Sunday Beignets, Bathing Suit Season, and Kate Middleton

Weighted  Issues....

 Every Sunday we get beignets. The boys love them, and who doesn't? Our kitchen turns white with powdered sugar and all are happy. As I am eating my 3rd one, I see pictures of Kate Middleton a few days at most post delivery, and she looks perfect. No swelling? Where is her stomach? HEELS???? I admittedly put full make up on before both sections and the day after I had the boys. But the rest of me, was a hot mess! I am really happy for her and know she has a team of people to make her look like that, but OMG, really?!?! Now we are expected to be perfect after delivering a kid too?!?!? 

Bathing suit season is now upon us. In the last 18 months I have struggled GREATLY with my weight. I have gone from "cant lose the last of the baby weight", to too thin,  to now bigger than I am used to, and bigger than my bikinis allow. Is it time for a one piece? The bathing suit dress? The mom skirt? I have worked hard on self love in these past 18 months as well. I have come to a comfortable spot in my head, regardless of weight. I have been happier lately than in many moons. I have worked on my blog, focused on how to help other special needs parents, and have had a general sense of calm that is greatly welcomed! I have eaten the extra donut, drank the real coke, treated myself to rewards I deserve. I have been HAPPY!! And it feels AMAZING!!

I went to the pool for the first time this season and would not take my cover up off. There it was, all my hard work on self love, hanging in the balance for the pressure to be bathing suit ready. My self confidence went from sky high to feeling deflated. Am I really going to let this upset my newly found happiness? Simple answer; NO. Tough reality; I am doing my best every day to take care of myself and my thoughts. "Today I embrace all the beauty inside of me."

Google "Dad Bod"- there are tons of articles of how that's the new "in thing" for men. No pressure, you are a dad, the Dad Bod allows for more than imperfections. Who's going to help me start the "Mom Bod" trend? Complete with tummy, cellulite, and stretch marks for all to see. Hot and Sexy!

So what do we do ladies? Easier said than done for me and I'm sure for others, LOVE YOURSELF! BE KIND TO YOURSELF! Focus on what makes you happy. Focus on your strengths. Its a tough balance for sure. But do what makes you HAPPY!! I find the stresses of everyday life easier to handle when I'm happy. When I am comfortable in my own skin. When I am confident in what I do and who I am. Be the best you that you can be. 

#supersoulsunday

#girlpower

#love

I mustache you a question....

Who is happy its Friday?!?!?! 

I could not help myself, I love this picture of my Travis! He is being silly at school :) We finished swim lessons yesterday, thank goodness! And yes, I should have brought my own Vodka for the snowball! The first half of the "parents day to watch", we were both crying. He had an amazing coach who was very sweet and never made him do anything, he let Travis get in on his own. Travis could see me, but of course I had sunglasses on. It was so hard to not go rescue him. But he did it! On his own! He got in the water, swam to his coach, and really learned some swimming skills. I could not be more proud of this angel! He got McDonald's and pizza for dinner. Big Travis had gone to a local toy store to buy the perfect solar system toys for him, (his new favorite subject). The Travis' came home together while I stayed and swam with Townes. He was a very happy and very tired boy last night. He was in a fabulous mood this morning, it was the first swim day at school for the summer season. There was a huge water slide jumpy at school we saw as we drove through the carpool line. Poor Townes was sad he could not go with brother, but he will get to go in June :) It has been a crazy week and I am glad its over. Although it ended great, it was very emotional and stressful. 

So proud of my guys! Have a great weekend! Hug your little ones tight tight! 

I want a large cherry snowball with vodka please....

Today is the last day of swim lessons.... THANK GOODNESS! Travis has been more scared each day to go to swim lessons. I have tried it all to make him not so afraid. I've asked his friend in the class to tell him its ok, told his coach he was scared, promised McDonald's, promised no bath (technically he did get in water), you get the idea. Today is the last day and he gets a BIG present today for completing swim lessons and being so brave! He is fine once he goes to the pool with the coach and is usually smiling when its over.

Yesterday was especially rough. I had both boys by myself for Travis' swim lessons. While making sure Townes didn't run in the parking lot, I had to physically pry Travis out of the back seat. No one wanted to walk on their own, Travis is flailing and cursing, I dropped my diet coke, and I had 2 huge bags with everyone's stuff in it hitting me in the back and Townes in the face. A big hot mess just trying to make each step toward the building.

We finally get to the bathroom to change Travis. I told him if his coach didn't make him swim, then he did not have to. I knew that Coach would make him get in the water, but this trick worked to at least get him in his swim trunks.

I get Travis off to his swim class with minimal tears from him, as huge crocodile tears are welling up in my eyes. I pick up Townes and head for the snowball stand in the parking lot. I ordered one for each of us. I asked for extra juice and a few shots of Vodka in mine, the teenager behind the counter had no idea what to say! "Are you for real ma'am?" asks the scared fifteen year old boy. "Yes, if you have some, but no, if you don't", I say with a half grin on my tear stained face. I of course then told him I was kidding, sort of, and handed him a large tip with the cash for the snowballs. Townes and I go to eat our snowballs on the picnic tables. His big belly and even bigger smile is soon covered in red snowball.  He is being his usual silly self and trying to climb up the walls of the building. It was one of the sweetest things I'd seen all day. And all was right in the world.

One more day, we can all do it! This time I may bring my own vodka, just kidding! Sort of :)

Mad hatter quote..

