Sorry for the hiatus.  I have been going through a lot right now, and not a lot all at the same time.  I will do a quick little run down on the happenings of my family and such right now.

Luke is almost done with his first year of preschool.  And with a few long discussions and some late night hubby chats we decided to keep Luke in the pre-school for one more year.  He is a fresh 5 year old, and shows is newness quite a bit when lined up with other 5 going on 6 year olds.  We have thought it all out and think that this will give him more maturity and knowledge to prepare him for his big kindergarten year.  He did however go ahead and receive his 5 year old check up and shots.  And my Big boy didn't shed a tear! So proud!  He also had an eye exam, and it appears my little guy will most likely be sporting glasses this fall. We have to recheck him in September.  Tomorrow is Luke's field day.  I am excited to cheer him on and have lots of fun!

Adalei-- nothing really new with her. Getting more personality and spunk.  But along with that comes attitude.  I am not so excited about that.  Its a work in progress.

Work- Is going good.  I am hoping to work with some other gals on getting a new scheduling system set up today.  I hope I am not digging my own grave.  But I think it will be a good ide,. and maybe not make for so much resentment and bickering.

Ryan and I are so happy right now.  Things are going so well for both of us.  I really can't explain it to well, but its times like right now that I will remember forever.  He is definitely making me fall in love with him more and more each day!

My health, do you remember me talking about the weird never tingling in the scalp and forehead?  Well, its still around.  That being said I don't remember if I passed on the weakness in my left arm? I think I did. Anyways, the weakness is gone, but not the numby head thing.... So tomorrow I am scheduled for and MRI.  Scared that the results are what they are looking for, but ready to have an answer.  The Lord is here, and good ALL the time.  Just some days I need a little reminding of that.  I need to place my worries on the Lord, it's just a lot simpler said than done!

In other health news, I have not been behaving myself on the food side of my weight loss plan, but I have continued to exercise.  My newest love is running.  I NEVER would have thought I would say that, but its true!  I am signed up for Warrior Dash.  I supports St. Jude Hospital. and it's a 3.33 mile obstacle course race.  I have always thought these looked fun, but never thought I could even attempt it.  But I will be June 10th! Excited and nervous about it! I think I can do the running thing, its the climbing up walls and jumping over fire that I am not so positive about!

I am also doing a fundraising walk on May 5th.  It supports the Autism Association of Nebraska, but most importantly I am doing this walk in honor of my friend Sarah, sweet 2 year old little boy! He was diagnosed with Autism in December, and I thought this is the best way I could support/help them from so far away.  Go Team Action Jackson!  Thanks to those who have donated to the fundraiser, I really appreciate it.  If you are interested in donating here's the website you can check out: Team Action Jackson
Thanks for looking at the page if you do!
Have a good day!!!

Cindy

Fruits of my Motivation

Little Seedlings!

Cosmos and Lavender

So Amazing!


My finished De-Cluttering project.
I had taken a before picture (3 months or more ago...) and now I can't find it!
I have the school stuff all in appropriate totes, and files for each days "school work" and accompanying theme related books set up too.

Luke is so super excited about school and the garden. I am "Mrs. Mommy" and today was our first day with our lesson. It lasted a whopping 35 minutes. But the kids enjoyed it. I hope they learn something too! We are learning about Cows this week. I am hoping this week I can ask Holly and Ed if the kids can see one of their new calves (if the mama agrees).

In other news, I am down 39 pounds. I have been fighting the scale all week to get to 40. I WILL get there! We dropped to 3rd on the pound plunge. Ryan made up a table of our and the top 6 teams progress and average percentage weight loss and our goals we need to try to meet to get to 1st. It is going to be TOUGH! Speaking of which, I better get off of the computer and get to exercising.

Hope you enjoyed our little flower pictures as much as Luke and I do enjoy seeing them grow daily! Soon we will be in the garden!

Happy Spring!

Cindy

Motivation

I am so full of motivation for several things it amazes me. The Spring fever bug bit me good!

