Laundry room: pretty clean.
Was it fun? ha. The reason I tackled it today, finally was that I need to feel like I accomplished something. Because I got on the dreaded scale again, and was actually a pound more than I was three days ago! NO FAIR. I can only assume that it is because I am turning into Musle-Mama, and muscle weighs more than fat. Because I have not been cheating. I walked today, then went to the pool tonight...which was an adventure...
We got a flat tire. The air was just hissing out...Jon said, "Call Daddy!", which was a great idea, except that Daddy is in Boston and we are in New York. So I called Joseph. He knows how to change a tire. The tricky part was figuring out how to get the tire out from under the minivan....but like Jonny said, "read this book!", the owner's manuel.
If I had taken pictures today of the cleaning of the laundry room....of all the hampers dragged into the kitchen for sorting... oh, I am glad I didn't take pictures. It was fun and horrible at the same time. My girls were helping me and it was hot (84 degrees today!) and they complained yet they fooled around like crazy....it was one of those things where we were in the middle of it and I wished like crazy that we had never started. Suzanne wanted homefries. She kept saying she was going to make some when we were done. Well, she did. She cut up potatoes and they cooked them up in some oil...and added onions....the smell was intoxicating.
If I had taken pictures of the flat tire adventure, I might have captured how worried Jon was while waiting for Joseph to get there in the old gold car. I would have liked to have captured Joseph's calmness as he figured things out. He is so much like his father.
If I had taken pictures of Sonja K. and Jonathan in the pool with me, their bliss and relaxation and pure joy to just float around and tell Mom things with no interuptions would have shown through.
If I had taken pictures of bedtime....of Suze settled into my bed coloring me a picture of a candle that said, "Mommy shines"....(Suze is sleeping with me tonight. No stretching out and enjoying the whole bed tonight), of Jon crying because his flashlight isn't working and he KNOWS we are getting a storm tonight and losing power....of Margaret brushing teeth with the two little princesses and their princess toothbrushes....
If I had my camera out today, I could have gotten a shot of Mirielle making cookie dough so she can bake fresh cookies and send them to Benjamin tomorrow morning.
But...for some reason, I haven't been taking many pictures lately.
Funny thing: Aaron is having surgery on Friday, on his nose, which was broken last December in gym class. The hospital called here and would not talk to me about any of the details, even the time of the surgery, because Aaron is now 18 years old. I told Ms. Nurse that Aaron is in school. She did not care. So Aaron had to call the hospital today from school with his cell phone. Ms. Nurse did not care that Aaron is not paying for this surgery.
rules rules rules.
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, why the heck is your hair so tangly? Or should I say REEpunzel, like Camille does. They like to brush the hair, get hair elastics stuck in it, and brush it some more. The little girls found their favorite bikinis when we sorted the bathing suits today, so they wore them around all day. They were all dressed when I was going to the pool, but I had to be mean. I love taking them, but they require constant assistance and attention...and I need to get excercise when I go. And the older kids were going to soccer practice, so I didn't have anyone to take to help with them...oh, it is hard being mean.
They didn't care though.
And...I am lonely. I miss Paul. He called me tonight, and being the man of few words that he is, the conversation was not very exciting. After blabbing on for five or six minutes about the flat tire and how Jon was nervous about the weather and how one of my girls gave me such a hard time today, I asked him about his day. I asked what he did. "worked", he said. What did you do for dinner, I asked. "Got a sandwich", he said. I told him to pay more attention tomorrow and come up with a bit more to talk to me about.
Tomorrow makes two weeks for the dieting and excercise. torture and more torture. Three stinking pounds. blah. I am not giving up, but jeepers. I was really hoping I would be one of those women who had the pounds literally melt away, just fall off....a Results Not Typical kind of gal. Twenty pounds the first week, and like four or five a week after that. But no, three stinking pounds. blah.
I am trying to buoy myself up about this, and all I can come up with is: Well, fat people can ride bikes, right?
Monday, April 11, 2011
school skippers!!!
