I'm a Mathlete!

This is how brilliant I am.
Mathlete that I am, it suddenly occurred to me that I lost exactly 10 pounds in one month. And that if I can do that every month, I will be at my goal weight of 150 pounds by February.

Wow. I guess I'd better buy those new sneakers. I'm going to be melting!

Not Much Progress

Hello, everyone! I hope your weekend was fun. I did have a lovely weekend, but knew that stepping on the scale for my Monday honesty was not going to be fabulous. Although I did well on my diet, I only exercised one day, and that was Saturday. I had a crazy busy work week, plus my cycle, so I knew weight loss would be minimal, if any. Still, I lost almost another pound. I updated my Accountability Log.

I have another busy week this week. I'm still waiting on my fax from work. Drinking my coffee. Going to update my calorie count website because I didn't touch my computer all weekend. Drove Bucket to school because his bike tire is kaput. We have saxophone practice tomorrow, church on Wednesday, and I have to take Bucket shopping with me on Wednesday evening, because Tiger's 12th birthday is on Thursday! On Friday, Bucket has an all day field trip in Silver Springs, up in Ocala, and Tiger has a band lock-in. (A lock-in is when all the kids in the band get "locked-in" at school from 7pm to 6am, it's like a giant party.) I have to pick up a Publix birthday cake for him to share with all his band friends. I have to pick Tiger up at 6am on Saturday morning, then I have a photography class at 10am to 2pm. Luckily, Mr. R should be home by Friday night to help me with all this craziness.

Saturday exercise: I went on a sort of hiking trip with Missy. It was flat (of course, we live in Florida) but very woodsy. She didn't tell me I'd be traipsing through the woods, so I am covered in mosquito bites. My legs itch insanely. It took us 40 minutes to do the entire loop, which really isn't bad. But it was the heat of the day that took it's toll on me. Luckily, I had my water bottle, and as soon as I was done, I sat in my car to get some air conditioning. My legs felt great (except for the bites) and I didn't have a racing heart or breathing issues. Just hot. The trail was fun, I will bring my camera next time. My shoes are filthy and I need to wash them. They are covered in dirt and sand and I can't even bear to put them back on. I guess I need an extra pair of sneakers since I'm getting more active. I could also use more work out pants. The pants I wore were so baggy that I had to keep hoisting them up. They are old and the elastic is shot. I guess Sarah needs a shopping trip! ;)

Praying

Do you ever have a conversation with someone and look back at stuff you *should have* done? Mr. R and I did that this morning. Before he got the job he has now, he filled out an application for a company in Orlando. They offered him a job. It was local driving, Monday through Friday, home every night, and weekends off. A truck driver's dream! And he turned it down. Why? Because he didn't want to drive to Orlando every day (approximately 50 miles from where we live now.) So what did he end up doing? Taking a job where he drives all over the country. Ah, hindsight. You gotta love it.

I told him, "I sure wish you had taken that job back then. I'd love to have you home every weekend. So would the kids."
He said, "Jobs like that don't just appear in front you."
I said, "What was the name of that place again?"
He told me. I typed it in. And ta da!!! - driving position available in Orlando. So I filled it out. It took over an hour and was absolutely ridiculous. It asked questions that made me wonder if they wanted a driver or an FBI agent. But we finished it together, talking on the cell phone, me drinking my coffee at my desk, him driving a semi through the hills of Tennessee. And we are both praying, that somehow they will offer him this job again, and that by this summer, Mr. R will be home with us all the time.

Gone Fishing

This is Missy's friend "K" trying to do cpr on a dead fish. I dared her to give mouth to mouth, but she wouldn't budge. That would have been a cool shot though. You see Bucket there with her? Guess who has a huge crush on K? ~grin~


My clone, Missy. I bought her the black white and red skull shirt for Christmas, because that is how I roll, peeps. Merry Christmas!!! How about a shirt with death and destruction? Rock on, Mama.




They work together quietly and efficiently, my Tiger and my Bucket.



That setting sun light in Florida will blind you.



My Bucket, the GQ model. I had to donate those swim shorts to Goodwill right after this picture was shot. He said, "Mommy, my peanuts hurt in these shorts." That's your sign, Mama.


I just thought I'd share some fishing pictures since I'm finally dl'ing my photos from my new camera. :P

My Clothesline

These are the kitty cats who chase me as I hang up the laundry. The gray one is Jack, the tiger striped one is Buck.


There goes Roscoe, the world's neediest dog. He needs therapy.


I got an impromptu kiss while I was taking pictures!


That's Mr. R installing my clothesline. It hangs up about four loads of wash, except for underwear and socks. I promised the kids I would have no flapping panties in the wind. Can you tell we've had very little rain? Look at my poor lawn.

I love how the people behind us can afford a pool, but not enough money to fix their fence. Mr. R and I plan to fix and paint our side. It is quite ugly.

