Cass – Must Love Pugs

Running: A Tale About Pushing Forward

March 12, 2025March 17, 2025 Cass2 Comments

Although I ran cross-country in high school (I was the second to slowest runner), I hadn’t really run consistently since 2014. I decided to start back August 2023. I had just gone through a huge trauma in my life. I’ve gone back and forth on whether to share what exactly happened due to the nature of the events and the people involved. In June 2023, I had one of the worst PTSD attacks I’ve experienced in a long time. My symptoms were exasperated and my inner self was drowning in anxiety and depression.

In addition to therapy, I found a way to work through the trauma through running. Every run forced me to be alone with myself and confront the pain and betrayal I felt. I was able to work through this trauma and past ones by focusing on the scenario and making peace of what happened. I started small with my a 5k in October 2023. I slowly worked my way up furthering my distance each time. My first 10k was in April and my first half marathon in June both in 2024. The decision to complete a full marathon was not taken lightly.

I received a sign from the universe to go ahead with my plans when I went to pick up my race packet for the CAP10K run when I won a free entry to the Austin Marathon! This entry was a choose your distance free entry and I decided to wait until after my half marathon to see how my body faired. I started a half marathon training plan after completing the 10k and successfully completed the Red, White, and Blue Half Marathon in McKinney, Texas. After I completed this, I took about a week off and decided to sign up for the full 26.2 miles coming up in February.

I did a lot of research on what training plan would fit best for me. I knew I wanted a bit of a longer plan because I wanted my body to adjust gradually to the mileage. I was used to about 10-13 miles at this point, but it was time to up the long runs. I settled on a 32-week marathon training plan from All About Marathon Training. This plan was the perfect pace for my life load! I adjusted the plan to make my long runs mostly on Saturdays.

Week after week I ran. 4 am wakeups to beat the heat and get it in before I started my daily routine. It took awhile for my body to get used to the mornings as I usually avoided early mornings like the plague. I knew it was temporary for a greater choice. I slowly found out what worked for me and what gear (see below for Amazon recommendations) I had to have to succeed. I found out my favorite running instructors on Peloton along with putting in some serious audiobook hours.

Somedays were rough and required a reschedule, but I knew in my mindset, my goal. I envisioned myself crossing that line at 26.2 miles and being reunited with my family. The people who know the real me know if I set my mind to something, it’s going to happen. I kept training through illnesses, flare-ups, injuries, and all sorts of weather. I made training a priority in my week and made sure it didn’t interfere too much with my home life. I ran super early on Saturdays so I could run before I coached my son’s games and so I could still enjoy a day with my family.

I ran religiously and did not miss one run until December 2024 when I suffered a ligament injury. I knew running with my condition would be tough and that it would put a strain on my joints, but the benefits of muscle building, increased stamina, mental health, and so on seemed to outweigh the risks. On December 7th as apart of Stride and my regularly scheduled training, I completed my longest distance thus far of 21 miles – 18 miles in the morning and my remaining 3 miles at the Festival of Lights run with my family (my son ran the entire way with me! PROUD MAMA moment). This was an all time high! I felt from that moment on, I CAN DO THIS! Unfortunately my celebration came just a tad too early.

On December 21, I felt a stab of pain on my left knee (the one without the MPFL) on one of my runs. I tried to keep running but it was like a shock of electricity shooting throughout it. I hobbled home and rested, iced, and elevated it for a couple days. I was hoping that would be the end of it. My short runs were doable, but my first long run back which was supposed to be 10 miles ended 2 miles early with a long walk home (limpin’ ain’t easy).

That walk home had me feeling all kinds of defeat. I bawled thinking all my hard work was not going to end with a medal, with my end goal of crossing that finish line. I thought this was it. After that injury I made sure to take a couple weeks off which luckily lined up perfectly with the holidays in some weird twist of fate. Not having the pressure to run and spend time with my family was great, but in the back of my mind doubt started creeping in.

I did some research on the pain I was experiencing and decided when I restarted my running plan I would start to tape my injured knee. THIS DID THE TRICK! When I wore the KT Tape (link below!) I was able to go the distance and in relatively a low amount of pain. I would immediately ice after my runs, rest, elevate, and control any swelling with NSAIDs. I was starting to feel like maybe running this marathon was an actual possibility again. Then the dreaded viruses struck.

When my oldest son originally started daycare, I was sick constantly, but I’d like to think I have since acquired some immunity against the nonstop influx of germs. Whelp, whether it was the flu, RSV, or whatever virus, it came with a vengeance. It plagued not only my kids, but had me running a fever, having cold sweats, night sweats, and feeling absolutely horrid. This went on for two week straight. TWO WEEKS. Right when I thought I was over it, I would start a fever again.

I was truly starting to think I should just not show up for the packet pick-up at this point. I was feeling defeated. I am fortunate to have such an amazing support system – my husband, my best friend, and my parents reassured me I had been training this whole time. What’s the worst that could happen? I would not finish in a race I won? I made the choice to just keep going.

I continued my training plan and one week before the race I did my last long run of 10 miles. I was feeling good about it. My knees taped, I took off. However once I hit the main roadway I noticed a man following me. I was hoping I was just being paranoid so I came up with a plan to turn around to see if he did the same. Once I hit the end of the shops I turned around and started back the other way. He did the same. I called my husband immediately to pick me up and thank goodness he was right down the street. It’s not fair women have to be concerned about their safety when they just want to exist. Running has become therapeutic to me and has been my mental safe space, unfortunately it wasn’t my physical safe place.

My tips for training outside include only having one AirPod in, running with Plegium (link below), carrying bear spray and/or a birdie alarm, and I stayed within my subdivision if the sun was not up. I try to get my husband to run with me now so I can have company and feel at peace. If you have a large breed dog to accompany you on the run, that would also be a great idea (my pugs wouldn’t last .25 miles running 😂). Safety is super important as women are killed and attacked during running often. Stay vigilant always and let someone know when you’re going, the route, and when you’re expected to return.