Who is sick today? Margaret, cold and cough. Kathryn, tummy ache, doesn't feel well. Suzanne, tummy ache, doesn't feel well. Kap and Suze are cuddled on the couches watching, "Tangled" with the little girls. They LOVE this movie.
I do not usually allow movies during the day, perhaps in the afternoon after a busy and active morning...but they don't feel well. Charlotte Claire and Camille are totally entranced with this movie. (Camille calles Rapunzel "Reepunzul")
Paul is gone off to Boston again for work. He left yesterday, won't be back until next Tuesday. I have mixed feelings about Being In Charge without him. I can't tell the kids, "I don't know, ask Daddy." And I do not sleep well when he is gone. I like stretching out in the whole bed by myself, but then I miss him, too. By next week, I will be missing him like crazy.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (hebrews 11 v.1) I have to believe that I can accomplish what I aspire to, whether it is losing weight or getting victory over sin. Or in my case, both. When those thoughts of unbelief start to creep in, I need to say NO, and hold on to my faith. Yes, I love donuts, but that doesn't mean I have to eat them. Yes, I am really impatient and I like to have the last word, but that doesn't mean I am just going to give in and be a witch with a capital B whenever I feel like it.
And no matter what, I don't think I can ever imagine anything as nice as a cup of coffee and a stack of cookies.
But....I had a small piece of cake yesterday, very small, and it seemed so sweet! Now, this sounds really strange, but I actually enjoyed the spinach salad more! Well, about the same. The cake WAS really good. But I am not hopeless....
And...since the kids are entranced by this movie, and Kathryn and Margaret are here, I shall go on my walk......
I do not usually allow movies during the day, perhaps in the afternoon after a busy and active morning...but they don't feel well. Charlotte Claire and Camille are totally entranced with this movie. (Camille calles Rapunzel "Reepunzul")
Paul is gone off to Boston again for work. He left yesterday, won't be back until next Tuesday. I have mixed feelings about Being In Charge without him. I can't tell the kids, "I don't know, ask Daddy." And I do not sleep well when he is gone. I like stretching out in the whole bed by myself, but then I miss him, too. By next week, I will be missing him like crazy.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (hebrews 11 v.1) I have to believe that I can accomplish what I aspire to, whether it is losing weight or getting victory over sin. Or in my case, both. When those thoughts of unbelief start to creep in, I need to say NO, and hold on to my faith. Yes, I love donuts, but that doesn't mean I have to eat them. Yes, I am really impatient and I like to have the last word, but that doesn't mean I am just going to give in and be a witch with a capital B whenever I feel like it.
And no matter what, I don't think I can ever imagine anything as nice as a cup of coffee and a stack of cookies.
But....I had a small piece of cake yesterday, very small, and it seemed so sweet! Now, this sounds really strange, but I actually enjoyed the spinach salad more! Well, about the same. The cake WAS really good. But I am not hopeless....
And...since the kids are entranced by this movie, and Kathryn and Margaret are here, I shall go on my walk......
Sunday, April 10, 2011
ahh, what a day!
I walked today. I went up the evil hill, down it, then back up again.
A bridal shower for my niece today...it was nice to see the my nieces' and nephews' little ones. It was also nice to see my niece get so many nice gifts. She is getting married next month, and I get to make the cupcakes for the wedding! Two hundred cupcakes...and a small cake, too.
All of my little girls were welcome at the shower, which was so nice. My brother and his wife have ten children, and are always so good about including the kids.
Mirielle took the girls home from the shower so I could go on an adventure...my sister Cheryl and I, my daughters Abigail and Margaret, and her daughters Becky and Susan and Janet. We dropped them off at the mall, went to the Toy Store quick because they had: Fisher-Price dollhouse furniture for buy one get one free. I got a new daddy with a baby, and a new mommy with a baby, and a few sets that we don't have. I shall put it away for Christmas.
Picked up the girls, went to Target....I got the little girls each a Tangled doll, Rapunzel, for Easter. But they are getting them tomorrow. Long story. yes, they are spoiled. We sat and had popcorn, the girls had slushies....then to PriceChopper....cereal and oatmeal and fruit and yogurt and milk and dog food....and fun. I took my blood pressure in there, and it was 129/85. That bottom number is still too high...blah.
