Vacation WrapUp

All I can say is WONDERFUL!!!! I did post a few post while in Houston, but it was on my phone & not very easy to post. So here goes:

On Monday we spent the day in Galveston, our first stop Murdoch's the best little souvenier shop in Galveston. They have all kinds of stuff in there Logan really liked it. And Carol had a great time showing him the shells that you can hear the ocean in. Logan also saw the mug below and wondered 'How do you drink out of it, while starring at them?' LOL!!

So we then moved down to Stewart Beach, there were not a lot of people there, so it was not crowded. The waves were awesome, the water tempature was perfect.

Day 3 - Galveston

After lunches were made we had breakfast chocolate chip pancakes! Then it was off to Galveston. We packed the car & were off.

One of the main places I wanter to go was to Murdochs. If you have ever been to Galveston then you know what this is. It is a great souviner/gift shop that has been there forever! Logan got some shells & a little sand bottle with his name on it. So Stewart Beach...here we come!!!

We got on the beach about 12:45. Logan was gone. We got to swim a long way out. The waves were just great. Logan, Ray & I went pretty far out. The way the bottom is we could all touch. Logan loved jumping in the waves & splashing around. Carol had bought a boogie board & Logan played with it. We had just a wonderful time, but this was just the begining :-)

Logan's Vacation

Yeah an exercise ball & Mickey Mouse Club. He is having a good time. He is really excited about the beach today. He did good on the bus ride down.

Vacation 2012 Monday

Day 3! We are still in Houston. Going to Galveston later this morning. Logan & I hung out at the pool for a little bit last night. Carols trainer was suppose to be here this morning but she had something come up. So we will be making pancakes in a bit and getting ready to so south. Might do Kemah tonight. We got one more full day..Looking forward to the perigoes tomorrow...

Newest Addition

Not really sure what I was thinking, but if you are an animal person, cat or dog, You just know when it is right, no matter what it is.


Logan & I went to Petsmart, to kill some time before the show started we were going to see. WELL....Cat Resuce Adoptions....really just what we needed with a house full of dogs!


Oscar was just laying there in the cage, and he did not have to say anything, just lay there, and be so cute!!!







He did good at the house with Logan and with it was close ot bed time, Oscar let us know. He played with Logan in his room, thne it was bed time, so off to the front room, although, she made his way into the house, he was laying in the window when I let the dogs out, now he and Logan are napping on the couch together.

Oscar was not too happy when we introduced him to Daisy Mae, he is not a dog-cat....totally in the wrong house right??? He weights about 25 pounds, and it does not stop him jumping ability.

We have a long fun road ahead of us!

My Birthday 2011

I have to say THANKS to all of you who have wished me a Happy Birthday! Today (Sunday) is my actual birthday, but Ray has done a great job of it being a weekend celebration!!!

Friday night Logan went to a Parents Night Out at TKD, so Ray took me out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse...he even did Call Ahead Seating! We had a nice dinner, then we out driving around, just hanging out it was nice. We picked Logan up about 10:30, but hung out and talked to the peeps, so it was about midnight before we got home. But we had so much fun!

I had to work on Saturday, it was a good day at the office. Then we went to the El Fenix in Grapevine for Dinner, Ray had planned a huge dinner, His family, Mandi & Greg, (they did not bring the kids... :-() and my Holly was there too!!! I was really surprised, it was great.

Then we went to Holly's for my Tattoo!!! Yeah, I was so excited. We had a wonderful time, and Ray has done a great job this weekend, now lets just hope he cooking on the grill is just as good!!!

Cold Weather

It has been a long cold week, all leading up to the BIG GAME!!!!

The ice on Tuesday, temps in the teens on Wednesday, a little more cold on Thursday and about 5 inches of snow on Friday. I special ordered it for all the Pittsburgh Fans!!!!

Saturday was a much better day, warm weather, sunny, and LOTS of Steeler fans all over the place.

The game will be a good one...I got a steak dinner riding on this!!!!!

Fun Stuff Today

Today is going to be great! The 3 of us test for our 4th Degree Brown Belt today. Then we are going to lunch for Logan's birthday, just to get everyone together, and have fun.

