Exciting times!

So, we took the girls to the groomers this morning in Mattoon and headed up to Tuscola to do a little shopping. I knew I was needing some clothes that fit better and I really thought I would need size 20's. When I started losing, I wore a 24 and most of them, my mom and I had taken in and I have still been pulling them up to, well, WAY past my waistline. Have you ever seen the "People of Walmart" where the lady had her chest covered with her pants? Yeah, I can do that.  Anyway, we hit Dress Barn, one of my favorites and I grabbed 18's and 20's of two different kinds of pants. I was at Kohl's earlier in the week and found a pair of 18's but I honestly thought it was just the size was off on that brand. I also bought a pair of 16's that zipped at Kohl's but they are too tight to wear in public, but they were on the clearance rack for $10 and had been $60 so I couldn't see leaving them....ANYWAY, I put on the first 18's, yep, they fit, They sat on my waist where they are supposed to, and not smacked against my butt, they really fit!!  The other pair of 18's did too. I was really in shock, in fact, those of you who know me know I was fighting back tears. Got a new spring blouse and sweater too, a little too cool to wear them yet but they are so cute!  Next stop was the bra shop, success there too, 2 sizes down and 2 sizes down in hose. What a happy, happy day and honestly, probably the kick in the pants I needed to keep going.

Tonight was bittersweet though, I am taking a HUGE bag of clothes to the mission this week. I love my clothes and it is hard saying goodbye to them but on the same note, I'm NEVER going to wear them again so someone else needs to get some use out of them.

And now, back to the fact that we took the girls to Petsmart this morning. Here's the after, Liz had a bow but it's gone already, she throws a royal fit if she doesn't get one though. I know, my "non-dog" friends don't believe that but she tries to take her mom's out if she doesn't have one herself. You can't see Chrissy's in this picture either but this is the best I could do.

 

 

They love going to the salon, they are spoiled rotten.

We came home and I started getting things ready for dinner tomorrow. Beef and Noodles and an apple pie. Ok, some of you are already saying that can't be on my "diet". Guess what, it is. Everything is on my plan. I have stayed on plan well this week which means I have 35 weekly points left. Apple Pie is 11 for a piece and see that's the thing, the first piece isn't what gets you in trouble, it's the 2nd, and the 3rd and so on and so forth. I will be perfectly happy with the 1 piece, especially if I am wearing my new slacks! And it won't hurt anything that I will do my Leslie Sansone tomorrow morning just like I have done every day this week. See, small reward for a good week and I stay on plan. I won't get to weigh in Monday night because I am going to be in Springfield at the doctor's but I still know I am doing well, especially for still taking 20 mg of prednisone a day.

Oh and look at how great the pie turned out, they never look that good when I need to take it somewhere!

So, it's Saturday evening, Robert is still at work, Andrew is watching Walking Tall, I have had my bath and am ready to hit the hay. It's been a good day and a beautiful start to a long weekend.

Happy Saturday!

It's a Wonderful Life

I still cannot express how much better I am feeling. I realize it more by the things I want to do and can do than anything else. Today is Lincoln's Birthday so I have the day off and it has been great! I made Andrew' chocolate caramels for Valentine's Day, cleaned the laundry room and the family room, made several new recipe cards--which I have been drastically behind on and moved some things around in the family room and living room and the best part? It's not even noon!

I still need to make rolls for the guys to take for men's fellowship tonight, clean out my van, clean up the kitchen and then I get to do fun stuff. I'm going to take some time cleaning up and getting ready to go out with my mom tonight. I think, other than going to a funeral or two, this will be the first time since my uncle Junior died that we are getting to go out. Her and Robert sold the rest of the hogs last Thursday which frees up more of her time. She is still incredibly busy trying to get everything cleaned up at his house but at least she has time to go out with me. I have missed her, a lot. We usually didn't let two months go by that we didn't at least go get some groceries together and I talked to her EVERY morning on the phone, it hasn't been that way since November so I am hoping we are starting to find her a new normal, one that includes some time for us
On the weight front, I didn't post last week because I had a setback from the prednisone, I was up a little over 3 lbs, 30 mg of prednisone can do that to the best of us. I am on 20 as if yesterday and so I am hoping to see even better results. Yesterday I was down 1.2 lbs. My main goal is to just focus on what I want long term and stay on the plan just get through these weeks with the high prednisone levels and be ready to take off like a race car when we are off of it. I am looking so forward to being totally off of it. On top of everything else, that is when the new medicine will kick in, doggone it at all, one of the side effects of it is feeling full quickly--bring it on!