My last week of training I got into a zen place and just felt at peace. I started journaling my manifestations of crossing the finish line as I prepared for the big day. At packet pickup the jitters really kicked in. I was about to run 26.2 miles through Austin! The expo was incredible with lots of goodies to pick up for race day (I won an entry to this race at an expo!). That feeling of getting your bib and gear just makes everything so real.

The night before I laid out all my gear for the next day. I definitely overpacked, but you live and you learn. Don’t make my mistake! See my must haves below and what I wish I would have left at home. I rose bright and early at 5am on race day, grabbed my gear, ate some plain eggos and jumped in the car with my mom who was my chauffeur for the morning drop off. The original plan was she was hoping to see me off, but the parking was insane. If I was going alone, I would have definitely left a tad earlier to secure a spot in a parking garage. I grabbed my gear and ran to my corral.

I should have tried to use the restroom beforehand, but the lines are always insane. Starbucks was packed to the brim of brave runners looking for a caffeine fix before taking off. It was freezing when I arrived which makes it difficult to dress for when running. I was torn with trying to keep warm prior to the run (the cold goes straight to my joints) and minimizing layers. We did our pre-run warmups and made small talk to get the nerves out before starting. The gun time and start of the timer starts the first wave of runner and I was in the third wave, so the time shown when crossing was off by a little over ten minutes.

The route was gorgeous and honestly the best way to view Austin. I made sure I paced myself and mentally put myself in a great place. I had a playlist already made for my half marathon (linked here) and added a few more picks to keep the motivation going. I knew I did not want to stop during the entire run. Personally, stopping for me is an opening for getting too comfortable with walking. I made sure to grab electrolytes and water at almost every hydration station even though I had water in my belt so that I could save it in case I needed water without having a station available.

Every mile marker was a celebration. The best thing about the Austin marathon was the pouring out of support. Spectators had signs, cheered nonstop, and brought all kind of goodies for the runners including liquor! The music, the atmosphere, the views were everything. Once I hit the split for Half finish and Full continue on is when it soaked in I was in for the long haul. The crowd died down at the split, which is when the mental overdrive kicked in. I got to go through my old stomping grounds from when I attended the University of Texas and the nostalgia was full on.

One of the biggest motivators was my best friend and husband cheering me on. I met Heather through Peloton (a bike that literally goes nowhere) and we instantly connected. You know how they say you have a soulmate that comes in the form of a best friend? That’s Heather. I will have to do a later post on the craziness of our connection and how things have celestially lined up. She woke up at the ass crack of dawn (Canadian time) to watch me through the tracking app and send endless encouragement.

My husband had the task of getting the boys gathered up and ready to watch their mama finish this race! At mile 22 the tears started flowing. This journey was so healing for me and I started reminiscing about my reasons why and how hard I worked to meet this goal. As the finish line came closer and closer, I pressed on until I rounded the last corner and saw the Finish Line at last. I began sprinting with all my might. The moment I crossed, my face lit up as the called “CASSANDRA ROBINSON.” 26.2 Miles finished. I limped towards the reunion line after snapping a couple of photos and there I saw my husband and my two boys with a large sign that read “Mama’s First Marathon”! I had done it. I am a marathoner!

For anyone wanting to take on the challenge, know that your mind is your most powerful weapon in completing.

Magnetic Portable Charger (for Phone + Apple Watch) – this hands down is my favorite portable charger, it is slightly bulky, but I ran with it and was so glad I had it to charge my devices
Lululemon Define Jacket – lightweight jacket perfect for running in cooler weather. One thing I wish I had not done was pack so many layers. I had my long sleeve and two jacket layers along with a beanie (trust me leave the beanie at home and choose one jacket layer!)
Sprints Hat – my favorite go-to hat, but I opted to go with the one they gave us at the expo – great fit and lightweight!
Portable Wireless Charger (for Apple Watch) – a great option to extend your battery life on your apple watch (my watch ended up dying right before I reached the finish line due to using mile tracking apps -note if you put the theater mode on it can conserve battery) – I should have used this a little earlier than I did! I think you can skip bringing this one with you and go with option 1.
Lululemon Wunder Train Hi-Rise Legging – my all time favorite running leggings – smooth like butter – I ran with these during my marathon and absolutely felt so comfortable.
LED Reflective Vest – for my early AM runs – not needed for the marathon, but perfect for early or late training days.
Slim Portable Charger (for AirPods) – this was for my older style phone (before upgrading) and for my AirPods – I love how slim this charger is in comparison to number 1, but it has an LED charger cord instead of USB-C. Left this one at home and just made sure my airpods were fully charged with one pod in at a time.
Smart Pepper Spray – this is such a great option to have for protection – when sprayed it contacts your emergency contacts with your location – for an added subscription you can have emergency services contacted and audio recording initiated. – didn’t take this with me on the run as I felt safe with other runners
Purifying Facial Foaming Cleanser – my go-to wash after runs!
Glitter Sunscreen – I like to run with a little sparkle
Core Power Protein Shake – the perfect post-run recovery snack
Strawberry Granola Minis – I love these on the go as extra fuel
Precut Kinesiology Tape for Knees – these have been a huge SAVE for my knee and dealing with my runner’s knee injury. I used one on both knees for the marathon and continue to use them for my left knee.
Glide Gift Set Anti Chafing Sticks – a must have for lower tummy, thighs, and lubricating the toes
Zero Sugar Electrolytes – these are the perfect on the go electrolyte mix
Sugar Free Low Calorie Energy Drinks (Pink Slush) – my all time favorite energy drink flavor
Sugar Free Low Calorie Energy Drinks (Cherry Slush) – second runner up!
Energy Gel Variety Pack – these taste like honey and have the same consistency which is great if you are not a fan of the puree texture
Hydration Running Belt – I used this for my marathon for extra water and storing some of my essentials
HOKA Clifton 9 Women’s Road Running Shoes – my marathon shoe pick – make sure to have your feet scanned to get the perfect fit!
Toe Socks – these have been my favorite socks! I went through a lot of different styles and decided to try these out after I saw Susie Chan wearing some and I am hooked (they are surprisingly comfortable)
Moleskin Blister Prevention Pads – these were great for my big toes and trying to prevent blisters in between them.