Thursday night Ray & I fought in a Black Belt test, it was fun. We had to do 25 fights! And we did it, we completed all the fights, the 2 boys up for their Black Belt both passed. But seeing the test, is really an eye opener for what we have to go through. After the initial part of the test, it is Katas, horse stances, blocks, kicks, punches, self defense, & one steps. Then on to the sparring, After the 25 fights for the Black Belt candidate, it is a 2-on-1, 3-on-1, a progressive 4-on-1 then a 5-on-1. These kids were so awesome!

Today when we go for our Brown Belt, we will stop at the 2-on-1. Logan has said a few times he is nervous, as am I. But once we get there, the comfort will set in and it will all be fine.

Weight Loss Update with Pictures

The below might be TMI

My weight loss is 70 pounds, as always, I fluctuate as any ones weight does, but you can see it in my sizes. When I started in February of 2009, I weighted about 320 pounds, wore a tight size 28 pants, (I was not going any higher), I was wearing up to a 32 in shirts, or 4X (they were tight) in t-shirts. The tops are a little more understandable, my bra 48DDD - hence the large shirt size.

So here we are on Jan 1, 2011 - as it stands now. Jeans/pants 18(lose)/20, depending on the cut. My shirt size 20/22, still broad shouldered and it does make it hard to find the shirts that are cut too slim, and tapered, still don't like them, but I am learning. I have purchased 2 new bras in the last 2 months, 42DD, 6 inches down, and more to go. I am thinking I might be able to go down to a 40. Now on the scale 250-255. I am pretty proud of myself, and I know I have more work ahead of me.

I have to tone, and trim. With weight loss of anykind, those problems arise, but this is going to be my year to get back in shape and finish what I started. Hoping by the summer there will be some very noticable changes.

Here are some pictures from the last couple years.

This was at Logan's 7th Birthday Party Feb 2010 Roller World


Holly's Birthday Party March 2009 before surgery


Christmas 2010, the shirt is not too flattering?? But I had Leggins at work which I never would have worn 2 years ago.


I am going to try to take more pictures this year, and maybe even start today with measurements. I am too the point that the inches are more important than the numbers on the scale.

The below might be TMI:
My weightloss is 70 pounds, as always, i fluctuate as anyones weight does, but you can see it in my sizes. When I started in February of 2009, I weighted about 320 pounds, wore a tight size 28 pants, (i was not going any higher), I was wearing up to a 32 in shirts, or 4X (they were tight) in t-shirts. The tops are a little more understandable, my bra 48DDD - hence the large shirt size.
So here we are on Jan 1, 2011 - as it stands now. Jeans/pants 18(lose)/20, depending on the cut. My shirt size 20/22, still broad shouldered and it does make it hard to find the shirts that are cut too slim, and tapered, still dont like them, but I am learning. I have purchased 2 new bras in the last 2 months, 42DD, 6 inches down, and more to go. I am thinking I might be able to go down to a 40. Now on the scale 250-255. I am pretty proud of myself, and i know i have more work ahead of me.

Welcome New Year!

So 2011, has started! We had a blast ringing it in. Thanks Tammy & Rich!!

I had to work yesterday which was cool, got lots done, although not enough of my work....but anyways. The day went pretty fast, and was pretty stressful. Had great pizza & salad for lunch from Campisi's, and little local family run Italian restaurant. Then I walked with a friend of mine to the local CVS and got Ice Cream, just what we needed to get through the day.

So we went over to some friends house for NYE, it was really fun. We ate, and snacked, sloppy joe, taquitoes, chips, dip, & drinks. We sat around and shot the breeze. Then broke out the wine, and Trivial Pursuit, a lesson learned on NYE that will carry over...DO NOT PLAY TRIVIAL PURSUIT WITH RICH!!! He whipped the snot out of me...and well that little wifey of his was on the same track - HA HA !!! We had so much fun, I will admit, I am a sore loser, but it is really fun playing a game like that with someone so fricking smart!!! But next time we are going to play the All American Addition, or hell if want a chance at winning I will have to take the Junior Addition. Or maybe.....The Lord of the Rings Addition, it has been a while since I have played it, or watched the movies....I guess I know what I will be doing before we go to their house next time. My mission for 2011 - Win - Win - Win !!!!!!

On the flip side, we did play Taboo, girls against boys....needless to say Ray & Rich were no match for Tammy & Drunk Missie. We whipped the snot out of them. GO GIRLS!!!!

