It's been a hot minute since I first met my wife.  To set the scene, it was a hot August as a fresh faced pre-pubescent (I look back and realize how young and naive I was- and I thought I was cooler than the other side of the pillow) physical therapy students gathered round to being a new journey in PT School. There was excitement, nervousness, fear, anxiety, and some let's get this show on the road feelings swarming around.  There is always some awkward forced conversations as you start finding out about each other and realize there are people you want to keep talking to and folks who you know you'll likely not continue a relationship following school. And that's ok, if you were best friends with everyone in your class you'd be a liar. Nobody gets along with everyone. 
However, I did find I got along well with one young lady. 
Ashley. 
Yikes! She was something else. Initially, I don't think it hurt the situation that she had a very flattering figure which was well accented by her outfit (she was very well dressed - part of who she is). In any relationship I think physical chemistry needs to be present. 
Check. 
So we started talking. A lot. To say it became mildly addicting to be around this young lady is an understatement. She made my heart beat fast. Real fast. By now, I knew that to be called Tachycardia but at the time,  It felt more like love. 
There were times we spent sitting. A lot of time we spent talking. And not about school, although that was a common topic.  These times are the times where I solidified my decision that this young lady was likely going to be mine for the long haul (i.e. Forever). 
It would be usually later at night. After the gym (what's that?!) She would come over to my swanky bachelor pad of mismatched furniture - it was a 1 bed, 1 bath apartment that often, due to neighbors smelled of fresh tortillas and weed.  My upstairs neighbor, a fellow named Little Hawk, was a 2-3 AM DJ for the hard rock station. He hosted this out of his room. On volume 11. Annoying at the time but a great story to tell. As a side note, coming from a house with 4 other dudes to going to live by yourself is amazing-you'll put up with rock music, Mexican food aromas and the occasional joint being lit in your presence for the freedom that solo renting provides. 
Music taste, to me, is like a vetting process. At some point, if you can't appreciate good music, you're out. You may be pretty, but you're out. Anyhow, we would sit. I had the gumption to purchase some off brand white wine, which we drank out of coffee mugs (hand me downs!). And we would listen. . 
To music. Lots of music. Dishing on how we know this song created this memory, where we were when we first heard this song. How we loved this, or hated that. 
We created playlists and sat, listening. Simply enjoying each others company. (Occasionally I would cook for her, but my real culinary renaissance occurred after moving out of the state).  Something that we still do to this day. Sometimes while the kids are up, but often after the kids are in bed we pull up YouTube and stream some tunes- each taking turns on picking our favorites. Of course Ashley's taste run more to the 80s and Country (new and old) while I am ingrained in pop punk era and classic rock. Which is why I chose the name of this blog as MakeDamnSure. A popular song at the time by Taking Back Sunday it resonates as it was one of the first 'cross genre' songs we could agree on. We listened to this often. And every time I hear it I'm taken back to my used couch, in my gym shorts, sipping wine out of a coffee mug singing with Ashley.  Time and time again we sat, bonding, growing, understanding and learning through music. It was amazing. It was times like these that made me DamnSure that this was the one I was taking the long trip with.  And, What a wonderful trip it's been. 

What songs take you back?

I am happy to announce that I was again voted as one of the top Dad Bloggers for 2018 by the Baby Spot!

Thank you!


If you want to check out the article, check it HERE.

Kids are tough to raise. That's not new - not only are they independent creatures who have minds, plans, and intentions of their own, they also are completely dependent on you. And that haunts us. It keeps us up at night wondering if we did the best for our kid and if we are raising them appropriately in this hypercritical and uber-sensitive world. 
There seem to be a few different types of kids in this world: the people who have forgotten what it is like to have kids, the folks raising kids, and the folks without kids (and let's divide this last group into younger and older).  The first two groups always say 'Children are a Blessing' and 'Don't blink, they grow up too fast, savor it.'  I think this is, in part, due to us hoping that by repeating it like some self help affirmation, we eventually come to believe that it is true*. We band together with our logo print tees reminding everyone out there that we are a mama or a dada and that we operate on coffee and love. We even wear shirts that sport our favorite hashtags because, by reminding everyone else with our trendy threads, we eventually end up reminding ourselves that this is all worth it and we did want this. And damnit, we are going to look good picking up the lego pieces off the floor in target while your daughter mops it as she wallows in pity because she couldn't get a new. All the while your son is having a sort of panic attack because he just dropped his lego lab he spent hours building and couldn't, despite what wise old dad said, leave it in the car - it was just too important. Yeah, So  damn important you dropped it and it exploded into a million (literally, there must be a million) pieces  in the line as we are set to pay creating a traffic jam of epic proportions. #blessed 

*It is, in fact true, but sometimes hard to appreciate in the finer  moments of toddlerhood*.

