This weekend we took advantage of the 4 day weekend and the fact that soon but not soon enough we are leaving El Paso and needed to check out the surrounding area before we were done. So a trip to Albuquerque and White Sands was in the cards. That is the only thing I wanted to do before I left here, I have now done, so time please hurry up and get me the hell out of here ;)
Moving on, when road tripping with kids doesn't have to be expensive. I make sure I always take snacks, and plan our meals. Eating out 3 times a day, plus snacks can get expensive and totally unhealthy. Through out all our moves and trips, I have learned a few tips, that will hopefully help you guys out.
1. Purchase a small cooler. That way you can fill it up with ice, take some sandwiches for the first meal of the trip, cheese strings, fruit, or whatever else tickles your fancy.
2. ziplock bags with snacks and sandwiches are a must. Usually we leave early in the morning after feeding the kids breakfast, then they eat the bags of snacks I have prepared, and by lunch we eat the sandwiches. We are not that far away from home anyways to want to eat anywhere that we want to check it out, so the sandwiches are easy and handy. Also before your trip, make sure you purchase some bottles for your kids and yourself. Dh and I have this one : Water bottle and the kids have these: Water bottle
But honestly, there are so many different kinds in the market, you will find one that suits your needs.
That way we can purchase big bottles of juice/tea or gatorade (whatever is your families favorite) (which is cheaper) or add canned soda (the hubby) to it and some ice from the cooler and you got drinks for way cheaper. If you were to buy drinks every single time you stop, you will spend a lot more and more than likely not drink anything healthy. I can't even tell you how many gas stations we stopped at had absolutely no horizon chocolate milk containers or diet ice tea. And since you are stopping to pee anyways, they are easy to wash in the bathroom sink.
3. Buying big containers of goldfish, pretzels, nuts, or whatever else you like to snack on is a lot cheaper than buying individual packages and separating them into little ziplock bags is a breeze. You can even go green and get the reusable ones or get little bowls like these ones : bowls
By dinner time you should be further enough away from home that there is a cool new restaurant you want to check it out go ahead. You have earned it.
Now if you are doing a trip in which you will be staying in a hotel for a couple days or longer, or during a PCS, a little preparation can save you not only money but also calories. So for that all you need to do is just pack some plates, bowls, silverwares to take with you and book a hotel that carries a fridge/microwave in the room. They are usually not more expensive at all and can save you money.
By the time you arrive in town, make a pit stop at walmart, and get some soups or steamable meals. Walmart or any grocery store is now carrying steamable meals. Everything from veggies, to rice and cheese, to rigatoni. They are usually lower in calories and a couple of minutes in the microwave means you have a decent meal for way less than what it would cost you to go out to eat. Also with a fridge, getting a quart of milk and cereal means you got breakfast for the duration of your trip.
So its absolutely possible to save money/calories during a road trip. Just takes a little imagination and some planning.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hey right answer, stop running away from me. Please!!
Sometimes in life there is no right answer. No easy decision. No matter how much you think about it and try to figure things out, write out pros and cons lists, nothing happens and you are left even more confused than before.
My husband is gearing up to deploy for a whole year. I have to decide where to live. Currently we are in El Paso. Staying here is out of the question. I don't care for this place at all and can't wait to see it in my rearview mirror and never come back.
If I didn't have kids, the decision would be easy, I would throw everything in storage, pack it up and go home. I would rent a condo in Rio and be dotted on and cared for by my family. I would have people to hang out with 24/7, help out and feel less alone. But because I have kids things seems harder. The traffic in Brazil sucks. I don't know if I would be comfortable driving there and I am too Americanized to lugging 2 kids in a bus. And its another language that unfortunately my kids don't know it. While they could learn it easily, its my son's first year of kinder. It scares me to throw him in that.
My 2nd option would be to go to S Florida either buy or rent and live close to my parents. While its a wonderful time to buy, I feel horrible buying our first house alone. Its something the husband and wife should be doing together. Its a magical time and I am not comfortable doing it alone. So I could rent it a place and live there for a year. My parents would be close by, we could hang out the weekends, they help out with the kids often, and it would be just like last deployment. Except even though they helped out, I was still alone. They have their own life's their own tastes, and etc. I already did this option last year, and while it wasn't horrible, it wasn't perfect, hence why I am not jumping to go back.
My 3rd option would be to go live with my best friend in VA. We are like sisters, I love her with all my heart, we can spend 365 days talking and never run out of things to talk. She is my children's godmother, love them like their own, she has 2 kids of her own and they all get alone fine. Her husband is getting ready to get out of the Army and he might even go contracting with my dh, if he does, she will also be alone, but even if he does, she can't leave VA because she can't rent or sell her house for 3 years. Even if he doesn't deploy, he will get a new job, work during the day, and she is a housewife like me, so during the day we would be able to hang out. The con is that I have only visited VA. I never lived there before, but then again when I moved to Killeen, TX, NC and here, I hadn't even visited before, the only difference would be that this time I would be doing "alone", with no husband. Also it snows. But I would have her support and someone to hang out with all the time. I wouldn't be alone at all.
