Awesome Compliment!

So gotta give props to my hubby!  Yesterday he noticed the results of my hard work!  I have dropped a ton of pounds but I look better and I am getting good definition in my arms!  Something I have never really have had!  He noticed and said.....Score!  I have a hot wife!

Ups and Downs.....

So when we last talked.....over a year ago I was not at a good place health wise/weight wise.  Maybe God was giving me a sign that I needed to get my health back on track when I got pregnant.  When I found out I was pregnant I was at my heaviest non-pregnant weight ever....170lbs.  So there I was feeling very down on myself.  I promised myself I wasn't going to get out of control during this pregnancy.  After I lost about 10lbs in the first trimester I gained a total of 19lbs.  At the dr appt the day I went into labor I was at 179lbs.  I knew I would lose a majority of the weight after birth but I needed to lose more.  So after Christmas....sitting at 163lbs I started to do something about it.  I began Jazzercise at the end of January.  I got good at going at least 2-3 times a week but wasn't see much in the way of results. Finally at the beginning of May, sitting at 158lbs, things started changing.  Clay started AdvoCare, if you are interested in learning more let me know!  We both began eating more healthy, along with some other changes.  I am still at Jazzercise but as of today I am down another 4lbs!!  I am finally at pre(all 3 pregnancies) weight!  So here's to more "downs!"

Blog Redo

Ok, so I totally let this blog go a long time ago but shortly after that last post my life got turned upside down so here is the story of my life since then!

Well......baby #3!!  Shortly after Christmas 2009 we got the surprise of our lives...I was pregnant!  Though completely unplanned he is such a joy in our life and I couldn't imagine my life without him. 

It was a huge adjustment for me.  I was so settled into being a mom of 2, I had lots of plans that didn't involve a third baby!  Plus my "current" baby wasn't walking yet and was still nursing twice a day!  Then there was the realization that....I had no idea how far along I was.  I had gotten bad about keeping track of stuff and just knew that it had been quite awhile! Then there was the funny part....I had just a week earlier called my doctor for a change in birth control because I had planned to stop nursing my daughter by the end of January, so when I called to get an appointment they all got a good laugh!  But as I soon realized this was the perfect plan set in place by God.  A few weeks later a good friend and I, our daughters are the same age, were having a playdate and I had decided to share my news with her.  After I blurted out my news she looked at me in disbelief and just sputtered out "So am I!"  We then laughed and figured out we were due within a week of eachother.  The next few months were pretty typical.  The summer was spent hanging out at the pool, working a temporary position at a local home improvment retailer and biggest of all.....finishing the basement.  Oh and in the middle of this....just right at a year ago.....hubby had emergency surgery to remove his gall bladder!  Then on September 3rd our 3rd blessing, a second boy was born.  We have a had great last year or so.  We are so blessed!  We have had our ups and downs but we are blessed.

White Christmas

How often do we wish for a white Christmas? I think every year as a child you wish for a beautiful coat of snow on the ground to go out and play in! Well.......this year we are getting that childhood wish and then some! My area has a blizzard warning for the first time in almost 30 years! I am sitting here, sporting some awesome Santa Footie PJ's ( thanks Dad!) trying to make sense of this strange Christmas Eve.

1.) This year my husband has to work, for the first time with kids. We had both worked Christmas in the past when we didn't have kids but this year is different, we have had to alter our plans to work with his schedule. This schedule includes him having to be at work at 2am, in a blizzard!
2.) Due to this crazy weather we missed Christmas Eve service. I don't remember ever missing Christmas Eve service, ever! We missed due to hubby's long trek home from work and not really wanting to get the kids out in the nasty weather.
3.) No family on Christmas Eve, this is another first! The weather kept mom, her husband and brother in Lawrence.