In these times, the kiddos can often be overwhelming. And you must be careful. They can smell your weakness. One must always put on a brave face and a stern (but warm, because you can't be an ass to your kids) voice and remind them or the consequences of their actions and how that will affect them for the rest of your life. "Don't pick your nose. Why? Because it will bleed. And it probably won't stop, you'll end up hemorrhaging out so much blood you'll die. That's why." See, stern, but warm. 
All this time, I thought this was just a major part of raising kids. The instagram tells us that it should be easy and you should look beautiful and effortless doing it. I have personally not found that to be a true reflection of life but maybe I'm the outlier.  Often, when I get home from work I immediately change into slippers and sweats and resemble more of a homeless person than parent. Although, I suspect some homeless people are parents...or at least their sign says so. #anythingwillhelp #godbless

While on a trip to Colorado a few weeks back I had my naive, infant eyes opened to how the 3rd group views us parents (the no kids one, older and younger). It blew my damn mind. It came in two waves and ultimately changed my parenting style forever (a paradigm shift if you will). The first wave was with the younger folks without kids - we pull into the parking garage at the airport. Excitement is buzzing-we are going on a trip! I was solo Dad for this trip, so the burden was heavy (literally, CO in the winter makes suitcases multiply!). The kids, amped up, are doing their best to be patient while dad gets all the suitcases out of the car and figures out how he can possibly get tabs on his kids and carry all this at the same time. Then, it happened. Two young, twentysomethings dressed up as though they are going to a business meeting at the airport (what is it about everyone dressing up as formal as possible to fly?) stroll by and observe the current scene unfolding. A plane was just taking off above us so the background noise was intense. I heard it as much as I saw it - one twentysomething turned to the other and said, "That sucks. I hope I never have to do that."  The overhead plane had passed so now it was awkwardly quiet and they just kept click-click-clicking away with their fancy heels and tiny designer bags.  They probably were just going to carry on. I was a bit miffed at first, because, yes, it did suck - but I was more mad that she turned the mirror on me to see the situation. I don't think she meant anything mean by it. It wasn't intended to offend, merely an outsiders observation of what could be in store for them it they didn't use birth control and protection and make good choices in their lives. If you don't have kids and are reading this- kids make you do a lot of things you don't like to do, like check bags. Please use protection if not for that one reason. Nothing in your life will be efficient ever again if you don't. 
The second wave came as We finally managed to get into the terminal, check our bags and were prepping for the next hurdle in our journey, security. Did you know they make you pull out every bag of snacks you're carrying? As a well prepared Dad backed up by a Mom who knows how to pack snacks, this was no easy feat.  I steeled myself, took off my belt and slippers (yes I wore slippers to the airport)  and prepared for battle. An older lady (group three, older folks) must have seen the look on my face - she quietly walked up to me and said in a southern drawl, "Honey, why don't you just go in that line." 
The line she was pointing to was empty. A sign above it read "TSA, Pre-Check, and Passengers with Disabilities Only". 
She nodded her head approvingly, "Go ahead."
I moved my stuff over and the attendant nodded as well - "Don't worry about taking anything out - and you can keep your belt and shoes on. "
It was at that moment I realized it: the rest of the world views having kids as having a disability. Kids are a Disability! Of Course! I had always suspected it but was afraid to voice it too loud because nobody would approve of that language. I felt vindicated, understood, and justified.  The more I looked around, the more I realized it - people at restaurants nodding their heads as you walk by with two kids - they supported me because I was overcoming the adversity of a disability (kids) much like Eddie the Eagle. Boarding flights everyone in the seats we were passing were smiling and nodding - looking me in the eyes (which never happens without kids) and showing me they were proud of me, that I could do it. I was waiting for a slow clap to happen, but it never did. Sadly.  It all made so much sense. I'm not raising kids, I'm overcoming adversity!! How did I never see this before?!

So, if you're out an about, held up in a checkout lane in Target due to a child making floor angels and a lego explosion you may have more insight into the backstory and have more compassion. And, if given the opportunity and a parent of children is near, please don't be afraid to start a slow clap for them. There is nothing like a slow clap to cement the hero status of a parent. 

Cheers!


Please note this was written as tongue in cheek. In no way do I intend to offend anyone who has a legit disability. 

Well. We made it. It is the New Year. A symbolic fresh start. A place where all the bad from the last year goes away and all the good carries forward like a tsunami to crush the new year. This past year has been SO amazing. We added 3 staff members to the business (and had the most productive year in our existence), we added a new family member (Jude!) and we grew into ourselves a little more. (well, some of us did, I can't speak for myself...)  For me, this year disappeared before I knew it was here. This holiday always makes me feel nostalgic for the good ol' days while at the same time, giddy for the opportunities a fresh year can bring! So, without further ado, here are my resolutions for the New Year. 
If you want to be an accountability buddy to me (and trust me, I need one), click the button below and you can join my accountability program to help us be better people!

