Where is my license?

I lost my drivers license sometime....who know's when. Today it was brought to my attention when I was at Kohls. This sucks....

Remember Me????

I know it will probably take everyone a long time to even realize I have written a new entry. I actually have a free night (no homeowrk!), so I thought I would post some pictures and news. First and foremost, here are pictures of my very first stamping crafts! They were soooo much fun to make, and I think they came out really cute! I'm sure Gabe's class will love them. I have already started my Christmas gift tags, so now I will just wait for my Stampin Up! stamps to make my cards and other fun stuff. I will be so glad when school is over this semester so I can really spend some time making some cute gifts. What a fun hobby!

And the Winners Are......

Ciara Schmidt and Randy Sloup!

This 80's birthday party turned out to be so much more than I ever expected. I think everyone had a blast swimming and eating and listening to some awesome music. The pictures came out so good, and I have all of those posted in my Shutterfly share site. Check them out! Ciara and Randy made an exceptional effort to dress the part, so of course they had to receive top honors!I have to admit I was sad to see the night come to an end! Thanks to everyone for an amazing and unforgetable birthday! Maybe I will start a pool party tradition??????

Yes!

I won't go into all the sweaty, body crippling details, but I made it 3 times around this morning!!!!! I will not lie-it was the hardest thing I have done since I was in high school and had to run sprints for time before practice. But once I made it over that last hill, I knew I was ok. What an amazing feeling to cross the invisible finish line! I have had this runner's high all day, and I hope I remember the feeling next time I try for the three laps. Now I feel like I am finally a runner!

I Did It!

One challenge down, one to go. Tonight I ran the full 3.2 miles, with a surprising sprint for the final stretch home! I was feeling so good, so light on my feet tonight. I am so proud of myself for finishing this personal goal, but I still have one more ahead of me tomorrow. I am going to try for the third lap at the graveyard, which will actually be 3.6 miles. Jill hooked me up with an awesome early birthday present, so thanks to her and her Amazon gift card, I have some new music on my mp3 player to get me over that last hill. I know I can do this, regardless of how I am feeling in the morning. Wish me luck! This is my last attempt before the big 3-0!

Gabe's favorite song

John (my brother) used to tell me how cute it was when Zach started singing along to songs in the car and how his favorite song to sing was an old Rascal Flatts song. Well, Gabe has his favorite song that he loves to sing. While he really likes to listen to Boom Boom Pow, he likes to sing I've Got a Feeling! It is the sweetest sound you have ever heard! He moves along to the beat the whole song, then when the chorus comes on he really gets into it! I can hear him in the back seat, "tonight's gonna be a good good night." It seriously makes my heart melt! Now I understand what John was talking about.

Team Jacob

I remember the first time I saw the preview for this movie, and I remember thinking how corny a teen vampire movie would be. I didn't even realize at the time that the movie was based on the series of books by Stephanie Meyer. Fast forward a few years and now I am one of those "Twilight moms" they joke about! This is all thanks to Allison. She lent me the first book in the series, Twilight, and immediately I was hooked! I became involved in Bella and Edward's life and couldn't wait to find out more. The second book came and went, and just yesterday I finished Eclipse. AWESOME!!!! This has been my favorite so far. So many shocking developments, and after reading it I am totally team Jacob!!!!!!! I will start the final book, Breaking Dawn, tomorrow and can't wait to see what's in store for Bella, Edward, and Jacob.

Great Day :)

Today is one of those feel good days when everything seems to be falling in place. It has been a while since I have had one of these days! It started last night when I was trying on some old clothes to see if I had lost enough weight to fit into them yet. Well, 1 pair of Old Navy capris I bought before Gabe was born and another pair of Old Navy khakis I wore only once before Gabe actually fit me once again...a little snuggly, but still fit!!!!!!!!!! I felt like I had a brand new wardrobe! For the longest time I have only been wearing two pairs of pants, and one pair of shorts. Now I can actually make some more interesting outfits!

Plus they double as capris or pants. The outfit options are endless now! Anyway, knowing that I could fit into these pants meant that the weight must finally be coming off. So today I am happy to report a weight of 177.4-my 30th birthday goal weight a week early! I am changing that weight goal to 175 for next Saturday. That might be a little ambitious, but I have a feeling I have finally moved past my weight hurdles. We'll see.

As of today, I have officially completed all of my summer school work with final grades of 98 and 99 for my two classes! I now have 24 days to relax until fall semester starts. So exciting! Also, it is payday, so that always makes for a good day. I am going to try and enjoy this good fortune for the day because I know all to well it can change at the drop of a dime. I am just happy I can appreciate these little occurrences that make life so enjoyable. Who knew pants fitting and a 2 pound weight loss could make me feel on top of the world!