The bad thing about going there : It snows!!!! I have never really lived in a place that gets harsh winters. While its nothing like Alaska its definitely colder than Rio, Fl, NC or TX.
So you see where I am coming from?? There is pros and cons to every situation, there is really no wrong answer and no right answer. Just where I would think I would feel less lonely while we gear up for this 3rd deployment and what would be best for the kids.
Why does being a grown up sucks??
Love A
My husband is gearing up to deploy for a whole year. I have to decide where to live. Currently we are in El Paso. Staying here is out of the question. I don't care for this place at all and can't wait to see it in my rearview mirror and never come back.
If I didn't have kids, the decision would be easy, I would throw everything in storage, pack it up and go home. I would rent a condo in Rio and be dotted on and cared for by my family. I would have people to hang out with 24/7, help out and feel less alone. But because I have kids things seems harder. The traffic in Brazil sucks. I don't know if I would be comfortable driving there and I am too Americanized to lugging 2 kids in a bus. And its another language that unfortunately my kids don't know it. While they could learn it easily, its my son's first year of kinder. It scares me to throw him in that.
My 2nd option would be to go to S Florida either buy or rent and live close to my parents. While its a wonderful time to buy, I feel horrible buying our first house alone. Its something the husband and wife should be doing together. Its a magical time and I am not comfortable doing it alone. So I could rent it a place and live there for a year. My parents would be close by, we could hang out the weekends, they help out with the kids often, and it would be just like last deployment. Except even though they helped out, I was still alone. They have their own life's their own tastes, and etc. I already did this option last year, and while it wasn't horrible, it wasn't perfect, hence why I am not jumping to go back.
My 3rd option would be to go live with my best friend in VA. We are like sisters, I love her with all my heart, we can spend 365 days talking and never run out of things to talk. She is my children's godmother, love them like their own, she has 2 kids of her own and they all get alone fine. Her husband is getting ready to get out of the Army and he might even go contracting with my dh, if he does, she will also be alone, but even if he does, she can't leave VA because she can't rent or sell her house for 3 years. Even if he doesn't deploy, he will get a new job, work during the day, and she is a housewife like me, so during the day we would be able to hang out. The con is that I have only visited VA. I never lived there before, but then again when I moved to Killeen, TX, NC and here, I hadn't even visited before, the only difference would be that this time I would be doing "alone", with no husband. Also it snows. But I would have her support and someone to hang out with all the time. I wouldn't be alone at all.
The bad thing about going there : It snows!!!! I have never really lived in a place that gets harsh winters. While its nothing like Alaska its definitely colder than Rio, Fl, NC or TX.
So you see where I am coming from?? There is pros and cons to every situation, there is really no wrong answer and no right answer. Just where I would think I would feel less lonely while we gear up for this 3rd deployment and what would be best for the kids.
Why does being a grown up sucks??
Love A
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Thank God for sick days!!
The sun is trying so hard to break through the clouds and this ice cold chill we got going on. There is a very small patch of light entering through my back door and illuminating the carpet creating this beautiful rainbow of colors. Its absolutely beautiful, but not as breathtaking as the little man laying on my lap.
I gently stoke his face and rub his hair. I reach down and rub his piggies, and his belly. Just yesterday he was born. Just yesterday he turned my whole world upside down, just yesterday he was a baby. How yesterday seems so long ago its beyond me!!!
I take a deep breath and inhale his scent. Its different. A mix of this new toothpaste and shampoo he asked me to buy bc they are for big boys and not the baby stuff his sister uses. What happened to his baby smell??
His face is different, his expressions are different, even the way he breaths when he is sleeping is different. I should know, I spent many hours rocking him to sleep or watching him sleep afraid he would stop breathing.
I live with him, I have spent the past 5 years caring for him, how could I have missed these changes?
I am a firm believer in postponing the laundry, dishes and cleaning, for just one hour of sitting on the floor with them or chasing each other around the house in order to get one more belly laugh before dinner calls.
I have rocked him to sleep, cared for him and nurtured him, yet somehow these changes crept up and transformed my baby into a little man.
I rarely get nostalgic, but today I am. He is always running, playing, jumping, go, go, go. I joke that he lives on fast forward mode. Sometimes he will stop his running to come give me a kiss, but most of the time, I have to run after him.
But not today. Today he doesn't feel good, his head has been bugging him, and even though he told his dad he wanted to go to school, we decided to keep him home. He wasn't happy, tried to convince us that he was perfectly fine, even though you could see it in his eyes. After some more argument, putting up a front saying he was a big boy and that only babies stay home, he agreed.
His sister is fine, so she went.
Not him. You can tell that my active teddy bear doesn't feel good. Even though his words will say one thing, his eyes betray him. So this is a rare moment. Extremely rare in his world. He is always fine, have a stomach of steel, and great genes. But not today. Today something caught him and has iron grips on him.
Today he laid on my lap to watch some tv, and after some protest that he was fine not tired and should be in school, he fell asleep on my lap. The little man that wakes up with the roosters and hasn't napped since 18 months old is napping in the middle of the day.
