And that is the good news!! What I DO have is "persistent upper respiratory and sinus infection with a secondary infection in the ethmoid sinus." I got a shot of Decadron (OUCH! OK not really, the nurse was pretty good at giving the shot) and a prescription for an antibiotic. The bad news : he forbade me from working out until I've had 3 doses of antibiotic in me. And he told me it would not be wise for me to return to work until I've had 3 full days of antibiotics in me, which unfortunately takes me completely out of work this week. That sucks, because I actually enjoy my job! I felt like such a heel taking my Dr's note up to work today....but I know it's for the best....as my Dr said "not so much because you could GIVE something to someone, as you could RECEIVE something nasty because your immune system is so down." Makes sense to me....and I definitely do NOT want to pick up something evil!
As to the diet : I've followed it so far today, and as is the purpose of this blog it's my confession time : I followed the diet for breakfast, lunch, and snack (so far), but I was trapped by temptation : I wanted some chips. So I made a compromise with myself -- Lays Fat Free half calorie potato chips (yeah, the ones made with OLESTRA)...and I only ate a serving, so hopefully there will be no "revenge" if you know what I mean.
I made a good choice in grapefruits today.
Monday, April 30, 2007
A Mixed Bag.
First : we're ALL sick. The kids are on their 3rd round of antibiotics : Amoxicillin, Omnicef, and now Augmentin. Michael and I have sore throats, coughs, and feel just miserable. I'm going to the Dr this morning.
Second : I started my diet this morning. So far, so good. I've got a meal in my belly and along with 8 pills, water, and now I'm actually full. The workouts are going well. The goal : Lose 35 pounds, drop 3 sizes, and work out every day. I don't think anyone, including myself, realizes just how serious I am about this diet. I've never had to actually WORK on my weight loss before. I never had "that" problem. I never understood people who did. For me, it was always just don't eat for a few days and you'd drop the extra few pounds. No big deal. Right.....but when it came right down to it, I saw myself in the mirror and I did not like what I saw. And I realized it was time to get serious. So, here I am..getting serious. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Third : Kiddo Pics! Enjoy!
Fourth :
Michael's New Thing :
Second : I started my diet this morning. So far, so good. I've got a meal in my belly and along with 8 pills, water, and now I'm actually full. The workouts are going well. The goal : Lose 35 pounds, drop 3 sizes, and work out every day. I don't think anyone, including myself, realizes just how serious I am about this diet. I've never had to actually WORK on my weight loss before. I never had "that" problem. I never understood people who did. For me, it was always just don't eat for a few days and you'd drop the extra few pounds. No big deal. Right.....but when it came right down to it, I saw myself in the mirror and I did not like what I saw. And I realized it was time to get serious. So, here I am..getting serious. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Third : Kiddo Pics! Enjoy!
Fourth :Michael's New Thing :
Friday, April 27, 2007
Just For Me....
I've made a groundbreaking decision....I'm going to do something just for ME (but in a roundabout way it's for everyone)....I ordered NutriSystem. That's right : you're looking at the newest member of the NutriSystem fan club. I start Monday, to give myself a full month to really get into the swing of it, then we'll see if I continue it or not. In addition, I've started a new workout program called "podfitness." I joined for a monthly fee, and personalized workouts are made for me, to my iPod workout mixes (personalized and customized each time!!) by professional and celebrity trainers! I did my first one last night, and.....it KICKED MY BUTT. Honestly, I was exhausted afterwards but exhilarated too because of the way it made me feel. So I'll post weekly updates every Friday or Saturday : how much weight I've lost, how many workouts I've done, etc. I can't wait!! And that way, if I have an audience of accountability I'll be more likely to stick to it....right? That's right!!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Give Thanks....
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good
His love endures forever.
A couple of things :
1. My friend from High School and his wife (Greg & Kristin) are one step closer to bringing home their Guatemalan angel! That's good news!
