I'm Tired ...

of being tired.

I think I have found a pattern with my hormones and my period ... and the "older" I get ... the last few days or so of my cycle, I am just wiped out.

I want to come home from work and lay on the couch ... if I can keep my eyes open while I drive home even. I am in bed sometimes at 8, right after the kids go to sleep, and I'm still tired.

This is not an all the time thing ... just a few days at the tail end of my period.

Periods suck.

I just feel blah today, I have for a few days and I assuming my period is to blame. I think I have a case of the blahs blog a month or so ago ... I should check and see if it is around the same time of the month ... pretty scientific huh?

Gotta go to the store and get pain medication for my husband's tooth ... yea, thats another blog ...

Roller skating

It is a beautiful Sunday morning ... and I was planning on a run, but Caloy and the monkeys wanted to play too ... so we decided to go skating instead.

A nice leisurely skate ...

or not.

We put the monkeys into the bike trailer which doubles as a jogger and together they weigh about 70 lbs ... kids + trailer.

Caloy has roller blades ... and I have skates. The old school kind ... they are actually sketchers tennis shoes with big red glittery wheels. They are super fun and they weigh about 80lbs each ... ok, that was an exaggeration ... they weigh 50lbs each. So, I am wearing 100lbs of wheels on my feet and pushing 70lbs of monkey ... it was quite a work out.

We went about 4 miles and at one point I could hardly catch my breath. It was tough. We used to skate when we lived in California near the beach. We'd go along the boardwalk ... it was fun.

Grace cried a lot ... the "twos" are creeping up quickly ... man, when she isn't happy, she lets you know. Matthew was great and kept her calm most of the time, while Mommy was pushing and wanting to pass out. At one point, we were going up a hill and Caloy came up from behind, he had Savanah ... and she pulled him most of the way ... he took over and pushed the kids to the top. He turned around and signed, "it's not bad" ... and I wanted to flip him off ... I might have if we were not around other people. I wouldn't have thought it was bad if I had sled dog pulling me for 2 miles either. Butthead.

Anyhow, it was fun and exhausting ... time to nap now, I think. We've had a really great and relaxing weekend ... I love when we don't have much on the agenda and we can just play, nap and enjoy time as a family. Life is so good.

Even though ...

it's that "time of the month" ... I still lost another 1.2lbs. YIPEEEE! I count it as a huge victory to lose weight while I am on my period. I want to eat everything in site, I feel like a bloated mess ... and still I lost?!? HURRAY FOR ME!

I am so thrilled with my progress ... my pants are looking ridiculous ... I know I need new jeans when I can pull them down without unbuttoning them. Ha. Simple pleasures ... these are the simple pleasures that have filled my day so far;

A good weight loss while on my period ... simple pleasure.
My purple lilacs blooming ... simple pleasure.
Sweet pink grapefruit ... simple pleasure.
Making a fort with my monkeys ... simple pleasure.
A full tank of gas ... simple (but expensive) pleasure.

Life is grand. I think it is supposed to rain today ... it sure is windy right now ... Hmmmm, what to do with the rest of this day that God has given me??? Watch Goonies while snuggling under a blanket with my kids. Yes! Perfect ... Goonies and a blanket ... simple pleasures.

Thank you Lord for my weight loss this week and the drive deep in my soul to continue this journey. Thank you Lord for my book club girls, for our discussions and laughter. Thank you Lord for blooming lilacs and grapefruit. Thank you Lord for a great 80's movie, soft blankets and kids in their jammies. Amen.

Spinning!

So, I took a new class tonight at the Y. It was a spinning class mixed with body pump and ... it completely kicked my ass!!!

First of all, the moment I got onto the bike my ass started to ache ... the seats on those bikes are about the size of my fist ... my own fist up my own butt ... that's what it is like ... got a good visual?!?

You stand and ride, you sit and ride and then you stand again ... at one point I looked down at my own legs convinced they had turned to jelly ... but nope, sure enough, there they were ... peddling away.

Then ... we got off the bikes and lifted weights ... not little dumbbells ... but real weights, lots of reps and being the sassy girl I am ... I loaded my bar with a little too much weight. I am a strong girl, always have been ... and the combination of the two; weights and spinning, really made me sweat.

