A BB Hole and Weekend with Friends

Saturday my lovely hubby got up and headed outside to take down the Christmas Light, yes we are that family, LOL, while I got the boys fed. He was almost done when he found something very odd.

At the top right of this photo you will notice something quite allarming. Yes that is a hole in the outside glass. If you look at the bottom middle of the photo you will notice a small goldish BB and glass. Ugh. Well at least it is just the outside glass and not the whole window, but stil a bummer none the less. Oh well. My Dad works in construction so I will give him a call and get a number for a glass guy. We have no clue when this happened, we had the blinds open the Sunday before to see the snow so had to of happened during the week last week. We don't live in the hood but man this makes me thing we do. LOL

That was Saturday morning, so after this we got ready and got out to get our errands done before meeting up with the Ortowski's. I got my AE jeans exchanged, zipper we messed up. Used Jimmy's Best Buy rewards points at Best Buy on some giftcards for ourselves. LOL. Got the list of things we needed at Target and by then had two super hungry boys and a flustered mommy. We headed to Rosa's for some lunch and then back towards home. Got the boys to lay down for a little while and then it was time to go meet the Ortowski's at Joann's for Hollie and I to pick out some crazy fun fabric for Valentine's dresses. I also got some fabric to make some more food safe water resistant reuseable lunch/snack bags and some cute outer cotton fabric to go with that. Then it was over to their house for dinner. Garlic Potatoes, YUMMO.

Sunday was Maleaha's 2nd Birthday party at the Ortowski's house. So we got up ate quickly and made our way as a family to the grocery store to get out list for the week. I started The Grocery Game this past week and wanted to put my knowledge to use. We ended up saving over $16 total at Kroger, not bad for our first time out of the gate. We will see if that total increases in the coming weeks. So far my coupons saving have paid for a month of The Grocery Game charges, in just one week. Bargin in my eyes. After that we showered and headed to the Ortowski's to help with party preparations. We ate pizza, watched Maleaha open presents and then she had had enough and needed a nap. So we had a few cupcakes and decided to call it a day when Jack start to get fussy at about 5:30. We went home napless so far for the day and just lounged for the rest of the evening.

Jack's words I forgot on my prevous post:
Pweese (Please)
Here Go (as in, Here you go)He says Here Go Mommy mostly
No

Jack A Doo

So I don't talk tons about my sweet boys so I figured would start since they aren't getting any younger. Jack, my sweet Jack, he is 17 months old and a character. I don't really keep up with his baby book like I should so I'm going to write about his "new thing" as they come. I will start with his words, the kid can talk. His first word, Da Da, which made his Daddy's day. I guess I will just list the words he can say.

Daddy
Mommy
Nannie
Papaw
Bob
Momaw (Mamaw)
Ky-yee (Kylie, a girl at his daycare)
Hi
Bye
Ears
Eyes
Hands
More
Milk
Fru Woops (Fruit Loops)
Dog (and knows the sound a dog makes)
Ma-yee (Maleaha, my "Niece")
Go
Kank Ew Mommy (Thank you Mommy, says Mommy even if Daddy does something for him)
Ut is dat (What is that, first sentence back in Oct/Nov)
Shoes (he says this with his lips all pursed up)

That is all I can really think of right now. He is so much like Trenton in so many way that it is funny and scary at the same time. They are so fun together, they love to play with each other and Trenton is a great help in keeping Jack entertained in the car. Jack is teething right now and can be some kind of cranky, we are working on K-9 teeth. So far we are at 14 teeth including his bottom K-9's, we are just waiting on those top to pop through soon. Hopefully teething will be over for a while after that.

He is growing up so fast that it makes me sad, he is still in his crib because I don't want him to get older. He still uses small sippy cups because I don't want him to get bigger. I am very happy that we are out of the formula baby baby stage though, it was totally fun while it lasted but I love love love seeing him learn something new every single day. I love my sweet Jack A Doo and I love life.

Alopecia

After breaking down last night for the first time in a long time I felt like it was time to write about Alopecia and me.

I was first diagnosed with Alopecia when I was 7 years old, after mom noticed some small bald patches on my scalp. From what I can remember I went to a Dermatologist at what was then Trinity Medical Center in Carrollton. I had two creams we put on it, one was clear and we used it in the morning the other was brown, smelled yucky, and stained everything so much so that I had to wear an old woman's night cap. LOL. I look back at my second grade pictures and realize that man I really was losing hair, I had a good size spot in my bangs, I really didnt notice it at the time though and my friends didnt either. After the spots grew hair we thought everything was ok and it was gone.