The kitchen project is getting closer to the finish line every day. Andrew put up the moulding around the ceiling yesterday, we have had this ever since I painted but he had never got it up. Today he is staining the floor trim so I am hoping by next week we can call it finished. My Hoosier cabinet is the next project, I can't wait to have it in my kitchen. On top of everything else, most of my stuff that was in the other cabinet are lying on the front room bed, kinda unhanding when you want to bake something. At the same time, this is going to give me more cabinet space than I have ever had. My kitchen is small so that will be great.

We had talked since 2009 that in 2019, we would build on and make me a huge kitchen. I am so in love with what we are doing to this one, I'm not sure that is even still in the plans, I may change my mind but I am thinking a new fan, new countertops and backsplash and a new sink and I may be set for life. On top of everything else, it's not like there is a huge family living here.

I may still want the bigger pantry, laundry room and mudroom Andrew was talking about so we may build on to the garage and not do the big expansion here in the kitchen itself. We will just have to wait and see.

So, that's it in a nutshell, life is good, God is better. He is taking such amazing care of us!

Happy Birthday Lincoln, and Happy Tuesday!

Ahh.....the weekend

We made it through this marathon week and I am so glad it is over!  It hasn't been a bad week, just busy. We got our offices moved last Tuesday night, I am settled in except for hanging my picture and certificates back up. I was so proud of all our guys, they are real troopers and did a good job of being supportive of their wives. We had a really nice time to top it all off.

This week Andrew has been getting the walls in the kitchen finished and tomorrow we are laying the new floor. I have a love/hate relationship with projects. I hate starting them, I hate doing them, I love it when they are finished. I am looking so very forward to my tile floor though that I haven't even started hating the idea of having to do it yet. We have the original hardwood floors throughout our house except in the kitchen and baths. Andrew did vinyl tile in the front bath several years ago *and will probably do natural tile in there over the summer) and we did real tile in our big bath remodel but our kitchen floor has been white linoleum, I hate it, first off because it is linoleum, second because it is white. White floors in kitchens are not much different than carpet in kitchens, real cooks can't deal with them. My new floor is gray and brown. I think it will tie in the black appliances with the red, green, brown and ivory in my kitchen.

Now, on to something that has been on my mind. Prompted by a conversation brought up on facebook, I have to add my 2 cents. The topic: stay-at-home moms vs working-away-from-home moms. This is a bone of contention with me and has been for a long time. I have been both and loved being both and at certain times in my life have been criticized for being either one or the other.

People, get over it! No two people are alike and certainly no two families are alike. What is perfect for you IS NOT necessarily perfect for someone else.

I stayed home from 6 weeks before Robert was born until he was 6. My original intentions were to NOT stay home, however Andrew was transferred to Gettysburg PA just 6 weeks before Robert was born. Andrew and I had discussed before we ever got married that I liked working, I liked being around people and that I would more than likely work even when we had kids. He had different ideas before we got married but he realized my personality and knew I would be better around people than couped up at home. Then we moved and I didn't know anybody and I realized I would not leave my baby with a stranger, thus, I stayed home. I wouldn't have replaced the first couple of years for anything. However, if I had it to do all over again, I would probably have went back to work when Robert was 3. In our family, I think it would have been better for me and him both. He could have handled being with other kids more and I could have handled being with other adults more. I love the bond we have but I seriously believe we would still have it even if we were apart a few hours a day.

I really get upset with people who think their way is the only way. It is not. I love it when I have clients who call me and say, "I stay at home with our three kids, I know I shouldn't but I am not educated enough to have a job that would pay more than I would have to pay a sitter and I like taking care of my kids". I tell them I understand perfectly and I stayed home when my son was little and I totally think it's great if that is what they want to do--and believe me, I understand the not making enough to pay the sitter-- (I have also been known to write their names down on a post it and stick it in my cabinet because someday they will decide they want to go back to work and they are the kind of people I would like to have around.)

