A Traveling we will go.......

We have had a pretty low key day today.  Got up, Chris was sweet enough to go get coffee and breakfast for the kiddos (coffee for him/breakfast for them :-)), then I went to go work out with "Olga" for a bit and was notified that my weekly cardio hours needed to be increased *sigh.  Then came home, got everyone fed and gathered up for a family outing.  Pretty quickly into it I started not feeling so well, so Julia and I were driven home for a nap, and the other 3 kept on their driving trip.  I felt really bad that it was my idea for an outing, and I bagged on them, but I just couldn't hang...... Then we got up, the kids played outside with the puppy, we had leftovers (NO COOKING FOR ME!), and are now all doing relaxing things....... blogging/video games/watching movies etc.

So right now, I am laying here on my bed.... Julia is soaking in the bathtub (within my view, and I can play on my computer----it is called multi-tasking!), and I am kind of planning our trip to CA.  (On which the "when we are going" has to be remain secretive as per my husband and his security job! :-))  We went to Disneyland last year, left Julia with my mom, and had a GREAT time with the older kids.  We decided, due to their ages then, that flying was the best way to go, but Chris really wants to embark on road trips with the kids, and along the way, explore our beautiful land.  So this year, we are planning on doing this.  Julia will be with us since she actually is a pretty good car traveler.  We will be ending up at D-Land and surrounding parks, however, it won't be the "main attraction" as we intend to stop along the way to take in the sights.  I am sure my husband has many places he wants to see, but after research I am thinking of a road trip similar to this:

1st day (a Friday): To Crescent City, CA
2nd day (Saturday): Explore Redwood Forest then make our way to San Francisco
3rd day (Sunday): Drive to Hearst Castle along Hwy 1 (with Dramamine) and stop there to stretch legs and see the Castle----Then proceed to Anaheim area.
4th day (Monday): Low key explore day.... maybe a small amusement park or a hotel veg day or something.
5th day (Tuesday): Disneyland!!!!!
6th day (Wednesday): Another park of choosing
7th day (Thursday) : Another park
8th day (Friday): Drive from Anaheim to Medford (hoping to stop in and at least have dinner with a friend who lives there!)
9th day (Saturday): Medford to home.

I am kind of looking forward to it, and kind of not.  Me+driving+3 kids= Grumpy.  BUT, my kids deserve such memories, SO, I will take my drugs, suck it up and have a great time!

Joshua is going to make a lady very happy someday!

Joshua has always been a charmer.  He has always known how to wink the right way, turn his head and smile and make you melt.  He is a true sweet-heart.  He tells me everyday how much he loves me... when I was sick this week, he wrote me a note saying that when I was better he would hug and kiss me.  He melts my heart.  The other day, I woke up with this sitting on my pillow with a note saying: "Because I wanted you to know how much I love you" (Made out of bendaroos)

And his newest thing, every time we go to the store together he wants to buy me flowers.  He picks them out himself, carries them around himself, gives them to the checker himself, and holds them tight until he can present them to me at home as I make a special production of putting them lovingly in a vase.  Here are my flowers from today:

I get little glimpses of him as a man.  A man who leaves love notes and flowers for his wife.  A man who adores his children and enjoys life everyday.  I can't wait----well, I can, but it will also be cool to see that! :-)  I love you Joshua!  Thank you for being super cool, and I LOVE the flowers!

Love,
Mommy

Entertainment by the super adorable--Julia

Weekly Wednesday Weightloss

Sorry this is posting Thursday morning, I was a tad sick yesterday.  I have been having evening heart palpitations, and Tuesday night was really bad (approx every 17-20 beats for a few hours), and then Wednesday I woke up with horrid migraine that lasted all day.  Needless to say, I did only what I had to do to survive.  And, it goes without saying that I will be calling the doctor about the heart issues, and it just reiterates why I am on this weightloss/health journey:

Wednesdays Stats:
Highest Weight "achieved": 11/09
To date weight loss: -58 lbs (5lb gain from last week, but I have a monthly visitor who likes to hoard water :-))
Goal weight: 88 more lbs to lose
Caloric intake today: 600
Water intake: 84 oz
Exercise: 20 min moderate treadmill and 55 min weight training

