awesome power of her lungs as she declared that joy for bubbles!!

Here is an awesome shot of her catching one that's popping on Ammon's leg

Of course becoming a toddler means eating big-girl food and whole milk.  She is transitioning just fine, and so far the only food (other than the occasional baby food) that she has rejected is eggs.  Egg salad was a big nono (I think it was the mustard), but she also doesn't like to eat plain eggs.  Ironic considering it was one of the few protiens I liked while I was pregnant with her.  Go figure!

Sasha's first birthday party deserves it's own post, so I will put something about that soon.