Looking at him sleeping on my lap, I had a vision of him as a teenager, and that warmed my heart and scared me at the same time.
I want to freeze time. Time is flying way too fast, too fast for me to keep up with it, even though I read all the quotes,self help books and really listened to the regrets of the elder. I was prepared, yet I somehow just missed my baby's transformation.
So yeah, while I will never wish for them to be in pain and would gladly take away all their pain, today I am thankful for this sick day. Today I am thankful that my little man is home and I was given one more opportunity to caress his face and his piggies, and rub his head and daydream of the days he was a baby.
I better hurry though, because just like everything else, this won't last, and pretty soon he will be off running in a new direction with all the stamina and drive in the world.
Love A
I gently stoke his face and rub his hair. I reach down and rub his piggies, and his belly. Just yesterday he was born. Just yesterday he turned my whole world upside down, just yesterday he was a baby. How yesterday seems so long ago its beyond me!!!
I take a deep breath and inhale his scent. Its different. A mix of this new toothpaste and shampoo he asked me to buy bc they are for big boys and not the baby stuff his sister uses. What happened to his baby smell??
His face is different, his expressions are different, even the way he breaths when he is sleeping is different. I should know, I spent many hours rocking him to sleep or watching him sleep afraid he would stop breathing.
I live with him, I have spent the past 5 years caring for him, how could I have missed these changes?
I am a firm believer in postponing the laundry, dishes and cleaning, for just one hour of sitting on the floor with them or chasing each other around the house in order to get one more belly laugh before dinner calls.
I have rocked him to sleep, cared for him and nurtured him, yet somehow these changes crept up and transformed my baby into a little man.
I rarely get nostalgic, but today I am. He is always running, playing, jumping, go, go, go. I joke that he lives on fast forward mode. Sometimes he will stop his running to come give me a kiss, but most of the time, I have to run after him.
But not today. Today he doesn't feel good, his head has been bugging him, and even though he told his dad he wanted to go to school, we decided to keep him home. He wasn't happy, tried to convince us that he was perfectly fine, even though you could see it in his eyes. After some more argument, putting up a front saying he was a big boy and that only babies stay home, he agreed.
His sister is fine, so she went.
Not him. You can tell that my active teddy bear doesn't feel good. Even though his words will say one thing, his eyes betray him. So this is a rare moment. Extremely rare in his world. He is always fine, have a stomach of steel, and great genes. But not today. Today something caught him and has iron grips on him.
Today he laid on my lap to watch some tv, and after some protest that he was fine not tired and should be in school, he fell asleep on my lap. The little man that wakes up with the roosters and hasn't napped since 18 months old is napping in the middle of the day.
Looking at him sleeping on my lap, I had a vision of him as a teenager, and that warmed my heart and scared me at the same time.
I want to freeze time. Time is flying way too fast, too fast for me to keep up with it, even though I read all the quotes,self help books and really listened to the regrets of the elder. I was prepared, yet I somehow just missed my baby's transformation.
So yeah, while I will never wish for them to be in pain and would gladly take away all their pain, today I am thankful for this sick day. Today I am thankful that my little man is home and I was given one more opportunity to caress his face and his piggies, and rub his head and daydream of the days he was a baby.
I better hurry though, because just like everything else, this won't last, and pretty soon he will be off running in a new direction with all the stamina and drive in the world.
Love A
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
*Moves the huge piles of papers to the side*
Hello world!!!
I am still alive. I don't feel very much alive but I still got a pulse, my heart is beating and my brain is mush. All is well.
I have been neglecting this blog and I am sorry. You see last year I turned 30 and decided I was going to pick a major and stick to it I don't care what it is, I need to finish. I graduated high school 11 years ago, have attended community college for who knows how long, collected a huge amount of credits, jumped from major to major with no end in sight.
Every time I mention I am going back to school someone has to hold their laughter. If I could be a student forever I would. I hated high school but love love college.
So I did some soul searching, researched some more and picked a path. I was going to give up on community college because moving every couple months is not feasible anymore and considering I have attended 3 community colleges in 3 different states, this path wasn't working for me.
I found a great university that is based out of Cali but has a satellite campus completely online. That means I can move 15 times in the next year and as long as I have internet, I can continue school. Considering moving 15 times in the next year seems feasible at this point in our lives, I signed up.
Then became the hard process of requesting all my transcripts. Then became the even harder part of actually picking a major.
Why oh why can't I major in paperwork or get a phd in typing or maybe a master's in eternal student?? Unfortunately none of those were offered, so I went with the next best thing BBA: Bachelor's in Business Administration.
I have no concentration because none of them interest me and they don't offer one in Health Administration. Graduating with a Bachelors without a concentration doesn't seem very smart. I am not sure if it is or if it isn't. I am just running with it at this point.
I applied for financial aid, and figured out I am 20 classes away from my degree. OMG!! That made this journey seem more doable. 20 classes might seem like a lot, but to me is just right there. If I kick it until high gear when dh deploys, I can possibly get my degree by the end of this year, beginning of next.
