My Three Sons

Disney Half

2012-01-24T11:12:00.000-05:00

As you can see from the pictures below, Matthew and I had a FANTASTIC time at Disney World earlier this month.

Here's a quick recap: We left at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and drove for several hours until we stopped to sleep for a couple of hours at a rest area.

We hit the ground running on Thursday, hopping from Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom, enjoying a late lunch at Tusker House. We then went to the Expo and picked up our race packets.

Matthew ran the 5K on Friday morning, and then we busted it UP at Universal Studios. I love being there w/out kids so we can ride the fast rides over and over.

We got up SUPER early Saturday. Like 3:20 a.m. early. We were almost late to the race b/c of the crazy traffic. Even at 4:30 in the morning. Matthew ran the half marathon as an Achilles guide, racing alongside an injured Iraq veteran. I ran the half marathon with me, myself, and I. It started out slowly b/c of alllll the people (22,000 finishers in the half). But then my pace picked up a little and I was feeling good. I ran the race hard. At about mile 9 or 10 I was feeling it. I always want to stop at mile 10. I wish half marathons were only 10 miles!!!

For the next three miles, I put mind over matter. One foot in front of the other. I was not particularly enjoying myself, but I knew I would be glad I did it. It was hard. Dang hard.

But I did it!! And I did it faster than my last half marathon. On December 11, 2011, I ran my first half marathon in 2:27:14. On January 7, 2012, I ran my second half marathon in 2:26:18.

After that, we spent the rest of the day in Magic Kingdom, where I ate a big, fat burger, and we ended up sitting RIGHT next to Trista & Ryan from The Bachelorette! I was very star struck!!

Matthew got up super early again the very next day and ran the full marathon. He wasn't sure how he'd do after running the 5K on Friday and the half on Saturday (albeit in 1:55, slower than his normal pace b/c he was an Achilles guide). But he KILLED IT!! He ran the entire thing, and set a personal record--finishing in
3:28:47! We spent the day in Islands of Adventure and had lots of Butterbeer in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (Don't worry, Dad, it's nonalcoholic.) ;)

Monday we woke up and spent our last day in Magic Kingdom again. I think I could live there. Running through Cinderella's Castle on Saturday brought tears to my eyes; it was seriously SO magical. *sniff*

We went back to the hotel at about 5 p.m., packed up, and left at 9 p.m. for home, driving all night.

Matthew had to go to Knoxville the very next day for a meeting, and I was full-on in charge of the kids again.

Yeah, Tuesday was *rough*. But oh-so-very worth it.

Since getting home, Thomas has had surgery (2nd set of tubes and adenoids removed). I had to do it alone b/c Matthew was out of town. Thankfully my mom watched Benjamin (Andrew was at school). Recovery has been hard, but he's finally feeling almost completely back to normal.

Which is great b/c early this Friday morning, we're leaving on a jet plane. Matthew, Andrew, and I are flying out to California until Monday. Andrew will get to fly on an airplane for the very first time, and Matthew and I are running the Tinkerbell Half Marathon on Sunday. (If you want to track us, click here: http://www.xacte.com/templates/disney/tinkerbell/) We're staying with my good friend, Sara, and we're so excited about the trip!!

I am, however, a little nervous about the race. My last run was painful. My left hamstring (or maybe the tendon behind my knee?) is hurting and I just felt spent. I was supposed to do 8.5 miles and I pooped-out after 3.1. I've missed a couple of runs here and there b/c of weather, Matthew's travel, and honestly, lack of will. So I'm worried.

My goal for this half is just to ENJOY it. I cannot set a PR (personal record) at every race. I just can't. So while I did 2:27 and 2:26, my real goal is to finish under 2:30. I'd really like all my half marathons to be under 2:30. But I am not going to let it bug me too much if I'm slower.

So here are the pictures!!!

Haha--had to end it on a sad one. Don't worry--he feels much better now.

OH! Don't forget! If you're interested in sponsoring me in next month's local charity half marathon, you can click here: http://www.active.com/donate/SpecialOlympics2012/AAmick3

Sick kids, no kids, and sweet kid

2012-01-03T21:02:00.001-05:00

Sick Kids

It has been a ROUGH Christmas break.

Benjamin and Thomas got sick the very first day of Christmas break (also the first day of winter). Thomas got better.

Then he got sick again.

Benjamin *stayed* sick.

Then, right before school started back, guess who got sick?

Andrew.

UGH.

Andrew missed today, and he's going to miss tomorrow. Thankfully, Benjamin went to school today and seems mostly on the mend. Thomas had his second ear infection in two weeks, one of which he got ON antibiotics. We're trying another med (he's allergic to most), but he needs a new set of tubes. We go next week to the ENT.

Hope we make it until then.

I don't have time to change my Christmas background, so just enjoy it a bit longer.

Like maybe until May.

No Kids

Matthew and I are headed to Disney in just over a day.

Without our kids.

We'll be there for the long weekend. The Disney Marathon Weekend. Matthew is running the 5K on Friday, the half marathon on Saturday, and the full marathon on Sunday. That's 42.4 miles in case anyone's counting.

Me?

I'm "just" running the half. But I'm dang excited about it.

We're leaving the boys here with my mom & stepdad, and one of my cousins whose college classes haven't started back yet is watching the boys during the weekdays.

I hate to leave my kids sick, but we've had this trip planned for almost a year and we've trained so hard. I know they're in wonderful and very capable hands.

In case you're interested in tracking Matthew and me during our races, Disney has an awesome thing where you can (FOR FREE!) receive updates of runners while they're running their races. You will get either a text, an email, or I even think they're doing Facebook and Twitter updates, too, of my splits. (For you non-runners out there, that means you get updates at certain points during my race, like my time & pace at the 5K mark, the halfway mark, and the finish, etc.)

If you're interested, click here and sign up!

http://www.xacte.com/templates/disney/marathon/

All you need is my name (Angela Amick) and/or my hubby's name (Matthew Amick). For me, you'll be getting updates as early as 6:15 a.m. EST on Saturday. For Matthew, you'll be getting updates as early as 6:00 a.m. EST on Saturday and on Sunday.

In case you are wondering, my time for my first half marathon (last month) was 2:27:14. I am hoping to tie or beat it. :)

Sweet Kid

Speaking of half marathons, I am running one in February for Benjamin. It's a local charity race. Some of you may remember that I ran the 5K last year (my second race!), and you all helped me raise over $600!!! This year I'm running the half marathon, and I really want to exceed that amount.

Here is the link where you can donate. Please consider giving, even if it's only $5 or $10. I mean it when I say this--every little bit helps.

http://www.active.com/donate/SpecialOlympics2012/AAmick3

And for those of you ~~too lazy~~ unable to click links, here is what it says:

Benjamin's Bravehearts

How can you say no to this face?

No one ever expects to have a child with special needs. I certainly never thought this would be my life. But when my second son was born, and we found out he has Down syndrome and required heart surgery, we were thrown into this world, like it or not. I'll be honest. I'm still not fully okay with it. I'm not sure if I ever will be. But this one thing is true: I love my son with a fierce, protective love, deeper than anything I ever thought possible. So when you pass a special education bus or see a child with special needs, think of my Benjamin. He is not just "one of those kids." He is MY kid. Please consider donating for this wonderful cause. Because all of these kids are someone's kids.

Thank you for supporting Area 4 Special Olympics. You have given a special athlete an opportunity he/she otherwise would not have.

------------------------

That's all for now!

Wish me luck!

I came, I froze, and I hustled my butt off! (AKA My first half marathon race report)

2011-12-14T20:15:00.012-05:00

First of all, if you're reading my blog, you probably already know that I'm long-winded.

I predict that this race report is going to be wordy and full of tangents.

If that doesn't really appeal to you (I'm talking to you, Michael and Justin...), here is a quick re-cap of the Santa Hustle Half Marathon that Matthew and I ran last Sunday:

Just the Facts (And in case you're a runner/math wizard, some of these numbers might not quite make sense b/c though a half marathon is technically 13.1 miles, this one measured 13.20 miles. And, yes, that last unneccesary tenth of a mile might have been the hardest stretch!!)

Matthew finished in 1:29:32 (chip time, a PR--personal record)
His pace was 6:47/mile.
He was 16th (holy crap) overall (out of 634 runners). (Only one woman beat him, by the way...lol, and she was FAST.)
In his age group (30-34-yr-old men), he was 4th (out of 35 runners). He came in 52 seconds after the 3rd place 30-34-year-old man, meaning he was *this* close to receiving a special medal. Not a huge deal but kind of disappointing.

I finished in 2:27:13 (chip time, a PR obviously, since it was my first half)
My pace was 11:09/mile. (My goal was 11:30/mile!!)
I was 443rd overall (out of 634 runners). (I beat 40 men...Yes, I counted on the list...)
I was 47th in my age group (30-34-yr-old women) out of 74 runners.

And, now, the rest of the story...

A few days leading up to this race, I was starting to get nervous and a little prematurely discouraged because the weather was supposed to be freezing.

Literally.

It was predicted to be 28 degrees, feels like 22. (In actuality, when we were sitting in the car at 8:15 in the parking lot, waiting on the 9:00 start, my phone said it was 26 degrees, feels like 18. It probably warmed up slightly before 9:00, but not by much.)

I went through a slight panic as I realized I didn't really have proper cold-weather running clothes. I didn't want to spend lots of money that I wouldn't really need except for this race, but I also didn't want to get hypothermia during the race, or worse: For my first race to be forever tainted b/c I was too cold.

Also a concern was that when you're all bundled up, you run more slowly. At least I do. And I *hate* to have to carry ANYTHING in my hands when I'm running.

A couple of days before we left, Matthew went to Goodwill and Walmart and got some cheap "throw away" items for us (meaning if you warm up and throw them to the side of the road, volunteers will get them and donate them, but you'll never see them again): a scarf and hat for me, and sweatshirts for both of us. I planned on wearing my long-sleeved technical Santa shirt (provided w my race entry) underneath a vest with pockets (for placing my gloves if I needed to, and also to carry chapstick and a Gu), my TekGear running pants w ankle socks and my running shoes. On my head, a $3 red earband (or whatever they're called) that Matthew got at Walmart originally as a throw-away item, but I loved it too much and just double-wrapped it around my arm when I got too warm. On top of the earband, my cheap Walmart toboggan. Then I was going to wear my big Goodwill sweatshirt over my other shirts and throw it on the side of the road when I got too hot.

Matthew planned to wear shorts (he's a lunatic), his long-sleeved Santa shirt (same size as mine--woo-hoo!!!!), his throw-away sweatshirt, and then his provided Santa hat and beard. (I left mine in the car. No way was I wearing those things while running.)

We dropped off the kids at my mom's house and left at about 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. Sevierville is about 2 to 2.5 hours away, so it was a nice time to listen to music, talk about our race plans, and for me to read aloud from my July Entertainment Weekly (the special Harry Potter issue).

I was full of excitement and anticipation. Plus, KID-FREE FOR 30.5 HOURS!!!

We got off the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg exit and headed straight to the Wilderness at the Smokies Lodge to pick up our packets. There were people everywhere!!

As we drove to our hotel (5 miles away, and directly on the race route), we noticed every hill that we'd have to run the next day. There were about four hills total, most of them long and gradual. And going down a hill never feels as good as going up a hill feels bad. (Does that make sense?) Plus, I don't train on hills. So I was a little worried that it might affect my goal time.

We checked into the Fairfield Inn & Suites. Those of you who are familiar with the area will recognize this view from our hotel room balcony.

Tanger Five Oaks! (We never actually went here, though...)

We tried on our gear just for a photo op.

As we walked into our room, I noticed that it had two queen beds instead of a king. Matthew called down and asked if they had a king available, but they did not. (Probably because we used Marriott points and we weren't eligible for an upgrade.)

So we each had our own bed, and it worked out for the best b/c we got a great night's sleep before the big race!

We had plans to meet up with my friend Aishlea and her husband and son in Gatlinburg for a carb-loading dinner, but we still had about an hour before we had to leave. (Aishlea was running the race as her third half!)

Matthew decided to take a quick snooze, but I was too geared-up to sleep! So I laid out my race clothes, pinned my bib on my vest, and put my timing chip on my shoe.

Then we drove up to Gatlinburg and met Aishlea, Brandon, and their adorable son, Cohen, at Best Italian for dinner. It was cooooold, but I kept telling myself that it's always colder when it's dark outside; that the bright sunshine the morning of the race would help a lot.

Here are some shots outside the restaurant after dinner.

Before retiring for the evening, Matthew checked at the front desk to see if we could get late-late check out. By that I mean this: Normal check out is at 11:00. They had already told us we could have a late check out time of 1:00.

Ummm...the race started at 9:00, and my goal was 2.5 hours. That's 11:30. And Matthew knew he stood a chance to get a medal for placing in his age group (Sorry, Babe!), so we planned to stay afterwards for the awards ceremony. That puts us leaving the race area no earlier than 12:30. We still had to drive five miles (sometimes tricky in Pigeon Forge traffic), shower, and pack up our things. So we needed more like 2:00 or 2:30.

The guy at the front desk said that it wasn't possible at that time for him to authorize it, but to check back first thing in the morning with Ashley.

And with that, we were off to our room.

Matthew fell asleep right before 10:00, and I fell asleep at about 10:15. Matthew was up naturally at about 6:00, while I soaked up every second of sleep until the alarm went off at 6:45. While I got ready, Matthew went and secured us a late-late check out of 2:30. Woo-hoo!

When we arrived at the race site, it was COLD. We sat in our van for as long as we could, soaking up the heat, and talking about our race plan. Once we got out of the van, all bundled up, and started moving around some, we each quickly shed our extra sweatshirt and left them in the van. It was cold, but we were active enough not to need them.

Here we are before moving to the start line. (I left my hat and beard in the van, as planned!)

Matthew moved up to the front of the line, and I went to the back of the 10-11/mile portion of the line. I saw Aishlea and her friend Alison, who was also running her first half! We chatted for a few minutes, and then the line started to move!!! I barely had time to be nervous! I had to quickly remove my gloves in order to start my iPod in time to put them back on to start my Garmin at the start line! Whew!

And just like that, we were off.

I was off.

For my first half marathon.

I've heard it said that a lot of people cry at the end of their first big race. Whether from emotions or sheer exhaustion, the tears sometimes flow easily.

I cried at the very start of mine. Well, almost. But I was thoroughly overcome by emotion as I rounded that first corner...

...seeing hundreds of runners dressed in red, bobbing up and down...

...knowing my husband was at the start at the pack, kicking butt...

...realizing that all my months and months of training had led me to this moment...

...hearing Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" blaring in my ears...

...I literally had a lump in my throat and I had to choke back the tears.

It was awesome.

After we got on the main road, it was Game Time. I tried to find my pace and not go too fast. But as I checked my Garmin, I kept seeing that my pace was in the 9s. That's too fast for me. I tried to slow down some, but I was feeling so good!

The temperature was cold, but the sun was bright (and right in our eyes), so I got warm quickly. After only half a mile, I threw my scarf to the side of the road. The first few miles were great. My music kept me going, the volunteers were plentiful, and the spirit was high. There were hills, but I was able to push through them without slowing down much.

I threw off my hat at about 2.2 miles, and took off my earmuff (wrapped it around my arm) at about 3 miles. I took off my gloves at about mile 4 and shoved them into the pockets in my vest.

At this point, my pace was in the 10s and 11s. I was still feeling great; I was running quickly while saving some of my energy for when I would need it most.

The course was an out-and-back (meaning you run halfway then turn around and run back). After 48:08, I had run 4.32 miles, and the first guy passed me. He was on the way back. MAN, he was fast! Other fast runners started trickling past me, and then I had the great idea that I could pass off my gloves and earband to Matthew when I passed him! (They were heavy in my pocket, distracting me, and slowing me down!)

