Raising Money for my Twinnies!

I have blogged a lot about my twin boys, Michael and Matthew who have cerebral palsy.  They are a source of joy and inspiration for my family and for those around them.  The twins receive their physical and occupational therapy at Progressive Pediatrics in Tallahassee.  It is here that I first learned about a relatively new therapy called "Therasuit Therapy".  Therasuit Therapy is a holistic approach to treating children/adults with cerebral palsy and other brain injuries.  It is a 3 week, 5 days, 3 hours a day therapy.  Here is a definition of the therapy according to www.allkids.org: 

 

What is the Therasuit Method® Intensive Program?

Therasuit Method Intensive Program (sometimes called TMIP) is an intensive individualized therapy program that accelerates functional progress. The program uses the Therasuit® (a soft canvas suit with bungee-like cords attached) and the Universal Exercise Unit (“Spider Cage”) to allow the child to learn new & correct patterns of movement through strengthening and functional skills practice. The Therasuit Program is ideal for those looking to meet functional goals at an accelerated rate as compared to traditional therapy.

Goals of the Therasuit Progam

• Improve independence with activities of daily living (self-care, feeding & dressing)
• Improve body awareness
• Improve motor skills
• Improve balance and coordination

This type of therapy sounds wonderful but, since it is relatively new, it is not covered by any insurance and it costs $6000 per child.  Since I don't have an extra $12,000 lying around I decided to start a fundraiser to raise money so the boys could receive this therapy.  The therapists at Progressive feel Michael and Matthew would benefit greatly from this therapy. 

 

So, here I am asking for you to get the word out about this fundraiser and if possible, consider a donation.  No donation is too small or too big!  I see this therapy as a great opportunity for the boys to accelerate their progress toward a more independent life.   Please visit my fundraising website at:

 

www.gofundme.com/michaelandmatthew

 



 As any parent would, you want the best for your child.  I want the best for all my kids but, the Michael and Matthew need more than the "average child".  I know we will meet or exceed our goal and the boys will get this therapy.  I can't wait to see the results!!!

 

Thank you for your consideration!  Please help my superheros reach their full potential!

My Back put me in Time-Out!

I should be starting Week 5 of P90X this week but, instead I am lying in bed right now with an ice pack on my lower back.  Remember my back yelling at me last week?  This week is told me to sit down and shut up!  I visited the chiropractor yesterday and he told me I have a pinched nerve.  Ugh!?  Really, doesn't my back know I am in the middle of an exercise program?  Doesn't it know that I have children I have to pick up?  My back obviously didn't get the message but, it is sending me one loud and clear, "You need to take better care of me!" 

I thought I was taking good care of my back, I have been strengthening my back muscles, my core, losing weight, I guess I still have some weak spots.  I was warned though.  My lower back was really tight a few weeks ago.  I tried stretching it but, not as much as I should have.  I think what sealed the deal with my back was doing tuck jumps during Fire 60.  I knew I probably shouldn't have been doing them but, my pride got in the way and I did it away.  Guess what?  I can't do anything now until this heals.  The moral of this story is to listen to your body.  There are times you should push your body and times you shouldn't.  There is good pain and bad pain. I knew the difference but, did it anyway. 

So, what am I going to do for now and I heal?  I was thinking about eating Ben & Jerry's but, I need to do better by myself.  What I have started doing is going through a great book called "Push" by Chalene Johnson.  She happens to be the creator of Beachbody's Turbo Jam, Chalene Extreme and my favorite, TurboFire!  This book is about health and fitness but, it is more than that.  This book is about how to set your priorities and goals your life.  This book teaches you how to make your goals become a reality without sacrificing the priorities in your life, such as family, yourself, etc.  I am only on day 2 and I look forward to seeing how this helps me.  I need some focus in my life, sometimes I feel like I am on a runway train! 

I will tell you one very important goal I have right now:  My back be healed and in the process not undo all the work that I have done to get me to this point!  Have you taken a look lately at the priorities in your life? 

If I Can Do It, So Can You!

Week 3 of P90X is coming to a close.  I have Friday and Saturday left before recovery week starts.  I wish I could say I have been eating well this week but, I have made a few questionable choices.  It is amazing how one bad meal, leads to another, and another, and another.  I am not happy with myself right now.  I want to say that I am not "beating  myself" up over it but, that is not true.  That not so small voice in my head is saying "why bother, you aren't going to lose any weight anyway".  Be quiet!!!  That voice is so annoying but, it does hold one point.  I am not going to lose weight if I don't combine my hard work exercising with eating right.  When I say eating right, I mean not going back for more birthday cake at 10 at night.  I am eating better but, I still struggle with going to food to "comfort" me.  I am still learning how to overcome the cravings that I do have.  BUT I CAN DO THIS, even if I don't feel like it can happen, it will, it has to. 