I took the leisure route, without wanting to, but somehow I will arrive at my destination. Way later than my peers, but at this point, I am just concentrating on the fact is I will have that dang degree. The rest the therapist will deal at another time ;)
The good thing about this school is they are very involved, they want you to succeed and offer every kind of help necessary. The bad thing is they are 8 week classes and extremely expensive.
You see when I started community college my dad paid for it providing I brought home good grades. After 2 years he had enough. I had jumped around from major to major and he wasn't going to pay for it anymore unless I picked something and stuck to it.
Enter my knight in shinning armor aka dh. School is not for him but he thinks its amazing I love it so much he has no problem paying for it. So for the next year on and off I worked and we both paid for it. After I left the work force, he started to pay for it. Granted we could only afford one or two classes per semester but I did.
A couple years later I took out my first pell grant. I got all my classes paid for my first semester of paralegal school. I was going to become a paralegal and that was it in my heart. I finished the semester with high grades and a realization that I never could become a paralegal. Too some time off and that brought us to the present day and time.
I got the pell grant but also had to take my first student loan because University is way more expensive that community college. (obvious fact here that the whole world knows except myself ;))
Well the pressure is on, my first class is : Statistics. holy fuck!!! I love Algebra and did extremely well in it. It was fun for me, I was thinking this was going to be the same. Yeah okay. I am drowning. Completely drowning. I spend hours and hours reading the text, watching the videos, and presentations, searching youtube, and I am still drowning.
Its making absolutely no sense to me. None!! but I am determined. I survive this I have 19 classes to go. I need this, so I am going to stuck to it. But OMG I doubt I will have any brain cells left by the end of the semester.
Thank God after this it seems smooth sailing with classes like Acct 2, Macro and mostly business related classes. None that will give me any major headaches. So survive this and you will be back on path is my new mantra.
That is the explanation for my absence. I promise once I get this or can fake it better, I will be back.
Have you ever had a class that made you feel like an idiot?? Share with me please. I need to know I am not alone ;)
PS: If you know anyone that rocks in Stats and want to make some extra money, send them my way ;)
Love A
I am still alive. I don't feel very much alive but I still got a pulse, my heart is beating and my brain is mush. All is well.
I have been neglecting this blog and I am sorry. You see last year I turned 30 and decided I was going to pick a major and stick to it I don't care what it is, I need to finish. I graduated high school 11 years ago, have attended community college for who knows how long, collected a huge amount of credits, jumped from major to major with no end in sight.
Every time I mention I am going back to school someone has to hold their laughter. If I could be a student forever I would. I hated high school but love love college.
So I did some soul searching, researched some more and picked a path. I was going to give up on community college because moving every couple months is not feasible anymore and considering I have attended 3 community colleges in 3 different states, this path wasn't working for me.
I found a great university that is based out of Cali but has a satellite campus completely online. That means I can move 15 times in the next year and as long as I have internet, I can continue school. Considering moving 15 times in the next year seems feasible at this point in our lives, I signed up.
Then became the hard process of requesting all my transcripts. Then became the even harder part of actually picking a major.
Why oh why can't I major in paperwork or get a phd in typing or maybe a master's in eternal student?? Unfortunately none of those were offered, so I went with the next best thing BBA: Bachelor's in Business Administration.
I have no concentration because none of them interest me and they don't offer one in Health Administration. Graduating with a Bachelors without a concentration doesn't seem very smart. I am not sure if it is or if it isn't. I am just running with it at this point.
I applied for financial aid, and figured out I am 20 classes away from my degree. OMG!! That made this journey seem more doable. 20 classes might seem like a lot, but to me is just right there. If I kick it until high gear when dh deploys, I can possibly get my degree by the end of this year, beginning of next.
I took the leisure route, without wanting to, but somehow I will arrive at my destination. Way later than my peers, but at this point, I am just concentrating on the fact is I will have that dang degree. The rest the therapist will deal at another time ;)
The good thing about this school is they are very involved, they want you to succeed and offer every kind of help necessary. The bad thing is they are 8 week classes and extremely expensive.
You see when I started community college my dad paid for it providing I brought home good grades. After 2 years he had enough. I had jumped around from major to major and he wasn't going to pay for it anymore unless I picked something and stuck to it.
Enter my knight in shinning armor aka dh. School is not for him but he thinks its amazing I love it so much he has no problem paying for it. So for the next year on and off I worked and we both paid for it. After I left the work force, he started to pay for it. Granted we could only afford one or two classes per semester but I did.
A couple years later I took out my first pell grant. I got all my classes paid for my first semester of paralegal school. I was going to become a paralegal and that was it in my heart. I finished the semester with high grades and a realization that I never could become a paralegal. Too some time off and that brought us to the present day and time.
I got the pell grant but also had to take my first student loan because University is way more expensive that community college. (obvious fact here that the whole world knows except myself ;))
Well the pressure is on, my first class is : Statistics. holy fuck!!! I love Algebra and did extremely well in it. It was fun for me, I was thinking this was going to be the same. Yeah okay. I am drowning. Completely drowning. I spend hours and hours reading the text, watching the videos, and presentations, searching youtube, and I am still drowning.
