I Did It

Yes, I did it. Really, I did. I went out and rode my bike last night. Those hills really suck! I did it though and my legs were telling me how much they did not like it. This was after I had done 250 crunches and 10 pushups, so I might have been a bit tired to begin. But I did it! I think tonight I will stick with the fast walk. That's a bit easier on me. The bike ride was nice though. It would have been a lot nicer without those hills though!

I am semi-committed (or I should be) to getting back into shape and dropping 10 more lbs. How well will that work? I don't know. I am naturally lazy and not used to having to work on getting my body to look ok. It's hard. I would rather eat Blizzards and watch cartoons. I think I can live with myself if Idon't lose the weight, but it would be really nice if I could.

I am looking at taking online courses for a degree in psychology too. Am I a glutton for punishment or what? I have to use the last of my GI Bill or lose it for good, so I am considering an online degree in psychology. I found one in forensic psychology but the school is not approved by the VA. I figure getting another degree makes me more marketable in the long run. However, I am NOT willing to do a PhD program or write another thesis. I am a bit crazy but I am NOT absolutely insane (yet).

Derek finishes his Biology course this week (tomorrow). He has done so well that he does not have to take the final and he still gets and A. I am really happy for him, though he has been a bit of a bear off and on. He now has to finish the Business Communications course. He does not think that will be a problem. So far he has an A in that class as well. He has a presentation to do that he is not looking forward to but I am sure he will do fine. He's better at this school stuff than he gives himself credit for.

I guess I need to go do some more dishes. I really HATE dishes. Laundry is not so bad, dishes, uggg!

Sunny side up

I am out of bed. It is only 9:16. We thought Mom had a DRs appt, but, again, I did something screwy with the calendar becuase the drs office said she did not have an appt. It could have been they screwed up spelling her name - again. No telling. Anyways, I was up before 8:00 AM this morning. Sigh.

Mason is trying to decide if he REALLY wants to wake up yet. He gets a bath once he wakes up, but he doesn't mind those. He makes some really cute chuffing noises when he first goes in, then he settle down and enjoys it. He does not like when I take him out though. I think I will wait until reinforcements (Mom and Alexis) get down here, so I can have someone to dry him off as soon as his little butt leaves the water. He so has me trained!

I looked at the co-pay for Alexis braces from United Concordia. If we get custody of her and get her added to our insurance it will be a 50% co-pay according to the bookelt. Now, can I really trust that they will pay that much? I don't know. I can hope, since the procedure will be around $5500, but there is no telling.

I need to go do stuff, like laundry and address envelopes with pictures, and stuff like that. Oh the joys of being home.

Trying to wind down

You know those weeks where you are on the go non-stop? Well, that's been our lives for the last 2 months. We average 2-4 drs appts a wekk, gymnastics, guitar lessons, swimming lessons, and whatever else crops up. Most of the time, I really don't mind, but sometimes it seems like there is never enough time to really get the things that need to be done - done. I suppose if we are all fed, have clean clothes to wear, and are clean ourselves, that's enough.

Mercedes seems to be eating us out of house and home. At least if it's something she likes. She's been trying my patience more recently, so we are changing the way we do some things. She's got chores now too, though are not very complicated.

Alexis is doing pretty well. She had her teeth cleaned the other day, which was not too bad. The appt for braces is in a few weeks. Oh fun! I am NOT looking forward to that one. The bill is going to be fairly high. Hopefully we will have her on our insurance by them so we don't have to worry about the WHOLE bill.

Mason is doing fine. His dedication is next week. It's just going to be a private thing with the immediate family. We wanted to do it in Texas in May, but circumstances just overwhelmed us. Hopefully we will have another one for him later when we can have the rest of the family there to share the experience.

Derek finishes up his Biology class this week (THANKFULLY). That will make life a little bit easier on him (us). He won't be quite so busy all of the time. His fall schedule looks a bit easier. All of his classes are in the mornings, so he should have some time to study in the afternoons. Mason will probably be in daycare two afternoons a week so that will him some as well.

We got the kids pictures this week so they should be going out in the mail in the next week or two. They look so mwonderful. And they are all growing up so fast.

Mason calls, so I must go. A crying baby always wins.

