Twelve Twelve Twelve

Gettin' There

I am pleased to notice such a drastic change in my energy level. Instead of wishing the day away I found myself making plans and goals. Lately I have been in such a slump that I preferred sleep over nearly anything else. Today I found myself lying in bed, instead of sleeping, thinking about the day ahead, near and far-future plans, ideas of how to organize and decorate our home, couponing and menu ideas, to name a few.

I am ever-so-grateful for my most recent iron infusion, with the exception of the pain that I have to endure because of the 'infiltrated IV'.

So I suppose some of the planning I've done in my head with have to wait until I can physically do the things I look forward to accomplishing.

I took the kids to the park to play and then to McDs to play some more and have lunch, all with the ulterior motive to wear them out enough to both take naps so that I could rest. Now I find those two sleeping like perfect angels and me... sitting at the computer, journaling, as I have one kitten perched on my chest and two puppies playfully fighting on the floor. ... the kids are up now ... to be continued, perhaps...

A Candle Did It

Last night while at Walgreens trying to use up some expiring rewards I wandered the aisles trying to figure out what to get with my $16. I passed an endcap display of candles and thought it would be ideal to pick up Addy's #5 candle for her birthday in a couple months...

As I continued to stroll through the store I could barely focus on the task at hand because negative thoughts were consuming me. As I looked at that number five lying in the shopping cart I reflected back on the last five years of my daughters’ life, particularly each birthday celebration. I recalled how I planned every single minuscule detail of her first birthday with so much enthusiasm. I then immediately tried to come up with some ideas in my head as to how we're going to celebrate her 5th birthday. This is when I realized that, even though I am now with my kids day in and day out, I really don't 'know' them. I really have no idea what kind of theme she would like for her special day or even if we're going to have a party, for-say.

I wrapped up my shopping as quickly as I could and left for home. The entire time I could not get the raging thoughts out of my head as to what to do with myself. I am at some sort of crossroads whereas a decision must be made. I really need to sit back and prioritize exactly what I want, what I need and more importantly – what my family needs.

I have concluded that at this point in my life I am not able to continue on with ‘couponing’. For over a year I have devoted all of my waking hours to trying to get my website up, running and profitable; to no avail for my partners on the latter. I have realized that my home and family have suffered because of this. For example - I had my children in a daycare that was not taking care of them properly and I cannot help but think that I would have figured it out sooner if I wasn’t so absorbed with my ‘career’. We moved, new daycare and I was able to work from home and get a lot accomplished – but this did not come without a price tag. I barely saw my children. This situation did not last long as my pay was recently reduced to the point that I could no longer afford to keep either child in daycare.

This is where I am at now. Addy will be starting kindergarten in the fall – so I will have several hours to either stay at home with Alex or work and put him in daycare. So… for the time being, for the next two months, I am ‘taking a break’. I am going to devote the next two months to creating a memorable summer for my children. Actually spending time getting to know them, teaching them and learning from them.

With my ‘all or nothing’/obsessive personality – the couponing is just going to have to wait; the deals will be there tomorrow.

The anemia plays a tremendous role in my decision, too. I just do not have the energy to tackle everything I would like to.

After Addy starts school I will figure out where I stand physically and reevaluate whether I would like to stay home with Alex and run Suzie’s Confections again, coupon, or put him in daycare and work outside the home.

Bring on summer!

Am I Crazy!?

 I'm thinking of taking up Roller Derby and Sand Volleyball...
Does anyone know - is there anything I can do to strengthen my knees? From years of being obese the arthritis is bad; not as bad as it was but they are still weak and sore. That and the knee accident in 2003 ... my poor knees. :(

What do you think!?

What do you think of my new blog look!? :)

Dr. Appt. & the Rest of the Story

I scheduled an appointment with my primarty care physician for today at 11am. We got there with about 10 minutes to spare ... and waited... and waited...

and waited...

...and waited some more...

As you can see - both Addy & Alex were a little stir crazy...
...before we got called back about 11:30am...