Its making absolutely no sense to me. None!! but I am determined. I survive this I have 19 classes to go. I need this, so I am going to stuck to it. But OMG I doubt I will have any brain cells left by the end of the semester.
Thank God after this it seems smooth sailing with classes like Acct 2, Macro and mostly business related classes. None that will give me any major headaches. So survive this and you will be back on path is my new mantra.
That is the explanation for my absence. I promise once I get this or can fake it better, I will be back.
Have you ever had a class that made you feel like an idiot?? Share with me please. I need to know I am not alone ;)
PS: If you know anyone that rocks in Stats and want to make some extra money, send them my way ;)
Love A
Saturday, December 31, 2011
2011 in review
This year has been full of so much, I don't even know how to describe it.
The year started with me living in Fl with the kids while the hubby was in Afghanistan.
Feb he came home for leave and we took a week long trip to PA to see his family and made a stop in Virginia to visit the bestie. The kids got hugged by great aunts, we saw family that we haven't seen in a long time, had a family reunion, ate too much, drank even more and froze a little. We dodged a nasty snowstorm in W VA, and got to hug the bestie and the god children.
Little one turned 2 and we had a wonderful little party. Then hubby went back to Afghan.
March, April and May was busy with school, play dates, lazy days at the grandparents, just passing the time.
June brought me old age and the new decade. OMG I am 30!!!
July and August was about the same as March and April.
Sept the mess started. Hubby came home, and we went on a luxurious trip of a lifetime to Atlantis Bahamas. 4 days of delicious pina coladas, wonderful rides, sun, fun, and each other.
Then little man turned 5 and we started liking him so much more. He started listening better, helping out and it was finally our gift for not strangling him when he was going through his terrible 2's, horrible 3's and who the heck are you 4'?
Also mil and fil came into town and with my parents we headed over to Sea World. We stayed at this kick ass hotel, and everyone had too much fun.
Oct brought the news we were moving to end of the world El Paso, Texas.
In one week we packed and moved across country. How I survived I have no idea, but I do know it caused 3 strands of white hair :O
Oct and Nov was spent adjusting to the hubby home, both kids in school, living in dry land and trying to get used to the climate and all.
End of Nov was classified of life change decisions. I hoped on a plane, crossed a border and had vertical sleeve in Mexico.
Dec started with recuperation, falling in love with the hubby even more for all the ways he took care of me and decorating for Christmas.
Christmas was amazing with the children and my parents and some awesome friends.
This year has been a mix of calmness and out of this world life changes. 2012 won't be any different and I can't wait.
Love A
The year started with me living in Fl with the kids while the hubby was in Afghanistan.
Feb he came home for leave and we took a week long trip to PA to see his family and made a stop in Virginia to visit the bestie. The kids got hugged by great aunts, we saw family that we haven't seen in a long time, had a family reunion, ate too much, drank even more and froze a little. We dodged a nasty snowstorm in W VA, and got to hug the bestie and the god children.
Little one turned 2 and we had a wonderful little party. Then hubby went back to Afghan.
March, April and May was busy with school, play dates, lazy days at the grandparents, just passing the time.
June brought me old age and the new decade. OMG I am 30!!!
July and August was about the same as March and April.
Sept the mess started. Hubby came home, and we went on a luxurious trip of a lifetime to Atlantis Bahamas. 4 days of delicious pina coladas, wonderful rides, sun, fun, and each other.
Then little man turned 5 and we started liking him so much more. He started listening better, helping out and it was finally our gift for not strangling him when he was going through his terrible 2's, horrible 3's and who the heck are you 4'?
Also mil and fil came into town and with my parents we headed over to Sea World. We stayed at this kick ass hotel, and everyone had too much fun.
Oct brought the news we were moving to end of the world El Paso, Texas.
In one week we packed and moved across country. How I survived I have no idea, but I do know it caused 3 strands of white hair :O
Oct and Nov was spent adjusting to the hubby home, both kids in school, living in dry land and trying to get used to the climate and all.
End of Nov was classified of life change decisions. I hoped on a plane, crossed a border and had vertical sleeve in Mexico.
Dec started with recuperation, falling in love with the hubby even more for all the ways he took care of me and decorating for Christmas.
Christmas was amazing with the children and my parents and some awesome friends.
This year has been a mix of calmness and out of this world life changes. 2012 won't be any different and I can't wait.
Love A
Thursday, December 29, 2011
I am eating ice cream for lunch..
and I like it :)
After the weight loss surgery, I need to consume anywhere between 50-70 grams of protein. Since we can't eat that much, protein shakes are the fall back. If I had to drink one more protein shake I was going to shoot myself.
Thank God I am married to a wonderful man who had the bright idea of adding a scoop of protein to my greek yogurt. It became a chocolate pudding and life was better.
Life got even better when I stumbled upon theworldaccordingtoeggface blog. Yeah weird name, but she is the top chef of weight loss recipes. She had the gastric bypass, lost hundreds of pounds and did it eating well. She posted this recipe :
This should be illegal!!
Say what?? I don't have to down another protein shake, can eat ice cream for lunch without guilt?? OH you are my new hero.
