Nice Surprise

While we were having fun with family, we went into a cute, hip store down on Mill Ave.  I was with my absolutely gorgeous and skinny SIL and her mom (who is just as skinny and gorgeous).  As we went into the store to look at their 75% clearance rack (even though I had no money to buy anything), I got a little nervous because I feared I couldn’t fit anything in the store.  And my SIL immediately found a top that she thought would look great on me and begged me to just try it on.  I secretly looked at the size and it was a large and I still thought “yea right.” 

Well, I agreed to just try it on and guess what….it actually fit!  I didn’t have any problems putting it over my head or anything.  I was shocked.  We were in a shop that skinny, hip college girls shopped in and I was actually wearing a shirt in this store!  Well, it turned out that the color and cut just didn’t look right.  But then get this….a shirt that my SIL’s mom had tried on was given to me to try on (and let me tell you, she is much smaller on top than me).  So without even thinking about it or looking at the size, I try it on.  It was a tiny tight in a few areas, but I will be on weight watchers again and it is a tight fitting shirt in those areas too.  But all-in-all it FIT!!!!  My SIL loved it on me so much that she said she would buy it for me. 

So I got a cool shirt now that I can wear out on a date or shopping.  And to boot, while we were eating dinner later I happen to look at the size of the shirt and guess what……. A SMALL!!!!!  I was completely shocked to say the least.  Yay weight loss.  Now to get off the last 20 pounds and down to my goal weight!  I will have to post a picture of the shirt when I have it on.

Christmas Wrap-up

Wow, what a great December/Christmas we had.  We did a lot of fun activities with the girls and family.  I had many times that I wanted to blog, but just found that I didn’t have any time.  We were so busy, I had to try and catch up on sleep when I could.  I did get sick and am still on antibiotics, but it hasn’t been anything too serious (though I did miss all of Christmas Eve with ML’s family with a throwing up child). 

Our event's consisted of: walk-thru Bethlehem/live Nativity with the girls and friends, Christmas Under the Stars with our church, sleepovers with friends and grandparents, bowling on Christmas Day with family, road trip to Sedona, Jerome, and outlet stores, Tempe Town Lake, going to the movies, and shopping for a needy family and delivering their presents.  Well, that’s all I can remember right now. 

We just love spending time with our families.  It was extra special because we have South African family that was in town for 10 days and we got to spend tons of fun with them.  This was the first time the girls had met them and they immediately fell in love with them.  I think we created some great memories for the girls that they will remember for a lifetime. 

And now that today is the first day back to school, it’s time to get the house back in order and mommy to rest and get back on a good schedule.  I am glad that 2012 is here and so excited to see what God has in store.

Happy 2012 to you!

Christmas Kid Funny

Driving to school the other morning:

  Little Miss A:  "Mom, can you smell my breath this morning?"

          Me:  pausing for a long moment and thinking "no, I don't realy want to"


          Little Miss A:  "Mom, can you smell my breath this morning?"


          Me:  and then it hits me..."Yes, I think we can SEE our breath this morning"

Saturday Random Play

I love listening to my girls play.  They are so creative and hilarious with some of the stuff they come up with.  Their favorite things to play are drive-thru (now that it is cool enough they play through the open window), dentist, beauty pageant, and now that I am in physical therapy, they play physical therapists. 

Some of the things they come up with you now are things they hear from us as parents.  Miss G and Little Miss A were playing Barbie’s and this is what I heard:

G:  Let’s go on a ride (in the Barbie car).

A:  Ok, I want to sit up front.

G:  No, You and your husband sit in the backseat and me and my husband will sit in the front.  That way we can each have some quality time with our husbands.

 

We were also talking in the car the other day and Miss E tells me that she doesn’t want to marry a tall man (because she is going to be short).  And Little Miss A blurts out “I want a husband that will carry my boxes!”

Boy, I just love these 3 girls the Lord has brought me!

Make-up: Part 1

I am honestly not that vain of a person (minus the gray hair part).  Do I go out of the house without make-up on?  Yes.  Do I pull my hair up and just go run errands?  Yes.  I can be seen in my worst and have been seen in my worst.  But for your average, feeling well day I choose to get all dressed and ready before I leave the house.  I choose this for me!

