The Ring

Here's a pic of the ring. Of course it's beautiful here BUT much more beautiful in person. ;)

It is black hills gold with a gold & copper leaf design inset on either side of the diamond. Sooo pretty. And I don't know what it is but I have always had an affinity to trees & leaves, & Bobby did not know this at the time he bought it but it's totally perfect!!!

I'm bored today. Bored; you say? Yes. BORED. Sitting here at work, scheduling done- check. Filing done- check. Waiting for phone calls back- check. Bored. CHECK. I brought a few things to read. One I am loving: "Looking and Laughing at Life" by local author Maureen Burns, who is also a motivational speaker. She is so down to earth and hilarious to read! I have also been browsing the "Etsy" website & having fun looking at all the creativity the flourishes from so many people. It helps to inspire me in so many ways.

I ate a turkey/cheese salad for lunch today. It was yummy! Small chunks of turkey, mozarella cheese grated, fresh peas, spinach, leafy greens & lettuce, 3 small cherry tomatoes a little bit of Mrs Dash, & a very little bit of low fat ranch dressing. Oh!! & a sprinkle of sunflower seeds! Yum!

I had a slimfast protein bar for breakfast, then about an hr after I had that I ate a mandarin orange. I so love them! Haven't had enough water to drink today, trying to kick that into gear. But I could so go for a nap right now. Guess I better get up & go for a quick walk to get some blood flowing & hopefully shake off this sleepy slumber that wants to prevade my afternoon. Anyone got an extra pillow? *Laugh*

In light & love

^J^

Finding the balance

Still working on find that balance in the different foods, but I feel much more confident & educated than I ever have. I am so conscious of what I put in my body now & I do realize when I eat that half of an english muffin with peanut butter in the morning I get craving more carbs, but I am definately in a much better frame of mine & place about being able to control those urges.
I have noticed I can feel my hip bones. :) I have also been able to say that yes I do have butt bones *laugh* and sometimes they get pretty uncomfortable. I used to be able to say I was getting "tired butt syndrome" if I had to sit for a length of time, but I have to say that butt bones make it worse.
On another WONDERFULLY EXCITING note; Bobby gave me a promise ring this past Saturday. He & the kids surprised me with a beautiful hanging planter full of flowers for Mothers Day, then he sat down in front of me on the foot stool in the livingroom & said some very beautiful things & took out the box & slipped the ring on my finger. It was perfect. I wanted to cry in happiness but I was sooooo happy & in shock that I couldn't. I definately was not expecting him to say or do what he did & that just makes it all the more special.
Busy day today running errands and finishing up things I want to get done before I start my 7 day rotation tomorrow at the hospital. Taking Bobby his lunch, doing some running, & later tonight is drum circle meditation. I feel so blessed.
Hope this finds you all well & happy in your corners of this world!!
^j^

Quiet Day

Ok so maybe not so quiet with 5 kids in the house, but it did start out that way this morning. Kids slept in on this rainy Saturday morning & I tiptod downstairs at 8am to make Bobby's coffee before he got up for work. I enjoyed the bit of peace for all of 15 min before the first foot falls came trudging down the steps & I heard the words, "Mom can you get me a bowl of cereal?"
He pulled out the box of sugar..aka.."Lucky Charms". Ahh the joy, I wonder how long it takes for it to metabolize and for the house to start jumping?
From there I headed to the basement to the laundry area, HOLY HEAPS!! What 2 days of errands and neglecting the laundry can do!! Plus with Mother Nature's ever weeping ways (rain) the drain is not working properly, so that means a slow go of wash. Ugh. Where's the plumber when you need him?
I wanted to be able to do something fun with the kids this weekend like go out & take a walk in the woods and possibly look for moral mushrooms & get some fresh air & exercise. But wet forest and feet doesn't sound all the appealing. Riding bike around town sounds nice, but I don't yet own one & the kids' bikes, well 2 don't have any & the others need air in the tires. See where this is going? Right. Nowhere~ FAST. Would love to go to Abrams Planetarium in E Lansing, but need to check the schedule, sheesh, I don't even know if they have a website, better go check.
Trying to figure out what'll be on the menu for eats today. Bought stuff for hard & soft tacos, maybe the kids will enjoy that. Something easy & fun. I had a half of an english muffin with low fat peanut butter for breakfast & a 1/3 cup of milk, along with my Optifast multi vitamin. Good way to start the day.
Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Spinach Salad & The Radio Flyer

