Mommy plus Five

Wow July...you rocked!

I am looking at my photo collage for July, and I just want to cry!  Not sad tears, but very, extraordinary, HAPPY tears!

I love my family SO much, and this month they have made me so happy and so proud.  The boys have been there for each other and for me. My sons are four of the most amazing young men on the planet.  And I could not ask for two more special young women to share a life with.  Kori and Amber are truly remarkable, and I love them so much.  My daughters from another mother.  Nicki and Kathi, your daughters are amazing!

Everyone took care of everyone. *heart*

We welcomed baby Penny into our world.  A beautiful experience I was able to share with Brandon and Amber.  A day I will never forget.

My family is growing. Not only in size, but in love and appreciation for each other.  I could not feel more blessed.  What an amazing month this has been.  Thank You God.  :)

My beautiful family...

Welcome to August.
Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Happy Wednesday planet.

Today has been a nice peaceful, restful day.  No stresses, no worries and no sadness. My hands and wrists are still causing me a lot of pain, but I refuse to let it get me down.  I will just have to learn how to do things with my feet.  Maybe my elbows?  LOL. Life is all about learning how to adjust and adapt.  I can do that.  Maybe I can look into getting some bionic wrists and hands?  As long as I can keep riding my bike, and taking my daily pictures...I am happy! :)

I truly enjoyed my evening with Amber, and my beautiful grandchildren.  Little Cooper and Penny are so special to me.  Cooper makes my heart happy.  He loves to sit and play with me for hours, and we enjoy many giggles together.  He is my precious little sunshine.  Penny is growing so fast too.  She is now over 9 pounds, and is healthy and perfect in every way.  Amber is an amazing little mommy.

Hope your day was awesome!







Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

I am so lonely!!!  And so it begins.  Empty nest.  :*(

Blake will be starting school in the fall in a regular public school.  He is done with the "Home Schooling" experience, and is ready for sports, fun and regular stuff.  I am really excited about it, but a little sad too.  A few days ago, he decided that he wanted to walk to the park down the street all alone.  I know, he is going to be 12 in a few days, but I don't approve of him going ANYWHERE alone!  I have to be realistic too. There are no boys his age in our neighborhood.  There are a few girls, but they annoy the heck out of Blake.

So I let him go yesterday.  I made him take a cell phone with him, and told him he had to be home before dinner. It just so happened that there is a supervised summer day camp at this park for children his age, and he met many new friends that he will be going to school with next year.  YAY!

Bright an early this morning, he was ready to go meet his friends at the park again today.  He has been gone practically ALL day, having a blast with his new buddies.  What is really cool is that every day the city provides free lunches for all the children in the park as part of their free school lunch program.  So not only does he get to have a fun day with his new friends, but he gets a free lunch as well.  Win...win.

I am so proud of Blake.  He is such a cool, outgoing young man, and makes friends so easily.  This is going to be a great end to his summer, and a great start to his new school adventures.

Mama is a little lonely...but life is really good for Blake and that is ALL that matters to me.  :)

 LOL, Amber photo-bomb.  :)


 Beautiful baby girl!

"So what else is new mama?"

Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Happy Monday planet.  Blake and I were up super early, because I had a 9:00AM appointment with my Rheumatologist.  It was a gorgeous morning, so I decided that we would ride our bikes.

It was an awesome, cool, breezy ride in to the doctor.  Definitely much cooler than it has been in recent weeks. Even though we had an amazing time yesterday, the bike ride left me feeling exhausted and all out of sorts.  *pout*

The doctor confirmed that I am indeed having a wretched RA flare, and is boosting up my Methotrexate to try to push this beast of a disease back into remission where it belongs.  She also said to keep on doing what I have been doing with the bike riding.  Maintaining a healthy active lifestyle is so important with Rheumatoid arthritis. Doesn't always mean that you can keep the beast in check, but it is much easier to put it in its place when you keep activity levels up.  And even more important, it keeps my spirits up as well.  I love riding my bike!

After the doctor checked me, it was time to have my blood drawn for my quarterly level checks.  The regular nurse was not in today, and there was a new one I had never met before.  She was perfectly delightful, but had a heck of a time finding my veins.  As she kept sticking me over and over again, I thought Blake was going to come flying across the room and deck her.  LOL, he is so protective of his mama.  I will say though, the sticks did not hurt a bit.  I know the nurse felt 100 times worse than I did. I barely felt a thing.

On the way home, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up a "few" groceries so I could make some breakfast burritos when we got home.  Casey's friend Sammy was over to spend the day, and I wanted to make them some yummy food.

All in all it was an awesome morning with my Blake.  Of course when we got home, I crashed and burned and took a much needed nap.  I spent pretty much of the rest of the day in bed (which really irritates the heck out of me) but the doctor said I have to be okay with taking some recovery days and learning to pace myself.  I am patient with many things in my life...this disease is not one of them.  "Rawrrrrr....."

My mom battled with RA, and one lesson she taught me that has really kept me strong on this journey is to never EVER give up.  Always keep a positive outlook.  "Thank you mom."

In the words of a famous little blue fishy...


Silly bear did not even notice he had his shirt on backwards...lol
It is always easy to find a parking spot when you ride your bike.
Doctor Blake explaining the importance of keeping my joints strong.  :)

My commute is definitely more fun than theirs!  You can still see a lot of haze in the valley from fires.  I think that may be why my last few bike rides have been so difficult for me.  The air quality has not been the greatest.  Stooopid fire season.
Grocery delivery.


Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

A Goddess Festival?  For me?  Oh Boise, you shouldn't have.  But thank you.  :)

LOL, I can be so silly sometimes.  I am not sure what a "Goddess" festival is, but it sounds delightful.  If anything, it should make for some interesting photos.  Then the boys and I are partaking in some delicious Tacos and fun along the river.  It is not often I get both Casey and Blake to join me, so I am very excited.  A friend of Casey's is joining us as well.  It should be great fun.  I love spending time with my boys.

Tonight Amber and my grandchildren will be spending the evening with us while son Brandon works.  I can not think of a more perfect way to end the weekend.

I will post pictures when I return from our day.  Have an awesome Sunday planet!  I know I will.

***Update***

I had a wonderful day with my sons Casey and Blake, and Casey's friend Sammy.  We took a nice LONG 17 mile bike ride, stopped for dinner, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Goddess Festival at Julia Davis park.  Casey's friend Sammy is a delightful, funny young lady, and I really truly enjoyed her company today.

When we got home this evening, my daughter-in-law Amber, and my grandchildren Cooper and Penny were waiting to spend the evening with us.  It was a perfect day!  :)







 Blake, Sammy and Casey.

 Casey and his friend Sammy.
 Blake and I.
 Strange looking fellow we met at the Goddess Festival...lol


 Fun in the Boise river.



  Total Ride...17.05 miles.
 My adorable grandson Cooper.
 Sweet granddaughter Penny.


Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,