I was recently at a Mary Kay party where a friend’s friend was talking about her everyday appearance.  How she drops off the kids at school in pj’s with no bra, rarely ever wears make-up, and doesn’t care what outfits she wears when she is out and about (I told her she needed Stacy and Clinton from “What Not To Wear”). 

This conversation really made me think.  As women, I think a lot of us get to the point where we just don’t take care of ourselves.  We just let ourselves go.  Where the same things around the house, never do our hair or make-up.  We are just stuck in “mommy life.”  It was after my 3rd child that I started slowly with my hair.  I was done with the ponytail look, everyday, morning and night.  So I made the step and went for a cute hairstyle.  And I have kept it ever since.  And now with the weight loss, I had decided that enough was enough.  I am taking charge of my own body. 

So mommies it’s time to take charge!  Take charge of your beauty and your life.  It will make you feel better, it can even improve your marriage.  But it’s time.  Do it for yourself.  You deserve it and you owe it to yourselves and to God.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  (NASB)

^“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Mommy Confession

Hello, my name is Beckey and I have gray hairs.  See that, plural, I have multiple gray hairs.  And I am depressed….well, not in a real depression sort of way (I know life could be way worse).  Out of everything I have received from genetics, I tend to receive more from my dads side. EXCEPT THIS!!!!  This comes from my moms side, who started graying by early 40.  My dad is the one who finally started getting gray in his 60’s.  So why did I not get this ONE trait from my dad????

I really wonder if it has to do with all of the heavy meds I have been taking over the past 8-9 months.  But this stinks, and it is only on one side of my head (the same side as my mom).  I probably notice it more than anyone, but I know other people have noticed it.  I am 33 and NOT ready for gray!  so it is time to do something about it.  I want to feel better about myself and I want to feel as young as I really am.  This week I will be experimenting so I’ll see if I come up with something I like (don’t worry, professionals are involved).

Miss A. Funnies

Miss A. is definitely the 3rd child.  She comes up with the funniest things and they just blurt out of her mouth.  Here are a few to add to the list:

hanitizer = sanitizer

cockcorn = popcorn

The phone rang the other morning and it was a solicitor so I didn’t answer it.  And Miss A. says, “what if it’s the mental institution?”  Who knows where she got that from.

Fibro Friday: Doctors in My Life

I have been thinking lately of all the doctors in my life and boy are there a lot of them. Most weeks I have at least 1 doctor appointment.  At least 1 or 2 weeks a month I have 3 doctors appointments in that week.  And I have needed to make appointment for my girls, but just haven’t had any time.  Besides my primary and girly-doctor, I see a Pain Specialist, Sleep Specialist, Rheumatologist, Neurologist, and Breast Surgeon.  Oh, and I just got cleared by my Endocrinologist and Dermatologist and I haven’t seen an Allergist in a while. 

Thank the Lord for great insurance and time to go to all these doctors.

Tankini Time

This past weekend I wore a Tankini for the first time, well… since our honeymoon.  I just can’t believe it.  Now this one still has a little skirt on it, but nothing like the "dress" suits I have been wearing for the last however many years.  A friend gave it to me probably 2 years ago and there is has sat in my drawer.  But not anymore.  I am rockin’ it on my body now .

Fibro Friday: In a Nut Shell

So here was my week in a nut shell….way to busy.  I am shocked that I am even standing this Friday night.  I had too many doctors appointments (thank goodness my appointment today was rescheduled by the doctor until next week), sort of an urgent ultrasound done to rule out a blood clot in my right calf (still  have to figure out why it’s swollen), grocery shopping, menu planning, running errands for ML, ML starting a new job, ML being gone 3 nights out of this week and the first week of me doing all drop off and pick up for the girls at school. 

I am so tired and wiped out.  And super thankful that tomorrow is Saturday and that this is a 3 day weekend.  I’m totally not looking forward to my body catching up with me.  But I am hoping there is some help on the horizon for me and my excessive daytime sleepiness.  And just thankful I made it through this week.

Mommy Confession: Matters of the Mouth

So I have a confession/deep thoughts that have been plaguing me for quite some time, but more this last week.  I really believe it is a problem for a lot, if not most women, the need to vent/talk through problems, etc.  But the issue I have is how much to share?  When to share?  When not to share?  I don’t want to gossip.  Gossip is evil and can be so damaging and hurtful and so deceitful.  It can sometimes seem that before you even know it, you are involved in it. 