After a bottle of Red Wine, it is okay, but will try other kinds. As it got closer to midnight, we got the kids together, and of curse Logan was asleep, but we woke him up. We rang in the New Year with the kids popping off poppers, wearing cool tiara hats, and being with friends.

Logan fell asleep in the game room, with his elephant pillow pet....so Rich comes in to the kitchen, and tells Ray .. "Your son is sleeping with my daughter", it was too cute, he was asleep and she was sitting on the floor beside him. The kids are really good Friends, we are so blessed to have these friends.

We got home, put Logan in the bed, and we went as well, I think the last time I looked at my clock was 2:30am, and sure enough 5:00am my eyes are open...it was a fight, but I managed to stay in bed until 6:30am. I hope tonight I will be able to sleep a little better and longer.

So today, we will be going to the mall, got to get some calendars, then home for some good food - brauts, tators, black eyed peas, sauerkraut, & hot water corn bread. I can taste it already.

Not truly making 'New Years Resolutions', wanted to get my motorcycle licenses in 2010, and that did not happen. Life really got in the way. But that could be a carry over, but this year I want to get back track with my weight loss, I want to see about finding a a lapband doctor close to me, get back on getting fills, I will be trying to work out by doing Pilate's 3 days a week, on top of TKD 2 times a week, my next biggest 'want' to accomplish is running, yeah running. I have never been a fan of running, but I need to do what i can to tone up.

Merry Christmas!

So the one day of the year that we prepare for way to long, is almost past us again. It seems to be harder every year to get in the Christmas mood. Maybe it is just because I am getting older, but then again this is not one of my favorite days, don't get me wrong. I recognize that it is the Birthday of Jesus, and I honor that....but as far as one day of complete beat down is just beyond me.

I love seeing it through Logan's eyes, the wonderment of Santa, and waiting to see what he is brought, I am not ready for him to be past that point. We had fun baking cookies last night, and watching Santa on NORAD....Thanks Paz for keeping us posted on Facebook as well. He got his Santa gifts, a Wii, harmonica, Sponge Bob Bath stuff, and New Black Karate Uniform. He was pretty excited, he also go some cool gifts from friends, & family.

But now it is after 2:00 almost time for some food, Ray is napping, we have watched Tom & Jerry's Nutcracker Movie, and not back to the Wii...on the upside, I did get several loads of laundry done today, and some other light cleaning...

Vacation Week

So we are on vacation this week. All 3 of us, this is really great. Spending time with Logan & Ray has been fun, sleeping late....until 5:00am....is wonderful. Yeah I am not much of one to sleep in but this has been nice. Ray & Logan both sleep a little later, so I get some good down time in the morning.

We got a scanner, so I have been uploading OLD pictures to Facebook...the only bad thing is...seeing what I use to look like, just makes me want to get there again. I know some of those were 15 yrs ago, and getting down to that size again might not be possible, but I will work my tail off to do it.

I have scanned some of other family members...hee hee hee....just remember love you guys!

Christmas is near, and I am looking forward to it. Logan is going to have a good one. I will tell you all about it after Santa stops by!

Long Weekend!

So the calorie fest that is Thanksgiving is over....and yes I ate dinner 2 times!!!

We had a great day, my parents, and Ray's family was here. Were were going to do a low key meal, but it ended up as Turkey Day Dinner on Steroids! We had Turkey, Ham, Green Beans, Green Bean Casserole, Corn, Corn Casserole, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Pumpkin Pies, Pecan Pies, Peanut Butter Pies, Fudge, and Rolls!!! We all brought/made stuff and it was wonderful.

Everyone headed home by about 5:00, and it was a nice visit. My parents had just gotten back from a 3 week trip to PA, and it was great to see the pictures of family, and hear their stories. Logan informed everyone at the house, he wants to spend Christmas in PA next year, and the he 'was born in Pennsylvania' he is so funny!

So we rested last night, went to bed early, and now we are getting ready to head to Glen Rose to Dinosaur World, gonna spend the day with Ray, Logan, & Holly. It is going to be fun.

Then tomorrow Birthday Dinner with some friends, and Sunday will be catch up to prepare for Monday.

We are less than one month from Christmas and I am so excited for Logan this year.

A slap of life

This week started like any other, except took off early on Monday, needed some mental time ya know.