The instructor kept looking at me ... I'd look up and smile at her ... which allowed me to stop thinking about my fist sized seat that was making my ass scream out ... almost literally ... at one point I thought, I think I need to fart ... and I was wondering if the music was loud enough that I could let that go, but there was a guy next to me too and I thought then, what if it was stinky ... would he look at me funny thinking that the new girl just farted?

Yes, these are real thoughts that went through my brain while I was peddling my heart out. I decided against farting ... only because I would have thought it funny, like I always do, and laughing for no reason in the middle of class would be a dead give away.

I did start to burp though ... and that for me is the indicator that I am over-doing it ... that slight-tummy-ache-burping-the-last-thing-I-ate ... which happened to be celery and peanut butter ... which by the way, getting the taste a 2nd time around while I was working out was pretty gross!

Side note; my dear husband says that celery and peanut butter is "white people food" ... which is probably is ... it might be Filipino food if it was celery and fish butts. Hahaaaa ... that made me laugh out loud ... I am so immature.

Sooo ... that was my spinning-weightlifting-should I fart or not-burping celery and peanut butter-seat as small as my fist- adventure tonight. The class was very challenging (to say the least!) but it was a fantastic workout ... I will go again next Wednesday for sure ... assuming I'll be up and mobile by then. I think tomorrow morning and the day after that will bring some seriously sore muscles!

Thank you Lord for the spinning class. Thank you for my legs that were strong enough to peddle for an hour and 15 minutes. Thank you for my arms that were strong enough to lift weights. Thank you Lord for the work you are continuing to do in me ... I can see the changes now and it feels amazing ... oh and please help me to not be too sore tomorrow.
Amen.

Note to self ...

Hello Self,

Next time you decide to put crushed red pepper on your thin crust-cheese less-veggie-pizza (yes there is such a thing) ... and you use your fingers to extra crush the red peppers ... DO NOT ... under any circumstance, put your finger in your nose! This will result in a horrific burning sensation that is not meant for your nostril, ever. Remember how you thought your nose was about to fall off of your face ... and you had to put soy milk on a tissue and jam it up your schnoz to cool the fire.

Thanks,
Me.

Today ...

I was told by a certain 6 year old that I looked like a pirate ... yes, this is an empty toilet paper tube, see my hook finger? Scary huh?!? Argh!

we started the first ever Fernandez Family garden! This is my happy garden face! Caloy, the kiddies and I planted romaine lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, onions, strawberries, snap peas, corn and various herbs. I will plant some flowers and the carrots tomorrow. I am so proud of my green thumb, which was actually brown. We had so much fun playing in the dirt, digging holes and watering everything. Matthew and I got about 75 new freckles I think. After Mother's Day, we will add tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and watermelon too! I can hardly wait to taste the fruits (and veggies ... ha) of our labor.

Yipee for pirates and gardens!!! Life is grand!

DRUM ROLL ...

I BROKE MY PLATEAU! I lost TWO pounds this week. I am beyond thrilled!!! Thank God. My loss today is just the kick in the @$$ that I needed!
Yipeeee!
Yea Raw! (ala Kea)
WHOOO HOOOO!

After my meeting I went to the grocery store, which really might be a great time to go ... early on a Saturday ... all the produce looked fabulous ... everything was stocked and after being at a Weight Watchers meeting I did some really great shopping.

I bought beets ... no, not from a can, but the real vegetable. I don't have a clue about how to cook them, but I am excited and inspired to try something new. They are an amazing color and from what I remember at some point in my childhood, they are quite yummy. I will take pictures and blog about my great beet adventure later.

I bought a ton of fruit and veggies ... pears, apples, mangoes, honeydew melon, pineapple, peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, squash, asparagus and jicima. Yumm-a-rama. I love that God made all of these amazing fruits and vegetables for me to eat ... (and nothing that has a mother and had to die a horrible death either) Thank you Jesus.

