Lots O' Stuff

Well I hope you had a lovely weekend. Mine was busy, but fun. Our friends Jill and Phil brought 6-week olf Sasha (did you know that's short for Alexandre? Did you? Is that cool or what?) to meet us on Saturday. Amazing how, in just a few months, the feeling of holding such a tiny baby became nearly forgotten to me. There's nothing like that weight in your arms...anyhoo, he was delicious, as were his parents. Jim made some awesome pasta for dinner and I made a rather exemplary strawberry shortcake for dessert. That was delicious too.
All in all, a rather edible time.

Those first baby smiles are so precious:

Caleb is back in school today, and Aidan is in daycare so it's just Liam and I. Liam, who thought it fitting that I only sleep for a few hours last night. Liam, who is joyfully rocking back and forth on all fours right now and saying, "aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" with exuberance. Liam, who smells like heaven and greets me with a whole-body hug and a wet kiss on the jaw whenever I pick him up. Sleep or no, the child holds a very large portion of my heart.

So, today is Monday, and for those of you who've been following along, it's therapy night. Unfortunately, the cogs and wheels inside my head have been turning, and I think that if my therapist doesn't do an excellent job of convincing me tonight, I will lose my faith in her plan. This whole focus on getting over my emetophobia is fine and dandy...but isn't it treating the symptom rather than the problem? I mean sure, the phobia affects my life, but WHY do I suffer with it in the first place? Why can I barely make it through the grocery store because I'm panicking so badly that I fear I will pass out? HEY! I know! Because I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder! And anxiety and panic disorder! And right now, for one reason or another, they're worse than usual.

Now is it just me or shouldn't we be treating the disorders? The underlying causes of the symptoms? I mean, I am paying this woman some serious coin. Seriously folks, how is throwing up going to help me?

I must say that exercising is helping me. In the past, exercise and I have never been friends. I would watch my friends take their walks and bounce off to the gym (*shudder*) on thier lunch hours and console myself with a very convincing "exercise is for CHUMPS!" attitude. Which is why I'm so surprised that I look forward to exercising each day. I love my walks. It gives my mind time to be blank and clean, and gives me a chance to get out and breathe the air. And afterwards I feel that tired feeling I have always loathed...but now I feel proud. My sore legs are like an accomplishment. Something I'm doing for me. I think it's far too early to know whether it's going to help in the way my therapist wants it to help, but it is helping in other ways.

So what would you do? Would you voice your concerns? Would you go armed with internet information or just with logic and smarts? Hmmm?

Oh! Family Night on Friday was fun. We went out for dinner and the kids were well-behaved and charming. We are loving Family Night! Here is the problem: Family Night is freaking expensive. So, if you have ideas for Inexpensive Family Night, I am all ears!