Good Morning everyone! I skipped out on posting yesterday. I don't know. Just couldn't get motivated to say anything yesterday. Was going to get on last night, but I fell asleep putting Evan down. I had let my poor dog out to pee and she was out all night in the rain. Poor thing. Guess I really needed that sleep!
I have some good news to share. My brother called me yesterday and asked how my online MT class was going and also asked me if I started my class to finish my degree yet. I had to tell him I probably wouldn't be able to takethe degree-finishing class, because of limited funds. He then said he could send me $400 by the first if that would help! It would! He is so sweet. I had thought about asking him for a loan before, but never could bring myself to do that. I felt bad asking for that amount of money for a class I should have just finished way back when. He even told me not to worry about the $400.00, when I told him I could pay him back once I started doing medical transcription. I'm so thrilled to be able to do this, because it was my last shot, having had to petition it in the first place. Whoo hoo!
Other news: I don't think I told you all, but I lost something last week that is nearly invaluable to me--my
Ergo Baby Carrier. I have to tell you, I used this thing ALL the time with so many little ones to look after. I carry Evan on my back with it. I could even carry Annie with it, since it goes up to 75 lbs! It didn't hurt my back AT ALL, and I bought it when my youngest was about 5 months old, even though I had a Kelty back pack, and several slings and a Baby Bjorn--it was totally worth the money to me. None of those other packs and carriers were even close to being as comfortable and useable as this Ergo Baby Carrier was to me. I SWORE by it and have recommended to countless people, many of whom are using one now. Anyway, I lost it!
I was devastated. I checked everywhere I had gone, even searched up and down the beach, though I had used the stroller the last time I went to the beach. I have been so bummed about this.
It just added this huge, extra upset to my lousy, stressful, TOM week. I tried using a small frame pack I had in storage, but it is awful--hurts my shoulders and back, and Evan is uncomfortable. I SO wanted my carrier back, but I couldn't afford to replace it at $89. I was feeling really crappy about losing it.
I had actually given up on it, and was trying to quit thinking about it, when I stopped in the library yesterday. Evan was such a stinker. He actualy left the library twice and went out to my car without me knowing it--seconds after I saw him by my side. UGH... he was driving me crazy.
And as we were ready to leave, Annie started running around and misbehaving also. I felt so frustrated trying to keep track of the two of them, and I thought, "If only I had my pak to put Evan in." (As I've thought bitterly so many times over the past week.) Well, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, I left it at the library. Well, I did!!! They had it!!!
They had found it after I stopped in briefly with just Evan early last week, but they didn't find it until a few hours after I'd gone, so they didn't connect it with me, though the main librarian was going to call me, because he thought he'd seen me with something like that. YAY, YAY, YAY!!! You have no idea how happy I am to have my carrier back!
They handed it to me and I immediately put Evan up on my back--ahhhhhh....control again! Plus he likes to be there! I'm so thankful for this small thing, I can hardly contain my enthusiasm! You must all think I'm nuts being this happy about a baby carrier! hahahaha!
I stayed on my eating plan yesterday and did really well.
I had a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of pineapple chunks for breakfast along with a slice of toast with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a teaspoon of jam on it.
For Lunch, I had a 1/2 cup of brown rice with 1/2 cup of black beans and some salsa mixed in. Later I snacked on the kids' leftovers--about a half cup of brown rice and some tuna and peas with soy sauce.
I did yoga in the afternoon while Evan was napping and the girls were watching a movie. I just went into their room after taking a bath and did the whole routine from memory. It was fun! I was really limber even after having a few days off, because the bath warmed me up. I now have no excuse for not doing yoga when the morning is too hectic or I'm too tired at night. I CAN do it in the middle of the day, and it's fun!
I snacked on 1/2 a serving of
Soy Crisps (about 13 crisps), that I bought yesterday. They are good. I've never had them before, but I thought I'd try them, since I've been wanting something crunchy to snack on, and they are high in soy protein. I like them! I got the roasted garlic and onion flavored ones. I also had some coffee with cream and sugar at the cafe.
