Big Loser

A year ago, I started a journey towards a healthier me. It was hard at first, getting into the groove of working out on a regular basis when I had basically been a couch potato for the majority of my life. After hitting the gym and not seeing a lot of results, I knew I needed to make another change; this time, to my diet. I went through a healthy lifestyles program with my husband, and worked very hard to change the way we eat, and not on a short term basis. The changes we made were changes we knew we had to make for the long haul if we wanted to be healthier. Everything was going great...until early June...

The company my husband worked for was purchased by a larger company. Thankfully, he was offered another job at the larger company, but the new position meant a change in schedules for both of us. Mr. Morning-Person, who happily went to work at 6am in order to get off in time to pick our kids up from school, had to move to a regular 8a-5p schedule, leaving me, Mrs. Not-A-Morning-Person-In-The-Slightest, to have to make the change to 6am-3pm. Due to this change, I started slipping on my workouts. In May last year, I was right in the middle of running a Couch to 5k program. Once I completed the program and ran my first 5k on July 4, I couldn't muster up the desire to run any farther than that. So, I just quit.

With the switch to mornings came the craving for caffeine in order to keep my eyes open at my desk, which meant back-sliding back into a Pepsi habit I thought I'd kicked.

Now that I've been on my new schedule for 6 months, it doesn't feel like getting my butt out of bed every morning is any easier, but I am much more well-adjusted to it than I was. I started training for my first half-marathon, which will take place in April. And I entered a Biggest Loser type contest. Weigh-ins are on Mondays, with cash prizes awarded weekly and a big cash prize awarded at the end. What could be a better motivator than cash money? Here's hoping that the fifth set of pictures I add to the one above will have me with a lower weight than pictures 3 and 4.

Check back here often, as I hope to post at least weekly updates about my progress.

Starting a New Decade

Today marks the beginning of a new era for me...an era of no longer being in my twenties.

While it may feel strange that my age now starts with a 3 instead of a 2, I really don't think I'll notice that much difference between the 2 decades.

For every single year of my twenties, I was a wife to my awesome husband. I became a mother at age 20, so I've been wearing that hat for the past decade as well. I also started working at my current place of employment at age 20.

Barring any major upheavals/catastrophes, these three things will remain true for my next decade on earth as well.

I'll still be completely head over heels in love with my wonderful husband.

I'll still be mom to my three great sons (even though by the end of my 30's I'll have one in *GULP* COLLEGE! How freakin' crazy does that sound???).

And I will still work for the same hospital, though I am hoping that I will continue to move up to new positions as the years go by.

The Bucket List of my 30's

-------------------------------

* Run at least 1 half-marathon

* Run at least 1 full-marathon

* Complete at least 1 triathlon

* Get my Master's degree in healthcare administration

* Reach and maintain my goal weight (140 lbs...50 lbs to go)

* Do not get admitted to a mental facility for incurable incessant worrying when my 3 sons get their driver's licenses (You might just want to avoid me in 2018, 2020, and 2021...)

* Get baptized...I know I did this when I was 8, but I feel very strongly that I want to make that public commitment again because I don't believe I fully grasped at the time what I was committing my life to and, more importantly, I don't feel I fully grasped the unmatchable sacrifice that Jesus made for me. I want to make this declaration again, knowing what I know now.

I can't say I will feel this comfortable with turning 40 in 10 years, but for now, my 30's sound pretty darn awesome.

Now I'm going to spend my birthday evening eating pork fried rice and tempura vegetables that my husband cooked for me, followed by a couple of rounds of Uno with the boys.

Speaking Of Baptism...

Tonight at dinner, it was me and the 2 younger pies. We sat at our favorite restaurant and had a wonderful discussion about whatever crossed their minds.

Pot Pie: "When can I get baptized?"

Knowing that in their church camp and VBS this is something that is discussed a lot, it didn't surprise me that this is what they decided to talk about.

Me: Anytime you want. You just have to proclaim that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and believe it with all your heart.

Pot Pie: And you have to know one thing about Jesus...like....Jesus died for our sins!

Pumpkin Pie: Well...(if you have never heard Pumpkin Pie say well, you must...he drags it out with a little baby Southern drawl. It sounds like "whaaaaale"...it's hilariously precious)... He can touch power lines. That is one thing I know about Jesus.

Me: Well, Nothing is impossible for Jesus...this is true...

Pot Pie: Who will baptize us?

Me: Our Pastor, Deron. You know, Seth's dad. Or Ethan's dad, Brian. He is a pastor.

Pumpkin Pie: (in complete shock) He passed away!?!?!

Me: NO! No, he didn't pass away. He's a PAST-OR! He's the pastor at Center Cross.