Gracie Lou is napping, Caloy is at Lowe's doing something manly, Matthew and I are getting ready to go for a run ... he will ride his bike along side ... he normally craps out in the middle at some point, but he has promised to ride the whole time.

The weather this weekend in Colorado is Divine. The sun is shining, the mountains are snow capped and glorious, the grass is green and flowers are starting to bloom. It is beautiful. We are going to plant in our garden today ... the whole family, digging holes, getting messy and playing in the sunshine. Fabulous!

Thank you Lord for my weight loss this week. Thank you for the 2 lbs that my body let go of finally. Thank you for the colorful produce You provided for my family at the grocery store. Thank you for our garden and the time together today as a family to start a grand tradition. I can hardly wait for the green leaves to poke from the soil. Thank you Lord for my friends and their never ending support and encouragement. Thank you Lord for the wisdom from my 6 year old who just said that "eating dead cow can make you sick". I love it! Hilarious. Thank you Lord for the sunshine ... how it will warm my body as I run, how it will make our garden grow and how it is just another Divine reminder of Your grace and love. Amen.

"Snowy days and Wednesdays ...

always get me down." ... Remember the song "Rainy days and Mondays" by The Carpenters? I sang that as a solo, yes ... me and a microphone on stage ... when I was a senior in High School ... I have it on tape ... it's pretty disturbing ... not my voice, ha, but how I was staring at my then boyfriend who was sitting in the 1st row ... and I think I was wearing something slightly horrific ... ahhh, the early 90's.

What up with the weather around here huh? On Monday my family was at the park and I could have gotten a sun burn ... and today, we are inside and I could get frostbite ... shoot, Colorado has some crazy weather.

I do love that my new trees are beginning to bloom ... I have a purple lilac too that is starting to bud ... fabulous ... although I hope they don't freeze tonight! Does the word "bloom" only relate to flowers? What is the word when the leaves grow back? Maybe I do have frostbite ... in my brain.

Caloy got the word this week that the job he interviewed for at the Denver Foundation was given to someone else. I am bummed and Caloy is fine with it. He is very black and white about all of this ... he shrugs his shoulders and tells me God just has something else for him. When I get bummed the "what ifs" of it all flood my frostbitten brain.

What if he doesn't get a full time job and I have to continue interpreting again next school year?
What if he only finds part time temp jobs and the chaos of my life will swallow me up whole?
What if ... what if ... what if.

That is just the downward spiral that satan is waiting for me to fall into. satan sucks. That spiral, which I have been down one too many times leads to overeating and all sorts of trouble. I am getting good at identifying it all at least ... and I know better than to allow myself to even dangle my toe over the edge of that downward spiral, it only leads to chaos and a face full of brownies.

Mmmm ... brownies.

Just kidding.

Kind of.

Ha.

So, my husband is at the Nuggets game (for my non sports minded friends ... that is the Denver NBA team) ... and I am home with the monkeys who are destroying the house ... Grace was just putting pretzel sticks in a DVD case ... and Matthew has made a tent out of everything we own ... Star Wars in on TV. We just recently introduced Matthew to Star Wars. He loves it ... is that surprising?

Thank you Lord for the change in the weather ... it makes me appreciate the sunshine even more. Thank you Lord for my lilac that is starting to bloom ... it makes me think of my Grandma and their smell is nothing short of Divine. Thank you Lord for the job my husband currently has, and for all of the unknown that is to come Lord, I will find peace in knowing that You know. Thank you Lord for my husband's Faith that is inspiring to me. He just accepts what You promise without the "what ifs" of life taking over. Thank you Lord for the pretzels that Grace shoved into a DVD case ... this means we are blessed to have food and movies even. Thank you Lord for the creativity that radiates through Matthew ... he is quite the tent builder. Thank you Lord for loving every part of me, every doubt and what if. You know the questions at the depth of my heart and for that I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Amen.

Freakin' MEAT!

ARGH! I could scream!

Today my Mom and I went to a nice baby shower for a friend that I adore. We were up in Fort Collins and so we stopped at a great restaurant to get some yummy to-go after the shower ... since we were in the neighborhood ... Asian food ... really great (loaded with sodium I'm sure!).