Well, Tuesday when I took Logan to daycare, I got a some really bad news about one of his little friends. For those of you who have not personally met Logan, you might not know just how he is. He makes friends more quickly most, and he loves his friends, he is very compassionate about his friendship. This little boy is too cute, and he is as drawn to Logan as Logan is to him.

There was a huge Get Well Soon Card and on the front is says - We Love You Sterling!

Sterling is a little 3 yr old boy, he is so full of life, and love. He gives really good hugs, and his smile is infectious.

I asked what happened. I was told Sterling was in ICU at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. Logan was devastated! As was I.

I went through the day with him totally on my mind, and praying so hard, I told people to get the prayer chain started, there is nothing like the power of prayer.

That afternoon when I picked Logan up I gave him the option of going to TKD or to the hospital to see Sterling. He decided to go to the hospital, so off we went. He understood that he might not be able to go into the room and visit. We had no idea what we were facing.

We got to the hospital and mom had left, but gramma was there, I had seen gramma at the daycare several time. The nurse in the waiting room called them and they come out of Sterling's room. When she came in she hugged me and I cried like I had not cried in a long time!

Logan was going to be able to visit Sterling in the room, although he had to visit with a Child life Specialist first, this is like a counselor for the little ones to get an idea of what to expect. I asked gramma exactly what happened, since I had gotten bits and pieces of information.

The kids were playing in the back yard, kids ranging in age from 21 down...Sterling mistaken a can of kerosene from a Tiki Lite as a coke and took a drink. The can was sitting in a bar/storage place, as we all have! He took a drink, choked on it, then inhaled it. He was rushed to Children's, where still today, he is medically sedated, on several machines. He is on the ECMO, if cleans the blood, filters the blood and does all the working of the heart and lungs. He is on a breathing machine, IV's, feeding tubes, and if covered by an inflatable chambered 'blanket' to keep oxygen from being absorbed into his skin so they can monitor how his body is precessing everything.

Logan went in the room, climbed up on a step stool beside the bed and talked to Sterling, he was with him for about 3-4 minutes, then he was ready to go. Ray left out with him, and they went to the waiting room, I visited a little longer then we said our good byes.

I have been praying hard for Sterling, the family, and the medical staff tending to all those angels!

Logan and I will be going back to the hospital on Saturday, he wants to take a book to read to Sterling while we are there. I will be posting updates as I get them. The doctors fell pretty confident about recovery, but at this point do not know the extend of the damage.

LAZY!!!!!

That is what this weekend is going to be....

I have been fighting something all week. Either a head cold, sinus crap, or just exhaustion! We had to miss class on Wednesday night, we worked late, and when it came down to it....I was glad, I felt like crap, and the extra day of rest and going to bed early was so needed!

I can not believe it is November already...Not even in the festive holiday mood yet. The weather is right but just coming up too fast.

Veteran's Day is coming up on Thursday! Make sure you thank a veteran, or a currently serving member of the military. I have been blessed to meet a WONDERFUL new friend on the TRE. Ms. Jackson is the best!!! She is a Vet and such a kind, giving, loving person. She is one of those people who make you want to be a better person. Thank Jackie for what you have done in the past and what you do everyday at the VA!!

Thanksgiving - we will probably just stay home. Just the 3 of us. As for dinner...I don't know. Maybe the new Furrs in Arlington.

I am not even ready to think about Christmas yet....That is a whole 'nother show!

Coupons

I have to admit...I am one of THOSE people when it comes to grocery shopping, eating out, or anything I have a coupon for.

I buy the Entertainment Book each year, $25, and it pays for itself in about 2 uses!!!! Save $5 here, buy one dinner get one dinner free there, free admission to this place, discounts on oil changes at that place. I get the Sunday paper only, sometime the double addition, or I will take the coupons from the one at work too....multiple coupons!

I am NOT a Wal-Mart shopper..... I HATE THE STORE CLOSE TO ME!!!! If necessary and I am somewhere else I might stop, but I do most all my shopping at Kroger, with my plus card, sales and coupons, I feel like I do better and getting what I WANT for a reasonable price. Not like at Wal-Mart, where they only carry certain sizes and certain brands because in the long run it is cheaper for them.

I have shopped at the store and saved up to $7o with coupons and using my Kroger Card. I have a 3 ring binder with the baseball card sleeves in it, and dividers, it works great. Logan makes it fun shopping with the coupons too, he takes them, and goes and finds it. He asks 'which one do we have a coupon for?' Such a frugal little man already!