Birthday Goals

How cool is this cake? I should have thought of something like this (on a much smaller scale) for the 80's party! I have full faith that CJ will deliver something equally impressive though. I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Anyway, the point of this blog is to list some very specific goals I would like to accomplish both before I turn 30, and during the year in which I am 30. I have been slowly reassessing my life and some of the things I would like to change with it. Now is the perfect time to address some of these things and to set a goal towards accomplishing them in the near future.

Before 30 (10 days)
1. Run 3 times around the graveyard. Those of you familiar with the graveyard can understand. One lap is 1.2 miles, 3 laps is just pure hell. But I have made it 2 1/4 times around already. That last hill is my Everest!
2. Weigh 177. This should not be too hard.
3. Have my final projects submitted and graded. Only one left waiting to be graded.
4. Clean the whole house before company comes next weekend.
5. Run the full 5k distance (3.2 miles) from the house. This involves running to the country club, back to Summerhaven Dr., and then back to my driveway. Almost there.....

While 30
1. Finish my masters degree. This will be close....
2. Run 5k in October in 30-33 minutes
3. Have my surgery!
4. Cut back on diet coke
5. Hopefully find a new job
6. Lose my last 15 pounds
7. Pay off hospital bills

Well, that's a start anyway. I think I can handle these goals, and maybe even accomplish extra goals as they come along. I am excited for this birthday, and I am equally excited to see what this next year may hold. I feel like this is my year to make some big changes before I head down the road to expanding our family. Instead of feeling dread for the big 3-0, I am feeling anxious to tackle the next year and the challenges ahead. (easy to say now, talk to me on 8/8/09!)

Weight update

In case anyone is wondering, here is the latest on my ongoing weight battle. After a week's vacation with my family, I added a few pounds and ended up back at 184. Not good. No problem, though, I was quick to get back on track and today I am at 179 again. Since the end of June (about a month) I have been running pretty much 3-4 times a week and each run is anywhere from 2-3 miles. I am totally loving this!!! I actually enjoy running and everything about me feels so much better. My clothes are fitting so well, and I have so much energy every day. Here is the problem. the scale is not moving!!!!! I have read about a million things saying this happens, and that muscle will weigh more than fat, especially at the beginning. But after a month, I would think things are settling down, and the weight should be falling off of me. I am trying to be patient, but I am getting so frustrated. I know weight is only a number, but I have at least 15 pounds to go still! Maybe my upcoming surgery will help me drop a quick 2 or 3 pounds. Oh yeah, in case you haven't heard....I am finally getting a breast reduction August 25th!!!!!! That will be a whole other blog for sure.

Anyway, so today I am at 179 again, hoping for better results next week. Here is what I don't get: before I got pregnant I weighed 150 and wore a size 12. Now I weigh just about 30 pounds more and wear a size 14. Actually my 14s are getting too big. Now explain that. I am almost back in old size 12s with 30 extra pounds on my body? Where is it?

MOV09F.MOD

Click here to view this video

Backyard Fun!

Today Gary put up our basketball goal (minus the net). Needless to say, Gabe LOVED it! Now we just need to find a basketball. This boy is going to have some skills when he gets bigger!

Helloooooo

It has been forever since I last blogged, but I have not completely forgotten about it. I am working on 2 final projects (including a blog for a class project) and have not had the energy to blog for fun. I have so many things to post, too, so stay tuned. We have some really great videos of Gabe playing baseball in the backyard! I will be free as of Friday....

Hip Hip Hooray!

I did it!!!! FINALLY! Today at the Dr.'s office I weighed.....are you ready?....179!!!!! And that was with full clothes on and after breakfast! I am still considered morbidly obese according to my BMI, but who cares? I am now officially in the 170's. What a relief!

Rachel Getting Married

It's Monday again, and no I did not make my goal weight for the second week in a row. However, I weighed 180.6, so let's just call it close enough. I'm sure by the end of the week I will have made into that wonderful 179 territory. Plus this is still 2 pounds less from my last blog. I need to try and keep it all in perspective or I will make myself crazy! Also, my 14's are getting to be a little big, so I am thrilled to death about that!

On a different note, man I was so disappointed with this movie! I have been anxiously waiting for it to come in the mail, and I finally had the chance to watch it last night. It stared off so good, but almost halfway through I had to turn it off. I was sooooo bored (and secretly wanted to finish reading New Moon!). The story line was excellent, but the execution was so long and involved. I mean, they spent like 20 minutes of the movie centered around loading and unloading the dishwasher! Maybe it was too "deep" for me. I will check online to see how it ends. Still, Anne Hathaway was AMAZING, and I have to give her credit for this role. She is becoming one of my favorite actresses. Check it out for yourselves, and let me know what you think!

