A Day in Our Life. . .

The power of TV

2009-06-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

It amazes me what a boy Michael is! He runs, he yells, he shoots, he makes motorcycle and big truck noises, he picks his nose, he gets into kung fu fighting positions, he pees in the yard. . . I think a lot of it must come from TV. . . I should have done this from the beginning, but I have finally put a huge restriction on what he watches. The kids favorite show used to be SpongeBob Squarepants!!! Now I will admit there is some funny shit on that show, but most of it is soo disgusting! Before the restriction we were watching it while we ate breakfast and SpongeBob got some kind of fungus disease. . . It was soooo disgusting I couldn't eat my breakfast!!!

Now Michael loves watching Super Why and Syd the Science kid on PBS. I work weekday mornings so I don't get to watch them with him, but one episode of Syd the Science Kid that I did see, was all about simple machines. This episode was about levers and it looked like there were more episodes to cover the rest of the simple machines. I was so excited to see that episode! I tutor 6th and 7th graders in science and math and my 7th graders had just finished the section about simple machines. I wonder if they would watch Syd the Science Kid, because they sure seemed like they didn't get it. lol

Now he runs around yelling "Super Why to the rescue!" and "Me Super Michael with the power to help!" His favorite book right now is Let's be Helpful . I am trying to really capitalize on his helpful attitude. He loves vacuuming. ( I really should take advantage of this love a little more)

I suppose I have some more restrictions to enforce, afterall my 3 year olds favorite movie is Mall Cop. . . just today he was walking around saying "mall cop don't drink"
hmmm . . .
On second thought maybe that has some good lessons in there. LOL

Michael is 3!!!

2009-06-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

For Michaels birthday this year we took him jet-skiing. He absolutely loves going jet-skiing! He thinks he is the one driving and he loves going on the "bump bumps"

All day long Michael would get really excited, jump up and down and exclaim "its bithdie pah-tee day!" Finally it was time for cake and candles.

We all started singing. . . and before we could finish. . . He blew the candles out! Grandpa re-lit them so that we could finish singing and tell him about birthday wishes.

He couldn't wait to dig in!

Here he is with Grandpa, showing us how old he is now.

Yesterday Michael and I were talking about how old he is again. I had him show me on his fingers. . . he held up 3 fingers and looked at them and said "one, two, tee. . . me almost 4!"

Man's (Michael's) Best Friend

2009-06-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

The other day I got the camera out to take a pic of something, Michael saw it, and got all excited saying "take my picture Mom" So I followed him outside and this is the pose he took. . .

Then Buddy came along and picture time was over,

and they were off to continue their play in the backyard.

The following pics are from the day before. . . Michael kept bringing me popsicles wanting me to open them for him. So I did, the kid plays outside soo much and I can't get him to drink enough water. . . so I am glad that he will eat popsicles. I was busy doing something, then I hear the silverware drawer open and someone looking for a spoon or something. I go out on the patio to find Michael with a half gallon of ice cream. He took a bite. . .

then gave Buddy a bite.

Luckily the camera was right there, so I took a few shots then quickly took the spoon and the ice cream away.

Michael cried, but Buddy liked it cuz she got the rest of the container of ice cream.

I want Pancakes!

2009-06-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning Michael and I made pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Then
I went and took my shower and was putting my makeup on when I heard some clanking in the kitchen.

I went into the kitchen to find. . .

Michael washing his hands at the sink with hand sanitizer. and. . .

A trail of pancake mix from the cupboard with the mixing bowls. . .

. . . to the stovetop where he had poured the mix in with water and into the frying pan to cook the pancakes.

Notice the splat of margarine on the floor.

I almost lost it. . . then realized this was a great "kodak moment"

(It took me more than half an hour to clean all this up.)

Michael Loves Kai

2009-06-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

Cindy won't let me keep Kai, so I am thinking of adopting a toddler! Michael absolutely adores Kai and loved being the "big brother" while Kai was here! Michael tried to teach him everything he knows and when he wanted Kai's attention he would say in a sweet voice "Elmer Kai come here." and when it didn't work the first time he would say in a stern loud voice "Elmer Kai! Come here!"