When I was 21 I had been in a very stressful, very abusive relationship for nearly 3 years by then. That is what I noticed some spots, I flipped out. I remembered losing my hair back when but I couldnt for the life of me remember even the name of what I had. So I found a Dermatologist who again told me what I had and explained a little more about it. Alopecia is a Auto Immune Disease that has no cure, but it only effects my hair follicules. The Dr I went to this time was in Irving, he decided that I needed to try steroid shots in my scalp (not just one or two but 10 - 20) and he also gave me some other creams and topical meds. The spots I had this time were small but were scattered on the left side of my head, which my hair dresser and I thought wouldnt spread to the other side.(Will get into this more later). The steroid shots helped but it also helped that I ended that extremely volital relationship. You see Alopecia is said to be brought on by stress or stressful situations.

After the end of that relationship I moved back home to Lewisville and then I had to find another Dr to take over my treatments. I found a Hippy Dermatologist in Grapevine. I had one spot that was stubborn and didnt want to grow, it got larger and was the size of a softball on the left side of my head by the time treatment started working. This time the shots were numbering close to 30 or more at a time. This caused me to have migraines. I then began noticing thinning on my arms and small spots on the right side of my head, the Dr wrote me a script for an Oral steriod to help with this. Every thing grew back and I only had a small spot here and there after that. During this treatment time I meet Jimmy but finially had my hair back before we got married.

When I got pregnant with Jackson in Nov 2008 I noticed my hair lose was starting again. It began as a thinning and then I started noticing spots on both the left side and the right side. I just thought it was a hormone change and would talk to my OB about it during my appt. Well she said I could go back to the Derma if it bothered me that bad. I decided that I was going to wait it out and see if it was just hormone related. I was blessed with a huge head of thick red hair so I really covered all the spots well. After Jack was born I experience the normal after pregnancy hair loss but for me it didnt stop at 5-6 months like normal. My spots got larger. I set a goal of hair growth by Jackson 1st Birthday, August 4, 2010. Well I didnt have any growth just tons more lose, so much so that I was sweeping the bathroom floor 3 times a week. I was growing tired of picking it off of everything so I found a support group and decided I needed to eduacation myself more on Alopecia. People suggested going to see another Dermatologist, one that specialized in Hair Disorders. I thought I found one, well I was dead wrong. They only use shots and I decided it wasnt worth the pain or expense for me. They also had a few other topical suggestions but i wasnt willing to damage my scalp to attempt to get hair back.

As August drew to a close I decided I was ready to take the plung and shave my head. Some people thought this was a really drastic move but I new that it was only a matter of time, my spots were show through so much that it would effect my self esteem and my boys. So on a Sunday afternoon, surrounded by my best friends, my boys, and my best friends famiy I cut my pony tail off by myself. I needed to feel like I was making this decision and that I was winning and not letting the Alopecia beat me. After this Jimmy shaved what I had left off. It was so different and odd at first. I cried a lot in the first two weeks, I just plain missed my hair. I missed the person I was, I missed being me. Jimmy always was there to pick me up and tell me, "Babe I married you, not your hair". This really helped. I explained to Trenton what Mommy had and that I was perfectly fine but I just didnt have hair. He was completely fine with this and loved rubbing my head. He even stood up infront of his Pre-K class and explained what Alopecia was and that he didnt like people talking about his Mommy. My sweet boy, he is so wise beyond his years.

Since I shaved the first time I had to continue to shave two times a week for about 2 1/2 months then it went to once a week. That brings us up to now, i havent shaved my head in well over a month, I have lost all of my arm, leg, armpit, eyebrow, and eyelash hair. I still have some fussy patches on my head but not many.

So before you ask where I am in treatment (people assume Cancer) how about asking how I am or even tell my I have a pretty head. Because I do. LOL

And the Year is Almost Over

First off, Christmas. Our Christmas this year was so fun, the boys loved every minute of it. They got some awesome toys, books, board, games, clothes, movies, and even a TV (for the playroom LOL). Jimmy and I decided that we needed to start getting each other something so that the boys know that Christmas is about giving to everyone not just kids. I got a cutting mat, rotary cutter, and a new cloth tape measure from Jimmy and the boys. Just what I asked for. LOL. The boys and I got Jimmy a socket set, air compressor, and coffee. We enjoyed seeing Christmas lights nearly every weekend and watching Christmas movies, this is the best time of year to me.