Movie Review

As you probably have guessed by now, no I did not reach my goal weight of 179. Check back next Monday.....ughhh

On a different, more pleasant note, I finally got a chance to watch this Netflix movie last night. It was so fun and cute, and surprisingly humorous. It didn't get the best reviews, and I am not quite sure why. I love these two no matter what movie they are in, but their chemistry in this movie, specifically, is undeniable. I think this is one to add to the DVD collection. If you are in the mood for something light-hearted and easy, this movie is the one for you. I also recently purchased Seven Pounds and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, so I suppose I will watch those at some point. I haven't been in the mood for something quite so heavy and dramatic lately, but I am still anxious to see them.

Time to update my Netflix queue.....any suggestions?

Special K

Has anyone tried this new Special K? It is soooo yummy! This might be just what I need to hit my 179 weight by Monday. I could easily eat this for two meals a day. Plus I added extra fresh blueberries on top- so good. You won't be disappointed!

Weight time

Today's weight is 182. Only .8 lost, but I am pleased with that. Saturday we attended a pig pickin, and Sunday was Gary's party with brats, pasta salad, beans, cupcakes, chips and dip, etc. I hate eating like that when I know I need to weigh on Monday. So I am happy with this minor weight loss. It is still my lowest weight since January! I have one more week to hit the 179 mark, so I am going to work my butt off this week! 3 pounds, can I do it?

Weight update

Sorry I have nothing else to blog about right now, but I want to keep these blog weight updates going. Not that anyone cares, but it helps me to record it every week to keep me on track.

Today I weighed 182.8, so that is 1 lb down from last week. I did great all week until Sunday when it was party time. Gary's family has a party every weekend it seems, and Kelly had some of the most dangerous foods at this one: pigs in a blanket, mini cheesecakes, cupcakes, etc. Still, I am pleased with the 1 lb loss- next week should be better. Although, we have a party Sat and Sun, so that could be interesting!

Weigh -in

Current weight 183.8!!!

1.2 lbs lost since last time. So far so good with Weight Watchers.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Here it is!

Yay Gabe!

You can't tell from the picture, but it is hanging proudly on the fridge! Also, check out his face! That is pure spaghetti mouth!

quick weight update

We are back on track, folks. I weighed 185 this morning after a full week of weight watchers (1.6 pounds lost).

I will weigh again next Monday. I am on a mission now to be in the 170's by June 15th. No reason for that particular date-just a Monday about a month away

Potty update

Well, the girls are off the hook for now. I was informed last week that they actually owe two kids a potty certificate, they are just waiting to get new batteries for the camera. They did apologize and explained they had been having the worst week (toilet in the 2 year old room was broken and overflowing, one of the girls had to have her hours cut back, etc.). I agree, everyone has bad days but they should really try to keep it out of the classroom. I guess we are lucky in that we don't have to make excuses for our bad days, and we can act in any way we feel without having to keep up a front for 20 kids. I know it's a hard job, so I really try and give them the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully he will receive his certificate soon, and it will all be water under the bride.

One last note: He used the potty 3 times each day over the weekend (morning, after lunch, and after dinner), had one accident in his Diego underwear, and had one small piece of poop in the potty yesterday! Big weekend. It was nice having two full days to devote to the process, so I am hoping he does as well at school this week. If he keeps up at this pace, maybe we can make a beach trip without diapers this summer!

Potty time

First let me say that Gabe has been doing really well with this whole potty training process. Over the weekend, he used the potty 3 times, and even got to wear his Diego underwear for a little while. He had one accident Sunday, but we moved on and he was able to use the potty again that night. Monday morning at daycare we told them about his progress and how we have been focusing on sitting down vs standing up (at daycare they teach the boys to stand, so I wanted to clear this up with the girls). So they assured me they would have Gabe sit on the potty and see what happens. Now I have to say here that when they go potty for the first time at school, it is a HUGE deal. They get gummy bears, lots of hugs and kisses, and most importantly, a potty certificate. I have been so excited to get this certificate for Gabe, and I was hopeful it would happen this week. Anyway, no potty on Monday. Tuesday when I picked him up, I was just about out the door when I remembered to ask about the potty that day. One of the girls (who I still love no matter what) tells me, "oh yeah, I think he did go today." All unemotional and irritated sounding (I could tell it had been a rough day because both of his teachers looked and sounded terrible). So I walked over to his chart and sure enough there it was...WP:) That means went potty. Immediately I am so excited and happy and hugging and kissing Gabe, and his teachers are just standing there acting like it's no big deal!!!! I'm like, of all the days to be in a bad mood or cranky for whatever reason. Not on Gabe's first official potty day!! Needless to say, there was no certificate, and I walked out of there feeling really bummed out. I can only hope today is a new day, and Gabe receives the proper reward that he deserves. Maybe I need to put Gary on it. They love him there. I know it's only a piece of paper, but I have been really excited to put it up on the fridge!!! Maybe today will be the day. I will put a picture on my next blog if he comes home with his certificate!