McDonalds $1 menu...I had just a fruit and yogurt parfait....
I had the BEST spinach salad today...rasberry walnut dressing, dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, and almonds. It was SO good.
I am distracted...which is okay...I like talking to the older kids...
A bridal shower for my niece today...it was nice to see the my nieces' and nephews' little ones. It was also nice to see my niece get so many nice gifts. She is getting married next month, and I get to make the cupcakes for the wedding! Two hundred cupcakes...and a small cake, too.
All of my little girls were welcome at the shower, which was so nice. My brother and his wife have ten children, and are always so good about including the kids.
Mirielle took the girls home from the shower so I could go on an adventure...my sister Cheryl and I, my daughters Abigail and Margaret, and her daughters Becky and Susan and Janet. We dropped them off at the mall, went to the Toy Store quick because they had: Fisher-Price dollhouse furniture for buy one get one free. I got a new daddy with a baby, and a new mommy with a baby, and a few sets that we don't have. I shall put it away for Christmas.
Picked up the girls, went to Target....I got the little girls each a Tangled doll, Rapunzel, for Easter. But they are getting them tomorrow. Long story. yes, they are spoiled. We sat and had popcorn, the girls had slushies....then to PriceChopper....cereal and oatmeal and fruit and yogurt and milk and dog food....and fun. I took my blood pressure in there, and it was 129/85. That bottom number is still too high...blah.
McDonalds $1 menu...I had just a fruit and yogurt parfait....
I had the BEST spinach salad today...rasberry walnut dressing, dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, and almonds. It was SO good.
I am distracted...which is okay...I like talking to the older kids...
Saturday, April 9, 2011
short story...
Last year, I bought myself a pair of shorts. I thought they would be nice to wear over my bathing suit. I couldn't get them on. So I decided to return them to the store. I never did. I found them the other day, still tags on. They fit. I do not look wonderful in them, far from it, but I got them on. YAY! Then, I found out Ashley has had a scale all this time...so I weighed myself the other day...I lost four pounds. I thought I had lost at LEAST ten. If not twenty. I am sort of kidding, but this is really a slow process. I want it NOW!
And of course we all know that muscle weighs more than fat.
Today is Day Eleven of torture and suffering. And hope and thankfulness.
Funny story. Yesterday when we were shopping, one of the girls lost my WIC card and three WIC checks. We asked at the service desk, no one had turned them in. We put a few of the things back, and since the line was really long at the desk, I decided to just call later to see if anyone found them. Well....later in the evening, my sister called and asked me if I lost my children. What??! Charlotte Claire and Camille? No....they are on the couch watching, "MegaMind", why? "Because I am in the grocery store and on the intercom they asked if Charlotte Claire or Camille W. could come to the front of the store." Oh! They must have found my checks! Cheryl thought I had lost the girls. It was so funny.
Today the kids are playing with their Zhu-Zhu pets. They are connecting the plastic houses together all across the living room. Saturday is stretched before them, time to play and relax. Emily came over last night for a while last night, and mentioned she might take them on an outing today. She likes taking them to the playground and on adventures.
I think I shall go on my walk before it gets warm today. It is supposed to go up to sixty today. What a nice day for Paul's birthday.
And of course we all know that muscle weighs more than fat.
Today is Day Eleven of torture and suffering. And hope and thankfulness.
Funny story. Yesterday when we were shopping, one of the girls lost my WIC card and three WIC checks. We asked at the service desk, no one had turned them in. We put a few of the things back, and since the line was really long at the desk, I decided to just call later to see if anyone found them. Well....later in the evening, my sister called and asked me if I lost my children. What??! Charlotte Claire and Camille? No....they are on the couch watching, "MegaMind", why? "Because I am in the grocery store and on the intercom they asked if Charlotte Claire or Camille W. could come to the front of the store." Oh! They must have found my checks! Cheryl thought I had lost the girls. It was so funny.