Remember: When your legs get tired, run with your heart.

XO,

Cass

Reintroducing Me!

February 22, 2025February 23, 2025 CassLeave a comment

Welcome to my little corner of the internet, I am so excited you are here and appreciate each and every one of you that interacts with my blog.

✨ My name is Cassandra (or Cass, Sass, Sassy, or sassynachos) and it is pronounced Kuh-SAN-druh, not kuh-SAAN-druh hence why I go mostly by the shortened version

✨ I have two boys, two angels (my second son is my surviving triplet), two pugs (they’re semi-instagram famous), two sphynxes, but only one husband

✨ My husband and I met on August 7, 2016, and married exactly 2 months later. We’ve been married going on 9 years now and have settled in Austin after Cabes retired from the Army

✨My hobbies include crafting and all things Peloton (I am at 3555 workouts and a 152-week streak)

✨ I am in my thirties and work in clinical research (I help with drug and vaccine approval by running trials to ensure safety and efficacy)

✨ Growing up I wanted to be a meteorologist, veterinarian, and work in forensics or medicine

✨ I did sports of all kinds until I had to quit at 11 due to multiple dislocations which eventually led me to my diagnosis of Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome and some of its rad (sarcasm) comorbidities.

✨ I love books and some of my favorite listens include The Stillhouse Lake Series by Rachel Caine, Rouge by Mona Awad, The Institute by Stephen King, Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica and The One by James Marr. (follow me on goodreads)

✨ I am a brain surgery survivor (Chiari Decompression)

✨ I just finished my very first marathon last weekend (Austin Marathon) – I hope my cross country coach would be proud

✨ my favorite fuel is movie theater popcorn (layered butter and topped with jalapenos) complete with licorice on the side, southern curry with paneer (extra spicy), a soyrizo burrito packed with all the good veggies, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a large fountain iced diet coke (cubed ice not crushed),+/or a venti iced matcha (nonfat) with strawberry cold foam

✨ I graduated from Texas Tech (Wreck ‘Em) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Health Professions

✨ I coach recreational U7 soccer (including my oldest son) in my free time during the soccer seasons

✨ I have lost over 100 pounds since I found my love for movement and healthy eating

✨ I collect tattoos (I prefer bright colors and traditional designs), kewpies, soul cats, + post cards

✨ My favorite movie is Coraline and I am obsessed with stop motion animation films. I also love horror films especially when I get to watch them with my mama

✨ My best friend is Canadian and therefore I am Canadian by association

✨ I am apart of a literary program where I work with kids that have fallen behind to help develop their reading skills.

✨ I choose to not let trauma dictate my life

✨ My goals for this year is to work on paying off my debt, re-opening my etsy shop, run more races, and become a foster again for pugs in need

xoxo, Cass

T.K.O.

January 17, 2024January 27, 2024 CassLeave a comment

Well it’s been awhile since I’ve put my thoughts out there for all to read. I find myself in this cycle of feeling overwhelmed by having too much to do and feeling frozen when it comes to actually starting. My last post was my MPFL repair that happened in May 2021. Nearly three years later, I’ve decided to return. So what’s new with me?

Well I am cured!! Just kidding guys, I wish I could say that. No… I will say the surgery was one of the better decisions I have made. I have not had one dislocation in that knee since the operation and am finally able to devote my free time to meeting my physical goals and surpassing them! I started back on my Peloton hardcore once I was cleared for exercise after my cesarean in February 2022.

Yep, you read that right. I had another baby boy, we named Knox Daniel. He is extraordinary. To make the story even more intriguing whether I like it or not, I found out I was pregnant right after my knee surgery was completed. I took a test in Father’s Day and those two pink lines popped up faster than you could imagine. It was the day after the 4th of July when I went in for my first scan. My husband had to stay in the car with our son (who was two at the time) due to pandemic restrictions.

A thirty-forty-five minute appointment turned into an hour and a half when my ultrasound showed something beyond shocking.

The technician was fairly quiet. She kept moving the probe around and pressing here and there. I was very newly pregnant estimated to be about 4-5 weeks. She typed in my estimated due date and then she got to number of fetus(es)…. She typed in 3. I thought this was a mistake. A typo? I nervously chucked and said there’s not more than one in there is there? She said I can’t confirm if they’re all viable because you’re too early, but there are three sacs.

What? I have to be mishearing you right now. I started crying and hyperventilating. My my husband is in the car!! I Can’t just simply text him it’s triplets… but it was. I waited and waited for the doctor to come in and meanwhile I was hysterical. Going from laughing to panicking to crying. How could this have happened? We have no twins that run in our families (at least that we know of). I was waiting for someone to jump out and say “look at the camera, you’ve been punked!! No Ashton to be seen, but three beautiful eggs in my womb. Caleb and I joked about the possibility of having multiples because of how fast I thought that I was showing.

