Life: A Lil Bit Wild

Annnd, were done. Holy cow, that was awesome! Wilder rode his own bike all day, he did amazing! Listened great, stayed close- even made it up the big hill! Addoette fell asleep during the slow ride, Wilder loved the yo-yo guy! Then, we called it and went home. I am tired! (at New Belgium Brewing) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnNFmaSh7EnmC2_bbLE4st4kPS_d0_6_h9eYko0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=v4oeyrusd8sq

#fbf to camping and catching 5 fish in an hour! Nothing like hearing your kid be like ‘Mama is the chief of fishing!’ Dang right son! Photo credit to @thedarkroomrising 🙌🏽 (at Taylor Park Reservoir) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmUrbUBhCZLAZm_YQuxarRz2owTfdFl0RfxNeo0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qssehwdy3g6

This morning we went and helped get the playground at #UnityCooperativePreschool ready for inspection. Pushed around 3x2200lbs bags of that shredded rubber stuff. It went super quick since there were many hands to help. Then, popsicle in the parking lot. Because that’s what we do at #beaversmarket before braving the super park for a quick run around the water feature. That place is crazy town on the weekend! Now I’m ready for some quiet time, who’s coming with me?! Oh yeah, no one- because my littles rarely ever stop moving! (at Beavers Market)

Today was a good day... • Monday I’m back to work, it’s time but I’ve enjoyed the time off to be slow in the mornings and minimize the agenda. •Today we went to the #traderjoes and chatted with our fave employee, Sam. She’s got this energy I really enjoy, authentic and cool in her own skin. Then we had lunch at home and went to the splash park in the small town we used to live in. Drove by our “big yellow house” and wilder said he remembers it being bigger. I told him maybe because he was smaller and he was like 🤯 perspective is a tricky thing when you’re 4! We played for a time and He made friends with a cute kid with a prosthetic leg and did not even notice. The kids (maybe) mom was like ‘thanks for playing’ and I was like ‘we have the same saying!’ And she was like no seriously, your kids played with my kid like he’s a regular kid. My heart broke for her, I said your kid IS a regular kid. #differentlyablednotdisabled is our jam, and we measure others by their hearts and not their parts. She couldn’t even, so I just gave her a hug and we sat and watched our kids splash and run and laugh with each other. And it was awesome... and then Wilder got too chilly and needed to warm up, and I snapped this picture of this sweet soul I grew. The only thing he asked about this cute friend was if he could come to our house... but they’re actually just visiting the area from another state... -so, friends from the park, if you find me on this platform, you and your kiddo made a lovely mark on us. 💛💚 #letthembelittle #kindiscool #measurebytheheartsnotbytheparts (at Wellington, Colorado)

Trekked down the the EngleHood so I can sleep in tomorrow. Not even joking, I will drive an hour and a half so someone else will be in charge first thing in the morning! #thismamaistired Allllllsoooo, my AC crapped out halfway here. And it’s 93°f, and my kids (for sensory reasons) can NOT even with the windows down... it was the worst.

Recovery is a tricky process, not a smooth trajectory. Yesterday, I felt better than I did today. Today was rough. I felt like my limbs were really heavy, like my eyes were out of focus and my balance is off, like my feet and neck were numb. My back and kidneys are sore, my shoulders are sore, my abs are sore. My incision isn’t very sore, there’s way less swelling there compared to the first surgery. • major thanks for all our friends who have made food, it’s been a saving grace. #thyroidcancer #thyroidectomy 3 days post op.