And that is my clothesline! Speaking of, time for me to get out there. We were out of towels again!

Monday Morning Honesty

So....how did Sarah do? Very well, very well. I am down to 260.0 exactly as of this morning. I am quite proud. Yesterday, I started that delightful time known as "Aunt Flo" and I fought off the potato chip cravings. I think I must have swept the house ten times, trying not to think of Pepsi and barbecue chips (my usual monthly indulgence.) Oh well, at least my floors are clean...for now!

*Not* going to go for exercise this morning because we are expecting some super dreadful weather, and I may have to be running children to school in the car, instead of sending them by bicycle or bus.

I am quite pleased with a 5 pound weight loss in one week. However, I am aware that the first week of dieting is usually the most successful, because the body is basically shocked. I realize it's going to get harder. I also need to incorporate more exercise, because that 5 pound weight loss was really all diet, no movement. Can you imagine how much I'd lose if I actually did both? Wowzers.

Anyway, I hope all of my readers have a blessed Monday today!

One Should Not Flash People at Church!!!

Okay, well, there are definite signs that I'm losing weight.

I have this lovely black Gap dress that I bought from e-Bay back in November when I was at my heaviest (280 lbs.) It's a size 20. It's very flattering and comfortable, made of a super comfy jersey material. I actually wore it a lot when I was sick and couldn't stand the feel of tight fabric touching my stomach. Last night, as I was planning my outfits (yes, I do that) I decided that since my dress is 3/4 sleeves and black, this might be the last time I wear it before the season ends. So I decided to wear my black dress with turquoise accents. I have turquoise ball earrings, a turquoise bracelet, and turquoise sandals. I even wore eyeliner to match! Grabbed my black bag and I was feeling quite snazzy. As a woman who works from home, Sunday is pretty much my only day to get prettified. So I do.

Anyway, I obviously was NOT LOOKING IN THE MIRROR as I got dressed. And I unfortunately didn't notice that the tops of my very ample breasts were saying hello to everyone at church. Did I also mention that my left breast is tattooed? And I go to a BAPTIST CHURCH?!?! Now, my girls never hung out of this dress before. I'm guessing I will have to take in the seam at the shoulders to pull my dress back where it's supposed to go. Although, I do have a question. Why, why, WHY, when we ladies lose weight, it comes from the girls automatically? My thighs have plenty to spare...take from THEM! I unfortunately didn't realize how much I was showing, until I was speaking to a friend of my husbands', and as I spoke, I noticed that he not once was looking at my face. I looked down and gasped. Oh, hello, girls. Welcome to church.

I may need to buy some more tank tops or camisoles to avoid this happening again!
Stay tuned for my Monday weigh-in tomorrow!

I Ramble Incessantly When I'm Dieting

To keep myself accountable, I will be posting my weight on the blog every Monday morning. To me, Mondays make the most sense because it will hold me responsible for my weekend noshing. I could use some encouragement, people. Mr. R is already trying to sabotage me. For a man who says he wants me to lose weight, he sure is making it difficult. He added cream to the pasta last night! CREAM!!! I still had some, but I took only half the portion I had divided for myself because of the extra calories he threw in there. My friend Liz (who used to work for a fitness center when she was in college) told me that tons of husbands and boyfriends would do that. She thought it was because men were worried that their wives/girlfriends would be too smokin' hot once goals were achieved. Interesting theory. I'll keep it in mind. ;) Then, when I was working on the computer last night, Mr. R grabbed two chocolate bars and threw one to me. I immediately handed it back and told him to put it back in the freezer. And he REFUSED. Said it was already out, so I might as well eat it. HUH? You're two feet from the freezer. Put it back. But no...so he ate two of them himself. And probably lost weight, the schmuck. Why is it that men can lose weight so easily but it sticks on us girls?

Anyway, I haven't had my breakfast yet, and since it's past 8am, I'm behind on my schedule. So I'm going to scramble myself up an egg maybe with some chopped up onion and some turkey sausage. Yummo!

Shame on THEM!

As many of you know, I'm doing my best to try and lose weight. Not as much for looks (I pretty much think I'm gorgeous now) but to control my diabetes and live longer to be with my friends and family. Anyhoo, this morning I made what I THOUGHT was a delectable breakfast. Two cups of coffee with half and half (I don't skimp on the half and half, it's my only vice I swear) a light english muffin, one tablespoon of butter (okay, that's my other vice, I don't eat margarine, it's real butter or nothing!), a packet of blackberry jam that I kept from Cracker Barrel, and a serving of applesauce by Motts. The entire breakfast was under 500 calories and is good energy on a rainy cloudy morning.