I have definitely accepted within the past few weeks that I am an addict.  I am addicted to food.  I crave it, I find solace in it, I actually have LOVE for it.  However, it doesn't really love me back, so I need to dump it.  I need to ditch my love for food.  I can use it for its good points (health and sustenance) but I need to find other "things/people" to obtain my love/acceptance/pleasure from.  There are so many in my life who are deserving and willing to have that, so why not give it to them?  I came across this article the other day "10 tips for overcoming emotional eating"  Here are some:
1)  Write it away  (ie: journal/blog)
2)  Take 2 bites (if you HAVE to have that cheesecake, take 2 bites and dump the rest)
3)  Food can be wasted (dump the mentality that you must clean your plate.)
4)  Set up tiny goals (most of us have an all or nothing attitude. "I ate a cookie, I might as well eat the whole bag"  or  "I have to walk 10 miles everyday"... and when failure hits, we stop.....)
5)  Identify what do you really want to chew on?  (When you crave food, is it "food" you need, or is something in life bothering you..... finances, kids, deadlines, messy house etc)
6) Eat in the presence of others  (it helps keep you accountable)
7)  Small wins (write 5 things you did today that were small accomplishments)
8)  No more deprivation (instead of thinking that you can't have ice cream and you feel deprived, think of how this weight is depriving you of your life/dreams etc)


So, this week my tiny goal:

---Keep all my appointments with my trainer *"Olga", which was today (wednesday), Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday. 

* My trainer's real name is not "Olga", but it makes her sound so mean and torturous!  She is actually super sweet, kind, loving, supportive........ but she pushes me and sometimes I wish I could hate her.  :-)  But, I actually adore her, and KNOW that without her, I would be hard pressed to accomplish my goals.

I feel so blessed that we have this option:

So, after a few years of contemplation, my husband and I decided that we were going to send our children to a private school.  We have debated back and forth with the inconvenience of shuttling them everyday, the very noticeable monthly tuition (approx 500 per kid), the lack of "neighborhood kids" since the attending students kind of come from everywhere, etc.  However, for us, the public school in our area did not do it for us.

It all kind of started when Lauren started school.  We knew she was gifted.  We knew we would have to work hard and keep her challenged.  However, we then found out that there really aren't any programs for gifted children at her level at the schools in our area.  This year we lucked out.  She has a wonderful, dedicated, "seasoned" (not old, just experienced..... can't call her old, I think we are the same age! HAHA), understanding, flexible teacher. This particular teacher spends a lot of her extra time developing curriculum specifically for Lauren.  I feel so blessed to have her this year, however, what happens next year, or the year after... will we always be so lucky?  Doubtful. 

I understand about public education funding--and lack there of.  I understand the whole "no child left behind", but with all that, does that mean that MY child is overlooked?  That there are no developed curriculum catered for her and her level?  That she has to be in 3rd grade before gifted classes are even thought of?  I digress a bit, but I am super frustrated.  I am frustrated that we pay taxes, send our kids to school, and they can't provide the education MY child craves.  If she was "behind", she would get special classes, a special teacher to walk with her, special curriculum... all funded and provided by the school.  But, no, she is gifted.  She is in 1st grade and reads fluently at a 5+ grade level.... she is doing 3rd grade math easily...... so I feel that public schools feel "well, they will succeed no matter what we do, so just let them sit there, let them be bored, let them challenge themselves......"

THEN, there are those "kids" that aren't raised with the moral standards we live by.  The ones we instill and expect our children to adhere to.  We have encountered those.  We have encountered the kid who teases my child because she has a friend who is a boy.... who tells her to touch his "private parts (not the term used) and kiss him" because they are in "love".  We have heard our child come home saying words we have never uttered.

So, private school is our choice.  A school that is spiritually based.  A school that, since funded privately, can MAKE children/parents adhere to certain standards and can pick and choose it attendants.  (We and our children had to be interviewed).  A school who mandates uniforms so that the focus is on education not appearance.  A school who can celebrate Easter and Christmas and say "Praise God" without picketers outside.  AND, since we PAY for it, they kind of have to challenge our child.  I don't feel guilty for demanding it.  :-) 

I feel so blessed we are in the financial position to afford this for our children.  What about those kids parents who can't? 

They don't have to live with me.......