I ordered 2 tofu dishes and 2 veggie dishes. The green bean dish was just that ... green beans and sauce ...

oh ...

and MEAT!

What the #$@%

It was supposed to be just green beans and I was so bummed to see a fatty nub of some dead animal sitting in my styrofoam container! I even specified when I ordered that everything was to be made vegetarian! No chicken juice or other gross cooking juice ... the receipt even had 100% Vegetarian in big red letters on it ... clearly someone thought a few fried crumbles of carcass wouldn't matter!

IT MATTERS PEOPLE!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't need anymore "issues" in my life, shoot is that ever an understatement ... but I think dealing with restaurants and eating out is quickly becoming one. I am so easily grossed out by how and what other people eat.

Last night I went to Hooters, yes, the boobies and wings place for a friend's birthday. This was the birthday girls choice ... and lemme just say, this was my 1st Hooters experience and my last.

It was all I could do to sit there and watch people, grown people, not infants ... although that is what they looked like with sauce spread all over their lips, cheeks and chins ... suck chicken wing bits off their fingers after they have licked a bone clean. It was horrible ... besides the women wearing orange shiny shorts from 1978 and shirts that showed off their boobies ... which weren't big boobies anyhow! After nursing 2 children I surely have a different perspective on boobs ... what God made them for ... and certainly Hooters wasn't in the original design plan.

I have been a vegetarian for nearly 14 years ... I have been a vegan on and off ... but most recently since January and it's been really great for me.

Vegans shouldn't go to Hooters or eat Asian take out.

Thank you Lord for providing amazing food for me to eat. Food that is organic and made from plants ... there is a glorious abundance of options for which I am so thankful, none of which are at Hooters. Lord help me to continue to make healthy food choices and avoid take home food that is supposed to be vegetarian and is disappointingly not. Amen.

Tales from the scale

So again today the scale wasn't what I wanted ... God is surely using this process to teach me patience ... that seems to be the theme for all that happens in my life ... needing to be patient, abiding in Him (deep breath) ... so I will continue to do so.

I actually had a .4 gain this week. Weird. Was I holding my breath when I stepped on the scale?

I talked with the leader and I realized a few things;

I am eating too much sodium ... I eat canned beans a lot and they are loaded with sodium! I bring Amy's soup to work most days and those too are full of sodium. I take 100 calorie pretzel packs to work which really are just 100 calorie bags of salt. Not good.

I am not eating all of my daily points. Several times this week I was under, not by 1 but sometimes by 4. I need to eat all 26 points everyday. The program is designed for people to eat them all and when you don't your body shuts down ... so I am clearly in a little plateau that I need to break out of. Eat all your points Jessica Leigh!!!

It feels weird to be telling myself to eat more ... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I am getting lots of exercise, I lifted weights 4 times this week and I am not adding in activity points either. %$!@ The Flex plan (points) with Weight Watchers, you can earn more points with your activity. My leader suggested that I start to use those as well.

This week's meeting was about environmental triggers ... my home, work, being in the car ... day to day activities that lead to overeating. Ha, I thought to myself ... I am undereating not overeating ... Can a girl get a break?!?!?

So, onward I go ... working at the Y today for Healthy Kids Day and going out tonight with friends to celebrate a birthday.

I will take the lessons I learned this morning and move forward. I will hit my points everyday. I will decrease the sodium in my diet. I will not take 100 calorie bags of salt to work. I will recognize the sabatoge in my life ... self inflicted or by others ... and will confront it. I will make myself a priority this week. I will break through this plateau!

Thank you Jesus for this journey happening right now at this exact moment in my life. Thank you for a plateau that will give way to me refocusing my priorities and examining what I put into my body. Thank you Jesus for being the reason I wake in the morning. I live to serve you. Amen.

Lose It For Life

This is my book club's newest selection ... one that I already had and goodness has it been a great re-read. (is that a word?)

There are 7 key principals outlined ... (see the #7!?!)

1. Surrender; you must be willing to discover what is driving the hunger and want healing more than you want food.

Shoot, do I ever get this one ... I surrender my struggle daily, hourly, minute by minute. I do want healing more than a brownie. That sounds so ridiculous but it is at the heart of my struggle (not a brownie) ... the desire for healing. I surrender it all Lord. I surrender.