Santa delivered an ice cream maker attachment for my kitchen aid and I got down to work. I still need to perfect the method but its absolutely delicious.
So yep, I am eating ice cream for lunch and life couldn't get any better :)
Also, after much pleading from the husband, I took a current picture and I guess he is right, 1 month and 17lbs does make a difference.
Now please ignore the craze look and the chapped lips. No amount of carmax can fix my lips in the winter and ignore the fact I am computer stupid and can't figure out how to make the picture smaller.
Love A
After the weight loss surgery, I need to consume anywhere between 50-70 grams of protein. Since we can't eat that much, protein shakes are the fall back. If I had to drink one more protein shake I was going to shoot myself.
Thank God I am married to a wonderful man who had the bright idea of adding a scoop of protein to my greek yogurt. It became a chocolate pudding and life was better.
Life got even better when I stumbled upon theworldaccordingtoeggface blog. Yeah weird name, but she is the top chef of weight loss recipes. She had the gastric bypass, lost hundreds of pounds and did it eating well. She posted this recipe :
This should be illegal!!
Say what?? I don't have to down another protein shake, can eat ice cream for lunch without guilt?? OH you are my new hero.
Santa delivered an ice cream maker attachment for my kitchen aid and I got down to work. I still need to perfect the method but its absolutely delicious.
So yep, I am eating ice cream for lunch and life couldn't get any better :)
Also, after much pleading from the husband, I took a current picture and I guess he is right, 1 month and 17lbs does make a difference.
Now please ignore the craze look and the chapped lips. No amount of carmax can fix my lips in the winter and ignore the fact I am computer stupid and can't figure out how to make the picture smaller.
Love A
Monday, December 26, 2011
Hindsight is 20/20
I should have let Santa bring my kids a puppy, or a convertible, or maybe a pony. That would have caused less headache than this..
Grandparents are just awesome aren't they??
Love A
Grandparents are just awesome aren't they??
Love A
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Almost wordless Tuesday..
Pinterest and crafty husband made this happen.....
Now Pinterest and uncrafty wife needs to make some floor pillows happen ;)
Now Pinterest and uncrafty wife needs to make some floor pillows happen ;)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Heartbreak
"A Thousand Words Can't Bring You Back,
I Know Because I Tried
And Neither Can a Million Tears
I Know Because I Cried."
~Author Unknown
I have a lot of friends going through the horrible heartbreak of infertility/ miscarriage. Its one of the hardest thing a couple will go through.
Wanting a child is a feeling that will take over your whole life. Once you get bitten by the bug, there is no looking forward or backwards until you have that child. Its a desire to nurture, care and love.
You think its going to be easy because infertility is not really talked about. At least it wasn't 5 years ago. Thank God nowadays its in the news, and more talked about. Talking about it helps so others don't feel alone.
I dealt with a lot of feelings of being alone. Everyone I knew was pregnant, unwanted pregnancies, wanted pregnancies, whatever. I remember sitting on the floor sobbing after a friend told me her dog gave birth to 5. Oh yeah that made me sob. How could a dog give birth to 5 and myself not even be able to get pregnant with one?? What is wrong with me?? is it because for years I tried to avoid pregnancy and cried a few times when my period was late?? Was it because until age 23 I said I never wanted kids? Was it because I thought the neighbors daughter was the little devil? Was it because I looked down on moms at the store that their child were misbehaving and in my high horse of being childless was sure I was never going to be that kind of mom?? Was it the cigarets I was smoking or the diet coke and coffee I couldn't give up?? Would my husband leave me if I can never give him a child??
These were some insane thoughts that ran through my head at the time. I honestly thought I had done something to cause this pain.
You see when a woman gets a positive, that child steals your heart. You start to make plans and realize your life will never be the same after. So when you miscarry, its the death of a child and having to bury a child, no matter how old is something no parent should ever do.
I remember reading a quote somewhere that stuck with me it said "ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a good mommy. I always thought the "good" would be hard, never once did I imagine it would be the "mommy" part" anonymous.
Also waiting every month for a positive, going through so many tests, shots, pills that will screw you up mentally and physically just to nudge your body into doing what everyone else can do without a problem is very trying to say the least.
Every month that you don't get a positive, it chips a bit at your soul. It robs you so many emotions like a carefree pregnancy. If God willing you do end up getting pregnant, every pain, every twist and turn you end up worrying yourself sick. At the sight of blood you will honestly freak out. Oh no what is going on what did I do??
Even though I now have 2 kids that brings me joy everyday, the memories are forever in my mind. I remember the worried nights, the tears I shed, the pain, the heartbreak, and everything else that accompanies this trial.
I got very lucky, and as my friends go through this, I want to tell each and every one of them, that they too can get through this and find happiness on the other side.
I want to console them. I want to tell them that all this pain will one day be worth it. That one day they will be rocking their newborn, smelling their sweet smell and finally understand why you put yourself through every thing that you did. That every single tear will be worth it. I want to give them my eggs, and my tubes, and all dust I have left. I want a stork delivering a cute bundle of joy to them right now so they can love it and appreciate it. But I know I can't do none of that.