2. My friend from High School (Rory) lost his father this past weekend. And that, my friends, sucks.
3. Most of my friends from High School are either married, have been married, have children, or are pregnant.
4. My friend from High School and his wife (Travis & Kathy) are expecting their third child!
5. My friend from High School and her husband (Brianne & Nate) just moved back to the Continental (or as we like to call it down here "Real" ;) ) US....from Alaska...and they're both in the Military.....they've got two little ones roughly the same age as mine--sort of
I could go on, but you get the point, right?
So here's the deal.....my 10 year reunion is around the corner, and I've just started to realize how on track my life finally is. Is that sad? I mean, gee whiz it only took me 10 years! I'm finally in my career path, and since I have to be away from my children I'm thankful that I can make a difference every day in the lives of the people I care for.
About # 2 for a minute : when I was in High School, everyone was "close," that's just the nature of the beast when you're one of 26 in your class. But our class really was special. I think everyone in there are lifelong friends, because we just knew each other so well. Know what I mean? Even those of us who didn't know each other as long as we knew others....OK I'm rambling. I found out from Katherine that Rory's father passed away very unexpectedly and my heart broke. I do not think God meant for us to lose our parents when we're so young. But the awesome thing here is, I can remember being at Rory's house (one time in particular was our Sophomore summer) and we had a huge party out there. His parents were so kind to us, and his dad even cooked! And we swam, played volleyball, etc. It was awesome. And his dad was so kind, I remember thinking "so THIS is what a Dad is like." {Not that I didn't have my grandfather, but sometimes I wondered what a Dad was like...}
In reading what folks had to say about him, I realize just what a far-reaching hand he truly had. He lived a life worth living, a life worth celebrating, and I can only hope that my life touches people the way his did. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with their family and I would ask you to do the same.
*******************
A life worth living. Seems like such a difficult thing to aspire to, but really how hard can it be? Living each day as though it's your last, and trying to make a difference in the world....after all, isn't that what Jesus told us to do?
I can only hope I'm living a life worth living, and a life that will be celebrated long after I'm gone.
His love endures forever.
A couple of things :
1. My friend from High School and his wife (Greg & Kristin) are one step closer to bringing home their Guatemalan angel! That's good news!
2. My friend from High School (Rory) lost his father this past weekend. And that, my friends, sucks.
3. Most of my friends from High School are either married, have been married, have children, or are pregnant.
4. My friend from High School and his wife (Travis & Kathy) are expecting their third child!
5. My friend from High School and her husband (Brianne & Nate) just moved back to the Continental (or as we like to call it down here "Real" ;) ) US....from Alaska...and they're both in the Military.....they've got two little ones roughly the same age as mine--sort of
I could go on, but you get the point, right?
So here's the deal.....my 10 year reunion is around the corner, and I've just started to realize how on track my life finally is. Is that sad? I mean, gee whiz it only took me 10 years! I'm finally in my career path, and since I have to be away from my children I'm thankful that I can make a difference every day in the lives of the people I care for.
About # 2 for a minute : when I was in High School, everyone was "close," that's just the nature of the beast when you're one of 26 in your class. But our class really was special. I think everyone in there are lifelong friends, because we just knew each other so well. Know what I mean? Even those of us who didn't know each other as long as we knew others....OK I'm rambling. I found out from Katherine that Rory's father passed away very unexpectedly and my heart broke. I do not think God meant for us to lose our parents when we're so young. But the awesome thing here is, I can remember being at Rory's house (one time in particular was our Sophomore summer) and we had a huge party out there. His parents were so kind to us, and his dad even cooked! And we swam, played volleyball, etc. It was awesome. And his dad was so kind, I remember thinking "so THIS is what a Dad is like." {Not that I didn't have my grandfather, but sometimes I wondered what a Dad was like...}
In reading what folks had to say about him, I realize just what a far-reaching hand he truly had. He lived a life worth living, a life worth celebrating, and I can only hope that my life touches people the way his did. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with their family and I would ask you to do the same.