The Sun is Rising..,,

It's been raining for weeks in my part of the world. Today happens to be the sunniest day  

I've seen in awhile. 

I know lots of us are really excited the sun has finally come out!! But some people still have clouds hanging over them. 

Remember everyone is fighting their own battles. Be kind. Let the guy over in 

traffic, but the person behind you in Starbucks their coffee, hold the door open for the next person, or just give a stranger a smile, it may be the only one they get today.

A song by the same name has really touched me lately. I have listed the lyrics here. And yes, the sun is rising. 

SONG LYRICS

When life has cut too deep and left you hurting
The future you had hoped for is now burning
And the dreams you held so tight lost their meaning 

And you don't if you'll ever find the healing

You're gonna make it
You're gonna make it
And the night can only last for so long

Whatever you're facing
If your heart is breaking
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on
Lift up your eyes and see 

And the sun is rising

And the sun is rising
Sun is rising
And the sun is rising 

 Every high and every low you're gonna go through
You don't have to be afraid I am with you (I am with you)
In the moments you're so weak you feel like stopping 

Let the hope you have light the road you're walking

You're gonna make it
You're gonna make it 

The night can only last for so long

Whatever you're facing
If your heart is breaking
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on
Lift up your eyes and see 

The sun is rising

And even when you can't imagine how
How you're ever gonna find your way out
Even when you're drabbling in your doubt
Just look beyond the clouds

The sun is rising
The sun is rising
Just look beyond the clouds
The sun is rising
The sun is rising 

 Whatever you're facing
If your heart is breaking
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on
Lift up your eyes and see
The sun is rising

The sun is rising 

The sun is rising yeah
The sun is rising ooh oh
Yeah yeah 

 Even when you can't imagine how
How you're ever gonna find your way out
Even when you're drabbling in your doubt
Just look beyond the clouds 

 Even when you can't imagine how
How you're ever gonna find your way out
Even when you're drabbling in your doubt
Just look beyond the clouds

Writers: INGRAM, JASON / MUCKALA, DAN / NICOLE, BRITT

Copyright: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licenced & Provided By LyricFind

The Therapy Center Waiting Room..

"Where everybody knows your name"....queue Cheers' theme song music !!

We have been going to the same therapy center for about four years. The staff knows us pretty well. They have seen Travis grow from a non-verbal little toddler to a very grown up five year old. Most of them saw my pregnancy with Townes, his delivery, and have watched him to grow up to be not such a baby anymore, Godzilla.

Besides the great staff, there are the other parents in the waiting room. The boys and I are there four days a week for at least thirty minutes, but usually for an hour. The other parents and I are all there; waiting, waiting for our child or children, to come bouncing, or crying, out of therapy and to hear the day's events and skills worked on. Even if we have never said a word to each other, we all know what it is like, and we can even just give "the look" to other parents when our kids are having meltdowns or running around screaming and throwing things. Everyone understands, its okay, and we all try to help each other.

That time in the waiting room has become very precious to me. I have met lots of friends in the waiting room. Some are not there anymore and some are new. We know each others schedules almost better than our own. We get each other coffee, text funny things, and sad things.  We can talk for that time about our kids, or not about our kids. From insurance claims, meltdowns, husbands, work, school, to just a funny joke or meme we found on Facebook.

Other parents like me, have to bring their little one when the older child has therapy. We help each other entertain all the kids, share iphones and ipads to keep them busy. We watch each others  kids just to go to the restroom to make sure they don't run out of the front door. Its a great comroderie I really enjoy. We all work together. We leave each other  with the rest of the day to go, since we leave at 8:45am at the latest. Wishing everyone the best of luck and help wrangle running kids to the cars, I leave each day happy that I had that time. It's nice to be in a place, "Where everybody knows your name"....

Mental Monday- Don't Forget to Take Care of You!

Mental illness does not necessarily mean a person running down the street naked screaming "I am an orange!" Mental illness is a very broad label for everything from temporary mild depression, like the "baby blues" or loss of a pet, to the person claiming to be an orange.

It is not a BAD thing. They are also illnesses that you can not see. This makes it even harder for people to "see" it and allow those that need treatment, seek it. There is a stigma about people who have poor mental health. They are "crazy", "lazy", "dramatic", and "they are just over reacting".  There is no shame in needing therapy or even medication to help you in these times. It does not mean you are weak, it means that you are strong enough to seek help when you need it. 

A study was done in the past few years that parents of children on the autism spectrum have the same stress level as a combat soldier. They are both huge jobs that take a lot out of you, but you need to take care of you to take care of others. You do not have to be a parent of a special needs child to feel immense stress!! I'm sure that's no secret to any of you :)

I have dealt with this personally at least since Travis was born. I have taken and am on medication. I go to therapy every week. I know how hard it can get, how dark things can look, and how hopeless you can feel. They are terrible feelings. Feelings that I could only deal with in therapy and with medication.

No one is a super hero. We all need help from other people, hence the phrase, "It takes a village". Literally, that is how babies were taken care of long ago. Families had huge support systems and everyone helped.

Today, take care of you. Whatever that means; exercise, sleep, watch tv, take a long bath, take deep breaths, a moment of silence, you get the picture. Recharge your battery. Seek help if you need it!!

I have attached an article on some quick and helpful stress relieving solutions. Be well:)

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/autism-659236-parents-tip.html