Today the kids are playing with their Zhu-Zhu pets. They are connecting the plastic houses together all across the living room. Saturday is stretched before them, time to play and relax. Emily came over last night for a while last night, and mentioned she might take them on an outing today. She likes taking them to the playground and on adventures.
I think I shall go on my walk before it gets warm today. It is supposed to go up to sixty today. What a nice day for Paul's birthday.
Friday, April 8, 2011
WHO says no one can eat just one?
Three times now, THREE times - I have eaten just one chip. Just to taste. Oh, I am not going bonkers and starving myself, but I really have the propensity towards munching, so I need to be careful.
I did my twenty minutes of excercise for the third morning in a row. If you ever drop by my house in the morning and the oven timer is still going, I will get to you soon. And don't laugh too hard, please. My morning excercise is quite comical, even the little girls say Mommy looks funny. Well, doing my imaginary skip-roping and intermittent lifting the ten pound weights, dancing around and keeping my heart going as fast as I can for the twenty minutes...it looks pretty funny. I know because we have a mirror in the living room. But I really don't care. The twenty minutes drag, sometimes I dance into the kitchen to see if the timer is broken. blah.
I also went on my walk this afternoon. It wasn't easy. I picked Evelyn up from school. Kathryn and Sonja were with me too. We got a text from Mali that she wasn't feeling well and could I pick her up? She knew I was going shopping. We went to the Toy store because I had some coupons...we ended up buying Evelyn a new bike for her birthday, which is in August. But a new bike at the end of August is almost as cruel as getting a bike for Christmas here in the Northeast. She promises to remember when her birthday comes along that she already got her huge gift. I also got scooters for Jonathan and Sonja for their birthdays. They have to wait though, their birthdays are coming up soon.
Then Aldi for fruit and veggies, Target for Evelyn's suit (she found a nice one for 50% off), a dress and some running shorts for Mali, a sweater for Margaret ($5), some sneakers for Joseph....
Then Price-Chopper. Mali got her own cart and helped me shop. The other three girls helped me get more patience. They danced and laughed and pretend-begged for things. They just plain enjoy life. When they aren't smacking each other.
We got a few movies for the kids at the Redbox, then home...well, almost. I stopped at the gas station because I had $2.50 off a gallon, so I paid $27 for twenty gallons of gas! While I was pumping gas, Mali went across the street to the Dunkin Donuts for two large coffees, I had a Buy One Get One Free coupon. THEN we were headed home...silly rambunctious girls, and coffee.
Home: groceries, dinner, blah. As soon as the situation was stable enough, I headed out the door for my walk, assuring the older kids that I appreciate how much they love me to let me go. The kids had sandwiches for dinner, and fruit. I walked, then came back and made huge salads for Paul and I, and I had leftover soup. The older kids left for the youth meeting and the younger ones watched, "Mega-Mind".
Ahh. Now I am resting with my feet up. Camille and Charlotte Claire are snuggling with me.
Paul came home with a really nice birthday present for himself. A water softening system. I hope it works! Our water is SO hard, we have white splashes on the window behind the sink, on the bathroom counters, on all the dishes and silverware. Our glasses are cloudy, even if we wash them by hand. Hopefully this works.
I am too tired to get moving and get these sweetie pies ready for bed...but...I guess I have to....
friday, yay....
I am going shopping today. My list is getting longer and longer, as we run out of things. Eggs and milk and bananas and school supplies. Apples and veggies.
I am picking Evelyn up early from school today. If you work at the school and are reading this, she DOES have an appointment. An appointment to spend some time with her Mama, who loves her like crazy and is getting the vibe that she needs some one on one time. We have been going to the pool lately, and Evelyn is a growing girl...she doesn't feel comfy in any of her swimsuits, so she needs to find something she feels nice in. She needs to know I care about that, and about her. She is very happy to be getting picked and to go with me.
Sonja K. also wheedled her way into this shopping trip. She LOVES being with me. She has so much to tell me. She is the child who seriously shines when she has lots of attention. She is a little sunshine anyway, but I don't get to enjoy her as much I would like. So in other words, I am stealing her for the day.