Today

We found teeth yesterday. Actually Derek said he found them the day before, but I saw them yesterday. Two little white bumps on his bottom gum. No wonder he was fussy. I went and got teething toys though he was not real thrilled with them last night. And he can't take baby orajel until he's 4 mths old, so we will suffer through.

I am proud of myself. I got onto the Ab Lounger yesterday and did "crunches", plus pushups. I am so out of shape. Last night I did a brisk 1-2 mile walk. That felt good. I am going to try again tonight. Before we go to the drive-in!

Early Mornings

I love early mornings, always have. It's nice to have the peace and quiet before the day really gets going. That's probably why I always enjoyed being first into the office. You can actually sit down and do something. Once everyone starts arriving and the phone starts ringing, it's almost impossible to get anything accomplsihed.

This time of day is peaceful. It has a soothing eefect on me. I have the whole day ahead of me, and nothing that HAS to be done RIGHT now. Granted, I sacrifice the opputunity to sleep in to have this time, but I don't mind.

I am going to go get on the AB Lounger here shortly and start trimming down that little bit of belly fat that doesn't want to go away. Tonight, I plan to go for a walk. A nice brisk walk. All by myself. I need to get my thigh master back to. My butt is still a little bigger than my jeans : (

There are no appts today. Yea! Lately it seems that we have appts every day! It really gets tiring. We always seem to be runnng around, going somewhere. It makes it hard to keep up. However, I did get all of the laundry washed and dried. Most of it even got folded and put away. What a concpet. And I got the floors swept and mopped, not that you can tell, as well as the living room coffee table and dining room table cleaned off. Small miracles, but miracles none-the-less.

I need to go get supper started. It's a crockpot meal, so once I get the initial work done, I can let it sit. By the way, any simple, but good crockpot recipes are welcome : )

I finished

You will be happy to know that I finished my online course, so no more whining about it. I won't start the next one until August. Yea!

Derek went to the ER this morning to get his lungs checked out. We think he has bronchitis, but the dr did not have any appts and told him if it was bothering him that much to go to the ER. I bet the ER people just love them.

We are going to try to take the kids swimming today. This will be Mason's first time. I hope it goes well. We got him a reallycute little swim diaper to wear in the pool. We'll have to remember a camera so we can take pictures.

Nice Night

We had a nice annivesary. We went to El Rancho Grande which I still think is the best Mexican Food Restarant I have found here. Though the strawberry margaritas leave something to be desired (like real strawberries). After that we went to see Batman Begins. Yes, it was good. Being the confirmed Batman fan that I am, I was critical of some parts, but it was good. If nothing else, it was Batman. A local comic book store was giving away free copies of a BAtman comic, so I got one of those too. It was nice to sit through a movie without having to quiet a child, go potty, or threaten someone's life. The theater was completely full. And, for the first time in a long time, people applauded at the end of the movie. Liam Neeson as a bad guy - sigh - what is the world coming too. He's definitely a neat actor, so much character. I would say the movie is worth seeing.

I am almost done with my online course, yea! I am not starting another one until I go back to work. What was I thinking? It had to have been pregnancy hormones fogging my mind.

Mason seems to have suvived well without me. He was passed out when I got home. I missed him though. Especially when I got the tightening in my breasts telling me it was "lunchtime". Yep, he so has me trained.

I finished grocery shopping, finally, yesterday. Gee, and I get to do it again in a few weeks. I figured it out. A big chunk of our grocery bill is fluid. Milk, soda, water, juice. I figure I drink over 60 ounces of fluid a day. Alexis and Mercedes drink a lot, Derek is a soda fiend, and Mom doesn't do too bad, though not as good as she should.

I did 60 crunches this morning. Yea! And I am going to go play volleyball tomorrow for a work out and I am going to try to get on the thigh master today. I have an appt later, so I have to take a break from the online course, so the thigh master comes after that. I really need to finish this course today! But, hey, I did crunches. I just need to get into a routine. Once I do that I can get back into shape. And starting with crunches is one step closer.

One more module down, 5 to go.