So as I ran, I started looking for him. He was one of the few people wearing shorts, and as soon as I saw his gait, I knew it was him. He waved at me from afar, and it was so wonderful to see him!!!! I held out my stuff, and he snatched it up! Score!

I got water a few times at water stops, but I never stopped to get water. I just grabbed it and drank it as I ran. I even got a cookie at one of the cookie stops, but I just took one small nibble to say I ate a cookie on a race. :)

I finally got to the turn-around spot, and I immediately felt relief because the sun was now at my back and not glaring in my eyes. (The wind was also slightly colder, but it was a fine trade-off.)

At about mile 8, I started to feel it.

The resistance.

The struggle.

And before I knew it, I was at a crossroads.

I wasn't injured. I wasn't unable to run. I was simply tired.

As I glanced at my Garmin, I could tell that my pace had started to slip into the 11:30s and up.

And I thought, "I can either let this beat me and give in and finish at a slower time or I can push through it no matter how hard it is and meet--or even beat--my goal."

And that, my friends, is exactly what I did. I ate the chocolate Gu that had been in my goody bag, I got some water at the next water stop, and I just put one foot in front of the other.

I thought of my friend Diana, who just ran her first half in September. I thought of all my encouragers. I thought of Matthew, who was already finished by this point.

At mile 10, I started to get my second wind. My body kind of went on autopilot. And my last three miles were all in the 10s.

As I was in mile 11 or 12, I had several thoughts:

--I kept thinking of the Riverwalk (where I do my long runs at home). I thought of the locations where I knew I'd be if I were simply doing a long run at home. "Oh, three miles left? I'd be passing over the train tracks," etc. Putting the distance in perspective helped me a lot.

--I thought of the SATs. When I was in high school, I took the SATs three times. And my best score was my first attempt. I realized that I was running this race really well, and that even though I am already signed up to run two more half marathons very soon, I might not beat this time. I'm okay with that.

--I had the thought for the hundredth time: "If I can train for and run a half marathon, anyone can." I honestly believe this. It took months of dedication and preparation. It took running at times when it was the last thing I wanted to do. But I am not kidding you--15 months ago, I could NOT run for more than 45 seconds without stopping. And I didn't WANT to run for more than 45 seconds without stopping. But I was tired of sitting on the sidelines of my own life. I was tired of making excuses.

And as I rounded that last corner, searching high and low for the finish line and for Matthew, I thought, "You only have one first half marathon. This is mine." And I pushed through the soreness and the fatigue, and I smiled for the camera as Matthew and his Ragnar friends were cheering like fools for me at the finish line. (Ignore the fact that it looks like I'm walking; I assure you, I'm running.) :)

Here is a lovely back shot of me turning off my Garmin as I passed over the finish line.

And here we are!! CLOUD NINE!!!

After waiting to see if Matthew won an award (sooo close!), we went back to the hotel to shower and pack up. I tried to take a short nap but couldn't fall asleep. I was too pumped (and too hungry!!)

We checked out of our hotel, went quickly to the Nike outlet to see if there were any cheap running shoes (nope), and then headed to FIVE GUYS!!!

Best. Burger. Ever.

The drive home was great. Our legs were tired, but we were excited about seeing our boys. Too bad they weren't very excited to see us...(Just kidding--it's just a bad shot. lol)

My first real finisher's medal!! Woo-hoo!

Many people say that they're glad they ran a half marathon but they never want to do it again. At least that's their gut reaction as they pass over the finish line.

Not me! In fact, as I was at about mile 9, the thought occurred to me that this was just a long run in preparation for my next half in about a month!

I welled up with pride as I realized what I had accomplished. I'm honestly a lazy person at heart. I usually take the path of least resistance. Those who know me well can attest to this. But I did it. I ran a freakin' half marathon. And no one can ever take that away from me.

Quick photogenic proof

2011-12-11T20:57:00.000-05:00

I DID IT!!

MUCH more later on the saga of my first half marathon.

But for now, I have sore feet that need to rest.
After I sort a ton of dirty laundry.

Sweet B

2011-12-10T20:30:00.000-05:00

Benjamin is now 3.5 years old. He goes to special-ed preschool four mornings a week (M-Thurs). The bus picks him up at 6:40 and returns him at about 11:45.

He is doing well at school. And, praise God, he hasn't been sick very much at all this fall.

Yet.

He is still mainly non-verbal. He is doing a little better with repeating words, and he occasionally throws out a ~~gang~~ sign here and there.

But not being able to communicate with him is very, very difficult. When he's sick. When he's fussy. When he's tired. When he's frustrated. Even when he's excited and happy.

I am getting better at figuring him out, but it's tough.

He is so very adorable, though. Here he is last month watching Play With Me Sesame. Bert and Ernie were patting their heads, and after watching this episode many times, Benjamin caught on to what he's supposed to do.

Running around and chasing before bedtime is an Amick family regular, and Benjamin's squeals and giggles can be heard echoing throughout the house.

Kindergarten Cutie

2011-12-09T20:30:00.000-05:00

Andrew, now 5.5 years old, is doing well in kindergarten.

Not to say he's the most well-behaved student in his class. He does have to "move his car" more often than I'd prefer.

But he's learning lots, and enjoying his daily routines.

And I love his school and his teacher!

Here he is last month in all his goofiness.

And here he is doing a craft at home. I think it was maybe the third craft in 2011. Yeah, I'm not too into that stuff. :)

You ready to hustle???

2011-12-08T20:30:00.004-05:00

My (three) long-time readers know that in the past year, I have taken up running.

Me.

Who used to say regularly, "I only run if something is chasing me."

Me.

Who literally could not run for 45 seconds without stopping.

Me.

It started with a 5K. Then became several 5Ks. And then a 10K. And more 5Ks. Then I decided that I would go for the gold and run a half marathon.

ME!!!!!!!!!

And it's in THREE DAYS.

I feel prepared. I've done several long runs (two 12-milers and a 12.5-miler) and lots and lots of shorter runs (4.7-miles each).

I am actually running three half marathons over the next 7.5 weeks.

The first one is the Santa Hustle. (Click the link for more info.) It's in Sevierville, TN (Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area), and is this Sunday, December 11. The reason it's called the Santa Hustle is because everyone who is running is given a customized Santa shirt, a Santa hat, and a beard. We're supposed to wear them when we run. And they'll be playing Christmas music over the loudspeakers; they even have candy cane stops along with the water stops.

But I'm pretty sure all I will be thinking of is how friggin' cold I am. The low in Sevierville on Saturday night is supposed to be 22 degrees. And there's no telling how cold it will feel like with the windchill.

I was hoping to be able to maintain an 11:30 average pace, for a finish time around 2:30. But I will be so bundled up and distracted by my frozen extremities that I'm not sure I will go much faster than a snail. A drunk snail.

I've already made my running playlist for my iPod. It contains mostly fast-paced Christmas music with a little Eminem thrown in for good measure.

My second half marathon is Saturday, January 7, at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
My third is Sunday, January 29, at Disneyland in California.

More later on those races; for now, I've got to figure out a way to run 13.1 miles wrapped up in an electric blanket while sipping on hot chocolate.

Good news! Lazy and productive are not mutually exclusive.

2011-12-07T11:04:00.001-05:00

I’m totally productive yet lazy today.

Meaning, I’m very lazy about the things I *should* be doing, like vacuuming my floors (NOT gonna happen) or cleaning up toys from the past three days that are still scattered all over my floors (not a prayer).

But it's not like I'm sitting on the couch under a warm Christmas blanket watching cheesy Lifetime Christmas movies (that was yesterday).

I've been very productive on what I want to be productive on (blogging, listening to year-old Harry Potter podcasts, throwing my shoes at the cats who are bugging me).

Oh, and soaking up every second with my sweet yet VERY MISCHIEVOUS toddler.

I swear, he is vastly different than my other boys,

Who are, now that I think about it, very different from each other.

Hmmm...it's almost like they're individuals.

Whoa. That is too much to digest right now.

Speaking of digestion, I need to fix lunch for the Littles. Benjamin's bus will be here soon, and I still need to change the font color on my blog.

It's ALLLL about priorities, people.

Happy Halloween! (Just a wee bit late...)

2011-12-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Here it is, December 7, and time is moving quickly.

Yet going slowly.

Which is nice.

Except when it's not.

Huh?

Thankfully, the fall months have been mostly kind as far as illness is concerned. We had one bout of sickness in October, but everyone's been mainly well for weeks and weeks.

I love that.

Though it makes me nervous.

Here's what the past few months/weeks have held for us.

Andrew loved Halloween. He loves all things scary and spooky. He loves bad guys and pirates.

Though I'm happy to report that the good guys always win, and the bad guys are always killed. Le sigh...

We decorated a pumpkin for his school's contest.

And he actually won first place in the traditional category! (And, no, the judges did not know beforehand that he is the principal's grandson.)

Then we had a lovely Halloween. The weather was mild, and we had family over to eat, hand out candy, and trick-or-treat. (And let me just say that I planned on posting the below pictures in some sort of chronological order, but Blogger is evidently mad at me for my long absence, and I don't have the patience to rearrange them. Suffice it to say that I posted some of these for cuteness, others for funny faces, and others for a true testament on how hard it is to get a picture where everyone is looking at the camera.)

Every time we have everyone over for holidays or birthday parties, we say, "This was fun! We should do it more often! Really!"

But then life gets in the way, and we don't.

I suppose that's how most things are.

The next posts (Yes! There will be some more! Try not to pee your pants.) will contain details of our daily exciting life which may or may not include bragging-type pictures of my adorable children and also an update on my running progress.

School pictures

2011-11-04T12:08:00.000-04:00

Benjamin Matthew Amick

Age 3.5

October 2011

Pre-K 3

Battlefield Primary School

Andrew James Amick

Age 5.5

September 2011

Kindergarten

Graysville Elementary School

I just don't understand who gave them permission to look so cute or to grow up so quickly.

Randomness

2011-11-03T15:19:00.000-04:00

The other day Matthew and I were talking about music or movies or something.
The topic of Zach Galifianakis came up and how he supposedly told Ke$ha to her face that her "music is really bad."

Matthew thought about it for a second and replied, "I bet Zach Galifianakis would make a good homeless person."

----------------------------------------------------

Matthew and I have a habit after we run races.

We scour the race results for people we know OR people we saw at the race to check how they did.

If a stranger stands out to us because of an interesting outfit or a particular habit (wearing a Camelbak for a 5K, for example), we try to remember his/her bib number to look him/her up later.

Just to see.

Because we're curious and nosy like that.

After one of our races this summer, I noticed an interesting thing.

There were two women who ran the race whose names stood out to me.

Their names?

Courtney Cox and Katye Perry

Yes, spelled just like that.

It's like Katy Perry took an "e" from Courteney Cox so they could run a 10K in Chattanooga without being discovered.

I'm onto you, ladies.

I'm onto you.

Ugly

2011-10-25T23:33:00.002-04:00

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

I know.

I am not a typical advocate. I don't sport a "My Child Has More Chromosomes Than Yours" bumper sticker, and I still haven't done a Buddy Walk.

The other day I was having a Facebook conversation with two moms who both have children with Down syndrome. They have both been blogging this month about Down syndrome, and the topic of "ugly" came up.

(You can read Courtney's post about it here.)

How, in this journey, we have all been dealt a big pile of ugly. How, especially at the beginning, sometimes, the ugly seems to be all you can see.

At times it's debilitating. Simply overwhelming.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have struggled a lot with Benjamin's diagnosis.

He's three-and-a-half years old, and I am still not okay with it.

Don't get me wrong; I absolutely love my son. I wouldn't trade him for anything.

But I still hate the Down syndrome.

I hate the fact that he doesn't understand me when I talk to him.

I hate that he doesn't have any real words yet.

I hate that he has to drink Pediasure instead of milk and eat mostly pureed foods.

I hate that he will not have all the opportunities I want for all my sons.

That he will probably never get married. Or drive a car. Or truly be independent.

But in the fall and the winter, the thing that I hate the most is the fact that, for whatever reason, he gets sick.

A lot.

Usually pneumonia, but he can surprise me.

It comes on quickly and takes a long time to go away.

In those moments, in the middle of the night, when I'm holding him while he's crying, burning up with a fever, writhing in pain, I am Mama Bear.

Whispering to him how much I love him.

Singing "Baby Mine" to him.

Thanking God for how much Benjamin has enriched my life.

Made me a better mother. A better wife. A better person.

Last night was one of those nights.

I was up for hours with Benjamin while he was burning up, screaming in pain, and unable to tell me where it hurt.

I kept apologizing to him that I didn't know what was wrong with him. That I didn't know where it hurt. That I didn't know what to do to make it better.

Today at the doctor's office it was the same-old-same-old: CBC, blood culture, going next door for a chest x-ray.

It was like B and I were old friends in this comfortable place, doing ugly things but able to enjoy each others' company throughout it all.

We had each other.

All while sharing a bag of Baby Goldfish.

By the way, the flu test & strep test were both negative, but his white count was really high. So we did a shot of rocephin, a blood culture, and a chest x-ray. The blood culture results won't be ready until tomorrow. The x-ray was actually clear, but we're going back tomorrow morning for another CBC and another shot of rocephin.

If you don't know what all these terms and initials are, count yourself lucky; they're normal vocabulary for some of us.

Just Another Day In Paradise

2011-10-21T21:49:00.000-04:00

The Amicks have been at the beach since last Saturday. And we don't leave until Sunday.

Yeah, I know.

Life is rough.

There's been a lot of delicious food...

A lot of fun...

And a lot of togetherness...

This vacation has been great. A lot of work, but as our kids get older, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's just a really, really long tunnel.

But for now, I'm going to enjoy where we are.

Because if I have contempt in my heart for how much work my kids are right now, I won't enjoy the time I do have with them.

And I'd hate to miss out because they are super cute.

Time Kills Me

2011-10-11T00:08:00.000-04:00

I had been a mommy for a few days.

Who is this big boy?

I lose track of how much he makes us laugh. Usually we have to hide it

because he's self-conscious of others making fun of him.

But man is he funny.

This little guy rocked the very world I thought I knew.

And I can no longer call him my Baby B because he's so big.

But he'll always be my baby.

And though TPB was only The Perfect Baby for about 13 months...

Watching him grow and discover and learn warms my heart so much.

Sometimes I don't mind that he's the one that's going to give me gray hairs.
I am not kidding, y'all.

This one's Trouble w a capital T.

(And he knows it.)

May Each Day

by Andy Williams

May each day in the week be a good day.

May the Lord always watch over you.

And may all of your hopes turn to wishes,

And may all of your wishes come true.

May each day in the month be a good day.

May you make friends with each one you meet.

And may all of your daydreams be mem'ries,

And may all of your mem'ries be sweet.

The weeks turn to months and the months into years.

There'll be sadness and joy; there'll be laughter and tears.

But one thing I pray to heaven above.

May each of your days be a day full of love.

May each day in the year be a good day.

May each dawn find you happy and gay.

And may all of your days be as lovely

As the one you shared with me today.

May each day of your life be a good day

And good night.

Amick Summer Wrap-Up

2011-09-01T20:10:00.002-04:00

Summer here has been long.

And hot.

And did I mention long?

Matthew's been traveling quite a bit lately, and I've been home alone with the three boys. It's just too hot to play outside, and it's nearly always too difficult to get out of the house when I'm so outnumbered.

Andrew starts kindergarten this fall, and Benjamin continues special-ed preschool. Andrew goes five full days a week, and Benjamin goes M-Thurs in the mornings.

School was *supposed* to start August 11, but because of the tornado that hit our town in April, the school calendar got bumped 3.5 weeks to allow more rebuilding time for the middle and high schools.

So now the first day of school is the Tuesday after Labor Day. Most people in the community were thrilled about this change, especially my teacher friends.

But as you can imagine, I am chomping at the bit to get school started.