Mirielle gets home early from college today, so I am leaving the two little princesses her with her. I like to take them with us sometimes, as they are so much fun, but they really like staying here and playing with their Barbies. It will be nice today, they can play on the deck again. And Mirielle is good to them.
These foam mat squares that piece together - they are one of the best things I have ever bought. They line them up to do gymnastics, they bring some out to the deck so they have a comfy place to play dolls, I excercise on them.
I made some really yummy soup for dinner last night. I used my cheat-y condensed cream of celery soup again, then added two cans of corn, leftover chicken, and leftover rice. We had it with salad because there were not many veggies in it. Soup and salad for dinner - yummy, healthy, and filling.
I am tempted to buy a scale. Hmm. Shall I? I haven't owned one in years and years, and my daughters don't want one. But I am thinking it might help me see if I am actually making progress. What if I am doing all this and I don't lose one single ounce? What if I am one of those people who just cannot lose weight? What if I am GAINING instead? blah.
Patience, right? That is the answer to everything.
I had some good granola cereal for breakfast. It is organic, with very simple ingredients, and it was half off at BigLots. Aaron and I went in there yesterday before his appointment. I had fun. He endured. I bought some very yummy Arizona Diet Tea with Lemon. And lots of half price snacks for the kids. And for Paul's birthday: Balance Bars and a six pack of low sodium V-8. And a new coffee maker. Exciting, but he does eat Balance Bars, and in regular stores they are at least a dollar each. I got a few six-packs for $3.
It is so chilly in here. Only 33 degrees out. Spring is taking it's sweet time this year. Come on, we are ready for warmth! I am looking SO forward to getting the pool ready and being able to swim right in the back yard.
Kathryn is here today too. She has a headache. Why is she playing Wii fit then? Hey, I can go on my walk this morning, Kap can watch the kids!
I am picking Evelyn up early from school today. If you work at the school and are reading this, she DOES have an appointment. An appointment to spend some time with her Mama, who loves her like crazy and is getting the vibe that she needs some one on one time. We have been going to the pool lately, and Evelyn is a growing girl...she doesn't feel comfy in any of her swimsuits, so she needs to find something she feels nice in. She needs to know I care about that, and about her. She is very happy to be getting picked and to go with me.
Sonja K. also wheedled her way into this shopping trip. She LOVES being with me. She has so much to tell me. She is the child who seriously shines when she has lots of attention. She is a little sunshine anyway, but I don't get to enjoy her as much I would like. So in other words, I am stealing her for the day.
Mirielle gets home early from college today, so I am leaving the two little princesses her with her. I like to take them with us sometimes, as they are so much fun, but they really like staying here and playing with their Barbies. It will be nice today, they can play on the deck again. And Mirielle is good to them.
These foam mat squares that piece together - they are one of the best things I have ever bought. They line them up to do gymnastics, they bring some out to the deck so they have a comfy place to play dolls, I excercise on them.
I made some really yummy soup for dinner last night. I used my cheat-y condensed cream of celery soup again, then added two cans of corn, leftover chicken, and leftover rice. We had it with salad because there were not many veggies in it. Soup and salad for dinner - yummy, healthy, and filling.
I am tempted to buy a scale. Hmm. Shall I? I haven't owned one in years and years, and my daughters don't want one. But I am thinking it might help me see if I am actually making progress. What if I am doing all this and I don't lose one single ounce? What if I am one of those people who just cannot lose weight? What if I am GAINING instead? blah.
Patience, right? That is the answer to everything.
I had some good granola cereal for breakfast. It is organic, with very simple ingredients, and it was half off at BigLots. Aaron and I went in there yesterday before his appointment. I had fun. He endured. I bought some very yummy Arizona Diet Tea with Lemon. And lots of half price snacks for the kids. And for Paul's birthday: Balance Bars and a six pack of low sodium V-8. And a new coffee maker. Exciting, but he does eat Balance Bars, and in regular stores they are at least a dollar each. I got a few six-packs for $3.