This led into an entirely different and much more somber discussion about heaven. I wish I knew all the answers to their questions. Pot Pie wants to go to heaven, but he is very concerned because he knows (barring some tragic accident) we won't all go to heaven at the same time and he doesn't want to be separated from mommy and daddy. I try to reassure him that being separated is something he won't have to worry about for a long time, but his tears brought tears of my own. Praying and searching for guidance are high on the to do list now.

Wordless Wednesday: A New Chapter in our Boys-Only Family Story

With a housefull of boys, you think we'd be old pros at team sports, but we've always let the boys take the lead on what they wanted to do. Pot Pie is our gymnast, and is more than content to stick with his chosen sport, especially since he will start competing this year and is looking forward to winning "medals and twophies". Pumpkin Pie is still figuring out what he likes, and will not be choosing any sport at the moment, though more than likely, due to his increased risk of retinal detachment and his not great vision, he will not be playing any contact sports. We may try soccer in the future.

This week marks a change coming to our household. Cutie Pie came to both of us and let us know that he would like to play tackle football. We were both surprised...and more than a little excited!!! I can't wait to see him play, though I must say I'm a little afraid of what we are getting into, since we have NO CLUE what we have signed up for. Practices...games...being team mom...offense?...defense?...special teams?... I thought about picking up a "Football for Dummies" book so I can actually appear to know what is going on in the fall. But first, we hit a huge tent sale to get ready for the season, picking up cleats, football pants, practice jerseys, mouthguards, etc, because speed and agility camp starts next week. Here's to another new adventure!

In My Neck of the Woods: SQL'ing the Day Away

People often ask me what I do for a living, and then give me this glazed over expression when I tell them I am a financial analyst for a local health system, writing in SQL language to pull data for executive administration and other very important people. Sitting in front of a computer toiling away for 8 hours (or more...) a day compiling reports using a somewhat finicky form of programming may not sound like a blast to anyone else, but I love it!

I graduated college in 2008, and my degree is in applied technology, which basically allowed me the flexibility to choose which technology-related classes I wanted to focus on, with some management and accounting courses mixed in, to complete my degree. Instead of taking those dreadful classes on network administration and computer architecture, I consumed as many classes as I could on programming in Java and database administration, as well as throwing some Photoshop and computer forensics into the mix. I have been with the health system since I was 20 years old, and have worked in various areas, learning as much as I can about the healthcare industry. I have been in my current position for about a year now, and I feel so blessed to come to a job that I love every single day. :)

Pepsi Wishes and Gravy Dreams

My Sweetie Pie and I are on a diet, and have been since the second week of March. Its through a healthy lifestyles program at the hospital where I work, and each week we meet twice to learn more about portion sizes and food choices, etc.

Today, as we drove home after church, we passed a man holding a sign advertising the incredibly delicious chicken fried steak at Nelson's Buffeteria. As we went by, my husband and I both felt our breaths catch in our throats. I looked at him and said, "We could split one. That wouldn't be so bad." He quickly agreed, and we turned down a side street to reverse our direction and head back towards Nelson's, the home of the aforementioned beefy, chicken fried goodness that is the size of the platter, with a side of mashed potatoes, all covered with cream *GULP* gravy and a large, warm roll...but as we started to pull back out, a wave of strength washed over me, and I turned to my husband and said "We have a weigh in on Tuesday, and I don't want anything to jeopardize it." He agreed, reluctantly, but thankful that I was the strong one (for once...most often he is the voice of reason). We came home and had a very yummy lunch of Shrimp and White Bean Ragout.

This diet has tested me to the very core of my being. For years now, we have prided ourselves on the delicious meals we have created for our family nightly, complete with everything that has now been taken away from us due to the program that we signed up for. Rolls, fried foods, gravy....mmm, gravy....just good Southern cooking that we enjoyed immensely but it wasn't doing anything positive for us nutritionally. We were taking in too much fat, too much salt...just too much, period. Now we are watching our intake, planning meals around what our bodies need, not just what we think sounds good.

It definitely hasn't been easy. And knowing that these are permanent changes we are making has taken some getting used to. When I asked our sons what they wanted to see on our family menu for the week, Pumpkin Pie said he'd like "some chicken wif gwavy on it,", and I said, tearfully, "Me too, baby! Me too..." The kids are getting used to the new way of eating around here as well, and Sweetie Pie and I both feel good about the example we are setting for them, not just with our diet, but also with the exercise we are fitting into our daily schedules, a model of healthy living that we hope they will catch onto and continue to live into their adult lives as well.

With all of this healthy eating around here, I've replaced almost all of my daily beverage intake with water. However, I am allowing myself to indulge, while still following the diet plan from the program, which allows me to have 8 oz of my favorite soft drink a day. So, once a day, I blissfully partake of one of these small cans of Pepsi.