There are pros and cons of each side, I hate the lame ones like "my kids eat better because I stay home"-- I didn't lose my cooking skills when I went back to work, I still came home and fixed supper, honestly, I probably did a better job of feeding everyone after I went to work because I had to do a bit more planning before I left of a morning. Life still goes on.

When I went back to work, the guys had to learn to pick up after themselves a bit more, to pitch in and help with the house --Andrew ONCE said, "I did the dishes for you". I said, "nope, you live here too, you did the dishes for US".  Nowadays, whoever is home does the dishes and if you are home at 4:00 and nobody else is, you know it's you fixing supper and the other two will appreciate it when they get home.

Let's face it, in today's economy, there are a lot of moms that have no choice but to work outside the home, it takes two incomes a lot of the time just to make ends meet. I am glad that Robert learned that it is okay for both parents to work outside the home and both parents to take care of the home and family.

So, if you have ever judged somebody for not staying home with their kids, try again, it isn't a sin to not stay home. If you have ever judged somebody for staying home--you need to try again too. On top of everything else, IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!

My two cents for the day.......glad I am through those years and very, very thankful that I had a job where I could pull off things like going on field trips and being a room mom because I enjoyed getting to do them, but just because I did it doesn't mean everyone has to.

Hello Weekend.

Week 2

I am still doing fantastically as far as the UC goes, in fact, I think everything is working a bit "too" well. I think it is just the medicines interacting though and we dropped the prednisone 10 mg yesterday so hopefully everything will even out eventually. I have blood tests next week and then go back to the doctor on the 18th. I have gained a bit of weight because I have let the prednisone hunger get the best of me. Time to tackle that and get back on track! 

Robert started a new internship with NAPA across the road from here. He is really excited and has worked 2 days and loves it. It has always been his second home so it is only fitting that he get to spend even more time (not to mention money) there. His schedule is the craziest it has ever been, bless his heart--welcome to the real world! He goes to school at 8 every day. On Monday's he gets out at 12 and goes back at 6, Tuesdays, he gets out at 1, goes to work at NAPA until 5 and then goes to work at the bowling alley at 9. Wednesdays, he gets out at 12, goes to NAPA until 5 and then goes to AWANA and is the "tech dude" for us, then to work at the bowling alley. Thursday's he gets out at 1 and has class again at 6. Friday's, out at noon, work at the bowling alley at 5, and now every other Saturday he will work at NAPA from 7:30-3 then the bowling alley at 5. Sunday is church and he usually goes in to the bowling alley on Sunday afternoons and cleans. Guess he doesn't have too much time to get into trouble this way--at least I hope :-) and I didn't even mention that he is helping my mom with hogs at my uncles.

Today we are planning on moving offices at work. I am going to my new home in Brenda's old office. That will keep me and my assistant next door to each other, Brenda's office was between ours. Now, one of the other ladies will move into my old office, which ironically was hers to start with. I am hoping no more moves for a long time but I have been there 8 1/2 years and this is my third move so we shall see. I am not looking forward to all the moving but will be glad to be settled in!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

My blog friends

Thought I would do a little "advertising" for my blogger friends. I hate how many blogger friends I have lost since the arrival of facebook but I am happy that there are a few of us that still use our blogs.

I thought I would share a little bit about the people who take up the space to the right.

 

 

 

 

At the top of our list tonight is my next-door neighbor Carie, she and her husband Norman have 4 great kids and she homeschools the youngest two. She is also into doing crafts, especially knitting.

 

Next you see the Blond Ambition, this one is hard for me. This is Ashley and although she is a friend, when she was in 5th and 6th grade, she was one of my AWANA girls. Now she is married, teaching and getting ready to be a first-time mommy. Right now she is tracking the weeks to Baby Jansen and I laugh and cry at a lot of her entries. She is going to be such a great mom and she has a great life. It is fun to get to peak into it.

 

The Stewarts in Africa.....definitely from farthest away but with pretty close ties to Jasper county. This is Tim and Alicia Stewart who left almost a year ago to be missionaries in Africa. Alicia's mom and dad are Ted and Debbie Rhoades, her grandma is June Cook who lives at Rose Hill. Ted and Alice Marrs are her great aunt and uncle. I have literally watched Alicia grow up and watching them take this tremendous journey is amazing.