weight

Stupid weigh-in

186.6 pounds to start off this week. great

Here we go again

I have hit a road block in my weight loss journey. I have been stuck at 184 for almost 3 weeks now, with a one time reading of 182. Must have been a good day. Anyway, I have done some critical thinking on this issue and have come up with the solution that has proven successful in the past- Weight Watchers. I have done well with my diet and exercise, but I still have some late night binges that are holding me back. I also tend to forget about portion control, the one thing that WW stresses. So I am going to start back with the plan on my own (can't afford to join officially right now), and see if I can get rid of these last 15-20 pounds. I don't have any of the original books/material, but thank God I have my old login that still works for the online version! Thank you computer for remembering this information! Anyway, I am going to get back on track and get rid of this leftover baby weight. I know I have come a long way from the original 194.4 reading a few months ago, not to mention the drop in size from a 16-18 to a 12-14. Still, I need to get into a solid 12 and a weight no more than 170. I can do this, it is just going to take some extra discipline. I will get back to my weekly weigh-ins here, too, which will serve as my "meeting weigh'ins." It's time to get serious!

Thirty Something....

It has finally happened to me-wrong age assumption.

Here is the conversation:

coworker: I don't feel at all like I am nearing 50. I feel closer to the age of you guys. You're in your mid-thirties, right? That's more how I feel today.

me: (shock). No, I haven't hit thirty yet. This is the big year

coworker: Oh! You are still in your 20's? I thought you were somewhere in your mid-thirties.

me: (feeling really bad now). Nope, I turn 30 this year

That is basically the gist of it

At least let me enjoy my last few months in my 20's people!

Go Diego, Go!

It is time to get serious about the potty training. Between our recent pay-cut, increase in health insurance premiums and co-pays, and uncertainty about the next fiscal year, Gary and I are cutting monthly costs left and right. We figured we are paying about $100-$160 in diapers a month between daycare and home. We can drastically reduce this with a little effort and creativity. Unfortunately Gabe's first use of the potty was a fluke, and have not had a similar experience since. I have enlisted two tactics that I think might help to get the ball rolling. There are two things Gabe is crazy about right now. One, Diego and two, Wonder Pets. Last week I bought him some Wonder Pets fruit chews, and I have been good about saving them for special occasions-like a special treat (except for this morning when I had to give him a pouch to get him out the door to school). Yesterday I picked up a pack of Diego "big boy" underwear that I think will help with the process. I have not quite figured out my plan of attack, but I am hoping between the reward process and his new underwear we have a chance for success. It would be so great to have him on the road to potty training by mid summer. The beach trips would be so much easier and more comfortable!! I think I will try with the underwear this afternoon....

Wish us luck!

No Smoking Please!

It's been a while since my last blog, but today I felt compelled to write this one. This is in reference to something that happened Sunday afternoon on our way to Goose Creek State Park. Having experienced this for the second time now, I really wanted to comment on it.

Everyone knows that you should not smoke at the gas station, especially while pumping gas, right???? There is a possibility for something dangerous to happen, and gas stations are aware of this possibility, hence all the warning signs that decorate the islands. So why is it that gas station employees feel the need to totally disregard their warning signs and light up a cigarette right near the pumps? The first time I witnessed this, an employee was lighting a cig and walking with her clipboard to the pumps to take the number readings. Never mind the fact that I just started pumping gas at the same time and had my 2 year old child in the car with me, windows wide open. I fussed at her about it and she looked at me like I was crazy. Uh...hello???? You are smoking this cigarette right below the very sign telling you no smoking allowed! Job well done.

The second time this happened was yesterday, and in this case the employee was walking outside, lighting up for her break as she walks up to Gary and Gabe to tell them to prepay for the gas. So Gary is pumping gas, Gabe is in the backseat again (windows open), and she is smoking right next to Gary and the pumping gas. Then she walks over to the next couple and does the same thing!!! Again, signs are clearly marked all over reading "No Smoking". Another job well done.

I think what makes me the most mad about this is I don't understand why I am the only one who sees something wrong with this picture! Gary is all like, "what's the big deal?" Uh...the safety of you and your child is what's the big deal. It might not be as dangerous as I think it is, but the possibility for something to ignite still exists, and if I can avoid that situation I will. Besides, the signs say "No Smoking." reason enough. It even bothers me when someone talks on their cell phone while pumping across from me. Be cautious people. Maybe it's just me, but my motto has always been "safety first!"