For dinner I had a toasted tuna sandwich with lettuce, tomato, the bare minimum of mayo, and some sweet pickle relish. I had a cup of 1% milk, too. I bought that Oroweat Light Whole Wheat bread for sandwiches, because it's only 40 calories per slice, so 2 slices are a serving. I liked having a top on my sandwhich, but not using so many calories to do so! The bread tastes pretty darned good, too!
I ate half an iced oatmeal cookie with the remainder of my milk after I finished my sandwich. Then I put the kids down and fell asleep myself.
Well, I know this is long already, but I want to address everyone's posts over the last couple of days!
Val--thanks for being so supportive. I appreciate your words of encouragement and everyone else's, too. It helps when people are boosting you up when you feel down and are having a hard time staying with your plan.
I'm thrilled that you and Seth went letterboxing and had so much fun! How funny that you were letterboxing during the weekend, too. We found 2 letterboxes as well this weekend! Fun!
Sounds like Seth is quite the little athlete! It's great that you are so involved in sports with your kids, especially since it seems to be so important to them, and their dad has effectively shut himself off from taking part. I look forward to my kids playing sports, if they are interested.
Sarah--Glad you had so much fun over the weekend! You sound so cheerful and refreshed! Good for you!
Paige--Good luck to your husband on getting that editing job. I know you probably told us before, but what is his degree in?
Thanks for being so supportive of me in my bad week. I'm trying to get back on track now. In fact, I'm having to go back and re-visit some of my stricter rules from the start of this endeavor. I have been doing too much late night snacking and going over my limits, so I'm going to back off on that again. Plus, I've bought some more easy protein snacks, for those times when I want something sweet. Protein is often what I really need when I'm craving sweets. Sugar just makes me want more sugar and I get on a roll.
Don't want to keep doing that! Protein makes me feel fuller longer, too.
Kim--Hope your dad continues to be on the mend. And I truly hope you get some good, healing sleep. I'm sorry you are going through so much right now. Family brings us the most pain, but it gives us the most joy too. Hug and love yours as much as possible during this difficult time. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Karyn--Good luck with your new Oprah plan. Sounds like the first month will be a jump start for getting you on track. Sometimes, in the beginning, it's easier to get away from problem foods, like sweets and white breads altogether, and then ease the healthier versions in later, than to allow even small amounts at first. I'm having to go back a bit and eliminate sweets, because I found that I was sneaking too many back in this week, making myself have more cravings than usual. So, I'm back-tracking a bit to get away from those cravings and make things a bit easier on myself. Sometimes being more restrictive is the easiest thing! Anyway, I hope this plan works for you! Good luck!
I wish I had some good advice for you regarding your son, but I have to tell you, I have my own issues with my own 3 little kids! Bedtime is one of the roughest times for us, but it is getting easier as they get older. Of course, Evan is still young, and though he is easier than than Annie was at this age, he can give me a hard time at night, sometimes. He still sleeps with me, because he is still nursing, AND he can climb out of all the cribs I've tried putting him in. Last night he was a pain, and by the time he finally fell asleep, I was asleep, too! Still, having him sleep with me works fine most of the time, especially since Ron is not here most of the time and has another bed when he is here. I'm able to nurse Evan till he's asleep, which usually doesn't take that long, and then get up and have much of the evening to myself, and with Ron when he is here. Evan still wakes up around 2-3:00 in the morning, but he goes back down easily most of the time. Lately, he seems to want to nurse more instead of less, and that's frustrating me, because I'm tired of nursing! I've been doing this for over 5 years!!
I want my breasts back!
I'm wondering if he will ever be easy to wean, but I have to start figuring out how to encourage him, because I'm getting burnt out.
Anyway, I guess all I can recommend is stuff you've probably heard before. Try to have a consistent bedtime routine, complete with rituals that your son helps to pick out.
