Prayers

This morning I found out that my Dad took my Mom to the hospital in the middle of the night because she wasn't feeling well out all.  She had an upset stomach, headache, chest pains (I believe that is what he said), and a few other things.  At the hospital they were able to rule out heart attack.  After some tests, they believe it is her gall bladder.  She is in her own room right now, waiting to hear from a doctor and surgical team.  It sounds like she will probably have surgery sometime this afternoon.  I am praying for my mom & dad, the doctor, the surgical staff, and all those who will be taking care of her.  Please send prayers her way.

I also found out that my sister was in the hospital overnight with labor.  After progressing for a few hours the labor stopped and she was sent home.  She is now at home waiting for the arrival of Murphy.  Please pray for her and her family that Murphy makes a safe arrival into this world.

I will update as I know more!

A Tribute To Our Logical Mothers

Note to readers: I did not write this.  I do not know who did.  I got this in an email and I wanted to share it with everyone.  I can relate to so many!

A Tribute To Our Logical Mothers  1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.  "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."  2. My mother taught me RELIGION.   "You better pray that that will come out of the carpet."  3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.  "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"  4. My mother taught me LOGIC.  " Because I said so, that's why."  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .   "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.  "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."  7. My mother taught me IRONY.   "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."  8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.  "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."  9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.  "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"  10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.  "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."  11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.  "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."  12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.  "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"  13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.  "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."  14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.  "Stop acting like your father!"  15. My mother taught me about ENVY.  "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."  16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.  "Just wait until we get home."  17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.  "You are going to get it when you get home!"  18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.  "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."  19. My mother taught me ESP.  "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"  20. My mother taught me HUMOR.  "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."  21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.  "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."  22. My mother taught me GENETICS.   "You're just like your father."  23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.  "Shut that door behind you.  Do you think you were born in a barn?"  24. My mother taught me WISDOM.   "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."  And my favorite: 25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE  .  "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

Perseverance

Do you ever have one of those mornings that when the alarm goes off you don't want to get out of bed?  I mean really DON'T want to get out of the bed.  Not the I am just too tired to get out of bed, but the I just want life to pause for one day so I can just stay in bed and be lazy, not have to worry about getting the kiddos ready, or remember who needs to be where at what time.  This morning was one of those mornings for me.  I do not really remember the last time I had one of those mornings, but if I was going to guess, it would probably have been sometime last February when William had about a 6 week stint of ear infections and burst ear drums and I was also sick.

Anyways, today, I DID NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF BED!

I had to though.  I got up, got the girls moving, and got ready.  The morning routine is pretty normal around here.  However, if you were watching somedays you wouldn't think that.  It is not uncommon to hear, "Mom, what do I do next?".  So, I once again repeat myself.

Out the door we went this morning, my butt dragging along.  I am not sure why the sudden laziness, but it was there.  I tell myself, I need to keep moving.  First stop, Dewey school to drop Julianne off.  Second stop, the post office to put pictures in the mail.  Third stop, the Y.  Hopefully I can gain some energy.  My workouts seem to help with that.  However, this morning that was not the case.  I started working out and I just wasn't moving as fast as I usually do.  I think to myself, come on muscles and brain work together!  I am 6 minutes into my workout on the elliptical and I am still struggling to keep my normal pace.  I keep pushing.  I keep telling myself one more song and you can be done.  I do this until the timer on the elliptical beeps at me.  YES!  I made it thru.  I made it thru and persevered.  Instead of my normal 35 minutes plus cool down, I did 40 minutes and cool down.  It was a struggle every minute, but I did it.

I could have just went home this morning and skipped the Y, but I didn't.  I pushed myself.  Success for me is going to come thru determination.  Today determination WON!  The little devil on my shoulder fell off for the day.  I made it thru my workout and was productive at home.  Another workout done and another day of living!  Tomorrow will be tomorrow, but today I will celebrate because it is a present.

Becca

PS.  I hope no one construes this as whining or complaining.  It is my motivation to keep moving and I have to remind myself that is okay.  I also hope that it may be motivation for others to push thru when they want to quit or take a break.  Have a great day!

Mischievous William

Crawling onto the elliptical.  He got himself stuck!

His shirt reads, "I Make Noise and Trouble"!

Climbing, climbing, climbing

Emptying out the lazy susan!

Yes, he climbed all the way in it!

I was trying to unload the dishwasher and when I turned to put the silverware away and turned back he was on the dishwasher door!