Yummy Dinner

This is so delicious, you have got to try it! I made this for dinner last night and it was so flavorful and filling. I used some leftover ham I had frozen from Easter (brown sugar ham), and the flavor was perfect with the salty cheese and egg mixture. Of course there are probably 100 varieties of this recipe, but try this one first. Once you master the "ring" technique, you could make anything you want. I am thinking about a seafood/pesto variation for my next one. Also, this is very kid friendly and could me made to fit their food preferences (cheeseburger variation, taco filling, etc)

Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

1	tablespoon margarine or butter
1 1/2	cups Green Giant® frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1/4	cup chopped onion
1	package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
6	eggs
1/4	cup milk
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/8	teaspoon pepper
3/4	cup diced cooked ham (4 oz)
1/2	cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
2	cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

DIRECTIONS

	Heat oven to 375°F. Spray large cookie sheet or 14-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt margarine over medium heat. Add broccoli and onion; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.
	In medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs, milk, salt and pepper; beat well. Add egg mixture to vegetable mixture in skillet. Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally from outside edge to center. Cook until eggs are set but still moist. Stir in ham and Cheddar cheese.
	Unroll both cans of dough; separate into 16 triangles. Arrange triangles on sprayed cookie sheet with short sides of triangles toward center, overlapping into wreath shape and leaving 4-inch round opening in center. Lightly press short sides of dough to flatten slightly.
	Spoon egg mixture onto widest part of dough. Pull end points of triangles over filling and tuck under dough to form ring. (Filling will be visible.)
	Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown.

School's out for Summer

Only 6 more days left until the official last day of school for me! I am working on my last written assignment this afternoon, then I am done with one of the most difficult classes I have ever taken. I would almost say it is right up there with Organic Chemistry, just in a different way. It has definitely challenged me to read, learn, and write in ways I never thought possible!

Anyway, I am finally feeling a sense of achievement and completion, and I am starting to see myself in this field of librarianship. There is so much more to it than meets the eye, and I can't wait to see what's in store for me down the road. It's nice to be excited about something professionally for a change.

That is really all I have to write about today. My final term paper has been consuming me for the past two weeks, and after this last paper today, I will be free to write for fun again!

Stay tuned for some new pictures and videos of the family!

Weight update

I felt the need to post this one, quick blog this morning. My current weight is now 184.4!
That is finally 10 pounds less than when I first started recording my weight. 10 down, 20 more to go......that sounds depressing!!

Long time, no blog

It has been a while since my last blog, as I have been both busy and lazy at the same time. I have been meaning to catch everyone up on a few things, but am too tired of being on the computer all day by the end of the night. Anyway, I am going to make an easy to read list of all the events of the past few weeks without all the extra blog jargon. Here goes:

1. At the Dr. yesterday I weighed 184.8!!! Yay! Now I am down 9.6 pounds since my first weight blog
2. I was denied approval for my breast reduction surgery, and now am in the process of an appeal (I went to the Dr. yesterday to get all of the required medical documentation). I have a pretty good chance of getting approved this second time
3. Gabe used the potty for the first time!
4. I am almost done with school this semester! Only thing left is to finish my term paper
5. This Friday (Good Friday) Gabe, Gary and I are headed to the Aurora Fossil museum via the Bayview Ferry- Gabe will love this trip!
6. Monday is the annual Herring Festival in Jamesville- a family tradition
Gabe busted his lip open over the weekend, and it bled like it couldn't bleed anymore!
7. American Idol is so awesome this year- the guys are so amazing. Adam was unbelievable last night! Makes me want to buy that Tears for Fears CD
8. Thanks to my mom for saving her Food Lion receipts for the past 6 weeks, we are having an Easter ham dinner Sunday night. Easter morning we will go to church in Jamesville, followed by the traditional Easter egg hunt. It will be so much fun!
9. We have our first Jasmine bloom of the year!
10. My hostas are shooting through, along with my bleeding hearts-gotta love Spring!
11. Gabe has a haircut appt. tomorrow that I am pretty sure is not going to go well. I keep telling him about it everyday this week to get him ready, and all he has to say is, "Gabeys no like haircut!" Uh oh....

That will be how much????

First, let me start off by saying I am NOT weighing this Friday! We had two birthday parties this weekend which included pizza, hotdogs, and lots and lots of birthday cake, and I am still feeling sick from it today. Not to mention the fact that we ate at Hardees last night, the ONE place I really can't bring myself to eat at. Ironically, it was my idea to eat there last night! They make the best chicken sandwich, and for some reason I was thinking it would be nice to eat something wholesome(?)....what was I thinking???

