YEAH

Well, yesterday was my weigh in!! I knew I at least lost my 1/2 pound that would get me to my goal of 30 pounds lost. I was ever so pleased when she told me I had lost 4 pounds!!! I have lost a total of 33 1/2 pounds now and I am officially under the weight I was when we moved back to Florida the first time in 1994 and my "before children" weight. I am so excited. I am so motivated still and if anything, yesterday just firmed my resolve to do this. Not sure if I have said this before but my goal is to lose 50 before we leave England in June. I have 4 months left to lose 17 and I think, no I KNOW I can do it. I feel so much better, I have more energy and I don't ache in the mornings and I almost feel pretty sometimes. Amazing.

It has been a good couple of days with exception of Dawson who seems to have a fever and stuffy nose. Not sure what is going on with him. I think I need to have his ears checked. My kids have never been one to have much pain with ear infections so I might check that out. He has been home with me half of Monday, yesterday and I will keep him home today as well. He is not sleeping all night, he has been waking up when the Motrin wears off and his temp goes back up and of course that keeps me up. Last night, I had to come and sleep on the couch because he was in my bed and he likes to get right up against me. It sure makes for long nights. Please keep him in your prayers, I don't like it when my kids are sick, (not that anyone else would like their kids sick either!) I just hope no one else gets what he has.

Sunday was a big day for Michael, he finished his first class in his Master's program. He was so excited when he got home. We are all so proud of him. I am not sure how he does it. He doesn't have a class in February so he will have a small break before his next class in March.

Thanks for looking and have a great day. Until next time.....

Disappointed boys

Today was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Dylan and Dalton had both carved out cars and painted them up really nice. It came time to register them last night and I could not get the boys involved enough to place weights on them or even help weigh them in. I started putting the weights on them, trying to get the weight up to near 5 ounces. I can't say that I felt too sorry for them today when their cars did not perform very well. Dalton was so sad that I actually thought he would start crying. Dylan had the good grace to laugh it off. There were some amazing cars there, clearly the parents work but oh well. Dawson was bored out of his mind, he wanted to participate so bad but we didn't let him compete in the open class so he was upset with us. He was a good boy but even I was getting restless as it lasted over 3 hours.

The boys have a derby coming up for Awana, just maybe they will strive to do a little better.

Crazy Days

Wow, I feel so busy that I really think I just need to slow down. I am so exhausted at the end of the day that all I want to do is just sit in a quite place and not talk. By the evening, I am so tired of noise. My days seem so crazy and I didn't realize how crazy until I told Susie what my schedule was yesterday, here is a taste of it. Now mind, I don't do this every day but quite a few.

My Tuesday schedule:

6:30am wake up, get dressed for gym, make Michael breakfast and get his lunch together, (his dinner also this week since he is in class all week.)
7:00am wake up boys, get them dressed and fed. Backpacks together
7:45am on the road to take Dylan and Dalton to school, head back home once they are dropped off
8:40am Take Dawson to school by 9am and head straight to the gym for workout until 10:20am
10:30am Weight watchers meeting (I LOST 3 MORE POUNDS!!! :) ) Meeting over just after 11am and I had to go straight to the commissary for some groceries. Get that done, get home, take a shower, make and eat lunch, put on make up and blow dry my hair and before I know it, it is....
2:15pm time to get Dalton and Dylan, once they are picked up, it is nearly 3 and we run to the base to check our mail.
3:30pm Pick up Dawson and head home.
3:45pm arrive at home, I have exactly one hour to cut up veggies for a veggie tray and make dip for a meeting, cook dinner for me and the boys, eat and curl my hair. Not sure how I managed to do this, but I did
4:45pm on the road to take Dalton and Dylan to my friends house she is going to take them to Cub Scouts for me since I have a meeting and Michael is in class, and Dawson to Kory's house, she is going to babysit him.
5:00pm Meeting at Michael's commanders house with commander and first shirt.
6:00pm OSS (squadron) meeting/coffee where we go over what is coming up and what needs to be done.
8:00pm start rounding up boys
8:30pm home and it is about 9pm before the boys are put in bed. Then I have to clean the HUGE mess in the kitchen since there is no way I could have squeezed in time to clean it in the hour I had.
9:30pm, I returned my sister-in-law's call, couldn't talk long I was just too wiped out.