I talked with Dr. Stashefsky about my tummy tuck concerns and my antidepressants. He agreed that it was necessary to up my dosage... so I am hoping & praying that does the trick!
He really didn't know what to say about my tummy so he called Dr. Kole, my surgeon (whom just so happens to be in the same building, up one floor) and asked him if he could squeeze me in. He could! So off I took, carting the kids to the next appointment with me!

Luckily Alex was fairly well-behaved most of the time...

... after this 'baba' - he promptly passed out :) (This was his first time really holding it!)

While Addy, bless her lil heart, tried her best to be patient while mommy was getting looked at...

Addy with her "drumsticks" (tongue depressors) LOL!

I was looked over by Dr. Kole. At first he and my doctor thought they would be dealing with a seroma (fluid build-up); but as it turns out - it was an absess (a pocket of puss (infection) in my belly). He numbed me and drained out 2cc's (which I would guess is about a couple tablespoons) of putrid looking gunk, wrote me a script for an antibiotic, answered a few of my questions and sent me on my merry way.
I have another appointment with both Dr. S & Dr. Kole in a couple months...

We stopped at McD's for lunch & grabbed daddy a sandwich and took it to him at work. We spent a few minutes there with him before coming home and getting ready for naptime.
Just as we were about to get in bed I heard the ice cream truck. Addy has known "the ice cream man" for a while now - but we've never gotten anything from a truck... so I had her pick a treat out today!

She picked "crayons!"

Just as we were about to have our treats Mr. Mailman came by with our mail and FUN packages! She just adores Denny!!

"mama! look at all these 'mailbox goodies!!!' "

Lovin' her crayon popsicle :)

doing what she usually does with her popsicles... setting them down and letting them melt all over everything as opposed to actually EATING them! LOL!

okay... "Little Brother"... it's naptime mister! ;)

What a day it's been! Long & exhausting! It's time for a nap... I just wish lil mister got that memo! (He's still hyper in his swing since he slept most of the afternoon...)

Detroit Zoo!

Testing TwitterFeed (The Elliott's)

Testing TwitterFeed :)

Lovin' Us Some Johnny!

I couldn't think of a better way to spend a gloomy afternoon!

As many of you know - mom loved Johnny Cash, dad loved Johnny Cash - therefore it was inevitable that *I* love Johnny Cash! I am hoping that this love for this great man, musician, legend - passes down another generation to my children.

Addy and I just spent some time cranking some Johnny! We danced all around the living room! What great fun!!! To make it all that much better were all the smiles and giggles from both Addy and Alex watching us with a few silly stares mixed in HAHA! I don't care though! I love me some Johnny!!!

The exercise doesn't hurt either! ;)

Addy: "this is fun mama! I love dancing with you mama!"

PRICELESS!!!

Week 4 TT Progress

I like to call this one "fatty, fatty two by four!"

MORE (GRAPHIC) PICTURES Available (let me know and I can send you the link)

Today is a GREAT day! It is Doug's birthday, Alex turns 3 months old today and... Addy is 2 years, 8 months, 1 week & 3 days LOL!

Things have been getting a lot better this week; some days I almost forget I had surgery at all :)



My average daily pain level is about a 1; sometimes 2, but rarely. I have stopped taking pain killers , but sometimes I take ES Tylenol.

I have been sleeping in bed since pretty much every night - through the night.

I have been doing much more myself, like grocery shopping and wasn't as tired, sore nor swollen when I got home.

Taking care of the kids, breastfeeding, chores, cooking and showering normal.

I still feel a little numb in my outer thighs. I still have some sharp, shooting pain run through my left upper thigh when I move a certain way, but they are less and less frequent lately. I am hoping that these things are temporary.

I still wear my binder but not nearly as much as I had been. Sometimes I go several hours without. I will try to use Spanx in the near future instead.

As for results:
Results =
5 Thrilled
4 Happy
3 Pretty Satisfied
2 Disappointed/Unhappy
1 Regret doing it

I still feel like I am holding steady at 3.5; maybe pushing 4.