Anyway, we head there for dinner and I checked out the money situation beforehand. I had $18, so I figured no problem, that will easily cover it. Gary and I got the chicken sandwich combos and Gabe had the chicken tenders kids meal for a whopping $17.48!!!!!! I could not believe this. We could have ate at Down on Main Street for $18!!!!!! And it wasn't even that good....that's the worst part. Then when we were sitting down eating we started to notice all the signs in the windows with the "specials". So we could have gotten the spicy chicken sandwich for $1, a sweet tea for $1, or a 2 piece meal for $2.99! We were totally scammed by just looking at the menu (which really does not even list most of the stuff they serve). We learned our lesson and next time will order off the window deals. I still can't believe I spent $20 on some fast food last night.

Weight

We are going the wrong way people...187 this morning. Can you tell my enthusiasm in this post?

Other picture

hahaha!!!! He was so tired this day...what a face!

Whoa!

This is a totally random blog today, but Analee's recent postings of Kendal's "ugly" pictures made me remember this AWFUL picture of Gabe. It is so bad it makes me laugh every time I see it! That face-yuck! I just thought of one more I will post in another blog....I'm sure there are plenty more, but these two always make me laugh so hard! I must be really bored today!

Sunday Fun

Another trip to the boardwalk to feed the birds! Today we got a real treat. Not only did we feed our usual seagulls, but today the ducks and geese came around! The geese were so close, and I think Gabe was pretty impressed with them. I should have taken more pictures. Plus we saw lots of turtles in the water, so I think they are starting to make an appearance. Gabe will have so much fun seeing them in a few more weeks. We have so much fun down there, and the best part is it's free entertainment, and exercise for that matter!

How Cute is This?

Gabe was so cute singing these songs. Every now and then you can catch him singing, but the minute you make a big deal about it, he stops. I can't believe he let me tape these two songs. He must have been in a performing mood tonight. These were too cute not to share!

Weight

No big news for the day. Weighed 186.8 today, 1 pound higher than last week, but it's all good. I am feeling skinnier than ever today, so that's all that matters. Who knows-maybe the 1 pound gain is from the weight training I have incorporated into my workouts this week? Anyway, I am not going to stress it, and look forward to weighing again next week. Have a great weekend!

There May be a Change in the Future....

Not all of you know what has been going on here lately, but to sum it up, I am in the middle of trying to get approved for a breast reduction. I had my initial consultation today, and things could go either way. In one breath I am the perfect candidate, but on the other hand I am missing some vital medical background info that might sway the decision the other way. While I have had back pain on and off for several years, I have never seen the doctor about this to get formal written documents. Also, I do not have the severe shoulder dents common to women with large breasts (from the bra straps). However, I have other measurements that look good on paper, and of course the horrific pictures speak for themselves. So, now it is up to the wonderful world of insurance to decide if I meet the qualifications to undergo this life altering surgery. The good news is I will find out in 3-4 weeks. The bad news is I really have a bad feeling this will not pass. If the letter says thanks but no thanks, I will simply try again after meeting whatever criteria they throw my way, and hope the 2nd time is a charm. I understand protocol involved, and I will follow whatever rules I need to follow. If things do by some miracle work out....I will be looking good just in time for the summer! ( I will have surgery in May, and be recovered in time for June) How amazing would that be? A bathing suit that actually fits????????? I won't know what to do! Everyone keep their fingers crossed!

Another fun quiz to pass the time....

>1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:23
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> 2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds!
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> 3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? No clue...too expensive
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> 4. What is your favorite TV show? Grey's Anatomy
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> 5. What do you usually have for breakfast? yogurt, oatmeal, breakfast bar, or fruit
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> 6. What is your middle name? Boersma now..really Ann
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> 7.. What food do you dislike? cabbage, collards, and any canned meat!
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> 8. What is your favorite CD at moment? one of my mixed 80's cds
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> 9. What kind of car do you drive? Chevy Equinox
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> 10. Favorite sandwich? BLT from Subway
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> 11. What characteristic do you despise? know-it-all
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> 12. Favorite item of clothing? my new black shoes from Goodwill!
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> 13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation,
> where would you go? Utah to see my family, then Vegas again!
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> 14. Favorite brand of clothing?I will always be a fan of Old Navy
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> 15. Where would you retire to? the mountains
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> 16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Sadly, none of them are very memorable. This next one is the big 3-0, though!
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> 17. Favorite sport to watch? ESPN cheerleading!
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> 18. Furthest place you are sending this? ?

