It’s been quite a Decemberween so far!

Daniel turned 32 on the second night of Chanukkah. He and Jen got married in beautiful Tamarindo, Costa Rica on the 4th night. It was great to spend almost a week in a tropical paradise at a swanky resort with my family.

I missed Adam and Henry terribly, but absence truly did make the heart grow fonder. I came back to a husband who appreciates my work at home even more than he used to, and I haven’t been nearly as grouchy about Henry’s shenanigans since I got home. (Truthfully, though, I’m still not a fan of diaper rodeo.)

Nick (my brother-in-law) & I turned 35 yesterday, and we celebrated on Saturday by having free birthday dinner entrees and desserts at Houlihan’s and checking out the closest hole-in-the-wall karaoke bar near my home with Adam & Lizzie (Nick’s girlfriend). I got a free apple pie shot from the bartender and had the chance to sing “Biscuits” to a crowd that appreciated it. Couldn’t have asked for a better time.

I’m not sure what it is about turning 35 that made me ever so slightly melancholy. Honestly, I’m completely stoked that I’m still around. Every year that I make it around the sun again is a victory.

I think that there’s just some sort of arbitrary checklist in my mind that activates when I have a birthday… like some sort of silly, shitty, self-imposed performance review — as though there are metrics to hit. I’ve decided that, while I’m disappointed that I can’t always get everything done, I’ve handled my promotion to “mommy” with aplomb, and I am deserving of a bonus.

For my Decemberween gift (aka birthday/chanukkah/christmas all rolled into one), Adam has said that I can do whatever I want to do in order to get back into shape.  He says he wants me to look at myself and feel as beautiful as he thinks I am every time he looks at me. My favorite thing about my husband is that he always wants to support me in being the best version of myself possible. 🙂 I feel very lucky to have him in my life.

Truth be told, the last time I felt genuinely beautiful was before I was diagnosed with MS.  I lost 75 pounds before I started law school and was working out every day. Fitness (and by extension, confidence) was one of the biggest things that seizure disorder took from me, and I’m looking forward to reclaiming it.

So, I’ve decided to take a 2 pronged approach and to both work with a personal trainer and go to BodyLogicMD to get my hormones checked out and balanced. I am convinced that I either have a thyroid issue or leptin resistance.  Regardless of changes in diet and exercise over the last several years (and there was a whole year when I did weightlifting 3 times a week and was 80/20 paleo), I saw no change in weight, so I’ve decided to find out why and do something about it.

Apparently, that’s what a grown-up romantic present looks like… lots of trips to the doctor and the gym. *lol*

Thursday night, we head over to the in-laws to celebrate Christmas Eve. I’m looking forward to it to the point that I didn’t buy any wine — just a lot of good food and some energy drinks. Without them, I’d never be able to keep up with the kiddos.

All that, and I’ve even sent out holiday cards on time this year! I knew it could happen! 🙂

Hope that you and yours are enjoying the holiday season, whatever holiday you’re celebrating.