The first thing Michael had to teach Kai was how to drive!

Kai didn't quite get what Michael was trying to teach, so Cindy took over.

Kai liked the real thing much better than just driving on Mario Kart!

The next lesson was mowing the lawn. (Michael, corporal punishment was done away with years ago)

Kai was a natural at lawnmowing!

Uh oh! Is it out of gas?

After all the work was done it was time for Grandpas banana pancakes!

MMMM MMMM MMMMMMMMM banana pancakes!

Red Light Green Light

2009-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Michael is an extremely active 2 year old boy! He loves to run around the backyard with Buddy, Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Sara, or Grandpa! A couple months ago I taught him about traffic lights. . .
He took what he learned about traffic lights and turned it into a game. We had never played Red Light Green Light with him, but one day when he and I were running around in circles on the trampoline he stops dead in his tracks puts both hands out to stop me and yells out "Red light!" Then when he wanted us to go again he put his hands down and yelled out "Green Light!" He does the same thing when I take him out to ride his bike.

What a cute smart kid!

Through a Window

2009-06-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

Through a window she saw the world

People came and people went
To each one her love she sent
Many things she couldn't do
Like pick her nose or tie her shoe
The things she could, she did the best
The lives she touched she truly blessed
As children, she taught us how to knit,
reading, writing, arithmetic
As we got older, and times were rough
Her life lessons she shared with us
She always lent a listening ear
and in our hearts we hold her dear
She suffered pain and poor health
She lived for others and Not herself
There are no words to express our gratitude
Instead we will live our lives with her good attitude
Through a window she saw the world
Through a window she changed our world

In honor of our aunt, Linda, Cindy and I wrote that poem. Linda's funeral was held today in Springville, Utah. We were unable to go, but we wanted to do something to show Aunt Linda that we care, and to express how grateful we are for all that she is. We love you Aunt Linda and we are so happy for you, that you are now doing cartwheels in heaven!

Backseat Driver!

2009-03-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

Lately Michael has been doing this thing where he sticks his hand out and yells "stop" whenever I am not listening to him, or getting after him about something. So, the other day, Michael and I are going to the store and I am singing along with the radio. He sticks his hand out and yells "Stop Mommy stop!" I quit singing. Again he sticks his hand out and yells "Stop Mommy stop!" "Too fast!" I then realize he wants me to stop the car. So I explain some traffic rules to him. ie stop at a red light go on a green light.

Now, whenever we come to a red light he tells me to stop. If the light is green he yells "go." I am trying to teach him how lights work when making turns. Because whenever I go to make a right turn at a red light he freaks out yelling "Stop Mommy, red light!"

Work Work Work

2009-03-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

I think in my last posts I was looking for work. Well, as you may have guessed from my lack of posts, I found work. I am now working at an adult family home 2 24 hour shifts a week and tutoring at a middle school another 24 hours a week. So, I think that has been a good excuse for abandoning my blog.

Just recently I found that there is a wifi connection somewhere near my work, so in the evening when all the patients have gone to bed, I have been able to get online which has been awesome catching up with everyone on Facebook! Anyhow, since I realized this, I will start posting some stories about Michael again. As long as this person keeps their wifi unsecured.

Wishful Wednesday

2009-03-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

I am getting back to blogging, I guess. To kick it off I will do a Wishful Wednesday then if I feel like it I will do a lil update, but most importantly I will be posting some more stories about Michael.

1. I have all the energy I need, to do anything I choose!

2. I have all the money I need, to do anything I choose! : )

3. I have all the time I need, to do anything I choose!

A day late

2008-11-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Birthday Cindy! I did sing to you on your voicemail yesterday, but I wanted to post a Happy Birthday post to you. Cindy turned 24 yesterday, I can't believe how old we are all getting. When we were kids all of my friends thought that she was a grown up trapped in a kids body. Now we think she is a kid trapped in a grown ups body. LOL

I love you Cindy and I hope you had a wonderful Birthday!

When it rains it pours!