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> 19. Person you expect to send it back first? hum... not sure.
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> 20. When is your birthday? 8/8
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> 21. Are you a morning person or a night person? morning. thanks to Gabe
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> 22. What is your shoe size? 8-1/2
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> 23. Pets? Shebies!
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> 24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with
> us? Maybe tomorrow- I go for my breast reduction consult today
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> 25. What did you want to be when you were little? a marine biologist who was going to save the manatees
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> 26. What are you today? good question...that is why I am back in school
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> 27.. What is your favorite candy? twizzler bites
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> 28. What is your favorite flower?recently I love tulips
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> 29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking
> forward to? March 30th, payday
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> 30.. What's your full name? Emily Boersma Davis
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> 31. What are you listening to right now?the bathroom door opening and closing
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> 32. What was the last thing you ate? blueberry fruit bar
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> 33. Do you wish on stars? no
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> 4. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? metalic gold
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> 35. How is the weather right now? chilly, but sunny
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> 36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? no one yet
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> 37. Favorite soft drink? diet coke
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> 38. Favorite restaurant? Today I would say Moes
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> 39. Real hair color? dark blonde with no highlights....I hate being poor
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> 40. What was your favorite toy as a child? probably Nintendo. John and I could play that for hours. Or this really cool kitchen with this realistic food I got for Christmas one year.
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> 41. Summer or winter? I LOVE WINTER!!!
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> 42. Hugs or kisses - yes
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> 43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate ice cream, but vanilla milkshake!
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> 44. Coffee or tea? Coffee!
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> 45. Do you want your friends to email you back? I'd love it!
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> 46. When was the last time you cried? Like 2 min ago when I read that email from Analee about the mother of the 18 year old. Not a real cry, though. That was Sun. night after watching Australia
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> 47. What is under your bed? One of Gabe's men, and tons of dust and dog hair
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> 48. What did you do last night? watched American Idol and wanted to scream when Alexis went home
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> 49. What are you afraid of? losing someone
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> .
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> 50. Salty or sweet? salty
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> 51. How many keys on your key ring? 6
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> 52. How many years at your current job? 8 this past February
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> 53. Favorite day of the week? Friday
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> 54. How many towns have you lived in? too many

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> 55. Do you make friends easily?no
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> 56. How many people will you send this to? whoever sees it on my blog
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> 57. How many will respond? Hopefully all...

Job or no Job? That is the Question

Bev Purdue is announcing her attempts at handling the state budget today, right? In anticipation of this momentous event, our office is buzzing about all the typical rumors probably circling every office building in America for the past 6 months or so. What or who will be cut? When will we find out? What does this mean for us? etc. It seems everyone has his or her own idea about the fate of our state, but no one is speaking the truth. Yet, anyway. I want someone to sit me down and tell me when my time is up. I know it has to be coming (my project has ended for crying out loud), but the when part is making me sick to my stomach. I thought it was safe to assume we would all be ok through the end of the fiscal year (June30), but now I am not so sure. Some of us are on borrowed time, and I wish we could find out who sooner than later. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AUSTRALIA

This movie was AWESOME!!!! I am so glad we picked this movie yesterday to watch (We almost got Rachel Getting Married, which I also want to see). I was curious if it would live up to the hype (Oprah's hype, anyway), and it totally did! It was mesmerizing, enchanting, mysterious, dreamy, all those good qualities you want in an old-fashioned romance. Those two are amazing together, and you literally couldn't take your eyes of of them for a second. But, have the Kleenex ready! I cried my eyes out for the last 45 minutes of the movie. The kind where you are still crying after the movie is over. And it's not that it's overly sad, just hits you in the emotional gut. I definitely want to add this to our movie collection!

Extreme Makeover, Baby!

Extreme Makeover in Jamesville, NC. Hard to believe, huh? I won't get into the whole spill here, but if you want some background information on the family, house, progress, etc. visit www.edentonbuilders.com. They are the ones in charge and do a great job of showcasing the event. Anyway, Gary was able to volunteer Thursday, and here are some behind the scenes pictures. He had a great time and said he thinks he got some camera time in during the day. We will all be watching for that, along with Kelly, Udee, Mika and Laurie as well. It was a family afair! The show airs Sunday, May 3rd so everyone mark it on your calendars!

Weigh day

No, the scale was not hiding from me today! I am so happy to report a current weight of 185.8!!! That is 2.6 less from that last Friday's weight of 188.4. Finally I feel back on track. I told myself when I hit the 185 mark I would switch up my exercise routine and add some weight training. So, we'll see how that goes. Now that the extra weight is coming off, it's time to start toning up. This is a great way to start the weekend, unlike last week that left me frustrated and disappointed. Maybe I will even splurge on something yummy tonight! After all it is pizza night at our house.....

Down by the River

I have been meaning to post these pictures-just kept forgetting to do it at home. We feed the birds all the time (me, my mom, and Gabe), and I finally remembered to bring my camera this past weekend. Of course the birds were not cooperating this day, and only a few turtles were sticking their heads out of the water. Still, I got a few good shots of Gabe being his typical silly self. He is becoming quite the poser. He really gets into this-it is so cute. Except today he was holding the cereal my mom brougt and eating more than he was feeding the birds. Mybe next time I can catch some more action. We are so lucky to have this awesome boardwalk at our disposal!

