{January 1-31, 2026}
 |
| Before |
 |
| After |
 |
| Visiting Papa Carl |
 |
| My little brother Dallas, my dad Barry & my nephew Isaiah in my brother's tattoo shop |
Starting... Ozempic after discussing it with my doctor and feeling like my weight is starting to hold me back from things. I weighed in at 275lbs for my starting dose. I'll take .25ml each week for a month, then .5ml after that for another month. Wish me luck!!
Reading... that the Journal of American Medicine found a 33% lower risk of Alzheimer's in individuals who took Ozempic, which makes me happy because my mom's side of the family has a history of developing dementia/Alzheimers, so lowering that risk would be awesome.
Organizing... my stationery, which made me very happy to do. I love snail mail, and I recently placed an order with Pippi Post so getting all my cards in order felt so good!
Ordering... myself the absolute cutest pink crayon water bottle from Amazon. CamelBack has four colors (red, green, blue & pink) and when I take it with me to sub, the kids crack up. They love it! Order one for a teacher or student in your life. They'll love it!
Doing... a white elephant book exchange at book club. I ended up getting a hard copy of ADHD is Awesome by Penn Holderness and I am so excited to have it in my hands. Josh and I both listened to the audio version, but I like to read books like that in my hand so I can underline and highlight as I go.
Spending... New Years Eve day in Wenatchee with my sister. We hit their used book store and their newest book store Fable. Both had tons of character and books for me to purchase. We also spent some time in a coffee shop journaling, and then we hit the movie theater where we got buttered popcorn and enjoyed Timothee Chalamet in Marty Supreme. Honestly, I expected zero weapons in a movie about table tennis, but there was a lot more than zero and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Counseling... with my therapist over on her new platform. I was nervous to make the switch, but I am so happy to be back with my regular girl.
Getting... my monthly massage and so grateful that insurance covers it!
Subbing... a lot in kindergarten for my student teaching mentor and loving those kiddos. I also love that I know how she teaches and how she likes her class to run. It makes being in there as a sub so much easier! One day we got to do shaving cream on their tables (you just spray a pile of shaving cream in front of each kiddo, and then they can draw and write in the shaving cream). They loved it so much!
I also subbed in third grade for the afternoon which is fun because I've been subbing for most of those kids since they were in kindergarten, which is so cool. Honestly, the days I sub, I feel like a celebrity. As I walk the halls or head with students out to recess, other kids will yell my name and say hello, or pop over for a hug, and it warms my heart. I love that they know they are important to me, and that makes them feel seen.
Watching... lots of football. It's exciting because the Seahawks have made it to the playoffs and we're big fans over here. I'm also watching Season One of Beast Games on Amazon. It's a fun show to have on with my kids around because it makes great conversations (what would you do? what decisions would you make? what would you do with all that money?) and we're all enjoying it. I'm also watching The Pitt episodes on HBO as they roll out. I am so obsessed with that one. And I watched One Battle After Another (with Leonardo DiCaprio) on HBO, which was intense and so good! I was riveted.
Following... @Hiliary.mckay on Instagram after seeing that she was trying to quit her soda habit. You guys. She drank NINE 44oz Diet Coke's PER DAY. And she stopped cold turkey. It's been quite the journey. I am so proud of her!
Enjoying... an extra day off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Three day weekends are the vibe, people. I can relax one day; hang out with the fam one day; and clean the house another day.
Making... homemade pizza and cookies for Josh, Wyatt, Carly, Logan and his friend Sullivan. Jack was hanging out with his friends Kendal and Anthony.
Snapping... pics of Logan and Elyssa before they left for the Sadie Hawkins dance on Saturday night. She had made the cutest shirts with kisses all over the back and each others' initials on the front chest where a pocket would be. So creative!
Loving... the pics of my grandma's birthday celebration at her local coffee shop. I am so glad she has such a loving, supportive group of friends in her little seaside town.
Celebrating... Carly & Daphne's birthdays with a joint family party at my sister's (new) house. The girls were delighted to be together and play and eat Bugles and have cake. It was pretty sweet. Carly is now ten and Daphne is now five. Man, how time flies!!
Attending... a meeting with Jack at our districts' digital learning center to learn about the online program we have and get him set up to go online next semester. Josh and I are apprehensive about it, but we think it's the best choice for him, so we're willing to give it a try.
Adding... stickers to the front of my current journal. It's so cheerful now!
Starting... what I'm calling a scrap-journal. It's basically a gratitude journal with pictures that I decorate with stickers & other fun scrapbook items. I think it will help me cherish this last school year with the twins at home, and will help me "see the good". I've kept these twice before. Once in 2021, and also in 2023, I think. They are super fun to look back on. I bought myself a Moleskin Classic 12 Month Planner (link here) and in the prettiest green and then use my HP Sprocket inkless printer (link here) to print pictures each day of whatever brought me joy.