So, this may be old news for some, and a surprise to others, but I suffer from depression.  I have, I think, for a lot of my life, however, it kind of came to light at around age 14, and I have had to take antidepressents off and on since.  Certain times of the year are worse than others---winter is the worst, and after I had kids and now battle severe insomnia (I think from working nights for so long and then having kids that used to wake me up all the time, I now just can't sleep), I really do better on medication. 

I know that some believe you can "snap out of it", that it is a choice or lifestyle.  For me, I think not.  It took me many years to realize that it was an illness......... if I had diabetes I would take insulin, if I had cancer I would have chemo-----you get my drift.  But the stigma of "depression" carries such a different thought and I felt it was a weakness to admit I needed medication.  Now, I just know I do.  I function better, I am happier, I am less moody, I am less anxious, I yell less :-).  People like it when I yell less.   Case and point:  a few months ago, we switched insurances.  My meds cost 280.00 a month, and I "thought" I could titrate the dose down (it is liquid) and just make it stretch so we didn't have to pay for them out of pocket.  During this time is when I somehow got the idea that it would be cool to sell the house, buy an RV and homeschool our children while touring the states.  Now, remember, this RV thing is my husbands dream.  He got all excited and giddy at the prospect.  He works from home, can travel and work, it would be a great oppurtunity etc.  Then I got back on my meds and realized I was CRAZY!  

Which leads me to today:  Last week I contacted the pharmacy for my refills of my antidepressant and my beloved Ambien.  I need a physician authorization for the Ambien every month---so I expected that, but then they said the antidepressant was also expired and they needed a new prescription, and they would fax the request.  This was on Wednesday.  I ran out on Friday, so I called them---the prescription wasn't ready.  I called Saturday---the prescription wasn't ready.  No mention of any problem or anything, just that it wasn't ready yet.  So I called today.... that is 4 days without my drugs.  Withdrawal has set in, I have been having headaches all day, nauseous, anxious feeling, dizzy, all too frequent bathroom visits, copious amounts of chocolate consumption, and YELLING at my poor children--------------------- I call the pharmacy again.  I talk to the same person I have talked to all the other times.  "Oh, that request wasn't faxed".  WHAT??!?!?!?  Have I NOT been calling for days?  Could you not tell me then?  My Dr doesn't work Mondays, SO, you want me to suck it up for another day?  They obviously don't have to live with me.....................  (BTW, another Dr authorized the refill and drugs have been consumed!)

And my funny husband comes up and says: So you wanna buy an RV?? *wink wink  :-)  I think he may someday water down my drugs so he can get his way.   I love that man!

Easter was a success!

So, I was the "Easter Host" this year for Chris' parents/brother.  Now for those who know me well, party hosting/cooking/entertaining is really not my forte'.  However, I welcomed the challenge this year.  I had ideas of grandeur in the meal planning, time line, and such.  And....... I was so shocked I pulled it off.  I am actually proud.  I am proud that I didn't stress about it for days (I actually stressed very little), I am proud that I recruited and eagerly-happily received help from all members of the household.... I am proud that I DID NOT F UP THE MEAT! :-)  Here are some pics:

Kid's Easter bags:

 Julia Easter Egg Hunting:

 Joshua and Lauren hunting:

 Our Easter Dessert (with the fogged out last name:  Sorry no last names on my public blog :-))

 My super adorable little girl!  (Who will NOT hold still for a picture):

 Twice Baked Potatoes:

 Peppercorn-crusted Beef Tenderloin:  PERFECTLY COOKED!  :-)

 Honey-glazed baby carrots:

 Steamed asparagus with a Tarragon sauce (not pictured!):

 The first time we have had a legitimate "kids" table.... absolutely adorable

*Sigh.  So with a huge smile on my face and feeling of relief I pulled it off.  I wonder why family gatherings cause me so much angst.  Perhaps it is because I want them to go without a hitch, I want them to be perfect,  I want everyone to have a great time.... and today, that all happened.   Happy Easter everyone.  Maybe, just MAYBE I will do this more often.  Now......... if only I could sleep.

Ahhh... SUNSHINE

I was so in need of a true, warm, sunshiney day it wasn't funny.  And, here it is!  It is like 60+ outside, has been warm since 8am.  Julia started the day by running outside and just running around in bare feet in the grass saying "this is funny, this is funny hahahahah"  It was adorable.  Last year when it was nice out, she wasn't even walking yet (she was a late walker as I have said before), so now, she just parades herself out the back deck, down the stairs, and runs in circles singing her songs and dancing!  I have a funny feeling that she is going to be one bronze baby by the end of the summer since we can't seem to keep her inside lately.