Obviously when I left the clinic to where my husband was parked, I was shaking. Nervously filming his reaction. This video got us over 3 million views on TikTok and for good reason. My husband was speechless and his jaw understandably dropped to the floor at the news. We began thinking of our future. We were building a house a month before we planned to move from our tiny duplex we previously dwelled in for the last three years. I thought about the challenges we would face financially and myself physically being a chronic illness mama, but I couldn’t help being so elated. I’d been obsessed with multiples as a kid and here I was expecting triplets. Our original plan with our second baby was to wait until I was nearly 6 months along; something about holding a secret like this amongst just us was special. With the news that there’d be three, we had to alert the troops immediately. We FaceTimed my parents, the. Caleb’s parents, followed by his siblings. They all thought we were joking at first. How could I possibly have three humans growing in me?!

I prayed a lot. I prayed that my anxious heart could take this and that my beautiful babies continue to grow. I tried my best not to worry. I wanted to make sure my anxiety didn’t plague my entire pregnancy like it did with my first baby. I was mostly in shock. I was told it wasn’t likely that all three would survive, so I tried my best not to grow attached to the idea of having three.

The next visit was three weeks later.

The ultrasound technician booked extra time to accommodate the multiples and I went holding hands with my husband next to me this time. As she placed the gel on my body, I took a deep breath. “I only see two…” To say it didn’t sting, would be a lie, but I also felt a wave of bittersweet relief. Then guilt for feeling that way. I wanted all three babies, but I was terrified about my health, the future, finances. I took comfort in knowing that they would remain perfect in Heaven. This baby, originally baby A we lovingly named Theo. Somehow giving our little lost soul a name helped us heal and focus on our remaining loves. Their heartbeats were both strong and healthy. “After seeing their heartbeats, risk of miscarry is low,” we were told by our high-risk OB.

The next few weeks I began purchasing for our surviving triplets or twins as they now were called. Baby A (which is Baby B out of the triplets) had a beautiful egg shape and strong heartbeat and baby B (baby C out of the triplets) had a bit of more oblong egg shape, but alas their little heartbeat was steady. I saw a Slumberkins ad for a pink Ixi and immediately had to get one pink and one grey matching creatures for my two little joys. I was told my surviving twins were dizygotic meaning from two separate eggs although some twins at this stage can be monozygotic (they just split really early) and I had an intuition that one was a girl and one was a boy.

I was thirteen weeks when I had my next scan. The day before the appointment, I had a gut feeling that something was not right. I called the OB facility asking if there was anyway I could come in that day to move up my ultrasound. They assured me that everything would be okay if we waited (not like they could do much at that point in my pregnancy if it wasn’t…). The wait felt like an entirety. The next day arrived and I laid nervously on the exam table ready for my scan. My husband sat to the right of me holding my hand. All I remember is the technician saying something along the lines of only one baby was growing normally. I was in denial. I said the second one likes to hide. She assured me, no the second baby had passed. As the words started to sink in, I began sobbing. My heart breaking as I pleaded with the technician to keep searching. I still feel the ache when I see multiples in public, but Knox has some wonderful guardian angels watching over him. We decided to name the babies that passed to help us grieve- Theo and Ollie. My little peas (I use pea-pods to represent my triplet babes).

My health has had its ups and downs. I seem to have a rough flare up about every two to three years that knocks me down for a little while, but while I am knocked down, I am never knocked out (quoting my favorite Peloton instructor and mental health advocate- Kendall Toole). 2023 has been one of growth and reflection. From being at one of my lowest lows back in the heat of the summer to finishing it up feeling grateful for those who truly love and support me even more than ever before. Remembering that I am worthy of love, I do not deserve mistreatment, false accusations (that could be farther from the truth) and that I will live each day grateful to be here on this planet and spread kindness. I find strength in sharing my truth, my battle and if that offends anyone, I think it’s time to look in the mirror and get to the root of why it bothers you.

Signing off this entry, but will be back soon.

Xo,

sassynachos

MPFL Right Knee

May 28, 2021 CassLeave a comment

Well it has been a long time coming and I’ve needed this procedure for awhile now. I started having dislocations from an early age. My ankles first, then my knees, then my hips. My knees have always been the worst. My right knee, in particular, has had at least over 100 dislocations, each fall worse and worse. The fear was that with each fall I could break a bone and do permanent damage to my cartilage and knee.

I decided enough was enough when I fell at a wedding reception. I was having a great time dancing with my husband when I tried to twirl and my knee gave out. I was humiliated to fall in front of all these people and knew that I had hurt myself pretty bad. The pain was excruciating. Luckily I ended up with just bruising this time, but I knew the MPFL surgery that was recommended to me back in 2019 was the only way to prevent this from further happening.

My two Orthopedic appointments that were in the same week! On Monday I scheduled a MPFL procedure at UT Health and canceled it by Wednesday to proceed with TX Orthopedics

The first step was finding a surgeon. You do have a choice in your care and deciding who operates on you. I had narrowed it down to two orthopedic surgeons. I originally went to UT Health. I actually had gone here two years prior, but was too scared to proceed. I liked the doctor I saw, but ultimately chose Dr. Rodriguez because he actually broke down how I could feel better and what my goals were for this procedure. He was confident in his ability to fix my problem and explained everything I would go through.

The day was scheduled originally on 5/19, but due to some last minute concerns (on my apart, I’ll explain this) we switched to the hospital instead of the surgery center. The surgery was rescheduled for the following Wednesday which came soon enough. Personally, I am thankful I had that extra week because it meant another week of Peloton training and more time to complete chores and work that I had put off.

I had everything set to have surgery scheduled on 5/19 and the weekend before the procedure, my dad called and said he was worried about the anesthesia and me going under due to my increasing mast cell issues. Over the past month or so, I have had three “attacks” where my body has overreacted to unknown stimuli causing urticaria rashes and severe stomach cramping and pain. I hadn’t really thought of this being an issue with surgery because my MCAS symptoms had been mostly related to food related.

