Lamaze Breathing. Selah.

Do any of you moms find Lamaze breathing techniques helpful years after giving birth? I have found the breathing method helpful more times than I can count this week.

Cameron broke his hand. His fourth metacarpal in his right hand to be exact. I used lamaze breathing to help him (and myself after watching his fingers bending the wrong way).

After the kids decorated his cast. 

This gives me goosebumps when I look at it.

I employed the handy breathing strategy when Josiah started sounding like a smoker of 30 years in the doctor's office. The kid had something big to hack up. Our doctor, without looking up from writing a prescription for me for my ear infection and sore throat (that I've had for over a week) said, "He shouldn't go to school tomorrow." Alright.

Sick days. Not as great as he had hoped.

Dr. Fernand Lamaze, you are my hero! While I was working out at Pop Physique, I practiced a slow, deep approach. I made it through my work out without feeling like I was going to throw up. I focus on my butt looking more like this. 

Did you know that "cast claustrophobia" is a thing? Neither did I until last night! I came home to Cameron basically having a panic attack about his cast. He was seriously considering removing it himself. Again, more lamaze breathing for everyone involved. If you know my husband, you know he's an incredibly level headed, sweet, quiet dude. For the past 24 hours that has not been the case. He looks like a lost dog that has bad fleas. Poor guy. Pray for him.

Today has been nothing but driving and going and doing...and driving. I took Josiah back to school. I got stuff for dinner at Vons. I came home, cleaned, got Mae ready for the day. We went to Whole Foods to find anti-anxiety supplements and homeopathic remedies for Cameron's anxiety. I went to the juice bar. I needed me some kale juice. I dropped Cameron and Mae off at home, went back to get Josiah (it's his first minimum day for Back to School night). I come home, make lunch, tell Cameron not to dissolve his cast in a bucket of vinegar. I leave for physical therapy. I go to physical therapy where very sore parts of my body are given pressure point treatment. I DID SOME MAJOR LAMAZE BREATHING. I drove home (but missed my on ramp, had to back track through LA traffic). I finish some work for Josiah's teacher. Cameron is dealing with insurance and doctor's office approval. *HEE-HEE-WHO* REPEAT. I finally get the bright idea to ask the doctor's office to give Cameron something for the anxiety. They send a prescription to Target.  Cameron takes Josiah to capoeira and Mae to Target to get his meds. It's quiet.
*DEEP INHALE*
...then I'm off to Back-to-School night.

Tonight will be a good night to meditate on this wonderful reminder that God gives us:

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Selah.

A quick update!

What have we been up to during this heatwave? Quite a bit actually. Our house is extra hot (we describe our 50 year old apartment unit as the attic to the unit below. We have all the heat), I've been taking the kids all over LA to escape the heat. Here are a few pics with descriptions of what we're doing in the dog days of Summer.

Josiah starts school next week. We went and got his uniform pieces at Dennis' Uniform on San Fernando.
$450 later, I'm thankful that we had the money. Crazy expensive, but he looks pretty stinking cute in his formal Mondays uniform.

Josiah received his capoeira uniform. 

Pretty studly if you ask me.

We've been to the movies more than usual because of the heat.
We love the Arclight. Especially when they have props and set pieces from movies.
This is the house from Paranorman. They also had Norman and his friend. 

Mae is thrilled with the water feature at the mall.

Josiah decided it was okay. He isn't as sold on playing in water like his sister.

Here's Josiah in action at capoeira. I need to do a whole post on it.

This handsome guy took me to Ruth's Chris Steak house just because.

Here's me and my out of control cleavage enjoying dessert.  After our awesome meal of lobster
and steak, we finally saw The Dark Knight Rises.

I have Bane fever.
There is no cure.

Cameron painted the kid's room and I started decorating in
The Fantastic Mr. Fox theme.

My nephew came and spent the night and came to
church with us.

I know, I typically keep it pretty PG around these parts.
I had to use this after finding it right before Cameron got his new  tattoo.

Here we have a lovely family portrait while Cameron  gets the first bit of his
vulture tattoo worked on. His tattoo artist, Jeremy Swan is amazing! 

