Well, I am having one of those rare days at home. J is sick, he has a fever around 101.4 and his cough is not good, so he got his inhaler earlier when he woke up at 6:30 (or rather when I woke him up to get ready for school and discovered his cold turned into something more), and he had some juice and went back to sleep. My mother was roused from her bed this morning to come stay with J while I took G to school. I was back in time for her to only be a few minutes late for work. I would have had A come over, as J is A's son too, but alas my father's phone is shut off right now, so there was no way to reach A (boy do I miss living in an area where cell phones actually work at times like these). Anyway, J is still sleeping. I just replaced a cup of watered juice next to him as he drank most of what I gave him earlier--rest and fluids are what's needed, right. I think I will be keeping him home tomorrow, as the guidelines say he has to be fever free for 24 hours before returning, and also because fighting it seems to be taking all his energy, so he is going to need a day to recoup tomorrow. I am to the doctor's at 2:00pm today. Hopefully A will be here by them so one of us can go pick up G and the other can take J to the doctor, as the timing is bad.
Anyway, So I am home. I have been cleaning up the kitchen and working on some articles. J did wake up while Iwas writing this and I have changed his clothes, given him a neb treatment and some more watered juice, and he is laying in bed watching a movie.
I stopped at Stewart's after dropping G off at school this morning and grabbed a large coffee with half & half and a little sugar, an eggwich (egg, sausage, cheese on a hard roll), and a bottle of water, then headed home. So kind of a heavier breakfast. For lunch (as it is now after 12:00) I had a can of Light Beef PotRoast soup by Progresso with some crackers. And a cup of water.
J is NOT going to the doctor. A stopped in to get ready for work (long story, but A always gets ready for work here), and said they had changed the schedule and had to go in for 2pm instead of 3pm, and swapping days off from Tuesday to Thursday as they have someone else out. So since I have leave at 1:45 to get G, there is no one to take J to the doctor. I am not sure it would do any good, as I had been on the fence about it. Most likely what he has is a virus, and there is nothing they can do to speed up recovery, especially since he has a normal level fever and his cough has not been around for long. I just like to cover all my bases as with his CP and lung issues, sometimes illness works on his body differently than it does a typical kid. But I also hate taking him to the doctors office as there are a lot of germs and other illness there that he can be exposed to, as the CP and CLD already lower his immunity, going in already sick, he is likely to pick up ANYTHING he contacts. So it is probably for the best. The nebulizer treatment helps so I am just trying to find someone to come sit with him while I go pick up G. But if I have to bundle him up and put him in the car for a little ride, I think he will be okay.
Well, I should go, I have been intermittently working on this post for a few hours now, so it is time to publish it. Oh, I just talked to my sister and her kids are both sick with what appears to be the flu. At the place she works, many of the residents have come down with a Type A influenza (one not covered by this year's flu shot), and it has the same symptoms that her kids have and a number of other people in town have, and it sounds like what J has, so he may be out for a few days, as his cousin has had it since Friday and still has not gone back to school yet.
So---Yuck!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Day 8--fairly uneventful
So this day has been fairly uneventful, which has been nice. After writing and such at the library I headed over to pick up J from school. He has a bit of a cold and a dry cough, so I was a little worried about him--still am, as with his lung issues a cold can sometimes turn into something worse quickly. though this year we have been incredibly fortunate, as the couple of times I took him to the doctor, they said it was just a cold. And he has recovered within a few days after that. So hopefully it is just a little cold and with fluids and rest, he will be able to continue his daily routine and continue to get well. His immune system seems to be getting stringer every year. This is a blessing from God that I am truly thankful for.
For lunch I tried the Campbell's soup at hand heated by the defrost thing, and it worked okay (soup lukewarm is not all that good, but better than cold), so I have a container of the Chicken Noodle Soup and a little single serving bag of peanuts that I bought when I was paying for my gas. Oh, and a bottle of water. I also had a small handful of almonds and a small handful of dried cherries on the ride home.
Aside from that, when I finally checked my cell phone messages (I had left it charging in the car while I was in the library) I learned that A was able to get my battery out of my old car with my brother's help, and that my step-father helped put it in the jeep, however it was the wrong configuration, so it would not work in the jeep. I had a second battery that my sister had been given when her battery was ailing, but that was the wrong configuration for her car, so they tried THAT one in the Jeep and it was perfect. So now A will not have to borrow my car for work and will not have to worry about whether or not the Jeep will make it home. And A was able to get to work on time.