Then Chris took Joshua for a "boys day", filled with scenic drives, hikes, and such!  All that super boring boy stuff ;-), and the girls (and the dog) went for a walk to the pet store and then to lunch.  I am finding that Vader, who was doing so well on leash, has a tad stubborn streak going right now and is not cooperating so much, so we picked up a new harness, some treats, some balls, and a new toy.  (Spoiled doggy), then we walked over to McD's, got some grub (yes, I was one of the annoying people who tie the dog outside while we order our food..... at least mine isn't 100 lbs-biting and barking as you walk by), so we got our food, walked a little ways further and had a little picnic lunch.  It was very relaxing and sweet.  The girls chatted it up telling all sorts of stories, and then we proceeded home.  On the way home, I really felt how long that walk was.  Technically it wasn't that long (1.5 miles each way) but when you have a walking 2 year old who doesn't like to hold hands, a few busy streets to cross, a dog that doesn't walk on leash well, it sure takes a LONG time to get home.

Thus far it is panning out to be a glorious day!  I am doing some prep work for our Easter dinner tomorrow and getting ready to have both sets of Chris' parents and his brothers, sister-in-law, and nephew over for dinner!  With a Easter egg hunt planned, an amazing dinner cooked by yours truly, and great company, it should be a great day!


Addendum:  Yes, it indeed was a great day!  I need to document this so I can re-read it over and over and remind me that such days exist.  And, now it is almost 9pm... Julia asleep, Lauren in bath, Joshua chatting my ear off, and the dog has been bathed as well.  Dishes are done, house relatively cleaned up, and I am sitting here in bed-typing with french doors open-breeze coming and cake show on in the background.  :-) *Happy Sigh

I have always wanted to be.........

an extreme couponer.  I don't know why, but those people that can spend 8.00 for carts upon carts full of stuff that retail for over 1000.00 are awe-inspiring to me.  Many months ago, when money was a tad tighter, I did rather well on doing price matching, checking for sales, and buying according to sales.  I could feed our family of 5 for about 450-500 a month including diapers/cleaning/HB stuff.

Well, that has long since passed.  I got lazy.  My husband obtained a job that pays more--therefore I have taken it upon myself to spend more.  I really want that discipline to save.  It upsets me on how much debt we would have (none) and money in the bank (oodles) if I was responsible.  Also, I was finding that with those sales and such, we were eating more junk.  Top Ramen has awesome sales, and so does ground beef, and chips.  When I decided to feed our family more on the organic line and more pure, the prices went up exponentially............  And all of this brings me to today.

I should have looked for sales.  I should have planned our Easter meal from those sales, instead of browsing pics online and being like "oooh, that looks good... I am going to make that".  And, my ignorance on meat cuts/prices led me astray.  "Beef tenderloin---looks good, and must be similar to pork tenderloin in shape and price and such, right?".......... Umm, no.  Not so much.  I actually feel rather guilty on how much I spent on that damn meat.  Think of all the poor people I could have fed.... houses I could have built in 3rd world countries........ Ok, exaggerating a tad, but you get my drift.

I would actually pay someone to shop cheap for me... I would save money.  Sounds backwards, but it is true.

Anyway, this is what we are having for Easter: 
---Peppercorn Crusted Beef Tenderloin
--Twice Baked Potato
--Honey Glazed Carrots
--Asparagus with Tarragon Sauce
--Rolls


And all I have to say is, I had better not F up that meat, and it better look EXACTLY like this:

The Girls' Room is FINALLY done!

I have had "visions" of redoing our daughters' room for awhile now.  And with Julia moving to a big girl bed, it was a perfect time.  I forgot to take before pics :-(, but here are the after!

Here are the girls' new bed and bedding!

 A picture I made for them, hoping that they indeed live up to this kind of sisterly love:

 I took off the closet doors, added the curtains for decoration, and made one side a dress up area for Julia and a reading area for Lauren....

 Lauren's reading area:

 Julia's dress up area:

 Julia's bed, which I want to add, she has done a WONDERFUL job in the transition.  Sleeping very well, not getting out too much, I am rather shocked.