Here's the finished product! It's inspired by a TCV poster we have.
It's seriously studly.
I suddenly have the urge to have 10 babies with this dude.

Cameron and I found ourselves watching Workaholics. Really not a show
geared towards our demographic. We really like it though. So much so I found the house in Van Nuys.
I like living out here for stupid reasons like this.
Let's get weird.

The Dark Knight stopped by.

Back at the Arclight for Paranorman. I couldn't help but take this picture.
The kids are "between two Bruces". Bruce the shark and Bruce Willis.

The kids always leave with loot from Arclight. This time it was DKR stickers and
The Odd Life of Timothy Green posters.

We headed to Griffith Park.
"It ain't that bad when your mini-horses' doo-doo is dusty."

Josiah's picture of Mae and I on the train.

We rode the train with a polygamous Jewish family.
You seriously never know who or what you will find in LA.

Mae puts her shoes on at The Americana in Glendale.
Major celeb sighting: The dumb boyfriend from Reba. 
He's actually int he blue tank top in the background of this picture.
His wife and little boy are there too.

We found Rolling Robots. You get to battle real robots.

Guess where Josiah wants to have his birthday?

A little break for partying with new friends on the lawn.

I went to a very sweet shower for a very sweet lady from
our church. Her groom to be made a video message for her to watch before she opened gifts.
So sweet.

This cute little beast was there!

We went to Long Beach for Jeremy's 30th birthday!
It's his last as a single man! He gets hitched next month to the
awesome Emily!

Josiah and Mae mosh with the ocean.

Troy brought a cool telescope.

We bought more succulents! Aren't they lovely!?!

OH!!! BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL!!
My little brother Aaron is officially engaged to this beautiful lady!
I can't believe it!
I'm pretty stoked to snag Ashley as a sister!
Ashley Berry sounds pretty rad.


There you have it.
The news from the Brewer compound.

Vacation!

I took this right before we left last night. It's hard to leave Lone Pine when it looks like this.

Here are a few pictures of our vacation! It was a really nice time in the wilderness. There were many fish caught, rocks climbed and adventures had. These aren't in perfect order, but here are some of my favorite phone pics (I'll put up "real" camera pictures soon). 

My mom representing West Coast rap. 

Our motel sign. 

Outside the Totem Cafe.

The Merry Go Round restaurant sign lit up at night.

For the first time in 20 years of visiting Lone Pine, I really appreciated the old neon signs.

Another first- we visited Jake's Saloon in Lone Pine.
People still smoke in here. 

First visit to the mules and horses.

Daisy Mae & Mae.

Every year my Dad, Randy, Cameron and now Josiah
compete to see who can catch the first fish from Bishop Creek.
A 5 year old with some power bait won this year.

We had  candy cigarettes.

Josiah representing his heritage as a Yucaipian.

My mountain man. 

Idyllic. 

Cowgirl & fisherwoman.

Waiting for a bite.

It's hard to wait for a fish to bite.

Mae enjoys the quiet.

"This fish tastes like victory." - my 40 year old son.

Oh, yeah just another fish I caught.

Lunch at the cafe.

Creeper.

It was cool enough in the morning to have a fire.
 

On the porch of the cafe & general store.

Mae shows a mule some love.

Lauren and her horse, Robbie. He was sassy.

Josiah rides Tango to the mine.

Studly steed.

Our guide, Tess leads the way. Josiah takes a moment to pet my horse, Lorenzo.

Cardinal Mine: Once sold for a wagon full of whiskey.

There was a gorgeous rainbow at the top of the trail. 

Mae's turn on Tango.

Glowsticks!

The biggest fish! 

We loved to swim!

We visited the home of my parent's friend in Lone Pine. This was the view.
There was also really yummy wine and a cute Husky/collie mix.

Attack of the giant bug in Lone Pine! 

Hollywood Glamour in Lone Pine.

Josiah climbing.

Mae's ponies.

Alabama Hills

It's rough to be here.

My Mom belaying my Dad.

Waiting our turns.

ME! CLIMBING A FLIPPING ROCK! 

Josiah chows down on his organic vegan breakfast before a hike.

Rock rash.