The Girls

Abby now walks around saying "Girls, Girls, Girls". Not in the Motley Crue way. In the shaking your head side to side in mock dismay fashion =) It's sort of my battle cry of motherhood. But how can you resist these two? I love how Emily appears to be picture crashing Abby's serious pose.

Pesky little thyroid.

Let me start by saying that I didn't do well in the Endocrinology portion of Nursing class. The whole negative feedback system is just confusing and makes me go cross eyed. Hence, I'm not going to attempt to describe what is going on with my Thyroid. All you need to know is that mine is probably broken and as previously mentioned, needs to be properly diagnosed and fixed.

I have known for almost 2 years that I have a goiter on my right thyroid gland. You're probably imagining something huge but mine can only be felt by the doctor. I had a fine needle biopsy done to ensure it wasn't cancer and went on my merry little way since at the time, my labs were not abnormal. Not so anymore. Now, I have Hyperthyroidism. That is not an opinion or subject of debate. My lab levels post pregnancy confirm this clearly. The concern is why and how best to treat it.

The test I need is a radioactive i 123 exam. I'm scheduled to swallow said radioactive iodine Tuesday to evaluate for Graves Disease. I have many of the symptoms including a headache for the last month and increasing migraines which I haven't had in almost 7 years since stopping eating wheat. Important to note that Celiac's disease is an autoimmune disorder which puts you at risk for other autoimmune disorders such as... Graves Disease. Joy.

Why all the drama and cold facts? Because it helps me deal with more emotional aspects of this issue. There is research to support that i 123 can be contaminated with a much longer radioactive material i 131. Some say you can continue to breastfeed after 4 days following i 123 but there is an absolute contradiction to i 131 because it can be excreted in your bodily fluid for months. I was prepared to quit breastfeeding at 6 months to have the tests done but as I've become more symptomatic and my labs askew, I'm all but forced to have the test done now. I've done research and soul searching and this just the way it has to be. I'm at peace knowing formula isn't poison but I feel robbed of my breastfeeding experience with Emily. A shame since it's been going so well!

On the upside. Since going off my breastfeeding/hyperthyroid diet of 3-4,000 calories a day, I've dropped 8lb in 2 weeks and finally fit in my favorite pre-pregnancy jeans. Small consolation but I'll take it.

Bluebonnet Pictures

This is probably the best picture I have out of 127. See the nice spot where you can take pictures? Yeah. She wanted nothing to do with that. I have some of her in the car playing with the sunroof that are better! I might try again later this week or better luck next year!

Abby's 1st Haircut!

I've been trimming Abby's baby mullet since she was about 6 months old. I'd been doing a pretty good job of making the bangs pretty and then at Thanksgiving they didn't turn out right. Slowly she began to have no style and I think Nicci hit the nail on the head with this comparison (after seeing the new cut)

After =)

The cut isn't finished because Abby wouldn't sit still for us to make it look all blended and pretty but it looks darn cute! Abby does not appear to notice.

Abby loves "the baby"

Today, I swaddled Emily and put her in the bouncer for her morning nap. I started unloading the dishwasher and out of nowhere she just started wailing. Before I could get the next dish on the shelf, I hear Abby at her side going "Shhhh Shhhhh" just like I do. Then she tried to get Emily to take her lovely "Mo Mo" and said "It's OK Baby" (like I do). Emily actually did calm down seeing and hearing her big sister. Awwwwwww!

Mind you, I would prefer she give Emily a pacifier, but sacrificing MoMo to your baby sister is a pretty nice gesture! I made sure to compliment Abby on what a good big sister she was and how much the baby appreciated it. 

Abby still refuses to say Emily. I used to try every day to have her say it but the other day she just looked me square in the eye and said "I call it Baby". And in the time it took me to write this post, "Baby" somehow has 2 MoMo's =) We have a total of 7, plus a rogue puppy one she calls "Clean MoMo". However, Abby only has 2 of them out right now and she gave them all to Emily. How's that for love?

Snow!

I got her to do this by telling her NOT to eat the snow.

My attempt at a snowman. See the open water table in the back? Abby was ticked I wouldn't let her play in it. That'll teach me to leave the lid off.

2 months old already?

My favorite. Abby and Emily look so much like me when I was their ages

My awesome sweet cheeked girl who sleeps from 12-7am w00t!

Psst. Abby. How many more pictures do you think she's gonna take?