Holy Cow! Has it been almost 5 months??

Wow...see what happens when you aren't keeping up with things? Your blog runs almost 5 months behind. Geez...

Well, school has started and I'm really busy now with discipline issues every day. Most of the kiddos just need to know that someone really cares for them and that no matter what decision they make, someone is there to help them.

I finished my classes over the summer and did well. The speech class ended up being a riot and by the end of the semester, we all felt really comfortable with making a speech. My next thing is to re-take the GRE. Seems that the GRE was re-written and they won't take my 20 year old test. (Probably lost it or something). No biggie...I can do it and I'll just have to forge ahead.

Hockey season has started...again. This year hasn't gone as I expected it too. A is really lucky. His team pretty much stays together every year, so I know the same parents. We've gotten pretty friendly with each other and the boys get along really good. The coach is awesome and I actually find myself not caring if they win or lose...just that they leave the rink with a smile. This group of boys is really awesome together. No one blames anyone else for a loss...they just try to figure out what happened and give it another shot. Very neat.

As for E, that's another story. Every other year, his team splits due to birth years and this is one of them. Last year, his team went undefeated and won the Divisional Championships. This year, I figured that we would have a fair team but that some of the chemistry might be lacking. Well, was I in for a surprise! We had a lot of players come out this year and actually had enough to make a Varsity and JV squad. We just figured that E would be with his friends and we would wait until next year to bring the team back together. Wrong! E made Varsity...which means that he is not playing with any of his friends...and everyone is treating us like the ugly stepsister.

I'm really happy for him but I can tell it's really working on him. He's had to suffer silent treatment from his friends and even some of their parents have said some pretty rotten things to him. And the new parents...well, so far, no one has welcomed us with open arms. *sigh* It's gonna be a long year....hopefully my 12 year old continues to have fun with his team and my 15 year old figures out that there are people out there who aren't happy unless someone else is not.

As for my weight...I'm at 168 and holding. Eating on the road all the time hasn't been good for me. I'm going to start going to the Y in the a.m again...I think E is going with me which should motivate me some.

I'll try to keep up with this blog a little better now...it's going to be hard with A playing on one side of the State and E on the other. Wish me luck...and my kiddos the strength to have fun at their beloved sport this year.

It's been awhile...not much has changed

Ok, I have neglected this place way too long...and it shows. Goodness! I am stuck in a funk at the moment. Remember those classes I'm taking, well, I dropped the math one (too much too soon) but am doing alright in the Speech class. Had my first exam and have done 2 speeches already. I'm a lot older than anyone else in my class but it actually works out in my favor (older and wiser kind of favor).

I haven't dropped through the 170 baseline yet though. Honestly, I haven't been to the Y in a looong time but I have been exercising at home. I bought a "Biggest Loser" DVD and started working with it in the a.m. It kicks butt...geez. I am firmer all over though and that is just as important as the weight loss.

My family and I went camping this past week and I did really well. I drank a lot of water (ick...still) and we walked every night together. We took our dogs and they loved walking around the park and playing in the water along the beach. The boys had a great time also...they came back tanned and rested.

My sis-in-law and I have met a lot this summer. I enjoy being with her and my niece and nephew. A loves to play with his cousins and is Liberty's favorite person to climb the tube thing at McDonald's. They're leaving for an Alaskan Cruise this weekend. I can't wait to see the pictures!!

I painted the kitchen last week and it looks great. Our bathroom is next. Not sure if it is some kind of mental thing...or being an ex-Army wife but I gotta have color on the walls. Our bedroom is barn red with all my hunky's western things displayed around the room. We even have a barroom nude displayed, along with several branding irons, hats, holsters, etc. Looks kind of neat. The kitchen was yellow...and now it's some kind of dusty blue. I found the coolest shower curtains that had the exact color in them and used them for the curtains. They look awesome. The bathroom will evolve from pea green (not my idea) to a dark tan color with bronze and red accents.

I'm feeling pretty good about what I've accomplished so far...with my house, weight, toning...and the time spent with my kiddos and hunky. We're having a very low key summer and I'm feeling recharged for school to start (although it doesn't have to hurry!!).

Take a moment for yourself. Even if it's in a bubble bath with the door barricaded. Read a book, visit the library, walk through a mall and window shop...just do something for yourself. You'll feel better and it'll show.

It's still the same...

Well, just weighed myself...and it's still the same. 170 pounds. It depresses me some but I do know that I lost inches this week. I can tell that when I try on my clothes. Things are a little looser...especially across the chest area. I must of stood in line twice when God was handing out the chest hormones. Geez... Wanna know a secret? My real goal for this weight loss thing is to have breast reduction surgery next summer. But to do so, I have to loose the extra weight and umm...firm up in certain places. I've got it medically okayed and found out that insurance will cover most of the cost.

It's not like I don't like being full-chested, it's more that I hurt. My back, my neck, and I get migraines. It'll just be healthier for me in the long run...especially now that I am getting older (and saggier). I have to have my back and neck adjusted at least once a week now or I cannot sleep because they hurt. I had an MRI done back in December (because of a car wreck) but the doctor noted that I had a lot of degenerative problems in my neck and upper back area and made the comment that it was "thought to be connected with my chest size". Whatever...it's uncomfortable.