We are committed to sticking with this way of eating for the rest of our lives, because we know its the best way for us to be getting exactly what our bodies need nutritionally. We are already noticing changes in the way our clothes fit, and of course, the numbers on the scale are going down...though Sweetie Pie's are going down much quicker than mine...

The Dangers of Romance Novels

In the past two weeks, under a blanket of the most snow and the coldest temperatures Oklahoma has ever seen, I've occupied my abundance of time at home with books 1-10 of the Southern Vampire Mysteries (thanks to the Kindle app on the iPad, which allowed me access to any book on Amazon I wanted without having to leave the comfort of my warm home), as well as its TV adaptation, seasons 1 and 2 of True Blood (also on the iPad....truly the greatest invention ever!).

Being a huge fan of the television series already, it makes it even more enjoyable to be able to put faces with the characters in the books. I imagine the enjoyment is similar to what the fans of Twilight experience, except that these characters aren't boys...they are men. Sorry if this offends any Twihards out there...just stating a fact...

Exhibit A: Vampire Eric...he flies. Take that, Edward. He also the bluest blue eyes and a cool voice with just a hint of foreign accent. Played by Alexander Skarsgard, who has five times been voted the sexiest man in Sweden....smart people, those Swedes...

Exhibit B: Vampire Bill....played by British actor Stephen Moyer...I could listen to him speak for hours, whether as his character with a proper Southern drawl, or as himself in his own British accent with a penchant for cursing. (If you haven't noticed, I have a thing for accents....my husband is aware of this, and he is fine with it, truly. He uses it to his advantage from time to time...)

Exhibit C: Alcide the Werewolf...in the novels, his character is described as having "arms like tree trunks"...He trained for 5 months to get ready for this role, and from the many, many, MANY shots of him on the show devoid of any shirt, I'd say Joe Manganiello does not disappoint. I liked him as one of Marshall's fellow law students on "How I Met Your Mother"....I LOVE him as the hunky general contractor/werewolf who runs a little hot...

I don't normally make a habit of posting pictures of other men on my blog...

Let me first point out that I am extremely happily married...I love my sweetie pie more than anything in this whole wide world.

And secondly, in my defense, I spent quite a bit of time trying to find pictures of these men fully clothed, so as not to be disrepectful to my sweetie pie, because, like I said, I love him, and I find him even more attractive today than when we first met 10 wonderful years ago.

And thirdly, there is a point to this post...

As I read these books about the heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, and watch the episodes of this show, I can't help but notice a few effects that these activities have on my mood and actions.

For one, after watching this show, I notice a definite increase in the appearance of my Southern accent. Most often it is hidden behind my mom voice or my 'Yes-I'm-in-my-20's-but-I-do-know-what-I'm-talking-about' work voice, but after hearing Mr. Stephen Moyer's portrayal of Vampire Bill Compton's drawl, I can't help but add a few extra syllables in my own conversations.

Secondly, I can't help but feel a little bit jealous of Sookie's, albeit fictional, life. Sure, she has anti-vampire rights activists, maenads, various shape shifters, vampire kings, witches, rogue fairies, etc. trying to harm her or kill her in some capacity or another, but she also has a number of gorgeous (see exhibits A, B, and C) men vying for her attention and doing absolutely anything to be with her. Now, granted, she does have fairy blood, which is extremely intoxicating to vampires but for a couple of technically dead guys who don't have beating hearts, they certainly have a way with words. When Bill proposes to Sookie after vampires and humans are given the right to marry in Vermont, he rents out an entire restaurant because he tells her, "The sight of you is not something I wish to share with others.". How romantic is that? To think that one person finds you so desirable that he wants you all to himself, that he would spare no expense in making sure that he is the only one garnering your attention, and that he makes it a habit to let everyone know "Sookie is mine!". It's very romantic, as well as being very detrimental to the psyche of a woman who spends days trapped in the house, cooking, cleaning, and working while simultaneously keeping three boys occupied enough that they won't harm each other or destroy the house while her husband works 12 hour days and shovels the snow that just keeps falling, leaving him no energy to woo his wife of almost 10 years who, because of the partaking of the romance novels, so desperately wants to be wooed but doesn't bother to change out of her pajamas!?!?!

I know my husband loves me, and that I love him, but everyone wants to feel captivating and desirable, and some days, he's just too tired to make me feel like I'm 1/8th fairy and he's a 173-year old vampire who finds me absolutely intoxicating...

But then, this wonderful man of mine, does something that brings me back to reality, and makes that supernatural wooing sound like a bunch of nonsense...my sweet, handsome husband, who functions on very little sleep to provide for this family at a job that he does so well, and then comes home to clean, cook, and care for us so that we can enjoy family time together, and then alone time together after the kids are in bed...watching him play with our children, being the best dad that he can be, and then sitting on the couch as he listens to my thoughts, ideas, dreams, and ramblings, he makes my heart go pitter-patter much more than a Southern drawl or arms that resemble tree trunks.