I am very thankful that not every day is like that, but I think too many are, tonight was Awana and I love Awana and being a leader but we don't get home until 8:15-8:30 and again, I am sooooo beat. Yet I will be up and at the gym at 5:30am tomorrow, and so the process goes around again. Please just keep me in your prayers, I will be needing them. I will be praying for a nice slow, relaxing, quite day!! :)

18 Years!!!!

Yesterday, Michael took Dalton to his Tiger (cub scouts) meeting at the fire house on Mildenhall. They had so much fun, they got to climb all over the trucks, spray the water, ride on the trucks, and Dalton got to turn on the sirens.

Dalton trying on fire gear on his trip to the fire house with the Cub Scouts

He had such a good time

Wow, where does the time go?? Just yesterday, I was a senior in High School dating this really good looking guy and Michael was lucky enough to be dating a Goddess HEEHEE. Now here we are, 18 years and 3 kids later. Michael and I were able to go out to a really nice dinner for our anniversary tonight. My friends Ronni and James watched the boys for us. It was really nice. We were able to talk without being interrupted or having to get on to the kids. There was a really nice older couple there, they vacation in Florida every Easter so we had plenty to chat with them about. The food was wonderful, (but definitely not Weight Watchers!!), the company great. It is so nice to get out and do things just for us every once in a while. I think we have been out on a "date" maybe 5 times since we have been over here, and 2 of those were just last month when Nana was here. We hate to ask someone to watch the kids. Once you go past two, it is a lot harder to get someone to watch 3 kids, especially if they have their own kids. We are lucky though, we have some good friends willing to do it for us. I hope to get one more really nice date in before we come back. Not sure it will work out but I will try.

Here we are at The Merry Monk Restaurant and Bar in Isleham

A fun day

Today, Michael and I went with Dalton's class on a field trip to a Panotmime in Bury St. Edmunds. It was great fun. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is at totally British thing but the lead girl/mom character is usually played by a man dressed up really ridiculous and the lead male is usually played by a girl. It is always fun and the crowd gets really involved.

On the way to pick up Dawson, (as my friend picks him up on Thursdays for me since Dylan and Dalton have violin and the times conflict) I saw the most amazing rainbow. I pulled over to take a couple of pictures. All I could think about was how beautiful it is and how God is so wonderful to come up with something so pure and beautiful and glorious.

I have been to the gym everyday this week so far and today was an early day, I got up at 5:45am to go. I am a bit tired!! So this will be all for today.

HMMMM Not good

Hello all. I stated in one of my last posts that I look forward to Tuesdays and my weight loss is doing well. Well, as you can see, it is Wednesday now and I was in no hurry to announce that I gained 2 pounds. My leader and I have come up with the reason that my body is getting used to working out again since I was on a week and a half hiatus while the kids were out of school for the holidays. I stuck to my plan and tracked everything I ate and didn't go over!! I don't get it really but that is my story and I am sticking to it. She (my leader) said that this week is an investment for next week so "don't fall off the WW wagon". I won't but I really hope next week is better. This is only my second gain in 3 and a half months. The other was only 1/2 a pound.

Other than my WW drama, we are all doing well. Getting back into our schedule of School, Violin twice a week, Cub Scouts, Awana, and Kumon. Sometimes I feel like it is all too much. The boys are doing really good in Violin and I am doing ok. Michael told me to buy my own violin so I can play too. It is good fun. I am really enjoying it.

Until next time!!

A good week

Wow, I can't believe it is Friday already. The week has just flown by. It was a good week all being said. Michael was at work too much and I didn't get all I wanted done but it was good just the same. We actually went out to dinner tonight, it was a good fun family time. We had some good laughs. Michael was telling me I had something in my teeth and I was trying to get it out, but it wouldn't give, so I made a goofy face and he started laughing and then I saw something in his teeth. Do you remember watching cartoons and they zoom in on the characters tooth and there is like a whole broccoli tree in between the teeth?? That is what popped into my head and I just about fell out laughing which made Mike laugh harder and then Dylan really started laughing. We finally got done, Dylan asked what was so funny!!!! That made us laugh even more. Kids are soooo silly.