WE CAN ALL DO THIS.  Despite the voices that tell me I can't, I have continued to move forward.  Let me tell you, it is not easy, especially when you are doing Ab Ripper X and you have kids running around you or asking you questions.  It is very hard to answer questions and stay focused on trying to get through Ab Ripper!  The only time of day that I can work out is when all 5 kids are awake.  I know it sounds crazy to even attempt but, if I want to do it, this is when it needs to get done.  For the most part the kids will leave me alone but, when it starts to go downhill, it goes downhill fast! 

On the positive side, my kids are being exposed to Mark and I taking better care of ourselves. When I was a kid, I never had that exposure.  In fact, I was always the kids lagging behind in the back while we had to run around the football field in gym class.  Exercise and me where never friends.  The best part for me is when they exercise with us.  It makes all the other distractions worthwhile.

I tell you this because I want you to believe you can do it.  No matter what your schedule is like, how many kids you have, whatever other "excuse" you may have, if you want to get take better care of yourself, so you can enjoy your life more fully, you will find away to do it.  There are days when I just feel like I don't have the energy to get through it but, somehow I do.  Does get go smoothly all the time, no.  Sometimes it is so bumpy I am surprised I get anything out of it at all.  What I get out of it is the confidence and power to do it again tomorrow.  I show myself that I can work through obstacles to achieve my goals.  Am I to all my goals yet?  No.  That is ok.  Fitness, like anything in life is a journey.  Sometimes the journey is smooth and sometimes you hit big potholes!  We just need to climb out of those holes and keep going. 

So let's keep going together, shall we?  If you want to go on this journey with me, contact me at aclow75@gmail.com. 

I am putting together a nutrition challenge group on facebook that I would love to have you aboard for. 

In this group we will list daily how we are eating and what kind of exercise we are doing. 

I also ask that in this group that you drink Shakeology once a day.  If you are not familiar with it, it is an AMAZING drink made my Beachbody.  It is a meal replacement drink that tastes to good to be healthy!  Check out the link above and it will give you all info you need about it.  It will really help in curbing your cravings and help to lose weight.

I will be getting the group read on FB to start this challenge on July 29th.  The challenge will last for 6 weeks.  Let's see what you can accomplish!

As Tony Horton would say from P90X, "Do your best and forget the rest"!

Boy Mom Bloghop Welcome!

Hello Moms of Terrors...oh I mean, sweet boys :-)  I came across this on someones blog and this sounded like fun!  I am the mom of 1 girl and 4 boys.  My kids range in age from 9 yrs to almost 3 years old! 

Here is the rundown of the boys:

Daniel is my oldest son and he is 7 years old.  He is wild and crazy but he has the biggest heart.  He loves his momma :-)  He is also a very good big brother to his 3 little brothers!  He is always hugging someone, sometimes to rough but, love hurts sometimes ;-)

Up next are the twins, Michael and Matthew.  They are 4 1/2 years old.  They are amazing because they both have cerebral palsy and beat the odds everyday!  They were born at 32 weeks and spent 7 weeks in the NICU.  When they were 2 we found out that they had cerebral palsy.  Please check out my previous blogs about them. They are beautiful, wonderful and our families inspiration!

Last but not least, is Christopher.  He will turn 3 in September.  He is a ball of energy.  He is such a big help to his big brothers.  Sometimes I think I have triplets because Christopher, Michael and Matthew get into all kinds of mischief.  He is a very independent little boy but, will still sit with me and snuggle.  He is my baby!

The games these boys love to play is anything that has to do with Star Wars or Superheros. They are always dressing up as Batman, Robin, Spiderman, Superman...  They also love to look at books, do puzzles and color/draw. 

As for me, I work part-time out of the home and I am also an Independent Beachbody Coach.  Beachbody has changed my life in enabling me to exercise at home and make extra money from home.  I am committed to being healthy so I can be stronger mentally, emotionally and physically to take care of my family.  The kids love to exercise with me so I feel that I am teaching them good habits at an early age.  If you are interested in learning more about Beachbody (they are the makers of P90X), please contact me.  I know I could help you reach your fitness goals!  Right now my husband & I are doing P90X together and are having a great time getting fit together.

Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you stay awhile!