Luck of the.....Polish/German?

This is a totally random thought in early observance of St. Patty's Day. While sitting at work this morning, a wave of luck came over me that I hadn't fully understood until today. In fact, I am so lucky right now I can't even believe it! Two reasons:

1. I have received a full tuition scholarship to pursue a Masters Degree of my choice
2. I can sit at work and do my school work so that I don't have to work on it at home

So in summary, I am getting a free Master's level education, and getting paid to complete the required work! People would kill for this opportunity, so I am making a vow to never take this for granted. Work is slow for me right now, so things will change in the summer. But until they do.....I'm in luck!

A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear...sound familiar?

First I must report that I added an extra weigh-in this morning just to see what's what. Great news finally. Another 1.6 lb loss bringing my current weight to 186.8. This is especially great because I made a pact with myself that I could get my much needed pedicure when I hit 187. So yay......I'm there. I will still weigh Friday, so stay tuned.

Now the real reason for this blog: nothing to wear!!! Like most of my new mom friends, my closet is filled with pre-baby size 8's and 10's (yeah right!), maternity clothes (summer and winter), fat clothes (size 16's), and a handful of new items I have bought as the pounds have been coming off. Basically this amounts to a whole lot of nothing. I do have one pair of black pants and one pair of jeans that fit well, but nothing to pair them with on top. This last week really opened my eyes to this when I went to try and get dressed in the 80 degree weather. Plus to make things more complicated, not knowing what might happen with my surgery in the next few months, I hate to buy too many shirts and blouses. I was fortunate to get a 30% off coupon for Kohls this week, so I think I am going to head there this afternoon to see what I can buy for these transitional days. As long as I can get through the spring I will be ok...summer is a whole other story. If I would just lose all of this baby weight I would be in good shape since I have a complete spring and summer wardrobe just waiting and colelcting dust. Maybe one day, but for now I must face the truth and buy clothes to fit my current body-just like Stacy and Clinton always say!

Help!

Well, it's not good news for the day. It all started this morning when I went to weigh after an excellent week of working out and eating well. However, the results show that I lost 0 pounds. Yes, some of you optimists can say at least I didn't gain, and that it is definitely true. But, I worked my a__ off this week, and now I am bitter and disappointed. It's amazing how a simple digital number can shape my mood for the day. I was mean to Gary, and not overly affectionate to Gabe, so now I feel bad about that, too. Had the numbers been any lower and I would feel on top of the world. This is what really gets me, too. What if the scale is wrong and I am in this terrible mood for nothing? I did step back on the scale a second time just to make sure it was going to be the same again, and this time it gave me a number 3 pounds heavier! (of course I stuck with the first number). So my point is, I am an idiot to let this scale dictate my day and life for that matter especially when the results may not be 100% accurate. But that is what we do as women, and what we will always do. I am trying to focus on the fact that my clothes fit better, and I feel thinner, but that is still not enough for me!! I wanted to be able to see a weight loss this week!!!! Anyway, enough about this- there is another reason for this terrible mood I am in.

As you read before, I have been working with a group this month for my class. I absolutely hate working with groups, but I thought this time it will be different as we are all grown women now with the same ultimate goal: to do well in school. Apparently not. After our meeting Sunday, we had assigned each member a topic and assignment to complete. Everything had to be due by Thursday(yesterday), but we agreed to have it done Tuesday. So Tuesday comes and I have mine finished, while no one else does. No big deal. Wednesday comes and goes, still no work. Thursday I figure they will have it turned in, but I got online to check last night after Idol, and a section was still not turned in. I know some people literally wait until the last minute, so I went to bed thinking they would come through at some point. Uh...No!! I get to work, check my school email, and see an email from my professor asking where section 2.3 is?????? He had everything else but that section (another girl in the groups responsibility) and needed it turned in ASAP. I don't know where it is, but I do know this. Everyday it is late we lose 10 points, so now we are already at a ten point loss. Not to mention we have had 6 weeks total to work on this particular assignment. I am totally pissed off about this. Once you reach a certain age, I thought you were immune from this kind of stuff, but I guess not. I will be so glad to go back to the normal individual work for the next two assignments.

On a completely different note, Allison just informed me our health insurance premiums are going to go up 20%, along with co-pays, prescriptions, etc. And the rumor is we are going to be taking a 20% pay cut or get paid for a 32 hour work week vs a 40 hour week. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

And it is Friday-normally the best day of the week!! I hate days like this, but hopefully I will get out of this rut by lunch time. The only silver lining to this day so far is today is the day I volunteer at the elementary school library. My new favorite thing. If those kids can't put a smile on my face by then, I am in serious trouble!