I've been pretty good on the diet thing...messed up one day and had a soda (ok..two) but I didn't freak out about it...just made better choices the next day. I'm up to 4-5 glasses of water a day...and I'll admit to feeling better because I drink them. Not as bloated as usual. I did drop my math class at college...it just didn't "do it" for me. I can pick it up again later though. I did my first speech and was more nervous than I thought I would be. My second speech is a demonstration speech and I have to actually do something. Gonna have to think about that one...was thinking about taking E with me and having him dress up in hockey gear and I explained the safety features of it and some of the rules of hockey. Not sure though....would that be interesting enough? I know the girls would like it. Hunky told me to put A in a hockey bag and then pull him out and dress him. We all laughed about that but A said he wasn't gonna get into any stinky hockey bag. Told him "now you know how Mom's car gets to smelling like it does". Both E and A just grinned. Go figure....

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes

Well, today was weigh-in day for me (since I skipped Monday). I have officially lost 10 pounds now. Yeah, I did recheck that scale...it wasn't broke after all. I just think hunky doesn't like what it says on it. He doesn't know it but he's officially losing weight along with me. Just wait until dinner is served tonight...he'll wonder why there is so much "rabbit food" on his plate. hehehe

I'm kind of nervous today. I start classes on Monday. I'm having to go back to college to get my certification to teach. New federal law...and I got caught because I didn't have my teaching certificate. Now I have to go back to school. I'm not getting any reimbursement from the school district but they are "pretending" to not notice my uncertified status (even though they are the ones that said the job was an uncertified job). Anyway, I'm going to take a "Teaching Elementary Math" class and a speech class. I have to go twice a week from 5:00-10:00 with an hours drive each way. Kind of a bummer...but I know I have to do it. Hope I'm not the oldest in the classroom. Hope that I'm not older than the professor!! hehehe

Went to the Y again today...I'm pretty proud of myself with my effort at exercising. The boys went with me but played basketball instead of working with weights. E had his second p.t. meeting this a.m. and it went well. I'm just hoping he gets alright before hockey season.

Hunky got home this a.m. about 1 a.m. Then went to work anyway. He'll be really tired tonight I bet. He's a good guy...we've been married almost 19 years now and on December 27, 2007...we're getting married again. We already have the church reserved. It's fun being married to him and we get along really well. I'm very blessed in my family. I know they'll love me fat or skinny.

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes....

A Dieting We'll Go, A Dieting We'll go..hihothe derry O...

I did something today that made me feel pretty good about myself. I went and visited a dietician at the hospital to get a weight loss plan. I had to got to my doctor yesterday to find out the results of my cancer screening (everything ok...wooohooo!). I decided to ask her to refer me to a dietician. Doc really wanted me to go to the local Weight Watchers meeting but 1) I'm not comfortable doing that; and 2) ours has turned into a social gathering of senior citizens who meet and go out to eat at the local mexican restaurant. Umm...that's how I gained this weight in the first place.

The meeting was great with the dietician. She understood that I don't like water and let me have some power over that. I really enjoyed talking with her and even shared that I was doing this blog thing to keep myself 'honest'. She thought it was a great idea and is going to recommend it to others.

I haven't been to the Y this week. Spent the weekend trying to get my house clean and spent one night with my parents (hunky went out of town, so the boys and I go to their house for some extra time with them). I did see my nephew and niece this weekend also (my brother and sis-in-law too ;-) It's neat to watch my niece playing with my boys because they are so much older than her but she gets right in there and they really enjoy that. It's kind of bittersweet to watch them playing with her and remember the times when they were that small but I know that they are happy and well-adjusted, so I have to give them room to grow into their own 'adultness' (is that a word?).

I do have some bad news though. E can't go to the Y with me anymore. Back in September, he hurt his knee during hockey practice and we finally got him into rehab therapy for it. The therapist doesn't want him doing any type of lifting or overusing the knee for awhile. She's got him going to the hospital 3 times a week now to work with her. Good thing we have great insurance. Remind me to give hunky a huge hug when he gets home.

I feel committed to this whole thing. I did lose another pound but I know that I could have lost more if I would have worked a little harder. My Sis-in-Law (Bethany) has been losing weight also. She and I have emailed each other some this past week. We're going to try and do some weight loss stuff together. That'll be fun...and it'll be nice to have someone to keep me honest ;-)

I gotta run now...I need to go choke down a thing of water and plan out what I'm going to buy at the grocery store. Believe it or not...I'm actually excited about going to the grocery store because I am in control now. That is until I have to scamper off to find a restroom.*sigh*

My life as a HOCKEY mom...

I actually went to the Y today...by myself! Huge, huge thing for me. I did the treadmill for 20 minutes, the bike for 10 minutes and then did a lot of weight lifting (yes...I added weight this time). It felt good...I think I'm getting the hang of it. It was really empty when I got there, so I just hopped onto the treadmill and went for it...I even jogged *gasp*. Yep, that was me, jogging away and feeling good about it...until this bony, stick thin woman showed up and started using the eliptical trainer like it was attacking her. I know her from several social encounters and the fact that her hubby owns one of the local car dealerships. She has a beautiful face and hair to die for...but she looks sick. Not sick in the "flu" sense but as in the "starving to be pretty and accepted sense". Does she really think that she is healthy? It's sad...