Derek got his grades back. He's not very happy. He doesn't think he will make the Dean's list this term. One of the major reasons he is angry is because he knows two of the grades he got could have been better. Personally, I don't think two B's and an A are bad. He really wants to do well though, so only A's make him happy. With his current schedule, I think a passing grade would be good. Tests every day, papers to write every day. Ouch! I know he's frustrated and getting burnt out (I completely understand that feeling), but he's got to keep sloggin along. hopefully he will graduate in the spring or summer of 2007. That would give him time to look for and hopfully find a job before we leave which could help with the experience thing.

10 Years

As of today, Derek and I have achieved 10 years of marriage. Wow! There is something to be said for stubborness I suppose : )

We are going to go out to eat and to see Batman Begins. What could be better than a "good" Batman movie? We all have iour favorite superheros, mine is Batman. There's just something cool about a person who is not endowed with super powers, but rather, has to work for his superhero status.

I have to spend a considerable chunk of today completing the online course that I have been slacking on. I will not start another one until August! What was I thinking. Oh yeah, that I could do it at work before Mason was born.

I have dropped another pound, though there is no telling if it will stay off. It's seems to be harder to lose the weight this time. Of course, I put more on too. And I do have stretch marks, though that doesn't bother me. The linea negra doesn't seem to be going away though. Again, not a huge deal, I am just marked : ) It's a good thing that it has been so long since I got pregnant, I don't really miss the pre-pregnancy body. I am sure Derek does, or will at some point, but hey, I am 32 years old, I doubt I will ever have that body again. I am sure it would be a lot close if I would work out, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.

Derek is bogged down with school. One of his classes gives a quiz every day. The other one has a lot of writing. That's the problem with condensed courses, everything hits at once. I don't miss that aspect of school, but I do miss learning. I expect he will do well though. He likes Biology, and the other class will probably teach him to write a resume and stuff.

I'm getting old!

Yes, I admit it--freely. I played volleyball tonight for some exercise. There was a time (several years ago) when I could have kept up with the "younger" set (19-22 years old). Now, well, I hit the ball when it's near me and sweat like a pig. Sigh! I used to be toned and able to keep up. Now I get in the way more than anything. Sad, aren't I?

Wassup. . . .

She's becoming-shudder-interested in boys. His name is Kody and he's 14. He's a nice young man and "cute", so I can understand why Alexis likes him. I just wasn't ready for it. Thankfully, she is still adamanatly denying that she could POSSIBLY like a boy. Heaven help me when she starts admitting to liking boys and maybe thinking of having boyfriends.

To add to the fun, she's gorgeous. It's not that I did not think she was beautiful, but it was the realization of how boys are going to see her. It really struck me when we were going to church on Sunday and she was all dressed up and was wearing her hair down. Thank GOD the boys didn't see her!

We start swimming lessons for both Alexis and Mercedes on Monday. They are both water babies, and I expect they will do very well. We will start going to the pool regularly next week so the girls can swim. I am finally ready to fit myself into a swimming suit, though I still need to lose 10-15 lbs. I need to actually work out though, and I am lazy about that.

Alexis also wants to do horseback riding lessons but I am not sure we can afford that at this time. Things just seem to keep coming up. I think that's just part of life though. We'll look into it and see what it requires. If we can do it, then we will. She's still got guitar lessons too, so she's somewhat busy.

Mom is doing so much better, though her DR is treating her for pneumonia (3 times in a month-sigh). She's cleaning out someof her boxes and stuff so we can put it into storage. This house is so small that we don't have room for the extra stuff. It's frustrating but there is not much we can do about it.

Mercedes is doing good. Her "school" year ended on Thursday and they had a picnic for the parents to attend. Mercedes was showing off "her" baby to her teachers. It was so cute. She asked me if we were going to have a baby for Mason too. I told her to talk to her father about that since he doesn't want to have any more kids. I still think three is the ideal number, but not for another 2-3 years. : )

Mason seems to be doing well. He's slowed doing his growing some I think, but he is still a big boy. He's chubby and roly poly right now. A lot of people think he's a little girl because of "all that hair". I imagine he will outgrow that though. He's a bit congested right now, but I think that's because of the allergy thing. This area is awful! I am having some congestion and drainage, and since he's using my immune system, I imagine whatever is bothering me is bothering him.