I have had a few instances this summer (all completely not related) and one a complete brain-fart of a situation.  As in brain-fart, I mean that I had shared a piece of information and it wasn’t until ML and I were in bed that night and I remembered that the friend didn’t want that piece of information shared yet.  It was truly an honest mistake, not done out of harm or malice.  It honestly, completely slipped my mind.  (Luckily it was something that wasn’t earth shattering and my friend accepted my apology and I had done no damage.)

***So what did I learn:  I really need to think before I speak and remember important pieces to conversations. 

Secondly, is the need to vent, clear your head of all the thoughts swarming around.  Who do you vent to?  Who can you trust?  Should we learn to not vent and find a way to just deal with things so that we don’t risk the chance of gossiping?  Do we find someone completely removed from the situation that knows none of the people that can be a source of advice to talk to?  I DON’T KNOW!!!

I do know what the Bible says about gossip: 

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man [or woman] who talks too much” (Proverbs 20:19).

 
It just confuses me, not the bible, the being able to speak and get advice without sharing to much and to whom to share to.  I know that I am not sharing information to harm or build myself up, I just need someone to talk to, to help me through the situation. 

***So what have I learned…I’m still confused, but I'll be ok.  I’d like to say that I am just not going to talk to anyone anymore.  But I doubt that will be very realistic.  I have such a heart to be true and honest to everyone and not hurt anyone.  So at this point what do I do??? Continue talking and praying to God asking for clarity and guidance and direction.  Follow God's word to best of my ability on what it teaches about gossip.  And when I mess up, confess it, ask for forgiveness and continue on with becoming more like Jesus.  And also, think before I speak and choose my words carefully. 

I think we all need to be reminded of this from time to time, we are not perfect, I am not perfect.  I am just thankful for God's grace and mercy for when I do mess up.

Heat, Heat, Go Away

Heat, heat, please go away, your killing my energy and wiping me out. 

I love Arizona and really don't think I could stand the weather anywhere else.  And the heat this summer has actually been pretty mild, but with Fibro it really doesn't matter.  And it doesn't matter if you stay inside or out.  I am still wiped out.  Now when I say wiped, know one can really understand what that really means.  I mean I'm talking not being able to get out of bed until 9 or 10 every morning (being full blown asleep until this time).  Just having short bursts of energy to get things done, well basically having no energy to get anything done. 

I just have to thank the Lord that my girls have become so well adjusted to my illness.  They play, entertain, watch  tv, make their own breakfast, etc. all on their own.  I try to look at it positively and think that I am just raising independent daughters.

On the Outs!

I’m not the favorite, boo hoo hoo.  Little Miss A. has made it clear to me the last couple days by telling me that

“Daddy and Grandma are my favorite, but not you!”

And then she also told me that…

“Daddy and Grandma are IN and you are NOT!”

But do you think this has changed her wanting/needing me anymore????  That would be a big fat NO!!!  Good thing Miss A. is such a cute thing and I love her so much.

See Ya!

Well, I don’t wanna toot my own horn, but I just had to share some pictures with you.  I have been on a weight loss journey and I am over half way to my goal.  What surprised me the other day was when I saw a picture of myself back at Thanksgiving compared to a picture just taken at Miss A’s b-day party.  I was pretty SHOCKED!!!!!  I mean, like really shocked.  And then I got excited and wanted to share it with the whole world. 
The other thing that has really surprised me is this…not sure if you watch Biggest Loser, but at some point they always have them “put the weight back on”.  Some how they do a challenge where they put all of the weight they have lost back on.  Well, anyways, I have just about hit 40 lbs., (YES I said 40 LBS), and it hit me that I have lost my Miss A in weight.  I’ve lost an entire 4 year old in weight!!!  And to carry her (which is so terribly hard because of the FM anyways) seems so crazy to think that I was carrying that around on my own body and just didn’t seem to care.  But NOT ANYMORE!!!  I am down a 4 year old and depending upon where my goal weight will end (it’s so hard to know since my body has now had 3 children ).  I might to almost lose another 4 year old.  I am up for the challenge and won’t stop until I am done. 


Before


Middle

My Baby is 4!