Had my actual 6 month post bari follow up appt at the weight management center. All went well & it was nice to actually see the figures on paper & make the realization that the fat that I have lost equals 25 five pound bags of sugar. Try pushing that around in the grocery cart for a few spins. Interesting concept huh? I can remember a time when I would walk & I could feel the fat on the top of my back jiggle & thinking to myself "I really need to do something about this". Now I don't have that. I feel the most fit I have ever felt. I still have to take that second glance in the mirror sometimes or in the store window I walk by because I can't believe I am seeing myself. It's funny really. We have 1 mirror at home thats full body & I guess I see myself kind of as my 'old self'. Why? I couldn't tell you. BUT I was antiquing & have found the perfect secod hand/ antique shop here in Alma and I love to visit there every other week. WHY? Well not only because I like second hands & antiques but they have the greatest little spot tucked away in the back of the store. Lining both walls is vintage clothing, purses, bags & shoes BUT the whole wall to the back is a mirror. The first time I walked into that niche I loved it & loved myself. I thought "Wow, I love this mirror, it's one of those fun house mirror thats makes you look smaller and curvier." WELL as I stood there I realized that it in fact was a true mirror & not anything different than what it was & that I was seeing my true self. So when I don't see myself the way I do at home & I get the chance to, I stroll in and browse a bit then go back & see myself & the success I have achieved thus far. I love that moment. That moment of being surrounded by the old, the used, the re-furbished & it makes me feel empowered. Gives me that hope, that breath, that I know I have done this. This IS ME. And I am loving ME.

We have spent more time out in Mother Nature. Kids & I have been walking and enjoying the transition of Spring. The radio flyer has gotten lots of miles on it. It's the old style, metal & old style wheels. Not like the new plastic & big plastic wheels radio flyer. Brings me back to my childhood. We used our radio flyer til it literally rusted out. There came a time when I didn't remember that it was actually red since the brown rust had given it so much character. Back in the day my mom had these old brass like fold out tray tables that had made it outside & we used to take one and fold it out inside the radio flyer & put one of moms old sheer green curtains over it to make it into an old coach wagon. One of us would pull the other pretending of course that we were the best of the best in a horse breed. We used to play "Little House on the Prairie".

Bobby, I & the kids went out for dinner tonite. Ponderosa. Had to bump 2 tables together so we all fit. I love it. I love the kids & I love my life. Had a piece of salisbury steak with gravy, a tablespoonful of mashes potatoes. Steamed green pepper & onions & I splurged & had a piece of banana bread. Before that I ate a small portion of spinach salad with garbonzo beans, pecans, shredded cheese & a little olive oil & manadarin orange slices. I was pretty stuffed feeling when I finished. I didn't eat well today, meaning I didn't plan anything becuase usually I eat several small things thru out the day, but the running I had to do & the Dr appt.

I'm tired tonite. The couch is calling my name. Well actually I am already here typing from the laptop. But it's time for quiet time, that 'end of the day' slow relaxation & mindless entertainment from "Three and a Half Men" ;)

Here's to health and wealth in many more ways then most conventional.

WE are blessed.

138 and counting

Thus far I have successfully lost a total of 138lbs. Yay!! I haven't gotten tired of people saying how great I look or some of the responses I still get from people who have not seen me in awhile!