I ended up talking to the anesthesiologist and we ultimately decided to go ahead with the surgery, but the day before anesthesiology decided the hospital would be the safest route given my history. The procedure was postponed for a week and I felt better, along with my dad and husband. Having the operation in a hospital meant being able to have a team of doctors to help if I needed them; peace of mind.

My MPFL repair was done via arthroscopy using an allograft and reinforcement meaning I have a cadaver’s ligament inside my knee. Whoever this person was they are giving me new hope; a future without dislocations. I am truly grateful for this gift and the person that contributed it to me. For pain management I have an On-Q Pain Relief Management System which is a catheter placed in my leg and is slowly administering a lidocaine-like drug into my right leg essentially numbing my knee and leg for a projected 82 hours. After the pressure released pain pack is empty, I remove the catheter from my leg. I also am taking a prescription alongside to ease the pain as the nerve block is good, but not 100%.

My bandage comes off in three to five days and my stabilizer will be on for six weeks. Crutches will be my go to for the next several weeks alongside help from my family. I prepared for surgery by purchasing a few necessities that I will share with you in a later post and for now I am focusing on giving myself grace and self love.

I have a long road ahead with physical therapy and getting back to my “normal,” but I am hopeful this will be an end to my chronic dislocations and knee pain. My surgeon is highly confident in the surgery and it’s outcome, so I can’t help but be optimistic that this may be the end of my knee troubles (at least for the right side).

xoxo, Cass

28 November 2020: OOTD

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020 CassLeave a comment

Occasion: Celebrating my mom’s birthday

Location: Waco, Texas

Hat: Lisianthus // Amazon
Necklace: Shine by Liz
Vegan Leather Jacket: Member’s Only // Urban Outfitter’s (sold out)
Body Suit: Sofia Body Suit American Apparel (sold out)
Top: American Eagle (2019, sold out)
Jeans: American Eagle (2019, sold out)
Booties: BC Footwear // ModCloth

XO, Cass

EDS Awareness Month

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020 CassLeave a comment

🦓 I am joining the EDS Awareness Month Challenge – May 2020.

Day 01: Meet Me! – I am Cass! I’m 27 years young, a mama to an 1.5 year old son, Griffin, and a wife (& best friend) to @calebrobnson. I live in Austin, Texas and work in a laboratory as a clinical research assistant and have spent the past month working with microbes to test the efficacy of preservatives in cosmetic products. I graduated in 2017 from Texas Tech with a degree in biology. (Wreck’ Em). My favorite past time is Netflix and Paint. I love doing custom work to create artwork for nurseries. I am a pug and sphynx mama and my fur (& furless) children bring me so much joy. My husband and I go hard at Modern Warfare (gamer tag: motherpuggy) – we play on the weekends and evening when I have energy. My favorite things besides my babies, are Diet Coke, pad thai, sour candy, burritos, tiny houses, modern interior design, tattoos, Harry Potter (and all other geeky series) and scary movies. I have Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome along with comorbidities of Chiari Malformation (brain surgery in 2015), Mast Cell Activation Disorder, and Undiagnosed GI & autonomic issues. I live with chronic debilitating pain in my neck, back, and knees and suffer from frequent dislocations. Despite my conditions and prognosis, I still have a fighting spirit and aim at being the best mom I can be. 💄

Some fun facts about me: I’ve lost about one-hundred pounds since 2013, my husband and I met and got married within two months of knowing each other, & I grew up as a military brat and lived in several different places including Cuba!

Our Newest Addition

January 25, 2020January 25, 2020 CassLeave a comment

If you have been following along with my instagram feed, you may have noticed that we have a new (bald) addition to our family! After years of wanting a Sphynx kitten, our dreams came true when I surprised my husband with a special early Christmas gift: a hairless pink and gray kitten. I hadn’t planned on getting a Sphynx kitten so soon, but the opportunity arose and I jumped on it. It was so hard not telling my husband about her, but so worth seeing the shock on his face when he first lay eyes on our little girl.

Nimbus Tonks is a harlequin sphynx and she is beautiful and so sweet. I’ve never have had a cat that was so friendly and “dog-like” in nature. I made sure to film the magic moment when I secretly picked her up from Cedar Park, drove her to our home in Austin and plopped her into my unsuspecting husband’s arms. I included the video below and I have to say, I am so in love with my hubby’s priceless reaction.

Nimbus has been adjusting wonderfully to our little family. Our pugs were a little hesitant at first about inviting a little strange-looking creature into our home, but now they are cuddle buddies and it’s like she has been here all along. Having a Sphynx cat, however desired and awesome they are, requires a lot of T.L.C. They are not a low maintenance breed and I definitely suggest thoroughly researching the breed before investing your interest in adding one to your family.

Just some of the care we provide to Nimbs, which goes out side of ‘normal’ cat care include: weekly baths, daily use of grooming wipes, biweekly ear cleanings, daily eye cleanings, weekly gunk removal from nails and nail trimmings, as-needed moisturizing, and my absolute favorite; wiping her hiney hole after she drops a bomb… Ah. Yes the joys of being a Sphynx mama. For us, going the extra mile to make sure Nimbs is healthy is worth it for us. We also take special care in making sure he body temperature is regulated with self-heating beds, plug-in small animal heaters, blankets, and sweaters too.

Nimby’s personality has blossomed since she has adjusted to her new home and family. She LOVES food with wet food being her absolute favorite. She enjoys cat milk as a treat, but has a sensitive stomach to any human foods (that Griff may or may not have tried to feed her on a couple of occasions). She loves playing with her sisters, especially Eleven, who will chase back and forth in a wild game of tag usually taking place in the late nights when everyone should be in bed. Nimbus is a hunter when it comes to any uninvited insects and lets not forget Christmas ornaments that have managed to stay trapped underneath our bed: aka her lair.

