Hello Size 10, it's been a while.

Okay I've never been tiny a day in my life.  Well, until about six months after I had Zoey. 

I've been a size 14, 16,and 18 at my largest.  At my smallest I have been a size 12 but that only happened twice, once my senior year and once my junior year in college and that was a very short lived experience.  I have struggled my entire life.  I would diet and exercise and force myself to only eat three meals a day, not return for seconds, or for desserts. I wouldn't eat fries and I would only eat chicken.

When I was in high school I lost all of my weight because I was sick and had to have a tumor removed. In college I my dorm was about three miles from my class and I would walk to class everyday and take the bus back. I did this everyday and ate some form of chicken everyday. I wouldn't snack and I would drink enough water to fill the schools swimming pool.  Alas, I would fall off the wagon quickly and I would eat cake and fries and well anything I could get my hands on.

I started graduate school when we moved to Oklahoma and started eating everything in sight.  I was a little depressed about being so far away from home and found comfort in cake. Lots and lots of cake. I woke up one morning and realized that I was the heaviest I had ever been and miserable. I couldn't afford to pay for a diet plan (weight watchers is 15 bucks a week) so I borrowed a points book and started buying frozen weight watchers meals. For twenty solid months this is what I ate for lunch, no snack, and a 100 calorie something for breakfast.  I would drink water and I would eat a reasonable dinner.  I stopped looking at cakes. Twenty months I out on the clothes in my closet and and I never saw a difference and then one day I was standing in the office at school, I walked over to pick up the phone and my pants hit the ground.  I was so embarrassed and excited at the same time.  Week by week I kept up with my "diet" and would exercise. I kept up with my how much I was walking and how much water I was consuming.  Then one morning the stick turned pink.

I was excited about the next stage of my life and terrified. I told the doctors about my fears about not being able to loose the baby weight. She promised that we would work on it.  For twenty-two weeks I did not gain a pound and was threatened with hospitalization if I didnt' start putting on the weight. Pregnancy ended and about the time that I was returning to school I could fit in my clothes again.  I was breastfeeding and found the best weight loss plan in the world. 

Ladies, if you are overweight, fat, obese, feeling thick in the middle what ever BREAST FEED!!!!! Breast milk is formed from STORED fat.  You have to eat five hundred calories MORE a day to keep up milk production, that would be cake for me.  With a little bit of help from nature I was back to the size I had dreamed of, and then ten more pounds fell off, ten more, fifteen, and so on.  I was so small that when I looked in the mirror I was happy, I was a size 10. I was an average American woman and I was happy.  I put on nine pounds when I stopped breastfeeding and then found out I was pregnant with Abby.  I'm back to my start weight ( the nine pounds from my smallest) and that is the smallest goal I have ever had.  I need to loose ten lbs and I will be the place I have dreamed of since I was in high school. 

My American Eagle jeans are calling my name, my size ten jeans. I haven't worn them since last April.

McWane Center

So my dad came home for a visit from Texas a few weeks ago and I haven't had a chance to upload and pictures yet.  It's always nice to see Dad when he comes in from Texas.  I can't wait for him to actually move back home.  But for now he visits when he can.

I'm sorry you said I had to be at work when?

So Mike and I went house hunting in Alexander City yesterday.  We didn't have much luck finding anything.  We did see a lake house on Lake Martin that had three separate docks.  However, it was about the size of my upstairs loft.  I never dreamed that we would have to move again, but here we are trying to pack.

To add to the fun of trying to get Mike close enough for band camp (which starts Monday), my principal called today to tell me that  I need to be at some training on Monday, like in six days Monday.  I haven't even started packing.  We don't have a place to live. I haven't found a preschool. My list goes on and on and on.

So in summary, if you live in Jasper I have to have the U- haul loaded on Friday to move to a non-existent house on Saturday.

So it has been a while

It's been a while.  But it has been another world wind of a summer.  First off Mike was offered a job at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City.  After several days of deliberation, we decided it was the best thing for us.

I have also been on the job hunt.  A year ago  I had to give up my job in order to take care of Zoey who has been sick.  Now she's better and I'm ready to go back to work. So what does this mean? A lot.  I have accepted the offer to be the Behavior Specialist at Central Middle School in Rockford, AL.  I am not thrilled about moving. I am thrilled to be able to go back to work and start the next chapter in our lives.  We will be packing and moving quickly.  There are many things that will happen over the next two weeks and we are excited and terrified. We have been given a path and now we are going down it, because when God opens one door, he will smack you in the face with it if you don't follow Him.