We are planning a garden this spring. We have the area tilled slightly. Thanks to Holly and Ed for the use of the tiller and Ryan for operating that scary beast for me!! Whoa Mama that thing is precarious looking. My little Luke got me started on the gardening business this year. With fun requests to grow pickles and bouncy ball trees. Pickles I can definitely do (well try at least.) The Bouncy Ball Tree sounds amazing, but don't think I could pull it off! :) We decided to grow peas, tomatoes, cucumbers (pickles), beans carrots and onions. Luke wasn't to excited about onions but we use them in EVERYTHING! I Love onions. So that is out plan. With the gorgeous weather we have been having I felt excited about getting going on the garden and Luke was too. So

I bought a seed starting tray and we planted some flowers to plant in the flower beds in the front of the house, given that I am not sure how well it will go there until the gutters get installed. We might find another home for our starter flowers if the gutters are not in when they are ready to be transplanted. Luke was super excited about sunflowers when we looked at seeds the other day. So I picked some of those up too, along with lavender and cosmos for the seed starters.

I am really hoping to give them a learning experience with this too. So we all planted the starters and I really hope they turn out because that was a little chaotic. Adalei poked and over seeded most of hers and my little gardener Luke was meticulous on his. Such a proud mama! I really wanted to label them also, but the chaos overran, and I'm mot sure whats where. I am going to try to photograph our seed growths to for Luke and Adalei to learn more. and make a diagram, and a "what a plant needs booklet" I saw on Pinterest.

I have been interested in home supplement schooling both of them. I don't know if I could home school my kids, but I am willing to at least start a scheduled time of day to work with both kids on developing their little minds. Trying to get lots of ideas on how to do this and how much I dig into it. I envision 2 little desks and shelves of school supplies and a little calendar and weather board. But, my home isn't prepared to have such a room right now. Maybe when Adalei's room is done upstairs? Or the guest room we could use too! Uww the gears a rolling.

I have been also very ambitiously cleaning my house. I am a FlyBaby! Check out www.FlyLady.net Last week I had off and I CLEANED! House looks great and now I am concentration my efforts on certain areas in the house like the web page guides you to do. I love it! Baby steps are great for the messiest areas!

I am also very motivation to continue to lose weight. I am down 37 pounds since January! I keep finding delicious healthy meals to make. My hubby is enjoying them and we are both dropping the pounds. I will say though, I would love to eat sweets everyday, but I feel so much better, and from this post you can tell I feel very ambitious and energized. Ryan has lost over 50, and is looking HOT! (If I do say so myself!) :) We are still doing the Pound Plunge and currently 2ND place!!!!!! Woo HOO! 2 more weeks until the final weigh in. We are excited and exercising fools right now getting as much as we can done to prepare for it! I am actually thinking of trying to do a 5K run as a long term goal with my weight loss. They have lots of neat apps on the smart phones and there are several Couch to 5 K apps to help you prepare. Finished day 2 today. The runs are 3 x per week. Really enjoyed running today! I found out from my very first run this year that I have exercise induced asthma, and talked to a Dr about it. So I started using an inhaler just prior to running and today I could SO tell a difference! I didn't think I was dying after wards (or even 5 hours afterwards, like I had the first run).

Speaking of ailments, my sinus infection is nearing its death. The chest cold is finally lifting. I also had nerve numbness/pain with a headache too and the nerves are still not great, but the headaches are better. I do have some left arm weakness though. So if after my steroid regimen is done with this week, and if I still have that crazy numb/nerve stuff I am going to talk with the Dr. again. The idea that maybe an MRI is needed was thrown out there, so if you could say quick prayer that this silly nerve stuff would resolve on its own that would be greatly appreciated.

Okay well now that your eyes are bleeding, I will let you get back to your regularly scheduled lives! Thanks for taking time to read my blog.

God Bless
Cindy

Numby. Achy. Whiny. ME.