*******************
A life worth living. Seems like such a difficult thing to aspire to, but really how hard can it be? Living each day as though it's your last, and trying to make a difference in the world....after all, isn't that what Jesus told us to do?
I can only hope I'm living a life worth living, and a life that will be celebrated long after I'm gone.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
90 Minutes In Heaven
Have you read this book? If the answer is "no, I haven't." Then I suggest you run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and purchase it. Don't ask why, just do it.
In a word : Amazing. I'll blog more about it later.
In a word : Amazing. I'll blog more about it later.
The kids LOVE their NYC souvenirs!
This is one of the souvenir t-shirts the kids got....from M&M's world and she was loving to spin around and around and around...
Daniel loves his "new big baby jaguar" named Friedrich, from FAO Schwartz in NYC
Is there anything better than Jaguar (leopard) hugs??
This is Zoe's giant FAO Schwartz bear....he's the 2007 bear and I thought he was adorable!Tuesday, April 10, 2007
New York State of Mind Part 2 (read the one below too!)
The Online Album (PLEASE COMMENT ON THE PICTURES...but only if you want to!!)
New York State of Mind...
New York City, NY…all I can say is : WOW. What a freaking COOL ASS City!! From the moment we flew over the densely populated area I knew we were in for it…this is a mega-fast paced environment, where I thought me and my turtle-like self would be swallowed whole and spit back out. It was one of those environments where I honestly thought that the actuality would not live up to the hype…man was I WRONG! The HYPE doesn’t live up to the REALITY! That city kicks every other city’s sorry little city butt…it’s just COOL. We stayed in Midtown Manhattan and we walked all over the place! If I lived there, I’d be in freaking amazing shape! I’ll be doing an online photo album so be sure to check it out!!
The City : it has a smell all its own – like a weird mix of diesel fuel, hot dogs, urine, exhaust, perfumes, flowers, and just about anything else you can imagine. The smell changes slightly, based on where you are (for instance, in Central Park near the Zoo you smell exotic animals), but the undertones are basically the same all over the place. And you’ll never smell that place anywhere else in the world.
The People : They are NOT rude!! They’re fast, they’re in a hurry, and they don’t have time for stupid people…and I like that! But the “foreigners” are the rude ones! They’re the ones who slam doors in your face, who speak about you in their own languages, and who cannot seem to grasp the concept of walking single file on super crowded sidewalks! I was only caught in the crossfire of an angry New Yorker once – when my arm got yanked in the revolving door of Saks, I believe. Seems like the people up there believe you have to shove those things as hard and fast as you possibly can, and he who hesitates is lost…or at least gets her arm crushed! And for my trouble, all I got was a dirty look! That’s OK, though…I learned my lesson.
The Price of Things : Well, surprisingly it’s not THAT expensive. Drug stores are roughly the same, maybe a dollar more, and eating out doesn’t seem to cost THAT much more! And you have what I like to call “variety” up there to choose from to eat…you have Ray’s Pizza, Molyvos Greek restaurant, The Benash Deli, The Carnegie Deli, The Stage Deli, etc. All within a block of each other…and that’s not all! Carnegie Deli is freaking expensive, I won’t lie…but it’s a TON of food, and if you live there it’s like 4 meals in one! I recommend you have their chicken soup with golden noodles…it’s just the right thing on a cold day in the City! But the expensive things??? LIQUOR…I couldn’t afford to live in NYC and drink there!! Even the liquor stores were more expensive (not MUCH more, but still more!) than down here.
Don’t know much about the cost of living, but the hotels are pricey…we looked into a trip again, and the best deal was a hotel pretty far downtown, which I now realize isn’t such a good thing because you’ve either got to brave the Subway (which I did NOT get to do darn it) or hail a taxi (and pray) to get to where the action is.