2. Acceptance; You must be determined to face and own the emotional issues, pain, and loss that you uncover behind the hunger.

This I have done ... I have owned the things in my life that have caused me emotional pain, I know have been forgiven and have a deep peace in my soul from God. He loves me despite the wrongs in my life, knowing this gives me amazing freedom.

3. Confession; It is truly good for the soul. You must find people you can trust who can handle your secrets and help you heal.

For these people in my life I am overwhelmingly thankful. They are my "heart friends" (thanks Stac ... love that word) that love me no matter what I have done in this crazy life, they see the real me and they desire my healing just the same as I.

4. Responsibility; Taking responsibility for change, moving out of the victim position and owning up to your mistakes is necessary to lose it for life.

I am changing, I am a work in progress and I know my God smiles down on me and thinks, "I am so proud of you." This gives my life worth.

5. Forgiveness; Forgive your own failures and the failures of those who have hurt you.

This is huge for me. Forgiving myself has been a struggle. The old tape that plays in my head that reminds me of past mistakes. Learning to love who I am and all I have been through and seeing the purpose behind it all. This too, takes daily surrender. I have identified that this is where satan likes to grab hold. He is happy when I take my eyes off my God and the downward spiral begins ... the "would have and should have and could have" take over. I can identify it now and stop it before it starts (usually) ... and for this I am so thankful.

6. Transformation; Transform your struggle, pain and loss into a purposeful mission. God's way is to take those things you have suffered and use them for His glory.

Shoot, like this is a small task ?... a purposeful mission ... I am still figuring out what this is exactly. I know what I go through in life, have and will, I can use now for the glory of my God. I know that I can inspire other people and share God's grace through my own story. I want to share my story and I know the more that I do, the more healing I will have. I have thought about this before ... speaking in front of groups, like my Mom's group at church or something ... I know I would be able to tell a great story and to think that my own struggles would inspire someone else gives me purpose.

7. Preservation; This is required to make it through life's inevitable struggles and keep the spiritual gains made. When you discover the signs and phases of relapse, you will learn to maintain your weight loss for life.

The inevitable struggles ... I've had my fair share ... and I am so hopeful on this journey now that I now can recognize a sign of relapse ... that I am at a place in my life, in my weight loss journey, in my walk with Jesus that I can move forward with Hope and not get stuck in the woes of my past. I can do this ... I am doing it.

I love the scripture that says, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper" Isaiah 54:17. I have such a deep peace when I recite this. No weapon ... my God is my strength and there is nothing that can bring me harm ... no memory of past wrongs, no sadness of regret ...

I am moving forward in this journey, I am taking a deep breath and trusting my God in what today brings ... in whatever struggle might come my way again and again, I can confidently use it for my purpose, for God's purpose.

Things I love

I love Jesus, plain and simple, I love him.
I am in love with my husband, for a million reasons, he is my soul mate and best friend.
I love my children with every ounce of my being.
I love Matthew's spirit.
I love Grace's sassiness.
I love my family. I have a wonderful family.
I love my tummy. Not it's size, but I love every stretch mark I have ... each line, wrinkle and crease signifies how blessed I am to have my 2 children.
I love Sesame Street as Grace is sitting here by my side watching Elmo dance.
I love to dance ... anytime, anywhere, any music, with anyone.
I love artichokes, asparagus and tomatoes, not together ... unless someone knows a good recipe.
I love peaches, mangoes and pineapple, together would be good, fresh and delicious.
I love the smell of aspen trees in the mountains and I love the smell of salt water in the ocean.
I love hummingbirds.
I love my tattoos and would love to have some more.
I love The Office.
I love my red umbrella outside sitting over my yellow patio furniture.
I love my porch swing and can hardly wait for sweet summer nights to be here.
I love my friends, I have amazing friends.
I love flip-flops and my tanned skin in the summer.
I love untouched snow that glistens in the sunshine like glitter.
I love lilacs and sunflowers.
I love how my body feels after I work out.
I love running through a finish line.
I love that I was baptized in the ocean.
I love soy milk.
I love brushing my daughter's hair.
I love being the person that Matthew first wants to see after surgery.
I love that I am funny.
I love to make people laugh.
I love my blue eyes and freckles.
I love the movie I Am Sam.
I love the book Skinny Bitch.
I love my yellow house with a red door.
I love my cross collection.
I love a soy latte from Starbucks and the newspaper on Sundays.
I love being Vegan.
I love the Los Angeles Dodgers.
I love my Bible and the comfort it brings me.
I love Life is Good T-shirts.
I love grapefruit and gala apples.
I love chips and salsa.
I love Watercourse restaurant in Denver.
I love swimming.
I love Uncle Eddie's Vegan cookies.
I love how I feel sore the day after I lift weights.
I love my height.
I love the song Amazing Grace.
I love Michael Jackson's music from the 1980's.
I love hearing my husband laugh.
I love explaining to him what rain sounds like.
I love summer camp at the Y.
I love listening to my children playing together.
I love a good cry.
I love my life ... in all it's challenges ... I LOVE my life.