It is so chilly in here. Only 33 degrees out. Spring is taking it's sweet time this year. Come on, we are ready for warmth! I am looking SO forward to getting the pool ready and being able to swim right in the back yard.
Kathryn is here today too. She has a headache. Why is she playing Wii fit then? Hey, I can go on my walk this morning, Kap can watch the kids!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
sunny thursday.
All of the kids went to school except for Suzanne Eleanor. She says her tummy hurts. She also shattered her big toe nail last night, and was hesitant to go to school, afraid someone will step on her toe.
Yesterday I cleaned my kitchen. I used SoftScrub cleanser with bleach, and I am not getting a penny to say I love that stuff. It cleans the counters so nicely. It looked pretty darned spiffy in my kitchen. Shiny toaster and water faucet and sinks, which were both empty. Then life kept happening. Eight kids came home from school starving. Then for dinner I made baked chicken with Panko breading, and used a pan for flour, a bowl for eggs, and a pan for the breading. I made baked Basmati rice (as long as I am already turning on the oven, I have discovered that baking the rice in a foil covered glass pan (or two) is way easier than messing with it on the stovetop.) We also had green beans and some corn. And Mirielle made rice krispy treats for Sonja for snack, better late than never, I hope. Anyway...getting the kitchen clean is nice, but keeping it clean is where the battle lies.
Then of course there is the morning rush. Joseph had class this morning, he made eggs. Someone else made oatmeal. Some had yogurt. Some had cereal. They MOSTLY clean up. Mostly.
I am not feeling quite as miserable today. Yesterday, I made myself excercise for 20 minutes. I actually felt a little bit better after that. Then I went on my walk when the kids got home from school. It was chilly and rainy, but I don't care. I left Rosie home this time. And felt guilty about it. But it was nice to just walk at my own pace without having my arm yanked off, or stopping every few minutes while she smelled something wonderful.
I am excited about this weekend. Paul's birthday is Saturday, and Emily is coming over. He says he doesn't want anything for his birthday. I have always felt funny about buying him presents with his own money anyway. And what could I possibly buy him, he has me, everthing he could wish for. ha. He has a sauna, a beautiful six person sauna, in Mali and Kathryn's room. It was disconnected when we put the hot tub in, the hot tub which needs a pipe replaced. So now we have a sauna, which he likes that doesn't work, and a hot tub that I like that doesn't work. blah.
But he did install that new hot water heater. Hot water is something you don't just take for granted, at least for the first few days, after struggling with cold and lukewarm for a few weeks.
My little girls like baths. Yesterday, they stayed in the tub for an hour and a half. I kept asking them if they wanted to get out, and checking to see if the water was still warm enough, but they wanted to play with their Barbies in the water. I finally said they HAD to get out, and wrapped them in warm robes and got out my electric blanket. We cuddled in my chair and looked at Barbies on ebay. (If I ever realized through the years how much all those Barbies I had bought would be worth if I had saved them.....)
So today is Day #9 of Suffering and Excercising. But shh, I don't really mind! Okay, when confronted with something like donuts, I DO mind, but generally, I am enjoying the challenge. And I am filled with hope for a more healthy future. ha, that sounds like I have been watching too many commercials. Just think though, I am going to ride a bike again! Isn't that worth more than having seconds? I am motivated. I know there are going to be days when I won't really FEEL determined, but I will battle those days when I come to them. Like yesterday, I suppose. There seems to be this dark cloud of doubt in my periphery. This little hint of..."HA, this will NEVER work! People lose weight and gain it all back! You will hit a plateau. You will get sick and tired of denying yourself and be bigger than ever." I know people have tried and failed. I know people have gained weight back. I know it is a huge thing I have undertaken. But if I am going to listen to those thoughts, I may as well not even try. As far as I am concerned, this whole thing is a battle of the mind. My body can fuss and rebel and whine all it wants, but I am the boss of it.
God gives grace to the humble. I am not proud of myself for taking this on, no I am thankful that I went to the dr. when I did, and thankful that so far my knees have held out for me. I am glad for the time I am able to leave and go for the walks, and that we are able to have fruits and veggies here. I am praying for His mercy on me, that I can suceed in this. (wait, to be totally honest, I am a little bit proud of myself...)