2008-11-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

As many of you know Todd lost his decent paying job and so I am now desperately looking for work. I finally got an interview on Friday, but on Thursday (last week) I bent over to pick up a toy and threw my back out. I had to scream for Todd to come help me. He basically had to carry me to bed. I went to the interview on Friday, on some pretty heavy medication, needless to say I did not hear back.
I have been in the most excruciating pain I have ever had. This is worse than broken tailbones, surgeries or even childbirth. It hurts to lay down it hurts to sit, hurts to stand and hurts to walk. It was finally letting up last Monday, then I reached for a diet coke, and again had to scream for Todd to help straighten me up and get me into bed.
So I have been trying to nurse my back back into working order, and trying to find work. Freaking out about how I am going to find work let alone work with my back this way, and how is my back going to get better if I can't see a doctor because I don't have money to pay for that let alone any of our other bills!

Anyone wanna buy a boat?

Apple Heaven

2008-10-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Don't these look scrumpsious?!

Todd made the best apple pie!

Jamie dried some apples in her fancy food dehydrator.

I dried 3 times as many apples in Russ's homemade food dehydrator.

Then I made some yummy Apple Jelly. Here's how:

First wash the apples

Then cut them in quarters

Juice them (Russ has a juicer so I just used his, if you don't have a juicer then put the quarters in a large pot, add ten cups water and cook them. Once cooked strain the juice through cheesecloth. I used Sure Jell pectin so I needed 7 cups of juice)
I put the apple quarters in the juicer, filled it halfway then sprinkled on some apple pie spice filled it the rest of the way and sprinkled on some more spices. I thought this would give an extra yummy to the jelly.

I didn't take pictures of the next step because I had to do it quickly and according to the directions "exact."
I sent Todd to the store for the pectin and asked him to get the no sugar one, needless to say he got the one that you have to use sugar. But hey, he found the pectin. So whatever type of pectin you get just follow the directions exactly as they say.

Here is the finished product.

Note* If you don't have a generous uncle with an apple orchard I think it would be more cost effective to make the jelly out of apple juice you buy at the store.

A is for Apple

2008-10-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Last year Michael and Todd went with Grandma and Grandpa out to Karls apple orchard to pick apples. He grows the most delicious gala and fuji apples I have ever had! I thought that would be fun for us to do again this year so we got permission from Karl, who so kindly let us come and pick some apples. Thanks Karl

We tried to teach them to twist then pull to preserve the twigg for next years crop.

They weren't really interested in picking apples, but they loved running up and down the row of trees!

Look at all the apples we got! On the way home we thought of all the things we would make with them.

Cousins

2008-10-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Michael absolutely loves having his cousin Genesee here with us! They have had so much fun together. Here are some pictures of the fun things they have been up to.

Michael and Genesee somehow got Grandpa to jump on the tramp with them, or as Michael would say "Grandpa fump."

Every year the neighbors sell discount pumpkins in their driveway. So we walked over and bought some pumpkins to carve. Michael loves their dog Bandit.

They love playing together in the backyard. Todd rigged up a wagon to the back of Michaels truck so that he could pull her instead of run over her.

This is my favorite, laying on my bed, watching a movie, settling down for the night.

Thankful Thursday. . . a little early

2008-10-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

I am having a really rough day so I am making a thankful list a couple days early in hopes that I will feel better about life.

1. I am thankful for our health
2. I am thankful for vacuum cleaners
3. I am thankful for comfortable clothes
4. I am thankful for DVD players and DVDs like Finding Nemo
5. I am thankful for indoor plumbing

Wow that took me 20 minutes to come up with that list!

Economic Crisis. . . Who is at fault?

2008-10-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

Wow am I ticked off right now! I just finished watching the VP debate and then started thinking about the "economic crisis." The GREED of the wealthy is so aggravating!

As lower middle class Americans, my husband and I have struggled with our credit for as long as we have been married. Due to periods of unemployment we were unable to pay some medical bills and cell phone bills, which then went to collections. Thus accruing more fines and debt and delinquencies reporting to our credit reports. I must also add that money mismanagement in early adulthood also aided in lowering our credit scores to below 600.