 

Patty's Journey of Faith. Patty is from Olney, she was my boss when I first started at ERBA and I still count her as one of my very best friends. In February of 2011 she was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer. I will never forget the phone call as long as I live and wish it would have never came.  The blog is her journey, her remarkable journey not only with the cancer but with her own faith in God.

 

The Cadence in My Head--this is Amy's blog. Amy and I went to high school together and more importantly were members of the Newton Marching Eagles together.

 

Then there is Rhonda's Ramblings. I count Rhonda as a friend even though I have never met her. The wonders of facebook. Rhonda went to school with Andrew. One day over a year ago, Andrew tells me that Rhonda is a published Christian fiction author--I love Christian fiction so I started finding all her books and I love them! I am reading Groom By Arrangement right now because I won it (yeah me!) I now have two autographed books from Rhonda. My favorite is still What's in Your Closet but they are all good. I am hoping that by some chance we get to go to Andrew's reunion this fall and I might get to meet Rhonda, as well as a couple of other women that Andrew graduated with that I have become friends with myself.

 

So, if you have a little extra time, click to the right and enjoy my friends!

Remission-no question about it

This has been the most wonderful 3 days that I can remember. I went to work this morning and only went to the bathroom twice all day. I got so much done, I feel so great and the only downer is being afraid it will go away. I have always done that--wait for the other shoe to drop instead of just enjoying what I got.

Tomorrow morning I am going to try to hit the treadmill--that is if I can pull myself out of bed. This bit of waking up, going to the bathroom and getting to go back to bed is a little surreal but really, really nice and I could get really used to just staying in bed until time to get ready for work.

For the past two years I have gotten up at 4:30 because I usually have a good two hours of literally running back and forth to the bathroom before I can even get my day started.

So very, very thankful to God and to Dr. Peterson for making this happen. Still unreal.

Day One--Remission??

Sunday January 20th has to be the most remarkable day in the last 2 1/2 years. First off, Saturday night, I went to sleep a little before 10 because I had a headache and they had given me Tylenol so I thought I would just close my eyes and let it work. Crystal, my tech, woke me up at 2 to take my sugar. I thought, "I probably should go to the bathroom" and the next thing I know, she is waking me up at a quarter til 5, to test my sugar again. I laid there in awe of the fact that I had been in bed ALL NIGHT and that I DIDN'T need to go to the bathroom. I can't explain that feeling, but having a constant need to go to the bathroom for years and then it being gone is wonderful. So, I laid there and about a 10 after 5, I thought I'm up so I ordered a cup of coffee. At 5:30, I decided I probably did need to go to the bathroom. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle in my eyes. I have had diarrhea for over 2 years, every time I go to the bathroom. When I went at 5:30 yesterday morning, it wasn't diarrhea and then, to top it off, I ALWAYS go at least 5 times within the first hour of being up. My bowels have dictated my getting out of bed forever. After I went the one time, I didn't need to go again, at all, until 11:30. So, from 10:00 the night before, to 12 1/2 hours later, I went to the bathroom TWICE. I was so excited, I cried. I really thought it was the Imuran kicking in already and I am still not convinced that it didn't help but Dr. Peterson said it was the steroids more than anything but that yes, that is remission. I had never seen remission. I have now seen one day of it and this morning, Monday, I am in day 2, very clearly. I woke up at 5:30 this morning, after sleeping all night, I went to the bathroom and WENT BACK TO BED!!!!  I got up at 7, I have to tell you, it was hard to do that but I feel so good I want to get some things done.

I can't tell you how happy I am just by the prospects of having this change. My first thought was I will get to be in the Alumni band again, something I have dearly missed. I also thought I can really do a 5K now and I can train for it and we can do this.

I know I have only been "in remission" about 36 hours but when you have had a problem as long as I have, 36 hours feels like an opportunity of a lifetime.

So, I have lots of projects on the horizon, including hoping to get to my office today and finish moving stuff from Brenda's office into mine, I am hoping to take advantage of the quiet to get that done and out of the way. I am still moving to her office but I wanted everything organized in mine before we actually just moved the furniture.

I am still figuring out if I am doing Weight Watchers tonight. The high doses of prednisone is wrecking havoc right at moment and I am doing everything I am supposed to, I probably need to go get back into a meeting, because I missed last week, though, even if I don't weigh.

Happy Monday everyone, happy, happy day.