I had an idea....

So, for all you blog-friends out there, I have an idea I've been kicking around...
Many of us have little kids, many of us are.....unsatisfied...with the way we look...for whatever reason. I was thinking about maybe starting a team blog...not exactly about weight loss in particular, but more for encouragement and support for each other's efforts. It could be private, to the Team members only, or we could let anyone see it. We could post more specific things about our personal body goals...and everyone could post on the same blog. I just thought...I've worked hard, and lost 22 lbs since my weight stablilized after Talia. I've hit my original goal weight, and I've set a new goal for 5 more pounds...but I know I will need encouragement to maintain it. None of us ever wants to gain weight back, but sometimes life gets in the way. And personally, I'm an emotional eater. Which is why, last night, having the worst migraine I've had in a long, long time, I ate 500 calories in Cadbury Mini Eggs, which I have hidden in the back of my freezer in the Garage. It did make me feel better, so I guess it can't be completely discounted, but maybe it would have been better if I could go to the blog, and read...oh, she did this today, and look at her goals being realized...I can do it too. So, if you're interested, post a comment here, and I'll get it all set up.

So, in a couple of days, I'll post the pics of the Mother's Day presents we made for my mom and mil...they turned out so good, I'm really excited about them. But I don't want to ruin the surprise....

Tag...5 things to know about....

Alec Roy....Alec was born on July 14th, 2002. He picked the worst possible day of the whole summer to be born, because my parents were headed to Las Vegas to pick up their new car. He was 3 1/2 weeks early, and he was a boy, so his father and I were nervous. I went into labor early in the morning, but later stalled out. The doctor came in an checked me, and said if I hadn't changed in an hour, he was sending me home. NO JOKE, the contractions started up again, every 2 minutes, and things started to happen. Alec didn't tolerate the labor well..in fact, they were prepping me for an emergency C-section, when he finally decided to turn his head the right way so he could be born. His cord was wrapped around his neck twice, and I really think he might have been stillborn if he had not been born that day. But the day of his labor was so emotionally worrying and traumatic for my husband, it took ALOT for me to convince him to try one more time. Alec's first "clean"baby pic...(since I don't have a scanner...it's a pic of the scrapbook page)...6 lbs 12 oz, 20 inches long... Alec was a restless soul and marched to the beat of his own drummer from the beginning. He tried to be born from the time I was 25 weeks along, and still does EVERYTHING on his own time scale.
As an infant, he was difficult for me, because he didn't want a schedule, wouldn't take a pacifier but obviously wanted one, and seemed to be afraid to miss something...I had to move his position every few minutes, he was never satisfied to stay in the same place for long. Once he could crawl, he was much happier.
His hair was very curly, until he turned 2...after his haircut around his 2nd birthday, it grew back with texture, but no more curls. When he was a baby, I knew it was time to cut his hair when people started saying..."Oh, what a pretty little girl you have!"...
He LOVES to dress up in costumes...and pretend he's whoever. He loves to be superhero of some kind, and do "Power Moves" on the trampoline...currently his knuckles are all scraped up from his adventures.
He loves hats, his eyes are dark sage green....and the only reason he's still alive is because of Peanut Butter, bread, and milk...that's 90% of what he eats...
He's also extremely literal...like his uncle David....you have to spell everything out exactly, he doesn't pick up on the nuances. Everything is black and white to him, there are no shades of gray.
Alec really has been such a blessing...I know he was meant to be my son. He loves his little sister more than anything, and tries so hard to be a very good boy.

On to the rest of our happenings...Walking is a FULL CONTACT Sport at our house...first the bruise on her right cheek, and now THIS....

See the lovely cut and bruise above her left eye? It's not as deep as it looks, and it didn't need stitches (it hardly even bled, it looks worse than it is). She fell (I think) into the drain in the shower this morning. Apparently, the gene that attracts my sons to cement is also in my daughter....

And I'm currently on 4 hours of sleep here at work, so if I post later with strange ramblings, you'll know why.

It's been a really, really, really long week.....

So, It's been a long and somewhat crappy week.

Monday:
I worked. It was a long, busy night, trying to keep a set of micropreemie twins alive.

Tuesday:
I was able to get all-day daycare for Talia, so after I got Kyle off to school, I dropped her off, then went home and tried to sleep. I didn't sleep very well...I never do during the day if I have to wake up for awhile, but I did get to lay there and doze all day, which makes a huge difference in how I feel when I have to go back to work for the second in a row. So, then I went back to work, where I spent the night trying to keep the same babies alive and well....they still here tonight, so I guess it's all good.

Wednesday:
After having such a busy night at work, I was exhausted. I was cranky, and then we finally got it out of Kyle...he hadn't been honest with us. When he said his friend wanted to be partners, and we said no, he didn't tell us that he and his friend had SIGNED UP together to be partners...I was so, so angry...and so, so hurt that he had been lying to me almost daily for 2 weeks....I really felt like my heart was bleeding, I couldn't eat, and later I couldn't sleep....Cole finally ordered Kyle to the car, and they drove over to the boy's house to straighten it out with his parents...it turns out, they didn't realize the scope of the work that we had done, and were really upset that their son hadn't done any of the work. I felt better that we had worked all that out, and they took over doing the sign for the business...and the boys will stay partners, and will work together to replenish their stock.

