It worked!

Guess who got somewhat motivated and out of the house yesterday? ME!! YIPEE! Sure, it took some effort, but I did it. I even got some housework done too. I just need to change my focus a bit. In stead of being sad and upset that things aren't going my way, I should take advantage of having so much time on my hands. Pretty soon, I won't have any free time (hopefully).

Today I got out of the house and walked my son to school. It felt so good. It was only a 7 minute walk and it made me wonder, "Why don't we do this every day?" I think I'm going to change that. We both need more exercise in our lives.

Fortunately, I get to get out of the house today too!!! One of my best friends and I are meeting for lunch. I'm super excited and looking forward to getting out and doing something other than stalking the employment website. It's the small things that make me happy.

I hope we're all experiencing the best Friday possible!

Under the weather?

How is it possible that I am sick in 110 degree weather? Sickness gathers in cold temperatures, right? Well, I guess this bug decided to get me in the heat of summer. Yep. I'm at home (not that I have a job to keep me busy anyway) and I think I have the flu. ICK! It's not fun, but I'm learning to deal with it (I'm on day two and I'm not good at feeling ill - can you tell?).

So, feeling crappy (as I am) has sparked my thought process. Do you think it's possible that I was attacked by this illness because I am not myself? I am not the active, positive, upbeat, passionate person that I normally am. I need a drive. I need to have something to feel good about and be proud of. Unfortunately, I'm discouraged and that makes it very difficult to get myself motivated and out doing what I should be doing. This is not healthy. Could this be what lead to my being overcome with illness? Well this is certainly not good.

What will it take for me to focus my energy on cleaning, exercising, eating well, or even being out and about? I need to find it. I MUST find the trick. My sanity depends on it!

I think this slight depression/illness/lack of drive has contributed to my "slacker" attitude when it comes to blogging. I'm not afraid of being judged, I'm afraid of sounding like I've given up or I don't care. Maybe I'm afraid of it because there is a part of me that has given up. Well, that's not good enough for me. I need to focus. I need to get myself together. I need to feel better. I need to figure out how to do this.

For today, it is my duty to pull myself together. I need to just take some Tylenol - feel slightly better- and get something accomplished today. NO more wallowing in my self-pity/illness. I will focus on feeling better and getting something accomplished today. YES! That's the goal!

I look forward to posting good results tomorrow!

Happy Thursday!

Happy to report . . .

Success! Yes, the root canal was a grueling experience for a 7 year old who has never had a cavity. But, success none the less! One the "freak out" subsided, he did great! I can remember the screams and cries of the little one, "I wish this never happened", but he came out even braver than he was before! That's gotta say something.

Unfortunately, he'll still have to start school with 1 1/2 less teeth than he left with in June, but he'll get those fixed on August 31. I keep telling him that this way he GETS to tell his story and his friends HAVE to believe it because he has proof. After August 31, we're hoping you won't even be able to tell!

I, on the other hand, can dish out the positive thoughts and encouragement but I can't really get myself to be positive about the job situation. It's tough. I am now one of 4 people that have not yet found a job from my entire program. I'm trying to keep my chin up, but with the last school district starting on Monday, I'm feeling a bit discouraged. Sure, I keep hearing that once school starts they will realize that they need more teachers, but it's tough to start late. Of course, I'll take what I can get, but I want things to happen the way I want them to happen. Unfortunately, I don't get to control things and I get to deal with what happens. So, now, I learn a lesson in patience, faith, and trust! So, here goes! Let's hope I get an "A". :-)

I have a few other things I would like to vent or ramble about, I'm just not so sure I'm ready. After a trip to the library with the little one I may be able to sort out my thoughts! I hope we're all in for a fantabulous day and I look forward to posting good thoughts and words of encouragement that even I will be able to accept!

Happy Wednesday!

It's going to be a MONDAY!

I am not exactly looking forward to today. The fact that today is Monday just tops it off. Today, I get to take my 7 year old for a root canal. Yep! About a month ago we went to a water park and my son fell and cracked/broke his two front (permanent) teeth. Well, the injury killed the nerve in the tooth that had the least physical damage. So, now he gets to have a root canal. Here's why it's so scary. I've never even had a root canal. I don't know what to expect. I KNOW that he doesn't do well with needles and I don't do well with him being in pain. So, what's a parent supposed to do? I don't know, so I just freak out a little bit and let him know that I love him dearly! :-)

The doctor that is performing the procedure has already said that the kids typically do better when the parents are not in the room. He said that I'm welcome to stay, but I may not want to - for the good of my little one. I'll, of course, leave it up to him. I think the doctor is right, but I think I'll freak out more than the little one will. EEEKKK.

So, I'm praying for my nerves today. I want to be calm, cool, and collected. Unfortunately, it's easier said than done. So, thought a little vent session this morning would help! Let's hope it does!

I hope blogland is having a fantastic day!!

Do the days seem to run together for anyone else, or is it just me?

Howdy, howdy!

First, I have to mention that one of my most favorite bloggers ever is having/hosting a give away! You should go and check out Laurie's blog! She's quite amazing.

Now, for the update on my world! I met with a friend/former roommate of mine last week. This was a great time for us too really catch up, especially since she recently went through the Lap-Band procedure. This was also a great opportunity for me to listen to some of the things she's been doing and it has sparked my interest as well. I find it fascinating that there are thousands of WLS surgeons out there and I think EVERY one of them gives you different advice. Her surgeon had suggested that she wait an entire hour after eating before drinking any liquids. My surgeon had suggested 30 minutes before & 30 minutes after. So, I thought to myself, "It can't hurt to try, right?" So I did! All weekend long I was really conscious of my liquid intake and I really do think it made a difference. I've been snacking less and forcing myself to drink a lot more water! So, I'm going to keep it up.