Don't SIT ON THE BABY!!!!!!!!

Abby has started turning over this week so I have started putting her on the floor so she can roll around. I have encountered a problem though. . . .Zoey wants to get on the blanket with her.  Zoey starts out simply saying, "way down Abby, Abby waay down." So I lay her down.  Zoey then lays down beside her and says, "hi, watcha doin'" and some gibberish.  It's really cute, really it is.  Then I get up or turn my head, and the next thing I know Zoey is ON Abby.  Today she was laying on her like she was a ball.  Then a little bit before bed time Abby was crying. I guess we weren't getting there fast enough because she came to tell us "Abby's cryin'" So Mike and I told her we knew just one second.  So Zoey goes into Abby's room, lays down beside her and tells her, "it's okay, it's okay Abby". Really cute right.  So yeah then Zoey shoves Abby's face into the carpet and tells her "it's okay, IT'S OKAY, STOP CRYING."  What can I say, you gotta love parenthood.

Zoey at Colorgard Tryouts

So last Saturday Mike took Zoey with him to colorguard tryouts.  It was hillarious.  She is now profecient at windmills and drop spins.

Why I buy what I buy:)

Okay so I went to the mail box today and Mike's sunglasses were in the mail. We both have Costa Del Mar's and this is why. Our over priced sunglasses have a life time replacement warrenty. So Mike just recieved his second pair of glasses. Did I mention they have all the tags on them, so not only did they "fix them" they sent him a new pair.




Eddie Bauer has always been a favorite of mine. They have great sales. I love buying ten dollar pants eight weeks after they hit the store. I also love that my klutzy husband who rips a pair of pants on the first day of school every year is able to take them into the store and recieve original price store credit (sometimes it's a little easier with the receipt). We haven't bought "new" pants in about three years. When his polos fade they just replace them.





Kalencom diaper bags are new to my list. My new diaper bag is on its way from New Orleans at the moment. The snap broke. Something I can have repaired for ten-fifteen dollars, is being totally replaced.



Otter Box is the one I get a kick out of. So Mike emails the nice lady and tells her there is a hole in my screen. A week later I get a replacement. No questions asked, no please return the product, just, "we will honor your warrenty".



So will I recommend these places to my friends, yes I will. So folks save up some money and shop at these places. It's worth it.

Oops

Well. . .I did it again.  What you may ask? I dropped my second child on her head tonight. 

When Zoey was four months old she fell off a bleacher at graduation.  Tonight, Abby lept out of her car seat on to the concrete drive way.  I still can't get the sound out of my head.  Zoey fell, maybe a six, seven inches.  Abby fell from the height of my SUVs bumper.   I was opening the tail gate and I guess she wasn't in there tight enough, because when I raised the tail gate up I felt the weight of the car seat shift and when I whipped around to see what happened she was falling. Some poor man was driving by and stopped because I couldn't stop screaming while I was trying to call my mother to come help ( she was down the street taking Zoey for a walk).  I don't know how it happened.  But, at the moment Abby is alert and sleeping like a, well, baby.  The doctor told us what to look for and we've been monitoring her. Mike and I plan on keeping a close watch throughout the night.

Mother's Day

I woke up to pancakes and presents:)  I had a wonderful day with my family.  We spent time at the house eating and playing, then we went to decoration at the cemetary and then we went to the zoo.

Abby enjoying herself.

It was great spending time with the girls and the really enjoyed the zoo. We bought season passes back in March and we are really have enjoyed the freedom of being able to go whenever we want.  So here are some pictures from the day.

I was reminded today that As Christians we believe in prayer, not luck. So thank you for all the prayers, it did make me more confident and relaxed as I sat through my interview.

Internet Issues

I've been having internet issues so my post are a little out of order.

I have my first interview for the 2010-2011 school year tomorrow. I am excited and terrified all at once. I can't believe that in two and half months it will be a year since I had to leave work for Zoey's health. It is amazing what can happen in a year.

I keep reminding myself that God has seen us through this last year and he rewards sacrifices.

Ready, Set, Go

I've been trying to get everything ready for my job interview Friday. I can't believe that it has been almost a year since I left Haleyville.  I have to say I do not regret the leaving, I regret not being able to find a job closer to home. 