**Note; these are in no particular order ... just as they came into my head ... there is so much more I love ... but right at this moment I will love putting Grace down for a nap.

The Big Five-Oh!

This is my 50th blog entry ... is that something to celebrate? Nope, just a number. I have a weird obsession with numbers ... Here are some examples;

When I am getting gas (not me personally, I mean in my mom-van) I have to stop the numbers on something even or round ... both the gallons in the tank as well as the money spent ... if it stops on something like 12.08 gallons and $41.62 ... I'll click the gas handle thing until it reads something even like 12.10 gallons and $41.70 ... I've gotten pretty good at this now, I am quite precise. Today when I got gas it stopped on a good number without me messing with it and over filling my tank ... which just made me happy. Good little numbers. (not little, gas costs way too much!)

Think that is freaky??? I also count stairs. I have 16 stairs from the 1st floor to the 2nd and in the basement I have 17. I count them every time I walk up or down them. Why? I don't know. I just do. My Dad told me once that he did that ... is this a genetic disorder?

I like the number 7, it's always been my lucky number. I have 7 diamonds on my engagement ring and wedding band combined. I'm not sure where 7 came from ... but I like it. Any number of diamonds is a good number ... but I was excited when I realized I had 7 ... I remember explaining that to Caloy once and he just nodded his head and rolled his eyes.

My other number is 4. Again, I don't know why. My address is 625 which = 13 and 1+3=4 ... I should probably stop there ... these are the thoughts that are in my head and I guess that makes me sound completely mental ... oh, I got married on November 4th too. Ok, I am a freak.

I like numbers ... I am not good with them though, and this everyone knows really. I barely graduated from High School because it took me 4 years (see there is the #4) to pass my math equivalencing exam. I remember my counselor, Mrs. Looper, calling me into her office and she said, "Jessica you have to pass this test or you won't graduate!". In college however I got A's in all my math classes ... not that I took really difficult classes, just the minimum to skate through. When Matthew and Grace need help with math homework they'll have to ask their Daddy ... Mommy can help with writing and reading ... and stair counting.

Aren't there Biblical books about numbers ... and I think 4 and 7 are significant in one way or another ... maybe I should research that further ... yes, in all my extra time. Hahaaa.

Last of the stuff ...

This is my banana bread ... I found the greatest Vegan recipe! It was AMAZING!

Had to post my babies in their Dodger gear!

READY FOR BASEBALL SEASON KIDS???

Just some more stuff ...

This is my "yucky I'm cooking meat" face ... I did this for my Daddy (I'd only do this for him!) ... italian sausage?!?

This is my fabulous indian dish, amazing weight watchers recipe with sweet potatos, spinach, peanut butter ... sounds crazy, but it was delicious!

Tostada anyone? Refried black beans, lechuga, homemade guac and green chile.

And this face? Not sure ... just me, being me.

Just some stuff ...

This is my new curly hair ... not sure where it came from ... but it is fun!

This is the Rhodes bread I've been telling everyone about. SO easy and makes GREAT calzones! Yumm-o.