He can climb up onto the dining room chairs and then on the table.  So, the chairs are no longer up to the table!

Katelyn cleaning up for me after William emptied the cabinet out.

Merry Christmas Mason!

With limited rooms at my parent's house for Christmas the 3 oldest grandkids were in the basement family room.  The girls were on air mattresses and Mason, my nephew, slept in the pack-n-play.  It was going fine until Julianne had pushed the pack-n-play a little too close to the table (on the right of the 1st picture).  My mom had wrapped presents for friends and extended family on the table, well they were wrapped before Mason got ahold of them.  

So, here is the story (I may be messing it up a bit, but nonetheless it is still funny):

One night Josh (my brother-in-law) laid Mason down for bed.  All seemed fine.  The girls were asleep back in Brian and I's bedroom.  Us adults decided to play dominos upstairs.  About an hour after laying Mason down Josh and Rachel heard him hollering for one of them.  So, down Josh went to check on Mason.  Shortly after that Josh was hollering for Rachel.  So, all the adults headed downstairs.  We get down there to find almost every present that had been on the table wrapped, was now unwrapped.  Mason told Josh, "I unwrap presents".  We all just laughed.  Mason did a great job opening the gifts and didn't break a single one and there were quite a few breakable gifts!

After opening each gift he would throw the paper and the present on the floor or the air mattresses.  

We took a few pictures and then picked up the mess.  Thanks to Mason we all got a great laugh that evening!!

Mason with all the presents he opened!

Happy Halloween!

My Cowgirl and Fairy

My Cowgirl, Blue M&M, and Fairy

Daylight

Julianne and Katelyn's jack-o-lanterns

 Glowing at night

When William sees a camera he heads towards it, so I get quite a few pictures up-close.

William's Halloween pjs.

Weigh-in #3

Last Thursday I had my third weigh-in for the Y-Fit challenge.  I was a little (okay, quite) nervous to weigh-in after the gain the week before.  I decided to weigh-in before working out.  I thought maybe the 32 ounces of water I drank, while working out, before weighing-in the previous time may have hurt me.

So, I am excited to announce I lost 7 pounds, for a net loss of 6 pounds so far!  I am so excited.  The hard-work has paid off.  Though, I must admit it is not hard-work, it is enjoyable and I feel GREAT!

When I started this 2.5 weeks ago, I went for it all.  No one change at a time for me.  I changed my eating habits and began working out at least 5 days per week!  I try and do some type of workout every day, but the weekends are a little more challenging, so I am more creative with my workout.  Though, thanks to all the snow we have gotten it doesn't take too much creativity.

As far as eating goes I didn't cut anything out completely.  I am just changing my portion size and munching.  I have found that if I cut something out completely I usually end of craving it more after a period of time.

Diet Changes
Step 1: Use a smaller plate
Step 2: Smaller portions
Step 3: When I start to feel full, I quit eating
Step 4: Fruit or Veggies for snacks

It is nothing major and it is not scientific, but it is something I CAN stick with.

Working out has become a big part of my life.  I enjoy it because it is time for me.  I put my headphones on and just go....usually for about 3.5 miles or 35 minutes on the elliptical.  Then I move to the weights.  I want to lose fat, not muscle!

Yesterday (Saturday) I did not work out and I found myself with a headache mid-afternoon.  I couldn't figure out why, but as I thought about it I figured out it was because I hadn't worked out.  So, I got up and moving more than I was.  Up and down the stairs a few times.  Around the circle of the house.  Back to my bedroom.  Back to William's room.  My headache started to go away.  I kept moving and it was gone.

My body is adjusting to the changes I have made and my weight-loss is proof.

What I have learned in the short 2.5 weeks is, each person is different.  Each person's motivation is different.  Each person needs to do what WILL work for him/her.  No two people are alike and that is why no two exercise/weight loss plans should be identical.

I hope that I can motivate others to use the gym, control portions, and to become healthier.

My only regret in all of this is not taking advantage of the Y membership we purchased four years ago!

I DO feel better!  I AM more patient!  I HAVE more energy!

So, Tuesday morning I will get to the Y again and continue my workout so I can continue on my new journey.  (Tomorrow, Monday, I am taking William for his 15 month check-up.)

K says the darndest things...

