Our life in Texas!

We have been living here in Lewisville for nearly 4 months now. It still hasn't sunk in that we will be here for a while, it still feels temporary to me. We do like it in Texas. There is always something to do and most everything is close by. We have ventured out to Dallas, but only for Dr appointments so far. Most weekends when we have time to do anything we are usually shopping or running errands or relaxing at home. We went to a park last weekend and walked around. It was pretty and there was a big pond in the middle. The weather is really nice and warm most days. Sometimes we will have some crazy rainstorms. Apparently it is tornado season, so whenever we get big rainstorms we listen to the radio to hear of any tornado warnings in the are. One day a few weeks ago we were in Dallas for a checkup for Mason and there came this crazy rainstorm with lots of thunder and lightening. It looked like a hurricane! We decided to drive the 40 min home. Turns out there was a tornado warning south of Dallas there. There was a ton of water on the sides of the roads out looked nearly flooded. You don't see rain like that in Idaho!

Malone is doing well with his new job. He is very busy working on several projects at a time. He often goes to work early and stays late to get things accomplished. He works very hard and always looks forward to his weekends off to spend time with me and Mason. He is enjoying his calling in Webelos. A couple weeks ago he had to make catapults out of common household objects like rubber bands and pencils and popsicle sticks . Then last week he got to help make a miniature golf course.

I have been trying to keep busy at home
I don't get out much since Malone has the car at work. Mason and I spend a lot of time together so it tends to be hard to get much done around the house. A couple weeks ago I was able to make a few pints of strawberry jam with some strawberries I got on sale. I usually try to make it a goal to at least get a few chores done each day.

A month ago I started a challenge workout program. Each day you do a workout, drink a nutritious shake, do the challenge for the day, eat healthy, and drink plenty of water. The workout I have chosen is called T25. It is an intense 25 minute a day workout. You do different workouts everyday so you don't get bored doing the same thing everyday. I have never stuck with a workout routine this long or this consistently on my own before. I have been doing it 5-6 days a week for going on 5 weeks now. At first I really struggled because I was so weak and didn't have energy to keep up. Now I am feeling a little stronger and am doing better at keeping up. I just go at my own pace, but each day I try to push myself a little harder. I have only dropped about 5-6 lbs but I am starting to notice a little more tone in my legs. I have lost a couple inches too, but all this is stuff I am noticing that probably no one else can see yet. I really enjoy the shakes I get to drink everyday. It is like drinking a chocolate ice cream shake everyday. The best part is it gives me energy, helps with digestion, and has lots of protein and nutrients. Probably the most healthy meal of the day!  I have also been trying to eat healthier. I have been cutting out processed foods, trying to limit my portions and get as much fruit and veggies in as I can. I am not perfect at it yet but I try to do better everyday! As part of this challenge I am part of a group on Facebook with other people who are doing the same thing as I am. Everyday we check in and post how we are doing with our challenges. We all keep each other in check, and uplift and support each other. It kind of feels like what I imagine rehab might be like lol. Anyway, it is nice to have people to report to and feel accountable to. I still have a long way to go to accomplish my goals, but I am enjoying all the new energy I have and I am finally  feeling healthy and happy with myself. My biggest motivation for this is Malone and Mason. I really want to have the energy to take care of my family the way I want to and to feel good too.

7 months!

Mason just turned 7 months old a couple days ago. Since his surgery, Mason has been doing really great. His incision on his head is healing as well as the little one on his tummy. He doesn't seem to be bothered by the shunt at all. You can still see the ridge on his head where the shunt is under his skin, but we are starting to get use to it. You shouldn't be able to really see it when he gets a little older, hopefully. We had a follow-up with Mason's neurosurgeon who is pleased with how Mason is doing. Mason's head circumference has dropped a centimeter since surgery, which is good. This past week we had an appointment with a urologist who said that we no longer need to cath Mason! Since January, we have been cathing Mason every other day or so. When Mason had surgery, he wasn't emptying like he normally does so we had to cath 2-3 times a day. Now, we don't have to cath at all. I just hope it will stay this way!! We'll see if this changes as he gets older.

 

Mason is now  15.4lbs and about 25 1/4 inches long. We continue to have an occupational therapist visit twice a month. According to her Mason is right on track with development at this point. I couldn't be happier about that! He was able to roll back to tummy around 4 months and from tummy to back at like 5 months. Now Mason rolls all over the place! The other day he rolled under our coffee table and into the corner until he couldn't roll anymore.

 

Mason loves eating solids now. He is eating a wider variety of veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes and squash and he continues to eat rice and whole wheat cereal. He is able to open his mouth and get all the food off the spoon easily now. Mason is a very active boy. I can hardly get him down for a nap most days. He will doze off when nursing and if I continue holding him he will sleep a while. But the second I lay him down somewhere to nap he wakes up. A lot of times when I am around the house doing things he wants to be right there with me. He cries and cries when I leave the room without him or leave his sight. Sometimes I wear the baby carrier around the house so he is happy and I can get some things done. He is enjoying sitting up more now. He's not quite strong enough to sit up alone, but he is getting really close. Mason definitely prefers sitting up to laying down because he likes to see what's going on around him.

 

Mason is crazy about our little dog Tivo. Everytime Tivo is around Mason is mesmerized and likes to watch him and try to pet (more like grab) him. Tivo puts up with Mason's friendliness for a bit and then usually wanders off. It is really fun to see Mason light up when Tivo is around though. Mason is such a flirt! I take him out to the store or church and he smiles at the girls and is just a doll. Ladies are always commenting on how adorable he is and what a happy baby he is. I love hearing people compliment my baby! I think he's adorable too. Mason also loves eating my necklaces. I am sure most babies are this way, but he is crazy about it! I am pretty sure he is teething because he will drool all over when he is chewing on things. I haven't noticed any swelling of his gums yet, but it's just a matter of time I'm sure.

Mason rolled into a corner until he couldn't roll anymore!