Insomnia Returns

So Zoey suffers from periodic insomnia.  Well actually it's a terrible side affect of Prednisdone. Zoey has been sick for the last week and she can't sleep at all when she takes anthistamines (let me say that again Zoey can't sleep AT ALL). The last time she took an anthistamine she was up for seventeen hours. After that we talked to the doctor and we decided that she shouldn't take anthistamines.  However, the Prednisdone was another issue.  Since Zoey has esophilic esophogitis she was having to take a specially compounded Prednisdone (I had to drive to KidMeds Pharmacy once a month to get it because it cost a fortune to ship, what am I saying the medicine cost a fortune).

After about a month on the medication it started to be very difficult to get her to sleep. After two months it was nothing but a constant battle at the house.  Zoey just couldn't fall asleep. So we went to see Dr. Chad. After we all had a good laugh we talked about changing the time she took the medicine so it was long before bedtime.  I was a litte surprised when he asked me if I had given her Benadryl. I had to laugh, but then I got to thinking, when Zoey had her blood transfusion she had to take Bendadryl and she was knocked out cold.  So I went home with the weight appropriate dosage.  Unfortunately, it didn't go so well for us.  No matter what Zoey just couldn't fall asleep. Christmas Eve, well actually Christmas morning was the worst night of all.  It was around 2:00 am before she ever fell asleep and then she was back up at 7:00.  The last of January she was taken off her medicine because the nodules had disappeared, I was excited for so many reasons.

Now here we are four months later and we have had to take the Prednisdone for over a week. Mike is out now riding around town to see if the poor dear can fall asleep.  I can't imagine being two and not being able to sleep.  Mike and I have both suffered from insomnia at some point in time of our marriage.  We just never imagined that she would suffer like this. It will all be over with soon and that's all that matters.

Final Exam

Ah. So I was supposed to be taking my final exam.  Well that's not happening.  Apparently my remote proctor and my computer are having a fight. The IT guy, Adam, has been trying for the last hour to fix it. How was he fixing it you ask? Well he was able to take control of my computer and move around on it like he was sitting here with me.  It was really cool.  However, the problem is not resolved and now I have to find a real person to watch me take my exam.  Oh what fun.

Rain Rain Go Away

When Mike and I were first married we used to love rainy days. We would sit around in our pajamas and watch movies all day. The goal was to not leave the apartment at all.  Most of the time we were successful.  Then there were the rare times that we would go out in the rain and play like we were kids :)

Now we have children and rain has a totally different meaning.  Up until Zoey was about a year old she would sleep on rainy days and Mike and I could still watch movies, or nap.  The older she got the less she slept in general. Thus the problem of the day, rain.  Rain to a two year old means that you can't go outside.  Zoey hates rainy days now hat is warm because it takes away her outside time, the ability to be able to go for a ride, and Mike and I loose all patients in the tiny quarters we live in.  It's hard to entertain Zoey all day and when she can't play outside she wants our undivided attention and looses the ability to entertain herself. So we juggle our daughter and our best parenting skills are on display for the world to see (well our world).

At the end of the day we have a toddler not ready for sleep and a house that can be declared a natural disaster area.

Recital

We had our first dance recital today. It was wonderful.

Dress Rehearsal

So I've already commented on the fact that Zoey takes dance on Monday nights.  Well they are having a dance recital on May 1st.  So Thursday they had a dress rehearsal for the recital.

Well you would think that getting Zoey to dress rehearsal would be simple, nope.  Taking my two year old is one thing, taking the two year old and the two month old is a different story.  You see my mother had to work, my husband had to work, and my sister had to work.  So that left me with the baby sling, and Zoey.

Zoey had just woken up from a nap so I thought it would be pretty simple. Dress rehearsal was supposed to start at 4:00.  Silly me kept thinking that they would start with the Mommy and Me class since we had the little wiggle worms that couldn't sit still.  Not so much.  The first couple of groups Zoey was fascinated with and wanted to watch.  The fourth group she stood next to her teacher and mimicked the moves.  By the sixth group I was having to drag her off stage.  As soon as I had her off, she was back up there.  She kept running to line up with the girls and dance. "Mommy dance. Mommy I dance. Mommy dance." Over and over again.  Finally after forty-five minutes it was our turn. Five minutes later we were finished and off to the car we went. All the while I kept hearing, "Mommy dance, Mommy dance."

Rhonda

So I am currently a stay at home mommy, however, that is not the job I want to continue with.  Don't get me wrong, I love my children dearly, but I'm a much better parent when I'm working.