Derek starts school next week. He's got Biology and Business Comminucations for the next 5 weeks, then he starts another class in MIS. He will be pretty busy since these are condensed courses that require a lot of writing. He thinks he got all A's and B's from this last term though the grades have not been posted yet.

I am working frantically to complete the online course I started in April. I have until Thursday to finish. It is not hard, just time consuming and somewhat dry. I don't go back to work until August 1, so I need to decide if I want to start another online course now, or wait until I get back to work. I think maybe the first part of July would be good to start the second course, that gives me a month at home and a month at work to finish. The sooner I finish the sooner I can start other projects. Like maybe another Master's program in something I like, though that hope seems dim.

Poem by Javan

I've often wondered and racked my brain
but I guess I'll just never know
why one person looks and sees the rain
while another is seeing a rainbow


Catchy, isn't it?

What's Happening

Why is it that Mercedes catches every bug that comes along? She's been coughing and sneezing almost non-stop sine she got up this morning. Poor baby, she's miserable. And today is the last day of swimming lessons. I am not sure if she should go.

I finished another module in my online course. Every little bit helps. I need to get some more done today if I can. I think I can be done by the deadline, but I don't want to push it.

Derek starts finals on Monday. He's been working on the final final homework and studying for the tests so he's stressed. At least once he's taken the tests he will have a couple of days off. He intends to get some stuff done around the house. We'll see.

I really need to start working out. I have not done a very good job of that so far. I have 9 lbs left to go, but I need to get back into shape too. Derek got my bike in order last night, so I can start riding it.

It's supposed to get into the 80's today, but it looks overcast right now. It's been yucky the last 2 days already. a few nice, clear days would be good. That way the girls can play outside. Mason is not real big on being outside, but we try to spend as much as he will allow outside.

Guess I should go get Alexis up and decide if Mercedes can go to swimming lessons. I am still not sure, but she's not coughing as much. That is probably the cough medicine setting in.

SHE STOLE MY BLIZZARD

Granted the little punk did it in a very cute way, but it's now hers. I set it down for a minute, so she asked if I was done, then proceeded to offer to finish it for me. How can you say no to that kind of logic? I didn't really need the whole thing anyways. I still have at least 9 lbs to go before I am back to pre-pregnancy weight. I just need to start working out. But I am lazy. I admit this. It is a well-known fact. I hate gyms. Now softball or volleyball on a DAILY basis would be fine. Everything else though - YUCK!

We got the kids pictures yesterday. As soon as I can get the electronic version to work I will post the picture. I will send via snailmail to those of you who I deem worthy (OK those with blood ties).

I am being sumoned to go watch the 4 yr old heathen at play. Sigh! No rest for the wicked.

Another Busy Day

Mom, Derek, and Mercedes all get to go to the dentist this morning. ALexis, lucky Girl, gets to go to school. I go to go along to drive - just in case. At least I don't have to see the dentist.

Alexis and Mercedes were not happy with me yesterday. I went to play Bunko, and they didn't get to come. I don't do much without them, so I don't feel too bad. Mom and I enjoyed ourselves and I think we needed a Girl's night Away. It's not like we did a whole lot. In fact, I was the top loser (16 of 24 games). I guess they just aren't used to me going somewhere without them.

I think I am starting to catch up on sleep. After 4 weeks, I am due, right? Mason is sleeping better at night, though not through the night. He wakes up enough to be fed, though he's not "really" awake for that. He's awake more during the day now, too.

He's put on another pound or so, and is eating quite well (4+ ounces at a sitting). He's acting like he's trying to crawl (yea?) and lifting his head up on his own and holding it. He's also focusing more and occasionally following motion with his eyes or head. It's hard to believe he's already 4 weeks old.

We are taking the kids for pictures this afternoon. I really hope they turn out nice. I am thinking of having Mason's taken in his dedication outfit. We need to get that set up too. Sigh, I have a list of things to do, and never enough time (or memory) to get them all accomplsihed. I feel like such a slacker.

I also have the online aquisition coure to compelte. I need to get that done in the next week or so. It's got to be done by June 19th or I fail, so it's not like I can put it off. I started it with good intentions, it's just that things happened that took a lot of time. I think we are past the worst of that now. It doesn't help that it is boring. That's just standard though.