#thyroidectomy number two ✅ also down one parathyroid because it looked like trouble. I got IV antibiotics and magnesium and fluids and calcium+ vitamin D3 every 3hrs for my 24hr stay in the hospital. Waking up was a little rough this time, it was a slower reversal and it made me feel less disoriented but like I had a major hangover. When I’d open my eyes the spins were intense. I was discharged at about 10am, and was able to take a shower at home before going to the preschool potluck! Then home for a long nap. I’m feeling a different kind of sore this time, like my trachea is sore. But an ice pack and some meds really help ease the pain. #thyroidcancer should be a thing of the past now. I’m interested what pathology finds, and I’ll start a big dose of synthetic thyroid tomorrow and keep taking the Calcium+D3 supplements for a while. And antibiotics for the next 10 days. Big thanks to friends and family who have made meals and watched the littles. Giant 🙌🏽 to @imaginationunleashed for coming to our house before 5am on Wednesday

Recovery is going pretty well. My nurses are wonderful!! Especially Lauren who’s worked some major magic on my super tense neck and shoulders. I’m thyroid free now, and down to 3 parathyroid glands. One was removed because it looked strange. But you only actually need 2 good ones. • Last time I had a dream about Batman being the parent helper at preschool. This time I informed the OR team I was going to try for a Thor dream 🤤. Instead I had some weird green bean dream... 🤷🏽‍♀️ (at Poudre Valley Hospital)

I have my second surgery of the year day after tomorrow. That’s some shit, I never had surgery (beyond my impacted wisdom teeth) before my partial thyroidectomy in January. •This time, I might have to stay longer to make sure my calcium levels don’t tank which can cause a heart attack among other things. This is also some shit since the following day is my sweet boys last day of preschool and you can bet your ass I’m going to be there at pick up taking pictures and probably ugly crying. •This thing happened, a little after Addoette was born and I was trying to wrap my mind around raising a girl. I realized I needed to throw myself a freakin bone. Stop riding myself so hard for meaningless shit. Check my self talk so I could set the solid example of positivity and acceptance of however one might be as honestly equal and more than just good enough. That’s some shit society has served up, and I’ve had enough. • so petty as it is, in the scheme of things, I got myself some shorts because I have legs and the summer is hot. I’ve not owned a single pair of shorts in my life that I felt good in. But I’m going to lead by example, and sometimes that means thick thighs and some #bodypositivity. •My Green-eyed baby is built just like my sister, basically freakin fantastic and I marvel at them both constantly! We’re close to 8 years apart, so when I was in the throes of puberty she was a preschooler and the physical comparisons became the narrative of my physical being. Before I even knew it, she was as tall as me but with a completely different frame. One, I will never have. •I will NEVER call Addoette tall and skinny, girlfriend is long and strong in all sense of the word. •This body of mine grew these babies that I will do anything for. This body carried my stubborn self when people were calling quits and telling me I couldn’t do it. This body has got me through fist fights, to letter jackets, and more tribulation than I would have ever expected and #fuckingcancer. That’s some shit! •So I’m going to give myself more high-fives these days, #keepitweird. Maybe even try to remember to put sunscreen on myself too!

My sweet, serious, fearless, brilliant baby. My last baby. #allthefeels #bravegirl (at Fossil Creek Skatepark)

We celebrate spring and the return of longer days and warmer weather. Today we hiked Bobcat Ridge, which is about half a mile from where we life these days. It was a great hike, and the area was nearly empty! The kids collected tiny rocks and noticed some new flowers sprouting and commented on all the deer/elk poop. Jake did some great improvising when Wilder got tired on the way back, and the wind picked up as the sun approached the top of the mountains. I only carried both kids the last (maybe) 200 yards. #tinyhouseliving #naturekids #simpleliving #carryallthebabies (at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area)

Happy 4th Birthday, Wilder Harrison Stone. You are smart and kind and thoughtful and full of perseverance. I love you cuddle muffin, and I hope you continue to set your own pace, on your own path in life. 💛 (at At Unity Cooperative Preschool)

This weekend, Wilder made banana bread muffins basically by himself, AddyHaddy had her first swim lessons with @thedarkroomrising and we got some last minute bike riding in before the storm came blowing in! #tinyhouse #toddlerlife #simpleliving #THOW

File this under things I never wanna do again, directly after tongue and groove ceiling. Ugh, what a tedious mess! #tinyhouse

Quiet mornings, picnic breakfast, trail rides and running dogs. #tinyhouse life is pretty great! #simplelife #tinyhouseonthepraire

First day on the praire. #tinyhouse