Monday, January 26, 2009
Weight Update
Anyway, I weighed this morning and I was back to ground zero. Nothing lost, but nothing gained. I did start off the day taking the kids to school and going straight to the gym. I did cardio and upper body. I was out of there around 9:30 and it really made for a great day. I started a food diary today and to hold myself responsible, I may have to post my daily intake. I had a slim fast for breakfast, a mid morning Dr. Pepper, a bagel with cream cheese for lunch and two burritos for dinner. For me, that was pretty good. As I drove thru McDonald’s to get my Dr. Pepper, I wanted a breakfast sandwich so bad, but then I thought about having to post it and didn’t do it. I think I would have had a better lunch, but kind of messed up my timing. My sweet daddy watched Major for me while I went to the grocery store (so I wouldn’t have to get the baby out in the cold and rain – I have a great dad!). When I was in the checkout line I got the shakes. I came in the house and the first thing I could get my hands on was a bagel. I literally ate it while I was unloading the car.
Now I want to tell you about a phone conversation I had with my sister today. You will be able to fill in the blanks as to what my responses were. The key here is to read this as fast as you possibly can. Don’t take a breath, just read…”you at the gym?”…”good, I’m proud of you”… “I took Bella to the dentist this morning, did you know that you should be brushing your kids teeth till they are 8?”… “ I know, that’s what I said. Maybe till they go to school, but if they are going to school they can brush their own teeth.”…”Did I tell you that I am taking those 5 Hour Energy shots?” … “they are great. I take one in the morning with my vitamins and it lasts me at least 7 hours, and I have so much energy. I can get so much done. You should really try them. I know you are tired all the time too, and they are really great. You can get them anywhere. I got some at CVS and Walgreens.”… ok you can take a breath now. I laughed my tail off thinking about that today. She cracks me up. I did buy me some of those shots. They sell them at Wal-Mart too. It says that it has a bit of caffeine in it, but I can drink 4 to 6 Dr. Peppers a day, so I am no stranger to caffeine. They only have 4 calories, so I would have to drink about 50 of them to meet my current Dr. Pepper calorie intake. I won’t.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Boy update
The school is having basketball sign-ups for Michael’s grade this week, and he really wants to play. I would really like for him to play. So I am really hoping that will help his motivation with school work. We also changed his Rx after Thanksgiving, and that is when his teacher says things started going south. Obviously, this med didn’t help him focus and get things done. On Friday we went back to the Dr and got on another script. I am hoping that this one will make a big change in everything for him. Our insurance sucks and doesn’t cover these types of Rx, so a month’s supply is $125. YIKES! But it is my child, so there is no choice or decision to make. We just get it. I pray it helps!
I go to meet with a diagnostician for LISD to discuss Mavrick on Tuesday. He is easily distracted, but he also stumbles through school. He literally got from K4 through 1st grade by just being cute and charming. He is still charming his 2nd grade teacher, but I warned her that he would. She is not taking it as easy on him as the teacher in the past have. That child, he is funny, but he ain’t right. Mark has dyslexia, Michael has a processing delay, and Mavrick… well that is what we are working on finding out.
Major’s 9 month check up was on Thursday. The Dr said he is perfect. He weighed 19.12 lbs (35th percentile), and was 2 feet 4 inches tall (70th percentile). He is tall and skinny. Wonder where he gets that! It’s sure not from the Johnston side.
Shreveport
On Sunday we went over to Mansfield and saw Mark’s grandparents. His granddad is around 96 and I think his grandmother is around 92. We only stayed about 2 hours, but had a good visit. It was the first time they had seen Major. They are both at the stage that they ask the same question over, and over, and over. They asked how much Major weighed, and if we would just leave him with them. Grandmother is worse at asking the same questions than Granddad, and she asked me several times who I was before I married Mark. The first time I was like “me! I have always been me.” I was a Johnston from Texarkana. I tickled myself several time thinking I could just say something, and she would say “well, my goodness.” And ask me again in about five minutes. I tried not to get annoyed, realizing that 1.)lthey are getting old and this could be the last time we see them, and 2.) thinking about all the fun I could have messing with them. I know it’s bad, but I thought it. You know, “how much does he weigh?” and just saying a different number every time.
Michael and Mavrick went on a walk with Grandpa Gil, and nearly walked the entire 160 acers. I don’t know if Grandpa would have gone on the walk if he would have known it was going to be so long. The boys had a good time, and I think it was good for Grandpa not to have to sit in the house with the same questions floating around.
Grandmother has a cat that she and Gran-gran were trying to find. They went in the back of the house and Mavrick was coming around the corner and heard them calling the cat. He bent down under a bush and started “meow-ing.” Mark and I were on the back porch just laughing. They would call, and he would meow. Durn, that child is funny! We had a good time. I really wish it wasn't so far away and we could go more often.
Unconditional Love
Really, what would it take just to shut someone out? What if they got married and chose another religion over the one they grew up with? What if they decided that their sexual preference was not what they grew up with? What if a family situation changed and you didn’t agree with a sibling. We all have conditions don’t we?... "I will always be your mother/father and love you as long as you are Baptist." "I will always be your mother/father and love you as long as you fall in love with a member of the opposite sex." "I will always be your daughter/son and love you as long as you seek the care I want you to have." "I will always be your sister/brother and love you as long as we can agree on how to divide the assets ."