Freaking out... that Noah Wyle (Dr. Carter from ER & Dr. Robby from The Pitt) liked my comment on @Drbeachgem's post about meeting Noah at the premiere of The Pitt. I always joke that if someone famous likes my post or comment that that makes me famous for a little while. Haha! So cool though!
Watching... as Carly received an award from her teacher at their monthly awards assembly. This month's awards went out for organization and I was so pleased that despite Carly's messiness at home, she's able to keep her desk and area tidy at school. Way to go, girl!
Impressed... with Elyssa, Logan's girlfriend, who is an incredible wrestler with nearly no fear. I always joke that she is tiny but mighty. And damn if that's not true.
Suffering... ten migraines in total this month. Perimenopause is messing with my cycle and the migraines are epic. Truly awful. Thankfully if I catch them quickly I can take my rx (sumatriptan) and feel 100% better in about two hours. But if it sneaks on or I wait too long to take my rx, then it takes longer for them to get lost.
Fatigued... from fibromyalgia, winter and stress. I know that I need to start making sleep a priority in life, as well as stress reduction because feeling like this is getting old.
Quitting... gabapentin after reading this study about how long term gabapentin use can lead to an increased risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. When I read this, it felt like the biggest "aha" moment ever. My lack of memory, ability to find words and to recall things I was *just* thinking has been terrible over the last two+ years. The idea that getting off gabapentin is thrilling if it could lead to more clarity and remembering. Fingers crossed.
Grateful... Josh took Carly to the store to pick out her birthday cake since I was having a terrible migraine that morning. She chose a Seahawks cake which I think just sums up our girl. She is the most sparkly tomboy you'll ever meet. She loves purses, jewelry, makeup as well as climbing trees, getting dirty, and playing sports.
Celebrating... our girl turning ten years old. A whole decade with this girl lighting up our life. I am so grateful I didn't give up hope after our two miscarriages. She was worth the risk 100%.
Feeling... destroyed by the news lately. There were two days, toward the end of the month, that I got the kids off to school and climbed back into bed, frozen by fear and sadness. I've since decided that constant scrolling is not good for me, and that I can stay informed without bathing in the bad news. I need to find a balance between researching what is going on and staying involved in my own life. My counselor and I decided that I need to set small goals to accomplish each day to keep me rooted in the here and now.
Contemplating... whether I would be brave enough to hide Anne in my proverbial attic when the time comes. I talked it over with my counselor and I came to the conclusion that while I may not run out to find a stranger to hide in my house and put my family at risk for, I would absolutely hide someone I knew if it meant saving them. It felt good to know that answer for sure.
Cleaning... Carly's room with her grumpily toward the end of the month. Between her imagination, her messiness and a plethora of birthday gifts, it had gotten out of control. I was not happy to be cleaning it again after having cleaned it just two months prior. But I knew it needed to be done, so I set a one hour timer to see how much I could get done. I was impressed with our progress in that short amount of time. So I set it for another hour and pushed to finish it. We got it done and I was so happy for Carly to have a beautiful place to rest and play. Then I did the math, and if it takes an hour for each month worth of mess to clean it, that's not too bad.
Purchasing... a new washer and dryer set with our tax return money, and feeling so grateful that a) Josh did our taxes and b) he knows how much a new washer and dryer are going to positively impact my daily life. Our old set was probably 20 years old and and the laundry came out of the washing machine soaking wet, so we'd have to spin it at least one extra time, if not two. And the dryer would take two runs to dry a load, three if it was full of jeans, sweatshirts or towels. It made laundry an incredibly stressful chore running in the background of all my days. Setting timers and running a load every morning and every night... I was never not thinking about laundry. Now we have brand new machines that sense the size and dryness of the loads. They come out of the washing machine nearly dry, and then the dryer only takes one single rotation to get the clothes dry. It feels like actual magic!!!
Signing... Logan up for the digital learning center as well for online learning. Last semester was a struggle for him academically, and getting him to go to every class was a constant fight. I think that this might end up being a better fit for both twins. It's not how Josh and I wish they would learn (we are big believers in public education, learning in person, and being around your peers), but at this point, with less than five months left of the school year, graduation has to be the goal, and whatever they need to do to get there, we support.
Alternating... who goes grocery shopping with me (Jack or Logan) and feeling grateful that they're so quick & helpful, but also laughing at how frustrated they get with my indecision and aisle perusing. They want to get only what's on the list and get in and out in under an hour. We are shopping for two weeks for a family of six, though, and sometimes I can't decide on something, or I see a new item I want to try, and that drives them mad!
