Gigi Update

I crack up at this picture.

I walked into one of the offices and all the guys said, "Ohhhhh, Sis is a librarian today!"

So I took my serious librarian self to the bathroom and took a selfie!

I am feeling really pretty good!

I am still on all the things:

Estrogen patches

Progesterone capsules

Estrogen/Testosterone cream

Vitamin B shots (once a week)

Tirzepatide shots (once a week - micro dose)

Magnesium gummies

Vitamin K & D3, Fish Oil, DHEA, CoQ10

Collagen peptide packet & Electrolyte packet

I have lost 19 pounds (trying to just maintain now... no more losing)

I am sleeping better.

My skin is looking so much better.

My gut is so much happier.

It's all positive!

 

Grab a Mitt

When I got home from work last night, Ryker was waiting for me.

With his baseball mitt and ball in hand.

Wanting to practice his pitches.

Right then and there.

“Grab me Dad’s mitt, bud.”

And then we baseballed in the front yard for an hour.

And I was reminded, again, how blessed I am.

 

Weekend

Cooper is keeping his parents very busy.

It's prom week.

He asked to take Shadow for prom.

Remember, Shadow is the new vehicle I drive.

He wanted to clean Shadow on Saturday while he was at work so he'd be extra handsome for the ride.

I sat and stared at this guy while he cleaned it.

Burke and I went on a date to the Roadhouse that night.

Cooper met us at the mall after to get him a suit, shoes, shirt and tie.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I told him he will need to find places and times to wear said suit more than just prom!!

I do love this boy.

We had family dinner last Sunday.

I like to try to keep our adult children calm on holidays.

I don't ever want them to feel like they need to make it to our house on holidays.

Jackson sent us this beauty.

Look at these three princesses!!!!!

Burke and Porter cleaned out the rain gutters on Sunday.

I was FaceTiming with Hudson at the time.

He was VERY concerned that Papa was so high!!

Back to Cooper...

He zonked out on the couch next to me for hours.

Coopering is exhausting!

 

Tender Mercy

It's been a rough week at work.

People have been extra horrible.

The ruthlessness in which humans speak to other humans can really wear on me and my co-workers.

It's exhausting and sad and hurtful.

Yesterday, I went home and took some medicine and went to sleep.

It was 1 PM.

This morning, I drove to work with this as my view.

It was a tender mercy.

Sunrises and sunsets are my jam.

This is pure beauty.

 

Beauties

I was so happy to see all of the sidewalk chalk artwork as I left home on Monday to head to work.

I smiled all the way to the car.

Then I hopped out and took pictures so I wouldn't ever forget how happy it made me.

I'm glad I did because it's raining today!

Isis sent Burke and I these pictures Monday morning.

These beauties, though!!

I love that, despite the scrubbing with soap and water, Melanie Rose still has her self-done artwork all over her body!!

These sweet girls are pure joy!

 

My Love is 55!

I made this for him.

I am fully aware that "Handsome" is spelled wrong.

It's fine. 
I'm leaving it.

I found FIFTY FIVE random pictures of our favorite guy from the past year. 

He's almost always behind the scenes:

Sports: Doing everything I ask of him (which is a lot!), taking our kids to get cleats, uniforms, mouthpieces, physicals, supplements, food... Helping me with team mom responsibilities by getting our football kids where they need to be, listening, and doing. Helping me get kids to and from practice, meets, games, tryouts, etc.

Home: He does his best to get the grocery shopping done for the week on Thursdays so that I don't have to. Praise! He cleans bathrooms (or makes sure the kids do). He makes sure the lawn is taken care of and the pool is up and running, then down and ready for winter. Cleans the carpets, dusts the lights, takes care of repelling animals and bugs, takes care of dinner when I don't, etc. 

Family: There are not enough words in the English language to describe what he does for our family. He loves me in my worst moments. He loves me in my best. He is my supporter and my biggest cheerleader. He is also my neutralist (is that a word?) He lovingly brings me back to Earth when I've gone a bit overboard!

He is the phone call most of our kids make first. 

He is involved in all of their lives - the good, the bad, the hard. 

All nine of our kids, their spouses, and their children know that he is their safe place. They know he loves them unconditionally. They know he is our protector. He is steady and constant for all of us.

Other: Burke is the actual best papa. Burke is loving, kind, compassionate, and aware. He pays for stranger's meals randomly, just because. He tips big, just because. He tries so hard to speak Spanish when we are in Mexico. He makes sure I have my Diet Coke in my cup every morning to take to work. He finds shows for he and I to watch together. He makes sure we all have all that we need, and so much more.

B - I love you endlessly.

Happy birthday, Babe!