Yes, it comes in whole wheat too ... I had 2 loaves waiting to rise ...

Some possible calzone fillings ... artichoke hearts, olives, spinach ... endless possibilities.

Unofficially ...

I am at a 10 lb loss! YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Why unofficially??? Because my loss this week was 1.9lbs ... so a stinkin' .10th is keeping me from my real celebration. A .10th of a lb is like a poop ... I am not a good pooper and couldn't before going to weigh-in this morning ... so I bet that would have made a difference. Ha.

That might gross out some people ... but shoot it's my blog and if I wanna talk about poop, then I will! Poop, poop, poop, poop and more poop. (If I would have pooped that much I might have lost 5 lbs!)

Soooo ... my in-laws are visiting. They got here at about 1:45 this morning and their flight leaves at 9am tomorrow ... so we have only one day with them. As much as I gripe about them, we've had a really nice day.

We went to Children's to get Matthew's new back brace, then ate at my favorite vegetarian restaurant on the planet and then we went to the Denver Aquarium. We had a really fun time. The kids were great ... the weather was awesome ... and now they (my in-laws) are napping.

Caloy and I are sitting on our big comfy chair together watching the NCAA tournament Final Four. Could life be better???

My unofficial 10lbs is awesome. I feel great ... my pants are too loose and I am on my way to being a more healthy mommy. Caloy and I had a "date" last night ... the kids were at church and we went to Subway for dinner ... worked out at the Y (I actually ran more than Caloy did which felt great, he was really proud of me!) ... and we went to Safeway. Can you just feel all the romance??? It was just fun to play together. I love exercising with him. I can't wait till this summer when we can get back into climbing. We want to backpack to Snowmass Lake ... in the Maroon Bells Wilderness near Aspen ... one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. It's a 2-3 day trip ... Man, am I ever rambling today???

Weight loss, poop, in-laws and exercise ... nice. I think I need a nap.

Thank you Lord for this day. For my unofficial 10lb loss ... for my in-laws and their 24 hour visit ... for my husband who is full of encouragement always ... for my children who are playing together right now, I love hearing their little feet running back and forth ... and for the NCAA tournament, GO UCLA.
Amen.

Headaches ...

stink!

Headaches are horrible and I seem to get them way too often.

I have figured out by journaling what I eat that I can no longer have any kind of soda pop. ("soda" for people in CA and "pop" for those in CO.) If I eat anything with aspartame my head feels like it will explode!

I also get headaches when there is any kind of change in the weather.

I get a headache when I don't drink enough water and I get a headache if I don't get enough sleep.

I get a headache when I don't wear my glasses and I get a headache when I do wear my glasses.

I get a headache if my workout is too intense and I get a headache if I don't eat right.

My Ma is a big getter of the headache ... a headache-getter ... one who gets an ache in their head. Can they be hereditary? Maybe so ... I have one as I type this.

I just came home from taking Matthew swimming at the Y. Great, now I can add I get headaches from swimming ... maybe too much chlorine? The Y pool has an outrageous amount of chlorine I think ... my skin is dry enough to strike a match ... would that give me a headache too? Probably.

I have been drinking lots of water and every so often I'll cruise the internet and look for any new headache info; ways to cope, how to avoid ... on and on. I'm not a pill popper ... and I hate the need to be sucking down Tylenol all the time and I sometimes feel like I should be. Maybe Tylenol gives me a headache?

I think the worst is waking up with a headache ... that happens lots too. It's just not a nice way to start the day. I just end up coping with it ... and it sucks. Headaches suck.

Ahhh, I just saw a commercial for The Office ... starting back next week!!! YIPEEE! I just LOVE that show. The Office does not give me headaches.

Guess I better flash the lights at my husband in hopes that he will bring me some Tylenol, and then to bed I will go. Friday tomorrow ... this week has gone by fast! My in-laws are coming into town tomorrow night ... late ... then leaving Sunday morning ... early.

Thank you Lord for today, for swimming with my Matthew, for the laughter that comes from my Gracie Lou, for my husband bringing me Tylenol. Amen.