I've heard that making a bedtime book that narrates you and your child's special bedtime routine helps them to transition to bedtime and get into that routine more solidly. Helps them visualize their own peaceful bedtime. You might want to try that.
Some people give baths a short time before bed to help relax their kids. I don't always do that, but I will say it has been helpful from time to time. In our house, the routine has become like this (most of the time):
~Everyone brushes teeth and gets on jammies before stories are read.
~I read one or two books to each, depending on how late it is and how tired I am!
~I tuck the girls into their bed and sing them each a song of their choice while I nurse Evan. (Sometimes Evan plays with stuff in their room while I sing.)
~Then I go into my room and lay down with Evan and sing him a song that he chooses and nurse him until he falls asleep.
Sometimes this goes down perfectly. Other times I have problems, usually with Annie. She is a nightowl and will keep getting up and wanting water, or to go potty, or she will bug Stella and they will start fighting. I have to get up and get them settled down again, sometimes more than once--even several times. ARGH! Usually, I am tired and ready for some time for myself, and I get angry and yell. I hate this. I don't ever enjoy yelling at my kids, but feel even worse about it when I end the day that way. Anyway, it seems to be getting easier lately, so hang in there. I remember that bedtime with my now 16 year old when he was little was ****. He would pitch a fit whenever I got out of the bed and I seem to never get him to sleep on his own, but he eventually did, arond age 4.5 to 5. It WILL get easier, I promise.
Sabrina--So nice to hear from you! Sounds like you are right on track with your program! That's great. 173 is fantastic! I'm right behind you girl!
Jessica--WELCOME!
You've lost 46 lbs already! Good for you!! You can go all the way, I know. And we'll be here for you when it gets hard. As for night snacking, I can TOTALLY relate. I have 3 small children, ages 5, 4 and almost 2. When they go down at night I relax for the first time all day, and I used to go crazy with eating at that time, too. I had to completely cut it out in order to break the habit. I drink herbal tea now when I have a really strong desire to eat. What I usually want is not necessarily food, but something comfy and peaceful after a long day. Tea helps meet that need, whereas I used to use ice cream, bread and other food. I know that just eliminating food after 7-8:00 pm really helped me to jump start my weight loss. If I had a particularly hectic day and had to eat late, I tried to eat a meal with mostly vegetables and low fat protein to fill up, and if I really felt hungry late at night, I'd allow an apple or some other fiber filled, high water content food. This past week, I cheated and ate too much snacky or bready foods at night and it only made me want more. So now, I'm going back to being strict again, to get me back on track. Good luck to you in finding something that works for you at night.
Meeshla--Welcome to you as well!
Glad your husband is home from that treacherous place. One of my younger brothers just came home from there. He was sent home actually, because he had a nervous breakdown and was having psychotic episodes. He's been discharged honorably, though, but he has had to undergo some therapy for mental health problems. He is a sensitive guy and it was way too stressful for him there. Actually, I don't think he should have ever been in the military to begin with. But we are all glad he's home.
I understand your using food as a companion while your husband was away. My husband has been working and living 3 hours away for the past year, and it's been hard. It's part of why I would eat so much at night. It was comforting and companionable!
No more, though. I just woke up one day and said, "Enough." Sounds like you are at that same place. Ready to take back control of your eating habits. Good for you! Let us know if you need any help beating those emotional urges to eat. We'll support you however we can! Good luck!
Well, this is seriously long. I hope at least one person made it to the end! haha. Talk to you all later!
Let's see...where to begin....
A fun night!!! Saturday - - a beautiful day spent on the beach - w/God and just relaxing. Lots of God moments - lots of moments remembering family times at the beach - just a great day - with some sunshine! Went to see "MonsterInLaw" w/my aunt (highly recommend it - it's soooo funny!) and eating seafood and just chatting. A great night! And then came home EARLY Sunday a.m. to boys who were thrilled to see me! 
ex. He will never learn. 
I love it. 