???????

I was not sure what to title this.

I has been a while since I have blogged, and it is NOT for lack of thoughts, but for lack to time!

I have been so run down, just getting over a pretty bad sinus infection, left work and had a fever, but you gotta love a Z-Pack!! Once you are down with something like that, it is hard to get over it. Or more so get your energy back up.

The whole Texas Ranger thing is just AWESOME!!! Logan is really into the games, and he HATES the New York Yankees, it is funny, on the radio tonight, you could hear them chanting...."Yankees Suck...Yankees Suck", so MY son verbally agrees by saying....'Yeah the Yankees do suck!!'. I of course found more humor in it than Ray did.

Top of the 7th and the Rangers are ahead, 5-1 !!

This is really cool for me, see when I was growing up one summer, my dad had season tickets to the Rangers in the old stadium. I loved that summer more than anything, the time I spent with my dad, was the best! We loved our baseball. My favorites at that time...Pete O'Brien, Buddy Bell, Bucky Dent, Jim Sunberg....I am sure not too many of you remember those names. I almost have goosebumps, knowing (as Eric Nadel put it) the Rangers are 3 innings from the WORLD SERIES, first time in Franchise History!! I have been lucky enough to have kiddo who loves the game as much and I do. I am glad we did get to go to the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, although we lost, it was great to be able to take Logan to that. I called my dad on the way to our seats, to tell Daddy about going to the game, and I got a little teary eyed, I am not sure why...maybe it was because I was glad to be there, or maybe it was because I was so glad to be sharing something with my son that was such a great part of my childhood with my dad! I love you daddy!!!

Bottom of the 7th 5-1!!!!!

The Reason.......

My Reason!

This is my reason for doing what I do! My boy! My little man.

I had this picture, and just wanted to share.

I can not tell anyone how proud of him I am! He made the A/B Honor roll! his lowest grade was an 86 in Reading, but ya know, he is doing really great and I could not be happier.

Relaxing?

How do you relax?

I guess I need so tips from others, I am learning I don't know how to do it.

Work has been insanely crazy, I am one of those that I don't feel like i bring it home, but the exhaustion you cant leave behind, then it flows over into your personal life.

This is going to be a wonderfully beautiful weekend. Maybe I will just go for walk at some point and see if that helps.

Full Time Job

How many full time jobs do you have?



Are you a spouse? An Employee? Parent?



I work an 8-5 job, but with my commute I get on the train at 6:50am and get back to the station between 5-5:20pm. Before work everyday, I have to get myself ready, and get Logan up, dressed, fed, and take him to daycare. Then after work, pick him up, get home, homework, dinner, bath then bed! And a few nights a week we have martial arts, and what ever else may come up. Now dont get me wrong Ray is there to help, but at the same time I take good care of him too! So my day starts at 4:00am, and ends sometime around 9:00ish.

I am sure lots of you who are reading this go through the same thing, and even have more kids that you take care of, and I could not image that!!! One drains me!

Now the job...ok I work at a financial institution, so right now any one who knows the industry knows how stressfull it can be...but I am there everyday as I need to be, and can be contacted 24/7. Even the 2 weeks I was out on jury duty, at breaks and lunches I was emailing and putting out fires. Now I am not trying to say I am super woman...others of you do this as well.

When do you get a day off...well off from work, when the kid is sick..then you are taking care of a sick kid, and probably dealing with work stuff...so not a day off. What about when you have a 'holiday' form work...oh wait, kids are probably off that day too...SOOOOO.....you schedule a day off, but when and how do you do that for convenience of everyone. Then you take the kid to school, and are expected to pick them up ...so there goes your day, you are on a schedule. What about a weekend????

Who gets nights and weekends off from being a parent??? What do you do with that time? That is right you clean your house and take care of things that you always have to put off for NO TIME, well when it is yours to take care of. Logan was away for 6 days over the summer, I was insane missing him...but I guess if they are a dime a dozen. What does it matter.

In my opinion...if YOU are not able to take care of your kids....why not do some thing about it.

Babies are a blessing for many reasons and only God knows why they are here...but sometime I do question in my head the WHY????

He knows what he is doing, I am not doubiting that....but HELL if you have been blessed....pull your head out of your JOHN BROWN HIND PARTS and be a freaking parent.