I'm trying not to wish my life away, you know, "you'regonnamissthis" and all that schtuff.

So this post is a small snapshot into the lives of the five Amicks, summer 2011.

Can you spot Thomas's favorite toy?

He's 17 months now.

He's been spending his summer walking all over the place, squealing like a girl,

and not talking. Yep. Still no words.

Mama doesn't like that.

Oh, and he's cutting molars now, so he's very pleasant to be around. :(

This is one of Benjamin's favorite pasttimes--combing my hair with a play fork.

He is almost 3.5.

He still has no consistent words and two consistent signs ("more" and "cracker").

But he is starting to feed himself with a spoon when he wants to.

And lately, when he goes up the stairs, he chooses the handrail instead

of crawling on his hands and feet.

School will be great for him, though I'm scared to death of another

winter full of sickness. I hate, hate, hate that part.

The view from here

Benjamin is obsessed with closing doors. If there is a door open anywhere

in sight, even if it has people entering or exiting, he runs

to close it. Thankfully, he has not yet discovered how to open doors.

For a few weeks this summer, he dropped his nap.

But he's been napping every day for almost a week, so we're good.

And, honestly? School will wear him out, so I'm not worried.

My big almost-a-kindergartner boy still loves baked goods of any variety.

His behavior has been great lately, and one thing is for sure:

It is never quiet around that boy.

He loves to build things.

And he's actually shown an interest in coloring for the

first time in his life. (As you can see, his new

favorite show is "Peep and the Big Wide World."

If you've never seen it, check your local PBS listings.

It's super cute and not annoying at all.)

But the best thing to happen this summer where

Andrew is concerned is that he realized that

he has siblings.

And as long as they do what he wants, he's happy to

grace them with his presence. :)

Matthew, other than working, has been running a lot.

And eating cereal. He came home yesterday with $37 worth of cereal from Ingles.

This won't last very long, I assure you.

And believe it or not, Matthew read a book. And he's reading

the second one. I'm almost halfway through the third.

It's an excellent series if you need a recommendation.

Other than watching the boys, cleaning, shopping, &

cooking (which I rarely do but hope to start soon), this is

what I do: laundry.

During nap time.

With the DVR.
I'm looking forward to the fall TV shows b/c the well?

It is dry.

I, too, have been running, and have actually lost all of my

baby weight from all three of my babies.

I am down to about 175 (on a good day), and hope

to get down to about 160.

But that doesn't mean I don't impulse shop

at Wal-mart.

yum

Speaking of yummy food, for four days in August,

Matthew and I went to Vegas with my

mother and her husband.

The Bellagio buffet was outstanding.

We're not big gamblers; we each lost $6 in the slots.

Walking in and out of the casinos yielded our most beautiful pictures.

Riding the bus was fun. It was very hot in Vegas,

with highs of 105-108 each day.

But is really is true what they say about

the humidity. :)

So there you are. Our last summer days before our world is flipped upside down.

I can't wait.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-31T17:09:00.000-04:00

My Better Half

2011-08-18T19:51:00.000-04:00

He's an amazing dad.

He's extremely patient and hard-working.

He's fun.

He's motivating and supportive.

He's my best friend.

He's hot.

And he's mine for life.

I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!

2011-08-15T18:59:00.000-04:00

No one told me to pack a pirate patch in my hospital bag...

Andrew

Benjamin

Thomas

Once Upon a Time...

2011-08-12T20:54:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time (on April 24, 2008), there was a very pregnant momma who snapped this picture a mere two hours before her second child was born.

She was very excited, as she and her husband already had one son, and they had waited until the birth to find out the sex of the baby. After the doctor announced it was a boy, there was nothing but smiles and happy tears.

Until there was news.

Life-changing news.

The mom was told that her precious baby son had Down syndrome, and was born with three heart defects that would require surgery in the first few months of life.

This was confirmed by his very first echocardiogram.

Over the next few months, the little boy did well. He ate well and slept well and never showed any signs of heart failure. The mom and dad took the baby to his beloved cardiologist every few weeks for x-rays, echocardiograms, and EKGs.

One of the heart defects (PDA) closed up on its own, but the other two (VSD, ASD) required surgery.

Finally, when the baby was five months old, the mom and dad left their 2.5-year-old son with the mom's parents and drove 2.5 hours to Nashville for the baby's heart surgery.

After a long day of exhausting pre-op tests and procedures,

The day came.

But another heart-baby was born in the middle of the night and needed more immediate care. So the family waited until the next day.

And the day came.

October 3, 2008

The momma handed her baby over to the nurse.

To get his heart fixed.

Several hours later, the surgery was declared a success.

But the first few days were rough.

There were complications.

And exhaustion.

And tears.

And the noises will never truly leave the mom's head:

The constant beeping of the machines.

The screaming from the unsuccessful nighttime blood draws.

The sobbing of the parents in the next room who lost their child.

It took days for the baby's sweet smile to return.

But things started to get better.

The mom and dad were even able to find some humor in their situation as they attempted to share a pull-out bed in the baby's room.

The mom nicknamed it the "bouch" because it wasn't really a bed, but it wasn't really a couch. She blogged and blogged and blogged.

And then, one day, the baby's smile returned.

And he even got to go to his very first concert in the hospital with many other Vanderbilt Children's patients.

Here he is, still hooked up to wires, "enjoying" Rascal Flatts:

Finally, the baby boy got the all-clear and they packed up to go home.

After a long ten days, they were back home.

The boy celebrated his first birthday the next spring.

Even then, almost seven months later, the scar was barely visible.

They continued to go to the cardiologist, and were given good news every time.

The defects are fixed.

The holes are patched.

Come back in a year.

A month before his second birthday, the momma had yet another boy and now the boy was not only a little brother but also a big brother.

And then the little boy turned two.

And they continued to receive the same wonderful news from the cardiologist.

The defects are fixed.

The holes are patched.

Come back in a year.

The boys all had another birthday and the mom and dad had a change of heart about wanting a fourth child.

Three boys was enough.

Their family was complete.

Just last week, the little boy, who isn't much of a little boy anymore (but will always be his momma's Baby B) went back to the cardiologist.

Can you guess what they heard?

You guessed it.

The defects are fixed.

The holes are patched.

Come back in a year.

I don't know about you, but that makes me sleep a lot better at night.

And it really makes me smile.

twitch

2011-08-10T17:58:00.000-04:00

Those of you who really know me know that I am not in the "let your kids eat all messy" club. I am constantly teased (hopefully lovingly?) by my friends for making my kids wear bibs and for not letting them eat spoon/fork foods with their hands.

Welllll, today I just didn't have the energy to stop it.

Matthew was still on the way home from work, and I was busy spoon-feeding the Littles* their dinner.

Thankfully, Matthew walked in right as Andrew was finished and he was able to throw him in the bathtub.

*This is my new nickname for Thomas and Benjamin. I love it, and it describes them well. They're not truly babies anymore, but they're my Littles.

This boy loves his food

2011-08-03T19:21:00.001-04:00

Well worth the $25

2011-08-01T19:17:00.000-04:00

Now my children's DVDs are much more portable and take up a lot less room.

They're also a lot easier for Andrew to use, which frees me up to take care of the Littles.

Thank you, Target.

Just because you don't have a daughter...

2011-07-28T18:11:00.001-04:00

...doesn't mean you can't have a tea party.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-27T19:48:00.001-04:00

Knock Knock...

2011-07-27T14:48:00.000-04:00

...Who's there?

...Angela.

...Angela who?

Exactly.

It's been ages since I've blogged.

Really blogged.

I'm on Facebook and Twitter all the time, and I share pictures and updates over there. It's quicker. It's easier.

But I miss blogging.

What should I blog about?

If I even have any readers left, what do you want to know?

The summer has been full of things:

I've been running & losing weight & trying not to melt in the heat/humidity. I've been busy taking care of my boys and trying not to lose my mind somedays.

Matthew's been traveling and running.

We're both listening to Harry Potter on audiobooks. We've never read/watched any Harry Potter, so when I found the CDs at the library (hello...free!), we jumped on it. NO SPOILERS OR I WILL HATE YOU! I am currently listening to The Goblet of Fire (book 4) and Matthew is on Deathly Hallows (book 7). He has more time w/all his traveling. I am thoroughly enjoying them!! We're only on movie #3. We're not watching the movies until we've both finished the books.

I finished the Twilight books and have read the first Hunger Games book. SO good. I am also reading the fifth Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book (just came out last month) and my magazines (Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, OK!). I love summer sometimes b/c there are few TV shows on and I have more time to read.

Matthew & I went on a no-kids beach trip (4 nights) earlier this month. It was bliss. Makes me appreciate my marriage and my kids so much more when I can get away.

Andrew is reading up a storm and starts kindergarten soon.

Benjamin goes back to special-ed preschool (M-Th mornings) soon. He's been battling a strange virus for a week or two. He's not "sick" but isn't eating/drinking as much. I took him to the GI dr and his advice was just to wait it out b/c it came on so quickly. So far he's getting better but still fusses during meals. I hate not being able to communicate with him. Is he fussing because he doesn't like Frosted Cheerios anymore or because his tummy hurts? Ugh.

Thomas is an adorable stinker. He is sixteen months and is finally walking. Still no talking but he babbles enough. It'll come. He eats EVERYTHING. And a LOT of it. The other night we all went out to Red Lobster, and he was chowing down on broccoli, salmon, rice pilaf, you name it. The only bad thing is that he has that pesky egg allergy. So he was slightly splotchy because of things he ate (most likely the Cheddar Bay Biscuits and/or the chicken fingers). But nothing a little Benadryl can't fix. :)

Schools here were supposed to start back on August 11, but because of the deadly tornado that hit our town (Ringgold, GA) back in April, the county has been delayed until the day after Labor Day, September 6 (so the middle and high school can have more time to rebuild). So we still have a LONG six weeks to go. Blah. Stupid tornado. If I were a teacher or a kid, I'd be beyond thrilled. But I've had summer break for 5.5 years. I'm ready for school to start.

That's all for now.
I'll try to throw some current pictures up soon.

Does anyone want to know anything else about what's been going on with the Amicks?

Any ideas/recommendations for future blog posts?

I currently have 533 unread blog posts in my Google Reader. So if you have a blog and I usually read/comment...I may get around to it. I'll probably skim and not comment until I weed through them enough to actually be able to read and comment. I hope I didn't miss anything too important!!

May Your Way--Final Weigh-In!

2011-06-01T08:24:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how well I've done on this challenge!! I'm definitely on a roll.

Here are my final stats:

Starting Weight: 193.2                        Ending Weight: 181.2 (That's a 12-pound loss!!!)

Starting Measurements                     Ending Measurements

Waist -- 37"                                       Waist -- 35" (2-inch loss!)
Hips -- 42"                                         Hips -- 40.5" (1.5-inch loss!)
Thigh (R) -- 26"                                Thigh (R) -- 24.75" (1.25-inch loss)
Arm (R) -- 12.75"                             Arm (R) -- 12.5" (0.25-inch loss)
Calf (R) -- 17.5"                               Calf (R) -- 17" (0.5-inch loss)

How did I do it, you ask? I exercised, I ate right, and I didn't cheat. I was able to put up a whole BUNCH of size-16 jeans, capris, and shorts up in my closet with my maternity clothes. I got down all but four pairs of my 14s, which will fit in another few pounds. The goal jeans (size 12s) are in sight and will hopefully be worn this winter.

The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans has another challenge starting up in a couple of weeks; you should check it out. It just might be the motivation you need to get ready for swimsuit season!!

Speaking of such...here I was on Memorial Day with my sweet Benjamin:

Happy June, everyone!!!

May Your Way, Check-In 4

2011-05-25T22:24:00.000-04:00

Just finished watching the American Idol results and realized...CRAP...I forgot to check in for my weigh-in. It has to be done by 9 p.m. Central time to count. That was 15 minutes ago. :(

Anyway, it's been CRAZY around here. Benjamin only got to go to school one day this week before getting the stomach bug. Booooooo

And Thomas has turned from The Perfect Baby into a fussy, clingy, needy, stubborn toddler. I am not enjoying it AT ALL.

And our downstairs air has been out since Sunday. Yee-haw.

But for the weigh-in, I did GREAT!

Wednesday, May 25

Starting Weight: 193.2

Today's Weight: 184.0 ( -9.2 lbs)

Starting Measurements                Today's Measurements

Waist -- 37"                               Waist--35.0" ( -2")

Hips -- 42"                                 Hips--41.0" ( -1")

Thigh (R) -- 26"                         Thigh (R) --25.5 ( -0.5")

Arm (R) -- 12.75"                     Arm (R) -- 12.5" ( -0.25")

Calf (R) -- 17.5"                       Calf (R) --17.0" ( -0.5")

I felt goofy doing the challenge (complimenting myself in the mirror each day) but I did it! One more week to go! I can't BELIEVE I was late checking in today. I know, I know, the results are the still the same, and that's what's important, but DANG!

You know you're on a diet when...

2011-05-19T19:53:00.000-04:00

You allow yourself to have some bacon with your egg-white omelet at breakfast, and you savor the memory of it all day. So much that you think of it while you're falling asleep.

In a dimly lit room, you see your son's play jacket, and you misread the words, "FIRE CHIEF" as "FIVE GUYS."

Instead of sitting down to eat three small candy bars in one sitting, you make one Hershey's Special Dark Miniature last four bites.

After picking up your son's prescription from the CVS drive-thru, you drive exxxxxtra slowly past Tres Amigos with your windows rolled down just in case you can smell the cheese enchiladas.

The jeans you haven't been able to wear comfortably in two years finally fit, and you find yourself wearing them all the time, even in temperatures that are too warm for jeans.

May Your Way, Check-In 3

2011-05-18T19:52:00.000-04:00

I am *so* excited about how I've been doing on this challenge!!

My weight today was 186.2, which is a 2.2-pound loss from last week and a 7-pound loss since my initial weight on May 1.

I tell you that this diet and exercise thing WORKS! lol

My measurements last week didn't change one quarter inch, but I did see a little movement this week (since May 1).

Wednesday, May 18

Starting Weight: 193.2

Today's Weight: 186.2 ( -7lbs)

Starting Measurements                                  Today's Measurements

Waist -- 37"                                                  Waist--35.5" ( -1.5")

Hips -- 42"                                                    Hips--41.5" ( -0.5")

Thigh (R) -- 26"                                            Thigh (R) --25.75 ( -0.25")

Arm (R) -- 12.75"                                         Arm (R) -- 12.5" ( -0.25")

Calf (R) -- 17.5"                                            Calf (R) --17.25" ( -0.25")

I have stuck w my eating and exercise plan, and I even ate five servings of fruits/veggies a day for an entire week!! That was no easy task, but I did it!!!! (Thank you, tomato juice and Green Giant Just-For-One Cauliflower & Cheese trays.)

This week's challenge is all about building yourself up. I have to look in the mirror each day and compliment myself. Hmmm...I'd better wait until I've at least woken up a bit.

Matthew and I are running a local 5K this Saturday; it's my fourth 5K since January!! My goal is to be under 33 minutes. I've never run that distance faster than 34 minutes, so we shall see! :)

May Your Way, Check-In 2

2011-05-11T13:26:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't been blogging. Matthew's been out of town a lot and.....drumroll.....Benjamin has pneumonia.

Again.

siggggghhhhhhhhhhh

But I have been very good w my weight-loss/fitness challenge for The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.

Though my measurements haven't gone down in a week, my weight went from 190.3 last Wednesday to 188.4 today. Yay!

I had my longest run ever on Monday, 6.75 miles, at a 12:07 pace. Pretty darn good! I burned a whopping 930 calories! Today my run was 3.15 miles at a 11:10 pace, burning 440 calories. I love early-morning runs. No, really, I do.

I also completed the challenge for the week of drinking at least 64 oz of water each day. I'm not so sure how I'm going to do with this week's challenge of getting five servings of fruits and veggies each day this week. We shall see...