I can't promise them a baby, I can't guarantee that they will get that most desired positive test and have a healthy joyful pregnancy because I don't know it. Sometimes no matter how much or how long you wish for something, it doesn't happen.
So the only thing I can do is reassure them that they are not alone. That even though I am in a different path right now, I have walked the dark path they are walking now and I remember. I remember it all and unfortunately its a path some of us have to walk in other to get to the other side.
Also I can think about you often, pray for you often and offer a lending ear. I know its not nearly the same, but my hope its that the little bit will build to make it enough. So that you can walk through this path without lots of stumbles, with your head held high, and your heart guarded a bit more, but walk through it, because maybe just maybe there is hope at the end of the tunnel, there is light.
Love A
I Know Because I Tried
And Neither Can a Million Tears
I Know Because I Cried."
~Author Unknown
I have a lot of friends going through the horrible heartbreak of infertility/ miscarriage. Its one of the hardest thing a couple will go through.
Wanting a child is a feeling that will take over your whole life. Once you get bitten by the bug, there is no looking forward or backwards until you have that child. Its a desire to nurture, care and love.
You think its going to be easy because infertility is not really talked about. At least it wasn't 5 years ago. Thank God nowadays its in the news, and more talked about. Talking about it helps so others don't feel alone.
I dealt with a lot of feelings of being alone. Everyone I knew was pregnant, unwanted pregnancies, wanted pregnancies, whatever. I remember sitting on the floor sobbing after a friend told me her dog gave birth to 5. Oh yeah that made me sob. How could a dog give birth to 5 and myself not even be able to get pregnant with one?? What is wrong with me?? is it because for years I tried to avoid pregnancy and cried a few times when my period was late?? Was it because until age 23 I said I never wanted kids? Was it because I thought the neighbors daughter was the little devil? Was it because I looked down on moms at the store that their child were misbehaving and in my high horse of being childless was sure I was never going to be that kind of mom?? Was it the cigarets I was smoking or the diet coke and coffee I couldn't give up?? Would my husband leave me if I can never give him a child??
These were some insane thoughts that ran through my head at the time. I honestly thought I had done something to cause this pain.
You see when a woman gets a positive, that child steals your heart. You start to make plans and realize your life will never be the same after. So when you miscarry, its the death of a child and having to bury a child, no matter how old is something no parent should ever do.
I remember reading a quote somewhere that stuck with me it said "ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a good mommy. I always thought the "good" would be hard, never once did I imagine it would be the "mommy" part" anonymous.
Also waiting every month for a positive, going through so many tests, shots, pills that will screw you up mentally and physically just to nudge your body into doing what everyone else can do without a problem is very trying to say the least.
Every month that you don't get a positive, it chips a bit at your soul. It robs you so many emotions like a carefree pregnancy. If God willing you do end up getting pregnant, every pain, every twist and turn you end up worrying yourself sick. At the sight of blood you will honestly freak out. Oh no what is going on what did I do??
Even though I now have 2 kids that brings me joy everyday, the memories are forever in my mind. I remember the worried nights, the tears I shed, the pain, the heartbreak, and everything else that accompanies this trial.
I got very lucky, and as my friends go through this, I want to tell each and every one of them, that they too can get through this and find happiness on the other side.
I want to console them. I want to tell them that all this pain will one day be worth it. That one day they will be rocking their newborn, smelling their sweet smell and finally understand why you put yourself through every thing that you did. That every single tear will be worth it. I want to give them my eggs, and my tubes, and all dust I have left. I want a stork delivering a cute bundle of joy to them right now so they can love it and appreciate it. But I know I can't do none of that.
I can't promise them a baby, I can't guarantee that they will get that most desired positive test and have a healthy joyful pregnancy because I don't know it. Sometimes no matter how much or how long you wish for something, it doesn't happen.
So the only thing I can do is reassure them that they are not alone. That even though I am in a different path right now, I have walked the dark path they are walking now and I remember. I remember it all and unfortunately its a path some of us have to walk in other to get to the other side.
Also I can think about you often, pray for you often and offer a lending ear. I know its not nearly the same, but my hope its that the little bit will build to make it enough. So that you can walk through this path without lots of stumbles, with your head held high, and your heart guarded a bit more, but walk through it, because maybe just maybe there is hope at the end of the tunnel, there is light.
Love A
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
"How are you???"
I believe "How are you?" is the most common question in the English language and yet the most complex.
When someone asks "how are you?" are they being polite or do they really want to know ?
Whey they ask that question, do they mean physically or emotionally?
Well, I just have had surgery, nonetheless in a third world country. Shocking to many, so of course all of my friends have asked me "how are you?" or any variations of that. I know they ask because they care and I only answer in the physically part of it.
So, how am I??
