Finally

Oh my goodness.

This is what snow looks like?!

It's been forever.

Wednesday was a pretty good storm & we needed it badly.

It was actually really beautiful.

I am not a winter kinda girl!

Isis sent me pictures of the beauties!

They are loving their new house with a big backyard AND a trampoline!

Cuties!

 

Promming

Cooper asked his bestie to Syracuse’s prom.

And I love it!

 

Gigi Day

 Saturday, I had four of our six grand babies.

It was not an A+ day.

They were begging for papa!

My Valentines

These flowers.

I’m obsessed.

My home smells so good!

The baby pink roses and the blooming Lillie’s…

Gorgeous!

Burke worked on Saturday, of course.

So a Thursday afternoon lunch date it was!

Sushi Monster for the win!

I love this man.

My forever Valentine.

 

Memories

These popped up on my Facebook memories today.

I am obsessed.

 

Sweet Boy

Hudson's daddy fell while carrying a bath tub at work on Friday.

He finally went to the doctor on Sunday.

So he dropped Sweet Hudson off to us first.

This boy is the sweetest.

He's so busy!

Washing dishes, doing laundry, vacuuming, mopping, carrying balloons around, going potty, eating fruit snacks, bringing Papa all the things, eating cupcakes with Uncle Cooper and snuggling with Gigi.

We colored, played with cars, and watched football.

His daddy is in so much pain. 

Hopefully he'll feel better soon!

 

2nd Annual Lovers Dinner

We had our second annual lovers dinner on Saturday.

This takes me all day to prepare for.

This year's menu was:

Roast

Real Mashed Potato w/ Country Gravy

Corn

Butt Crack Rolls

Fruit Platters

Filled Cupcakes

We had sparkling cider to drink, as well.

These darling plates were purchased from the Dollar Store!

Colton & Diana

Jackson & Isis

Rian & Tyler

Bubba & Suzanne

We missed Braxton and Mia so much.

Love these humans so much!

 

Awwwwww!!!

Burke and I had a really rare date yesterday.

We went to Twigs for lunch.

That is where our first date was four years ago.

We sat next to each other and talked about work, kids, grandkids, and things that make us laugh.

I love the fountains at Farmington Station.

I love watching them.

I love being with Burke, too.

 

This Is All I Got

I was really busy on Saturday.

My mom and I had our January date.

We went to Jim's for breakfast again.

I really love that cute little spot.

We sat and chatted for a couple of hours over our yummy scone and omelet!

We already have our February date planned.

Then I drove up to Harrisville for hair day.

This is the only picture I took the whole weekend.

This is all I got!

How sad!

Don't mind my wrinkles wrinkling and my gray graying!

Madi cut three inches off and colored it!

I'll go back again before Mexico.

ONLY 39 more days until we check in!!

 

What Is This?!

Guys!

Syracuse had the first snow storm of the winter yesterday!

On January 29th!!

It was actually really, really beautiful.

It has been such a strange winter... warm and sunny and great air quality throughout.

Once I got onto the main highway, my mountains and the sun waking up were so glorious to my soul!

 

Update

It's been almost two weeks since I started on a better regimen of hormones and supplements.

Weight: I've held steady at 10-pound weight gain. It's frustrating because my appetite is less and I'm moving my body every day. The belief is that it is from the progesterone and/or creatine. Both can cause water retention. I'm drinking double the amount of water, which my body LOVES. The hope is that my body will assimilate and the weight will come back off.

Cognitive Function: I have improved cognitive function. I am able to sustain long hours of multi-tasking, contract writing, meetings and minutes, etc. I am also able to stay awake (out of bed at least) for about two hours longer.

Sleep: No improvement. This is frustrating beyond words, but I am hoping that we will be able to find a way, with patience, to improve this.

Libido: Some improvement. Slow, gradual (very gradual and very slow). But there is improvement.

The hope is that within four to six weeks, I will feel like a "new person." Two weeks in, there are improvements and that makes me feel so hopeful.

I keep remembering my doctor telling me that I am not alone. Although I'm sad that other women are going through the same thing(s), I am grateful that I'm not nuts!

Also, my sweet B Beck just validates me and I'm SO thankful!

 

Grandma was Famous

Grandma Robb.

My favorite human being.

In the 90's, Grandma and Grandpa were in a serious car accident.

Both had significant health problems and it was decided that Grandma would be put into a facility to be cared for.