Have I mentioned lately how much I like having Mrs. Ashley living here with us? She is such a sweet girl. She gave Evelyn some earbuds because she had another pair, and Ev needed some, instead of holding on to them in case she needs them later. She is kind and thoughtful. And thankful. And - bonus: she likes Rosie! When she comes in from work, Charlotte Claire and Camille run into her arms, and Rosie goes absolutely nuts. She wags not only her tail, but her whole body.
Benjamin is doing well in his Medic training. He has passed all of the tests so far. He says medics are needed right now. He says the units try to protect their medics. He is being hopeful of course, and that is necessary. This morning I read the paper, and there was a picture of four Army soldiers carrying a casket at the Dover Del. base. A 26 year old Sargeant, victim of "small arms fire". Afghanistan. He was from New York state. I cried my eyes out for him and for his buddies, and his family. blah. Do I have to stop reading the paper? But as I like to tell Benjamin, he is still in training, today has enough worries for itself, we will jump off other bridges when we come to them. Or rather cross them when we come to them.
It is very cold here in New York state. 34 degrees. But it was much colder last night. Today it shall warm up into the fifties, with partial sunshine, yay! Tomorrow looks decent too. The sun certainly is welcome here!
Yesterday I forgot to pick Mali up from track practice. oops. She called like a half hour after I was supposed to be there. Joseph didn't have to brush his long tangly hair or change out of Around The House clothes, so he went to get her for me. sorry, mali! It was cold and rainy and she had a sore muscle and was hungry...oh, BAD Mom. I KNEW I had to go get her, I just got so involved in dipping the chicken breast in flour and then in egg then in the crumbs....blah.
Sonja went out the door with her snack (2 days late), and Jonathan brought oranges in for his class. I feel a little bit competent today. Aaron has to go in for his pre-op visit this afternoon for his nose surgery. I need to get a gift for my niece's wedding shower which is on Sunday. I need to take some dvds back to the library. I already owe ten dollars to the library system in the next county, I don't want to rack up fines here at the library in town, too.
I have things to do! I am procrastinating again! Some clear signs of that are when I write paragraph after paragraph of these boring little details with no rhyme or reason. sorry....!
Yesterday I cleaned my kitchen. I used SoftScrub cleanser with bleach, and I am not getting a penny to say I love that stuff. It cleans the counters so nicely. It looked pretty darned spiffy in my kitchen. Shiny toaster and water faucet and sinks, which were both empty. Then life kept happening. Eight kids came home from school starving. Then for dinner I made baked chicken with Panko breading, and used a pan for flour, a bowl for eggs, and a pan for the breading. I made baked Basmati rice (as long as I am already turning on the oven, I have discovered that baking the rice in a foil covered glass pan (or two) is way easier than messing with it on the stovetop.) We also had green beans and some corn. And Mirielle made rice krispy treats for Sonja for snack, better late than never, I hope. Anyway...getting the kitchen clean is nice, but keeping it clean is where the battle lies.
Then of course there is the morning rush. Joseph had class this morning, he made eggs. Someone else made oatmeal. Some had yogurt. Some had cereal. They MOSTLY clean up. Mostly.
I am not feeling quite as miserable today. Yesterday, I made myself excercise for 20 minutes. I actually felt a little bit better after that. Then I went on my walk when the kids got home from school. It was chilly and rainy, but I don't care. I left Rosie home this time. And felt guilty about it. But it was nice to just walk at my own pace without having my arm yanked off, or stopping every few minutes while she smelled something wonderful.
I am excited about this weekend. Paul's birthday is Saturday, and Emily is coming over. He says he doesn't want anything for his birthday. I have always felt funny about buying him presents with his own money anyway. And what could I possibly buy him, he has me, everthing he could wish for. ha. He has a sauna, a beautiful six person sauna, in Mali and Kathryn's room. It was disconnected when we put the hot tub in, the hot tub which needs a pipe replaced. So now we have a sauna, which he likes that doesn't work, and a hot tub that I like that doesn't work. blah.