Well physically I am wonderful. I got really lucky and knock on wood no plane crashes, no pulmonary embolism, no infections, no leaks. Yeah a big risk I took, I know. But physically I couldn't be better. The first couple of days were hard. To be honest, the first two weeks. Your new stomach is so small, you can't take a gulp, if you do it will hurt, you will feel a pressure going down. You have to sip, sip, sip and if 30 years of habit gets to you, and you take a gulp while driving and not paying attention, you will pay for it. Trust me , I know ;)
Eating was hard also. You are on a clear liquid diet for the first wk or 2 in order to allow your new stomach to heal and to not put unnecessary pressure on your staples. Its not a big deal because you are not hungry really considering half a cup of chicken broth have the power to feel you up, its just boring and tedious.
Friday, I removed my own stitches. I know I rock like that ;) and started feeling much better. I can now take a gulp and while it will go down square, its not as uncomfortable. I have moved to stage 2 of the diet and can now have scrambled eggs, and soft wedges of cheese to my diet and mashed potatoes. How exciting!!!!
So yeah physically I am doing wonderful, but emotionally I am a wreck.
You see, almost everyone looses 20 lbs within the first week of this and then stall for a bit, then start up again. The first month though your average weight loss is 17-20 lbs depending on how heavy you are. If you are heavier, of course you will loose more. Also it takes a while for you to heal and your body to get out of shock and do what is supposed to do. You got to understand they pump you full of gas, cut a piece of your stomach, anesthesia, you name it. Everyone is different.
I have lost a grand total of 10 lbs in 2 wks. Very depressing. Wait what?? well I was expecting more, and therefore I am a bit disappointed. I could have lost that in a crash diet and saved my money. Except, I would have probably gained all of it in the following week and with this, I doubt I will be gaining anything considering the most I could eat in a day would equal to less than 800 calories. Seriously there isn't that many calories in chicken broth, or eggs or protein shakes to add up.
So for a while, I was freaking out. I think old fears of failing started to creep back up, I mean I can't count how many diets/life changes I tried and failed, why will this be any different??
After a kick in the ass from the hubby and some reassuring words from my friends, I have come to realize 10 lbs is good. Its a wonderful start and this is working. Maybe slowly than others but it is working, and besides I am not competing with anyone.
This has also made me realize I have a ton of baggage when it comes to my weight, baggage that I need to deal with it and figure it out.
So when you ask me the next time "how are you??" and I say "fine". I honestly mean it, physically of course, because you don't want to hear about how fucked up in the head this is and how stressed and scared I am, do you really??
Much love A
When someone asks "how are you?" are they being polite or do they really want to know ?
Whey they ask that question, do they mean physically or emotionally?
Well, I just have had surgery, nonetheless in a third world country. Shocking to many, so of course all of my friends have asked me "how are you?" or any variations of that. I know they ask because they care and I only answer in the physically part of it.
So, how am I??
Well physically I am wonderful. I got really lucky and knock on wood no plane crashes, no pulmonary embolism, no infections, no leaks. Yeah a big risk I took, I know. But physically I couldn't be better. The first couple of days were hard. To be honest, the first two weeks. Your new stomach is so small, you can't take a gulp, if you do it will hurt, you will feel a pressure going down. You have to sip, sip, sip and if 30 years of habit gets to you, and you take a gulp while driving and not paying attention, you will pay for it. Trust me , I know ;)
Eating was hard also. You are on a clear liquid diet for the first wk or 2 in order to allow your new stomach to heal and to not put unnecessary pressure on your staples. Its not a big deal because you are not hungry really considering half a cup of chicken broth have the power to feel you up, its just boring and tedious.
Friday, I removed my own stitches. I know I rock like that ;) and started feeling much better. I can now take a gulp and while it will go down square, its not as uncomfortable. I have moved to stage 2 of the diet and can now have scrambled eggs, and soft wedges of cheese to my diet and mashed potatoes. How exciting!!!!
So yeah physically I am doing wonderful, but emotionally I am a wreck.
You see, almost everyone looses 20 lbs within the first week of this and then stall for a bit, then start up again. The first month though your average weight loss is 17-20 lbs depending on how heavy you are. If you are heavier, of course you will loose more. Also it takes a while for you to heal and your body to get out of shock and do what is supposed to do. You got to understand they pump you full of gas, cut a piece of your stomach, anesthesia, you name it. Everyone is different.
I have lost a grand total of 10 lbs in 2 wks. Very depressing. Wait what?? well I was expecting more, and therefore I am a bit disappointed. I could have lost that in a crash diet and saved my money. Except, I would have probably gained all of it in the following week and with this, I doubt I will be gaining anything considering the most I could eat in a day would equal to less than 800 calories. Seriously there isn't that many calories in chicken broth, or eggs or protein shakes to add up.
So for a while, I was freaking out. I think old fears of failing started to creep back up, I mean I can't count how many diets/life changes I tried and failed, why will this be any different??
After a kick in the ass from the hubby and some reassuring words from my friends, I have come to realize 10 lbs is good. Its a wonderful start and this is working. Maybe slowly than others but it is working, and besides I am not competing with anyone.
This has also made me realize I have a ton of baggage when it comes to my weight, baggage that I need to deal with it and figure it out.
So when you ask me the next time "how are you??" and I say "fine". I honestly mean it, physically of course, because you don't want to hear about how fucked up in the head this is and how stressed and scared I am, do you really??
Much love A
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