We have experienced first hand how having poor credit leaves you prey to predatory lenders. When you have poor credit the only auto loans you can get are at extremely high interest rates. The only credit cards you can get have large fees and high interest rates attached to them. Now days many employers look at your credit reports before hiring you.

When trying to fix your credit score the only advice you can find is pay your bills on time and pay off your collections. How does one do this if they can't find a job because they have poor credit?

Like most Americans it has been our dream to have our own home. To pay a mortgage on a property that would be ours rather than pay rent to a wealthy landlord. Two years ago we looked for a mortgage through Countrywide. We received one offer from a bank with incredibly ridiculous terms, high interest, and balloon payments. Thank God that my husband talked with his boss about this and she advised against this. We were thinking of going through with it because we really wanted a house of our own, a yard for our son to play in, and a garden to grow vegetables.

In the debate tonight the question was asked in regards to the economic crisis "Who do you think was at fault? . . . Was it the greedy lenders? Was it the risky home-buyers who shouldn't have been buying a home in the first place? And what should you be doing about it?"

HMMMM!!! let me think about that. The risky home-buyers who shouldn't have been buying a home in the first place! OH PLEASE! It was the greed of the filthy rich!!!

OH that urks me! Extremely greedy lenders took advantage of people with poor credit. They probably used the term "less than perfect credit" to lure them in. These "risky home-buyers" wanted to live the American Dream. A bank was willing to lend to them. Sure there was a balloon payment or it was an interest only payment plan. (WHO THE HELL CAME UP WITH THAT?) Of course they went for it. Mortgage brokers were probably telling them that this was their chance. They could agree to these terms now and in a little while they could refinance to a conventional fixed rate, or they probably pumped them up on how they could make money on this, in a year they could sell that house for tens of thousands more than they were getting it for that day.

So the greed of the lenders, the greed of the sales people, and the failure to regulate lending practices lead to this crisis!

And now they hope to pass a $700 billion bailout bill. Since government is considering stepping in and it will be my tax dollars that go to pay for this I demand that they consider helping the "risky home-buyer" get out of the grasp of the predatory greedy lenders, by getting them out of interest only loans, or crazy balloon payments, and into conventional loans.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

2008-10-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe a week has come and gone already. I am especially filled with gratitude today.

1. I am thankful for my mom and Russ and the support that they have given us. My mom is an extremely caring person who worries about her kids non-stop and would do anything to help us.

2. I am thankful to live in this great country! Even though it has its problems it is still the "Land of Opportunity"

3. I am thankful that Todd did well at his interview and was offered the position at Coinstar.

4. I am thankful for hard times because they really make me appreciate the good times.

5. I am thankful for Karl's apple orchard. His Organic Fuji apples are so delicious!

While I was on the phone with my dad

2008-10-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

The other day I called my dad and just as the phone was ringing Michael picked up the other phone and started talking. I couldn't hear my dad and he couldn't hear me over Michaels blabbering. Finally he quieted down and let us talk. Just as I was about to get off the phone I found out why he was suddenly quiet. He walked out of Sara's room looking like this.

The kid loves lotion! For some reason he thinks it is conditioner.

WISHFUL WEDNESDAY

2008-10-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

I have a dream board or vision board and on it I have a lot of long term dreams or goals. I look at it everyday and go over what my dreams are. I started the dream board in January and since then about half of them have happened.

I thought it would be fun to do a Wishful Wednesday to focus me on some short term goals and to let you all know what some of my dreams are.

My three wishes this week are. . .

1. I wish that Todd does well at his interview with CoinStar and that he gets hired right away.

2. I wish that ESD123 will call and tell me that they want to hire me to be a Prevention/Intervention Specialist.

3. I wish Michael would easily go to sleep at naptime and bedtime.

Poopy in the potty!!!!

2008-10-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

So Michael has been going "pee pee in the potty" for a few weeks now. He has yet to poop in the potty, fortunately for me it is usually right after nap that he goes (since he wears a pull-up to bed and nap) Lately he has gotten creative in finding excuses as to why it should not be his bedtime. He has often used that he needs a drink or has to go pee pee. How did he learn this already?! He is only 2! But because I really want to encourage this whole potty training thing I let him get up and go potty. Half the time he doesn't do anything but sit there and flush the toilet.