Until later....

I Hate to Wake Up

2011-05-04T20:27:00.000-04:00

Sleep is one of my all-time favorite things. Other than the really important things in life, sleep ranks right up there next to cheese, traveling, and having my back popped.

So it stands to reason that I hate to wake up. No matter what time I went to bed the night before, I never ever want to wake up.

But if I had one of these bad boys it might not be too bad. I could hook up my iPod Touch that I got for my birthday and wake up to my Mister Rogers playlist. And I might realize that it truly is a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

So I am blogging about this giveaway in hopes of winning this iD85 App-enhanced Dual Alarm Clock Radio from iHome from a great new blog I just found, Love That Max. Special needs blogs are sometimes a dime a dozen, but this one rocks.

So feel free to be jealous of the fact that I'm going to win this, but whatever you do, don't enter the giveaway.

:) Don't click here to read the details.

Really.

May Your Way, Check-In 1

2011-05-04T15:03:00.000-04:00

Well, it's only been three days, but it's been great so far! I went to a family birthday party the very first day of this challenge, and was able to resist all the yummy foods I wanted to devour.

I've had two great runs already this week, have eaten sensibly, and have met all my goals so far.

My weight today was 190.3. I didn't do my measurements b/c it's only been three days, but I'll remeasure next week to see if there's been any loss.

Be sure to go to here to learn steps you can take to be a healthier you!

May Your Way!

2011-05-01T15:44:00.002-04:00

I know, I know...I haven't blogged in forever.

As usual, it's been super busy here with the usual...Benjamin's medical issues (he's fine, more on that later), Matthew's crazy travel and work schedule (that should let up in about two weeks), and the horrible and devastating tornado that hit our small town of Ringgold last week (my house and all of my family & their houses are fine, but five miles from here is demolished).

Oh, and my precious Benjamin started school last Monday. Unfortunately, he was only able to go for three days before the tornado hit and now schools are closed until at least May 9. But I'll blog about all that later this week.

I have been continuing my running and even signed up for my first half-marathon (Disney, what else??) next January!!!

Today I am writing briefly to tell you about the new weight-loss/fitness challenge I started TODAY. It runs throughout the month of May.

Here is the link to check it out for yourself. If you haven't checked out Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, now is the perfect time; it's almost swimsuit season, ladies! You can also follow them on Twitter at @shrinkingjeans. Incidentally, I'm on Twitter, too, at @MommyAngela3 in case you needed to read any more of my mindless blabber or were curious about how many poopy diapers I change a day. ;)

So here are my goals for this 31-day challenge:

Consume no more than 2000 calories a day (except on the days when I get more calories for exercising; I may consume a few more on those days), tracking my daily intake on my laptop or my iPod Touch at MyFitnessPal. (If you don't know about this free gem, do yourself a favor and click on that link.)
Running each week and tracking it on MyFitnessPal and DailyMile (by syncing my Garmin Forerunner 305, aka the best birthday present I ever bought for myself). My runs will consist of two runs a week (at about an 11-12 minute-per-mile pace) of about 3.1 miles (six laps around my neighborhood) and one long run a week (at about a 12-13 minute-per-mile pace) which starts this week at just over six miles but will increase roughly half-a-mile every two weeks. (This is all for my half-marathon training.) By doing this, I burn roughly 1700 calories a week.
Drinking at least 50 oz of water a day. (I like mine w a little Sweet-N-Low, lemon juice, & lime juice.)
Checking in weekly with measurements and weight.

I haven't been gaining weight since I've starting running three times a week, but I haven't been careful with my food, so I haven't been losing either. And if I wear the right outfit and don't suck in my stomach, I can easily look four-to-five months pregnant.

So here I go again!!!! Feel free to join me.

I'll be checking in every Wednesday with my weight and measurements. So this week, I will start today (Sunday) and then check in only three days. But then after that, it'll be every week.

I ain't skeered.

Sunday, May 1

Starting Weight: 193.2

Starting Measurements

Waist -- 37"
Hips -- 42"
Thigh (R) -- 26"
Arm (R) -- 12.75"
Calf (R) -- 17.5"

See you soon! I will blog about the boys soon and put up pictures, I promise. :)

It's Time for the Rocking Chair Pictures Again!

2011-04-16T17:00:00.002-04:00

To start this post, it is necessary that I copy and paste an entire blog post that I wrote on June 2, 2009.

That's two months shy of two years. My, how life has changed.

Here is the original post, and then I will add the new pictures.

--------------------------------------------------------

When I was pregnant with Andrew, I read an article about a mom who took a picture of her daughter every year, starting at birth (or maybe age one), in the same (adult) bathing suit. Until she was 18. Just to watch the progression.

So I got a similar idea that I would highly recommend to new moms. I decided to take a picture of my children each month during the first year of their lives in the same outfit and in the same chair. The outfit is a 3-month outfit, but thankfully (so far) I have had children that start out kind of big but who don't grow that big. (And, yes, I also have a matching pink one in case we ever get our Katherine Elizabeth.)

First I will show you Andrew's pictures. We lived in our first house during all of these pictures. Matthew and I painted the stripes in Andrew's nursery ourselves. It was super easy and we're not that handy. Seriously. Let me know if you want to know how.

Andrew's Monthly Pictures

One Month Old--April 2006

Two Months Old--May 2006

Three Months Old--June 2006

Four Months Old--July 2006

Five Months Old--August 2006

Six Months Old--September 2006

Seven Months Old--October 2006

Eight Months Old--November 2006

Nine Months Old--December 2006

Ten Months Old--January 2007

Eleven Months Old--February 2007

Twelve Months Old--March 2007

And now to Benjamin's pictures. Let me first say that for many months, I was very sad after doing these pictures. I knew I wanted to do it and I needed to do it. But it made me sad.

They tell you not to compare your children. Even if you have nothing but typically developing children, you're just supposed to take each child for his or her own.

But, come on, we all do it. When you have a child who is developmentally delayed, it is hard. But we still do it.

So every month, I would grow more and more anxious that Benjamin was never going to be able to sit in that chair by himself. It stressed me out that he needed so much assistance. It made my heart hurt that while Andrew could hold himself up in the chair relatively early, it took Benjamin much longer. And I know he has Down syndrome. And I know he had two major surgeries.

Still.

But remember, I didn't really start to accept this whole Down syndrome thing until B was about 9 1/2 months old. So everything that was different was just a slap in the face to me. Now, not so much. (Sometimes, but not all the time...) :)

OKAY! Enough blabbing. Here are the pics.

Benjamin's Monthly Pictures

One Month Old--May 2008

Two Months Old--June 2008

Three Months Old--July 2008

Four Months Old--August 2008

Five Months Old--September 2008

Six Months Old--October 2008 (Three weeks and one day after his open-heart surgery!)

Seven Months Old--November 2008

Eight Months Old--December 2008

Nine Months Old--January 2009 (Exactly two weeks after his intestinal surgery.)

Ten Months Old--February 2009

Eleven Months Old--March 2009

Twelve Months Old--April 2009

Sigh. I love it. Hope you enjoyed!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's always neat to read what I wrote when I was in a different place. I'm sure in another year or two, I'll look back on what I currently write and smile. One thing's for sure; this blog thing surely is therapeutic!

So without further ado, here are Thomas's rocking chair pictures. (Side note: You can tell how much better the picture quality is starting in December b/c of the new camera I got for Christmas.)

One Month Old--April 2010

Two Months Old--May 2010

Three Months Old--June 2010

Four Months Old--July 2010

Five Months Old--August 2010

Six Months Old--September 2010

Seven Months Old--October 2010

Eight Months Old--November 2010 (Thanksgiving Day!)

Nine Months Old--December 2010 (Christmas Day!)

Ten Months Old--January 2011

Eleven Months Old--February 2011

Twelve Months Old--March 2011

Seriously? May I please have a moment to burst out into tears? How can it be that my baby is one? *sniff*

Progress is Good

2011-04-14T18:00:00.001-04:00

Benjamin turns three years old on April 24.

On April 25, he starts school.

*sniff*

He will attend a local primary school that has a wonderful special education preschool program, Monday through Thursday, 8 to 11. (Really more like 7:30 to 11:30, depending on when the bus picks him up and drops him off.) He will attend school for five weeks and then it will be summer break.

Then in August, he will go back with the same exact schedule. And Andrew will start kindergarten. All day. Five days a week.

Wow.

We had B's first (of many in his lifetime) IEP meeting. For those of you not in education or not in this special-needs world, an IEP is an Individualized Education Program. Basically every child in special education has one; it is a written statement that describes a child's special education and related services.

The results of his evaluation were given to us during this meeting.

I'm sure many of you who have been there before know.

It's one thing to know your chid is delayed, but to see it in front of you in black and white is sobering. It wasn't quite the slap in the face that I expected it to be, but it was still no fun. But it was necessary.

There were 11 areas, and he was "significantly delayed" in 8 of those 11 areas, including cognitive thinking, expressive language skills, social/emotional, self-help skills, adaptive behavior, social-emotional, cognitive, and communication. He scored "moderately delayed" in small muscle skills and "low average" in large muscle skills and physical development.

He is 35 months old and scored about 14 months verbally.

His score on the cognitive development area was so low it couldn't be computed so it was just <50. Yikes.

Well, I guess we have nowhere to go but up.

In all reality, since he was evaluated (in late February/early March), he has already made quite a bit of progress verbally and otherwise.

He says a few words now, and it blows my mind to hear them. They're not horribly consistent and don't really sound much like what they're supposed to.

But they are words.

ball

shoes

red

bye-bye

Connections are starting to be made.

The lightbulb wasn't switched on like it would be in a typical child, but someone is slowwwwwly moving that dimmer switch up.

Two things he struggles with in OT is feeding himself with a spoon and stacking blocks.

But we're making progress.

And progress is good.

Have I mentioned how much I love this boy? Cuz I do.

I've done three 5Ks in three months

2011-04-12T12:05:00.001-04:00

Here are pics from my third 5K, which was the local Gateway Bank 5K on March 19.

My time was my fastest yet (just under 35 minutes), though I only had 3.07 miles total on my Garmin. A 5K is technically 3.10 miles; my other two 5Ks, according to my Garmin, were 3.19 and 3.18, so it's hard to compare my time when I ran a lot farther on the other two.

But considering I hadn't run in nine days because I hurt my back, I think I did pretty well. The weather was great, the volunteers were super, and Matthew kicked butt! He ran it in just over 20 minutes, placing him 2nd in his age group. (The overall winner, a male in his mid-to-late 30s, did it in just over 16 minutes. Wow.)

Anyway, here are a few pics. I feel like I always look fatter in pics than I feel when I'm actually running. But, hey, I'm out there running, I guess.

I was signed up to run my fourth 5K the very next week, but we had really bad storms that morning, and so it was postponed until some time in May.

I've gotten up to four miles on my training runs. I try to run three times a week. Twice a week, I run six laps in my neighborhood, which is about three miles. And then once a week I do a "long run," which right now is only slightly longer than my regular runs. I am increasing my long run half a mile every two weeks. I have a plan to do this (with some variation, increasing my three-mile runs to four miles and then four-and-a-half later in the year), and that should get me ready for the Disney Half Marathon in January 2012.

Gulp.

You never know where he might be lurking

2011-04-10T14:00:00.001-04:00

Andrew likes to hide.

Here he is in the pantry. There is very little standing room in there b/c of the shelves.

Good thing he is my skinny boy.

He's not a photographer but he plays one on TV

2011-04-08T21:00:00.001-04:00

On Andrew's birthday, I let him use my (new at Christmas) camera to take a few pictures.

Here is the vantage point of my five-year-old.

My Day in Pictures (phone pics)

2011-04-06T19:36:00.001-04:00

Storytime at the library (Andrew was on the other side of me.)

A quick trip to Walmart

A lesson in teaching the little boys how to eat a Ritz cracker

March is Birthday Month

2011-04-04T20:18:00.001-04:00

Three of us Amicks celebrate our birthdays in March.

I already documented my 34th birthday here and here.

We all know how Thomas's birthday went, as well as the subsequent doctor's visit.

Here is a picture of him opening some gifts the next day, when the hives were gone.

The day before the infamous Cupcake Incident of 2011, my firstborn turned five. *sniff*

Here he is eating a cupcake. With no reaction. Obviously. This ain't his first ~~rodeo~~ cupcake. He hates eggs, but he sure does love baked goods. Good thing he's not allergic!

Matthew got home from a five-day business trip right before Andrew's bedtime on his birthday, so that's when he got to open presents.

We are having a joint birthday party for all three boys this year. (Benjamin turns three on April 24.) We still do family-only parties, and with three boys celebrating birthdays all within a one-month period, it just makes sense. The party will be April 16, and there will be a Kipper Cake. Not made by me. :)

He Truly is The Perfect Baby

2011-04-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

As you remember from my last post, Thomas broke out in hives after eating his first birthday cupcake.

Here is a reminder picture of the frosting smeared all over his face.

Because of the time of day and the call we made to the on-call nurse, this is the only picture I got of the hives. They were all over his face, especially around his mouth.

That was Friday night. The following Tuesday, he and I headed off to the allergist for a RAST test. Here is how his sweet back looked prior to the test.

Thank *goodness* I brought the portable DVD player. He had to hold still, flat on his stomach for about 15 minutes. While she pricked his back 20-30 times, he didn't even flinch. He just looked at her. No whining, no crying, no nothing. Wow. (Andrew had this test done last fall, and he freaked.)

The marks are just inkpen marks so she could tell where the rows were. The bright red mark on the lower right is the control mark, to be sure that he didn't have any antihistamine meds in the three days prior to the test. But do you see the big ol' mark in the middle?

Eggs.

My baby is allergic to eggs.

He did so well. He and Scout kept each other company in the stroller while I made his follow-up visit.

The allergist said that Thomas definitely needs to steer clear of straight-out eggs and anything that contains raw egg whites (like cupcake frosting!) or that is cooked and the MAIN ingredients are eggs (like quiche). We are going to attempt a cooked food where the egg is just a minor component (like pancakes) to see how he does.

We got him a two-pack of EpiPen Jrs. Scary stuff.

It could be worse. It's not milk or soy or wheat or peanuts. Eggs really aren't in as many things as you'd think. Especially if he is able to have eggs cooked in things. We shall see.

By the way, I took him back to the ENT on Thursday for his ear checkup. He did perfectly! He passed his hearing test in both ears with flying colors and had no fluid nor infection in his ears. He goes back in six months.

The strange thing?

When I scheduled both of his follow-up appointments for September, I had the strange realization that I will not need to find childcare for Andrew or Benjamin. They will both be in school.

Whoa.

Allergies, anyone?

2011-03-26T11:09:00.001-04:00

Thomas turned one yesterday, and we learned that not only is he allergic to penicillin and sulfa drugs, but he's also allergic to something in his birthday cupcakes.

It's probably the food coloring in the icing, but it could also be eggs.

Based on things he's already eaten, I'm sure it's not milk, soy, or wheat.

But in thinking about it, I don't think he's ever had anything with eggs in it. Not even muffins or pancakes or bread.

Shortly after SMEARING the neon icing all over his face, we threw him in the bathtub.

Where I noticed the hives begin to form all over his face, especially around his eyes and mouth, where the icing was.

Ugh.

We gave him Benadryl and called the on-call nurse, as it was already 6:30 p.m. and his doctor's office was closed. We need to administer Benadryl round the clock every six hours until the hives have been gone for 12 hours, and we need to call his doctor on Monday.

I really hope it's the food coloring he's allergic to and not eggs. Boooooo

Today he woke up happy as a bug with no hives. Still. Boooooo

You are my imaginary friends

2011-03-20T13:25:00.000-04:00

I have imaginary friends. They live in my head. Rather, they live in my computer.

