Mid-January in Colorado

Today was just another typical Colorado day. Mid January and 64 degrees!!!! We actually went to the Park twice. 

I was enjoying myself so much I got home and realized I only took like 4 pictures. 

The best part was watching Olivia. I wish I'd have taken a picture of her. She was just in heaven being outside, soaking up the sun. So happy. I dont think she was meant to be a Winter baby.

Luke's new Denver BFF, Lance

When Lance got to the park he ran up and this was what happened

Don't worry Mama, I'm an orange belt

Luke had his belt test on Saturday for his Orange Belt. This is a big deal for our Lukie and he was talking about "Saturday at 12:00" for days.
He sure loves Karate. And Master Chris, his teacher, is so great with this age. Its not a wonder Luke has such a great time.
After he passes he ran in and immediately offered to give Ella his yellow belt, since he no longer need's to wear it. Luke is a great big brother. And a major karate star!

Ella's platform for changing the World

They talked about Martian Luther King Jr. in Pre-School last week. When they were done they did a little assignment on how they thought they could change the world.
The Teacher got a kick out of Ella's answer, clearly so did I.
Do you think we made it a bigger deal than it should have been? When we potty trained her? Though I have to say I do agree.

It say's "I can make the World a better place by... going potty" 

Classic.

If more kids went potty (on the potty that is) it's true, the World would be a better place. Kids going on the potty =Happy Parents= better place for everyone! Good call Ella. Go ahead, change the world one bathroom at a time.

A force in the Wirthlin house

Just wondering why my newly turned 3 year old thinks its optional to listen. 

Luke has always been pretty predictable. Even when his behaviors would go south fast and he would completely loose it. I could predict why and when it would happen. For the most part Luke just wants to be good. To do what's right. He's a straight arrow heading strongly into the bulls-eye. He hates to be in trouble. He hates to think that he's being bad. He wants to please and make the right choice.

Ella is a different story. She could care less about doing what I want her to do. She thinks any punishment I give is usually worth it, at least she got to do things her way before she landed in her room. If I draw attention to something, pointing it out for the sole purpose of what not to do, she goes out of her way to do it. She made it though the entire month of December without opening a gift. One day late in the month I pointed out how important it was to leave our gifts alone... thats when she went for it. Not 10 minutes later she came into the basement and told me that she had opened her present. Seriously? Amazing. At least she told me I guess. She sneaks. She sneers. She defies. She manipulates. She yells and she defies some more. Sometimes as you tell her no she smiles and does it right in front of you. And she calls you on your big talk. She's too smart for her own good. And she may just make me lose my mind.

So if anyone has any advice on a head strong, determined, strong 3 year old. Well, im open to it. 

Kinda' fun

The lines that are bolded are things that I have done...how about you?

(thanks Sheri)

1. Started your own blog
2.Slept under the stars
3.Played in a band
4.Visited Hawaii
5.Watched a meteor shower
6.Given more than you can afford to charity
7.Been to Disneyland
8.Climbed a Mountain
9.Held a praying mantis
10.Sang a solo
11.Bungee jumping
12.Visited Paris
13.Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15.Adopted a child
16.Had food poisoning
17.Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18.Grown your own vegetables
19.Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20.Slept on an overnight train
21.Had a pillow fight
22.Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you were not ill
24.Built a snow fort
25.Held a lamb
26.Gone skinny dipping
27.Run a Marathon
28.Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29.Seen a total eclipse
30.Watched a sunrise or sunset
31.Hit a home run
32.Been on a cruise
33.Seen Niagara Falls in person
34.Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35.Seen an Amish community
36.Taught yourself a new language
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39.Gone rock climbing
40.Seen Michelangelo's David
41.Sung Karaoke
42.Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43.Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44.Visited Africa
45.Walked on a beach by moonlight
46.Been transported in an ambulance
47.Had your portrait painted
48.Gone deep sea fishing
49.Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50.Been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51.Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52.Kissed in the rain
53.Played in the mud
54.Gone to a drive-in theater
55.Been in a movie
56.Visited the Great Wall of China
57.Started a business
58.Taken a martial arts class
59.Visited Russia
60.Served at a soup kitchen
61.Sold girl scout cookies
62.Gone whale watching
63.Got flowers for no reason
64.Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65.Gone sky diving
66.Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67.Bounced a check
68.Flown in a helicopter
69.Saved a favorite childhood toy
70.Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71.Eaten Caviar
72.Pieced a quilt
73.Stood in times square
74.Toured the Everglades
75.Been fired from a job
76.Seen the changing of the Guards in London
77.Broken a bone
78.Been on a speeding motorcycle
79.Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80.Published a book
81.Visited the Vatican
82.Bought a brand new car
83.Walked in Jerusalem
84.Had your picture in the newspaper
85.Read the entire Bible
86.Visited the White House
87.Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88.Had Chickenpox
89.Saved someones life
90.Sat on a jury
91.Met someone famous
92.Joined a book club
93.Lost a loved one
94.Had a baby
95.Seen the Alamo in person
96.Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97.Been involved in a law suit
98.Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Olivia Lou... update

Yes, it appears that after Olivia has been on what they call full- medical intervention she is still considered FTT. Or failure to thrive. She is still spitting up so much that not only does it irritate her and cause some breathing issues but she has gone from the 50% to below the 5% for her weight. The Doctors have done everything at this point and have given all of the formulas and medications 12 weeks. At this point they think we really dont have any other options and they are sensitive to time, as she is just going downhill fast (weight wise.) She has a pre-op appointment scheduled with the Surgeon in 2 weeks and we will schedule the surgery for shortly thereafter.
We will keep you updated as we know. Its a pretty major surgery where they wrap a portion of her stomach around her intestine to tighten it, making it almost impossible to spit up at all. She will have a 5-7 day recovery in the Hospital when its over... yuck!!!! 