Tonight as I was tucking him in he farted and immediately his eyes lit up he smiled and said "poop potty" I took him to the bathroom where he sat. I was so sure he was actually going to poop.
Turns out it was just his newest way of delaying bedtime.

-777 Thank God it wasn't -666

2008-09-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of weeks I have been glued to the tv flipping channels from MSNBC to CNBC to CNN. This last weekend most of America was sitting on the edge of their seats to see what would happen with the "bailout bill" House Republicans and House Democrats were assuring us that the bill would pass. Many folks on "main street" upset about this. Them Monday the bill was rejected. Stocks plunged!

There was a sense of fear and panic. Then today something interesting happened the Dow gained 485 points. All kinds of speculation as to why such a rebound. I heard many reporters saying it is because there is still hope that a bailout will happen when the house reconvenes on Thursday.

My personal opinion, and I say this somewhat jokingly, is that there was such a rebound today because the number of points the Dow fell 777. Isn't that Heavens number? I can only imagine what would have happened today had the Dow fell 666 points!

Watch out Chris you have some RC driver competition!

2008-09-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Michael loves to do whatever daddy is doing, lately Todd has been into his RC cars. Here is a little clip of Michael in action.

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

I decided that I am going to start doing a "Thankful Thursday" spot. Every Thursday I will list 5 things I am thankful for. Here goes;

1. The listening ears of good friends
2. Uplifting music (thanks Cindy)
3. People that come and go throughout life
4. Blogs (I have learned so much about people through the things they blog)
5. The ability to make a difference in my world

Insane in the Membrain

2008-09-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

"Most of the economists agree that the problems we are witnessing today developed over a long period of time,'' Bush said, citing an influx of money into American banks that enabled Americans to get easy credit - some getting home loans, some new business loans. "Unfortunately, there were also some negative consequences,'' he said, citing "easy credit'' that led to "excesses'' and "bad mortgage decisions... Many borrowers took out larger mortgages than they could afford.
"Eventually the number of new houses exceeded the number of people willing to buy them... Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgages... were stuck with homes worth less than expected, along with mortgages they could not afford... These defaults had effects well beyond the housing market.''

I have heard that insanity can be defined as doing the same thing again and again expecting different results.

I find it insane that President Bush recognizes that the economic crisis we are facing was caused by the fact that credit was extended to people with far less than perfect credit histories on properties that were valued at far greater amounts than they should have been. And now he proposed that the United States Government do the same thing.
The national debt is at $9,794,167,845,969.82, seems to me that creditors need to put a halt on this consumers credit.

I miss Grandma Woffinden

2008-09-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the longest saddest Sunday I have had in a very long time. The day just seemed to drag on and on. When it was finally 6pm all I could think of is how I wished I was at Grandma Woffindens house.Every Sunday all of her kids and grandkids would come to her house and she would always have hot rolls or some tasty treat that she made and we would play games and visit.

She was truly an amazing woman. She had so much love to give. I was a step-granddaughter, but she never made me feel like I was anything less than her own granddaughter. I learned so many things from her, quilting, crocheting, baking, I really wish that I would have learned how to make her bread. It was so yummy! She had a baking day once or twice a month. She would get up extremely early and start the bread dough. Then spend the rest of the morning baking loaves of bread and tons of rolls. She would freeze some for herself and then she always gave our family some bread. It was the absolute best bread, especially toasted then topped with some strawberry jam!

In the summertime she would sit out on the drive in her lawn swing watching her little tv and crocheting. Her hands were never idle. A neighbor lady would come and sit with her and the two of them would brag about their grandsons. It was so funny because Grandma would tell me what Elaine had said about her grandson and Grandma would tell me how much better Aaron was. LOL Aaron was the apple of her eye. It was so cute how proud she was of him.

I am so grateful to that woman. She really helped me through the roughest time of my life. I love her and miss her terribly.