Actually, they live in their houses with their families. Or in their dorm rooms with their friends. Or in their apartments with their cats.

Some of them I know, and others of them I don't.

But you, my blog readers, are my friends.

I think about you sometimes throughout my days.

I think of things I would tell you if you were sitting with me or walking with me or whatever.

You get the point.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a somewhat busy afternoon planned. I had to go to the hematologist, then I had to run to the store. Then back home to feed the boys dinner.

So here is the conversation (monologue?) that you missed because you weren't actually sitting in my van with me. Or at the doctor's office with me. Or wherever.

You get the point.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

If you close your eyes when running a yellow light, it doesn't count. That's what I've always done, so that must be truth.
The elevator in the Diagnostic Center at Parkridge is the slowest elevator in the history of elevators. I almost fell asleeep waiting to get to the fifth floor.
There should be signs up in small public restrooms that read: "No perfume or hairspray use unless you really want to make strangers despise you and then blog bad things about you."
They really should take your blood pressure *after* they make you weigh in the hall in front of three other patients, announcing your weight and that you've gained four pounds in the past six months. I mean, it's kind of a no-brainer.
If my name were Charles Manson, I would request that they call me by a different name when it's my turn for an exam room. Like Bono or Oprah. And I would also disown my parents.
If I were a doctor, I wouldn't say, "Good" when a patient replies that she's finished having children, even if having another child could be detrimental to her health.
The speed limit on Dietz really should be 45, not 35. That way, my 50 wouldn't feel so wrong.
I get really irritated at drivers who go 35 on Dietz. Speed limit, schpeed limit; Walmart is so close, and you're in my way, Granny.
They say you shouldn't grocery shop when you're hungry, but sometimes it just can't be helped. They also shouldn't sell candy bars for $0.50 at the register because $0.50 is basically free when you add it to a cart full of diapers and milk and celery.
No, I actually didn't buy diapers. I buy them at Babies R Us. But I tried to think of something expensive.
I did buy celery.
And milk.
People who come to complete stops in subdivisions when there is clearly no one coming in either direction should be escorted out by the HOA.

Veins and other things

2011-03-19T16:25:00.000-04:00

As some of you may remember, a few days after Thomas was born, I got a bloodclot in my right leg, landing my postpartum, swollen, emotional self back in the hospital for a few days.

It ended up not being a DVT (deep vein thrombosis); it was in the superficial vein system, strictly caused by the pregnancy and birth. After three months of twice daily Lovenox shots in my stomach and iron pills for 11 months, I have been given the all-clear from the hematologist. I don't have to go back there anymore.

But my right leg is damaged.

Badly.

I'd put up a picture but I'm afraid some of your children might walk by the screen, and it would scar them for life. Plus, even I have a shred of dignity.

Let's just say that being overweight anyway and having three babies of substantial size (8-11, 8-6, 9-7) really, really, really did a number on the veins in my right leg. Forget your Garmin, I've got your roadmap right here. And the sad thing is that it's mainly on the front of my lower leg and behind my knee.

You know, the parts that everyone sees?

In an effort to not have to live in pants all summer (esp considering I'm training for a half marathon), and on the okay of my OB and my hematologist, I went to the vascular surgeon and had a big vein test done to determine whether there is something vascularly (is that a word?) wrong with my veins, specifically on my right side.

So I had to go through this testing process where I was standing in a dark, warm room with a (female) technician. Good thing it was warm (and dark!) because I was standing there in my socks and shirt and panties.

It was a scene, man.

First, I had to lie on a table and she did an intensive and lengthy ultrasound on all the veins in both legs. It's like when you have an ultrasound during a pregnancy except instead of seeing a baby, you just see a bunch of red and blue. It takes a really long time, and the small talk is torture.

Then I stood up and she strapped this huge thing, one leg at a time, to my thigh and then my calf. It was like a giant blood pressure cuff with several large hoses that connected my leg to a rather large machine on a rolling cart. The tech would count to three and then push a button. The cuff immediately tightened (BOOM!) and "tested" my veins and the blood flow, then releasing it and almost sent my scantily-clad bum crashing on the ground.

I felt like Westley, hooked up to The Machine. I kept waiting for Prince Humperdinck to rush in, push up the lever, and for Count Rugen to shout, "NOT TO 50!"

But, alas, after all the testing, it turns out that in a vascular sense, my legs and my veins are perfectly normal. So if I want my legs to look like those of a woman in her early-to-mid 30s instead of those of Grandma Moses (RIP), I will have to pay the $160 per 30 minutes of laser shocking (or whatever it is) to get them fixed. Umm..yeah, not in the budget right now.

So anyway, I went to the hematologist's office a week or two ago, and I got the all-clear to not have to go back! I no longer have to take iron pills, and I no longer have to go for check-ups!

That's a-okay with me. I certainly spend enough time in doctors' offices. This one was depressing because 98% of his work is oncology, and the other 2% is hematology. So there were cancer patients and their families, lots of labwork, chemo, comfortable chairs, etc. Sadness, really. Not a reality I'd like to have to face right now.

Never, if you please.

Anyway, all that is a set-up to a post tomorrow where I will share some random thoughts that I had on the way to the hematologist's office, while I was there, and later at Walmart.

Wow, I must be really bored. Or out of my mind.

Or both.

Birthday Weekend Part Two--Sunday

2011-03-18T20:15:00.002-04:00

So Saturday I got a haircut, went to lunch with my boys, took a nap, and went for a walk with my boys.

A great day!

Sunday, the day before my actual birthday, I started out by making my birthday desserts. Cake cookies and a chocolate cake.

Family was coming over at 5:00 for a birthday meal, and we had to be prepared. Like Scar.

I had a little help, which I loved.

My mom and I did a bunch of running around, and I bought some shirts at Kohl's. (Sadly, I will be returning most of them because the one that I already wore and washed shrunk about an inch. #fail)

We ordered pizza and had some yummy pasta salad and baked cheese and spinach dip. A fun time was had by all.

For those of you who know my family, I'll give you one guess as to who switched the candles...

I'm not sure, but I think Andrew might be doing the Macarena. I love that dance. And I loved 1995.

The singing of "Happy Birthday" is always fun with this crew. Justin sets the pace.
Andrew was pointing to me, in case anyone wondered whose birthday it was.

Thomas and his cousin Ava, who is about four months younger.

She just heard he is TPB and she is clearly ticked.
He's laughing because he has a stinky diaper.

I love my sweet Baby B!

It was evidently time to pile on top of one of your parents because Justin and Andrew did just that.

Can you find my mom? Ha!

The party ended and we put the boys to bed. It was so fun!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

These flashback pics brought to you by a mom who used to be able to get out and go to playdates.

It was March 2009.

Andrew was almost three, and Benjamin was almost one.

*sniff*

Birthday Weekend Part One--Saturday

2011-03-16T17:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was Birthday Weekend.

I love my birthday, and I like to stretch it out as much as possible.

So last Saturday, we started Birthday Weekend.

First I went to Great Clips and got a new 'do.

The back

The side

The other side

Blue Steel

Then I headed to Walmart quickly to pick up some ingredients for my birthday cake (see the picture above). Yum.

The boys and I (including Matthew, who isn't in any close-up pics bc he had a very irritated and swollen eye, due to allergies or the fact that I beat him up) went to Steak N Shake for lunch. This is a rarity, that we all go out to a restaurant. Kids are just a lot of work at these ages. But they did really well! We had mega-good coupons and got three junior steakburgers (one w cheese), three fries, two full-size shakes, and a kids' shake all for $10, including tax and tip. (The two little guys ate food we brought bc they don't really eat "real" food yet.) HOLLA!

I loved the whole experience. It warms my heart to spend time with the four most wonderful boys in the whole, wide world. Here are pics from lunch.

On the way there--how much do I *love* that these two play together! They are seriously going to be best buds; I can tell already.

Joe Cool

My sweet Thomas
The tubes have made him a brand-new baby; TPB (The Perfect Baby) indeed!

My sweet Benjamin

I truly am excited about his recent progress, and he just makes my heart swell.

Sweet guy is serious about his Cinammon Crunch Cheerios.

They are perfection.

Taking a decent picture of the Oldest isn't quite so easy.

It's a work in progress.

A must-nag situation.

FINALLY!

Then we went back to the house where we all (except Andrew, who played in his room) took naps.

After naps, we went on a walk around the neighborhood. It was a gorgeous day!

Andrew has a small bicycle with training wheels, but the tire was flat.

When Matthew tried to add air, it kept leaking anyway. Ugh.

So it was the Big Wheel/Tricycle thing that he rode.

The neighborhood is a half-mile circle.

I believe they were playing footsie.

Andrew had to stop and climb on the rocks and comment on the ducks.

I'm not sure who lives here, but December called and wants its wreath back.

And that was Saturday. The rest of the day was mighty boring and usual--dinner, baths, bed.

Love it.

Love them.

Stay tuned for Part Two!

Some of my best friends I've never laid eyes on

2011-03-15T11:45:00.001-04:00

There are two kinds of people.

Those who get the whole Internet-friend thing and those who don't.

I obviously do.

I am very close to people whom I have never met and may never meet this side of heaven.

But I guarantee you that they are not strangers to me.

Why some people think that we have to meet someone in person to know their heart is beyond me.

Why some people think that a good-hearted, kind, caring friend can't live in another part of the country is beyond me.

Some of these girls I have met.

Some I talk to on the phone.

Some I text.

Some I email.

Others I blog and FB stalk.

But they are my friends.

Case in point.

Lauren.

I honestly don't even know how Lauren and I found each other, but since Stephanie is our only mutual FB friend, I would say that's a safe bet. But whom reached out to whom and when, I have NO clue. (Lauren, if you remember, please help me out.)

Lauren lives in Colorado.

I live in Georgia.

I would love to meet her in person one day, but I am not holding my breath. We each have three kids, and life is busy.

The thing I love about Lauren is how real she is. She and I have sent each other mail.

Remember mail, y'all?

But the latest most wonderful thing that she sent me was yesterday.

Here I was, on my 34th birthday, alone on my couch watching TV and folding laundry while my babies napped and Andrew played in the backyard.

About 15 minutes earlier, Andrew came to the backdoor and handed me a dandelion.

It was the first flower he'd ever picked for me. My heart jumped and I announced my love for my "birthday flower." He told me I'd better put it in some water, so as he ran off to play some more, I did just that.

Then a florist's truck pulled into my driveway and I got the most wonderful birthday surprise.

A beautiful vase of flowers with a purple (my most favorite color) ribbon. I showed them to Andrew (who came in to use the bathroom) and he got very excited.

"Mommy," he said, "you need to put your birthday flower in there!"

So I retrieved the dandelion from the counter and put it in the bottom of the vase.

Andrew took a big sigh and declared, "Wow. Those are beautiful."

I have to agree.

Thank you, Andrew.

Thank you, Lauren.

Thank you, God, for surrounding me with wonderful people. Even if they do live hundreds of miles away.

Happy Pi Day to Me!

2011-03-14T12:00:00.010-04:00

Today is March 14.

3-14

3.14

Remember Pi from high school math class? 3.14?

Anyway, today is my birthday. My 34th birthday.

Here is some interesting information about the day I was born:

Monday, March 14, 1977

Top Songs for 1977

Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder
You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone
Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band by Meco
Best of My Love by Emotions
I Just Want to Be Your Everything by Andy Gibb
How Deep Is Your Love by Bee Gees

1977 Prices

Bread: $0.32/loaf
Milk: $1.44/gal
Eggs: $1.30/doz
Car: $5,814
Gas: $0.64/gal
House: $54,200
Stamps: $0.13/ea
Avg Income: $18,264/yr
Min Wage: $2.30/hr
DOW Avg: 831

-------------------------
We had a party last night at my house with family, and guess what I got???

Money to go toward this:

My very own iPod Touch.

I am giddy! Thank you to my wonderful family!

I've been living in the dark ages and still listen to (gasp!) CDs. I have hours and hours of work ahead of me, organizing songs in my iTunes library. I also look forward to running with this thing with the mac daddy arm band I just ordered off Amazon.
Tonight, Matthew is out of town, so I am going to get my Free Birthday Burger (and fries!) from Ruby Tuesday To Go. I shall enjoy that and some leftover birthday cake on my couch tonight as my precious babies sleep in their beds.

Happy Birthday to me! Thank you all for being great bloggy friends. :)

Happy Birthday Eve to Me

2011-03-13T13:30:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is my birthday.

March 14.

I will be 34 years old.

That's PDO.

Pretty Dang Old.

Not to be confused with PYT by Michael Jackson.

Things I do are rarely confused with songs by Michael Jackson.

Except for maybe Beat It.

I'd like to say that to my kids sometimes.

Wouldn't that be nice? Your kid is talking to you and you say, "Beat it! Beat it! No one wants to be defeated!"

No?

Okay. Never mind.

So I've proven I'm senile. I'm almost 34, you know.

Today I am having a birthday party at my house for my family members. Sadly, we cannot go to Provino's tomorrow like we usually do because my adoring husband will be leaving on a jet plane (really just a regular plane, I was just being dramatic) for yet another business trip.

It's beginning to look a lot like Busy Season. Evvvverywhere you go....

I am making my own birthday cake for my party.

By choice.

No one can rock out a chocolate cake like I can, and so if I want the best, I have to make it myself.

It's a small price to pay for a pan of goodness.

We're also getting pizza. Don't be jealous. I'm sure I'll have the weight gain to make up for the tastiness.

After all, everybody knows your metabolism slows waaay down at 30 anyway.

I've never been so thankful for the stomach bug

2011-03-11T23:32:00.001-05:00

My day today started out with a bad dream.

A nightmare.

One of those dreams where you are awakened an hour or two earlier than your normal time and then go back to sleep. One of those dreams where you dream you are getting up at your normal time.

One of those dreams that feels real.

I was woken up at about six by Matthew, who was leaving for work early. He usually doesn't leave until about 7:20ish after the boys are up, so it was the Mommy Show.

But I went back to sleep for about an hour because the boys don't get up until about 7:00.

In my dream, I heard Andrew making noise in his room upstairs. He's not allowed to turn on his light or play until 7:00, and seeing as it was in the six o'clock hour, I went upstairs to tell him to keep it down and try (yeah, right) to go back to sleep.

His furniture was rearranged, and his room was super messy. Still, these things didn't clue me in that this was a dream. As I was talking to Andrew, trying to get him to go back to sleep, I heard noise in the hallway outside his door.

I went out there and realized the other boys had somehow gotten out of their cribs and were headed for the stairs. The 16 hardwood stairs that go straight down.

That's when The Slow Motion started.

By the time I got to the top of the stairs, Benjamin had safely made it almost to the bottom of the stairs but Thomas...

Oh, Thomas.

He was falling. Hitting his head multiple times as he tumbled down the stairs. Boom. Boom. Boom.

My sweet baby.

I am still haunted by this dream, y'all.

Haunted.

As I "slow motioned it" down the stairs, I knew that I would have to call 911 as soon as I could. I thought about how quickly I could get to the phone.

But then I woke up.

I was able to shake off the dream, but I have had to make myself NOT remember it all day.

So I got up at 7:00 and heard Andrew's door open. He usually gets up about then to use the bathroom and then he goes back to his room, where he's not allowed to come out until 8:00. (He usually plays, reads, etc.)

But when I started walking upstairs w Thomas's Prevacid in hand, Andrew was just sitting on the stairs.

Kinda spooky like.

I asked him what was wrong, and he said the dreaded words: "I pee-peed in my bed."

Ugh.

Great.

*Let me insert here the tidbit that my lower back is really hurting. I had gone on a three-mile run last night, and for some reason I woke up in a lot of pain. All the bending over I had to do over the next few hours certainly didn't help. Thank goodness I still have prescription Naproxen from my C-section 11 months ago.*

So I told him to strip down naked and practically got into a fight with him about removing his socks.

