I got my hair done, and got a tattoo… my first, should I say ONLY ☺… to help with an adoption fundraiser and to “celebrate” my weight loss. As of right now I’ve lost 73 pounds! What staggers me is the fact that I could strap Olivia on my back and STILL not have that much weight added back on! I can’t imagine her getting on my back and walking around and doing things, yet I was doing that every day for years! Unreal!

A few days after the tattoo, Olivia and I ran our first 5K. She LOVES to run and was SO very excited to do this! But, it ended up being COLD! 33 degrees in fact, and she could not get past that and feel warm. So I ended up walking most of it with her, running a few times in the midst, and trying to keep her spirits up. She felt so defeated and ready to give in, I could just read it on her face, yet she kept going, kept persisting, and went on. Halfway through a very generous soul gave her a jacket and gloves and that got her going again. We made it through, were not the last ones, and can now say with pride that we’ve done a 5K! And, even better, we have a great time we can surely beat the NEXT time! ☺

That 5K was held in my hometown, benefitting a wonderful Christian organization which I basically grew up in, Young Life. Young Life is geared toward high schoolers and is a crazy, fun way to share the gospel and get kids started on that personal relationship with Christ.

We spent some time with good friends Friday night, Braeden’s godmother and her two lovelys Saturday, went to a great Easter Egg Hunt while there, then headed 40 minutes away to where my dad’s side of the family live. My cousins were throwing a surprise party for my aunt’s 60th birthday. It was great to spend time with everyone and see people! We went to our favorite pizza place on our way out of town and although we got home late, it was a wonderful weekend.


The following Friday we headed up to a log cabin we rented for the Easter weekend. I wanted to spend some time with JUST US for a change and have some peace and quiet. It was great! The weather was gorgeous! We had time in the sand, time at a movie, time to play outside, time to build fires in the fireplace, time to decorate eggs, and time to hunt for eggs.




The sweetest surprise ever awaited me after the kids had found all of the eggs and their baskets and we went to sit around the fireplace and watch some tv. I pulled back the blanket on the chaise I had “claimed” while we were there and was stunned to find a hidden Easter basket. There had been no children hinting at me finding it, nothing, and I was amazed. The note inside, along with the foam eggs decorations and chocolate candy, was the sweetest thing!

If you can’t read it, it says: “Dear admirere I think you take care of your kids very well. Your kids are thankful for you although they do not act like it sometimes. Love, Secret Admirere”




We came back last Monday to the rest of spring break. On Wednesday I spent the day with Braeden and Olivia running some errands, going to a medical appt for Braeden in order to get a referral to see a doctor about beginning him on meds for ADHD. His teacher and I have been working together and both feel that this is the time to begin, using this last month of school as a time where she can watch him to make sure we get him on the right one. Then they were able to go to a local indoor bounce facility they hadn’t been to yet.

Thursday Olivia and Liam had neuro appts and Olivia had another EEG. Her EEG showed that she is still having seizure activity while awake, but mostly while asleep. That means she is not fully being rested at night which explains so much. My kids currently go to bed at 7 and are up between 6:15 and 7 in the morning. My boys could easily go to bed a good hour later, but Olivia can’t. I’ve tried putting her to bed later, especially in the summer, and she is cranky, emotional, and sometimes behavioral when I do. Well, now it falls into place. If she’s not even getting enough rest by going to bed at 7, she’s getting even less going to bed later, and when she’s tired, that’s how her body reacts. Due to her other medications however, her neurologist now has to discuss with them what to do and make sure any new meds they’re considering don’t conflict with ones she’s currently taking.

Friday I took a mom’s day and ran errands in the morning and saw TWO movies back to back in the afternoon with a friend! ☺

Braeden discovered Saturday that he has a new tooth coming in, even though he hasn't even lost his first one yet! He is DYING for that silly tooth fairy to come visit his bed! :)


Saturday was a zoo day, and the weather was GORGEOUS! We spent time with good friends and their two kiddos and had a blast!


And finally, yesterday, we went to church and then to get a family picture… much needed! ☺ It turned out great and we had a fun day at the mall!

Now back to work! :(