Day 21 (05/05/10) I was playing with the kids in the back yard and attempted to lie on my tummy! WOW! What a mistake! I got the worst shooting pain through my left thigh and it persisted for quite a while this time. I am nowhere near ready to be able to lie on my tummy yet. :(

Day 24 (05/08/10) We ran quite a few errands and did some shopping. I was surprisingly not too tired, sore or swollen afterwards. Today after my evening shower I noticed a sore spot by my vertical incision. This has me worried because the skin is also purple-ish. I am hoping and praying that it does not turn into something like necrosis; which the surgeon said I was out of the woods for. I guess time will tell.

Day 25 (05/09/10) Was Mother's Day! I had a fantastic day with Doug and the kids. We went to brunch at Red Lobster, planted flowers and made bird feeders. We had a lot of fun! I also mowed (mine & my neighbors) lawn and grilled out dinner. I have been VERY sore since. Since I have stopped taking pain killers I have been relying on ES Tylenol and Ben Gay for the aches and pains. I have noticed that since I stopped the pain medicine I have been going through what I can only assume are 'withdrawls.' I have been incredibly restless, whole body restlessness, for a few days now. And a little insomnia; It is quite irritating to say the least.



Here are some pictures I took today to show my 4 week tummy tuck progress:

BUT I Don't Wanna!!!

Before lunch I told Addy that she needed to pick up her toys in the living room. While fixing our meal I heard "clack, clunk, ker-plunk" so I thought she was picking them up...
Well as it turns out she was... BUT she was simply tossing them on her bedroom floor.
So nap time rolls around and we get ready to put her to bed and I stumble over toys scattered all over the floor. I looked down at her and said "Addy! I thought I told you to put your toys away!?" She looked up at me and shook her booty as she bluntly, boldly, snootily and with so much conviction, said "BUT I don't wanna pick up my toys right now!!!" and climbed into bed. It took EVERYTHING I had not to bust out laughing hysterically!
I just tucked her into bed... mama needs a nap!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

MORE PICTURES

I had an absolutely amazing Mother's Day!!!

I started off the day getting up a few hours before the rest of the household. I immediately went to the kitchen to start some coffee and found a lovely homemade card hanging. So sweet :)
When everyone got up we had some grapes for 'breakfast' and took showers.
We went to Red Lobster, per tradition, for brunch. We split Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta, (the most amazing Cesar salad!), biscuits, potato bacon soup and an appetizer of chicken sticks and mozzarella sticks. Oh how I miss mom :(
After brunch we stopped at Home Depot and picked up topsoil & marigolds to plant.
When we got home it was nearly 1pm so we all crawled in bed and took a couple-hour nap.
When we woke up we got everything around and went outside to plant flowers and make our bird feeders.
Afterwards I mowed (mine and my neighbors) lawn and grilled hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.
After dinner I went to pick us up some ice cream at the Tasty Twist.
After dessert Addy played and Alex and I cuddled on the couch until bed time.
We were supposed to finger paint but I was just too tired and sore... so we're saving it for tomorrow night.
What a fantastic day! I couldn't have asked for anything more; spending my day with the loves of my life!!!



What a GREAT way to start the day!!!


Alex slept pretty much all through...



Alex & Daddy

Mommy & Addy

SO PRETTY!!

"All ready to plant flowers mama!"

Helpin' mama

"UGH! This is HARD work daddy!"

My two guys

Such a good, lil helper

"I love you baby girl!"


Right side all planted

Grandma Marilyn's 'Angel Garden'

Left side all done, complete with pinwheels :)

Addy thought they were doughnuts... I'm sure raw bagels don't taste as good LOL!

"Bananas Over Mommy"

"choosy moms choose JIF"

"This is so much fun mommy! I'm SO glad you thought of it!" LOL

Helping put bird seed on

The finished products

Hanging our new bird feeder

Our peanut butter bird (squirrel) feeders

Getting ready to hang them

"This is fun mama!!"

"I'm such a big girl!!"

Kisses for mama!

"I love you mama!"

"Happy Mother's Day mama!!"

Grillin' our dinner :)

Mommy & Alex

Kisses for baby boy!

Isn't he just precious!?

What a big boy!!

Awe!!

"YAWWWNNNNNNN!!!"

Sooo sleepy

I love cuddles!


What a GREAT way to end the day!!!