I went into change Thomas and give him his medicine and ear drops. I discovered a full, poopy diaper, but it was all contained in his diaper.

Today is Thursday, so that means sheets and towels get washed. I let Thomas crawl around in his room with the door securely closed while I changed out his sheet and changing pad cover. All that bending down hurt.

I put Thomas back in his clean crib with toys and stuffed animals while his Prevacid activated (they can eat 30-45 minutes afterwards), as is protocol.

I threw foul, urine-smelling Andrew in the tub while I stripped the sheets and comforter from his bed and threw them over the banister.

Then I went to check on Benjamin, who had been happily playing in his crib.

Sitting in a bunch of poop.

Granted, it wasn't everywhere, but it had leaked out of his pajamas, and was even down his left leg into his footed sleeper.

Nicely played, Benjamin. Nicely played.

I set up my station with plastic bags ready, hanging on the knobs of the changing table (one for poopy diaper and wipes, one for poopy clothes), old towel on the changing table, box of wipes on the edge of the dresser, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on the radio.

But this one was rough. I needed four hands.

Poop got everywhere, and then I knocked the box of wipes way down into the bottom of B's hamper. But I had a hard time retrieving it because A. My hands were holding two poopy feet, B. My back was killing me, and C. My other two boys were screaming at me.

Somehow I made it through yet another doozy-of-a-poopy from Benjamin, and realized that even though it was nearing 8:00, and Thomas was about 20 minutes overdue to eat, that he, too, needed an early-morning bath.

So I threw him into the tub with Andrew.

Which is a recipe for disaster in and of itself.

I went as quickly as my poor back allowed to clean up the mess in Benjamin's room, throwing his dirty things over the banister.

I was creating quite laundry to-do list.

A smelly one.

Thankfully, we keep Thomas's playpen (where he has his Playpen Time--independent play--daily) in the sink part of the upstairs bathroom, so I threw Squealer (as is his nickname when he squeals like the Katherine I never had) in there with his toys while I bathed Andrew and Benjamin.

Bathing two squirmy boys while another squeals and your back is spasming is NOT my idea of a fun morning.

Or even an okay morning.

But I finally got them bathed and dressed, and Thomas fed.

And all the laundry done.

Thankfully I have a great sister-in-law who dropped off her heating pad for me to borrow.

Thankfully I have a washer and a dryer.

Thankfully I have great boys who behaved the rest of the day.

Oh, and if you're wondering what the stomach bug has to do with any of this...

Benjamin was supposed to have speech therapy at 9:00, but his therapist called at 8:15 and told me that she couldn't make it because she had the stomach bug and was up all night vomiting.

I hate it for her, but it certainly made my morning a little easier.

If only her stomach bug could have helped my back feel better.

Best Friends or Partners in Crime?

2011-03-10T20:25:00.001-05:00

You decide.

Either way, I sure am glad they have each other.

It warms this momma's heart to watch them grow up together.

Maybe one of these days Andrew will realize he has siblings.

Quick Update

2011-03-09T23:15:00.000-05:00

For those of you not on Facebook, you may not know what has been going on in our lives.

A. Lot.

Thomas got five ear infections in a span of about seven weeks, and we could NOT get rid of them because it turns out he is allergic to penicillin and sulfa drugs. So he was miserable, poor little guy.

The ENT's office called last Thursday and told me that they could work him in THAT afternoon to get tubes. I was THRILLED! He did well but had a couple of rough days afterwards, but is doing better now, despite cutting another tooth.

And the big news in the world of Benjamin is that he is beginning to communicate! The other day he picked up a ball, held it high in the air, said, "BAAAALL" and threw it across the room. I almost fell over! And tonight, when I was reading him a story, I said, "Red," and he said, "Ed." AAAAAAAAAAAAAA! That is *such* a huge improvement. He is almost three and has not spoken words nor imitated words yet. I am beyond thrilled.

Andrew is doing great. He will be five years old in two weeks. Wow. I cannot believe it! He can read SO well. Writing is another story. He can barely write anything and has no interest in doing so.

Matthew is doing great. He is a half-marathon-running-beast. He could honestly just go out any day of the week and run 13.1 miles if he had to. His busy season just started at work, and he will be working and traveling a LOT in the next two months or so. He loves it but finds it hard to balance it all. I am going to really try to be a supportive wife throughout all this.

I am doing fine. Still running. I run three times a week and am running another 5K next weekend. OH! I wanted to tell you that, thanks to my wonderful blog friends, FB friends, and relatives, I raised a whopping $650 for the Area 4 Special Olympics! The 5K went so well! I ran it with my good friends Diana and Melissa; they are so wonderful. Love you, girls!!

Okay, now you are all up to speed. I am going to try and update more often and upload pictures so that I don't have to do these verbal diarrhea posts.

Toodles!

Remember me?

2011-03-09T22:43:00.000-05:00

I think about the ol' blog every day. And what I would say on it if I had time to write anything.

It's usually updates on the boys or random thoughts that I have.

I really do want to blog.

It's just time-consuming.

And I'm such an all-or-nothing type of person, so it's hard to only do it halfway.

So I am going to try and make a more concerted effort to blog more.

Especially as Spring is almost here, and Matthew is entering his busy season at work, I will have more "me" time at night. If I'm not passed out as soon as I get the boys to bed by myself.

How can you say no to this face?

2011-02-18T21:15:00.001-05:00

In one week, I will be running my second 5K.

But this time, there will be no Cinderella's Castle.

There will be no Mickey Mouse.

This race is for a cause.

I am running for our local Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics used to make me uncomfortable. And I won't lie--they still do a little bit. But that's how anything is when you're unfamiliar with it. But I cannot hide my head in the sand any longer, nor do I wish to.

The kids who participate in the Special Olympics are real kids.

Real kids with real parents who love them.

Real kids who never asked to have special needs with real parents who never asked for their kids to have special needs.

Real parents who have had to accept and embrace a new reality because life doesn't always turn out the way they planned.

And usually, the life we're given is far richer than the one we thought we wanted anyway.

Even amidst all the worry, all the poop, and all the dang doctor's visits (15 in four weeks if anyone's counting).

So, if you're so inclined, click on this link to make a donation.

NO amount is too small. Even $5 helps and means a lot to me, to Benjamin, and the local children who participate in the Special Olympics.

Benjamin is too young to participate, but if he did, I can imagine he'd be in such events as

Coloring

Construction

Sock Removing

Couch Dancing (w Frank)

And just being dang cute

("Who, me??")

So please consider a donation if at all possible. Benjamin might be super sad if you don't.

Or he might get upset.

And, really, is that worth it?

Thank you SO much to all of you who have already donated, and even to those of you who would like to but can't right now.

Thank you for loving me and my sweet Benjamin. I love how much he has not only changed my life, but so many others' lives as well.

Is it spring yet?

2011-02-01T22:50:00.000-05:00

Seriously??

2011-01-31T15:41:00.001-05:00

The results are: Andrew not only tested positive for strep, he also has the croup.

So he got a shot in the booty for the strep and is taking oral steroids for three days for the croup.

He was *so* brave during the shot, and I was so proud of him!! He didn't cry, and he barely flinched.

I have him quarantined in the master bedroom (where Benjamin was just released from yesterday) until tomorrow afternoon.

Thomas may or may not have strep; we didn't test him b/c he is already on Omincef for his double ear infection. His ears look like they are healing, but they are not healed yet. So we will finish the 10 days of Omnicef (three more doses) and go back next Monday for an ear recheck.

Basically the gist of it is that they all had a cold that they shared. Matthew and I also had the same cold, but we only had cold symptoms. The cold developed into strep & pneumonia for Benjamin, strep & croup for Andrew, and a double ear infection for Thomas. Thomas is also cutting 4-5 teeth all at once, so that is not helping his comfort level or his food intake or how long he naps. The doctor thinks the retraction was just a difficulty in breathing because of all the stress on his body; we can do a breathing treatment if he does it again.

Benjamin goes in this Friday for another chest x-ray, and they will send the disc to the doctor to read. The doctor will then decide whether or not to finish out his 10-day Omnicef prescription. She and I will also discuss at that time whether or not he needs to be seen further by the pulmonologist.

At least Benjamin is feeling better. He is almost back to his old self. It's so nice to see him smile again. If only he could talk to us! All in good time, I suppose...
The doctor this morning told me the steroids Andrew's taking for the croup could make him grumpy and/or hyper.

Like he's not both of those already!

Frequent Flyer Miles...at the Doctor's Office

2011-01-30T22:51:00.000-05:00

I have been to the doctor lots in the past week.

And, sadly, I'm headed back tomorrow.

But this time, it's not for Benjamin.

Benjamin went back to the doctor yesterday for a 4th shot. He was also given an oral antibiotic. I take him back this Friday for another chest x-ray to check the progress of the pneumonia.

But the other two boys are now struggling.

Thomas (who is on day 7 of a 10-day Rx of Omnicef for a double ear infection) has developed a slight cough, a low-grade fever, a runny nose, and retraction in his chest. For those of you unfamiliar with retraction, it's basically where you look at their (naked) chest when they're breathing (which is hopefully any given second) and you can see an indention where they are having to breath hard. It's like their stomach kind of sinks in and you can see a separation at the top of their rib cage. I would never know to look for this if not for Benjamin and his past history.

But after a weird, fussy, clingy, non-sleeping day and night, Thomas woke up this morning and he showed retraction when he breathed. I counted his breaths per minute, and they were fine (about 30), but I called the on-call nurse anyway. We decided to just monitor him and if he seemed alert and kept his color, to take him in to see the doctor tomorrow morning.

His day was fine, though I did see slight retraction throughout the day.

And Andrew.

Andrew now has a cough that sounded barky this morning but then turned into a normal cough and his throat is scratchy.

I'm just taking them both.

This winter, which I thought had been better than last, is now officially kicking Amick butt and taking names.

It's also wrecking my usually neat house, and I'm struggling to keep up! I know, not the end of the world, but it definitely messes with my mind.

So we'll see in the morning whether or not the other two boys have fallen victim to any other illnesses such as strep or pneumonia or whatever else they could have caught. Ugh.

I will leave you with a few pictures before I head off to bed.

Last weekend, before his haircut, and before he got sick.

After his buzz cut. :)

A week ago, in the doctor's office. We were there for Thomas.
Benjamin never got out of the stroller.

Yesterday. B finally felt well enough to venture out of my bedroom, where he'd

been holed up for days.

I was sitting on the couch, trying to feed Thomas a bottle and entertain the other two at the same time. But as you can see, Thomas wasn't interested in the bottle. He was watching Andrew. It's quite a scene.

And here is the view from above me. Feeding TPB a bottle while Andrew tries to curl up in the corner of the loveseat to watch Play With Me Sesame (or maybe it was Max and Ruby, his latest obsession). All the while, Benjamin wants in on the action.

Me and my oldest and youngest.

Thomas's 10 month rocking chair picture. Only two more to go!!

I think these two will be good friends.

I hope so.

Funny Andrew story and a Benjamin update

2011-01-28T11:27:00.003-05:00

Andrew had a cereal bar to eat. It was on his plate, and part of it had broken off and separated itself from the rest of the bar.

I reminded him, “Andrew, you need to eat your food.”

He looked down and noticed that the bar was broken. And here is what he said:

“Oh, dear, this is broken off. But please don’t tell me it’s okay because I’m getting worn out from you telling me that so much.”

HAHAHAHAHA!! I just busted out laughing. And I said, “Okay. I just won’t say anything.” He smiled coyly and put the broken piece in his mouth.

Benjamin is back home after three doctor’s visits in 3 days. Plus two blood draws, one x-ray, and three shots in his butt. His WBC went from 23.8 yesterday at 4:45 p.m. to 11 at 9:45 a.m. today. (Normal is 5-15.) So that is very encouraging that the medicine in the shots is doing its job, but sadly, he is not feeling any better. The strep and the pneumonia have kicked his butt but thankfully did not put him in the hospital. Many times pneumonia means instant hospitalization. But he is still miserably whiny and cranky and needy. Sadly, though, he doesn't understand me when I tell him I have to leave the room to go feed or take care of Andrew or Thomas. Not that it would matter if he understood me. He needs me. Thankfully Matthew was able to work from home this morning while I took B to the doctor, but he had to rush off to work when I got home. He should be home by 5:00, though, and then be home all weekend.

I have to take Benjamin back to the doctor tomorrow morning to let the doctor listen to his lungs. Thankfully, though, he will not have to have another blood draw or shot. He'll go back for another chest x-ray in about 10 days.

He was supposed to have his big preschool evaluation this morning (to determine his IEP for those of you who know what that means) b/c he starts school April 25. But we thankfully were able to postpone it two weeks.

I just hope he starts feeling better, and I am so glad he is no longer contagious from the strep. Even so, he's been holed up in our bedroom. Which is where I'd love to be, but I have cereal bar disasters to solve (or not solve) and bottles to give to TPB, who, by the way, is still being treated for a double ear infection but is as smiley as can be.

Good thing.

This place needs some bright sunshine.

It's raining, it's pouring...

2011-01-27T23:18:00.000-05:00

I know.

I'm a terrible blogger.

Let me sum up.

Disney was nothing short of amazing. My first race (the 5K) was *so* fun, and I loved doing it. Considering doing the half marathon next January.

Things here are hairy.

Not literally, but you know what I mean.

Thomas has a double ear infection, though you'd never know it to see him. He truly is The Perfect Baby.

Benjamin is another story. He is more miserably sick than I have ever ever seen him. Even after his heart surgery.

He tested positive for strep throat yesterday and got a big ol' shot in his booty. Was supposed to start feeling better soon.

He didn't. In fact, he seemed worse. So after a four-hour nap, I took him back to the doctor. They did a CBC (complete blood count) and saw that his WBCs were high (25 or 26, when normal is 5-15). Thankfully all the other blood thingies (pardon my ignorance, the only one I can remember is platelets) were normal, so they don't fear leukemia at this point. But we were sent next door to get a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia.

After he got another shot (rocephin this time) in his booty. Other cheek, though.

It was already 5:30 p.m.

The plan was to get a chest x-ray, have them send it over to the doctor's office, and I would return tomorrow w B at 4:00 for another check. (The rocephin shot is a 24-hr shot.)

But after the techs did the x-ray they didn't tell me to go home.

I sat there.

And sat there.

Holding an achy, fussy, warm, needy boy.

I thought we would be spending the night at Children's.

They sent me back over to the doctor's office, where there was still one doctor. We looked at the film together.

Wow. A huge pneumonia covering almost his entire lower right-hand lung. He's had pneumonia two or three times in the past but never this bad. It's never affected how he's felt, honestly. And it was always aspiration pneumonia, so I could hear it in his lungs. I could hear raspy and rattly breath, and there was coughing. This time his breath sounds completely clear and he only coughed a few times, and he didn't start that until this afternoon.

They almost sent us to the hospital for the night.

But after a pulse ox check (96 to 97), and checking him for dehydration (so far so good on keeping him hydrated), I was able to take him home tonight. He is supposed to sleep elevated (he's on pillows right now in the pack-n-play in our closet) and I'm taking him back to the doctor's office first thing in the morning.

So, yeah.

Being a mom is hard.

Being the mom of a child with special needs and a compromised immune system is doubly, triply rough.

But God is good.

He is giving us strength and grace and great doctors and nurses to help us.

Thankfully Matthew is able to do some work from home tomorrow so he can watch TPB (The Perfect Baby) and Andrew while I take B back to the doctor.

Gotta go get some sleep.

I hate running, but....

2011-01-05T14:01:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I have been training for my first race ever, the Disney 5K. It is this Friday, and I am *very* excited!