The Dow Jones up 400+ today

2008-09-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

So, I have never paid much attention to the stock market or the economy in general. When I heard talk about foreclosures being at record highs I just thought it was a good opportunity for real estate investors. Then Monday September 15, 2008 happened. Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, Merril Lynch sold to Bank of America and AIG was on its way out. I was actually in a state of panic, reading reports and blogs and trying to find out everything that I could about what was happening. In my mind I pictured another great depression and saw us growing food in the front yard and wearing worn out boots. I was really hoping AIG would be able to pull $85 billion out of the air. I am so glad the government stepped in.
Then Wednesday the Dow fell another 450 points, I was actually watching the stock market channel most of the day, and tears streamed down my cheek when I saw it drop below 10600 not that we have any money in the stock market. But as you may know neither Todd nor myself are currently employed and if the economy falls, I don't see us being able to find work.
President Clinton was on the stock market channel and gave an excellent explanation as to why the government needed to "bailout" AIG.
Today the Dow gained 400 point and I felt a huge sense of relief. Though who knows what will happen, homes are still going into foreclosure.
So family. . . what is our plan? I want to make sure that if we experience the "grapes of wrath" that we lean on each other.

What am I getting so worried about? I need to just calm down and take it "one day at a time"

Gratitude

2008-09-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

So I was talking with Cindy today and she reminded me about gratitude. I decided I would make a small list of what I am grateful for.

Of course first on my list is my wonderful husband and beautiful child
I am grateful for my family. . . extended
I am grateful that I have shelter and a comfortable bed to sleep in
I am grateful that I have food to feed my son
I am grateful for the hot shower that I get everyday, we had our hot water heater go out for a couple days this past winter and it was pure hell
I am grateful for the abilities I have
I am grateful for Michaels smiles, and giggles and his dance moves
Today I am very grateful that I am not a CEO of a large bank

Denis Waitley:

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Some video of the RC's

2008-09-11T23:33:00.000-07:00

This is the first attempt to add video to our blog. So, as in Chris' blog, I chose to use the RC video that we had made at the Bleazard Family Reunion.
Noelle recorded this one....

Chris recorded this one....

This was taken after nap. . . I just didn't get it posted that day like I said I would. OOPS

2008-09-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

A year ago.....

2008-09-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Look at this kid! This was taken a year ago when we went to the waterplay park at Kennewick Library. I cannot believe how much he has grown! I put this up because Cindy called today to ask how to add a picture to her blog and I needed to add one in order to walk her through it but all I have on the computer is old pics. So later I will go out and get the camera and take a picture of Michael when he wakes up from his nap and then you all can see how he has grown.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-04-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

I don't have any photos to share, but I wanted to wish my dad a very Happy Birthday!

Wow! Has it really been that long?

2008-04-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

Whoah! Five months already! Lets see. . . here are my excuses. . . I have been busy with school, and mothering, and looking for a job, trying to loose weight, trying to get organized. Yeah, lame excuses, I know. Well, Todd, Michael and I were in Utah at the end of March, my mom and Russ were there too. When they go to Utah they usually have a night where all of their kids and grandkids come to their hotel, eat go swimming play games and hang out. Anyways on this particular night I promised Susan (Chris's very talented wife) (check out the link to her blog) I would update my blog at least once a month. So here goes. . .

As I was laying in bed trying to ignore the incredibly loud snore coming from my husband I started thinking about all of these things I could blog about, but since those were thoughts of a sleep deprived woman, I am going to narrow it down.

As many of you know. . . not that I wanted anyone to know (because of the expectations that I thought all of you would have and the judgements that I thought you would place on me for not meeting those expectations) In September of 2007 I had Lapband Surgery and, since you know, I thought I would go ahead and update you all on my success and my struggles. I am hoping that there will be great success and few struggles.