I am doing well. Adding a bit here & there to my diet, but in moderation & on a more 'health conscious' level then ever before. My labs all look good except that my TSH levels are still off. Which makes me want that afternoon nap. But I think I haven't been sleeping well at night either. Am I doing enough during the day to warrant good sleep in the night? FOR SURE!! And sometimes I stay up late with my bf Bobby til the wee hrs of the morning watching tv. (I'm sure the couch has my name on it after 9p or 10p at night) :) Inevitabley though, if I sit for any length of time, what happens?? I fall alseep, plain & simple. I mean thats jus a given for a mother of now 5 (yes I said 5) kids in the house full time ages from 15 to 3, and working full time outside the home & keeping a huge leash on everything else that goes with blissful domestication!! And of course being a best friend & lover to the greatest bf ever!!

I have incorporated walking more into my schedule. This does happen everyday when I am on my 7 day rotation at the hospital. but it doesn't always take precedence in my home life. Does chasing after my 2 youngest count I wonder?? *Laugh* I have realized that I do need to start excercising to keep up my muscle mass & strength. I would love to join a gym & have a regular membership, but its next to impossible at the moment due to finances and lack of time for myself. Ahh, the joys of motherhood. But I wouldn't trade my brood for the world!! Well maybe a 3 month vacay to Scotland with my bf --Ha!! JUST JOKING!! About the trading part that is.

I have an appt coming up to see the weight management behaviorist & also the dietician, which I am looking so forward to! I need to have that re-connect so I can better organize my dietary needs. Not that I feel I have lost track, its not that, but I haven't felt as focused to seek out the protein I know I need on a daily basis.

I know that I am very thankful for all the blessings that have come into my life and for all the wonderful support I continue to recieve. My cup of GRATITUDE overflows at times. When we can get 'ourselves' out of the way I think we can lead & live a happier, more simplified, less stressful life. When you can wake up in the morning, running late, nothing seems to be going the way it should and you can sit on the ride to work, either while driving or being driven & look out the window & appreciate that beautiful sunrise, or even the darker gray tones on a rain cloud, well....I think there's something to be said about that. If we can take a look through more open and inquisitive eyes, its there for us to see and achieve. You just have to believe.

I hope this finds you all well & blessed!!

In Light & Love

A Taste of 'Before' & A Dash of 'After'

So I haven't shared any photos before this time but here's a taste of my journey. I will post more soon. I promise!!

Life is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Transformations

Haven't been here in awhile. Life gets busy, or rather you get busy living ;) Hope all is well with all of you and that your making things matter in your lives. Remember that a lot of times it's the small things that matter. The small steps make large bounds.

Weight loss is going well for me. I am pleasantly pleased with the successes I have & am experiencing. I ate too much at supper tonight. I am a bit uncomfortable and hope that it passes. I ate a few things that were new too me, or rather my new pouch. Things I hadn't eaten yet, so maybe thats part of the 'full' feeling I have.

I am excited that Spring & Summer are just around the corner. I an anxious to get out & walk & do many more things than winter will allow. I am looking into gym memberships & trying to figure out blocks of time that will enable me to work out. Living with Bobby & having an awesome sand colored lab named Tanner, I know at times when no one wants to walk with me that Tanner will be my walking partner. :) I just hope he will listen too me as well as he does Bobby.

My hair has finally stopped falling out so much. For that I am thankful. I thought for awhile I might go bald!! Everyday I would worry because I was cleaning out way more hair from the comb than normal. Now I have 'fuzzies'. Fuzzies you say? New hair growth thats at all growth stages and looks like baby duck fuzzies. I'm serious. Its pointless to try and blend it in too because inevitably they spring back up the way they want too.

I had to have a mammogram recently. Went to my yearly check up at my ob gyns office & she ordered a mam. because I have fibrostics cysts, but now that I have lost 125lbs they are more noticable. I got a clean bill of health from the breast ultrasound & mammogram. All is well. :)

In light & love~