Anyhow, as we get onward- here are my Resolutions/Goals for 2018, in no particular order:

1. Be more Present: This is something I struggle with significantly. It would seem I have a few things going on in my life and can get pulled in different directions easily. My micro attention span doesn't help things.  So I am striving to be more present in the moment- with kids, the wife, patients - just not be so damn distracted all the time. 

2. Be the best family man I can be: This ties into #1, but goes without saying that I constantly want to improve on who I am to my family. Some of this comes from improving myself (which you'll see in the numbers below) but a lot of it comes from consistency and practice. I thought 2017 was a great year and I can't wait to see how I top it in 2018. 

3. Establish a Better Morning Routine: For me, I am just wrapping up The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. Nothing helps me out more than getting my thoughts together in the morning. This book is a great tool to help fine-tune my morning routine and something I will be using until something better comes along. If you haven't read it - check it out below. If you want to become my accountability buddy, click the link above!

4. Exercise on a Regular Basis: This is an all too common goal, but it is true. Since the birth of Jude, I have been inconsistent at best. My goal is to tackle at least 2 days a week. Nothing major, but something is better than nothing. If I can get more, so be it, but 2 deliberate, set aside times to help my body move better and be healthier.  Prior to Jude (B.J. time period) I was catching 3-5 days a week at Funktional Fitness. If you're looking for a great community to grow yourself in- this is an amazing place to be at. It's where I plan on continuing to go for the new year as well!

We are sitting in the living room- a cozy Sunday night. My wife is breast feeding our son and the kiddos are wreaking havoc as usual in the living room and beyond. It's not an unusual scene to us. This is most nights as we  wind down for bed. 
But kids are the darnedest. They are curious, inquisitive, and downright crazy when it comes to their pursuit of knowledge. 
Today was no different, but mostly hilarious. 
My daughter pauses from her laps around the house - "Mommy, you have boobies to give the baby milk." 
"Yes honey, and you do too- someday," responded my wife. 

And in the best form ever my son pauses, looks down at his own nipples, then looks back to his mother: "Mom, why do I even have nipples?"

He then proceeded to run laps around the living room screaming, "Get them off!! Get them off!! Get them off!!"

You can't fake this stuff. I was impressed with the understanding of my son on several different layers that boys nipples really serve a different purpose than girls.  

Other things I have found funny from the mouth of my children:
"I tooted." - Because let's face it, flatulence is funny. 
"I peed on the tire." - Because apparently my kids don't like using indoor facilities. 
"Come on, let's get naked and make soap bubble angels!" - Because my kids like to roll around on the concrete naked and in bubble formula. 
"What are we Buddhist? Let's do this!" - My kids always finish this tag line with me when we are ready for action. 


​What funny things do your kids say?

Everyone has phases in their life. And sure, we grow up, graduate, go to college, graduate again, get married, have kids, get a real job etc etc. And it may not always happen in that order, but those are the 'usual' phases for most folks. But when you dig a touch deeper, you get to the good phases. The phases that define a person and make you stop and say 'What?! - I didn't know that about you!'. I've had a fair few myself. As someone whose attention stops short of focus my phases often change quickly- to the angst of my wife.  So without further ado, 6 phases of my life:

1. The bread making phase. - Oh yes. I will always be fascinated by self sufficient home-making activities. Raising your own chickens for eggs, milking your own cows, and making your own bread. I loved the thought that I was going to be putting a very clean piece of fiber into my mouth and it would taste so much better than store bought because I made it with love. Well, I kneaded, and kneaded again, folded, let rise, beat down, let rise again to my hearts content. The end result? A moderately above average wheat. I didn't have a bread maker. Nor did I have a lot of good recipes, but when it came down to time vs effort, I chose the time saving option of going to the store, thus ending my bread making phase ... for now. 

2. My watch phase.  Time keeps on ticking. This phase, while never dead for me ( I love watches and appreciate them all) has expired. I love watches. I think you can really learn a lot about someone by the watch they wear. And there are so many options! There is nothing like  a great time piece to make you feel happy. However, they get expensive, and scratched and lost. The batteries die and I get too lazy to replace them. And so, just like time, my watch phase ticked past me.