So I have something up with my sinuses or something. I have headache (more like an eye ache) and numbness from my forehead to my crown of my head. I ache, and whine and pop pills and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I really don't want to spend a thousand bucks to be told I has sinus infection, but this numbness thing is freaking me out. I am not sure how long to see if the meds work, or not. I don't want to be a nuisance at the Dr. office. But I DO want to feel better. I don't have any sinus drainage, cough, sniffle, temp, nada. Both my kids had/have colds and some co-workers do to. So it seems logical that it could be that. I have never had a migraine in the past and we tried, but the migraine meds didn't touch it.

Fitness wise, I am kinda trying to be healthy. But honestly I really just wast to eat what sounds good and forget the rest. Rest, yes sleep sounds great. Ack... I sure hope I am over this soon, I really am looking forward to working out outside sometime soon. We are currently 5ht place on the Pound Plunge. We were 3rd, and are under another team by a hundredth of a point. If i get to feeling better soon, I will put my workout into full gear. I am just at a standstill. Help!

We are having the siding installed. Its looking great. Can't wait until its all done! Then on to the next project! Adalei's new room.

Hope you are having a great day!

Cindy

Foodie.... Not Fattie!

Crunchy Granola

(not as healthy as I would like it to be)

Yummy Layered Jell-O

I Love Pintrest! I have found so many yummy foods to try. Neat hair do ideas, ideas for Luke's Mickey Mouse themed birthday party. And AWESOME craft ideas. If any of you want an invite leave your email addy and I'll invite you! And you can join me on this craze.

As you may have noticed on my little blinkie on the side I have reached my 20 lbs mark, and going strong. I am constantly looking for more inspirations and routines to try. Started to include a "Fab Ab February" Routine to my workout. I really doubt I will get FAB abs in just a month... Well I might, but it's well hidden under layers and layers of fat. So I will continue to do them and hope my pants and shirts fit a little looser. Planks really are killer. They look simple enough, but if you do them correctly.... Wow! Burn baby burn!

Adalei's finger is doing great. Still doing the bandage changes daily. Today she is a little mopey but snuggly. It is a cold snowy day, makes me extra snuggly too. So I don't mind.

Well 5-14 inches of snow expected here. Only about 2 inches maybe here so far. So I hope tomorrows drive to work goes okay. Safe travels and stay warm!

Cindy

Running....

Kicked my BUTT!

I am still wheezing and in pain. But I am happy, high from my workout. I feel so great! It was a BEAUTIFUL January day here. I felt sad about not doing so yesterday. Boy, was I happy that I went today. I feel great and my waist line will thank me as soon as my lungs forgive me.

In other news, Adaleis finger is doing great. She is a trooper, and tolerating the dressing changes better each time!

We might have our siding finished for us, by hiring someone. I am excited about it, but I hope its not to pricey. We will hopefully get the estimate this week.

Nothing else important to share. Alot of friends and co-workers have lost loved ones recently and I just hope to reach out to them and pray that God comforts their pain.

Have a great evening.

Cindy

Just a pinch will do.

This week has been very eventful. Well, maybe only Monday, but stressful at that. I worked at the Clinic on Monday. I was told I had a phone call on line one... the babysitters voice on the other end with crying in the background, told be something was array. "We have a little emergency." What??? Oh no! Well it turns out Adalei got her finger pinched in the hinge/crack of a drop down table leaf that was raised quickly. However, it wasn't just a pinch. It pinched the tip of her left index finger right off. Yup. You read right. Off. The babysitter was taking her to the Arnold clinic, and I take off to go meet up with them. Well several calls and minutes later, they decided she needs an x-ray and is en route to Callaway. I meet up with them on the road. At first I can't see Adalei in he car and the babysitter holds up a bio hazard/specimen bag with a wad of gauze inside... part of her finger. Talk about freak out mode. A few shuddering breaths, and the babysitters consoling of it not being as serious as it appears, and I compose myself. I walk to the babysitters car and there sits my baby, tear stained cheeks but calm and quiet. Her little hand bandaged all up. She says to me, "I got an owwie." I pick her up and get her all settled in my car and off we go to Callaway. Called Daddy to meet up with us when we got there. Once there they take her right back to x-ray. We removed the bandage and I about lost it. My baby's finger is all cut up! As soon as Adalei noticed I was upset she became upset, so I played it cool. Adalei hated to see it all "blah-bloody" too. But she listened well and held her arm still. Then we coveredit back up and the the whimpers quieted again.