She reminds me of the HOCKEY moms that I see a lot. I capitalize the word "hockey" for a reason. These women have no other reason to exist but to look beautiful, skinny, drive outrageous cars and be arm candy for their sugar daddies. They popped out the required child, popped them into a private, boarding school and then started popping dietary pills to help them loose that godawful child birthing fat. They are so worried that their sugar daddies will leave them for someone younger and prettier that they make themselves ugly to the core. Snobbery is alive and well in the world of youth hockey. E came home one time from a practice and mentioned that one of his teammate's mom had called him a "hick". Now I know we live in a tiny town but come on...a hick? I asked E what he had said to her. He just grinned that smile of his and told her that she had better be careful what she said...or he'd date her daughter. I just sat and laughed.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm proud of my appearance but I don't spend hours getting ready and making sure my lipstick matches my outfit. First off, I chew on my lips when I'm nervous, so lipstick isn't gonna stay put. Second off, I do good to remember that my lipstick needs to match my outfit. I just don't put a lot of stock into my looks getting me by in life. I would rather be known as the hockey mom who remembered to wish all the boys a good game, as the one who gave them a hug after a hard loss, and as the one that E and A have as a mom.

Am I trying to lose weight...youbetcha! Why...because I want to be healthy and here for my family. Not to impress anyone...except myself! Sounds like a plan...

Water, water everywhere...ick

Remember how I told you how much I hate drinking water..weeeeelll, I found this cool website that can calculate how much water you need to drink everyday to keep yourself hydrated and fit. They've got this cool little hydration calculator and you plug in your weight, excerise routine and it pops out how much water you need. Now I had always heard 8-8 ounce glasses of water (which is 64 ounces in a day) is enough....ummm...not according to this (sadistic) calculator. I typed in my weight (I put down 180 since I'm not so sure on that 8 pounds that were lost due to a broken scale) and that I exercise 60 minutes and medium level. That blankety-blank thing popped up that I needed 108 ounces!!!!! Hello...I do good to choke down one glass. *sigh* If you would like to become totally depressed about your water consumption just visit this site: http://www.bottledwater.org/public/hydratio_main.htm

Of course it is sponsored by the bottled water association, so they are going to push their product. Anyway, by this time tomorrow I will be a) in the bathroom, b) wearing diapers to contain myself, or...c) drowning.

Here's to you!

Me...in 1880s period dress while at an event in Iowa last year.

Weird things with food...

The one thing good about dieting is that you get to do weird things with food. When I say weird, I mean like having a soda capful of tuna salad, a smidgeon of cheese and a thimble full of strawberries. That's eating healthy...isn't it? I've been very careful about how much I eat this week...pretty proud of myself. It's been over a week since I had a soda...now that's a milestone. I can tell some difference in my body (could be my imagination also).

I didn't go to the Y this morning...seem to be slacking off on that already. BUT I did go for a great walk with E and A to the public library and post office. Not sure how far that is...hmm...I think it was probably only 1/2 mile but the weather is great and I did get out and about. I did pop into our local quilt shop which also houses the JCPenney catalog place and a cute little ice cream parlor. They had the catalog for free (which is a deal!). I got home with it and circled all the clothes that I wanted to buy when I got skinny again. I tore some of them out and put them on the refrigerator...that made me really feel good. I feel pretty committed by now...I just need to remember to stay focused and remember that I am in control of myself.

I'm going to "town" next week. Hunky has to go out of town for business and the boys and I are going to stop by my college so I can pick up my books for the classes I enrolled in this summer. Then I'll pop into the fabric store to see what they have in stock. I love to sew. Hunky and I belong to a re-enactment group that concentrates on the 1880s western timeframe. We have 20 people that we do things with and last year, we purchased a chuckwagon and hire out for meals and skits. It's a lot of fun but hard work. I make a lot of the costumes everyone wears and all of the shirts for the guys. Lots of fun...lots of work...lots of great friends.

I enrolled in two classes this summer. A speech class and a math class for elementary teachers. Have to have both of them to continue towards my certification. Most people get really nervous speaking in public but I'm fine with it. After years of speaking to Army families about their benefits and working with children; I have no problems. The math on the other hand....hmm...I hate math. Always have, always will. Had to take algebra I twice in high school to understand it. Didn't need too but knew I would need to understand it before I went to college, so I convinced my high school to let me give up a study hall to sit in math class again. Sure glad I did that. Did I tell you about how supportive my kids and hunky have been with me going back to school? They have been wonderful. I go from 5:30-10:00 and it's an hour drive both ways...so essentially I'm gone almost 7 hours twice a week. The boys even brag on me about going back to college. E helps me with my homework (the kid is a genius) and A loves to come a snuggle next to me as I read my textbook. I have a great family...so very lucky.

I'm feeling nostalgic right now. Not sure if it is the weather...or lack of food ;0)