3. My art/comic book phase- It's true. One day I dreamed of drawing and publishing my own comic book. I drew and drew and drew and drew until I was so covered in #2 pencil lead dust I likely have acquired some unknown pathology from it. Captain Feathers and his adventures were robust! Unfortunately, I don't think I made it past the first edition, but I was enraptured with comics. I loved the idea of being something more, something different (and likely ripped). The art, the story, and the dialogue all spoke to me. I still love comic books. Every now and then I will still grab one just to relish my youth. My favorites? Spawn, Spiderman, and of course, Superman. I still love drawing, but my time is limited and I often now find myself coaching my kiddo in drawing instead. But don't be surprised if you see a publication in my future....
5. My gardening phase. This is still going strong. Much like my bread making phase I love the idea of eating something that you grew yourself! It is SO COOL to go to the garden, pull some things, and wash them, chop them and cook them right there. Not only is it cheap, organic, and delicious; it is great learning for the kids! I love the memories we made while getting dirt in place we didn't know dirt could go. I'm not going to lie, my children, being mine, were often partially or completely nude during the planting of these gardens. The best part? The ladybugs and worms. You will never see a kid happier than when they unleash a thousand ladybugs into a garden. They also help eat all the nasty little aphids that destroy your home garden! I recently found out that you can get them from Amazon! If you're a gardener with, or without kids, it's a fun activity! Check them out HERE.
​
6. My glam camper/tiny home phase. I still will lay awake at night (albeit briefly because if you know me I fall asleep fast) and dream of a life without a mortgage, with enough income to pay off student loan debt, and my hot wife nestled up next to me in the tiny home we name Ladybird. Then my daughter and son come charging in the room,  bursting my thought bubble, crushing my genitals in their scramble to be first to snuggle in tight, elbowing my wife in the tush so hard she shoots out of bed (had she been in Ladybird she would have struck her head on the roof with this kind of activity and likely sustained a concussion), and singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. It's a packed house in my bedroom and the floor plan is bigger and ceilings higher than Ladybird's ever would be. It's moments like this you realize that some dreams are left just as that, a dream. The final nail in the coffin of a life of free love, tight spaces, and infinite possibilities? A 3rd child. I don't blame Jude for ruining it. But he kind of did. With 2 kids, we may have gone on some wild hare, broken tradition and unleashed hell on the road in Ladybird- we'd get our education through life experiences all while living on love and coffee. But, alas, no longer. In Suburbia we remain indefinitely. But, much like in Travels with Charley, I may have to go on a cross country trip once my kids vacate the house. 

So there you have it- 6 awesome phases of my life. There are likely a lot more. And my wife will likely remind me of many that weren't so glamorous.
What are some of your favorite phases of your life? 

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all! Can I be honest? I never know how to accurately put the apostrophe in Ya'll. Or simply leave it Yall. Anyway. 
Today is a big day. Not only for America to celebrate our inaugural feast of feasts, but to honor manifest destiny in all its glory as well. As it stands, this morning I'm wearing sweatpants and slippers that look like boots. Needless to say, I'm ready.
On Turkey Day, more than other days, we call on ourselves to verbally acknowledge what we are thankful for. So this particular installment is about all that I am thankful for. But seriously, we all know I'm thankful for  my family, my kiddos, Elton John, bacon, and the Beatles.  So this list is going to be the list that I'd share if I didn't have to acknowledge previously said items.  Here we go:
​

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies. I don't feel like I have to say a whole lot here. I am thankful for these little nuggets of love because they save my soul when it's down, Lift me even higher when I'm up, and honestly make the world a better place. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets upset about a plate of chocolate chip cookies. This picture shows a recent chocolate chip cookie pie/cake that was made for me for my birthday. Doesn't get any better than that!
​
2. Lego Batman. This movie is hilarious. And if you have not seen it. Please, do yourself a favor, click the link below, and get it. You deserve it.

If you can't get behind a moderately arrogant Batman with a nine pack, whose quippy off the wall quotes don't stop, I don't know if you even like America, which leads me to think you may not like Thanksgiving, which suggests you should stop reading this blog. However, if you like lobster thermador, action, and Michael Jackson you need to tune into this movie. And, while we are talking about Lego Batman, this leads me to...

3. Legos. Seriously I am so thankful for Legos. Not only for them practically shaping my youth and firing my imagination from an early age, but for doing the same for my kiddos. There is silence, teamwork, and happiness in my house due to Legos. You can't put a price on that. Wait, yes you can. But my kids actually work together, have fun together, and adventure together in the world of Legos. Batman, a ninja, and a girl eating an ice cream cone with a puppy who has a bow in her hair jointly saved the world from Mr. Freeze in my house last night. You can't make this stuff up. These kids are better because of Legos.  As Lego Batman would say, "Pray Hands."

​4. Chickens. If you didn't know, we recently began raising baby chicks. We are the urban farmers apparently. These little ladies will, in a perfect world, provide us with the farm fresh eggs that we constantly crave. The kiddos love them and have named them Goldy, Thunderbolt, and Felicia. It's gotten the kids excited for eggs, raising things, and taking care of things. My daughter's farmer instinct it kicking in and she has become quite the chicken whisperer. This is the kind of physical and mental experience you can't substitute for a trip to the petting zoo and I am thankful we have the opportunity to do this. 