Who needs vampires and werewolves? I've got my own hunk right here.

Choices

When making a choice, I'm the kind of person who looks at all the options. I'm a planner. I have to have a pretty good idea what the outcome will be like for any possible choice I make when I am faced with a decision. This is the case at home, with my kids, at work...there aren't many things I do without a lot of thinking and weighing heavy on my heart, as well as taking it to God in prayer for guidance. I make pro/con lists...I put it into Excel spreadsheets...I brainstorm...I don't go into any big decision lightly.

Today, I found out that the information I had in making a huge decision in the past was actually not correct...

I went to the gynecologist this morning for my annual physical. I just picked a new doctor, and she was reviewing my records from my old doctor and the hospital when I had Pumpkin Pie.

She said “So, you had your third child prematurely due to a …” and I expected her to say “incompetent cervix” which is what I have been told, but she didn’t say that…she said “due to a raging acute infection in your placenta.”

Excuse me?

Those words have never been uttered to me at any time since Pumpkin Pie was born prematurely. I saw my OB/Gyn often in the months following Pumpkin Pie's birth, and he never once told me that any pathology reports came back abnormal.

As I am processing this information, it hits me that my husband had a vasectomy to keep us from having any more children due to my so-called incompetent cervix, because, we, as compassionate, caring individuals, didn't want another child to have to suffer through what Pumpkin Pie suffered through after his birth. But in reality, the likelihood that I would have another premature baby is low because the chance of the same infection occurring is next to nothing.

I have now taken away any chance of ever having any other children with my husband and I am ONLY 28 YEARS OLD!?!?!?

EXCUSE ME?

I...We...didn't make this choice lightly. We were told all about cerclages to fix an incompetent cervix if we ever did decide to have any more children, and we thought about it and decided that the risk was too great. I didn't have the desire to spend any time on bed rest, especially with three other children to care for. We didn't want to risk having another baby in the NICU and dividing time between home and the hospital. After dealing with one sick child, and making it to the other side, closer to normalcy, we figured we'd just count ourselves extremely lucky and very blessed, and get on with our lives, raising our three boys.

I've told people that I'm happy knowing I'm never going to have to worry about getting pregnant, having morning sickness, labor and delivery, late nights with no sleep, diapers...but it wasn't true. I wasn't happy about it at all. I accepted it, because based on the information I had, it was best for us.

The truth is, I'd love to be pregnant again. I'd love to try for a daughter, just one more time. Experience an entire 9 month pregnancy, just once more. Get past the morning sickness and enjoy the fun part, like feeling the baby kick, and waddling around like I have a big basketball under my shirt for a few months...

I know what you're thinking...all hope is not lost. Hubby can get his vasectomy reversed. But the fact of the matter is, he had a really hard time recovering from his vasectomy due to a previous trauma he had, and I would never ask him to go through a reversal, no matter how badly I want to have another child.

There are other ways...sperm donors, etc...but all of that takes a lot of money, and I would feel really selfish taking money for that when the other 3 kids we already have don't deserve to go without just so we can have another child.

So, here I am again, at the door to acceptance. I haven't gone through yet...I'm still processing the news I received today. Still kicking myself for making a permanent decision that I didn't have to make. No one told us to run out and get a vasectomy. We only thought we were making the right decision...a choice that, had we not made it, we'd still be able to afford another child today. This hurt will fade, and I will be accepting of the choices we made, only this time, it will not be the kind of acceptance that one has because its the right choice to make. The acceptance will be for something I cannot change.

Labor of Love

In honor of the upcoming Labor Day weekend, I copied this from Rocks in My Dryer

How long were your labors?

Kid #1, from about 2:00am when I thought I just had gas to around 6:26am when Cutie Pie arrived
Kid #2, from when they started the Pitocin at 7:00am to 9:23am when Pot Pie was born
Kid #3, from about 11:00am when I was informed that there were two legs hanging out and Pumpkin Pie entered the world at 1:26pm

How did you know you were in labor?

Kid #1, severe pain...that I thought was gas...
Kid #2, when the Pitocin kicked in the severe pain that felt like gas...but this time I knew what it was.
Kid #3, the nurses told me I was...

Where did you deliver?

Kid #1, Claremore Regional
Kid #2, Claremore Regional
Kid #3, St John

Drugs?

Kid #1, nope...labored mostly at home and got to the hospital too late
Kid #2, figured I did it just fine without the epidural the first time and decided I could do it without it.
Kid #2, Yes...my first epidural. He was breach.

C-section?