Now to the year in review for the Schaefer's.
Jan- Jimmy traveled to Chicago for work during one of the worst winters they have seen in a very long time.

Feb- I turned 27 (EEEEEKKKKK)
        We went to Birthday Lunch with my family at Rudy's and then Beth Marie's for Ice Cream
        We put our house on the market

April- Went to Tulsa for our Neice Hailey's Birthday party, what a horrible trip oh well live and learn.

May- Our house sold and we moved in with Jimmy's parents

June- We found a house just down the street from Jimmy's parents, close to the park and near a great elementary school.
          We got our contract set and just waited for Congress to add more money into the USDA Mortgage Program
          We took our first family staycation; Fort Worth Zoo, Water Park, Bass Pro Shop to see the fish.
          We found out our mortgage company approved our loan without the USDA Money

July- We celebrated the 4th at Trenton's school
        We signed on our first real house on the 9th.
        We had a painting party and tear up the Carpet Party.
        Jimmy and his Dad worked on the floor for a week
        The carpet was installed and we were able to move in the next day.
        We had Jackson's first birthday party a few days before his actual birthday
        Reconnected with some old friends

August- Jackson's first birthday, we ate dinner and then went to Beth Marie's for Ice Cream
             Jimmy turned 29
             Hollie turned 28, we had a party at her house.
             Jimmy went to Orlando for the Star Wars Convention
             Trenton turned 4 and we had his friends party at a local Young Chef's Academy and then a Family party at Bahama Bucks for Snow Cones and presents.
             We attended a party for two of Trenton's Classmates at the Nature and Science Museum in Dallas
             I shaved my head completely on August 29

October- I finished my Christmas shopping two weeks before Halloween which topped my goal for the year.
               Addi Lyn Creations was born, and my sales started to boom.
               We attended a few Halloween Parties, Trenton was an awesome FireFighter and Jack was a Fire Dog.
           

November- We decorated for Christmas the weekend before Thanksgiving
                   Had Jimmy's parents over for Thanksgiving Lunch
                   Jimmy and I went Black Friday shopping for the first time ever, it was fun but sitting in line for a TV for 7 hours gets old.
                  Tons of sewing orders all month, I even started an Etsy page.
                  Tons of time spend with friends this month.

December- Busy sewing
                  Found out my BFF is prego again, I'm hoping for a boy.
                  Jimmy went to LA for a few days for work, they are opening a new sales office.
                 And this leads us back to our Lovely Christmas.


2011 Highlights already planned-
Jimmy and possibly me going to LA to set up new sales office
I turn, gasp, 28.
Jimmy going to Belgium for work training
We will get out of credit card debit completely.
More Addi Lyn Creations Business growth
Trenton will finish Private Pre-K at Primrose and the boys will move together to a new "School/Daycare" closer to home.
We will have a week family vacation in June.
The boys will be 2 and 5.
Jimmy will be 30, LOL.
Trenton will start Kindergarten, this is going to be super hard for me.
I will be getting a new or new to me car, the Jeep is getting to old. 137K and still rolling.

Well that is all I can think of. Have a great New Year and I will update again then.
 

Date Night

Friday Night Jimmy and I got a much needed date night. Jimmy planned the whole thing out, he called my mom to see if she and my dad could/would keep the boys all night. She said yes, he then planned the events. He even kept the secret all week, totally not Jimmy. This is the guy that 2 years ago couldnt wait for christmas so we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve. LOL. He did finally tell me the plan Friday Evening when i was waiting on him at my parents house, he was of course running late after leaving work late and getting stuck in traffic. He planned for us to go to California Pizza Kitchen in Frisco, a place we loved when we lived in Dallas and were without boys. Then we were going to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1 which was to start at 9:45. I asked him if he knew how long the movie was, his response UUUHHHHH no. 2 hours and 30 minutes long, UUUUUHHHHHH ok I dont want to be in Frisco that late. So we settled on Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville. Movie was great, food not so much. The night was young so we were going to go do something else, but we could figure out what else to do. We normally do everything with the boys so we couldnt think of any adult things to do. So we drove, I suggested going to the lake. Yeah that was a joke, every place we went looked scary at night so that did fly. So what did we do? Went to Quik Trip to get me some Wine and then went home. How boring is that? LOL to top it off the wine wasnt every good. LOL

Almost a Month

I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost a month, wow. Well I guess because not much has happened.