 Lauren's bed.  She even attached her laptop charger to the top of her bed so she can use it while Julia is sleeping.

A very busy morning.....

So, today turned out to be rather hectic with way too much running around to do.  I was up by 6am, showered, house picked up, kids fed and dressed, lunch packed (Lauren), and out the door at 745.  Then the day went like this:

0810: Starbucks drive thru where I obtained a drink for myself, a drink for Lauren's teacher, a drink for my dear friend who is watching Julia for the morning---(aka bribery coffee), and 3 vanilla scones for the kids.

0810-0830: argue with my arguing kids..... in which the older ones LOST their scones, and made my life miserable for it.  I could have/should have just stuffed them in their face anyway to shut them up, right?

0830: drop Julia and Joshua off at friends house

0840-1130: Volunteer at Lauren's class where I did some academic assessments, and graded over 200 papers (no lie---the teacher was a tad piled up!)

1145: Joshua Preschool Easter Party (which I was suppose to be at at 1115.... oops.)  I kinda got volunteered to help.  Parties are not my thing.  I am more than willing to provide supplies, money, food, etc...... but me and parties are not cool, they cause me anxiety.  I think it has to do with my need to control and keep everything clean.  That is all impossible with 15 4 yr olds...  Luckily, the party went without a hitch because, altho I was late, there were many dutiful parents who were responsible enough to show up promptly and assist.  (I actually knew this was the case before I was tardy..... I wouldn't have left all those kids without a party)

1215-1230: Obtaining "way to fattening and unhealthy" lunch for my kids at BK.  Joshua obtained an icee (bribery for the upcoming event), and proceeded to drop it on my floor.  A full, cherry-icee on my van floor. *sigh

1230:  Was about to leave town, when I happen to see my husband (who was suppose to be at home slaving away at his work) walking out of Walgreens.  I then proceeded to follow him (only to say hi, not for any other reason) and met HIM outside of Burger King.  Funny.... anyway, as he was waiting for his food (they had him park to wait) we chatted, then the guy came out and I made a joke that I found this hot dude waiting fo' his chicken, and I couldn't help but hit on him in my mini-van.  Anyway, it was comical to me............................

1245-115: Driving to Joshua's dr appt

2pm: Dr appt for Joshua to get 2nd series of shots (he has a 3rd in September).  I have spaced out, declined and delayed some of my children's immunizations, (I will explain in another post) and since I am a firm believer in immunizations, just not as much in the hectic 1st year immunization schedule, he has catch up to do....  He was so brave.  Just told her not to shoot him too hard, screamed during it, then hopped down, got his stickers, and haven't heard a thing about them............... Lauren is STILL complaining about hers when she was 5.  :-(

3pm: Home and so tired, I pawned the rest of the nights activities on to Chris..... pick Lauren up at school at 5, get and serve dinner, and I took a nap! :-)  It felt good. 

Tomorrow---shop for our Easter Party Sunday.  I am debating on keeping Lauren home, she looks exhausted, but then that means I will have all 3 kids while shopping, I don't know how productive that will be.

Weekly Wednesday Weightloss

I have decided to do a Weekly Wednesday Weightloss Update.  Partly to keep myself on task, partly to hopefully help someone else who is struggling, and also because in the end, I will be happy to have this to look back on---at least I hope.  I picked Wednesday for a few reason... 1) it sounded good with Weekly and Weightloss, and 2) I have training sessions that day, so it always looks better than other days ;-) 

Out of pure embarrassment of allowing myself to get to the weight I was (and still am) exact numerical values will not be disclosed!  :-)  But as of yet, here are the stats:

Highest Weight "achieved": 11/09
To date weight loss: -62 lbs
Goal weight: 83 more lbs to lose
Caloric intake today: 1156
Water intake: 96 oz
Exercise: 30 min moderate treadmill and 45 min weight training

I need to find a way to motivate.  I was SO motivated, and then it disappeared.  I think right now I am kind of in the pity party stage---"Why me, why do I have to struggle with weight"...... then I have to remind myself it was because I sat on the couch eating big macs and bon bons.... so I need to suck it up and do it!

Such a beautiful day.......

