The SLOWEST month ever!

This month we have all been sick and it seems like it has snowed every day. I am climbing the walls and anxiously awaiting spring.

My dieting has been going well- 16 pounds down, 28 more to go.

My physio has been going well. I have full range of motion in my left shoulder and the pain is almost gone. The other day my right shoulder started hurting really bad though. I hope it was just a freak incident.

I miss church! The first Sunday of the month I woke up with my eyes swollen and glued shut with pink eye. Some antibiotics and eye drops helped clear that up, but I could taste the eye drops drip down the back of my throat. I've had that happen with nose drops before, but never eye drops and it was so disgusting!

I made it to church the second and third Sundays- hooray!

That week I came down with a fever that lasted for 5 days, so I missed church the fourth Sunday. I had the full-blown body aches and chills with severe sinus congestion. No flu though, so that was a relief!

I was barely recovered from that illness when I fell sick again, and I literally fell! Friday morning I got out of bed to go to the bathroom when my body collapsed. It was just like I had fainted, but I didn't lose consciousness. I just "timbered" and fell face first to the floor. It was painful and really freaky to say the least. Len was there and helped me up and after I got back in bed, I got a severe case of vertigo. Luckily, that day I was finally eligible for OHIP so we went down and got me registered and made an appointment to see the doctor. After he ruled out that I didn't have a heart attack or stroke (thank goodness) he performed the Dix-Hallpike test on me (which was brutal) to confirm that I have Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Basically, I'm having a problem with my inner ears that is causing the severe head spinning and nausea. He gave me a prescription to help with the nausea and another prescription for physiotherapy. I already had a physio appointment for that night, so I told my therapist about the BPPV and asked if she knew any treatments for it. She didn't, but fortunately (or unfortunately) there was another therapist there who did. He performed the Epley Maneuver on me and I puked and puked and puked afterwards. It was so not fun and embarrassing and it looks like I am part of the 30% that that doesn't work on as I still had severe vertigo yesterday and it's even worse today, so I am missing church again. Ugh! I go for blood work tomorrow and maybe they can find a way to treat this because I am seriously miserable!

I am so ready for January to be over and I really hope February brings some good health my way!

Another Flashback

This is our sweet baby Teague.

This is one of his parents that he looks JUST like! But who is it, his mommy or daddy?

Mr. Distinguished

Kaleb finally got his glasses and he couldn't be happier. I think he looks so handsome!

Feminist Obsessed with Mormon Blogs

My friend Marianne, e-mailed this article to our ward's yahoo group. Since I am a "Mormon Mommy Blogger" I found it interesting and thought I'd share, Why I can't stop reading Mormon housewife blogs. I like reading other MMBs because they are inspiration to me for the type of life I want. I would hate it if we were all cut from the same "cookie cutter" but I love the positive vibes they give that we can all do our best and make the world a better place in our own small way. Please let me know your thoughts about reading Mormon Mommy Blogs (if you are Mormon or not.)

I'm NOT hungry!!

So I've altered my diet a little. I decided to eat a larger breakfast, but then cut out my afternoon snack. I just eat 3 square meals a day, and I'm under 1,000 calories. It's done the trick- I no longer feel hungry! But when I say 3 "square" meals a day, that's really what they are:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

I know I need to eat REAL food, but for January I wanted to shrink my stomach with something quick and easy. I know myself and if I had to spend a lot of time preparing healthy low-cal meals, I would say forget it and just start eating everything in sight. Plus, I figure this is my cheap version of the Nutri-System or Jenny Craig diet- ha ha!

The weight loss has slowed. It felt great losing 10 pounds the first week, but I only lost 2 the second. I'll probably just lose 1 this week. The thought of dieting this whole year makes me sad, but hopefully this way it will be sustainable weight loss.

I mentioned I am no longer starving like I was before, but I must clarify that I am not satisfied. I love food! I miss indulging my sense of taste! When we had family movie night, I wanted to munch on some popcorn. When we went to a friend's for dinner, I wanted the brownies with the homemade icing. But for the first time in my life I am saying NO to my sweet tooth and to 2nd helpings and 3rd helpings.... I will occasionally say yes (I am planning on eating Chinese food with my family to celebrate the Lunar New Year and I am planning on having dessert on Valentine's Day), but I will only say yes on THE special occasion not the days and weeks before and after that special holiday or event. Hopefully these new habits will help me be healthier and skinnier too- ha!

Flashback

My friend, Dominic Sanson is a very talented fine artist as well as a whimsical charicature artist. He asked if he could post this picture with Noe from our ward Corn Roast last fall on his website. I said, of course, but I asked for a favor...

...I asked if he could send me another picture of Kaleb and Noe that is also on his website...

...look how tiny my little twins are! This was our Christmas party back in 2003, they were only 21 months then- Teague's age now! I know I've said this before, but TIME SURE FLIES!!

New Year's Goals

With the New Year it's always great to make new goals. I wanted to record how well we did on last year's goals and state our goals for this year too.