Almost, with Kid #3...he was breach, but then an ultrasound showed he was in the perfect position to just slide out, feet first, with his hands over his head and umbilical cord swung over his shoulder. That's what happens when you give birth to a 1 pound, 6 ounce baby...

Who delivered?

Kid #1, Dr. Knifechief...at the time he wasn't my doctor, but he was on call that night. When he told me to push, I pushed as hard as I thought I could, and he said in what I thought was a condescending voice, "You're going to have to push better than that..."

Kid #2, Dr. Knifechief...this time, I chose him as my doc. They started the Pitocin and he ran to get coffee, but he didn't quite make it and had to come back so I could deliver.

Kid #3, Dr. Stewart...again, not my doctor, but when your water breaks at 22 weeks, they bring in the experts. He's an amazing paranatologist, and if I were to do it again, he's the only one I would trust.

But I'm not doing it again.

Ever. Period.


If you want to play along with this meme, just cut and paste the questions into your own blog, and leave a comment so we can find you!

My Most Influential Role Model

This weekend marked a very big event in our family. It was an awesome reunion for the Wegley (pronounced just like it looks) side of the family. All 40+ folks gathered at Kiddie Lake in Okmulgee, OK for some yummy BBQ, family memories, and just good ol' fashioned fun. It was great to see all of my family....


Including my beautiful sister and her darling little girl...

My too cool brother and his gorgeous wife...

My crazy Daddy-o! (That shirt is money, pops...)

And my littlest sister...

And littlest brother...

It was a chance for our boys to play with their cousins and their Aunts and Uncles above...

And of course, photo ops were taken advantage of...

Here's my boys with my grandma, their great grandma! And let me just say, that she is one GREAT grandma!

She's the coolest grandma anyone could ever wish for! I hope to be just like her, forever. I cherish the memories of staying with her when I was growing up...waking up to a breakfast of biscuits and chocolate gravy (something I can't get my own children to realize the delectable awesomeness of...), knowing dinner was always going to be on the table at 5, learning to crochet, watching her as she worked tirelessly at the church and the school, as well as her full time job...the quintessential working mother. She raised daughters who are amazing women who work hard and completely enjoy everything life has to offer, who can be described as fantastic mothers themselves. She raised sons who are devoted husbands and fathers...one of whom is especially mine...a wonderful dad who loves all of his kids with every ounce of his being, the ultimate cheerleader, a great listener, who gives all he has to give, and then some. All of my grandma's children are Christians, who take care of their responsibilities and love their families unconditionally. I hope and pray that I can raise my children to be the same way, and that they will love and respect me as much as we all love and respect her.
To my Grandma Norma...you've made a bigger impact on my life than any other person. I love you dearly.

A Kick in the Gut

Okay...I'll admit. I'm a bad blogger. I just can't find the time to do it these days. I have tons to write about...I'm full of "Not Me's" on Mondays...I could probably post a few pics of my house on Fridays for "Show Us Where You Live" since its currently clean and fairly complete and actually semi-decorated in most rooms. I was even on vacation for two weeks, and not one single blog was created...for that, I apologize to the few who link to my blog and the even fewer who come here hoping for a new glimpse into the life of this Ryan household. Here's a recap...

We started attending a new church in late May and immediately felt like we belonged! The kids love their new church activities and Clint and I have had a great time getting to know everyone in new Life Group. In Sunday school, we've been watching a video series called "Love and Respect" by Emerson Eggerichs. After a few videos, I went and bought the book. The basic premise of the book and the video series is Ephesians 5:33: "Husbands must love their wives and wives must respect their husbands." I was enjoying the videos...reading the book...thinking "This sounds pretty easy..." and then...while on vacation, I flew off the handle. One of those crazy, yelling, irrational rampages. No one was safe...the kids were grounded from anything I could think to ground them from...Wii, TV, computer, toys, snacks, pillows (it was a weak moment). And when Clint got home, he got it too. There was an ice chest in the living room that had been there over a week, and as I walked through the living room with an arm full of clothes, I tripped over it. Once I put the laundry down, I limped back into the living room and kicked the ice chest towards him, telling him in so many words just what kind of non-contributing member of our family I thought he was. All of this, I'm sad to say, was witnessed by our children. Of course I apologized, but the damage was done, and my kids saw first hand how not to control one's self. A few days later, I was reading in the book again and came across a passage that said:

"When your sons grow up, do you want them to be married to a woman like you?"