We have a busy weekend planned, well Saturday at least. Michael actually told me that he is starting to feel "short". (meaning our time left here) Then he told me that we only have 4 1/2 months left. I just rolled my eyes because he always cuts time off to make it sound better. Well, he then had to prove it to me. I can't believe it. See Didn't I say that this year was going to fly by!!!!!

Thank you everyone for your posts. It is great!! Uncle Dick, that is so awesome, 50 pounds, WOW. Leigh Ann, I don't know what got me motivated but I am glad. So I don't know what I could share with you except that I am an awesome cheerleader!!

what a great day

Tuesdays, I usually look forward to them. I joined Weight Watchers on September 29, 2007 and I go to my meetings on Tuesdays. I have done very well so far but I was worried, we had not had a weigh in since December 18. This was my first in 3 weeks. My goal was to lose 5 pounds over the holiday break, I though that was realistic. Well, I didn't make my goal but I did manage to lose 4 pounds. There were only 3 of us in the meeting that showed a loss. I was still very excited about that. My new goal for this week is to lose 1 1/2, this will bring me to a total of 30. I am very excited and still highly motivated. I feel so much better and I want to thank Marybeth for getting me started. I saw her success and I wanted to see some for myself. After leaving my meeting, I felt so happy, recharged and ready to get my program going again as it was on hold while the kids were out of school. I have 4 more pounds and I will be at my pre-pregnancy weight!!! When I say that, don't think of Dawson, think of Dylan, it was him that I gained about 45 pounds and never lost it all!!!! I will keep you posted. :)

What a day

Man, I was so excited this morning, all the kids would be back in school, I would have a few hours to myself to get some of the little things done. Well it didn't work out. Dawson had a bad dream and came in to my room at 2am. I managed to get him back to his bed by 2:47am, he had fallen asleep but I couldn't with him there. Then I had the joy of tossing and turning until about 3:30am when I finally gave up and came out to the living room to watch tv. At 5am, I decided I really needed to try to get some sleep. Michael's alarm went off at 5:30am, I was still wide awake. Sometime while he was in the shower, I fell blissfully asleep at long last, only to have my alarm go off at 6:30am. YUCK!! When I came home from the gym, I just wanted to take a nap but I didn't for fear that I would not sleep tonight. I did not have the energy to do anything else either though so I did some things on the computer, ate lunch while watching TV. Then it was time to get Dawson and head to Dalton's school where he and Dylan were at violin lessons. I am not sure what happened to Dawson on the way home, but I think he was taken over by some beast for he said the most hateful thing to me. I was almost in tears. I would have been if I had not kept telling myself that he is only 4, but that is the really sad part. He told me that he hated me and that he wouldn't miss me if I died...... What on earth would make him say something like that. I absoutely do not talk that way, to anyone... EVER.... I don't understand, I just home tomorrow, he wakes and realizes that it was not nice and that he would miss me if I were gone. I guess that is all for now. For not doing anything today, I sure am exhausted! I am going to hit the hay. I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Back on track

Ok, we are back on track. The boys are doing better and I am doing much better. We had a good day yesterday and hopefully we will have a good day today. I plan to take the boys to a movie today. I think they just have cabin fever. The weather over here is typical winter weather, cold, wet, cloudy. The ground is just mud, even though there is grass. I will not miss that when we leave. We actually had to wash the mud out of Michael's boots last night and all he did was walk accross the yard. At least the sun is out today. Looks to be a nice day!!

No worries

Ok, for all of you who might have been worried about my kids, don't worry, I didn't touch any of my kids last night. I was too mad and I knew it. I have only ever been like that a couple of times and at least I recognize it. I am thankful for that. Unfortunately my "reset" button did not reset last night so I woke up still angry. I am working on that now. Thanks for any prayers that you might have put out there for me, i appreciate it. So thanks Mom but no bell has been rung!! :) Have a great day. I am trying to.