So I have spent my evening watching movies and reading books with the kids. Once I got the kids in bed I started cooking. Not that I will be pressed for time tomorrow but more so because I have had all this extra time tonight. So as I have finished my "duties" for tonight I pray for all those working in this weather. I am thankful for those who sacrifice time with their families to do the jobs many don't want to do. I will be nervous as my husband heads out in about an hour to work for 12 hours in this weather and I am glad I am tucked safely away, in my house, wearing these crazy Santa footie PJ's!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight!

The Pioneer Woman

So my friend Julie and I decided to check out this book signing thing that involved probably one of our favorite people! The Pioneer Woman. I found her blog months ago through another blog, then became a fan on Facebook where Julie found her and became as obsessed as I am! So we hurried down to the Plaza after Julie got off work. It was a rainy, cold night but our spirits were not dampened. We got to our seats about 6:15pm and our wait began!

Then right on time she appeared! She was gracious as she answered all types of questions from people who were there to see her. Everything from her favorite pan, to what homeschooling curriculum she uses. Then after giving away some prizes, which of course I didn't win any, but that is ok because that is not why I was there, she began signing books. It was done by number, Julie and I were numbers 635 and 636! Yes we were in for a long wait, and wait we did. While we waited we watched her wonderful boys play and have fun just as little boys do.















While we waited we got the chance to have her husband, known as the Marlboro Man, sign our books and take a quick picture. He was friendly and gracious! Then we waited some more............finally they called for our group, around 11:00pm!

She was so friendly and welcoming, even at 11:30 pm! She looked beautiful in her dark purple velvet jacket! Thank you so much for coming to Kansas City and giving this stay at home momma a Girls Night Out that was much needed. The t-shirt was a great bonus!

Preschool and Beyond

So another big period of time has passed, I think about writing a lot but get distracted and honestly forget. We have had a lot going on around here that has kept us very busy! Tristan started preschool in August. It is only 2 days a week for 2 and half hours but he is loving it! It is good for mommy too. He is learning a lot and it has been good for his social skills. I love back to school time because it means the kids are in school all day! Makes doing things around town much easier! I then realize that we plan on homeschooling so back to school will have a different meaning to it in a few years. It won't be wrapped around buying new clothes and huge amounts of supplies, it will be a bit more simple. We will be more focused on setting up our school area, buying supplies to keep at home and what wonderful fieldtrips we will be able to take because the kids will be at home. I know this will be a challenge but at this point in our lives we cannot afford private school and we are just not sure we want to send our kids to public school. I have nothing against public school and actually feel the school where our kids would go at this point is really good and all I hear is good things but there is something public schools cannot provide, the spiritual guidance that is so important for our children. So I will taken on this challenge as long as it works for all parties involved.

So I took a break....

Obviously I haven't posted in a long time. I have been so busy that this has been put on the back burner. I am currently still trying to finish up my Medical Transcription course, it has been a test for me, I don't particulary enjoy the work but it is what will work for now.

There could be lots of changes in store for our family in the coming months. Things that will test our family but in the end should be beneficial for us all. I pray that we are making the right decisions but all we can do is pray that God is leading down the path he intends for us.

So good things, making my life easier right now. I signed up for E-mealz, yes this is something you have to pay for but so far it has been very much worth the $5 a month. It is also a Dave Ramsey supported website. At its simplest it gives me the meal ideas I could never come up with on my own. Also, last weekend I got to go to a diaper swap. This a swap sponsored by a local store Happybottomus. I got some great deals like a BRAND NEW LOOKING Goodmamma for $12, these normally retail for $35! A friend of mine went with me who is due with her first baby girl in November. She had previously asked me about cloth diapering and let me tell you she is jumping in head first! I was so excited that she was grabbing stuff right and left. She walked out of the store with a great variety of diapers to try. My other purchase was a roll of diaper liners. I had been wanting to purchase these for a long time but just never had. These have been awesome! Georgia got a diaper rash and previously I would have to use disposables because of the diaper rash cream I have is not cloth diaper friendly. Since I now have the liners I have been able to continue to use the cloth even though I am using diaper rash cream. The other added bonus, much easier to clean the poopy diapers.

Well, hopefully I can check in more often!