My dad and his siblings purchased Grandma a computer.

Computers were very new then... Internet was VERY new then.

The family taught Grandma how to work her computer.

They taught her how to email.

They taught her how to communicate in every way possible with the computer.

All of her kids and grandkids live hours away.

Grandma was a master emailer!

She ate it up!

She loved it.

Articles, like this one, were done for months.

I miss her.

I miss everything about her.

I feel her with me often.

I love her!

 

Hudson Time

Hudson and Gigi played and cleaned and peed in the big-boy potty on Saturday.

We ate fruit snacks, drank Gigi's electrolyte juice, and watch "Mouse!"

We played in the water, vacuumed and swept and mopped over and over again.

We colored.

And Hudson peed in the big boy potty FIVE times with NO accidents!!!!

He is getting so big!

He's such a smart two-year old.

He is counting and has his colors down.

He's funny and silly and so kind.

I love this boy so big!

Oh, yeah.

We also LOVE whipped cream!!

 

Matchy Matchy

Stella came home from Laramie's yesterday.

She always loves to show Mama her new pedicure.

We match!!!

Matchy matchy!

 

Porter is 19!

Porterman is 19 today.

In the last year, Porter:

Graduated from high school with honors

Got a job as a welder at Fine Line

Started his own small welding business

Had surgery to treat his crohns

Continued with his hobbies: guns, dirt bikes, small engines, and welding

Porterman lives at home with us.

He loves to be active, outdoors, doing all the things.

We love him so big!

 

Hormones

I've been a mess.

I cannot express that loud enough. 

A few things:

1. I started Estrogen patches a year ago due to hot flashes.

2. I'm still on (and always will be) on an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication.

Other:

1. I have zero, none, zilch, nada libido and it's so painful. (TMI, sorry-ish)

2. My cognitive fatigue is at a new level. I am in bed immediately when I get home from work (5:30), Monday through Friday. I am unable to sleep, but I cannot function.

3. I have been having very dark thoughts. I even asked Burke to change the code on the safe, which has all of our guns.

4. I just couldn't do it anymore.

Burke has been seeing a hormone specialist for several months.

He had asked me if I wanted to see him as well.

I was too scared.

With my medical history, I just didn't want to risk it.

Until a couple of weeks ago.

I was at the end of my rope.

I had a large blood screen done.

Then last Thursday, Burke and I went in and met with him.

Results:

1. My thyroid is a bit off, but not bad. No treatment right now.

2. My red blood cells are slightly misshaped. (heart issues, Friends)

3. My body has ZERO progesterone. NONE. NADA. ZILCH. That is a huge issue, especially for someone who has had a stroke and a double cardiac ablation.

4. My estrogen is a little lower than it should be since I'm on a patch.

5. My testosterone is low.

Treatments:

1. Progesterone!!!!! (daily)

2. Supplemental estrogen cream with testosterone (daily)

3. Vitamin B12 shot (twice a week)

4. Vitamin D3, DHEA, Fish Oil, CoQ10, Magnesium (nightly)

5. Creatine (daily)

I also continue on my anti-depressant & my estrogen patch.

It's been one week on all but the cream (it hasn't arrived yet).

1. I have more energy. My workouts are FAR more energized. I am not in bed until 7ish.

2. My cognitive fatigue is better. I feel a bit more clear. I am forming my sentences better. 

3. My digestive system is back to working SO well.

I have hope!!

 

Vanity Homework Station

Sometimes Ryker still attaches himself to me.

When I got home from work on Wednesday, he immediately started following me around the house as I took my shoes off, emptied the dishwasher, folded laundry, caught up with Burke...

I went to my room to get in my jammies and there he was!

I wouldn't change it for anything, by the way.

I turned around and saw him doing his homework at my vanity table.

Sweet boy.

Apparently it makes a perfect desk, too!

 

Hendrix Visits Papa

Rian and Tyler's car has had some issues, so visits to Papa's work it is!

Rian has been driving up after taking Aria to school in the mornings.

That means HENI time!!

Hendrix is SO busy.

Ri tried to come up to see me twice, but things at work are a bit cray cray at Gigi's work right now.

So Papa sent me pictures.

I love this boy!

His smile melts hearts!

Love, love, love this baby!

Uncle Cooper has been sending me sunsets this week, too.

Coop works at the dealership as well.

He's a lot tech.

I think Burke LOVES having that extra time with Coop.

I love the sunsets pics!