People in NYC like to use their horns. A lot. And they drive like maniacs. Taxi drivers don’t look before they change lanes, they just honk and go. I would NEVER, EVER, EVER drive in NYC. Never. Bus drivers aren’t much better. And since I didn’t get to experience the Subways on this trip, I’ll tell you about those next time. It cracks me up that in the more residential areas there are signs posted on corners saying “No Honking. $350 fine” but it’s not enforced. And I’m assuming those signs are missing from Times Square because who could enforce that?!
My favorite times in the City :
1. Our 17 mile (or longer!) trek through Central Park. Down the Literary Walk, past the old Dairy, the Zoo, and up to Strawberry Fields. We saw what I’ll affectionately call “The Godspell Fountain” because, as Michael pointed out, that’s where the movie version of “Godspell” was filmed. That was an amazing time! I even bought a goofy tourist hat from a street vendor because my ears were burning from the cold! You’ll see a picture with our other constant companion in NYC, affectionately called “Fatty.” Fatty and I had a nice stroll down Literary Walk…
2. “Spring Awakening.” We saw this amazing show on Sunday night…….and if that show doesn’t win the Tony for Best Musical, well, then the Tony voters must be drunk! It was shocking, intelligent, heart wrenching, and CONSISTENT. The actors were young, “unknowns,” and supremely talented. Choreography, music, script, acting, all of it was phenomenal. In a word : WOW.
3. WTC Tribute museum. A measly little $10 donation gets you access to the most gut-grabbing, emotional, and intense experience one could ever have. Words could not do this experience justice, but I’ll try….
Ground Zero : I cannot really begin to even describe the emotions I felt when I saw the site. It’s fenced all around and the fencing is covered with tarping. There are huge ground moving machines everywhere, and people go by to and from work but most of them steal a glance at the huge empty space filled with bulldozers, road graters, and the like. People mill about on the walkway, looking. Other people, like us, are on the opposite corner staring up in awe at the enormous empty space where the twin towers once stood. Never having been to NYC to experience the towers as they were, the experience was a shocking one. You see them in so many movies, they’re a constant in every picture of the skyline, they’re always in EVERY movie filmed in NYC…to see the city without them is to see an incomplete NYC. We walk across the street and down a little way to the Tribute Museum. It was unreal. As I stared at images of the planes, of the buildings on fire, of people fleeing, and of the displays at the end with photos and mementos of those who perished on 9/11 (and in the 2003 attacks), I was struck by an intense feeling of hatred. Hatred for people who could so blindly…hate. As I hated, I realized that if I allow them to make me feel hatred for them, then I’m no better than they are. And I AM better. I’m an American, and I’m proud to be an American. I think if we were all a little bit more proud of this country, and if we ALL spent a little less time trying to fix other countries, then fewer countries would hate us blindly. Staring at the names of those who perished, you see Muslim names, Egyptian names, Irish names, Indian names, Italian names, Latin names…and more…you see names from nearly every continent on the earth, and you have to realize that Americans are EVERYONE. We are not one “race” of peoples…we are not a singular culture. We are a mishmash, a great “melting pot,” if you will. And the sooner everyone realizes that, the better off we’ll all be.
My heart goes out to ALL who lost loved ones, hope, and selves on 9/11. My heart goes out to ALL who continually lose on a daily basis because of 9/11. I ache for the children who lost their parents. I grieve for the spouses who lost their soul mates. I weep for the parents who will never see their children on this earth again.
And as I stood there, hating and crying…I found myself uttering a silent prayer. I prayed “Dear God give comfort to them.” I just couldn’t think of anything else to say, so I said it over and over and over. Thankfully, there were about a million boxes of Kleenex all around so I didn’t have to wipe my nose and eyes on my sleeve!
I took no pictures of Ground Zero, or of the museum. It felt obscene to me, somehow. 3,000+ people lost their lives there on 9/11, and I personally felt that if I took pictures it would somehow cheapen their deaths, and detract from the meaning that their lives had. So you’ll have to just be OK with my words.