Len wanted to write 200 pages for his novel. Well, being a full-time diplomat, a full-time husband, and a full-time father didn't give him much spare time to be a part-time writer. However, he does have about 60 pages under his belt.
This year his goal is to be more organized so he can live each day with more purpose.

Kaleb wanted to cook 5 meals and 5 desserts. He for sure made the 5 desserts and probably made 5 meals too (all breakfast- tee hee!)

This year he wants to become a master at Origami and learn Kirigami as well.

Gavin did NOT want to get potty trained last year and he didn't. But, during the first week of January he officially became an "underwears" wearer- yee haw!
This year Gavin is excited to start school in the fall.

Teague did accomplish his walking goal. He didn't do it early like I predicted, but started around 14 1/2 months.

This year he wants to add to his vocabulary.

Noe wanted to wake up early and create 10 pieces of art. I don't think she ever woke up early, but I also don't think a single day passed that she didn't do some sort of artwork.

This year she wants to get along with Kaleb better and not fight anymore (bless her heart!)

Last year I had 5 goals:

1- lose 30 pounds (I already blogged about this, see "I'm Hungry").

2- Finish unpacking (check), organizing (just the craft bins, bookcases, and file cabinets to do more thoroughly), and decorating (just need to paint the family room canvas) our home.

3- Visit our 3 fams (yes we did!)

4- Have a monthly fun family outing (not monthly, but at least quarterly).

5- Make blurb books for 2008 and 2009 (nope, and now I need to add 2010 to the list).

This year I want to complete all of my unfinished projects (I'll post on my Creative Pursuits blog), but mainly I want to focus on being HAPPY, HEALTHY, and HELPFUL!

Dress-Up

For Gavin's birthday he got some Thomas pajamas as well as a Thomas Halloween costume. He loves wearing the hat from the costume with his pj's.

He's all ready to be a Train Engineer.

Aargh, matey! This be the chocolate pirate!

Teague enjoyed his first batch of Dunkaroo cookies (especially the chocolate frosting!)

I'm HUNGRY!!

So last year I wanted to lose 30 pounds. I thought 2010 would be great for new beginnings and I would be turning 35. Well, by the end of the year I had put on 15 pounds (10 pounds after weaning Teague, then another 5 during the holidays)- ugh! Well, I'll still be 35 for most of 2011, so I decided this year I will lose my weight finally. I've been really inspired by my friend, Annick (you're smokin' hot girl!) and asked her what she ate on an average day. I tweaked my diet a bit, so here's what I eat:

Yep, Lean Cuisine is my new best friend (especially the Paninis!). I've lost exactly 10.2 pounds since January 1st, but I suspect it will take me until the end of the month to lose another 10 pounds as the daily weight loss has slowed down from 2 pounds to 1/2 pound each day.

Basically, I eat 4 small meals every 4 hours and keep my daily calories under 1,000.

Breakfast- 1/3 cup raw oats with milk (like cold cereal, the hot oatmeal is too bland)

Lunch- Lean Cuisine

Snack- Glass of V8 juice or another bowl of oats and milk

Dinner- Lean Cuisine

I also drink at least 80 oz of water, but some days I drink 128 oz (yes, that is a whole gallon!)

I try to exercise (so far though I've just bought an exercise bike, but it's not set up yet)

I also try to get 8 hours of sleep a night (but I still have some sleep issues and wake up and stay awake for long periods of time)

It's obviously working, but I am seriously pretty much hungry all day every day! Do I have to starve for the rest of my life to have the body weight I want???

Sweet Friends

We knew the Backstrom's when we lived here before, but now they live on the Quebec side of the Capital City so we don't get to see them very often.


One afternoon Lucy and Alesa came over to play.


They took a short break to watch a few minutes of TV, and I took the opportunity to take a few pics of the gang.


Yes, that is Gavin in underwear (finally!)

True friends stick together no matter how much time and distance seperates them!

The fearsome foursome!

It was Holly's birthday,


so the 4 four year olds from church got together to celebrate with her!


Aren't they so cute?!

Holly is 2 days younger than Gavin and I think it would be so cool, if she was his future girlfriend. Unfortunately, I think she is already betrothed to Daniel- tee hee. I would be equally happy if Jacelyn was his future girlfriend, Gavin might need an older woman to take care of him- ha ha.

Look Not Behind Thee

I wanted to post THIS VIDEO and give a shout out to my friends Mark and Monica Abernathy!!

Blockbuster Weekend

Jenn and Anngela came over to watch our kids on New Year's Eve...


...so Len and I could party with the Cameron's and the Martin's. We enjoyed a delicious Lebanese feast (we brought baklava- mmmmm) and played Cranium and Gift Trap. I put my camera in my purse to take with us, then I left my purse at home (of course!) We had a fun night, then the next day...


...Jenn came back to babysit for us, so Len and I could go on a "double feature" movie date! After we got settled into our seats at The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, we turned around to see the Cameron's behind us- so funny!


Next we saw Part 1 of The Deathly Hallows. Now we are anxiously awaiting to see Part 2!!


Earlier in the week, I took Noe to see Tangled...

...then Leonard took Kaleb to see Tron Legacy.

It's so fun to go out on dates! We need to do this more often.