We’ve had a few potty hiccups here and there, but Nimbs is a great addition to our home and we have greatly enjoyed her company. I plan on adding a more detailed post on Sphynx care and the products we use in the near future, so be keeping an eye out if you want to see more our our “little alien”. We have added a new member to our Robinson family every year since 2016, so I can only wonder as to what 2020 will bring.

Bringing you bare bliss,

xo,

Cass

Diagnosis Pt. II

January 4, 2020 CassLeave a comment

If you haven’t seen Netflix’s Diagnosis by now, you’re definitely missing out! My husband and I started watching it a few months back and we instantly were hooked. For years I have been classified as a medical mystery. So many different doctors told me: “it is in your head” or “it’s just a muscle sprain” and the occasionally “I honestly don’t know what we’re looking at.” I had shingles at seven (rare at that age) which confused a lot of medical personnel, but this was nothing that was to come.

Throughout my childhood I was seemingly healthy. I had chronic nosebleeds most summers, my ankles rolled so many times I lost feeling in them, and my knee caps started dislocating around the age of 12, but other than those issues I was pretty healthy. I had my tonsils and adenoids removed around the age of eight for chronic inflammation and I had ear tubes put in as a baby because of ear infections. Other than being overweight I looked and acted like a normal child.

Dislocations

It started with my ankles. From the time I could first remember I often rolled and twisted my ankles. I had such instability in my ankles that my ankle became numb from how many time I rolled them. Then fast forward to 2003. I did gymnastics and was always super flexible. I was at a K-Mart reaching up for an Easter Basket when I experienced my first knee dislocation. I’ve never experience such pain in my life. Unfortunately many more dislocations in both my knees and hips would follow.

Raynaud’s

Around sixteen my hands and feet started turning blue especially in cold environments or stressful situations. I went to the ER once for “diabetic” like symptoms in my feet (they were blue and numb) and was discharged with a migraine. My primary care physician (PCP) diagnosed me with Raynaud’s Syndrome and I was told to try to limit my extremities to cold temperatures. I bought some special gloves for when the temperature dropped, but we went forward not knowing this was a clue to the puzzle.

Idiopathic Anaphylaxis

Around the age of twenty-two, I started having major issues. It began with an allergy problem. I would have anaphylactic reactions out of now where and to foods I have had multiple times with no problems. I lived in fear as I was terrified that whatever I ate could cause my throat to close. I had one emergency room visit where they administered epinephrine and one allergy clinic emergency where they administered it as well.

I had extensive allergy testing done and thought I had something called mass cell activation disorder. Based upon a blood study the allergy specialist said that I have higher amount of basal cells or the cells that cause a reaction to allergen. I kept Benadryl and my epi-pen on me at all times. Despite testing several allergens, no food could be pin pointed as a trigger and I was thought to be allergic to some unknown spices.

Fast forward a few more years I had a skin and bone marrow biopsy done after I went to see a dermatologist for urticaria and allergic reactions. My skin basically overreacts to stimuli. I was diagnosed with idiopathic anaphylaxis. My bone marrow biopsy came back normal, so they ruled mastocytosis out, yet I am still having allergic reactions. I was told by one doctor that I have irritable bowel syndrome and maybe that was causing these reactions, but since becoming pregnant in January 2018, I have gone into a bit of remission.

Gastrointestinal

I started having gastro problems in 2014 (around 22 years of age). I had chronic diarrhea and a lot of nausea with vomiting. I lost a lot of weight unintentionally because I was so sick that summer. I had a colonoscopy done and all that was reported was inflammation. I am picky about what I eat because I am afraid of the outcome. I started cutting out heavy sugars, fats, and spicy foods. I later went on to have such bad abdominal cramping that it caused me to almost faint. I had my gallbladder taken out at seventeen from rapid weight loss and from cutting out fats from my diet that caused gallstones, so I knew it wasn’t a gallbladder issue. My PCP prescribed dicyclomine for stomach cramping and diagnosed me with what he though was irritable bowel syndrome. Another doctor I saw said he thought I had diverticulitis because of the extreme pain I was in. I remember driving to the hospital and then changing my mind and pulling over to ride the pain.

Atrial Fibrillation

While I was ongoing my allergy and gastrointestinal issues in fall of 2014, I stood up and immediately felt faint. I went to the bathroom and I looked white as a sheet. I felt clammy and my heart felt like it was palpitating out of control.

I had previous “attacks” where my heart would beat so fast for no reason. I went to the hospital once when I was sixteen for it and they ruled it as an anxiety attack, although I disagreed at the time. I know anxiety and I was watching a movie in a hotel room complete relaxed at the time.

I felt beyond sick. I collapsed to the ground and told my boyfriend at the time I needed to go the emergency room. I felt like I might die. I began feeling nauseated and I knew it was serious. Upon arriving I told them I was having chest problems. I thought maybe it was a heart attack. I was already crying because I could feel my heart. It pounded. It felt like it would explode. They did an EKG right away and called the cardiologist on call. They said it was atrial fibrillation. The doctor had never seen someone my age with it. They tried administering drugs to get my heart back in rhythm but to no avail. I consulted with my dad (a nurse) and we agreed I had to be cardioverted back. Basically my heart need to be shocked. They put me to sleep with an anesthetic and I woke up not long after with a pain in my chest but a normal heartbeat.

I had a couple more episodes after this one but no where as severe. I was tested for POTS because of the problems I had feeling faint upon standing and I had almost passed out several time while using the toilet. Despite matching on a lot of the symptoms the test came back negative.