5. Gardens. again in an homage to my urban farming kick, my gardens have provided a place for my racing mind to focus and be in the moment and bear some fruit of labor. All while teaching my kids about it. From getting worms and lady bugs to planting seeds, weeding, watering and watching plants grow, my kids are all about the gardens (Even the enormous caterpillars in it). And they love picking the fruit off the plants. This is quality time and lessons you can't get anywhere else. 

6. And finally, Slippers. Because, I live in them. I recently told someone that I only dress up at work and the rest of the time I look homeless. I wasn't lying. I wear house slippers everywhere. I love them. The perfect balance of comfort and class. And the even better part about it is my ability to not care what anyone else thinks. I've finally gotten to an age/maturity (does that exist for me) that I don't really invest a lot in others opinions. Unless you're my wife. And then your opinion matters. 

​So Happy Thanksgiving everyone! You all mean the world to me. I hope that each one of you has a wonderful holiday! Until next time!

I wrote this blog on 3 different venues - this website, my wellness company website HERE, and my physical therapy website HERE, because I think this message can span any situation and should be liberally spread as often as possible. 

Picture this. You're out shopping. Thankfully, you found some amazing pieces of clothing that you're dying to find out if they fit so you can spend your hard earned money on them.  You're ready to go try some things on in the changing rooms and when you step into the room you're greeted with the smell of.... poo. Yes. Some un-thoughtful parent left their baby's adult sized bomb unsealed in a diaper right there in the bottom of the waste bin. The smell is awful. It's so thick you could probably visualize it,  much like on the cartoons. 
As your stomach churns, you have to make a choice. You just waited 15 minutes for a changing room (it's holiday season I guess) - do you stay, and make an effort to manage this, or do you give up your room and return the the line (or queue as our Brit friends would say)?
You decide to stay. And guess what? The smell gets better!! A few minutes in, you can hardly even smell it anymore! This is fantastic! You continue to try on clothes without a care in the world. 
This fun instance is an example of what we call accommodation. Our bodies and brains are fantastic at it. Given the presence of a constant, unimportant stimulus/stimuli, we gradually phase out the recognition of said stimulus to allow our brain to focus on other things.  In other words, your brain allows you to forget that your room smells like a port-a-potty. This is similar to having a jackhammer start up outside your window at work. Initially, it is quite jarring. But as it goes out, we slowly block it out and forget it is even there. It take the REMOVAL (turning off the jackhammer) of the stimulus at that point to remind our brain it was there at all. The same with poo-poo diaper. Take it out of the room, introduce a new stimuli (fresh smell air), and you remember what it is like to not be in a room of defecation. 
Equally as interesting, once accommodated, we can add more stimulus to the situation without your brain taking notice. So you would never know if we continued to add 1, 2, even 3 more stinky diapers to the mix (given you don't see us invading your privacy) without you brain ever registering it. 

I give you this analogy because, as parents and people who live life, it is easy to get stuck in the proverbial shit. And once you're in the middle of it, your brain sometimes forgets you're there. So much to the point that more shit can be added, and you won't even notice it. Once you're in the middle of the shit, you don't recognize more shit coming at you.   This can be from life situations, friends you have, issues at work, kids, - you know it, this can happen to you. And you're brain may just accept it at a certain point. You know those folks who just always have shit going on? They're stuck in it. it is their NORM. Don't be that person. It literally takes you being removed from it to understand what you were in initially. This can happen in all aspects of life - from self care, to those who you surround yourself with **(THIS IS SO IMPORTANT)** , to child care.  

As your life gets busier and busier, please always allow yourself a breath of fresh air, to get rid of the poo smell that you may have been lingering in. This could be a course, a blog, a podcast, and conversation, a new friend or mentor. Always strive for change so that you don't get mired down in the yuck of life. 
​Cheers!

Let's face it. Despite the million (perhaps billion) dollar industry into proper parenting and how to be an A+, gluten free, no TV, no devices, always ready, activity boss, no sleep, always awesome parent whose kid kicks ass, smells good, has clean clothes, uses their manners and never questions your authority - I've yet to find a rule-book on parenting. 
Honest truth? This sh*t is hard. And, despite my many down-on-my-knees prayers, I don't think it will be getting any easier as my kids age. The game never stops. The rules simply evolve. And much like healthcare, we are living in a reactive reality. There is no proactive habit here. Because we, as parents, are not calling the shots anymore. Our power is gone. Because of these adorable little bundles of joy. They are so cute and cuddly at first, stealing our hearts and filling us with love. And then, they use that love against us. As a stranglehold on our relationship they manipulate their way into the highest levels of power in the kid ecosystem and dangle it relentlessly in front of us like a mule to a carrot.  
My kids are training to be prizefighters. They dance around each other like a modern day Ali, flaunting what they have to the other, begging them to take action. My daughter, just the other day, kijacked my son's favorite (of the day) car, and proudly put it on display as she cavorted around the living room, taunting my distressed son into action. 