So you're asking why and how I can be a better parent when I'm working. Well, it's simple, I know that when I walk through the door my girls are my priority until bedtime.  They are the most important things and everything else can wait.  As a full time mommy I'm constantly doing laundry, washing dishes, cleaning floors, making beds, you know, being a mommy. I have so little time to devote because to my children because I have phone calls to make the insurance company, doctors appointments, bills to pay and many other things that take me away from the girls.

For the first sixteen months of Zoey's life we had Rhonda. Rhonda was a life safer. Always willing to come over and help in a split second.  She never asked for compensation over the last three years.  The first day I went back to work after being out of school for the summer I was a little sad and scared. I didn't have to be though, Rhonda took care of everything.  I came home to a clean house.  Rhonda did everything for Zoey that she could to make her happy and to keep her occupied. She brought her to the school on Friday's for the pep rally.  She helped at football games when we traveled.  She did everything for us.

When we left our jobs in Haleyville Rhonda was still there.  She would come over and help me with Zoey while Mike interviewed for jobs.  She would keep Zoey to all hours of the night so I could interview for jobs.  When Zoey was put in the hospital she wasn't able to come see her, however, I went home to a spotless house and a stocked refrigerator of the basic needs. Rhonda was there until football season became hectic. She was there for Christmas when we needed her help.

Rhonda helped us move into our house, and she helped us to move out of our house.  If I could afford to move Rhonda in the house next door I would (especially since the house next door is for sale). I can't imagine what life will be like as we continue to adjust to our lack of Rhonda. There was always a daily dose and it was just enough to keep me sane because she magically appeared when  I was about to loose it.

Zoey is happy, healthy, and verbal.  Rhonda has two children that are happy, healthy, and very intelligent.  Zoey will be all those things because of the time Rhonda devoted to her. I could come home to a sleeping baby, change clothes and Zoey was ready to go and so was I. As a mommy there is never five minutes to  your self to collect your self for the next round.  I could do that because the most wonderful woman in the world made it possible.

One sick, Two sick, Three sick, Four

I love spring time in Alabama. I have not however been a fan of the yellow dust that takes over the playgrounds, the cars, and the air just in general.  So imagine my surprise when Mike woke up all congested with a runny nose and a headache last Wednesday.  Well if you think that was a shocker imagine how surprised I was when I woke up on Saturday struggling to breath in and out. Then of course Zoey began to couch on Sunday. Then this morning, my poor two month old tried to wake, but her eyes were matted shut, then out came the biggest glob of goo out of her nose.  So now my days are filled with little noses and antibiotics and the gentle sound of the screams as I take the bulb syringe to little noses.

"It's Monday"

My two year-old is slowly understanding that there are days in the week and the meaning behind certain days. For example, Monday is dance night in the Muncher household. Zoey and I attend a Mommy and Me dance class every Monday. I have discovered that Monday is now Zoey's favorite day of the week.

Every Monday I wrestle Zoey down and put on her leotard and her dance shoes. I bribe her to let me put a bow in her hair so she looks as prim and proper as the other eight girls in the class. We then drive seven minutes down the road to Jasper Elite, each Monday I pray that my child will not be the "wild child" and that she will be, well, hopefully she will at least behave long enough to get out into the gym.

Alas, my prayers are not always answered for more often than not my child leads the pack to destruction. I am a stay at home mom, Zoey's only boundary is that she must stay within my sight during the day. She follows directions well and for the most part can be left to her own devices. So when we venture out to dance on Monday we are among parents who work all day and have their children in some type of child care thus making it the only time they get to spend together. Oh, how I long to be among the work force again soon.... I have to say, tonight she was pretty well behaved and managed to wait her turn most of the night. Unfortunately dance is drawing to a close and Zoey will not be able to see Miss Emily, because Emily will be leaving for school soon and won't be teaching the Mommy and Me class anymore. What shall we do?

There is a point.

There is a point to my blog, I promise. I'm just getting the hang of working the program. I'm doing my best because, well, I think I have some interesting things to say :)

While I'm thinking about it.

I borrowed one of our family photos from Karla Burton. I'm trying to figure out how to get her page to publish. Until then go to karlaburtonphotography.com.

Getting Started

Getting started has been a little difficult today. Everyone here is sick. Zoey has a cold, I have bronchitis, Mike is recovering from surgery and Abby has a tummy virus. What can I say, nothing is simple in our house. Not to mention the crazy weather. The only positive to the crazy weather is that my children sleep like logs when it rains.

So it begins

So, I have decided to create a blog. I intended to do it back when Zoey became so ill, and just never got around to it. So here goes.