The Walz Family Adventures: July

I am doing better. Yoga and time are doing their work, and I'm coming up out of this depression. So, here's updates on everyone.

Ryan started a new job yesterday with a much smaller company and a less oppressive work culture (he hopes). He lost a lot of weight earlier this year, and is not only keeping it off, but still losing at a steady (healthy) pace. His super daddy status stands, and he tosses his kids around and tickles and wrestles and teases and snuggles.

Aurora has decided she wants to be in a play, but not a musical. Her anxiety and perfectionism seem to be causing her some real stress, so we have an appointment with a therapist before school starts to try to find her some tools to deal with it. At school last year she complained of stomach aches every day, and every morning before camp (which she loves) she said she didn't want to go. While working on a Girl Scout's project (coloring a picture to catch up on badges), she became completely unglued because the bird she was drawing wasn't perfect. I showed her Picasso paintings as examples of excellent expression without perfection, which helped a little. She's really into Dr. Who right now. In the car the other day she expressed incredulousness over how fast the years go by. She used to think years went by slowly, but now they are just so fast. She's an old soul.

Andrew is speaking in sentences. He's sweet and sensitive - he checks on his people. "Are you alright, Aura?" He loves to fall down and always has his green train, Percy, in his hand. He has hit the pretend stage, and he makes his trains talk to each other and puts them in perilous situations. He will snuggle for up to 30 seconds at a time, but then he wiggles off to go do something. He loves Uptown Funk, and he knows all the words.

I am coming to after the fog. I accepted a position teaching Public Speaking at UCM this fall. I'll teach 3 days a week, and Andrew will go to preschool on campus. The pay is lousy, but it does give me teaching experience, which will give me more options. And if I like teaching, I will consider getting my Ph.D and working towards tenure. I'm dealing with the heaviest non-pregnant weight of my life. It's difficult because I don't see it. I look in the mirror and just see the same me I always see. But then I had to try on XL while shopping the other day. The issue is a combination of depression and birth control.

Speaking of birth control, depression and weight gains are both primary side effects of the Nexplanon implant I have. To help combat both, I'm getting it removed and having a tubal ligation. My consult is after we return from New England.

And, about that, the kids and I are off to New England on Thursday! We have a busy week of prep. Today is grocery shopping and packing. Tomorrow morning my stepmom flies in, and my inlaws are coming into say hi and celebrate Lee's 68th birthday. Thursday morning the kids, and Deb, and I will head to New Hampshire. We've got three days of driving out, during which time we'll go to the St. Louis Zoo, The Imagination Station in Toledo, and Niagara Falls. It's going to be fun! I appreciate Deb driving with us, she's really excited, and really didn't want me driving out by myself. I will definitely enjoy the help.