Katelyn, my middle child and 2nd girl, is witty and has quite an imagination.  She uses both frequently.  She especially seems to use both when she is in trouble and knows we won't be able to keep ourselves from laughing.  Sometimes, she doesn't quite know that she is being funny...in all actuality she is being serious!  So today, we had this conversation...

So, today when we were at HyVee gas we were parked by an OATS bus.

Katelyn asks, "Mom is that the dog catcher van?"

I say, "No, it is a bus that people can ride on."

Katelyn then asks and points, "Why is that on the back then?"

Me, "Katelyn that is so people that are in wheelchairs can get on and off the bus."

Katelyn, "Oh, when I was a daddy I was in a wheelchair at the middle school."

Me, "What?  When you were a daddy?"

Katelyn now repeats what she said and says, "Yep, when I was a daddy!"

I love her imagination, I hope she continues to embrace it as she goes thru like, my spunky middle child!!

Changes for Mommy!

So, about a week and a half ago a friend told me she was going to the Y to workout.  I said that sounded like a good thing.  I then asked her if she would like to go with me on Thursday.  She said yes.  So, on Thursday, off to the Y we went.  First, we dropped off kiddos at preschool.  Second, we took our boys into the daycare area at the Y.  I didn't know how William would do when I left, but he did fine!  Then we were off to workout.   

I have to admit, we have had a Y membership for around 4 years and this is the first time I have used the Y solely for myself.  Both girls have used it for gymnastics, swim lessons, basketball, and t-ball.  It is sad when I think about it that I never used this wonderful facility for myself!  But now I am and I will continue to until we move.   

When we got upstairs to the workout area we walked a few laps for a warm-up.  Next, we went to the elliptical machines and did 30 minutes there.  Finally, it was off to do some weights.  While we were on the ellipticals my friend brought up the Y-Fit Challenge and asked if I would be doing it.  I told here I didn't know it was starting.  She informed me that it was starting that day and you could weigh-in Thursday or Friday.  So, I said sure.  After our work out we headed downstairs and weighed-in.

When I weighed-in, I was happy because I was at the weight I was at before I got pregnant with William, but I was also disappointed with my weight.  Right then and there I told myself I was going to do something about this.  I needed to, so I could show my kids a healthy mom.  Now, I must admit, I have vowed to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise before so what would be different?  This time I am going to do it. I want to live a long life and be around for my kids.  I WANT to be comfortable looking at myself in the mirror.  

So, on Thursday, January 6, 2011I began my exercise program and eating healthy.  I worked out for 8 days straight, doing a combination of cardio and weights.  I also started eating healthier and watching what I eat.  It is amazing how my body and mind have changed in the first 8 days!  While I am exhausted, it is different than the exhaustion I felt a month ago.  I am exhausted because my body is working.  My mind is clear, I contribute this to healthy eating (lots of fruits and vegetables) and a chance to clear my mind without worrying about the kiddos.  I JUST FEEL BETTER!

Today was my first day off, although I was up and moving quite a bit.  My exercise wasn't on a machine it was around the house, up and down stairs, and chasing kiddos.  My body needed a bit of rest.  It is adjusting to all these changes and I need to give it time to figure out what is going on.  I still feel good today, but I am ready to get back to the gym.  I DID MISS THE GYM TODAY, maybe I'll head to the gym tomorrow before Brian leaves.  

I am a convert, I love the gym and will keep working forward towards the goal of a healthier self!

Oh and by the way, I had my second weigh-in and it did't go so well.  I was disappointed at first, but I do know that my body is going thru a lot of changes right now.  IT WILL TAKE TIME, but the important part is to stick with it and I will see results!

What the snow does...

Snow and ice create havoc at the intersection where our house is.  Cars come down the hill and try and turn the corner at speeds that are too fast for the condition of the road.  I must say that people aren't always going to fast, but most of the time they seem to be.

So, that brings me to today.  It is snowing here in Chillicothe.  We have maybe 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground and the roads are slick.  It is the snow that is beautiful, light, and fluffy, but once it is driven on it becomes ice.  As I was running some errands this morning, preparing to be home for at least the next 24 hours, my 4 wheel drive Suburban was even having a few issues.  Needless to say I would not be out in this unless I absolutely had to!  I don't mind the weather and I think I am a good driver in these conditions, but I don't trust everyone else that is driving.  Okay, so enough of the rambling, here goes what happened..