But he did install that new hot water heater. Hot water is something you don't just take for granted, at least for the first few days, after struggling with cold and lukewarm for a few weeks.
My little girls like baths. Yesterday, they stayed in the tub for an hour and a half. I kept asking them if they wanted to get out, and checking to see if the water was still warm enough, but they wanted to play with their Barbies in the water. I finally said they HAD to get out, and wrapped them in warm robes and got out my electric blanket. We cuddled in my chair and looked at Barbies on ebay. (If I ever realized through the years how much all those Barbies I had bought would be worth if I had saved them.....)
So today is Day #9 of Suffering and Excercising. But shh, I don't really mind! Okay, when confronted with something like donuts, I DO mind, but generally, I am enjoying the challenge. And I am filled with hope for a more healthy future. ha, that sounds like I have been watching too many commercials. Just think though, I am going to ride a bike again! Isn't that worth more than having seconds? I am motivated. I know there are going to be days when I won't really FEEL determined, but I will battle those days when I come to them. Like yesterday, I suppose. There seems to be this dark cloud of doubt in my periphery. This little hint of..."HA, this will NEVER work! People lose weight and gain it all back! You will hit a plateau. You will get sick and tired of denying yourself and be bigger than ever." I know people have tried and failed. I know people have gained weight back. I know it is a huge thing I have undertaken. But if I am going to listen to those thoughts, I may as well not even try. As far as I am concerned, this whole thing is a battle of the mind. My body can fuss and rebel and whine all it wants, but I am the boss of it.
God gives grace to the humble. I am not proud of myself for taking this on, no I am thankful that I went to the dr. when I did, and thankful that so far my knees have held out for me. I am glad for the time I am able to leave and go for the walks, and that we are able to have fruits and veggies here. I am praying for His mercy on me, that I can suceed in this. (wait, to be totally honest, I am a little bit proud of myself...)
Have I mentioned lately how much I like having Mrs. Ashley living here with us? She is such a sweet girl. She gave Evelyn some earbuds because she had another pair, and Ev needed some, instead of holding on to them in case she needs them later. She is kind and thoughtful. And thankful. And - bonus: she likes Rosie! When she comes in from work, Charlotte Claire and Camille run into her arms, and Rosie goes absolutely nuts. She wags not only her tail, but her whole body.
Benjamin is doing well in his Medic training. He has passed all of the tests so far. He says medics are needed right now. He says the units try to protect their medics. He is being hopeful of course, and that is necessary. This morning I read the paper, and there was a picture of four Army soldiers carrying a casket at the Dover Del. base. A 26 year old Sargeant, victim of "small arms fire". Afghanistan. He was from New York state. I cried my eyes out for him and for his buddies, and his family. blah. Do I have to stop reading the paper? But as I like to tell Benjamin, he is still in training, today has enough worries for itself, we will jump off other bridges when we come to them. Or rather cross them when we come to them.
It is very cold here in New York state. 34 degrees. But it was much colder last night. Today it shall warm up into the fifties, with partial sunshine, yay! Tomorrow looks decent too. The sun certainly is welcome here!
Yesterday I forgot to pick Mali up from track practice. oops. She called like a half hour after I was supposed to be there. Joseph didn't have to brush his long tangly hair or change out of Around The House clothes, so he went to get her for me. sorry, mali! It was cold and rainy and she had a sore muscle and was hungry...oh, BAD Mom. I KNEW I had to go get her, I just got so involved in dipping the chicken breast in flour and then in egg then in the crumbs....blah.
Sonja went out the door with her snack (2 days late), and Jonathan brought oranges in for his class. I feel a little bit competent today. Aaron has to go in for his pre-op visit this afternoon for his nose surgery. I need to get a gift for my niece's wedding shower which is on Sunday. I need to take some dvds back to the library. I already owe ten dollars to the library system in the next county, I don't want to rack up fines here at the library in town, too.
I have things to do! I am procrastinating again! Some clear signs of that are when I write paragraph after paragraph of these boring little details with no rhyme or reason. sorry....!
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