The memorial they’re building at Ground Zero is amazing. An area full of trees with a huge memorial/museum in the center, and two large voids (the size and places of the two towers) with inverted waterfalls cascading to the middle. I am looking forward to going back to see that.
I found myself missing the City already. It has a certain draw to it, one you cannot help but listen to…and I’ve already started looking at going back! I’m gonna be a part of it…New York, NEW YORK!!
New York under a picture of the skyline & Lady Liberty.
The City : it has a smell all its own – like a weird mix of diesel fuel, hot dogs, urine, exhaust, perfumes, flowers, and just about anything else you can imagine. The smell changes slightly, based on where you are (for instance, in Central Park near the Zoo you smell exotic animals), but the undertones are basically the same all over the place. And you’ll never smell that place anywhere else in the world.
The People : They are NOT rude!! They’re fast, they’re in a hurry, and they don’t have time for stupid people…and I like that! But the “foreigners” are the rude ones! They’re the ones who slam doors in your face, who speak about you in their own languages, and who cannot seem to grasp the concept of walking single file on super crowded sidewalks! I was only caught in the crossfire of an angry New Yorker once – when my arm got yanked in the revolving door of Saks, I believe. Seems like the people up there believe you have to shove those things as hard and fast as you possibly can, and he who hesitates is lost…or at least gets her arm crushed! And for my trouble, all I got was a dirty look! That’s OK, though…I learned my lesson.
The Price of Things : Well, surprisingly it’s not THAT expensive. Drug stores are roughly the same, maybe a dollar more, and eating out doesn’t seem to cost THAT much more! And you have what I like to call “variety” up there to choose from to eat…you have Ray’s Pizza, Molyvos Greek restaurant, The Benash Deli, The Carnegie Deli, The Stage Deli, etc. All within a block of each other…and that’s not all! Carnegie Deli is freaking expensive, I won’t lie…but it’s a TON of food, and if you live there it’s like 4 meals in one! I recommend you have their chicken soup with golden noodles…it’s just the right thing on a cold day in the City! But the expensive things??? LIQUOR…I couldn’t afford to live in NYC and drink there!! Even the liquor stores were more expensive (not MUCH more, but still more!) than down here.
Don’t know much about the cost of living, but the hotels are pricey…we looked into a trip again, and the best deal was a hotel pretty far downtown, which I now realize isn’t such a good thing because you’ve either got to brave the Subway (which I did NOT get to do darn it) or hail a taxi (and pray) to get to where the action is.
People in NYC like to use their horns. A lot. And they drive like maniacs. Taxi drivers don’t look before they change lanes, they just honk and go. I would NEVER, EVER, EVER drive in NYC. Never. Bus drivers aren’t much better. And since I didn’t get to experience the Subways on this trip, I’ll tell you about those next time. It cracks me up that in the more residential areas there are signs posted on corners saying “No Honking. $350 fine” but it’s not enforced. And I’m assuming those signs are missing from Times Square because who could enforce that?!
My favorite times in the City :
1. Our 17 mile (or longer!) trek through Central Park. Down the Literary Walk, past the old Dairy, the Zoo, and up to Strawberry Fields. We saw what I’ll affectionately call “The Godspell Fountain” because, as Michael pointed out, that’s where the movie version of “Godspell” was filmed. That was an amazing time! I even bought a goofy tourist hat from a street vendor because my ears were burning from the cold! You’ll see a picture with our other constant companion in NYC, affectionately called “Fatty.” Fatty and I had a nice stroll down Literary Walk…
2. “Spring Awakening.” We saw this amazing show on Sunday night…….and if that show doesn’t win the Tony for Best Musical, well, then the Tony voters must be drunk! It was shocking, intelligent, heart wrenching, and CONSISTENT. The actors were young, “unknowns,” and supremely talented. Choreography, music, script, acting, all of it was phenomenal. In a word : WOW.