Muscle Pain & Weakness

This has been the most persistent symptom of them all. I have pain every day in my back and neck. I thought when I had my operation (posterior fossa decompression) that I would be better, but it’s much worse. It started in the summer of 2015. My neck and back would put me in tears it hurt so bad. My PCP at the time told me it was a muscle sprain. I tried muscle relaxers to no improvement. Doctor after doctor told me the same thing. Must be a sprain. I finally received a MRI and my doctor failed to mention that the results stated I had a cerebellar tonsil herniation. She told me that it shouldn’t affect me and basically it’s all in my head, so I fired her immediately and went to a neurosurgeon that specialized in Chiari Malformation (after doing extensive research about what cerebellar tonsil herniation meant). Combined with the other symptoms I will further talk about in this post, with the herniated tonsils was too much to “be in my head.” I continue to have major cervical instability pain that makes everyday a challenge for me, but I have great days and I have bad days and keep progressing to hopefully a manageable pain future.

Memory Loss

In that summer of 2015 I began having severe short term memory loss. I used to have such an amazing memory and was quick to recall facts, names, etc., but now I was constantly arguing with my boyfriend at the time about things I didn’t remember. Where did I put my keys? Did I take my medicine? I couldn’t remember doing the most basic of tasks. It was terrifying. How would you feel if you couldn’t remember a good portion of your actions? I started having panic attacks because of what was happening.

Slurred Speech & Aphasia

In addition to the memory issues, my speech began to slur. I wasn’t even aware of the issue until I called my dad and he asked if I was intoxicated. I began to have difficulty speaking my thoughts. A sort of aphasia, I guess you could call it. I often confused words or had a difficult struggle in getting out my thoughts. Going from a scholar to this was extremely defeating. I was in what was supposed to be my senior year of college when this hit. It took a toll on my grades and my self-esteem. I was terrified. As we were formulating ideas (before the Chiari results of the MRI), we were thinking possible brain tumor. Was this the beginning of the end for me? I began to mourn the person I once was. I went from running 5Ks for fun to being a lifeless shell of my former self.

Migraines

The migraine were extreme. I’m talking full on nausea, ocular issues, light sensitivity. I basically lied in a dark room praying for it to end. I couldn’t open my eyes. The pain shot throughout my head and felt as if it were going to explode. I began to see a neurologist. I tried several anti-migraine medications: zomig, amitriptyline, rizatriptan, and others. The migraine were almost daily. I would have to miss class and basically laid there in agony. Too sick to eat, in too much pain to move. I currently am going through a remission of this symptom ever since getting pregnant with my son. It’s been a miracle from suffering so frequently to having them so rarely and I hope it’s something that will continue this trend.

Balance

My balance was beginning to become terrifying. I would suddenly feel as if I would fall over when walking normally. I was on high alert as I was afraid I may fall at any moment. It got to be so bad I’d use a walker to make sure I didn’t fall right before my surgery. I felt like this was an all time low in my health. Here I was. I was supposed to be a healthy, happy twenty-three-year-old and I was using a walker to get to my college classes. I was humiliated, but more so terrified for what was to come.

Nystagmus

Another symptom that appeared mysteriously was found at my eye exam. I ended up having vertical nystagmus that had previously not been seen. I later found out that it was a symptom of Chiari Malformation that had not been caught before. It was very slight, but sure enough my eyes made uncontrolled repetitive movements up and down. Nystagmus can indicate central nervous disease, so I was on high alert after I was told I had it.

With all of these symptoms coming in different waves, I knew it was time. I needed answers. I am tired; tired of the doctors juggling different diagnoses and medicines back and forth. It’s physically and mentally exhausting having to explain myself over and over and people not understanding half of what I go through; Not understanding why I can’t make it to their event and why it’s hard for me to confirm plans and how hard it is for me to put on a mask, pretending everything is okay. I’m tired of answering “I’m fine” or “I’m okay” because explaining that my chronic illness is eating away at me everyday is too long and difficult to mention. I’m tired guys.

I decided to email the doctor from Diagnosis and she led me to the online Facebook support group that aims at trying to diagnose you. And… I got my answer. All this time of not knowing and I’m fairly certain it’s correct and I mean that I am 90% certain. Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome (EDS) with Mast Cell Activation Disorder and Chiari Malformation, both side conditions of EDS. In the past I thought I might have this, but I was told there was no test for it and that is incorrect. I have all of the matching identifiers of this connective tissue disorder.

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I couldn’t believe it. I had heard about EDS being in the spoonie community, but I had never really pinpointed it as the cause of my many issues. I took the Beighton Scale Test and I am a 8/9! I am making an appointment soon with a geneticist to have a blood test done and to determine what the odds would be of carrying on my Hypermobile EDS on to my son and future children. I can’t help, but feel comforted that I have a label now. Maybe the doctors will finally take my pain seriously with this diagnosis.

My future is uncertain, but I strive to be one thing: happy.

Here’s to 2020; the year of knowing.

Happy New Year.

xoxo, Cass

Complexion Care: My Skin Care Routine

December 29, 2019December 29, 2019 Cass

Look at me being productive and writing another post within a decent amount of time! Yay, a gold star for me! I hope that you all have had a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! I spent Christmas here in Austin this year with my family and we enjoyed all the festivities. Today’s post is going to be dedicated to my skin care routine. I often get many compliments on my clear complexion, so I thought I would share my routine in case you are interested in how I keep my skin maintained.

By no means do I think that any of these product are miracles “cure-alls” to unruly skin, however I do believe you have to put work into your skincare to get the desired results. I was blessed to have a good complexion in the first place, but I do believe it is important to treat your skin well. In addition to a good diet, lots of water, and essential vitamins, using the combination of the right products goes a long way for targeting a multitude of different issues. This post is not sponsored, meaning these are the actual products I have discovered, tried, and liked without any outside bias on my opinions.

Morning Routine

I am one of those people who wake up with minutes to spare, so I need something quick, easy, and effective. This morning routine takes on a couple of minutes and leaves my skin feeling fresh and ready to take on the day.

