Happy 4th, Happy birthday and we got a Wii, finally!

What a wonderful weekend! It was filled with good friends, good food, good fireworks and BIG fun! We started off @ our friends, The Magill's house Friday, of course showing up 1.5 hrs late! It seems like since having kids, it is impossible for us to be on time, so late you can't even claim fashionably late! We are usually out of town on the 4th, but the hubby had to stay in town for the new TAC store that opened last week. We had a blast! I must say the fireworks were awesome and the food was great but more importantly the little kids and big kids (parents) had a FAB time! It sure is nice being around other families that are so similar to yours! Love adult time, fun fun! Here are a few pics. from Friday night:Blaine and Mrs. AnnakaBlaine and Malakai Blaine looking up @ the fireworks. He was so tired, he didn't even finish playing his game on the way home. A big thanks to Annaka and Kyle for hosting a wonderful party!
Happy Birthday babe! The hubby's birthday was Saturday. We ventured out for brunch and then hit Best Buy to walk around and just see if they had a Wii system. We have been looking to get our hands on one for about a month or so with no such luck. Well, TA-DA they actually had ONE left on the shelf! We couldn't believe it! All the employees were talking it up, how it was a GREAT day for us! Little did they know it just happened to be his bday also, HA! Last year we found out I was preggers on his bday, this year he got his Wii, AWESOME! He also got to eat Mr. Crabs! Here are two short clips of Brian and Blaine boxing, LOL Pay close attention to Brian sitting on the couch with a drink out of breath on Blaines video, LMAO....can you say OUT OF SHAPE!? YES, we let Blaine play the boxing game, it is what it is! ;-)
http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/nicolegib/?action=view&current=BriWII.flv

http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/nicolegib/?action=view&current=blainewii.flv
We ended our Saturday down @ our neighbors annual 4th party. Once again, friends, food, fireworks and a great time! Here are a few shots of that days adventure:waiting to hit the pinata. Liliana enjoying her swing to! Another big thanks to the Jarvis's for hosting a wonderful party yet again.
Happy 4th and a thank you to all the men and women that serve(d) and have die(d) for our country!
God - Keep our troops healthy and safe.

How do you plea? Guilty your honor!

So much to talk about! First, Leelyn had his 4 month check-up today. He is weighing in @ a whopping 15.1 lbs and a mere 24 1/4 inches long, WOW! (Blaine weighed 15.11). Growing like a weed that he is. His stats are right in the middle, whereas Blaine was always in the 90%.
Poor Leelyn had to receive FOUR (4) shots today! They were out of two vaccines on his last appointment so we had to make up for them today! As it stands, Brian and I are on the fence with vaccinations anyway, so it was extremely hard to get through this appointment for all of us. Blaine cried so hard once Leelyn started to cry, then I cried! AHHH! It is DONE and I am happy. I will never forget the look on Blaine's face when he saw that they were "hurting" Leelyn - he was NOT happy to say the least. I love that boy! I love both boys! lol

PRAYERS NEEDED PLEASE Leelyn will be going in for his Vesicoureteral Reflux
test on July 9th, next Wednesday.
What is vesicoureteral reflux?
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the condition in which urine travels backward from the bladder toward the kidney and may affect one or both ureters.
In most children, reflux is a birth defect and is caused by an abnormal attachment between the ureter and bladder with a short, ineffective flap valve. In some children, an infrequent urination pattern may cause reflux to occur.
When the "flap valve" malfunctions and allows urine to flow backward, bacteria from the bladder easily enters the kidney. A child with reflux is more likely to develop a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) that can cause kidney damage. More severe reflux is associated with greater kidney damage. When urine back flow is more severe, the ureters and kidneys become large and distorted. Although reflux can have these serious medical consequences, it is a "silent" abnormality, that is, reflux does not cause pain, discomfort or problems with urination. Only occurs in 1% of children. How is vesicoureteral reflux diagnosed?
Reflux is diagnosed with a test called a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), which is an X-ray of the bladder. A thin plastic tube called a catheter is inserted into the urethra. Fluid containing an X-ray dye is injected through the tube until the bladder is full, and then the child is asked to urinate. Pictures of the bladder are taken to see if the dye goes backward up to one or both kidneys. The VCUG usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. In some instances, the test is performed with fluid containing a tiny amount of radioactive tracer and the test is monitored with a special camera. Infection related to using a catheter for these tests occurs in a small proportion of children, so the urologist may recommend that antibiotics be given before and after the procedure.
Ways to ease discomfort and anxiety related to inserting a catheter should be discussed with the doctor. A few children become upset and need to be held during the test. (YA THINK?) Performing the test using general anesthesia may cause incomplete testing because it is important to observe whether there is reflux when the child is urinating.
If reflux is found, a isotope renal scan may be done to check how well the kidneys are working and to look for kidney damage. In some cases, a kidney and bladder sonogram may be done to check the size of the kidneys.
How is vesicoureteral reflux measured?
Reflux can be measured or graded. The doctor looks at an X-ray of the urinary tract to determine the reflux grade. The reflux grade indicates how much urine is flowing back into the ureters and kidneys and helps the doctor decide what type of care is most appropriate.
The most common system of grading reflux — the International Study Classification — includes five grades.
Grade I results in urine reflux in to the ureter only.
Grade II results in urine reflux into the ureter and the renal pelvis, without distention (hydronephrosis).
Grade III results in relux into the ureter and the rnal pelvis, causing mild hydronephrosis.
Grade IV results in moderate hydronephrosis. (This was his last result grade)
Grade V results in severe hydronephrosis and twisting of the ureter.