We are having a beautiful day in Washington today.... sun shining, fairly warm, and really refreshing after all that RAIN.  I woke up with so many "ideas of grandeur".  I was up at 6am, showered, and ran down to empty the garage.  I took out all of the abundance of cardboard we had acquired---too much to fit into recycle, and without a truck, it just piled up.... so I found someone to take the stuff to the dump for me, and had it all piled in driveway for them to gather.............. I also took out all of my baby stuff, took pictures and listed on craigslist, did 2 loads of laundry, the dishes and hung stuff up in the girls room, and had all the kids ready for the day by 7:45.  I was absolutely on a roll---

Then I sat down.

That was my mistake.

I sat.

Craigslist selling was a bust, with only 1 thing sold. 
The garbage hauler people did come, and take the stuff away---they were very nice!
My friend came over to hang out for a bit-which was really cool.

But, after that, nothing got done.  NOTHING.  Not the rest of the garage, not my craft room, not anymore laundry, there are dishes in the sink, and I went and got drive thru with my kids and went on a long drive (while they ate, so I didn't have to clean up the food crumbs in the house :-))  And icing on the cake?????? My kids are in horrible moods.  Lauren won't quit saying mean things to Joshua, Joshua won't quit screaming in objection, and Julia is just plain old grumpy.......

BUT

It was a really really nice sunny day!

I am your puppeeeee' (said in Darth Vader Voice)

So, we decided (after I got brand new carpet--- call me dumb) to add another addition to our family.  A fuzzy, barking, cuddly, jumping, tail-waggin type of addition.  So, our last introduction is Darth Vader, whom we call Vader. 

Vader came to us via a "Heather woke up, stalked craigslist, and found this adorable puppy whom she had to have".  I found his listing, told Chris we had to go, and packed up the kids at 9am to go driving ALL DAY to pick him up.  He is a pugalier--or a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Pug.  I sometimes doubt how much pug he truly has in him, since he doesn't have may of the attributes, but he is very cute and fun! 

He is currently about 15 weeks old, has done wonderfully with his kennel training, potty training is also doing pretty well with few accidents, and he didn't actually discover he can bark until this week.  He is super playful, very energetic, and loves to chase the kids around. 

Ok, so I was a tad naive on the amount of time, energy, and patience it would take to get a puppy.... but I feel I have done ok and he is so fun to have around! 

And the caboose of the family--Julia

Julia is our baby girl!  She just turned 2 in March, and has brought so much joy into our family. Unlike the other two kids---who were infertility babies--- she was a "wow, weightloss and exercise can change your hormones and make you get pregnant spontaneously" baby.  :-)  Due to medical issues with me, there was some in depth conversations on how we shouldn't have any more kids--that I was healthy and alive, and our children healthy, and it was selfish to risk all that just because I "wanted more babies"....... but, then came bound and determined Julia.  We lucked out in that all went pretty well (yeah, some issues... bedrest at 16-35 wks, early delivery, some scary lab results------again, a pregnancy/birth story to come), and with our 3rd c-section planned at 35 weeks, our beautiful daughter was born.  Some facts about Julia:

*She is (and always has been) a wiggle worm.  Even in utero, the chick never NEVER stopped wiggling.  Flipping and flopping, and even turned breech the day before our scheduled c-section.
*She has an insane crush on Barney the purple dinosaur.
*She has an amazing ability to remember dance moves and choreography after watching a show 1-2 times. 
*She sings all the time, but does NOT allow me to sing to her.... she yells at me.
*She really adores her siblings and follows them around all the time wanting to do what they do
*She has absolutely precious big blue eyes that allow you to read her like a book
*She was a REALLY late walker at 18 months, however, it was because she had this very imaginative and productive "knee-hopping" thing she did.  And due to that knee hopping, she has quads of STEEL
*She talks a LOT.
*She didn't sleep through the night until 20 months.
*She JUST moved to a big-girl bed a week ago, and has done SO well!
*She enjoys dressing up, and especially finding her sisters silky pj's and "wearing them" around her neck
*She has a slight "food texture" issue.  It has gotten better, but slimy things were often rejected.
*Has always HATED bananas... what kid hates bananas?
*She is super tall.... 98% for height.  Both of our girls are amazon girls!
*She is very very very stubborn and opinionated.  *sigh

Julia is so stinkin' cute.  On a daily basis, Chris and I sit and just watch her doing her dance moves, or singing her songs, or taunting her siblings--and laugh.  She is a great little sister who has mastered bugging her brother and loving on her sister.  Thank you Julia for making your surprise appearance!