That statement hit me like a ton of bricks...it was a total kick in the gut. I know I was not being the way I should be. I was being uncaring, irrational, impatient, disrespectful, unrealistic....the list goes on and on. I have now made it my goal every day to exemplify the kind of woman I want my kids to be married to...patient, rational, calm, kind, loving, helpful, and most of all, respectful. I am trying to be more patient with them, taking a deep breath when I get aggravated, and setting realistic expectations and sticking to realistic punishments. I know I can't do this by myself. Not only am I praying to God every day for guidance, strength, and discipline for myself, I've also enlisted the help of my husband. When I start to get hot under the collar, he's there to talk me back down, and let me know that I need to chill out. Since I asked him to keep me in check, its not so hard to hear that I need to cool it. And because I'm treating him with more respect, like the way he deserves to be treated, he's showing a lot of love and being a huge contributor to our household right now. He's always been a great provider and I've been blessed to have him as a partner, but I haven't been showing him. I have spent way too much time nagging him about what he isn't doing instead of acknowledging the contributions he has made to our household, like getting up at 5am to go to go work so that he can get off in time to pick up the kids from school or camp, or coming home and doing laundry or dishes or whatever else needs to be done. As long as we work as a team, together, things are so much easier around here. I feel so blessed to have him, and as our youngest son gets ready to start school next month, and things continue to get crazier around here with gymnastics, and dance classes, and church activities and whatever else we can come up with, we'll be able to handle it all.

I'll shout it from the rooftops. I RESPECT MY HUSBAND! And I feel so incredibly loved. :)

Ahh...Mother's Day

Handwritten notes and handmade cards decorate my living room. My three boys know just how to make me feel extra special on this day. Yesterday, my hubby surprised me with a gift certificate to a very nice nail salon that pampered me with a deluxe mani/pedi. We then dropped the kids off for a fun sleepover so that we could be alone, and had an exceptional meal. We've always wanted to try to cook lobster at home and we didn't realize just how freakin' easy it is!

We'll definitely be doing this more often...or, at least when the budget allows for $25 on one pound of meat.

Today, we went to breakfast and then took a drive to check out our campsite for our camping trip that's coming up next month. (I actually asked my husband for a camping chair for Mother's Day, but he said he wasn't walking into that one and got me the spa treatment instead...smart man.)

The rest of the day has been spent lazily lounging on the couch, watching TV shows from this past week and napping sporadically. Clint and the boys made a yummy turkey and gouda melt, topped with spinach and sauteed shallots.
Luke made the drinks.

Beau passed out the plates.

And Jack set the table with silverware (despite the number of forks on the table, it was just the 5 of us...).

Its been a fantastically relaxing day, and I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday!

Hmmm...its been awhile since I had a Not Me! Monday post...I was actually feeling pretty good about the amount of housework I was keeping up with after finding Fly Lady...And OF COURSE I have not fallen off the wagon, back to my old ways! Why, that would be ridiculous, considering how easy Fly Lady makes it sound. Shine your sink and the rest will get taken care of, right?

I did not take a 2 hour nap on Sunday with a mountain of laundry next to me in my living room.

I did not laugh out loud today when my husband called to tell me that Pumpkin Pie had flushed his Underoos...

I did not pledge to work on Pumpkin Pie's March of Dimes video, only to spend too much time on Facebook and Twitter this evening.

I did not burst out laughing when Marley, our dog, started humping Sweetie Pie's fur-lined Croc....while his foot was in it...

Come on! Everyone on Facebook is doing it....

Hmmm...this may not be too easy....I open up so much on my blog that there isn't much I haven't already divulged...but I'll give it a try...

25 Random Things About Me
1. I have an incredibly strong sense of smell...which goes well with my husband's severe lack of one.
2. I can never get enough sleep.
3. I don't care for sweets. I will hardly ever eat a sweet breakfast. My breakfast has to be served with a Pepsi.
4. One of my favorite snacks is what my kids have now named a "Peanut Butter Burrito". Its their favorite too...
5. When I am really thinking about something, I'll often repeat the same thing over and over in my head, picturing how it would feel if I typed it on the keyboard.
6. I often sit and picture how I want my backyard to look in the future.
7. Every day, I wake up surprised at what an awesome, comfortable, romantic, sweet, loving relationship I have with my husband.
8. I hit the snooze button way too many times every single morning.
9. I know I should wear makeup and try to get my hair to look presentable on a daily basis...but because of #8 and my 3 Pies it just doesn't happen.
10. In the past week, my Sweetie Pie and I drank 4-12 packs of Pepsi...if this trend continues...we'll spend well over $1000 on Pepsi this year...EEK!
11. I found a website I did in high school by Googling my maiden name. The most recent visitor was from November of 2007 and he proposed marriage.
12. Cutie Pie and Pot Pie are named after the Dukes of Hazzard. Pumpkin Pie is named after my favorite character on All My Children.
13. I have 4 siblings...a brother who is 25, a sister who is 18, and a half brother and half sister who are twins, age 6.
14. I love my job. Its hard to explain what I do, because it encompasses a lot of things for the entire health system. I work best with many deadlines and lots of projects.
15. Having said that...I would really like to do something a little more exciting...like be a detective...or a personal chef to a celebrity.
16. If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life, I would choose quesadillas.
17. I. love. board games. But I can't hardly ever find anyone to play with me!
18. I am a horrible nail biter. I wish I could give it up...I've tried...I hide my hands a lot.
19. I'm skeptical of this new diet program Rachael Ray is pushing...
20. I'm looking forward to this summer...we're finally going to take our first real family vacation!
21. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have one more child...
22. I feel overwhelmingly grateful to God every single day for my little Pumpkin Pie's very amazing recovery...
23. I am looking forward to taking the GMAT and starting grad school.
24. I have big plans for my house...if the budget ever allows...
25. My kids always know how to make me laugh...even when I'm trying to discipline them...