Wow, has time flown by.  Felt like just yesterday she was a baby and I was still breastfeeding, lately she has had the attitude of a 2 year old so that hasn’t been helping.  I still have one more year home with my “little love” before the big K.  I hope to make it a meaningful and memorable one since she is the last of the babies. 

This year a pool party was in order (since we now have 3 community pools in our new neighborhood).  It was a fun day, well week of celebrating and she is happy that she is finally 4.  We love you Baby Girl, you bring so much joy and laughter to our lives we couldn’t imagine life without you.

Happy Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day weekend and it's been forever since I've blogged.  Not sure where the time has gone...been dealing with fatigue and my husband's illness.   I have some great idea for blog topics but just seem to tired to blog. 

We are having my mom and grandma over today for dinner.  It should be a low-key dinner (as my family calls it).  My parents are buying the main dish and we just fill in with the rest.  ML mopped our floor which was awesome and helped so much and I love that the 2 older girls are old enough to clean the bathroom and help tidy.  Makes cleaning up the house so much easier.  Of course, I could really use a nap right now.  I might actually be able to go squeeze one in before everyone comes. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend and all my mommy friends have a great Mother's Day!  I hope you are pampered and taken care of at least for a little bit. 

Can’t Put My Finger On It

Do you ever get a feeling that something is missing?  Or you should be doing something and your not?  Or you are wanting something, but you can’t figure out what?  Well, I am there.  I just can’t put my finger on it.  I feel like I am forgetting something and  I just don’t know what it is. 

 

But then it’s also like I am bored.  Bored of where life is and wanting a change.  Maybe I am just ready for school to be over and summer to begin.  I don’t know…like I said, I can’t put my finger on it.

Pinky Swear

My poor Miss G. broke her pinky finger at school.  It’s actually a cute story.  Her best friend Ryley and she were playing “horses” at lunch recess.  They went to pinky swear that they would always play with each other, they jumped up and some how her pinky came down and hit her friends elbow. 

 

After it happened, she didn’t even cry.  She went to a friend who is an aide at the school and whispered that she had bent her finger and asked to go to the office for ice.  She told her teacher that her finger hurt, but never a tear.  When she got to the car, she said “mommy, I hurt my finger” and put the finger in front of me.  And of course I said “HOLY COW G., what happened?”  Her poor finger was swollen twice the normal size and completely black and blue.  We were going to just give it a day or so before we took her to the doctor, but ended up googling broken fingers and decided to take her to urgent care. 

 

As soon as the doctor saw it he knew it was broken.  But it couldn’t be a normal break, it involves the growth plate so off to the orthopedist we had to go.  She will have to have it splinted for a total of 4 weeks, but thank the Lord no surgery.  She is being such a trooper and doing great with the splint.  She is only having a little pain here and there.  Unfortunately for her teacher, her handwriting has been affected, but at least that’s temporary.

Onederland

It has finally happened.  It’s been 10 years since I’ve been there.  But I have finally made it back to Onederland.  Yes, I have done it….I am back in the 100’s for my weight!!!!!!   Waaaaa hoooooo and yay for me!!!!!   I am totally ecstatic.  It has been a lot of work and a lot of commitment, but I have been doing it.
So far to date I have lost 28.8 pounds over 10% of my weight loss goal, I am down about a size and a half in my pants, lost over 2 inches (haven’t measured in a while) in my waist.  I AM DOING IT!!!!!!   I have a new resolve from the last time I did WW online.  It has been a lifetime battle and I want it over.  I am 100% committed this time to getting it all off and keeping it off. 

So stay tuned………

Sore Nose

Ugghh, my nose has been soooo sore.  I was putting Little A to bed last week and by accident the back of her head slammed into my nose.  It hit me hard on my glasses and shoved them in on one side of my nose.  I was shocked it didn’t start bleeding.  And I was shocked I didn’t wake up with a black eye.  And now days later, I am still in a lot of pain.

 

My nose is throbbing.  It is causing me headaches.  Anytime I blow my nose or adjust my glasses it hurts.  It’s just a nose, who knew that it could hurt so bad.  I must have a deep bruise or something.  I just hope this goes away soon, because I am done with it affecting my life.

 

And yes, I know it could be worse.  I am thankful it is only my nose and nothing else.  I just wanted to share one of the hazards of being a mom .