I am in the kitchen trying to get some lunch and Katelyn says, "Mom why is someone driving in our yard?"  I say, "What?!?!"  I go to the dining room and look out the window to find a car in the ditch in front of our house.  My first thought is hoping the person is okay.  I watch the car for a minute to see if there is any movement.  I can't see any movement.

So, I tell the girls to stay inside and I am going to check on this person.  I grab my cell phone and the home phone.  I go down to the mudroom and get shoes and a coat on and head outside.  As I go out the garage door the mail truck pulls up.  The mailman gets out and says, "It just happened and I hope she is okay."  I said, "Me too, I am going to check."  So I go up the front stairs, across the yard, and down the hill.  My thought, "She is definitely stuck!"

As I get closer to the car, she rolls her window down.  I ask her if she is okay.  She is okay, I think she is embarrassed by this whole thing.  She tells me she was coming down the hill slowly and going to turn right, but her car just kept sliding.  I understand completely.  Cars do that all the time in these weather conditions.  However in the past we have just seen the tire marks in the ditch, not the car.

After making sure she is alright, I offer to call someone for her or to borrow the phone, but she said she had a cell phone and would be calling her husband.  She was just waiting to call him because he was at work.  I am thinking I wouldn't be waiting, I would call and interrupt him.  She then informs me he is a school bus driver.  Okay, now I understand why she is waiting.  Schools got out early because of the weather, so she wouldn't be able to get ahold of him quite yet.  I offered help one more time and she declined.  I told her if she needed anything to knock on the front door and I would help her.  She then looked at me and said I can't get out.  She was right, the driver's side of her car was jammed against the side of the hill and it would have been hard to crawl out the passenger door.

I did feel bad for this lady.   And yet, the poor lady was more worried about the grass than her car.   I told her not to worry about the grass the city beats it up anyways.  I would be more worried if I was her because she is sitting in a ditch that is 2 feet deep!  She was a bit surprised by this and then I think she did become a bit more worried about her car.  I told her good luck and headed back for my warm house. As I headed in, 2 other vehicles stopped to offer help and and I could hear her decline the help.

I felt bad for her, but there wasn't anything I could do for her.  So, back in the house I went. When I got in the house I called the neighbor and told her to look out her window and into my front yard.  She looked and said, "Oh no".  So, for the next 15 minutes or so we talked on the phone a few times as things changed out front.  Our wonderful neighbor was going to take hot chocolate out to the lady.

Thank goodness help arrived that wouldn't take no for an answer.  First, a truck, with 2 guys in it, pulling a little plow stopped to help.  Next a guy in an Explorer stopped.  I am guessing they wouldn't take no for an answer, because they started to work on getting her out.

While these 3 guys worked to get the lady out of the ditch, I got some comic relief watching.  Julianne was mad at me because I kept chuckling about it.  She kept telling me it wasn't funny.  I couldn't quite figure out how to explain to her why I was laughing.  But, I did reassure her the lady in the car was fine and I had went out and offered help.

As the guys tried to get her unstuck, the seemed to be having troubles. First, they pushed her backwards right into the concrete drain.  Oops.  Next they tried to push her forward.  She went forward and into the ditch even farther.  Then they tried backwards again, but with no luck.  I watched as the guys talked.  They decided to try something else.  One guy went and got a tow rope and hooked it to the lady's car.  Another guy went and got his Explorer.  They hooked the tow rope to the Explorer.  The Explorer started to move, the car started to move.  Forward movement in the ditch, but the car wasn't coming out.  Then the Explorer's wheels started spinning and the Explorer started sliding.  I am no longer laughing, but worrying, we don't need 2 cars in the ditch!  I watch as the guys look at it again.  They decide to try and pull her out again.  The Explorer starts moving, the car starts moving.  The Explorer's tires start to spin and the Explorer starts to slide, but both the Explorer and the car are moving.  The car moves 5 feet, then 10 feet, then 15 feet and she is out of the ditch!  The lady in the car got far enough down on our property line she got to where the ditch is filled in.

They were all excited.  Both vehicles unhook and the guys leave.  A few minutes later I look at the window and see the lady cleaning her car off.  I am thankful she is not hurt and glad some guys stopped to help her.

Thank you to the good samaritans that helped her, people are good and do care about others!

Lesson learned.  Pay it forward!

Today...

I am sitting here on the couch tonight and something calls me to look at some of my blogs from 2010.  Wow, it is hard to believe that it is January 2011...where did time go?  Shouldn't it just be the end of January 2010?