I want to encourage those non-runners out there. I am (was?) a non-runner, too. I had ZERO endurance and couldn't run for one minute without panting and having to stop. But now I can run a full 5K (3.1 miles). It takes me about 37 minutes at home, but will most likely take a bit longer at Disney b/c of the masses of people. Matthew will be running the 5K with me, while pushing Andrew in the stroller. (Matthew is also running the half-marathon this year, and Andrew is running the 200m kids' (ages 4-6) race.)

I can't say (yet?) that I love running or even that I like it. The first mile or so is always brutal, and I want to take a shortcut back to my house. But I stick with it. And to be perfectly honest, I am very proud of myself.

The biggest perks are that I am losing weight and inches from my waist and hips and I feel good about myself. All this without really dieting right now. Seriously. My pants are fitting better, and that is all the encouragement I need. When we return from Disney, I plan to kick the healthier eating into gear, and I am sure to lose those last "few" (**cough...27...cough**) pounds I still want to lose. It is attainable.

I also love how this has brought Matthew and me together. He is a runner, having run marathons before. We are fortunate in that my mom has been more than willing to come watch the boys while we run together. (After my "measly" 3-mile run, where Matthew looks like he's jogging in place, he stays out longer, running an additional 7-13 miles.) We are able to talk uninterrupted (what a treat!) while we run, which helps us to stay connected and helps me to take my mind off the fact that I'm exercising!

The program I did has helped many, many people like me to start running. It is called Couch to 5K. You can click this link to see the (free) program. The program is set up for nine weeks, but I stretched it out to 12 b/c I needed more time to work up to the full running part. I followed the program for the first four weeks, but at week five, I switched from time to distance, and upped my mileage a quarter or half a mile each week. You only run three times a week. That's it. And in three months, I went from the couch to a 5K. No joke.
At first, it is cumbersome to check your watch every 60-90-120 seconds to figure out when to walk or run. I found a free downloadable podcast where a girl made playlists for each week with music and tells you when to walk and run. You just download them onto your computer as mp3s, move them over to your iTunes, and add to your iPod. It's that easy. Or at least Matthew said it is, bc he did it for me. On his iPod. I'm pretty iIlliterate. Here is the link for the the music.

I am even toying with the idea of running the Disney Half Marathon (13.1 miles) next January. Just toying.

And to answer questions before they come, I am going with just Matthew and Andrew. Yes, we are once again leaving Benjamin (and Thomas) behind. (Actually, Thomas did go last year, but he was in-utero.) They are in *very* capable hands, and will be here at their own house. They are each about 10 months mentally, and neither one would have a good time. It would scare Benjamin, and both boys would miss their naps. It would make everyone miserable, and it's simply not time for them to come yet. Parents make different choices all the time, and I would like to think that we are not judgmental of each other.

I hope that some of you who aren't now start running or at least walking--it truly is amazing the difference being active can make on your mindset.

Evidently Andrew believes in segregation

2011-01-03T15:13:00.000-05:00

I walked into my bathroom today to discover this:

My sink

Matthew's sink

Makes one wonder...

:)

Reality is bittersweet

2010-12-18T22:16:00.001-05:00

On Friday, something rare happened.

I left the house with all three boys by myself.

My good friend Diana hosted a Christmas playdate for seven moms and 16 kids, ages 4 and under.

I did it for my girlfriends and for myself.

The prep work alone took a long time b/c I had to pack everything but the kitchen sink. Thomas woke up w a runny nose, but no fever, so we went.

I knew it would be difficult, but I guess I thought that once we were there, it would be fine.

But upon entering, Benjamin melted down. It was so sad and sweet and frustrating all at once.

He stuck out his lower lip, cried silent tears, and wouldn't let go of me.

Thankfully, Andrew was fine to entertain himself, and Thomas, though slightly fussier than his normal go-with-the-flow self, did pretty well. The most heart-warming thing of the day was how my girlfriends pitched in to help Andrew decorate cookies or hold Thomas so I could attend to B.

He finally let go of me but he ran to the door.

"Mommy, I know we just got here, but can we go home now?"

So while my other children were doing typical playdate activities for their ages...

Benjamin was safely tucked away in the exersaucer.

On the outside, looking in.

I am so appreciative for the exersaucer and the paci. Without them, I would have had to have left after five minutes.

He was so upset, he wouldn't even eat or drink anything even though I took him away from all the action.

And when we put all the kids (minus babies) on the couch for a picture, it hurt my heart to realize that there was no way we could include Benjamin even though age-wise, he should be in this picture.

We were able to get him in on the full shot. (For some reason Josh didn't make it in this shot, and you can't see Jenna very well b/c Miles is in her lap!)

And we attempted to get a family shot but were mostly unsuccessful.

After about two hours, it was almost naptime, so we hit the road. Thankfully, both younger boys stayed awake on the ride home and then each took a three-hour nap.

Benjamin ate a good dinner b/c he was so hungry. Here is a picture of the two of us after my run (pardon the messy hair and sports bra). You can tell he is back in his comfort zone.

I do love him so, so much, and I'm so glad he's mine.

When I am home in my bubble, it is easier to forget how challenging it is to have a different child. But out, it is hard. It is hard physically and emotionally and mentally.

But I was so glad to have my girlfriends there to ease the work and the hurt.

To my girlfriends who were there: Diana, Lindsey, Marina, Lanie, Juliann, and Melissa, THANK YOU. Thank you for not treating me/us differently. Thank you for understanding us and for loving us. Thank you for your help and your friendship.

Mantras

2010-12-09T14:33:00.001-05:00

Wikipedia defines the word mantra as a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of 'creating transformation.'" It has its roots in Buddhism and has a much deeper more spiritual meaning that I don't understand or want to go into right now.

For me, a mantra is something you say over and over to yourself or to someone else in order to focus or to convince yourself something is true. Probably not really a mantra, but whatever.

That's not really my point. (I might eventually get there...)

A good one that has recently come up is on my new favorite show, Parenthood. When Zeke Braverman, a newbie to therapy, gets upset, instead of blowing up at the offending person (usually his wife and/or kids), he takes a deep breath and says, "I hear you. I see you."

So funny. My mom and Matthew and I, who all love this show, have taken to saying that to each other.

I hear you. I see you.

I'm sure that most mantras are supposed to be general, like the one above, that just about anyone could say.

I like my mantras a little more personal.

It's no secret that I'm not really a girly girl. I don't really like to shop. But sometimes I just want things. A few years ago, going shopping on vacation with Matthew, I could just sense that I was going to be tempted to splurge. I made Matthew take a pledge to say to me throughout the day, "Angela. You don't. Need. Shoes." Because I really didn't. At all. And I needed him to remind me of that in my moment of weakness.

It worked well! Except that he has taken me so literally that he still says that to me when I really do need shoes. But seriously, whenever he senses that I am wanting to spend money on something frivolous or just because, he says to me, no matter what it is I want to buy, "Angela. You don't. Need. Shoes." And it reminds me that I don't need to buy whatever it is. Darn it.

Today, I thought of two new mantras for myself.

I need to write them on a notecard and put them on my wall so I can be reminded of them every day.

My first mantra is this:

Take a shower. Fix your hair. Put on a bra and some jeans.

Seriously, y'all. Most days, I go nowhere. At all. Especially now that it's so flippin' cold. And I am in the process of training for my first 5K. We have no treadmill (it died), so, quite often, I have to wait until late afternoon/early evening to run. Who wants to shower and fix your hair when you're going nowhere all day, and you plan to run later? I usually just stay in my sweats and frump around all day. It is hard to find time to shower when I'm home by myself with all three of our hooligans.

But when I do? The difference is amazing. It's so much easier to do dishes for the 434th time or wipe up crumbs or scoop the cat litter or straighten up the toys or clean up poop when you're clean and your hair is fixed.

And by fixed I just mean blown dry w the hair dryer. My hair air dries very poorly and looks just as dirty when it air dries as it does when it's truly dirty. True story. Just ask my lovely husband who pointed that out to me awhile back.

I hear you. I see you.

My second mantra is this:

No matter how much you don't want to or think he doesn't need it, put a diaper cover on Benjamin.

I think that one pretty much speaks for itself.

And I leave you with a cute video I shot yesterday in my kitchen floor.

This is what I do all day. I hang out. With these cool kids that God has given me.

**Don't forget to pause the music at the bottom of the page!**

Long time, no type

2010-12-07T23:30:00.000-05:00

Well, there really is no excuse for my bloggy slackiness.

Oh, wait, yes there is.

In fact, there are three good excuses.

Three really adorable excuses.

Adorable and loud and dependent and time-consuming and exhausting

But I love them so much and they're worth all the time and effort (and brain cells) they take.

Matthew and I had a wonderful trip in California for our ten-year anniversary two weeks ago.

I really wish all of you were on Facebook because I already posted over 150 pictures of my trip, including my witty and insightful comments.

But here is the rundown:

Day One: We left here and eventually made it to our beautiful hotel in Santa Monica.

Day Two: Touristy sightseeing day in Hollywood/Beverly Hills (It was *so* much fun!!)

Day Three: (Thanksgiving Day) Disneyland. Also known as the day I got sick and spent five hours sleeping on a cot in the First Aid Center at Disneyland.

Day Four: Black Friday. Pretty appropriately named b/c I spent the entire day sleeping off my sickness in the hotel.

Day Five: Back to Disneyland! (City Hall was kind enough to give us complimentary return passes!!) This was the best day ever! We spent a wonderful 14 hours in the most magical place on earth.

Day Six: Up super early to head home.

Yes, it is nice to be home again.

LA Bound, Baby!

2010-11-23T18:06:00.000-05:00

It's been an eventful day already, and I'm having a blast!

The lady behind the Delta counter in Chattanooga blew it unwittingly by asking us, "So, headed to LA?" Matthew said, "Well, yes, I suppose we are!"

We had gotten to the Chattanooga airport in plenty of time to catch our flight, but b/c of rain, it was delayed. So they bumped us to a later Atlanta flight. But then the lady told us that Delta would pay for a cab to take us to the ATL airport so we could catch our original flight. So off we went in the pouring-down rain w a crazy (but good) driver.

I had gotten in contact with MckMama yesterday & we exchanged cell numbers, as she and her family were flying into the ATL airport slightly before we were suposed to. But sadly, by the time we got there and I texted her, she texted back that they had just gotten in their rental car.

We found out that our original flight was booked, and we were still on the later flight. We were bummed, as Matthew already had plans for us in LA tonight.

But our spirits lifted when we were told that we were bumped up to business class for the five-hour flight! Holla!

So we're going to LA but staying in Santa Monica, hence the slightly cooler temps. Tomorrow we're doing the touristy Hollywood things. On Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), we're meeting up my good friend Sara whom I've never actually met. We're going to Disneyland that day. Friday, we're doing beach-type stuff in Malibu, and I'm not sure about Saturday yet. We fly home early Sunday morning.

So excited for this great trip, my AMAZING husband, and my wonderful Mom, who will be watching my sweet boys this week.

I'll update later! It's almost time to board. Maybe there will be a celebrity in business class!

Destination Unknown

2010-11-22T23:38:00.001-05:00

Last week, Matthew and I celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary.

Wow.

I remember that day well. It snowed that morning, and I wasn't nervous at all.

Just excited.

Excited to get dressed up like a princess.

Excited to be marrying my best friend.

Excited to...well...you know. :)

And here we are, ten years later, with three sons and lots of worries and stresses.

But still best friends.

Loving our imperfect life together.

And so, tomorrow, Matthew and I will be vacationing in celebration of our ten-year anniversary.

We are leaving the boys here with my mom. She is staying at our house with our boys and our cats, and, God help us all, I hope the place is still standing when we return on Sunday.

We are leaving for the airport tomorrow at about 1:00. We fly from Chattanooga to Atlanta. And during our short layover, I may or may not be meeting up with a famous blogger. More on that later...
We fly out again shortly after 5:00.

The lows where we're going are in the mid-to-upper 40s. The highs are right around 60.

That's all I know.

Seriously.

Matthew has planned the entire trip, and I have no clue where we're going!!!

We were able to get plane tickets and hotel rooms all with Sky Miles or Marriott Reward Points.

I have it in my head that we're going to California, though I think that's slightly cool for Cali. I am fairly certain we're going somewhere we've never been before, and that it's in the continental U.S.

I suppose I'll know tomorrow afternoon!

I'm sad to miss Thanksgiving with my boys, but we had a big family celebration (complete with my DELICIOUS green bean casserole) on Sunday, so I feel I had a little of the holiday already. (Click here if you want or need the recipe for the most mind-blowing green bean casserole ever.)

I will update the blog if I have time. I'm fairly certain we will have Internet access but am not sure how much time we'll be spending relaxing in the hotel.

Which, honestly, sounds like a perfect vacation to me!

We shall see!!!!!!!

Stuck

2010-11-17T09:53:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged on my blog. Life is very busy right now. Kids are sick, and I have little time to form thoughts.

However, I am the guest blogger over at my friend Tiffany's blog today.

Please go over to her blog and read what I wrote! All you have to do to read what I wrote is to Click here. Then click here to read Tiffany's follow-up.

There are many other great posts from other guest bloggers, so spend some time over there.

Thanks for the chance to share, Tiffany!

I hope to post soon and put up some pics of my adorable boys.

How Much is That Candy in the Bucket?

2010-10-29T09:57:00.000-04:00

Last year, when I first started Weight Watchers, one of my friends told me about Hungry Girl. It's an awesome website that puts out info about smarter and healthier foods/snacks/drinks, etc. I subscribe to their email newsletter, and I *often* find helpful information.

To check it out, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

(Note: I unsubscribed while I was pregnant with Thomas, and it was very easy to do. Just a few clicks and no more emails. Then I started back again once I was ready to stop eating like a pig again. Oh, and this is all 100% free! And, by the way, no one is paying me for endorsing this! I just wanna help a sister out with some good weight-loss tips. This kind of thing does not come naturally to me, and I know that others out there are in the same boat.)

This morning, waiting for me in my inbox was the 2010 Halloween Candy Guide. I put it on FB, but here it is for you blog friends. I would rather set aside a few points and actually enjoy my candy than to sit in a dark closet, shoveling in Reese's Cups like there's no tomorrow. It's like a budget. When you set aside money for new shoes, you can go confidently into the store and have no buyer's remorse. This is like a candy budget. You just have to set a reasonable "budget" and stick to it!

Here is the text from the email I received. Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!!!

It's our 2010 Halloween Candy Guide... Read on to check out the calorie and fat counts on your favorite bite-sized treats BEFORE you chew. Happy Halloween!!!

Guilt-Free Classics!

Tootsie Caramel Apple Pop - 60 calories, 0.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Charms Blow Pop - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Dum Dum Pop - 25 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Lik-m-aid Fun Dip 0.5-oz. Pouch - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Jolly Rancher Hard Candy (3 Pieces), Original - 70 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Jolly Rancher Lollipop - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Laffy Taffy Miniature - 30 calories, 0.4g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Peeps Ghosts & Pumpkins (2 Pumpkins or 1 Ghost) - 28 - 37 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Pixy Stix (7 Straws) - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Smarties Candy Roll - 25 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Tootsie Pop Miniature (3 Pops) - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Tootsie Pop - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Tootsie Roll Midgee (About 1-Inch Long) - 23 calories, 0.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Tootsie Roll Snack Bar (0.5 oz., About 3-Inches Long) - 50 calories, 1.25g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Twizzlers Strawberry Individually Wrapped Twist - 40 - 47 calories, 0 - 0.3g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Chocolate 101: Size Matters!

Before you chew, know the difference between Snack Size, Fun Size, and Miniatures...

Miniatures/Minis are the square-shaped morsels -- those babies are each about a quarter of an ounce in weight.

A Snack Size or Fun Size chocolate treat weighs in at a little more than half an ounce and is usually about 2 inches long.

Not all size-categorized treats are created equal. We've found seemingly identical Fun Size bars on shelves -- same brand, same flavor -- with varying weights and calorie counts. If you want to be extra-careful, we recommend going by the higher set of stats listed below.

