I Should Be Folding Laundry

One Hundred

This is my 100th entry.

This weekend was a great weekend filled with family and food. On two seperate occasions I had (alot) of ice cream. I've had brats, chips, cookies, Little Debbie Nutty Bars, biscuits and gravy, french toast, and spaghetti, just to name a few things. I went a little nuts. The good news is that I am completely full and hopefully will never eat again! :-)

My sister, Sarah, her husband and their little one, Ethan came to visit this weekend. It was great to spend such quality time with them. She's expecting a girl in July, so we don't think they'll see Anna and Noah again until September or perhaps Thanksgiving, so we tried to cram in as much quality time as possible. It was lots of fun. I have some pictures to share.

And do I even need to mention the heat?? I LOVED it. I don't know why, heat is typically something I can not tolerate, but this heat I really enjoyed and appreciated. There is (was) definitely something wrong with our central air, we think we fixed it. It was really warm in our house, despite our best efforts, it's finally much better in here. (quite cold, actually!)

Oh, and the kids are sick again. I'm getting really tired of this. I know it's because of the child care at the gym. I can't help but think that I am risking their health for a healthier me, it doesn't seem fair, I'm feeling really selfish about this situation and I'm not sure how to remedy it. I just wish people would stop bringing their sick kids in. Oh wait, I guess I'm bringing mine in tomorrow. See???? It's a vicious cycle.

By the way, I'm still watching Grey's Anatomy, 8 episodes down from season one, 1 more episode to go. It's just awesome.

Noah shooting some hoops. He's very athletic.

Anna enjoying the summer weather by the koi pond. Can you tell she was posing.

A very happy boy heading to Grandma's house!

Anna LOVES TO PLAY IN WATER. She has always been this way. Some kids would get so upset if their Mom started spaying them with the hose (Noah) but Anna says "do it again." We played for a long time. She's loves water. We were at my Mom's house, so we didn't have a bathing suit. I guess you don't need one after all!

Hot.

Cooling off with some chocolate ice cream!

Mommy sprayed me. In my defense, I never directly sprayed him, sometimes the drops just fell on him, other times he would run towards the water accidentally.

Ethan dancing and Noah watching.

Sarah: due July 31st
Happy boy.

This picture was taken last Wednesday right before I took the kids to Wal-Mart. Anna put on a hat and Noah said "I want a hat" so Anna, the fashion genious she is, gave him one and put it on him. They posed for me and he promptly removed his pink hat. Anna proceeded to Wal-Mart wearing the hat.

Anna posing with mittens on this morning.

Grey's Anatomy

Alright, we finally started watching Grey's Anatomy, from show NUMBER #1 from the first season. Brian and I are hooked. We've watched the first six shows in the last four nights, hence the lack of blogging! It's an awesome show! I can't wait to watch more!!!

Generically speaking (is that a word?)

On Wednesday, the kids and I went to Wal-Mart for a few midweek staples. One of the items on the list was Cascade dishwasher detergent, I even had a coupon. I pushed the semi-trailer 2 seater grocery cart to the detergents when I noticed how much cheaper the generic brand of dishwasher detergent was in comparison to Cascade, even with the coupon. We are talking over one dollar difference. In fact, I noticed the off brand was laughing at my coupon, laughing and saying "if you buy Cascade, you're an IDIOT." Well, I didn't want to be an idiot, so I bought the cheaper brand and guess what? My dishes are dirty. There are many things that I buy the off brand, for instance, I think Target brand diapers are the bomb and the diaper wipes. Contact solution, applesauce, cereal and some paper towels I will try and buy the off brand. However, there are some items I will not change, like my coffee. My dear husband once tried to trick me by switching the off brand into my Folgers can. That went over like a whore in church. Needless to say he knew how serious that offense was when a police officer showed up at our door wanting to arrest him for fraud, not to mention the trust issues that resulted in. But we've moved forward. I think.

Somethings are great, somethings are not, somethings work just the same. Too bad it cost money to figure it out.

Oh and P.S. I rinse every dish before placing it in the dishwashwer. It's not me, it's the soap.

AI Review

Like I could blog tonight and not mention American Idol. I am so impressed with the season finale. I was completely entertained the ENTIRE two hours. Was it really two hours? It flew by. I loved ALL of the special guests, especially Prince. I almost peed my pants! (seriously, I had to pee but I was holding it, way too lazy to pause the show and go.) I knew it was him right away and I was in denial until the first close up. It was awesome! I loved Mary J. Blige, but I was very much hoping it would be Bono. I told Brian "if Bono shows up I swear I'll have a stroke!" Then the "curtain" opened and I threw my hands against my face...it was Mary, I was a little disappointed, but that's okay, Mary J. was at the Oprah show when I was there in February, I enjoyed her performance. The Clay Aiken moment with that CREEP CREEPY CREEPY guy singing was so stinkin' hilarious. I had to replay his reaction, but forward through his creepiness. And my hat is off to Chris for not only sounding amazing but looking amazing. You are the wind beneath my wings. In the end, when Katharine and Taylor were singing "I had the time of my life," I couldn't help but picture Chris singing and dancing merrily to that and I have to say I was a little grateful for his early dismissal, seeing him sing the melody would have been wrong, a sin. Produce that album Chris, I'll be sure to buy it...or at least copy it from the library.

Luke warm

I'm definitely feeling luke warm about American Idol. I lost alot of my passion for the show when my boyfriend was voted off, then I lost alot of what I had left when Elliot was booted, now.....I just want Taylor to win to hear a different kind of music on Idol, to see a different face. I am enjoying his purple coat, too.

Now why in the world is the show going to last two hours tomorrow night? Oh, by the way, any finalist that I have voted for, has never won. I voted for Taylor tonight. I voted for Clay, I did not vote for Fantasia, but I didn't vote for her competitor, either, and I voted for Bo. I can't believe I have to live without this show until NEXT JANUARY! Another summer gone by, a Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Anna and Noah turning 3 and 4! I can't even imagine! Somehow it will be here before we know it.

I leave you with pictures.

Noah looking like his Daddy.
Anna and Mommy discovering Horsey back rides! We've never done it before! She loved it!
Noah coloring with his fashionable pink head band.
Anna looking like Mommy with her cell phone.

No Roger! No Rerun! No Rent!

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 cut Anna'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, Noah 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!
  

Victory

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

Normalcy

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 of Anna in her outfit of the morning and a picture of Noah enjoying his snack from his Grandma's last night.

Happy Mother's Day!

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.

"A mother who radiates self-love and acceptance actually vaccinates her daughter against low self-esteem." -Naomi Wolf

Fun with black and white. Fun being a Mom.

I know these last two pictures are not black and white, but they're pictures of Noah 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 and Noah 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.