When I went in for surgery I weighed 299, one pound more than I weighed just before Michael was born. Right after he was born I weighed in at 275. I thought with breast feeding and dieting I was going to really loose weight. HA! Anyhow, after surgery when I went for my first follow up I had lost 11 pounds. I couldn't beleive it! It had only been 3 or 4 weeks, I had felt like I hadn't had to work at it at all! I was so happy I cried. With lapband for the first week I could eat only liquids then move on to puree and no more than half a cup. Before the surgery I didn't think this was possible to eat half a cup and feel full. It was amazing. After about a month and a half I was able to eat regular foods, minus a few things that get caught and make me vomit or choke.

At 3 months I was cleared to really start working out, not just walking anymore. At that time I had signed up for classes at CBC and was taking fitness lab. I worked out 4 times a week for an hour. One day this girl tells me she had been working out for a week and had lost 8 pounds. WOW that got me excited thinking I had this advantage and was going to loose at least 8 pounds. AT this time my weight loss to date was 32 pounds. After two weeks of working out I stood on the scale, excited about the number I was about to see. . . 272. . . What the $#&@! I had gained 4 pounds! I was so angry the next week I worked out only doing cardio.

Muscle weighs more than fat. . . right?

I got over my anger and I thought I had figured out the work out schedule that would work for me. An hour of just cardio one day and the next and half hour on the circuit followed by a half hour of cardio. My goal was to get down to 250 by the end of the quarter. That didn't work out. I am sitting at 262. Since I am not in school this quarter and because Todd wants to loose 40 pounds before the reunion, we joined the court club. I have started doing Club Max (circuit) and H2O Cardio.

Before surgery they do a lot of "prep work" they have presentations and classes that you have to go to. At these classes they said that typical results are to loose 50-75% of the excess weight in 2 years. That the first 2 years have the best results. So I would guess that I am right on track. This isn't an easy weight loss solution. But it is working. . . slowly but surely.

Because of this 2 years being most important to concentrate on loosing the weight they recommend not getting pregnant. So in case anyone wonders when Todd and I will be trying to have a baby that will be in September of 2009. Which if we are lucking right off the bat we'll have another June baby and Michael will be almost 4.

Well there is a blog, I am still a woman of my word. lol I will update you on my success as it continues.

Oh, best thing so far my knees don't hurt anymore and I can walk up the stairs like a normal person. Hoping to be able to walk down them normally soon.

An exciting week!

2007-11-27T23:58:00.000-08:00

I have been telling Cindy that she was going to be having this baby early. I had no idea he was going to be this early. On Wednesday November 21, Cindy went in for a usual appointment. The Dr did the measuring and was about to send her home and Cindy asked if they would check to see if she was dilated. Thats when I got a call from Cindy telling me she was at the hospital and she was 90% effaced and 4.5 cm dilated. At 7:03 PM Elmer Kai Barrientos was born. 6lbs 6 oz and 19 inches long. look at all this dark hair! He is such a sweet baby. Loves to sleep and loves to be held (of course.)

Chris, Susan and Hattie got here that same day and it was great to see them. Hattie is quite the character! We got to see how shy Michael can be. That little girl sure knows how to take charge. At one point she was sitting in Michael's rocking chair and he was standing near her waiting for his turn. Hattie sticks her finger out at him and says, while shaking her finger, "no no no no no" It was so cute!

Chris got a new memory card for his camera and let Todd copy his pics. That is where these came from. Last time I took pics off our camera I really messed things up so I am posting the ones Chris took since they are already here.

We had our first snowfall last night. Brrrr it was so cold!

Ducks!

2007-11-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

Cindy has been singing and old preschool song to Michael. "5 little ducks went out to play" Michael just loves it! When ever it is time to say "quack quack quack" he holds his hand like a duck bill and quacks, and giggles. Well ever since he learned this, every type of bird is a duck that quacks. His quacks and duck sound so much alike I can't distigiush them. Anyhow, tonight he was playing the piano with "GraaandPaa" when he suddenly stopped and started pointing at Russells shirt saying "duck duck." Russell is wearing a Postal T-shirt with a Bald Eagle that has flag wings.

Halloween!