I haven't been consistent with my exercise, but I have been moving a lot more. I keep saying I will - and I will! I just need to get my butt moving so I can lose it (or at least 10 - 15 lbs of it). So, I'm not going to beat myself up, I'm just going to be encouraged and know that it will happen and I will love it!

I am sad to report that there is nothing new on the job front. I'm trying not to be discouraged, but it's tough. I need to be positive that things will work out. I'm saying my prayers and trusting that "THE" job will appear very soon!

So, here's to keeping ourselves motivated and encouraged! Happy Tuesday!!!

Peek-a-boo

Oh look! I'm finally checking in!

I wish I could tell you that there are some amazing (and good) reasons that I have not been present in "blog land", but I'd be lying! Sure, I've had some activities and impromptu trips, but there really is no excuse for not keeping myself accountable. And I think that's exactly it! I believe I am going through a bit of a "slump" or a period of time when I just don't know what's going on. I want to be motivated to exercise, but I'm not. I want to eat better, but I continue to make poor choices. I want to have a job, but things are just not going that way right now. What is frustrating to me is that there is NO reason to be in a slump! But I am. And it's icky!

I have actually not been feeling well. I fear that there is something wrong with my digestive system and that takes it's toll on me. Food isn't sitting well. Coffee isn't sitting well. Starving isn't fun. So, I have to figure out what it is. Instead of sit here and feel sorry for myself and continually making myself feel worse by trying to use food as a "cure", I am going back to the basics to see if that helps. Yesterday I was telling myself that I would only consume liquids today. That seemed like a good thing to do to get back to feeling better and then introducing things slowly to find the problem. Yep, great idea. Until this morning! So, I have decided to no go that far back to the basics. I am going to be eating small portions (like I should be anyway), and mild or bland foods. So far, so good. I'm also NOT going to eat because I'm bored or frustrated or sick. I will only eat (a small portion) when I am feeling ACTUAL hunger. This should help with the feeling of illness AND the weight I've gained!

Yep, I said it. I've gained weight. I'm at a scary point and I don't like it. I thought I would never let myself get over the 170 mark. Then when I hovered at 175 I was thinking, "Maybe this is where my body is comfortable?" Then I got to the 180's and I said (to myself, of course), "THIS IS ENOUGH!" Time to get control of my life, my eating, and my exercise. This is what I shall do! Sometimes it takes us admitting to ourselves that there is a problem. This is what I am doing! So, now that it's out there - it needs to be fixed!

So, today is the day! It's HUMP DAY! It's also time to take my life back day - and feel good about it! It's serious now!!! Thanks for letting me fess up. I hope you're all off to a great day!

Thursday 13 - Kids say the darndest things edition

Yet again, I have fallen into the procrastination trap! I know it’s Friday (and I’m behind), but it’s better late than never, right?? Because my little one cracks me up so much, I thought I’d share a few things that he’s said lately that make me laugh. I need to start writing these things down so I can relive the experiences for years to come!

1. I was looking through pictures one day to find some “before” photos for a project I was working on. My son peers over my shoulder and says, “Mom, you look fat there and are wearing way too much lipstick.” Boy, kids are so honest!

2. My son came home from his first day of summer “campus club” and let me know he met a girl. He was so excited because she let him hold her hand. Then I asked, “What is her name?” He replied, “Mom, we didn’t get that far.”

3. While we were sitting down finishing our dinner I had asked him to taste something that I had a feeling he wouldn’t like. He replied with, “I would love to Mom, but I’m cutting back. I need to lose some weight.” I guess that’s a constant that he hears in my house.

4. On Mother’s Day we were talking about gifts. I said, “A good gift for a Mom to receive would be a child who listens, minds, and does what they are supposed to.” My son replied with, “Whew, it’s a good thing I already got you a gift.”

5. My son makes a funny sound when he drinks. I was irritated with this one day and I decided to say something to him. He kept making the noise. I couldn’t figure out if he was trying to drink without the noise or if he just liked to hear it. He then calmly turned to me and said, “Mom, it’s natural. You’re going to have to get used to it.”

6. I still like to call the little one “baby”. Apparently, he doesn’t like that. Who knew? So, one day, when we were in the car he said, “I know it will be hard but can you not call me baby anymore? It’s ok if we are at home, but not out – ok?” Who knew a seven year old could be so concerned, and recognize how difficult it will be for me. Sweetheart!

7. “Mom, she likes me because I’ve got crazy dance moves.”

8. “Oh, my beautiful teeth!” – said right after he fell on a water slide and knocked out his two, front, permanent teeth (this just happened about 3 weeks ago). Can we say vain?

9. “I’m seven, but I look like an 8 or 9 year old, huh?” I guess I have talked about how big my kid is a little too much?

10. “Free food is so much better than pay for food, right?” – can you tell that my son doesn’t like to eat out. He’s a strange one.

11. When trying to get out of sleeping in his own bed, he came to me and said, “Mom, I think I should sleep with you because I don’t want you to be scared and have bad dreams. If I sleep with you, I can be right here to protect you.”

12. “We’ve got lots of things we could eat – at home.” Yet another tactic to not have to go out to eat.

13. I went through a phase where I was going on dates. I think Jacob was a little jealous and he said that he wanted to take me on a date. So, I agreed (because it was sweet as can be). We were talking about how he was going to take me to my favorite place, open the doors, order for me, and things he had seen on TV or something. I then said, “Are you going to pay for it too.” He said, “yes.” Then I asked, “Where are you going to get the money?” He quickly replied with, “I guess I’m going to have to borrow some money.”

Just rethinking these moments has put a very big smile on my face today. I don’t know where he comes up with this stuff, but I sure do get a kick out of it. I could write a book!

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