Thursday:
Talia turned 13 months, and just like Kyle (I looked back at the scrapbook to check), she started walking. 13 months to the day for both of them. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to watch those unsteady steps...watch them learn to turn corners, and navigate obstacles...she's really doing pretty well. I also had the conversation with Kyle...I told him how I felt like it was cheating for him to do all the work, and his friend not do any, and they were 50/50 partners...and how I felt like because of the way it happened, Cole and I were forced into helping them cheat. I tried to emphasize how wrong I felt that was...and tried to explain to him how every time he lies to me it's like he's beaten me up...that I actually physically hurt. I understand it's partially the age, but it's been so, so hard on me.

Friday:
So, Mini Society....here's the stand....they cleaned up. They made $600 between the skulls and the bracelets....they sold about half of their stock of both. They also had 6 "crystal" skulls...made of casting resin. They sold those for the most they could, and sold out of those early. They're planning to make more of those. Talia had fun too...first thing I did, I went and bought candy from the "8 treats for $1 " booth...gave her a dum dum sucker. She was a sticky mess, but she enjoyed it immensly. She also had smarties for the first time, and liked them a lot.
Saturday:
Soccer....my baby did really good walking in sandals(and on uneven ground) for the first time.
Alec saw me getting ready to take the picture, so he posed....
I actually managed to get some good shots of Kyle as well....Kyle played really well today, had 2 really good blocked goals when he played goalie, and played well as both a defender and forward also.
So, that's the end of our week...now I'm here at work again. Hopefully, next week will be a bit calmer...

Weekend Happenings....

So, Saturday was a rush of freezing Soccer games (in full sun!!!! What's up with full, beautiful sunlight, and a breeze that made me cold for the rest of the day and night?), trying to get a nap before work, and then running my butt off at work because we were a bit short staffed, and the 2 babies I was taking care of were the most critical in the unit, and were NOT behaving. I also realized about halfway through my night that I was sporting a lovely, bright pink soccer mom sunburn...only my face and neck, because the rest of me was covered in blankets and jackets. That's what I get for not wearing real spf 30, instead of a light layer of spf 15. Then, on Sunday.... My brother and his wife blessed their new baby. I got these really cute pics of Talia trying to sit in the grass...then realizing it was grass and she didn't want to sit (like most babies, she doesn't like the feel of grass)...she was standing...then would start to sit...then would remember it was grass, and stand back up...I was laughing, it was really cute.
Then, Kyle finished his part of the Mini Society project...both he and his skulls were covered in stain.....

So, now we have 40 plaster skulls, and 6 clear resin ones. I'm really interested to see how they sell, especially since one of Kyle's little friends had the great idea that they should be "partners". I had to explain to Kyle..."Doesn't partner mean that you share the work?"..."Yeah"..."And who's done all the work on the skulls?"... "Me and Dad, and you did all the bracelets."...."So, is it fair to you for your friend to be your partner but you did all the work?"... "No, I guess not"..."Kyle, you worked hard, you deserve ALL the money you earn from making the skulls!!!"

I think he really understands now, but he's such a sweet kid, he has trouble telling anyone no...Apparently we need to work on sticking up for himself a little bit.

I've also almost finished with the Adult sized bracelets I'm making...I forgot to take a pic before I came to work tonight, but I'm really pleased with the way they've turned out. In fact, I like them so much I'm going to make a couple for myself...but probably anklets, because I don't wear bracelets well....I always end up breaking them.

So, today...got the kids off to school...put Talia down for her morning nap, and managed to get in a 1/2 hour yoga session...I've missed it, but most programs/DVD's are at least an hour, and I don't have that much time. But FitTV has a 1/2 hour yoga program...I've been recording it on the DVR, and tried it for the first time today...it's perfect for the small amount of sleeping baby time I have in the mornings.

Then, of course, as I was eating lunch, Talia was playing behind me..I thought she was just in the bottom kitchen drawer, but she had managed to get the cleaning supply cupboard open, and had Dawn dish soap all over the floor, her clothes, her mouth....and had the jet dry out and had just opened it...luckily, she really didn't swallow much soap, and no jet dry....the child will eat anything.

My new hobby/addiction

So, we're in the process of getting ready for "Mini Society" for Kyle...which is one big economics lesson for 3rd graders. They work at a "civil service" job in their classrooms, and make "scholar dollars". They are also given the opportunity, on 2 different Fridays, to set up their own personal business. The whole process ends with an auction, where they can spend their hard earned dollars. So, when I did Mini Society when I was in 3rd grade, I don't remember what I did, just that it didn't earn enough money to get me anything that I wanted in the auction, and I learned that I am NOT a salesman. I wanted Kyle to have a much better experience...so this is what we've come up with. Since I have this new bracelet making hobby...and only having 1 daughter and 1 niece to make bracelets for...I thought I would use this opportunity to "Play"...so here's the designs I've come up with...