What a day

What a day. I have to say, today is one of these days that I am seriously questioning why I am a parent. My kids have completely knocked me down today and I am so frustrated!! For any of you who might have any disillusions about my children, let me tell you about a day in my life!! The boys were up stairs playing right?? I was cooking dinner, I called them down to eat. After dinner while I was washing up, Dalton brought me some broken glass pieces and the jar that they were from. I asked what happened and he just said it broke. I told him to be sure to pick up all the broken bits, because I could tell that some were missing. Dylan said he would go up and check for me, he was actually helping me downstairs ,he came and told me that there had been so much water spilled up there that it might leak through the floor/ceiling. As I am going up the steps, I see what comes to about 30 wash clothes and towels on the floor and Dawson in the bathroom saying "we need soap" as he proceeds to pump contuniously soap from the hand soap bottle into yet another wash cloth. I get that from him, look down the (very) small hallway and see the that boys, (Dalton and Dawson) have decided to use the bookcase as a ladder and lost 2 pegs out of two seperate shelves, making all the books from those said shelves land on the floor. I look into Dawsons room, I could not even get into the room because the mattress was in the way and everything was everywhere, the water, glass, blankets, toys, clothes etc. It was a mess. I told Dylan to take Dawson, I was so mad that I could not even deal with him. I then proceeded to clean up the HUGE mess, when I got the bed complete, I called Dawson up to get ready for bed, and get in it. I finished his room and closed the door. Dylan and Dalton were working to clean up the mess in the hallway. Dylan suggested that I go have a seat on the couch or something. I came downstairs to finish the dishes and laundry then I tried to call USAA since they were not open when I tried them this morning. While on the phone, Dylan was begging to make these eclair things that he has been wanting to make. I told him no but he kept on about it and just to shut him up, I said just go do it. Well, Dylan being Dylan, doesn't read directions through all the way and was constantly bugging me while I was on the phone with USAA. He finally got the eclair mix ready to bake, I had to put them into a pastry bag and then squeeze them out onto the cookie sheet to bake. He then wanted to make the filling and I told him that it would have to wait until morning,. again, he didn't listen and flubbed that up, not sure if that will turn out at all. Then I told him to put it into the fridge and he said "there is no room". HMMMM I am pretty sure I told him that to begin with!!! So I then started to put a few dishes away and I look into my silverware drawer and what do I see, HMMMM flour and water everywhere. Dalton apparently took a mouthful of flour and then went to get a fork out but started to choke when the drawer was open and flour went everywhere. Now, I am cleaning up the whole entire drawer of silverware. Why, oh because I have nothing better to do with my time. Now they are all in bed and I am not so sure I like them too much tonight. If you happen to see this post today, please pray for me. I need it bad. I am going to go and say a little, ok, maybe big prayer myself. God will get me through, he always does but sometimes I think he might have made a mistake in giving me children. If you know how I feel, please let me know so maybe I will stop thinking I am the worst parent on the planet!!!

Wow, another day has gone by. I was afraid that 2008 would fly by at a lightening pace, it is only the 3rd and it feels to me like Christmas was just yesterday. Here we are looking forward our anniversery coming up and birthdays in March and April. Dylan just said yesterday that before we know it, the movers will be here packing us up. I am afraid he is right and I have sooooo much to do before now and then. I am sure I will get it done, you see I have a game plan. Once the kids go back to school on the 7th, I will be attacking the house room by room getting it cleared out of junk!! If it is broken, ripped, missing parts or just not used, it is GONE!! I have to save weight for all of the antiques Michael has just bought!! HEEHEE

I am just trying to see how to add a picture, here is one of the boys with Nana Christmas morning. Please let me know what you think of this site by leaving a comment. Have a great day.

January 1, 2008

Wow, what a year 2007 was. I decided to set this up to try and find a way to stay in better touch with our friends and family while we finish up our tour here in England. We hope you like it and that you will stay in touch this way. We look forward to a great 2008 and we will be seeing some of you very soon.

Mike, Susan, Dylan, Dalton and Dawson