An Update on Life

This is how Jake likes it. He likes to be on the ground, rolling around to get his toys and books. I remember working so hard on trying to get him to roll for months and months. Finally, he's an expert roller and he can get anywhere he wants. So then what do his therapists say? That he needs to be up! 90% of babies Jake's age are walking experts, so since he's not crawling (more like, refusing to work on crawling and fighting me when I try) he needs to be up.

I'll admit I've been taking a bit of a break from therapy lately. Not completely, but I haven't been as dilligent as I should be because we've both been burned out. It's a major workout and fight every time! But I'm getting back on it and we're going strong from here on out. If we want Jake to walk within the next year, no more breaks. We've been doing the stander for 35-40 minutes a couple times a day, his bouncer with and without leg braces (just a regular old bouncer!), working on sitting to standing, and some arm exercises on the exercise ball. Well, obviously there's always more but that's the main list.

We've been taking Jake out for swimming, which he thinks is pretty fun. He loves Grandma and Grandpa's pool. The water is good for his muscles. There's even "water therapy" that we may look into a some point. For now, we just do whatever mom thinks of which is usually just standing on the step in the pool and kicking around in the water.

New with me and Kenny?

Well, I'm so proud of Kenny. He just finished a semester of 18 credits, which means, after one class in the summer and another semester in the fall, he GRADUATES!!

Also, he has gone on a "diet", which is really just a lifestyle change from being unhealthy to healthy mostly based on the foods he eats and he has lost around 25 lbs! He looks great! He's been working very hard and sticking to his goals.

With me, Kenny being healthy has inspired me to be healthier. I have really been struggling since Jake was born with feeling good and having energy. So this week I started an exercise routine and seriously folks, it's like a complete turn-around already! Several days this week I didn't even need a nap when usually I feel like I'm going to die if I don't get a nap or two. I put Jake in his stander or bouncer in the morning while I workout so we both get our workout at the same time and I love having productive mornings. I'm really gaining a testimony of exercise! I used to be super fit, and exercise all the time and I really want to get back to that. I feel so much better. I have energy, I eat healthier when I workout, and I'm happier throughout the day. Usually I think "oh I don't know if I want to do this this morning" but then I remember how good I felt the day before and just don't think about it and put on the DVD. I hope I never quit!

Here are some pictures when we went to our friend's house for baby pool time. They have a little boy 3 weeks older than Jake, although I always forget that because their little boy runs around everywhere and so seems much older. In the first one, Jake was being super lazy and didn't want to sit up, silly boy! Again, getting back into therapy will help with him feeling tired too. As I exercise I realize how important it is for him too so that he can do the simple things in life we all take for granted.

Oh yeah, and Jake has a hernia, which you all probably read about on Facebook. It's not a bad surgery, and he'll do fine. It just seems like it's neverending with him and I just feel bad because he's developing a real fear of doctors. Unfortunately, doctors, hospitals, and needles will always be a major part of his life but he's a strong boy.

Oh yeah, my couponing is going really well. We've been able to save a TON of money. This month we had a couple hundred extra dollars that usually aren't there at the end of the month. I've been able to get so many things for free or almost free, it's amazing and I frequently wonder why I didn't do it before. A huge part of it is not only learning to use coupons but learning how to shop and not just give your money out that you could have saved. It's a fun hobby :)
Happy Memorial Day!