2007-11-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

On Halloween we met up with some friends and went trunk or treating. We found a cute little horse costume so Todd and I thought we would go as Cowboys and Michael as our hourse. Then Todd thought it would be great to make a cover for the stroller. Just to clarify it is a Stable.
After trunk or treating we went to Grandmas and the little horse kicked around her house. Then home to hand out candy to the trick or treaters.
Todds Jack-o-latern

Mine

The Pumpkin Patch

2007-11-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

The day before Halloween we took Michael to the Pumpkin Patch at the Country Mercantile. It was so much fun! He got to ride on a wagon all around the "farm" and help Daddy pick out a pumpkin.

They had a strawbale pyramid set up for the kids to climb on and all kinds of fun stuff for kids. The part Michael loved best was after we loaded the pumpkins into the truck he got to pull the empty wagon back to the store. We had to stay way longer than we planned because he loved pulling the wagon so much we couldn't pull him away.

Michael grew up in a day!

2007-10-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

Cindy told me that once kids get their first hair cuts they grow up. On Wednesday Michael got his first hair cut. I did it. It was so hard taking that first cut and getting rid of those sweet curls. But Grandma said when she takes him to the store with her, people think he is a girl. So, I just went ahead and did it.

That same day we got Michael a potty chair, he peed it in 3 times. He was so excited! As we all were. I am hoping this is the last box of diapers. He also grew 2 inches taller and has been getting a molar!

Everytime I look at Michael since his haircut I see a little boy, and I wonder were my little baby went. . . . has it really been that long already? He truely is growing up so fast!

I finally figured out how to post the pics. I took a before and after of the hair cut. The left one is the after the right the before. (I know they are not in order but at least I got them up)

The Discovery of Flies

2007-10-15T22:50:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I made vegetable tempura and I had the oil too hot so the house filled with smoke from the burning tempura. I opened some windows and doors and turned on the fan. While the windows were open I inadvertently let in a few flies. They have been driving everyone nuts today. . . . except for Michael.

I am pretty sure he had never seen a fly before today. . . We were in the kitchen and Michael was playing in the cupboards with the pots and pans. When suddenly he stopped what he was doing and got down to crawl. He was looking very intently at the oven. I looked over and saw a fly crawling across the oven door. Michael crawled towards it and it flew to another cupboard. Again Michael crawled towards it, and again it flew to another cupboard. This went on for a couple of minutes. Michael was very intrigued by this new little creature.

Later, he was in the living room playing with his toys and he looked up at the ceiling fan. He has a thing for ceiling fans but they usually need to be on and spinning for him to care. The fan was not on. There were two flies flying from one fan blade to another. Again Michael watched with amusement. Then Grandpa came home and the flies were forgotten.

Our Tough Brave Boy

2007-10-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

So, I wanted to start blogging because I thought it would be like journaling, and I thought it would be cool for Michael to have. The other day I had the chance to read through some of my old journals, I noticed I have a pattern when journaling. I don't write for months or even years and then when I do write, I try to recap everything that happened in the time that past. I almost started doing that here, but decided that I will start with the present, if I feel the need to refer to the past then I will do so at that time.

Today was a stressful day! Michael and I had doctors appointments. He had his blood drawn from his arm for the first time. He was such a tough brave boy. He of course was flirting with the nurse, laughing, making faces, and giving away kisses. He does the cutest thing right now where he suddenly wants kisses, he looks at you, presses his lips together and says "mmmmmm" when you pucker up and "mmmmmm" back he comes running over and gives you a big kiss. It's so adorable! Anyhow, he was flirting with the nurse and we had him pinned down on the table he thought it was a game until he felt that needle go into his arm then he looked at me, like "what are you letting them do to me?" I felt so bad! He then looked at the nurse with a "I don't like you anymore" look. Then he started to cry, hold his breath and pass out. I blew in his face so he wouldn't pass out. (He has been a breath holder from the minute he was born. He was a cesarean birth and as soon as he could breathe he took one breathe let out a big scream then stopped breathing, turned blue and passed out.) He only cried for a minute and after that it was my turn. He sat on my lap while I got my blood drawn, and looked attentively at everything the nurse was doing. . .Perhaps we have a future doctor or maybe just a ladies man with a fetish for nurses. LOL Before we left he was back smiling laughing and giving away kisses. . .