When I was in elementary school I always thought the days went by so slow, I think most everyone thinks that as kids.  I remember my parents and many others tell me just wait, when you get older you will want time to slow down.  I laughed at those words, but now I realize they were so very, very right!  I WANT, I NEED, time to slow down.  My baby girl (Julianne), okay she isn't a baby any more, can't be 6 already!  Katelyn shouldn't be 4 and William definitely shouldn't be 1 - he should be a few months old at best.

Time does move forward whether we like it or not.  I guess I'd better like it....life is much easier to be appreciative of what we have and enjoy the moments we have with each other, then to live in the past and miss the "now".  I keep reminding myself if time didn't move forward I wouldn't have new memories of my wonderful (some days they do challenge the thought of them being wonderful) children everyday!  So, I am accepting that time moves fast, but I am going to enjoy every moment and live for today.

Speaking of today, I enjoyed it very much.

Today I got to sleep in (thanks Brian)!  Today I got to see all my kids smile and hear them laugh!  Today I got to taste the food I ate!  Today I got to smell the wonderful outdoors!  Today I got to feel the love of my kids when they hugged me!

So, I am thankful for today.  Today, the love of my family reminded me how lucky I am!

Goodnight dear friends and family.  Tomorrow is a new day and I will appreciate it for everything it has to offer.

Becca

PS.  I will try and get pictures up soon.  I am adjusting to my new MacBook and trying to figure out where I want to store ALL my pictures.  I take at least 250 in a normal week, and when there is something special I usually have a minimum of 500!!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas (a little late) and Happy New Year!

Things have been a little crazy around our house over the last few months.  Just when I think I am getting things in order, things start to spin until it is crazy again!  I keep moving forward, but not always at the pace I want or the way I want.  However, things are moving forward!

Life is great!  A positive attitude goes a long way in life.  Last fall I had a number of people ask me how I was able to deal with being away from my husband and caring for the 3 kiddos on my own.  My answer was simple, I depend on God!  Don't get me wrong, there was a time I struggled and when I questioned what was happening, but I have learned that God knows what is best for us.  We need to trust him and believe in him.

For Christmas the kiddos and I travelled to South Dakota.  The girls were excited to go visit Grammy and Papa and stay at their house.  We went up a day earlier than I had anticipated going, but I am glad we did.  We were in Sioux Falls for a week and enjoyed our time up there.  My sister, Rachel, and her husband, Josh, and son Mason also made the trip to Sioux Falls from Baton Rouge.  It was a great Christmas with family and we had lots of fun throughout the week.  We visited Santa at the mall, did some shopping, enjoyed family dinners, and played with the kiddos alot!

The girls got to enjoy the snow and loved it.  Julianne, Katelyn and Papa went sledding down the big hill, made snow angels, and built a snowman.  Katelyn now loves the snow and stayed out the whole time with Julianne and Papa.  I was so proud of her.

To burn off some energy Brian took the girls to a place that had indoor bounce houses and they loved it! I loved it too because they got back to Grammy and Papa's with less energy.  Everyone (except William because it would have been way past his bedtime) also got to to watch a Skyforce basketball game.  The girls enjoyed it, especially Julianne.  It was a fun game, that unfortunately the Skyforce lost by 1 point right at the end!

We left the following Wednesday from Grammy and Papa's.  While we had fun and enjoyed the visit, I am sure glad we left when we did.  We made it back to Chillicothe safely and only had to drive through a light fog off and on.  Rachel and her family were not so lucky.  They were supposed to fly out on Thursday and the weather took a turn for the worse.  Ice and freezing temperatures kept them grounded and after sitting in the airport for around 4 hours and delay after delay their flight was finally cancelled.  They were able to re-book, but they didn't get on a flight until late Sunday afternoon.  They made it home safely late Sunday night and were glad to be back in Baton Rouge!

On New Year's Day we celebrated with Brian's Mom and Dad.  They came to our house and we had lunch.  After lunch we opened presents and had a great time!

While we had extra time with Brian, the time seemed to go really fast.  However, each of us girls had the opportunity to go on a date with him.  I got to go out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant, Seasons, with him and some great friends.  Julianne and Katelyn both got to choose an activity to do with him.  They both chose a movie, but didn't want to go together so Brian got to see Yogi twice!

So, all in all we had a wonderful Christmas and thru it all we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and we continue to celebrate his life everyday and not just one day in December!