I have had tons of new sewing orders, which is amazing and I'm totally blessed that this new venture is working out for my family. I even have business cards and return address labels now. LOL.

On the Alopecia front, I have lost more hair. It isn't super noticable to others but I can tell because I'm not shaving as often now days. I still have mixed emotions about this, one day I'm ok with it and the next I'm pissed because I miss my hair. I don't hate my condition but I from time to time hate not looking "normal", but my loving family is my greatest support. My hubby tells me at least 3 days a week, "I married you not your hair", he is so sweet. I have officially lost all of the hair on my arms, legs, 1 eye brow, upper eye lashes on one eye and lower lashes on both eyes. I really miss my eye brows and eye lashes the most, and you never realize exactly what purpose your eye lashes serve until they are gone. Needless to say my eye drops have become my new best friend.

My boys, well they are great. I really can't put into words how smart, funny, and truely awesome they are. Trenton was tested at his private preschool at the being of the school year to see where he stood academically, and he tested in the advanced area. HOLY COW. This was so awesome to hear, everyone things their kids are super smart and we think the same about Trenton but to hear this from someone/something else is truely amazing. I'm so excited about where he will go in life and how elementary school will mold him. The kid is 4 and can count to 100 with minimal help, that just blows me away.
Jackson, he is my dancer child, he dances in his car seat well he actually dances any where he sees fit. He is also saying more and more words everyday. His words consist of; mommy, daddy, bubba, milk, keys, go (as in here you go), whats that, more(he signs this), Hi, Bye, Maw Maw, Bob, Paw Paw, Nannie, Dog (and knows what a dog says, arf), I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them right now. He loves to talk on his play phones, he holds a conversation, it is so funny. He now had 12 teeth thanks to the top molars that came in this week. His favorite thing for the week, having his teeth brushed. He loves it because he gets to be a big boy and stand on the stool in the bathroom.

Jimmy and I get a much needed date night Friday night. He has the whole thing planned out and wont tell me anything. I actually love surprises and am totally happy that he is going to keep this one from me. He normally tells me because he can't keep the secret anymore. LOL, he is a trip.

Well that is about it for now.

Ugh, that is really all I can say

The past couple of weeks have been blah for me. I'm not sure if it is the seasons changing, the hair loss, the new business or what but I'm just blah.
I really do love the fall, all the awesome colors and the cool breeze but without hair it has been harder then I thought. I shaved my head just over 2 months ago, I did it thinking and hoping that it would start growing again and that would be that. Well that isnt the case, I have started to lose my eye brows and eye lashes among other things. I'm almost to the point that I'm going to get my eye brows tattooed on and I have a great referral from Cheryl Gwartney but I'm still unsure. I hate when people give me the puppy dog eye look, like they feel sorry for me. I'm not sick, I don't have cancer, I just dont have hair plan and simple.
The new business, Addi Lyn Creations, is really doing well and I'm staying extremely busy with it. I should have enough orders to keep my busy threw the end of this month at least. So we will see.
My boys are so sweet and growing so fast. I took Jackson to the dr yesterday for his 15 month check up; he is 24 lbs and 31 1/2 inches tall. Big Boy. Dr Steve was concerned about him still spitting up on occasion, so Jimmy and I are going to change his diet a bit and see if we can help it if not we might be doing food allergy testing in the near future. Which truthfully breaks my heart, spit up babies/kids are hard enough to cope with that I'm not sure if a food allergy will sit well with me. Oh well God will take care of us. Jack did crack me up yesterday at the dr though. He saw a picture hanging on the wall, it was a Dallas Cowboys Football Players picture that had been signed for Dr Steve. Jack said, "whats that?", I said that is a football player and that is a football, ball, Jack replied "ball", yes Jack ball. I swear this kid amazes me more and more every day. So his new words for the week; Bird, book, ball.
Trenton, my sweet sweet Trenton. He is growing up way to fast and things about things that are going to happen in a year, wonder where he got that from. LOL. The kid is getting so smart that he can count to 100 with minimal help and can even talk in spanish. He blows me away everyday. I love that boy so much but we are so much alike that sometimes he is to much for me to handle. Do get me wrong he isnt a bad kid by any means but he does like to do things the way he likes and not the way mommy likes. I have to learn to deal with that but again with my OCD that is hard. Learning process for everyone.
Well I now feel better so I will end for today. I will post pictures from Halloween sometime this week.
Trenton is