So, for those of you who say...Isn't Kyle supposed to be doing some of the work? This is true, so this is what he's been working on....

He's been casting minature skulls, and has about 25. His goal is to have 40 by the first business day.

Here is one in my hand for size comparison. Now, we have a $20 limit on what we can spend...but since the bracelets are only costing me .15 -.20 cents apiece to make, and the skulls are actually only about .10 cents each....I currently have 30 bracelets made in a 3rd grade child size...and plan to make about 10-15 more in Adult sizes (and have Kyle market them as Mother's day presents)...and maybe a few baby sized ones as well. We'll see.

I find the entire process of making bracelets calming...and I love the design aspect. I will probably branch out into other jewelry in the next couple of years...we'll see.

So, to Mindy, thanks again for teaching me a new skill/hobby.

Soon, I will be making bracelets for Talia to match all her summer clothes!!!

Musings.....

Well, has anyone else ever been through this? As you know if you've been reading, I had to buy pants a size smaller this week, because my other ones were falling off. Now, I tried them on, and as always, moved around in them in the dressing room...crouched down, sat on the floor, etc...all the stuff a mom has to do in her jeans, just to make sure they fit good. They fit PERFECTLY. So...why is it that every time I go to put them on, I expect them to NOT fit? It's a surprise every time I've put them on that they fit perfectly. I guess it's going to take some time for my mental perception of the size "number" to change....

OH, and thanks to Mindy for the whoopie pies....of course, did you have to bring them when I'm 1.5 lbs away from my goal weight? I've resigned myself to a few days of maintaining, because the whoopie pies are heavenly in my opinion.....

So, my new dryer is the same size on the inside, but a bit smaller on the outside...and so very, very quiet. I'm really excited about it. And I LOVE Lowes....we bought it yesterday, and they delivered it first thing this morning...and that is the rule rather than the exception with them. I have never been failed by their store, so we try to buy everything we possible can there before looking elsewhere....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best Dad in the universe...Dad, if you're reading this, I love you and I'm proud to call you my father. Thank you for passing on to me your love of "cool" toys, and teaching me what a father should be. I love you.

I'm ready for teething to be OVER...just the Eye teeth left to go...all of them are in various stages of cutting, and must be really achy today, because Talia is WHINY....and chewing on whatever she can get her hands on.

Please can the weather warm up now? I have 3 new pairs of capris, and it's been too cold to wear them. I even had to change my T shirt for a hoodie this morning, because I'm freezing!!!

I just found this new skin care line...and it's wonderful. Ole Henrikson's 3 little wonders...my skin is finally starting to normalize and clear up (since the last moisturizer I was using clogged up my skin)...I also have used a few samples of MD Skincare's daily Alpha Hydroxy peel pads...all the little blackheads around my mouth and forehead (also left over from my previous moisturizer) are almost all gone...I feel like I can go around without makeup again.

My husband's trying to make green fire...so if you're driving by, and my house is on fire with green flames, that's why...

Whiny baby calling...more later I hope.

Ditched and Dumped on....

Well, what a crappy day this has been. I started out, dragging my butt out of bed at 7:45 on a saturday...usually my day to sleep in a bit because Cole is home, and he's a morning person. I dragged myself out of bed, because it was the Primary's turn to clean the church. I knew that in doing this, I would probably end up being up for 20-21 hours before I would be able to go back to bed...but I didn't want my Presidency Partners to be there alone. Well, I was totally DITCHED by the other presidency members....It was me, Alec's primary teacher, the pianist (who also happens to be the bishop's wife), and I had dragged Kyle along. Kyle was a huge help, the only bright point in my morning of slaving in the church. My arm is killing me from the vacuuming, and poor Kyle vacuumed the entire cultural hall with the wide vacuum, which is HEAVY....and then he was too tired to run at his soccer game, poor kid. I was there almost 2 hours, and even though we still weren't quite done, I had to leave, because we had soccer games...which I missed, because....my dryer broke. Again. Even though I just had the service guy out this week. The service guy who said everything was fine, it was just my vent duct blocked, and we fixed that problem....So, $100 dollars later, I have 2 loads of wet clothes, 1 load being my work clothes....So instead of going to Alec's soccer game, I stayed home to try to grab a shower, and then ran my work clothes down to my mom's to dry....Then during Kyle's game, I stayed home and TRIED to get a nap, while Cole took Kyle's wet clothes to a laundromat to dry....
I wasn't able to sleep, I was still too upset at the way the universe dumped on me today. And all that after I did exactly what I was supposed too...even though I really didn't want to. So now I'm 16 hours into my day, and still have 4 to go.....and tomorrow I have to break the sabbath and go buy a new dryer. And spend money I had saved for something else.

Then, I get to work tonight, with crappy, heavy loads...short staffed...a nurse that won't let me do my job, and "oh, by the way, I need you to admit this baby"....Luckily it ended up being an easy admit.

I thought all this venting would purge my emotions, but I'm still as irritated as I was before.