Oh, No! Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday!

If you read my previous post, you would have witnessed my gushing over what a wonderful husband I have, and how I have been working very hard to be the best for him. Well, let me begin this "Not Me! Monday" with my head hung in shame.


Currently, there is not a battle of wills going on at my house.



I do not go into my bathroom and find the toilet paper in this condition.


In aggravation for being the only person who replaces the toilet paper in the entire house, I do not remedy the situation by doing this...


Which aggravates my Sweetie Pie, who corrects it by doing this...


But, in retaliation for my not half-completing the task, he does this as well...



And even though there is a trash can directly under the toilet paper holder, we are not in a standoff, and we are not refusing to give in until the other realizes HE is wrong and throws all of the empty toilet paper rolls away...


Additionally, I did not encourage my son to take this picture at Lowe's yesterday...

*Giggle*

Looking Back

Its late...I can't sleep...I'm thinking about all of the things I want to accomplish in 2009. 2008 was a big year for me and my fam. In 2008, I:

*Began my final semester of college.
*Started hosting an awesome small group at our house called TRIBE
*Graduated from college with a Bachelor's in Technology
*Got my first tattoo
*Began blogging again
*Got a little closer to finishing our kitchen remodel
*Sweetie Pie shaved his head
*Cutie Pie started first grade
*Pot Pie started pre-k
*I learned how to make pickles!!
*We watched the Olympics and then participated in some games of our own...
*We realized our desire to adopt someday...
*I went on my first women's retreat
*We got our family portraits
*I realized that I am a better mom than I was giving myself credit for...
*My niece was born.
*Cutie Pie started Tae Kwon Do
* I dyed my hair for the first, and last, time...
*I introduced the word "Fart Bucket" to my kids' vocabulary
*We made the tough decision to leave the church we love...
*We got a dog!!!!
*I developed a pie theme for my blog, in hopes that I'll be able to put into production an enjoyable reading experience for anyone who happens upon my blog. I hope that 2009 offers me more creative opportunities to share with you about our family! Happy Reading!

Not the Mom You Think I Am...

Today at work, a software consultant was in our office, schmoozing with my boss. She brought him around to introduce to everyone, and when she got to me, she repeated the same introduction I've heard time and time again.


"This is Misti! She's the baby around here. She takes care of all of us. She's going to come visit us in the nursing home in a few years to pluck our chin hairs and make sure we aren't drooling on ourselves. And she's Super Mom! She has three boys, and she cooks every night! She is just amazing because this entire health system wouldn't run without her, and then she goes home and takes care of her kids and her husband..."


Don't let the rest of this paragraph fool you. I have a fantastic boss and great co-workers.
However....when she starts this intro, I usually quit listening after "baby"...I don't particularly care to be labeled as the youngest person in the office...being the youngest carries the stigma that I'm inexperienced and incapable, when it really should be saying that I am actually in possession of a sharp mind and the ability to complete my tasks in a timely and efficient manner.


And secondly, I don't particularly enjoy being singled out...Its embarrassing!!! And its a lie!!! Lord knows I don't feel like Super Mom. My exceedingly essential (though dejectedly unacknowledged) role in the administration of the health system keeps me there later than I would like some days, and it requires my attention when I am at home as well. It works out fine with my husband's schedule, because he gets off in time to pick the kids up after school every day. And for the most part, he is fairly helpful around the house, doing the dishes and starting some laundry. He's hoping for a SAHD gig someday soon. However, his version of a "clean house" isn't necessarily the same as mine. He can look at a room with stacked piles and think its tidy, whereas I would prefer the stacked piles be dispersed to their correct locations.


When I finally get home from work, its time to make dinner, which I actually enjoy doing, and it gives me something mindless to do after a stressful day. However, once dinner is finished and I take inventory of what needs to be done around the house, I often find myself overwhelmed with the mounting tasks that are looming, and, more often than not, I feel so inundated that some nights I sit on the couch and do nothing, drowning my sorrows in a bowl of Cap'N Crunch and watching Rock of Love Bus, all the while accepting defeat and saying to myself, "If only I were a stay at home mom..."