I once knew of a mother who was going to block a child out of her life over an issue like this. I thought then that she had never lost anyone that she loved and never thought of the conditions of having that person back. If God came to me tomorrow and said I could have my brother back for one more day on one condition, whatever that may be, I would completely take it, whatever it was. But we don’t get those chances to accept those conditions. We just wake up one morning and find ourselves in the middle of a situation that could end a relationship. And because we can’t love unconditionally, we lose out. We all lose.
I pray for open hearts and open minds. I pray that we put our loved ones and what is right before the selfish desires of our hearts. I pray that we can strive to love unconditionally.
I like...
The Curse
We are looking for a new dryer.
Update – We got a beautiful new dryer that was delivered on Friday. I am so happy I can’t quit doing laundry. (haha)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Gratitude
A good baby that let me stay in bed in late with a headache, while he watched Sesame Street
A precious father who watches my baby for me three days a week and has become Major’s best friend
Being able to take a shower this morning with the door closed and not having to sing nursery rhymes to Major in his “Johnny Jump Up”
Thank God for the “Johnny Jump Up”
Creative marketing ideas
Receptive properties
A property referral call
My children’s Christian school
Tuition money to pay the school
Michael saying “I Love You” when he can’t think of anything else to say
Mavrick’s sense of humor in saying “We heard you the first 50 times you said it”
Both of them being so helpful with Major
A husband who works long hours so I can stay home
Our home
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Black, Blue, This and That
The day has come together nicely. I went and saw several properties. I got a strange vibe all over the place, so I knew it was me. But that’s ok. After that I met my sister at a girl friend’s house who sells children’s clothes. She was closing out her holiday and 08 spring lines and having a great sale! Woo Hoo! Cute kids clothes – on sale! Now that is the way to wrap up a day.
I went and got the kids, then we had to go to the grocery store to get something for dinner. (Apparently, I find it easier to go to the store every day this week rather than to have just gone for the week on Sunday.) On the way home from the store, from the back seat I hear “I like big butts and I cannot lie…” If you guessed Mavrick, you are right. The child has only heard that song on the movie Shark Tales, and doesn’t know any more than the chorus. There is nothing like being serenaded by your seven year old with the big butt song. Yep, good times.
I'm a little "Off" lately
Mom was telling me over the weekend that my Granny had trouble with a hormone imbalance, among other things. And that mom also had some issues, but she had a hysterectomy when she was 37 which fixed most of them. I have made an appointment with my OBGYN for next week to get checked out.
Last week I went to Southwestern Medical Center’s Depression and Mood Disorder division. I had originally called right after Pop died because they were doing a study. Pop was all the time doing some study. It seems like for years every time we went over he was doing a new one. He was so cool. Anyway, I felt moved to call them and see if I qualified. Well, I didn’t. Apparently, I’m not as screwed up as I feel. But I did talk to a Psychiatrist. He talked to me for over an hour. He thinks I’m depressed. But during our conversation, we kind of did a history of me. OMG! I should really be nuts! I am doing really good for someone in my place. It was depressing, but kind of funny in a pitiful sad sort of way. Really, I have good excuses to be flat out crazy. Many of you know of different experiences I have had, and after going over it all with the Dr., I really hope you never get together and compare notes! It would explain a lot! I am looking for a bumper sticker that says “Crazy and proud of it!”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Lame Bird
So, today we were getting on the highway and trying to merge – at the speed of traffic. I saw a truck, just by the grace of God, who was traveling in my blind spot. As my personality would dictate, I sped up. So did he. Then I slowed down. So did he. I finally had to just about stop or be split in half by the pylons. As he passed me, FINALY, I honked and shot him the finger. It wasn’t a real strong one… It has been a long time and I am out of practice. It was a lame bird.
As I passed him, I hope he noticed that he didn’t get another finger, stared at, or mouthed what I was thinking. It was only because I have a Christian School bumper sticker, an Upwards magnet and a fish that says Jesus on the back of my car. I AM that parent that the pastor didn’t want to have the school’s bumper sticker.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Blog Confession
I don’t give Major enough baths. I don’t. We are doing good for him to get a bath once a week. Granted, he gets a wash down every time I change his diaper and after eating. And it’s not like he gets dirty. But as far as a scrub and good hair washing, it just doesn’t happen often. I do have a reason, though not a good one. He hates the bath. Really, HATES it! It is a beating. And we have done everything… showers… baths… in with Mark… in with me… by himself… He HATES it!
Tonight it had gone too far. He got really messy eating a snack, then eating dinner. He was nasty, and it was time. Usually, Mark will put him in with me and we will do a quick wash and get him out FAST. Well, Mark wasn’t home yet. So, I got all the towels and toys I could find, and he and I got into the tub upstairs. This was the one thing we had not tried yet. He was not happy… at first. But I kept talking to him and playing with the toys and he sat on my lap. Then he stopped crying. We kept talking and playing. I sat him on the bottom of the tub. We kept talking and playing. I washed him. We kept talking and playing… 20 minutes later we got out… and he peed on the floor.