The funniest kid ever---Joshua

Now on to Joshua..... Joshua, not Josh, J, or Joe, or or or....... although Julia does call him "wawa", but we will set her straight someday! Joshua is almost 5 (in July) and is looking forward to starting Kindergarten in September.

Joshua is our little miracle baby.  We went to hell and back to get him here, and he was SO worth it! I will write a pregnancy/birth story someday, I promise!  However, a short version is: bleeding through most of the pregnancy---so bedrest 5wks-35wks, a diagnosis of a cystic hygroma of 10mm at 9 weeks of gestation, a specialist counsel to terminate since chances of having any kind of live baby in the end (not a mentally intact baby---just alive) was less than 2%, polyhydramnios, and a delivery at 35 weeks which showed further problems (to be discussed in said birth story).  BUT in the end, he was alive, well, with no residual effects.  He was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism-however, takes a pill a day and is all better!  We are SO blessed to have him and he brings so much joy to our lives!

Some of Joshua's facts:

*He looks EXACTLY like his father--- as my dad once joked "No DNA testing needed" :-)
*He has killer blue eyes and eyelashes
*He is super funny and witty
*He is the healthiest of all my kids--hardly ever sick
*Loves to draw, and is quite good at it actually.  He watches these shows on TV on how to draw stuff and then sits down and replicates.... pretty cool for being 4
*He is pretty laid back and passive---until you hit the wrong button, then explodes.  (just like Chris)
*Has perfected the act of being a "boy"... with annoying boy noises, annoying his sisters, etc
*Can charm the pants off of anyone
*Is persistant
*Is a night owl and food prowler.  He can often be found, still awake at 1am, prowling around the house with food... then go to bed and get up at 7am without a problem
*Is obsessed with planets/space and can rattle of some amazing facts
*Wickedly good at video games (both xbox and ipod games)
*Has always been able to play solo for hours with a couple of cars and a track


Joshua is wonderful little boy who would love nothing better than to cuddle up, sharing his blanket, and have you read him a book.  He often comes to me asking for the random "cuddle", and loves to caress my face and play with my hair.  He is going to be such a wonderful man someday!

The leader of the kid pack--Lauren

So, now is Lauren's introduction!  She is hard to introduce..... although for those who know me, she is just like me. *Sigh*.... (something I KNOW my mom is happy about---paybacks are hell or something like that).  But anyway, Lauren is 7.  She was suppose to be my Christmas gift of 2003 (due Christmas day), however, she showed her true colors even then........ and with much determination, weeks on bedrest and meds, and we managed to trap her until Dec 2nd.  :-)  She was a very difficult baby---crying (no exaggeration) 20 hours a day, then at 4 months we found the right reflux meds,  and a gem baby emerged!  She has been super cool since then.  Here are some of her facts:

*Walking at 9 months
*She is really tall
*Has her paternal great-grandma's eyes
*Loves to read and started at the age of 3

*She is a leader in every sense of the word
*She will sit for hours and write very detailed stories and illustrations
*She is VERY emotional (aka moody).  Wears her emotions on her "sleeve" (and face, and posture, and walk, and and and)
*Is wicked smart---we even had to have her IQ tested to get an academic curriculum catered to her... lets just say she did VERY well on her IQ test and proved what we always knew.
*Her favorite color is pink
*She is very OCD for a 7 year old
*Tries very hard to be funny, but generally does not succeed
*Is an electronic junky and guru.... on xmas this year, she got a laptop, and within hours figured out that santa couldn't have given it to her (that we did) because there was stuff installed after he would have dropped it off.....  I wouldn't even know how to figure that out.
*Is madly in love with her little sister and very proud to be the big sister of both of her siblings
*Hates mushrooms!  :-)
*Is very autonomous and determined

And probably the coolest thing about her:  She is truly the most empathetic little girl you will ever meet.  She covers people up when they are napping, draws pictures of them when they are sad, and the one time she caught me crying, she cuddled next to me---didn't utter a word-- and was just "there".  What an awesome young lady she will be---if we get her past teen years.

Introducting my wonderful husband, Chris

I am married to a wonderful man.  He is kind, he is sweet, he is cuddly, supportive, and hard working.  I am a very lucky woman.  I never have to worry about his love for me,  I never doubt his commitment, that isn't as easy to find as I always thought it would be.