But then I think to myself, even if I was a SAHM, there's no guarantee any of this stuff around the house would get done. I would probably acquire a whole new set of to-do's, ones that I can't do because I work, like homeroom mom, or Cub Scout leader, or perhaps I would be able to get a PTA set up for Cutie Pie and Pot Pie's school since my past attempts at starting one have failed. And without my job, we wouldn't have access to the fantastic child care center where Pumpkin Pie attends, and I would most definitely end up home-schooling him every day to get him ready for pre-k and Kindergarten. Would I absolutely love to do all of these things? You betcha! But I'd probably still have a messy home. Laundry and dishes and general organization always take a backseat to everything else that I have going on. I do my best to get things done around the house, but I am very aware of the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day. Do I wish my house was more organized? Of course. But I'm more concerned with helping my kids with their homework and spending time with them having fun, as well as quality time with my Sweetie Pie. Sure, most of the time I feel somewhat like an undisciplined failure in the homemaker department, but I'm coping. One of my goals for 2009 is to get more control over my house. I'm hoping for some direction and helpful hints from the handful of people who read my blog. So, feel free to leave me your comments with ideas that can help me...I need all of the help I can get!

Not Me Monday!

"Not Me Monday" is a cyber confessional booth for moms, where we can clear our conscience by "not" confessing our mommy transgressions.

I did not spend all weekend relaxing in my fur-lined Crocs with my feet propped up. I most certainly did not skimp out on making dinner Saturday night and order pizza...

I did not let the laundry pile up while I watched three, count 'em, three! movies curled up on the couch with my Sweetie Pie this weekend...

I did not hit the snooze button 3 too many times today and end up rushing around getting ready for work. I did not instruct Cutie Pie to make breakfast for he and his brothers...

I did not come home from work early today because Pumpkin Pie is sick and, after medicating him, sit and catch up on all of the sleeze from VH1 last night...

I did not let the dog out only to find that he had pooped in his crate and instead of cleaning it out, I did not put it out on the porch for Sweetie Pie to clean when he gets home...

I did not start a diet today, only to stop by McDonalds on my way home and get some McNuggets for me and Pumpkin Pie...

Ah...clean conscience.

Here's 2 more from dinner...

I did not tell Cutie Pie tonight "Its not burned, its just browned."

I did not tell Pot Pie "Just eat your friggin' sandwich!"

Here I am, 2009

Everywhere I turn, people are writing about their goals for 2009. I have a few of my own, but I'm afraid they aren't very interesting...

Here they are, in no certain order...

1. Try to write a meaningful, somewhat thought provoking blog at least once a week.
2. Potty train Jackson.
3. House train Marley.
4. I wish to be quite a few pounds lighter at the end of 2009 than I am now at the beginning. I am not naming a specific goal yet...
5. Keep more control over the state of my house. Well, attempt to, anyway.
6. Hit the gym at least 3 times a week.
7. Drink more water and less Pepsi. I'm not giving it completely up yet, but hopefully I'll be able to drink less and cut it out completely eventually. No official Pepsi-less announcement yet, though.
8. Help make Luke and Beau much better readers by the end of 2009.
9. Be much happier with my occupation because of the difference I am making and not just because of the elements of convenience it offers me.
10. Find a new church where I am certain our family will grow as Christians, loving others and being the hands and feet of God.

Swingin'

I can feel it. I know when its coming. Every little thing irritated the crap out of me at work today, except for an email from an old friend that made me cry and go read Jack's Preemie Blog, which also made me cry...when I got home from work, I yelled at my kids the moment I walked in the door for reasons I can't even recall now, then invited them to help me cook dinner, which I let them take over, staying as patient as a saint, even though they made a mess and fought the whole time. When we sat down to eat, Luke teased Jackson, and because of the re-reading of his blog today, I was feeling very protective of Jack, so I probably went a little overboard in reprimanding Luke about it (though I do want the kids to know that I will not tolerate anyone making fun of anybody else...), and then that made me cry as well.

Yup.

I'm PMS'ing.

I hate this feeling(s)! As I stated in a previous rant, I have a fantastic husband. Yet, when he drifts off to sleep because he's absolutely exhausted from a very hard day at work, I take it as an insult that he isn't all smoochy-smoochy and lovey-dovey while spouting off sonnets or some crap. I know he loves me, but at this time of the month, irrationality kicks in. I am glad that he puts up with my senseless crying and sporadic rages (okay, so maybe its not that bad, but it feels like it!!!). If our positions were reversed and I was the one having to put up with his BS every month, I probably wouldn't be so sensitive and understanding.

If I weren't so tired, I'd cry.