I love apples. Growing up in New York, apples are plentiful and cheap, and we always had them around. I didn't have any actual apples, but I did have those applesauce cups by Motts. I didn't even look at the ingredients (hello, its apples!) but only the calories, which was 110. It was only AFTER I ate that I snuck a peek and was horrified to learn that my perfectly healthy food had been tainted by corn syrup. WHY MOTTS WHY?!?! What is wrong with apples that you felt like you had to muck it up with that crap?

I guess I'm going to have to start making my own snacks and meals because most of the diet stuff out there is either full of salt, corn syrup and other preservatives. Be forewarned, I may start cooking. If you smell smoke, RUN.

My Lovely Turquoise Water Bottle

Thirty-two ounces of fun
Racing through my bladder walls
How fast can I run?

Sorry, had to bust out the haiku again. I'm back to drinking my 8 cups of water per day, but I'm sneaky. I got an enormous water bottle that holds 32 ounces and I just sip it all day. I normally fill it back up again around 1 or 2pm. So if I fill it twice, that is my 64 ounces of healthy water. It's easier to do than I thought. However, I can't stop peeing. I'm glad I'm not in the actual office because everyone would think I'm not doing my job, because I have to get up at least once per hour to go potty.
I've always thought this was a load of BS, but drinking water does make you less hungry. Mr. R and I set up a plan for me (mom of an autistic child, you know I love plans, lists and charts, right?) to eat every three hours so I don't go postal and snarf down 3000 calories in one setting. At 8am, I have breakfast with coffee. At 10:30-11, I get a snack of under 150 calories. At 12-1, I get lunch. At 3, I get another snack of 150 calories or less. And at 6, it's dinner time. During this entire time, I am drinking my water.
Peeps, I skipped the 3pm snack. Not hungry. But excuse me, I need to pee again.

We Are So Dang Cute

I love this guy. As of this month, we've been together for nineteen years. A month before my fifteenth birthday, I said yes to a date to my friend's seventeen-year-old brother. And look what happened! Amazing!
On a totally different subject, don't my eyebrows look amazing? I'm pretty proud of that arch! lol

I'm Alive

Sorry to disappear on you fine folks, but I'm on vacation this week and having FUN. No work, very little school (hopefully my grades won't reflect that) lots of swimming, playing, cleaning, eating, and catching up with Mr. R in the romantic department. (cough cough.)
Monday the 6th was a hard day. It was the day that we were supposed to do the reversal. I got a little sad eyed thinking about it. Then I went back to my doctor and got even more sad eyed. I am offically diabetic. Unreal. All four of my grandparents and my biological father are diabetics, so it wasn't a shock. But I wasn't expecting it so soon. I'm not quite sure how this is going to work in my life yet. I'm already a terrible cook and I didn't even felt like I ate a ton of sugar. I am more of a chips and salsa girl than a cake girl. I obviously have to stop drinking Pepsi which I luuuuurve and will never have again (sobbbbb) but other than that I am clueless. I am considering setting up an appointment with a nutritionist at FH, as my company has a diabetes center.

So instead of Mr. R going in and having his surgery, I got the news that I'm a diabetic instead. What a weird little twist in life.

In Defense of Public Schools

On the web, in newspapers, in churches, pretty much everywhere...it is quite popular to say how much one hates the public school system. In many ways, it is flawed. Archaic. Useless. I'm not denying it.

Yet today, I realized how much public school has saved my son, Bucket.

He started public school at the tender age of 3, due to his disability. When he started special education preschool, he was completely non-verbal. Violent. There were no words, just screaming, shrieking in agony, pointing and throwing items. He was so frustrated that he bit his own arms until they bled, knocked his head on the floor on purpose, and was not even close to being potty trained.

His preschool teacher helped us turn it all around. She was firm, consistent, and loving. To this day, I consider her a friend, even though we don't see each other anymore. I'm sure if she saw Bucket today, she would be shocked and surprised. Many of the children she has in her classroom are considered failures at the young age of 3. They may never speak, never be independent, never have a job, never marry, never be "socially acceptable." Bucket was one of the few who seemed to come out of his shell, learn songs, words, rules and games.

Today, I had to go to his new school and sign paperwork stating that he no longer qualified for speech therapy services. In seven years, we went from a terrified, mute 3 year old to a confident eloquent 10 year old. They showed me his past paperwork. In the blink of an eye, I was transported back to a time when my little Bucket was so violent that he broke two of my ribs during a temper tantrum (yes, he did, I'm not kidding) and chipped my front tooth when he head butted me, to the sweet boy I have now.

And I cried, looking at my son's records and realizing that he's really not even the same child . I couldn't have done it without public school. I had no idea how to teach a child to speak. I didn't know how to get through the clouded veil of autism. I was a devastated, tired, sleep deprived and ANGRY mom. I didn't know what was wrong with my son. I just knew that I didn't know how to fix it. Public school helped us. Forever. And I'm entirely grateful.