Every morning I make sure to start by washing my face to ensure I have a clean “palette” for my morning routine. I started using a foaming cleanser from The Face Shop as recommended by my best friend about a month back and I am definitely enjoying how light it feels. Its formulation (enriched with rice water and vitamins A, B, E, and ceramide to hydrate skin) is perfect for my sensitive skin and the scent is not overwhelmingly strong. I use circular motions to remove any impurities and thoroughly rinse my face afterwards. ($14.00, The Face Shop)
Once my face is dry, I use just one drop of Hyaluronic Acid 2% (hydration support) on my nose and chin only and rub it in. I had previously used it on my entire face, but it seems to be too strong for my sensitive skin around my eyes and forehead, so I stopped using it on my entire face and now only add it once a day to those specific areas. ($6.80, Ulta)
After adding the Hyaluronic Acid, I add a couple drops of a peptide serum called “The Buffet” (an anti-aging and hydrating serum) and cover my whole face and neck with the serum. ($14.80, Ulta)
The last step to my short morning routine before applying my makeup is adding my sunscreen moisturizer. This sunscreen doesn’t have an obnoxious scent and is non-greasy. It’s formulation is actually like using a moisturizer instead of a sunscreen, which I love. I am not a fan of sunscreens, so it takes the right product for me to use one! ($14.99, Amazon)

Evening Routine

My evening routine is a bit more complicated than my morning one given the fact that I usually have more time and have to wash my makeup off for bedtime. However, it is not too bad and I always enjoy smooth skin!

To start the process off, I again use my rice brightening cleanser to start washing off my makeup. I usually do this process in the bathtub or shower as I find it more convenient. Word of caution, if you do purchase this cleanser, make sure not to get any in your eyes, ever. It’s like pure jalapeno juice being squirted in your delicate eyes. ($14.00, The Face Shop)
After rinsing, I do a second wash with my essential oil cleanser. I love the smell of this product (it’s rose) and I feel like it is a necessary step in removing any built up dirt, sweat, and make-up from the day. I previously used this entire skin care line, but it became too costly, so I limited it to one of my favorite products. Not only does this product remove impurities, but it also balances my skin’s natural oil production! ($31.50, Kari Gran)
After drying my face thoroughly, I use Thayer’s Witch Hazel Lemon Astringent to soothe and cleanse my face. I love that this product is all natural and works on the most stubborn of makeup and the scent makes my skin feel energized and refreshed. ($10.95, Ulta)
To be absolutely certain all my makeup is removed, I also use micellar 3 in 1 makeup removing wipes. These wipes are perfect for sensitive skin and made with repurposed cotton; they have 99.5% natural ingredients, so you can feel good about what’s going on your face. ($4.99, Target)
Now that my face is makeup free and cleansed, it’s time to progress to the next steps. I use two different serums at night to leave my face feeling hydrated and young. I start with Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% which is formulated to brighten skin and reduce signs of aging with the help of its ingredient, vitamin C. ($12.90, Ulta)
My second go-to serum is Retinol 0.5% in Squalene by The Ordinary. This water-free solution is one of my favorites to use as it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and fresh. It is formulated to provide anti-aging and refines skin texture. The best part of using the ordinary is that you are paying a low price for the ingredients alone and not all the “extra” added fragrances and products that other skincare lines love to charge the wazoo out of. ($5.80, Ulta)
My skincare routine is nearly complete! To finish off, I added a moisturizer and vitamin C crystals right before I call it a night! I use The Ordinary’s natural moisturizing factors + HA moisturizer and mix in Comedix Pure C Vitamin C mixing crystals. This combination helps even skin tone, reduce pigmentation, aids in anti-aging, improve elasticity, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. (Moisturizer – $7.70, Ulta, Mixing Crystals – $32.40, Amazon)

This completes my skin care routine! I love trying out new products and am always open to suggestions in improving my routine. So far I have loved the results from my current routine. My skin issues usually include dry skin and black heads. I try to include a clay mask or face mask and deep cleansing blackhead strips at least once every week or two. I don’t have a preferred brand when it comes to face masks, but I am a fan of Pacifica products and use the clay mask to target dirt build up in pores. As for my blackhead strips, I use Bioré’s deep cleansing nose and face strips to target blackheads on my nose and chin! These strips are designed to bond to only blackheads and not the skin, so it doesn’t rip off skin cells! (Clay Mask – $5.99, Target, Blackhead Strips – $7.99, Target)

I hope you enjoyed a little snap shot of daily my products and feel free to leave a suggestion on what else I should try below!

Happy New Year!

Xoxo,

Cass

Griffin’s The Chosen One Birthday

December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 CassLeave a comment

He’s one! He’s one! We made it! Many ups and downs, but our little guy officially turned one on October 5th. Of course, me being the mom that I am, I had to go all out for my son’s birthday celebration. Griffin was loosely named after Harry Potter’s Gryffindor house, so staying true to his namesake, we threw him “The Chosen One” party: a Harry Potter themed first birthday.

I took this opportunity to put my creative talents to work. Since I had just opened my small business, Griff ‘n Co, I wanted to use my son’s party as an example for some of the ideas I can make happen! I took it up myself to create a truly magical setting for my son and his party guests. I made signs, created spell-bounding confections, and purchased props to make his party come to life.

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How is it possible my son turned one already? It seems like just he came into the world as my tiny 7lb 1 oz baby and now he’s nearly 25lbs and is easily fitting in to 18 month old clothing! This past year with him has been full of many highs and lows, but I have cherished being a mommy through it all. I wasn’t too sure I would have kids given my medical history, but Caleb and I decided if it was meant to happen, it would happen, and so it did!

I thought I would share my secrets (of chambers) to transforming your party into a truly enchanting get together! So continue reading on if you want the details of my son’s party decor and recipes to making your Wizard party a success!

Continue reading “Griffin’s The Chosen One Birthday” →