*Cue the whistle* - Personal Foul- unsportsmanlike conduct - 15 minutes in time out, automatic loss of snack. 

"Kids!!  - What are you doing??!" Is often the cry heard around my house. What once was a sane and normal play activity suddenly erupts into a territory dispute worse than the Grangerfords and the Shepardsons. 
How did it come to this. I used to be this kid. And now I'm the adult? And, as choices have it, I've got another little one to add to the mix. 50% ownership is now reduced to 33% - I can't wait to see how this plays out. 
I was trained in this life as a player of the game and now I'm forced to be the referee.  
There is no training for that. 
To all you inherited refs out there-good luck, make the best call, don't be afraid to review the tape, and hang in there- you're not alone!

​

So happy and Love to announce and share that Jude Scott Christensen was born 9/28/17!
7 lbs and 10 oz and 19.5 inches long. 
What a gentleman! As you can tell, he already loves to think, just like his mommy and daddy. 
Other interests include drinking milk and sleeping. 
​Of course we will keep you posted as he grows up!

"You're having another baby? Looks like you have to start all over again! You ready for that?"

Let's face it. I hear that one a lot. And at first, I didn't think much of it. Three kids, after all, will be even more of a circus than two. And, if you know my kids, we have quite a circus. But the more I heard it, the more it started me thinking (I know, a dangerous prospect). 

Having a third baby will certainly be a game changer. It will certainly be a new phase. But it isn't starting over. It's simply hitting the reset button. 

Much like on the computer, when you upgrade your software, drivers, hard drive etc, a nice little reboot is needed to freshen things up. 

This is our reboot. We didn't get a new computer, we simply upgraded the one we have. Now, just like any upgrade, we have to figure out where the new shortcuts are, which features have changed since out last upgrade, and which features have been eliminated altogether. But, in technology, isn't that the fun of it? 

In 4 days as of this writing (tick, tock), we will be upgrading our system.  The nice thing? I already know most of the rules of the programs. The basic premise of the system hasn't changed (don't drop the baby, don't forget the baby, change the baby periodically). I went through bootcamp for this twice before and I wear my battle scars proudly (a gray hair or fifty). I know what to expect once baby is out and screaming and I know my wife will be a rockstar in making sure that the little fella never goes hungry. The new part comes when we are looking at how this added software plays nice with the other programs already running in our proverbial computer. These programs have been running for years flawlessly (ha, ok, that was a a bit of a stretch), and they are comfortable with the resources they have been consuming.  Now, for the first time, they will have to allow resources to be taken from them to allow this new 'program' to run. 

As anyone who has even added a new program to a computer, we know that it can take some time to get these resource priorities squared away. This can often be frustrating and leave one impatiently striking harder and harder on the keyboard as if through some magical force the computer can sense urgency and force and fix the problems it is having through a keen understanding that the force you use on the keyboard is intimately tied to the need for things to work. To my knowledge this doesn't happen. However, if we roll with this computer analogy, the whole prioritizing process and available RAM and memory to make programs run  needs to get figured out- programs just don't magically run smoothly and things don't automatically start working without issues (if they do for you, please call me I need your help). 

Equally so, in parenting, the process, available time and available energy needs to get figured out when a new baby comes along. The existing wee little ones need to find their new resource allocation and learn how to deal with that as do Mom and Dad. They need to learn how to not pound on the keyboard when things take a longer amount of time and rather, let the programs sort themselves out through patience and a hell of a lot of coffee (coffee is life). As an aside if we use the computer theme still, I don't think computers drink coffee. Yet. 

Anyone and Everyone who runs a family understands that from time to time, a reset is necessary to upgrade and change the way things are running (budgets, school, behavior, etc).  This doesn't always include adding more software to the computer. And, right now, this is no different for us. Our scheduled upgrade however, is coming with a lot of new features that we get to explore and learn about.

 Frankly, I'm excited to do it.  It's a reset. Not a start over. 

Have you ever hit the reset button? Tell me how below. 