The X-ray.

Thank the Heavenly Father the bone was not broken. However, the tissue that got pinched off could not be reattached and she probably will have a deformity in that finger, but it didn't get all of her nail, so that should grow back too. The team at the Hospital was great. I appreciate all they do! So now, she is on antibiotics and daily dressing changes. Ugh.. Which I hate. I hate being a nurse on my baby. But she does really good. She has a purple band-aid on that finger and gets lots of TLC.

Snuggling with Mommie.

Her band-aid finger peeking out of the blankie.

On to other news:
Just got her heart check up final results, everything is fine. Follow up in a year. Good!



Weight loss is slllllloooooowwwwing down. WAY down. But as long as it is going down I can live with it!! 18 lbs so far. I know I am getting more muscle too. I am able to do more push-ups and crunches. Starting to see more definition in my arms and maybe, maybe a slight line to show me where my abs are supposed to be.


I am hoping to have a fun day at my sisters and mom and dads tonight. So I hope you all have a great day!




Cindy

I may be addicted.

I really doubt it. But I love exercising right now. I feel sad when I don't. And I feel in control of my body with my calorie counting. I definitely feel fuller and better for the most part. The end of work day is my low point. Tired and probably low on calories really gets me. But my good friend FitnessPal on the smart phone shows me how much more I can eat, and my wonderful husband encourages me to work out. Tonight is the first night/day I have not logged any time on our elliptical. I was in North Platte most of the day with Dr.'s appointments and such and didn't make it back home with much time before work.

Adalei had her heart appt. We think everything is okay. It looked alright, the EKG was a little misleading, but the preliminary result of her follow up ECHO was good. I wont have final results until next week sometime. If she is okay, check scheduled for next year, if its not..... We really didn't discuss it because the Dr didn't think it was a true problem. So I went along with it because why borrow trouble? So I will let tomorrow worry about itself, and continue to enjoy my sweet girl. Speaking of that girl we went and got supplies to have a fun nail painting party together. I let her choose 2 colors by herself and then picked out a pack of nail stickers to try too. I can't wait! Should be fun!!

I chipped a tooth on Sunday and had it worked on today. Its a baby tooth. Interesting huh? Also there is no adult tooth hiding under it either. It is a hereditary trait. Fun Fact for your Friday!

I acquired a fun little weight loss bling for my blog, I just hope it doesn't start to mock me later. I really am trying hard and I love reading about new exercises and tips and advice. Wrapping my head around the whole process has really helped to keep me motivated.

Thanks for staying tuned!

Cindy

No pain, no Gain.... Or Loss

Luke working on a puzzle!

Its a 100 piece puzzle he got for Christmas. He was SO happy to get it all put together. It entertained him for hours.

I hurt yesterday, so I didn't give it my all yesterday.... Which also meant only 3 ounces lost yesterday... Sigh. So I must work harder today. Counting calories SUCK. I have read so many different calorie limits I should try to stay under, and I am positively lost. So I'm going to try one for this week. If it doesn't work, I'll shoot for the other one. It that one doesn't work I will go somewhere in between.

Ryan and I both are doing the pound plunge. We have a lot to lose to win but we are working hard... Both of us have lost.



In other news Adalei is potty trained except nap/bedtime. I'm so proud of my big girl!

Have a great day.

Cindy

If You aren't movin'. You aren't losin'.