Now, I am not going to lie.... the dude isn't perfect, but than neither am I.  (I am a little closer to perfection, but who is measuring :-))  He has is quirks.... many many quirks......  Here are some interesting facts:
--he is very very hard working, and prides himself in supporting our family.
--he has allowed our eldest daughter to put pretties in his hair, and rub lotion on his head!  SUPER CUTE
---he isn't the best handyman, but he tries and tries, and LOVES to do woodworking--and impressed me by being very good at it!
--he is a video game addict
--loves sifi
--electronic junky
--is way more sentimental than I ever imagined.......
--enjoys long drives with the family, just spending time and sharing the worlds beauty with us.  (I actually find this kinda annoying at times....... but he does put up with me all the time, so I will partake in a drive or two)
--he dreams of living in an RV and touring.................. I am working on accepting this dream.
.............and probably one of the cutest things?  He remembers all of our kids stuffed animal names, and calls them by such.  I do not know why this endears me so, but just for a grown man to remember all of his kids stuffed animals and not being above calling them "santa puppy, panna, monster lion" is so cool!  He is a great Daddy!

Now, I have to give this disclaimer:  my husband is a rather private man, whom is often in the public eye, so although I find him super lovely and awesome.... I may not mention him much, out of respect for him.   :-)

3 kids, lotsa popcorn, good movie, and the glaring woman in front....

So, I decided to take my kids to the movie Hop today.  Julia had already had a nap, the other kids were excited,  we had a big bucket of popcorn and sugary drinks!  It was going to be a great time............... then THAT lady.  Here we are at a KIDS movie, Julia is quiet and sweet throughout the whole movie, but gets antsy in the last 10 minutes.  I keep her at bay, mostly.... but a few 2 year old screams emerge.  Now, I am embarrassed enough and feel bad enough that my 2 year old is behaving this way (although, I am actually quite impressed it went as well as it did), but LADY did you have to turn around and glare?  Did you have to roll your eyes, and sigh multiple times?  Did you have to voice your disdain loud enough for the WHOLE theater to hear?  (Mind you, all this occurred at the end of the movie, which was a loud music part.....)  I then proceeded to take Julia out of the theater, I get that people don't want to hear a child screaming............. but then when the credits are rolling and I go back in to retrieve my other two kids, did you have to walk past me, chuck your soda in the garbage can from 3 feet away and state "Well that was a waste of money, couldn't even hear the movie."  Ummmmm..... YOU WENT TO A KID'S MOVIE, ON A SUNDAY, AT 2PM.... SUCK IT UP LADY!  Ok, I feel better now.  *deep breath*

Introduction to ME!

Well, hello everyone, and welcome to my blog!  Thanks for stopping by.  I wanted to start off by introducing all of you to ME:

My name is Heather, I am 30-ish years old and a happily married mother of 3.  (As a disclaimer, I am not a punctuation expert and therefore... it is my blog, I will punctuate as I desire!)  Here are some facts about be:

1) I have 3 lovely children.  Lauren who is 7, Joshua who is 4.8, and Julia who just turned 2!
2) I also have a wonderful husband, Chris, who I have been happily married to for 5+ years!
3) We also have a new puppy, Darth Vader (goes by Vader).  He is currently 15ish weeks old!
4) I have been a labor and delivery nurse for 11+ years, however am taking a leave of absence to hang  with the cherubs.
5) I struggle with my weight, and started on a serious weightloss journey in 11/09.  I have as of current lost 55 lbs.  I actually lost 70, fell off the wagon and gained 15... but now back on the journey and I am sure this will be a common topic on my blog!
6) I love to bake and keep others fat so I look skinny!  HAHA, actually I love to bake, however, I can't eat it, so I share!
7) I am addicted to home improvement shows, cake baking shows, and (unfortunately) Dr Phil.
8) I enjoy scrapbooking, crafts, and making special gifts for others.
9) I drive a mini-van.  :-(
10)I have a touch of OCD when it comes to housework and a "place for everything and everything in it's place".
11)I am very close to my family, and I am proud to say my mom is my bestest friend!
12)I don't care much for fashion.
13)I spend too much money on Ebay and Amazon.....

Well, for now, I can't think of anything else.  Next posts will be an intro to my wonderful family!  Thanks again for stopping by.