"Honey, did you wipe your pee-pee?" 
Wait. Hold up. Did I just really say that? "Wipe your pee-pee?" Really?
This is my favorite part of being a Dad. Reflecting on all the things that, in the moment, make perfect sense, but given an outsiders perspective may garner a double take. As I sit, collecting my thoughts, holding back laughter (it's early A.M. here, God forbid we wake anyone up) I have amassed my top 3 Things I Never Thought I'd Say But Say it Daily list (*in no particular order):

1. "Get your finger out of there." -
Ah. A Classic. This phrase applies to many instances in life: the cookie dough bowl, the ketchup pile on a plate, a belly button, a nose, a pair of pants, an outlet, my ear, my eye, a squishy toy's underbelly. It seems my kids are Part Aye-Aye (thank you Wild Kratts) and they seek to gain extra knowledge of their world through stereognosis (perception of object using touch). Unfortunately, there are lots of places those fingers don't belong. 
Owen takes the cake on this as he once, simultaneously had one finger in his nose while the other was spelunking for gold in his belly button.  
Ah- the mind wanders at times. In moments like this I often try to sit back and take in just how funny this looks, and just how lucky and blessed I am to see this because all those DINKS out there have never experienced a bliss like this. 

2. Why are you peeing there?
Seems that when you have to go, you have to go. Without warning. Without hesitation. Without any sense of damn decency. Let me give you two heartwarming examples: Owen, as we leave the grocery store  (and literally using the restroom five minutes earlier) has adopted this cute habit of ALWAYS having to pee before getting in the car. I stress the word ALWAYS because he stresses it. As if he is hinting -"Dad, come on, you know this is me. You know about my condition, I ALWAYS have to go pee before I get in the car." Always is relative as it only seems to be my car, and only at the grocery store, but alas, I digress. So there we are, unloading groceries into the car and I turn around to my son watering my tire, pants at ankles, bare buns glowing bright in the nuclear Phoenix sun. People aren't as open to a 5 year old urinating in public as I would have suspected but hell, I probably won't ever see them again anyway. 
Cora is my second lovely example - this little dear wants to be "One of the Boys" at times and takes a literal stance on that when it comes to peeing (STANCE, get it?!?). She has really gotten used to peeing standing up. So as we are playing on the patio, often with minimal clothes as it tends to be hot and kids get clothes dirty- I look up to a wonderful little fountain with decent distance. My little angel, standing hands on her hips, a perfect ring of light around her blonde hair, grinning triumphantly as she waters the grass without sitting down.  She has this amazing disarming smile, and she uses it - looks right at me and says, "Just like you Daddy."
I have no idea where these kids learn this stuff from. 

3. What did you just wipe on me?
It would seem that kids don't particularly care for things being on their hands. Odd, because they could care less if things are on their face, in their hair, all over their clothes, nose, shoes - you name it, they literally don't care it is there. Until it comes to their hands. Then, we have a stage 5 emergency on our hands.
"Daddy, get a wipe!!" is screamed with the urgency only a toddler can impart. God forbid the chocolate you just shoved into your pie-hole and is currently ringing your mouth like bad lipstick should linger on your delicate digits any longer. 
A fun story - I got double teamed. Daddy Date Night happens ever Friday night. I usually sit between the kids to manage chaos and ease the distribution of dinner equally (Lord help me it it isn't equal) between the two. We had just finished a delightful dinner and both kids, almost instantaneously, decided that a wipe would be necessary prior to the evacuation process. Me, being the upstanding, and polite adult (someone has to be one) I was wearing my napkin on my lap. However, in the hustle of dinner, it had fallen. Bending forward to grab it- there it was- four tiny hands massaging my back. My shirt, in convenient reach of their grubby paws had transitioned to napkin nearly instantly. 
"Nevermind Daddy, I don't need a wipe anymore."
Sometimes, dinner isn't the worst of it. And sometimes, I don't even know until they confess. 
"Daddy, I wiped a booger on your back." 
Ofetn it's more discrete - "Daddy, my hand was dirty so I wiped it on you. All clean." This one leaves me to discover the joys that await. 

What do you find yourself saying that never, in a million years, did you think you'd say?

HEADS UP: I posted a very similar blog on my other pages: Sockdolager Wellness, and Chandler Physical Therapy - because I think this topic applies to all of them. So if you've read it, I'm sorry.
​It's no secret that I love to read. I once read a blog post a long time ago that discussed different book you should be reading to make you a more well-rounded person. It suggested you needed to read a book for someone you serve (for me, that is my patients of my physical therapy practice and regular folks like you), a book for your business or profession, and one for you (a personal read). That blog has always stuck with me and I strive to keep that balance when seeking out new books to read. So with that being said, I decided to feature a semi regular blog post on the different books I am reading and share them with you.
Without further ado the first book up on the list is the book for YOU:

Ok - I recognize I cheated here a little bit, in a couple ways. One, because this is TWO books, not one. And second, because I just plugged some shameless self promotion (totally true). However, I am re-reading my own published book because I crafted it as a reference for you and (sneak preview here) am crafting a course where you can learn even more advanced techniques for breathing.
The second book is all about chronic pain. This book is one I've read countless times. And I love and learn something new from it every single day. If you are in chronic pain, or know someone who is, this book if a perfect intro into the neuroscience of chronic pain. It describes what happens to the body and the brain when pain shifts from acute into chronic. Fantastic stuff and the illustrations and the way it is written make it actually fun to learn!

