This week in pictures

Edited: Asa's blood work showed no signs of any underlying problems. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Asa playing with a plane sling shot thing. When I gave it to him, he said "Oh, this is so COOL! I have wanted it for YEARS!"

Mom came back from Goldendale with fish for Asa. It as a gift for being brave at his blood draw. He as awe struck. He told Mom that he had never had fish and that he loved them. He named one Rex and the other Beya. Mom was pleased:)

"hugging" his new fish.

Joshua and I on a date.

We went for a beer at a micro brewery in Portland. It is a big compound with many different little bars, a theatre, soaking tubs and a couple of restaurants in a renovated school, called The Kennedy School. (miss it Andrea?) A new bar opened up called the Boiler Room. You can't really tell, but most of the furniture and decor is made from radiators and antique heating devices. It's 2 story's with boiler pipes running down between the floors. It's very unique.

Sissy and I Friday night at the "dark park".

Valentina, bundled up and probably wanting to go back into the car.

It makes me proud that I have such a happy little boy.

some of the lights in the park

Asa in front of the tree, that you can't see in the picture.

Sissy trying to get Asa to do some Power Ranger moves. Yes, Asa goes out in public looking like he does in this picture. He is Red Ranger, Storm Trooper and Spiderman all wrapped into one, literally. When I see him dressed like this, it reminds me other pre-motherhood. When I would see boys dressed like this, it didn't make me smile. I thought how could mothers allow their children to appear in public looking so scally wag! Now, when I'm walking behind him and he has his costumes on with big rubber boots (Danita, you know what I'm talking about:) disheveled hair and a chocolaty face, I smile and am so proud that I have a happy healthy boy.

It's not working Sissy, he doesn't want to do Power Ranger moves, but I guess YOU do. Valentina appears to be very entertained by her mother.

I wanted to keep my emotions out of this post, but have found myself just writing this. It is my therapy and it helps to let it all out. I am so tired, emotionally and physically. I'm on the verge of falling apart. I know that Sissy is on the brink too, so we are trying very hard to keep ourselves together. I love this holiday and am so blessed to have our healthy family nearby....but things are just crumbling around us. I just want to sleep for hours and not be bothered by life. I know that some of you are feeling the Christmas crunch too. I'm afraid of a complete breakdown, but after a very low bi-polar break down, it's extremely hard to come back up. I am trying trying trying to stay even. I have worked so hard to keep myself level for the last few months and it's no surprise that the low is coming. It's not a good time.

One thing I am looking forward to is making Tamales on Tuesday with Mom and Sissy. Even better is eating them afterward. They are quite a chore and take about a day to prepare and assemble, but oh so worth it. You just can't buy a store bought tamale and feel satisfied. Cheers to home made tamales.