3. WTC Tribute museum. A measly little $10 donation gets you access to the most gut-grabbing, emotional, and intense experience one could ever have. Words could not do this experience justice, but I’ll try….
Ground Zero : I cannot really begin to even describe the emotions I felt when I saw the site. It’s fenced all around and the fencing is covered with tarping. There are huge ground moving machines everywhere, and people go by to and from work but most of them steal a glance at the huge empty space filled with bulldozers, road graters, and the like. People mill about on the walkway, looking. Other people, like us, are on the opposite corner staring up in awe at the enormous empty space where the twin towers once stood. Never having been to NYC to experience the towers as they were, the experience was a shocking one. You see them in so many movies, they’re a constant in every picture of the skyline, they’re always in EVERY movie filmed in NYC…to see the city without them is to see an incomplete NYC. We walk across the street and down a little way to the Tribute Museum. It was unreal. As I stared at images of the planes, of the buildings on fire, of people fleeing, and of the displays at the end with photos and mementos of those who perished on 9/11 (and in the 2003 attacks), I was struck by an intense feeling of hatred. Hatred for people who could so blindly…hate. As I hated, I realized that if I allow them to make me feel hatred for them, then I’m no better than they are. And I AM better. I’m an American, and I’m proud to be an American. I think if we were all a little bit more proud of this country, and if we ALL spent a little less time trying to fix other countries, then fewer countries would hate us blindly. Staring at the names of those who perished, you see Muslim names, Egyptian names, Irish names, Indian names, Italian names, Latin names…and more…you see names from nearly every continent on the earth, and you have to realize that Americans are EVERYONE. We are not one “race” of peoples…we are not a singular culture. We are a mishmash, a great “melting pot,” if you will. And the sooner everyone realizes that, the better off we’ll all be.
My heart goes out to ALL who lost loved ones, hope, and selves on 9/11. My heart goes out to ALL who continually lose on a daily basis because of 9/11. I ache for the children who lost their parents. I grieve for the spouses who lost their soul mates. I weep for the parents who will never see their children on this earth again.
And as I stood there, hating and crying…I found myself uttering a silent prayer. I prayed “Dear God give comfort to them.” I just couldn’t think of anything else to say, so I said it over and over and over. Thankfully, there were about a million boxes of Kleenex all around so I didn’t have to wipe my nose and eyes on my sleeve!
I took no pictures of Ground Zero, or of the museum. It felt obscene to me, somehow. 3,000+ people lost their lives there on 9/11, and I personally felt that if I took pictures it would somehow cheapen their deaths, and detract from the meaning that their lives had. So you’ll have to just be OK with my words.
The memorial they’re building at Ground Zero is amazing. An area full of trees with a huge memorial/museum in the center, and two large voids (the size and places of the two towers) with inverted waterfalls cascading to the middle. I am looking forward to going back to see that.
I found myself missing the City already. It has a certain draw to it, one you cannot help but listen to…and I’ve already started looking at going back! I’m gonna be a part of it…New York, NEW YORK!!
Our first (of many!) taxi rides in the city! Headed uptown...
Friday, April 6, 2007
The Journey of a Thousand Butterfingers Begins With One Bite....
Hmmm....tasty 
OOH!! That's GOOD!! :)
Chocolate.....making.....me......CRAAAAZZZZZYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
So, what? Are you gonna clean me up, or what?
Stop taking my picture and grab a washcloth, Mommy!!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
I'm gonna be a part of it....
NEW YORK, NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah that's right....gonna be there with bells on for this long weekend....
so long texas......
.................and hellooooo NYC! :)
so long texas......
.................and hellooooo NYC! :)
Sunday, April 1, 2007
"We have a good day, Mama"
Those are my favorite words to hear at the end of a day, because it means that I know Daniel had an enjoyable day...one where he felt loved, cared for, and had fun. I haven't heard that a lot lately...but he just said it to me, and that made me smile. Yes, we did have a good day my son...and tomorrow will be a good one, too. I promise.
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