Next, we move on to one for the business. For me, this is my Practice at Chandler Physical Therapy. This book is one I've read about asking for feedback to gain better insight into offering what your customers want more of:

A quick read, if offers lots of action steps to creating a survey funnel to offer more of what the people you are serving want from you, in their own words. As I am wrapping up reading it, I find myself wanting to go back and read it again, because there are so many action steps to get the process down well. If you're a business owner, or responsible for customer acquisition, this is a must-read.

Lastly, one for ME. This book is on personal development and I just now cracked it open:

I have heard many great things about this book and look forward to diving in deeper. The basic premise is that a good solid morning routine sets you up for success. It out lines the S.A.V.E.R.S. - all the steps to a great morning of self discovery both physically and mentally. As I wrap this up you'll likely see another blog post!

So there you have it, the 3 books I am reading right now.

What are you reading, and why?

I find myself waxing poetic today on many things. Maybe it's the recent cooler mornings giving me hope that there will be an end to summer in Phoenix. Maybe it's the impending birth of our 3rd child.  Maybe it's even the fact that I just sucked down an iced coffee and I can feel it coursing through my veins like a racehorse. Literally, I'm smelling colors. It's glorious. 
So today I mused on many things, but the one thing that stuck with me, running round and round in my dome was the concept of a house being a home.  We spend so much of our time making our home presentable to the exterior world - hiding away the life we love behind closed doors and sanitized with Clorox wipes. But this life we live behind those doors is what makes the house a home. And I'm ok with that. After picking up Legos (Registered Trademark of course) for the millionth time, I couldn't even be angry or upset but rather tickled that this is my life. I am without a doubt being subjected by Karma to what I subjected my mother and father to as I had BUCKETS of Legos. I fear I am only at the tip of the iceberg as I stare at the small tub my kids have amassed so far. This routine, this life, the clutter and the necessary tip-toeing around certain foot-death (have you ever stepped on a Lego?) defines my home and our life.  This is real living. My living room floor is a dance floor, stuffed animal graveyard, gym, running track, and chill zone. And it's rarely spotless. But it's ours. Much like the sticker picture you see above. 
I put that picture up as another example. That sticker somehow made its way to our garage floor approximately 3 years A.O.B (After Owen's Birth). So for two years now, that little joker has been smiling back up at me with his toothy grin and witty charisma. And most days, I barely notice it. It's another part of the day-to-day and I likely step on his face more than I see it. 
But then, there are days like today, where you pause, and reflect. This little guy came to be after Halloween. It takes me back to a Princess with a Tutu and an Owl; Tri-Tip on the grill, and a couple Brewskis. This little sticker is a link to my parents because they always visit on Halloween (a tradition of sorts which has become so much fun for the kiddos). And of course My daughter, Cora. Because it was her tiny little hand that so gently adhered this landmark to my floor.  
So this tiny sticker, which most would overlook- comes dripping with memories. And that, to me, is what really makes a house a home. Not how clean, how organized, or how cute- but how many things trigger the recall of the history of your life and family in an instant. 

​What makes your house a home?

​Something amazing in my life happened last week. No, I'm not talking about pre-season football, however that would be high on that list as well! 
No, I published my first (ok second) book this past week. 
I published:

Breathe Better: A User Friendly Guide to banishing stress, improving chronic pain, and bettering your health through the power of breathing.
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This book is all about things I use every day in the clinic to help my patients lead a better life. There's nothing difficult to understand in this book. It is written to the average everyday user to help them incorporate power strategies into their lives every day to make them healthier and happier. 
In the early chapters I go over why breathing is important, what happens when breathing goes wrong, and what stress (good or bad stress) can do to our bodies. 
​Then we jump into anatomy of the breathing system. what key players are involved in getting air in and out and how they fail us when breathing goes off the tracks. 

Then we jump into techniques that can be used to address all the things we just talked about! 
It is a quick read and I hope you folks enjoy it. You can find it here:

 If you aren't an eBook Person you can Visit SOCKDOLAGER WELLNESS COMPANY to get yourself a hard copy of the book. 

There is a certain sense of accomplishment as well as pride knowing my work is our there. Sadly (or happily) there is also a sense of hunger. I feel there is so much more to teach, to spread about this topic and many others! This just fuled the fire for more! So keep your eyes peeled for more to come. The link above takes you to my other website that's more clinically oriented. If you have any questions, of course you can always simply ask below!  Thank you all so much for the support I've been getting for this venture! It truly means the world to me!

As for the first book I published? A children's book. You can check it out below:
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