Choc-O-Licious

3 Musketeers Mini Bar - 24 calories, 0.7g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

3 Musketeers Fun Size Bar - 63 - 70 calories, 2 - 2.25g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)

100 Grand Fun Size Bar - 95 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Almond Joy Snack Size Bar - 80 - 85 calories, 4.5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Butterfinger Miniature - 45 calories, 2g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Butterfinger Fun Size Bar - 85 calories, 3.5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

SHOCKER! Butterfinger Pumpkin - 160 calories, 8g fat (POINTS® value 4*)

Hershey's Kiss, Any Flavor - 21 - 23 calories, 1 - 1.3g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Hershey's Miniature Bar, Any Flavor - 42 calories, 2.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Snack Size Bar - 67 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Kit Kat Mini - 42 calories, 2.2g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Kit Kat Snack Size Bar - 70 calories, 3.7g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Milky Way Mini - 38 calories, 1.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Milky Way Fun Size Snack Bar - 75 - 80 calories, 3g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Mounds Miniature - 63 calories, 3.7g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Nestle Crunch Mini/Miniature - 30 - 50 calories, 1.5 - 2.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Nestle Crunch Fun Size Bar - 60 - 70 calories, 3 - 3.3g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)

Peeps Milk Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Pumpkin - 110 calories, 3g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cup - 44 calories, 2.6g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Reese's Snack Size Peanut Butter Cup - 80 - 110 calories, 4.5 - 6.5g fat (POINTS® value 2 - 3*)

Snickers Miniature - 42 - 45 calories, 2g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Snickers Fun Size Bar - 80 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Twix Mini Caramel Cookie Bar - 50 calories, 2.6g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Twix Fun Size Caramel Cookie Bar - 80 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

York Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Pattie Pumpkin - 50 calories, 1g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Goodie Bag (or Box)!

Brach's Candy Corn Pouch - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Butterfinger Snackerz Fun Size Pouch - 75 calories, 3.5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Dots Mini Box - 70 - 75 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)

Junior Mints Snack Size Box - 80 calories, 1.5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

M&M's Fun Size Bag - 73 calories, 3.3g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Peanut M&M's Fun Size Bag - 67 - 90 calories, 3.3 - 5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Mike and Ike Snack Size Pack - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Milk Duds Snack Size Box - 53 calories, 2g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Nerds Mini Box - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Reese's Pieces Pouch - 67 calories, 3g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

Skittles Fun Size Pack, Original - 53 - 80 calories, 0.5g - 1g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)

Sour Patch Kids Treat Size Package - 55 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Starburst Original Fruit Chews Fun Size Package (2 Chews) - 40 calories, 0.8g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Swedish Fish Treat Size Package - 55 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Sweetarts (1 Pouch or 2 Rolls) - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Whoppers Tube - 32 calories, 1g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

Whoppers Snack Size Pouch - 100 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)

HG FYI: We worked hard to bring you the most accurate, current, and complete candy nutritionals possible. Shelves were scoured, company websites combed, and customer service reps harassed (okay, politely questioned). Ranges are listed for certain entries in an effort to provide all probable stats. When discrepancies were minimal, we listed the higher stats. Happy Halloween!!!

*The Points® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the Points® registered trademark.

I heart Gap jeans

2010-10-26T23:32:00.000-04:00

It's all come full-circle today.

I took a picture of myself wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans.

I still haven't lost a whole lot of weight, but I've started exercising more (I'm currently in week two of the Couch to 5K program), and my clothes are fitting a little better.

Anyway, here's the picture that I took with the timer on my camera. Pardon the messy counter and the cat who always likes to hop in the picture.

Those are my Gap Long & Lean jeans, size 14L. Oh, how I love them. They are still a tad snug, but fit enough for a quick trip to the pediatrician's today for Thomas's booster flu shot. And then a trip to Target for cat litter that was on sale and a $1.00 pumpkin bucket for Benjamin, who will be trick-or-treating for the first time ever this year. (Most likely at a handful of houses, and most likely in the umbrella stroller, but you've gotta start somewhere.)

Anywaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy

I am dreadfully behind on my blog reading, but was just catching up on a few tonight. One of my favorites is a blog called whatever. I'm not sure why I love this blog so much. Maybe it's the colorful photography or the fact that Meg (I like to think we're friends) has five kids and is such a cool mom. Or the fact that she posts funny links to skits and commercials. Anyway, she's hosting a giveaway for a $100 Gap giftcard on her giveaway blog, and I am blogging about it to get an extra chance to win.

And because you all love me so much and want me to win, don't enter. Mmmmmmkaaaayyyyyyy???? ;)

Here's the link, though, just so you can read Meg's awesome post and see her daughter's Gap fashion show.

(By the way, I'm still doing the weight-loss challenge, but I did get kicked off my team a couple of weeks ago. I'm now on "Exile Island" but am still going to weigh-in tomorrow.) :)

We Don't Wear Short Shorts

2010-10-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

Remember the 80s or 90s commercial for Nair?

Anyway, I thought of it this morning when I went down to the resort's fitness center to get a mile in on the treadmill.

See, I didn't get kicked off my Shrinkvivor Team (YAY!!!) and the physical challenge this week is how fast you can walk/run a mile.

Let me back up. (beep...beep...beep)

It's Sunday morning here in Myrtle Beach.

After a glorious seven-hour sleep in fluffy king-sized bed, I fed Thomas a bottle, fixed myself breakfast, and watched half of an episode of Grey's Anatomy from the second season. What? They're in the 22nd season now? Yeah, I'm a little bit behind. No spoilers, please.

Thomas went down for nap 1-of-3 at 9:00, when I changed clothes and headed down to complete my mile.

Alas, the treadmills were full.

Of old(er) ladies.

Whose legs look better than mine have ever or WILL ever look.

And whose short shorts would give Lindsey Lohan pause.

So I waited, reading my Entertainment Weekly. The one with Claire and Phil on the cover. I heart Modern Family!!!

Anyway, the one treadmill that was occupied by a man (who thankfully was not donning short shorts) was free after about seven or eight minutes, and It. Was. Go. Time.

Let me just say that exercise and I are not friends.

We have toyed with a relationship in the past, especially in, say, 1994, when I was in love with all things Step Reebok and Gin Miller. But we keep having irreconcilable differences and parting ways.

But this morning, we were loving each other again, and I have the sore thighs to prove it.

Which, good news, will not now or will they ever be covered in short shorts.

You're welcome.

(BTW, my one-mile time was 12:52. Not bad for me!)

Please Don't Hate Me

2010-10-02T22:12:00.002-04:00

This is my view for the next 15 days.

I am at the beach.

Myrtle Beach.

Today is Saturday. From today until late next Thursday night, it is just my mom, Thomas, and me.

Yes, that's right. Just the three of us.

Have I mentioned that he's TPB? You know...The Perfect Baby?

I plan on doing a lot of reading, sleeping, and just plain ol' relaxing.

Then late next Thursday night, Matthew will arrive with Andrew and Benjamin.

Then there will be NO reading, sleeping, or relaxing. We are all staying another nine days and coming home the following Sunday.

And while the thought of 15 days at the beach is great, and these first six days will be great, the last nine days will be one of those not-really-a-vacation vacations.

We have a small, yet luxurious, two-bedroom condo. For three adults and three children. So it will be kind of tight. Not just for sleeping, but for playing. No bonus room. No real room for running around. I'm not complaining. I'm just saying.

Anyway, I am especially missing Matthew right now b/c he is the one who unloads the car and unpacks all the ~~crap~~ stuff.

But also because he's my best friend and I love him.

I miss Andrew, too, but I SOOOO need a break from his incessant talking. He is a good boy, but he is maintenance, y'all. He does four really well.

And of course, I miss my sweet Baby B. But I also am looking forward to a break from all he requires. Which I gladly give. But it is very stressful.

Tomorrow marks the two-year anniversary of Benjamin's open-heart surgery. Benjamin was only one month younger than Thomas is now. I get tears in my eyes as I think about it. If you want to read more about that time in our life, on the side bar, go to October 2008 posts. Start at the beginning of the month.

But for now, I am going to post two cute Thomas pictures and then get busy unpacking all this ~~crap~~ stuff.

Thomas's first restaurant high chair experience was this morning at Chick-fil-A. He was such a good boy on the car ride!!

Look what we bought at Wal-mart!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Shrinkvivor - Week Two Weigh-In

2010-09-29T14:49:00.000-04:00

Well, I worked really hard this week with my eating. I didn't go over my WW points at all. But with Matthew out of town quite a bit, and our treadmill newly broken, there wasn't much exercise.

So I am fairly certain I will be the one kicked to Exile Island this week, as I only lost 0.4 pound. When you combine that with last week's, that's 6 pounds in two weeks, but the contest is on a weekly basis, so I'm screwed!

Oh, well. I'm about to go to the beach for two weeks, so I'm sure, even as careful as I'm going to try and be, I would have been kicked off soon anyway.

I am not giving up, nor am I going to lose heart. It is just one of those things! Love my Burgundy Babes!!!

Last week's weight: 189.4
This week's weight: 189.0

Shrinkvivor - Week One Weigh-In

2010-09-22T09:27:00.000-04:00

Well, it was a good week! I usually do fairly well when I start back for the first week or two.

Then I get comfortable and start nibbling.

The nibbling leads to biting.

Then before you know it, I'm up to my elbows at the Chinese buffet.

Kidding. Kind of.

I do not have pictures this week. I kind of hate to do weekly pictures. I feel like monthly pics are more effective. Since this is a seven-week challenge, I will take pictures at 3.5 weeks and then again at the end.

As far as fitness, I only got 3.4 miles (over the course of two walks) this week. Not that great. But to my credit, it is almost 100 degrees outside, our ancient treadmill has breathed its last (SAD!!!), and I spent almost two whole days at the doctor. (Friday for Thomas--we had an RSV scare, but it is just an upper-respiratory infection that makes him cough and hack like a 70-year-old smoker. Yesterday for me--my leg has been aching and I was fearful that I had another blood clot. Four hours and one leg ultrasound later, it was determined that I do not have a blood clot (YAY!) but need to take it easy and possibly look into seeing a vascular surgeon to get my veins fixed. My right leg is just crunk.)

But as far as my eating, I did GREAT! I did not go over my points at all, and even had 27.5 Weekly Flex Points (plus 4 Activity Points) leftover at the end of the week. Even with losing my 10 daily nursing points. And now I will lose an additional point b/c I've dipped down into the 180s.

Shrinkvivor Start: 195
Week One Results: 189.4
Week One Loss: -5.6 pounds

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another challenge this week was to drink water. I did *much* better than normal, drinking 40-60 ounces a day. I am going to strive for even more this week.

Have a great week everyone! I hope to blog soon with some pics of my cute boys. That's really what you're all here for.

And in a way, so am I. :)

Shrinkvivor - Start

2010-09-15T09:51:00.002-04:00

Well, it has come to this.

Teaming up with perfect strangers in order to lose weight.

Well, they *were* perfect strangers. Now they're my Tribe Burgundy Babes teammates. My friends. My butt-kicking partners in crime.

Let me back up. (beep beep beep)

In the past few months, I found a blog about fitness and weightloss called The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Catchy title, I thought. So I've been lurking over there for awhile. They were in the middle of a weight-loss challenge when I first started reading, and I had the crazy thought that I might join the new one.

Well it has begun. Today is day one.

It is called Shrinkvivor. Based on Survivor (which, incidentally, starts its new season tonight). Which means all the participants were put onto tribes. We weigh in each Wednesday. Each Thursday (except tomorrow), a tribal council will be held, and someone will be voted off. Yikes! If that's not motivation, I don't know what is! (To have any questions answered, click here.) There are awesome prizes, but the real prize for me, is fitting into my jeans. I have two pairs of Gap jeans I am dying to wear.

This challenge is seven weeks long. That will take us to the beginning of November. On November 19, Matthew and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. Later that month, we are going on an anniversary trip. Just the two of us. Where to? I have no idea!! He is planning the entire thing, and I am beyond excited.

How can I go if I'm nursing a baby, you might ask? Well, by then I won't be. In fact, I am barely still nursing right now. Only once or twice a day. My milk supply never lasts very long, and I'm okay with that. In fact, this weight-loss is going to start kicking butt (and getting a lot harder) starting today b/c I am officially dropping my Weight Watchers nursing points. For those of you familiar with the program, that's 10 points a day. Yikes indeed.

I had Matthew take some "before" pictures last night. I am really looking forward to losing this weight! While I am down about 11-12 pounds from the end of May, I have lots more to lose. My goal for this challenge is 15 pounds. That's slightly over two pounds a week. Which means (cue "bom bom bom" music) I'm going to have to start exercising. :(

Losing weight for me is all about being proactive. Planning meals and sticking to it. Yet allowing myself some treats sometimes so I don't go nuts. That's the great thing about Weight Watchers. You are in control of your food. You have points and you can spend them how you like. You quickly learn that some things just aren't worth it. Not all the time anyway.

So what's my plan?

To drop my WW nursing points and stick to my diet. Count my points, and don't exceed them.

To drink water. At least 60 ounces a day. (That's three water bottles.)

To exercise at least 3-4 times a week. Whether it's walking in my neighborhood while pushing a stroller, or doing a workout video, or whatever. Just to get active.

To believe that I can do this. Because I can.
Here are my before pics. Please, be kind. :)

Starting weight: 195

Size: 16

I will check back here every Wednesday to report my weight, my eating for the week, my activity, and my general attitude about the whole thing. I am going to the beach for two weeks (don't hate me) in October, so that will be the toughest challenge for me. But I am determined to wear my size 14 Gap jeans on my anniversary trip at the end of November.

Good luck to all my fellow Burgundy Babes!!

My Three Sons

Disney Half

Sick kids, no kids, and sweet kid

I came, I froze, and I hustled my butt off! (AKA My first half marathon race report)

Quick photogenic proof

Sweet B

Kindergarten Cutie

You ready to hustle???

Good news! Lazy and productive are not mutually exclusive.

Happy Halloween! (Just a wee bit late...)

School pictures

Randomness

Ugly

Just Another Day In Paradise

Time Kills Me

Amick Summer Wrap-Up

Wordless Wednesday

My Better Half

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!

Once Upon a Time...

*twitch*

This boy loves his food

Well worth the $25

Just because you don't have a daughter...

Wordless Wednesday

Knock Knock...

May Your Way--Final Weigh-In!

May Your Way, Check-In 4

You know you're on a diet when...

May Your Way, Check-In 3

May Your Way, Check-In 2

I Hate to Wake Up

May Your Way, Check-In 1

May Your Way!

It's Time for the Rocking Chair Pictures Again!

Progress is Good

I've done three 5Ks in three months

You never know where he might be lurking

He's not a photographer but he plays one on TV

My Day in Pictures (phone pics)

March is Birthday Month

He Truly is The Perfect Baby

Allergies, anyone?

You are my imaginary friends

Veins and other things

Birthday Weekend Part Two--Sunday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Birthday Weekend Part One--Saturday

Some of my best friends I've never laid eyes on

Happy Pi Day to Me!

Happy Birthday Eve to Me

I've never been so thankful for the stomach bug

Best Friends or Partners in Crime?

Quick Update

Remember me?

How can you say no to this face?

Is it spring yet?

Seriously??

Frequent Flyer Miles...at the Doctor's Office

Funny Andrew story and a Benjamin update

It's raining, it's pouring...

I hate running, but....

Evidently Andrew believes in segregation

Reality is bittersweet

Mantras

Long time, no type

LA Bound, Baby!

Destination Unknown

Stuck

How Much is That Candy in the Bucket?

I heart Gap jeans

We Don't Wear Short Shorts

Please Don't Hate Me

Shrinkvivor - Week Two Weigh-In

Shrinkvivor - Week One Weigh-In

Shrinkvivor - Start

twitch