I realized how bad my indecision was when I was trying to decide between different types of wipes they had there (four different brands, twenty different scents, in different sizes and containers) and Jack, having stood patiently for at least five minutes while I vacillated, grabbed four containers of wipes, chucked them in the cart and said, "Mom! It's not that deep!" Hahaha! I was laughing at myself at that point, because I knew he was right. But I want so badly to make the "right" decision (whatever that is) that I often find myself worried to the point of immobility. And that helps no one. I tend to have a "what could go wrong?" way of thinking whereas Josh and our boys tend to think, "It'll probably be fine." I could learn from them for sure.
Listening... to Thanks For Being Here with Kelly Corrigan. It's her podcast from 12/14/25 entitled "Wendy's Letter to Joanie & Da." It was heartwrenching, but also so beautiful about a mom who lost her daughter in the Texas floods at Camp Mystic in July 2025.
Also listening... to a lot of Katseye and Olivia Rodrigo because that's who Carly is currently obsessed with. We got rid of her K-Pop Demon Hunters shirt and posters this month. She's moved on. {wipes tears}
Loving... this quote when considering how I parent my teenagers (who are always pushing the limit and driving me nuts).
Scared... of Logan sharpening all our kitchen knives. If they're dull, they feel less dangerous. Although he constantly tells me I'm less likely to cut myself if they're sharp. That may be so, but it doesn't feel true.
Slowly... decluttering the house, one area at a time. I find great inspiration online and when I'm anxious about life (politics, parenting...) I find that cleaning, decluttering and organizing makes me feel better.
Grateful... that Wyatt has RC cars and that it's now a hobby he and Josh can share. He's just the best kid who asks for very little (typical middle child) so I am happy when there are things he does that bring him joy.
Ordering... a new shelf with pastel bins for Carly's bedroom to help keep her room clean. I'm not sure how much it will help since she is unwilling to let much go, but it's worth a try!
Ignoring laundry to read... The Ferryman and His Wife, which is a short, sweet little read that I think anyone would enjoy. It's about a widow contemplating his own (imminent) death while introducing characters from his community and I just enjoyed it so much. I am also listening to Little Liar by Mitch Albom about a family during WWII; and Dear Writer by Maggie Smith, which I had hoped would encourage my writing, but was much more preachy and less inspiring. Blah.
Having... a hard conversation with a loved one and being reminded that hard conversations can often lead to being even closer than when you first began. Showing our hearts to each other is brave. And worth it.
Struggling... with health anxiety and freaking out that I overdosed on Tylenol. (I took some Tylenol for sinus pain; then a couple hours later I took a nyquil, that also had acetaminophen in it.) I was googling and then terrified I wasn't going to wake up. I am exhausting.
Thankful... for Josh always being willing to make dinner and/or let the kids try making dinner. He helped Carly make pancakes on the Blackstone this month, and she was so dang proud of that stack of pancakes!
Teaching... Logan to sew after he cut open a stuffed animal with his pocket knife. He learned how to do it quite quickly, and even pulled out his first attempt and tried again to make it look better. I was impressed!
Feeling... like 2016 was a lifetime ago. There's a trend online right now where people are sharing pics of their life from ten years ago, and it's just so different! Carly was a brand new baby, the twins were only 8 & Wyatt 5, and we had just bought our first house. Oh, how time flies.
Grateful... that Josh is so incredibly handy. The other morning on my way to work I went to grab a jacket, and it was wet. Like, really wet. I hadn't worn it, and it hadn't been raining, so I couldn't figure out why it was wet. So I looked up and saw a huge bubble on the ceiling of the closet. I gasped, emptied the closet quick as possible and texted Josh a picture.
Carly and I were on our way out the door, so I just did what I could, and then left to drop her at school. During my lunch break I called our insurance and they sent a guy out to inspect the issue. We narrowed down the issue to our bathroom. But knowing our premium, Josh wanted to try and solve the problem himself. So that weekend he dug in and he & his brother managed to find the leak (from the wall behind our shower) and fix it. They are honestly miracle workers. The things those boys can do constantly amaze me. (And save us money!)
Practicing... "raw dogging" life after seeing a guy on Instagram who started the new year meditating for an entire hour (!!!) everyday. Sometimes he does it in his living room, other times outside in what seems to be a meadow. He said at first it was so hard. Physically uncomfortable to just sit there. But after a fairly short amount of time, he started looking forward to it, craving it even. I don't have an hour to spend meditating each day, but I thought I could start "just being". So in the car sometimes, I make a quiet drive to wherever I'm going. While waiting in line at the store, I leave my phone in my pocket and just be. It's actually had a surprising impact on my nervous system. I feel more grounded, calmer.
Having... dinner some nights during the week with the twins gone and every time they miss dinner, Wyatt or Carly comments on their absence. Wyatt usually says it's too quiet, and Carly says it's weird. I agree. It's going to be a big adjustment to go from four kids at the table to only two. Not only for dinne portions (hah!) but also for the company we keep.
Internet Happenings This Week:
No comments:
Post a Comment