YES - he will need a catheter for the test on Wednesday. Pray for Brian and I also, PLEASE! As some of you may know, we have been watching his kidneys since he was in utero.

I also had a couple of doctor appointments. While chatting with my PCP, she asked me if I have been getting any breaks.......HA! That was HILARIOUS for me to hear! A full time SAHM who's husband works 55 hours a week that has no family in town.....ya, what is a break I ask. So she started to share ways for me to get a 5-15 break: Run to the corner store, purchase magazine and sit in car for a addt'l 5-15 mins. to give myself time to "read", LOL....GUILTY! Stay in the shower for an addt'l 5-10 mins. and act like I needed to shave....GUILTY! Tell the hubby my nail polish is chipping so I can eescape to the spa for some needed RnR...GUILTY! I love my OB and PCP! Here is to going out to dinner with the hubby ALONE tonight. Thank you MaryJo and girls! XOXO

God- praying for healing, strength and courage.

You are what you eat!

By every word of this phrase, it simply is true! We are what we eat. I have ended the Vegan Cleanse for a few reasons. First and foremost, Leelyn has been spitting up like crazy, projectile spit up and I can only associate his new found hobby in connection with my new found way of eating - ha! Second, I have a dinner date and vacation coming up with several parties which is just an excuse I know. In all honesty, I have really learned a lot about my body and food through this cleanse. I am pretty educated on all natural, organic food - I have to be, the hubby is after all a store manager for Whole Foods making it a way of life for us. That doesn't mean that we don't fall victim to Doritos, Cheetos, Lucky Charms and such disgusting food items because trust me -we do. I am addicted to McDonald's french fries.
The book I read titled Skinny Bitc* really reeducated me on things that I have turned my back on. I can't be ignorant and let myself or my family put such harmful, cancer causing man-made chemicals in to their precious bodies. Moderation is key. We as a society are okay with cloning food, really?! Thinking back to my Great Grandparents and what they ate, which was straight out of their garden, wholesome good food made in their kitchen from scratch - which is why they lived to be in their 80-90's, and one GGM out lived almost all of her 12 some children! We literally should live to be like 120, but all this processed crap we eat has really changed the number of years we live.

I will take away these key items: Eat natural, eat organic eat wholesome as much as possible. Eat for fuel, eat for nutrition. Eat junk in moderation. Don't eat what you can't pronounce. I could list some scary ingredients and what they are derived from, or I can just recommend the book Skinny Bitc* and let them break it down in a more vulgar manner for you!

Thanks to everyone for your support and well wishes during the 10 days I managed to easily cleanse myself of such harmful toxins.

Everyone has their own view on eating, diets, food and fitness - and I choose to stay educated and feed my family right in my own rightful view! Bon appetit.

The phenomena of a curl

There it stands, alone. No hairspray, no gel, and no mousse required. It stands strong, letting us know it rules the head of hair, that it does. With it's gentle swoop that glistens ever so softly when the sunshine brushes it. (RECORD SCRATCH) Look at this! That hair is CRAZY!

Poor child has his moms hair which in turn is my fathers hair, bald spot included!Had Leelyn been a girl, the stores would have LOVED me because I would have purchased every last bow on the shelf! We might end up with a "pretty boy" LOL we get asked constantly if he is a boy or girl, all I care about is that he is healthy and adorable!

Products I plug

Just a quick note that I am in no way being compensated, reimbursed or receiving any special offers on the products or stores I am plugging in relation to my Vegan Cleanse. I am merely posting these items and places as an FYI in case any of my readers plan on doing the cleanse.

Vegan cleanse day 7, one week success

I did it, one week down! I weighed this morning and managed to lose 2.5 pounds, wow!This is five pounds of fat, so half of this came off my butt, hopefully! LOL
Considering I really haven't worked-out that is amazing to me. I plan on sticking with it and I will post less frequently regarding the cleanse, perhaps every three days or so. I plan on going strong until our vacation on the 17th - Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana here we come! No promises if I can and will continue after the 30 days. I am looking forward very much to spending time with my family especially with yesterday's drama!

God- let me persevere and walk the walk!

Vegan cleanse, day 6 followed by a DRUNK DRIVER!

Today has been crazy busy and I am running on fumes. For breakfast I had toast with vegan soy butter and jelly with a side of veggie sausage. Lunch consisted of a veggie burger by Amy's with fries cooked in olive oil. Snack was fresh fruit and almonds. Dinner I had a veggie pocket.
Sorry, no pictures.

We had our annual garage sale, happy to say we did very well and I am now $700.00 closer to getting my camera.

My step mom called me this evening, in a frantic state and left a message that concerned me so I immediately called them back without hesitation only to learn that they had just been hit by a drunk driver that fled the scene. They had her, my father, her daughter, and THREE grand kids in the truck. Thank God no one was hurt. They apparently followed the vehicle that hit them, knew he was intoxicated with some type of substance because he almost hit several other cars and then ran into a brick wall. My father, jumped out of the car ready to well, beat this mans as*, but thankfully my SM and Jamie managed to get him back into the car until the police arrived. Needless to say, he failed the Breathalyzer and was arrested. Everyone is okay, just very shaken and distraught! Thank you Jesus for sending your angles to protect them and the vehicle as you did.
Please people, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! CALL A CAB!

God - tonight I just give thanks to you, I heart you!