So that's what I did today. I worked nights last night and then took a little nap. Then I cleaned and spruced up the house and then got to my exercising. I worked out for an hour on the elliptical while watching Biggest Loser. Definitely a motivator! When they did their 'last chance,' I pushed harder too, until they returned to weigh in. It was awesome and the quote above was from one of the trainers. Not for sure which one now.... but it was my mantra.

Feeling great too. "Feeling the pain." Tired, happily exhausted.
Hope you are had a great day!

Ding Ding Ding!

Round 780 or something like that.

I am trying to lose weight.

I hoping for better luck this time and hoping it sticks. I feel very nervous/skeptical about this being a lasting late starting resolution. But there is never a better time than NOW to start. I just hope I can stay motivated!!! So if you are reading this and have any advice, tips, encouragements. I'll take them!!! I am going to try to keep this as a tracker. Any avenue I can use I am trying. I hope I am not overdoing it and setting myself up for failure. I really need to change, and the world around me is a tasty place.
That big eyesore in my livingroom is WONDERFUL. I love it and today, in addition to working out on it for 32 minutes, I also did "girlie" push ups until my arms said no more. Next time I am going to count the number I do and see how far I can get as my time goes on. Lost 2 pounds since I started exercising on it. Also, I have been drinking TONS of water.
I did take a before picture. If I do make attainable goals, and successfully acheive some of them, I might be brave and try to post before and after pictures.

BUT

I've said that before and never have. I really should make that as one of my resolutions too. I will check into that too.

Thanks Aunt Patty for reminding me of my little blog, and my handful of sweet lovely readers!

The Christmas Letter-like Post.

Well life is speeding along and and I'm just trying to enjoy the ride. A quick update on my family members.


Me: Still loving my job. Have a great "family" I work with. So happy I changed hospitals! God has blessed me numerous times over with this change, and I am forever grateful.
I am starting a New Year's Resolution. Like most I am going to try to lose some weight. I really want to do good at this. I hope I am not setting myself up for failure. I am joining 2 weight loss "programs." The pound plunge, and Healthy Lifestyles Nebraska. Both which do weekly weigh ins, and awards prizes for losses. We also have purchased a elliptical workout machine, which, once it arrives will be a giant eye sore and uncomfortable piece of furniture in out living room. So if you are coming over for a visit, I apologize now, I promise not to make you sit on it though! ;) Currently I have a little cold/throat bug bothering me but that will soon subside with the nice meds I was given to day!


Ryan: He is still working a Weathercraft. He got a new company truck. Its white, so now all the vehicles in front of our home are white. Ryan's, been working on the siding and upstairs bedroom in his free time, which is a rarity with our little ones running around. Cancer stuff is still int eh clear. Hopefully in the next 18 months he will be completely done with it all! PTL!

Luke: My little school boy. He learns new fun things all the time, and (I'm a little biased) he remembers things SO well. He can still tell me what each of his and Adalei's birthdays were (minus his first), what he/she got, what he/she ate for their birthday and who was there. I will say that there are pictures there that might have triggered these memories, but none browsed through in a LONG time. I hope he keeps that capacity to remember things! Its all about letters and number for him right now. Some were a struggle, and in the process of working with Luke Adalei has picked up on a lot of it and actually can count better than her big brother.
Adalei: Speaking of Adalei, my little sweetie is getting so big, she and Luke wear the same size!!! She is just 2 inches shorter than Luke too. My little talker. Right now her brain is moving faster than her mouth can catch up and she has started to stutter a little, but what from what I have researched, she should grow out of it before she is 4, and not to worry about it until then. Adalei's biggest accomplishment is the potty! She is almost completely day potty trained for Mommy (won't go at all for Daddy), and stays dry 1/2 teh time during naps. She wants to be a big girl and "do it self." Adalei has her yearly heart check up right around the corner. I don't foresee any complications arising either. Adalei is a growing weed and her heart seems to beat strong with her!

I hope all my friends and family had a lovely holiday and I will try to share more frequently.

Love,
Cindy