I’ve been on blogger strike. I am striking because I need better pay, (or just pay) improved benefits, maybe a gift certificate for Pottery Barn and a better work enviroment, perhaps a maid would do.

Okay, no strike. I’ve just been scrapbooking! I’m trying to get my cruise scrapbook finished before my Mommy’s Group meets tomorrow, so I’ve been spending all of my free time scrapbooking. This is the first time I’ve actually scrapbooked! It’s hard work and freakin’ expensive. Too expensive. I think I’m going to quit.

I have a few random things to blog about, I’ll do it using bullets, if you don’t mind.

• My eyebrows. I need a good waxing. I’m quite certain if I ran into a raccoon, it would try to burrow itself above my eyes. It’s only been one month, I don’t know if it’s the testosterone I’m taking or what, but I need help!
• I cutAriel’s hair. Two inches. Well, 2 inches on one side, 1.5 on the other. You can’t even tell that I cut any. I wish I had that problem.
• Anna is still running a temperature, today it crept up to 101, it’s so strange because she is showing NO symptoms of any kind except a fever,Racecar is starting to run a slight fever and even I had one last night. I called the doctor and they said if it gets any higher to call them and bring her in.
• I did alot of landscaping this weekend. It’s so nice when it’s done, but it is so tiring.
• My first week of maintaining my goal weight has been a little difficult. I kinda feel like something mentally happens when you hit your goal, I hope I can change that especially since it looks like I may actually start working for Weight Watchers. This has been in the works for about 4 weeks now, the ball is just now rolling, especially since I hit my goal. The pay will be horrendous at first, I mean I may as well be volunteering, but by mid summer that could change. We haven’t decided if it would be worth any childcare cost, there are definitely pros and cons, I’ll keep you posted.
• I went to garage sales this weekend. I happened upon a bedding set ideal for a baby girl in perfect condition. I bought it for my sister who is expecting a girl in July. This bedding set is still available at Babies R Us, the cost for the bedding alone is $179. I got the bedding set and the mobile for SIX DOLLAS. YEE HAW! Now THAT is a good deal!
• Okay, I’m lying. I felt so bad about only paying six dollars that I gave the girl 7 dollars. I’m an idiot and I suck at garage sales.
• Testosterone. I’m not taking testosterone. I can’t believe you fell for that.
• No Roger! No Rerun! No Rent! Please tell me someone appreciates the name of this blog entry!

Tonight I attended my Weight Watcher meeting and much to my surprise…I have hit my lifetime goal. I’m extremely excited and kinda scared. My week was one of my more difficult weeks as most of it I have been sick. I wasn’t a good weight watcher, on two occasion I grabbed 3-4 chocolate covered graham cracker cookies and sat down with them as if I weren’t on Weight Watchers at all. (believe me, there were other sins committed besides the cookie sin) However, these past 3 days I have worked really hard trying to resist all fattening substances from entering my mouth. I only had to lose .4 lbs to hit my goal and I lost .8. I say I’m surprised, but then again, I’m not sure how surprised I am. For the past fifteen weeks I have been living and breathing the Weight Watcher program, not just trying to lose weight, but also trying to figure out how this lifestyle will fit into my life for the rest of my life. It’s a scary thought. And I’m not sure I have the answers, I am a bit fearful. Afterall, I have fallen often the wagon many times before, but I’ve never been driving the truck that is pulling the wagon which is where I feel I am right now. I have lost 30.4 pounds.

Last night I said two unhealthy things to Brian.
Number One. “If I don’t make my goal tomorrow night, we are going to get pizza and then we are going to Coldstone Creamery.” I think he mumbled something about me being an idiot.
Number Two. “If I make my goal, we are going to Redamak’s with the kids.” Redamaks serves the WORLDS GREATEST Cheeseburgers and they are located just across the border in Michigan. Brian and I go there every year on August 7th, our anniversary. I challenge anybody’s cheeseburgers to go up against Redamak’s, many people agree. Wow, I really got sidetracked there. I love cheeseburgers.

ANYWAY, those two things that I said were so unhealthy, they really were, but I couldn’t figure out what I should do to reward myself for making my goal…until sitting at the meeting tonight. I’m going to get a massage and maybe a manicure and pedicure! (I just added the mani/pedi part, I hope Brian reads this!) I’ve never had a massage or a pedicure and I think this is the perfect reward, don’t you agree?! Now when these events will take place…..that’s up to the checkbook!

I returned to the gym today. Illness hit this house on May 1st, that’s how long it’s been since I’ve been to the gym! It was good to back. At the gym, I had two signs that my return was welcomed, the very first parking space was available and then when I checked in the girl at the counter said I won a prize during member appreciation week, I won a key chain! I felt those were all good signs.

I have attached before and after pictures of me. The before pictures were taken in January of 2006.

BEFORE

AFTER

VICTORIOUS

Today could not have been more exciting for me. No sickness. (well, not much) No preparing for a trip. No medicine or runny noses. No unpacking. A normal day. Cleaning. Organizing. Just getting the house back in order. Making dinner. Playtime. Bathtime. Bedtime.
A really good day.

Noah is doing amazing. It’s hard to believe this little boy was so sick not one week ago. His penis looks 100% healed. Praised God. I showed “the picture” to some family and none of them were prepared for it, no matter how I described it before hand. It was much worse. I would share the picture, but that probably wouldn’t be such a good idea. It was awful.

Anna was great today. Although she is running a slight fever, 100 degrees or so, it’s nothing too serious, we’re just watching her closely.

I am better. Just dealing with the side effects of my antibiotics. And Brian feels better. It’s funny because both of our ears are still popping. Oh well, it was worth the trip.

Happy days are here again. I am GRATEFUL.

I leave you with a picture ofAriel in her outfit of the morning and a picture ofRacecar enjoying his snack from his Grandma’s last night.

I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to every Mother out there. On this day, reflect on the role you play with your children. You teach, encourage, listen, nourish, honor and love. Remember to do the same for yourself. Do not forget to love yourself.

I know these last two pictures are not black and white, but they’re pictures ofRacecar that were taken after a quick trip to the emergency room. On Thursday afternoon, as I was changing his diaper, I noticed his penis was terribly swollen. I immediately called the doctor and they were at lunch. Luckily I had my sister, Brian and Sara T. to keep me calm until I talked to a nurse. I finally talked to a nurse and she said as long as he is not in pain that it can wait until the following morning when they could squeeze us in. Well, after Brian got home, I told him to go look at it and it was worse then he had imagined andRacecar was definitely showing signs of pain and it was MUCH MUCH LARGER. So, I paged a doctor and she said as long as he is urinating it could wait until the morning, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take him in, if I wanted. I e-mailed a picture of it to Brian’s Mom and she suggested taking him to the ER with the fear that throughout the night it may continue to swell and he won’t be able to pee. It was huge, friends, huge. It looked like a huge red intertube underneath the head of the penis, it was not right. LUCKILY, by the Grace of God, there was NO WAIT at the emergency room. Crazy, huh? They diagnosed it as a severe yeast infection caused by the antibiotics he is on, prescribed a cream, checked his ears (one is still infected) and sent us on our merry way! Today, it’s much better! It’s still really red, but it’s much smaller! I love this boy.