But it was so exciting! It was finally OK. Mark and I were really worried that maybe he was allergic to water and it burned him. Or maybe he was having tragic memories of coming down the birth canal. Something had to be wrong. His reaction, even from the first bath, has always been really, really bad. I am so happy! I can stop worrying about CPS showing up or the Dr asking how often I bath him. I can’t wait till tomorrow... ok, probably Wednesday, to give him another bath!
A Mouth Full - Or Not
Weight Update
My husband just told me I was a Facebook whore… I’m not real sure what to think about that. Does he mean it is like crack and I can’t get enough? Maybe. Does he mean I am sluttin’ myself out on it? Absolutely not! Whatever. I am on Facebook and I like it.
So, I weighed on Friday and had lost approximately one pound. Happy! Then I weighed this morning and had gained three from where I started! Depressed! Then, this afternoon Aunt Flow came to visit. Happy again!
I really didn’t do very well last week. I didn’t go to the gym a single time! The best laid plans, right? Anyway, I did add a few servings of fruits and veggies, I got up earlier a few days, and had a couple of really productive days. So, I am off to a slow start, but it is a start.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Change
Tomorrow morning, I am changing my life. I am going to start eating better (which believe me won’t be difficult) and I am going to exercise regularly. So, why is this going to be any different then the last 50 times I decided to do this? I am going to be doing it in front of you. You are my accountability. I am doing it for me, but I am going to hold myself accountable by either succeeding or failing on this blog.
A girlfriend of mine has decided to do this on her blog and check in weekly. She is precious, and smart, and calm, and has her stuff together… I like to think I could have been like her if I would have chosen to. Anyway, she has something like 15 pounds to lose for a wedding this summer, so obviously, mine will last a bit longer. But I am dedicated, and I can do this.
A guy I went to high school with in Texarkana is doing the same thing. He started Jenny Craig and is doing a video blog and putting it on Facebook. I am so proud of him. I do not have the guts to do that!!! I am really proud of him.
Anyway, the plan is to get up in the morning and weigh and take my measurements and a frumpy picture, then hit the gym. I will take Major, so we will have to go and be back in time for his 11:00 nap. (BTW – yes, I am THAT mom. I am taking my kid to the nursery with a runny nose. He has been on anti-biotics for a week. He shouldn’t have anything that another kid could catch.) I bought a magazine with some workouts in it, and I am going to start one tomorrow. I purchased some fruit and veggies and some other “better food choices” this afternoon at the grocery. I am feeling pretty good about it.
I will do my check in’s on Monday’s, so make sure you check back with me and keep me accountable. And feel free to cheer me on. I have at least 30 pounds to lose. That is 20 pounds more than I weighed when I graduated high school. And my 20th class reunion is this year, so I figure a pound a year is reasonable weight gain and should be allowed. Wish me luck! I’m gonna be lookin’ fine in 2009!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Last night we spent the evening with friends and neighbors bringing in the New Year. We usually have a party here at home, but with Major being so little, we had it with some neighbors on the street behind us. I have found a sweet girl to babysit, so she and a friend came over and stayed with Major. We had a good time. They boys got to play with other neighborhood kids, and there was a bounce house. It is always fun to hang out and ring in the New Year. Mark really likes having the party at our house better, because he is a home body, so next year we will probably do it at our house again. I will just carry Major all night.
In my last entry I told you that Major was sick and we were going to the Dr. Well, both of his ears were infected, and he was very congested, but he was crying so hard that she couldn’t tell if it had moved into his chest, and there was no way she was getting a good look at his throat. She gave him some antibiotics and another Rx. That was Monday, his nose is still running, but he is not as cranky. Don’t get me wrong, the key word there is “as” cranky. He is still very clingy, and seems to be more so when he is sick. That is a beating for me, cause I just can’t get anything done. Let me correct that, everything takes twice as long because I only have one hand to do it with, while the other hand is holding him.
We are trying to ease Michael and Mavrick back into their routine. School starts back on Monday. It has been nice to have them home the last two weeks, but time has flown by. They are such good boys, and really a pleasure to be with. They have their moments, but for the most part they are great. I am so blessed!
Mark is dealing with server issues. I don’t know if the church put in a new server, or just what is going on, but he has been working on this server thing since before Christmas, and is putting in some crazy hours. Our neighbor, Bobby, asked him last night what his hours were. He really couldn’t give him an answer – daylight till dark? Till the job is done. I think it was Tuesday night that he didn’t get home until 11:30, then he was back to work at 8:00. He likes his job though, and doesn’t want to let anyone down. I am proud of him. I miss him, but I am proud of him.
As for me, I am rested and excited for the new beginning in front of me. I will start back to yoga tomorrow, then we are watching the Tech Bowl (aka Cotton Bowl) at my sister’s house. I am going to move my sewing stuff upstairs on Saturday, then try to start painting Mavrick’s room next week. It’s going to be a great year!