A post about ME!

I love to talk about Casey...but today, I want to brag about myself. Because I am so proud and I feel so good!

Since December I have lost 43 pounds! I have tried lots of times to lose weight, and I lose 10-15 pounds, only to gain it back again. I tried weight watchers 3 times. I tried the South Beach Diet twice.

I have it figured out. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet. It's calories in and calories out. I enjoy this. I feel so much better. I have worked really hard, and I feel strong. My endurance has increased so much. I love the outside, and I LOVE walking, hiking, biking etc. I love kickboxing, step aerobics, water aerobics and working hard!! I have a heart rate monitor that tracks my calories burned. It makes me work harder when I know my HR, and I can increase it, and watch the cals burned increased!

I got a wonderful compliment yesterday, that I have totally transformed my body:) While I still have a long ways to go, that felt really good to hear. I also got to go shopping, and bought a whole new summer wardrobe! I started selling my old clothes, because I will never need them again! I am down 3-4 sizes. It was fun to grab clothes to try on, and they all fit.

I know this is a lifestyle change, because even after surgery, I lost weight. Even after 2 weeks of traveling, and eating on the go, I lost weight. No excuses. I can do it.

I have a wonderful support system. I have a wonderful group of "Biggest Losers" from my gym. We have a facebook page and do challenges together. We encourage each other and push each other. I have my "myfitnesspal" group too. And my family, who is also a bunch of "losers". And my wonderful hubby, who continually encourages me, and reminds me that I am awesome, regardless of what I weigh. He has also lost weight, and is my favorite workout buddy. Now we have gym dates! And also, I am just a couple pounds away from weighing less than him...which has never happened as long as I have known him (4 amazing years!!).

I am looking forward to hitting my next goals. 45, then 50 pounds lost! Thanks to everyone for your support and kind words!!

I will have to post pics soon!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! Now there are 2 reasons to celebrate...my wonderful Mom, and the fact that I get to be a Mom to Casey.

I think becoming a Mom is the ultimate bonding between Mother and daughter. I have always been close to my Mom, my whole family, really. But, sharing experiences throughout my pregnancy, through childbirth, and now as a Mom, is just a whole new level:) And also, it is so much fun to see my Mom (and Dad of course) play with Casey! I am pretty sure my Mom takes Gramma of the century award...there are 4 very lucky little boys who call her Gramma!!

You can't read it on Casey's shirt, but the shirt he is wearing says "Dad is the boss, until Mom comes home". LOL. We had a fun family day. Still limited with my broken wing, but we walked an hour this morning. Slow and easy....it's really weird not pushing the stroller. Did a little shopping, had Subway for lunch. We took Casey to the neighborhood park this afternoon to go sliding and swinging. We made a turkey breast tenderloin in the crockpot for dinner, with potatos and asparagus. Yum! I am not the most fun person without pain meds....or with really. I am either zombie or cranky...but hopefully this arm will be back to normal soon.

I really love being Casey's Mom. He can melt my heart with a smile, a hug, a laugh....or when he comes up and holds my hand. He took his Dad's hand at the store today, than mine. He looked back and forth between us and laughed. Just precious. When I pick up Casey from daycare, I love that he runs full speed from where ever he is, shreiking and laughing and arms raised to hug me. Makes me feel pretty dang loved! Casey has been giving kisses, but he really likes open mouth kisses, pretty sloppy! He loves the dogs so much. We are working on being gentle, and petting them gently. He likes to play fetch with them. He likes all dogs he sees on our walks and points them all out.

17 months and counting

Totally missed the 16 month blog. Been pretty busy around here for sure:) Won't be long til 18months, yikes! Guess we should do some family photos....oooh wheels are turning in my head....

Back on track. My little monkey man. Busy busy child! Casey just never really slows down, although he is definitely more huggy and lovey now. He is really picking up on language and saying some cute things. Unless you speak Casey-ese, it's really hard to understand. He is still on the top of the growth charts, he is almost 30 pounds and 33.9 inches. He is blonder than blond, and cuter than cute:) No bias here of course. He went from eating everything to next to nothing, although he still loves pretty much all fruits and veggies. That's good, we can build on that. We switched daycares and are happy with his new care. It's hard to trust someone else, and we really have to do a center, as we have no family for backup here. We will rethink our options with baby #2. No, no news on that. No, you can't ask.

Casey LOVES to be outdoors. This is perfect, because so do Ryan and I:) Casey loves to go for bike rides, walks in the stroller, hikes in the pack, he loves to ride his trike, his wagon, push his trike and wagon, play basketball, play in the grass, tell the dogs what to do, go to the park, swing, play in the cul da sac (and let's be honest, the street is far more exciting). Casey plays hard and naps hard. He likes to ride his trike away from the house, but screams if you go twards, because he thinks you might take him inside:). I have to trick him into letting me push him fast, so it's a game. Casey also loves the bath, and swimming. He likes splashing:) He is a big fan of doing things himself. The spoon, the stairs, carrying his shoes, putting his cups in the sink, helping put clothes in the dryer, sweeping, mopping, wiping things with rags.....so helpful!

Well, pian meds are wearing off and it's bed time.....will update more later....

One last surgery

Well I am just ridiculously behind on my blog. No promises to change, I'll just update:) Monday I had the titanium rod out of my arm. Surely third surgery is the charm. I wasn't even going to do it, but Dr. Hazel said it would never get any better than how it was, and I think it was holding me back too much. At least now I KNOW, I have done everything possible. It's best to do the surgery while I only have one child, before summer is here, before I am elderly! All my favorite things seem to aggravate it, so now....it is gone. And man, it was huge! I can see how my arm rejected that thing! I can totally see why it was hurting! So glad it's out. And I was very lucky my Mom, Kelly and Jenna came up to help with Casey and I. Ryan was able to stay with me at the hospital and Casey got to play with his cousin:) Casey just adored his Auntie Kelly, and also the fact that the more he loved on her, the more upset his cousin got....silly monkey! How do kids learn these things?! It was a beautiful weekend pre-surgery, perfect to go to the park, have some MyFroYo, take lots of walks in the sun, and play in the pool at the gym. So Ryan and I got a "hospital date", which wasn't as fun as our first overnight date for our wedding anniversary last year. I am not much of a conversationalist when glassy eyed and morphined up. And throwing up wasn't exactly flirty. Nothing hot about an allergic reaction! I am lucky Ryan keeps me around:) I would have traded me in a long time ago.