I have thought a lot about it, and will continue to do so, and I agree that at this point it really is the only thing that's going to help her.

She is still our sweet tempered baby girl. She's just tiny, weighing 10 lbs. 7 oz. When I told them how happy and good she is they were glad to hear it. But as they watch her falling off her growth curve and track how often she still spit's up the happy part just doesn't weigh in much.

I will keep you all posted in 2 weeks after her appointment with the Surgeon. He's the head of Pediatric Surgery and has done this many times so at least I know I'm in capable hands.

Im putting myself back on my list

The majority of my days are spent like this.

6:15am- kids wake me up
7:15am- Breakfast, get kids dressed. Get myself dressed, resolve an issue between a 4 and 3 year old, give baby a bottle, and if I have time, brush MY teeth.
8:15am- Preschool for Luke and Ella
8:40am- Home. Play with the baby, bath time for baby, nap time for baby
9:30am- Clean/laundry/shower. Maybe watch a little TV.
10:45am- Pick up Luke.
11:00am- Pick up Ella and James (carpool)
11:15am- Home. Feed kids lunch (this takes 30 min. in and of itself), give baby a bottle, resolve another argument or 2.
12:00pm- Ella and baby naps. Luke quiet time.
*** This is Mommy time. I do dishes, eat lunch, clean up from lunch, catch up on emails, pay bills, etc.*******
2:00pm- Kids play. Mom gives baby a bottle
3:00pm- Snack time
4pm- The big lul in the day. Kids usually start to get tired and grumpy. Mom tries to keep them entertained while also caring for a 3 month old who too is sleepy.
5pm- Start Dinner
5:45pm- Start bedtime.
6:00 pm- Mom's rear end crashes onto the sectional not to be moved for a longer than I'd like to admit.

Pretty mundane and dull I realize. But its basically my day in and out. Week by week and month by month. Sometimes we throw in Ballet or Karate. A playdate or the Children's Museum. But those days usually involve more stress and more driving around. Poor Olivia never gets to be the one to wake her from her naps anymore. I do that for her. Because we are usually heading out the door for the next pick up or drop off. Grocery run or lesson.

Well I've decided to add a little more excitement into the mix. As Oprah said, Im putting myself back on my list.

As Mothers we give and give and give. Usually with no thought to ourselves. Our wants and needs. Our over-all well being. To be honest I never really noticed it. I have a young Family. It's what I need to be giving my all to right now. I have decided that feeling needs to change. And it started last week.

I now take 2 hours at least 3 times a day and devote it totally to myself. Mine is done in a gym. I put the kids in the Kids Club and head off to take care of ME!!! Getting more energy, feeling better, being alone with my thoughts and feeling accomplished. (by the way I am already seeing results!!!)

Today was the ultimate "me" afternoon. I dropped my kids off and went into the locker room. I grabbed my bag and started to get changed, today was cardio, ab's and legs. I saw my suit laying under my running shoes. It hit me. Today I was going to take a selfish afternoon.

First I headed out to the "Fit Cafe." I ordered my smoothie and grabbed a seat in one of the cozy, leather love seats. I sat there, almost smirking as I enjoyed my time. I knew the kids were having a wonderful time. Probably playing computer games on one of the many imac's or running through the basketball court with friends. Maybe climbing around inside the maze or tunnels. Fun. That was the bottom line. I still felt a little guilty. OK, a lot guilty.

I looked away as I passed the over-lookers on the second floor. I couldn't help but notice them sweating while dutifully doing their cardio.

Next I went into the eucalyptus steam room. Pure bliss. I just dont remember the last time I felt that relaxed. After I had soaked up all the aromatherapy I could handle I sat in the spa for about 20 minutes. And then I went in the sauna. And then again to the steam room.

I never did get my workout in. I enjoyed my "me" time for over an hour before I couldn't stand it anymore. My guilt got the best of me and I got dressed and picked up the kids.

I felt terrible. I couldn't enjoy it all as much as I should have. Proof that I need to do more of this. I kept telling myself to just let it go and to let myself relax. I tried to tell my thoughts to quiet down. It was still impossible to escape. I kept thinking that others must be watching me. Rolling their eyes as they were about to head up to hit the weights. And here I was, lifting only my soft white towel and a peanut butter banana smoothie.

I vowed I would do this again. Until I did it without feeling guilty or falsely sensing others disapproval.

So here's to me time. Whether I am on a treadmill, working the weights or simply falling asleep in a eucalyptus filled steam room. Im doing it for me. And I know by doing so I will have more to give to the things and the people who matter most.
Selfish is OK Mom's. Oprah says!