The other thing that a message said was that A's cat (which has been staying with me since A moved up here as the dogs at my dad's house are not friendly to cats--and it is not even a cat we had when we were together, it was one A got AFTER we separated) had gotten outside and was stuck under the porch somewhere. Brody (the cat) has been an indoor cat since A got him as a kitten last summer. But Horace (my cat) and Narnia (our dog) both go in and out. So Brody decided to follow them last week during that great warm weather where it got into the high 40's & low 50's. However today we had a winter storm advisory in effect all day, with blowing snow ans sleet, snow, rain mix, with 4-5 inches of accumulation. I have been very careful to make sure that Brody is not out when I leave, as he is not ready to be outside without someone here. Horace spends a lot of time outside, so I don't worry about him. Anyway, I know Brody was in the house when I took the boys out to the car, but I forgot J's walker, which he needs at school, so I ran back in to get it. I left the door open as I did so and he must have run out then.
So, J got his snow pants on and played on the porch (he loves the outdoors, it will be incredible for him as his walking ability continues to develop) while i called and called and searched for the cat. But to no avail, not even a mew was heard. So when we came in I put a dish of food on the porch hoping that when he got hungry enough he would come and get it.
Then we played a video game (the new Harry Potter one that G got for his birthday), then the kids did their homework (G has actual homework being in second grade, J just does some pen and paper work to improve his fine motor skills which I call homework as he is in pre-K and does not get homework yet). After that J wanted to watch something on netflix, but as I have not paid my monthly fee, netflix is offline until another check comes, hopefully later this week. So he decide to watch Alvin and the chipmunks the Squeakwel. I made dinner (Ramon noodles with peas, egg, and bits of beef) and while dinner was cooking, I was able to go back outside and coax Brody from the hole in the porch. His issue was that he did not want to step on snow, and the hole in the porch is near the edge, so the snow had gotten in and around the hole. I had to get him to stick his head out so I could grab the scruff of his neck and get him out. He was so happy that he buried his little head in the crux of my elbow as I carried him in.
the boys had the Ramon dish for dinner, I only had a little bit of that, but made some bean and salsa mix eaten on a tortilla (well 2 tortilla's actually). I also had a sandwich thin, toasted with butter while I had been cooking dinner, as I was hungry.
At 9:00 I had a mini-fruit roll -up, which I had opened for G earlier, but then he decided he wanted a banana for snack like his brother (smart boys, eating fruit instead of processed fruit flavored sugar, not so smart Mama snacking on the open fruit roll up so it would not go to waste--instead it goes to waist--I need to stop doing that).
I am reading the boys the Chronicle of Narnia book series, and they are loving it, we are doing 1-2 chapters a night. We are on book 3--A Horse and His Boy. I have always loved these books (which might be noticable as my dog's name is Narnia) and I am so happy to share them with my kids. J is still a little young for them, but G is really following the story and loves it. maybe in a couple years we will reread them when j is able to get more out of them. But I had forgotten so much about book 3, which is a story of choices and starting out fresh to change the mistakes of the past, and build a better life for the future. Which is kinda where I am right now in my own life (though I lack the talking horse and such), but still, some of the undercurrents of the book I am really connecting with, especially the idea of moving forward and not knowing what would have happened IF...
Anyway, I am hoping for an early bed after I do the dishes. This cold is kicking my butt...
For lunch I tried the Campbell's soup at hand heated by the defrost thing, and it worked okay (soup lukewarm is not all that good, but better than cold), so I have a container of the Chicken Noodle Soup and a little single serving bag of peanuts that I bought when I was paying for my gas. Oh, and a bottle of water. I also had a small handful of almonds and a small handful of dried cherries on the ride home.
Aside from that, when I finally checked my cell phone messages (I had left it charging in the car while I was in the library) I learned that A was able to get my battery out of my old car with my brother's help, and that my step-father helped put it in the jeep, however it was the wrong configuration, so it would not work in the jeep. I had a second battery that my sister had been given when her battery was ailing, but that was the wrong configuration for her car, so they tried THAT one in the Jeep and it was perfect. So now A will not have to borrow my car for work and will not have to worry about whether or not the Jeep will make it home. And A was able to get to work on time.
The other thing that a message said was that A's cat (which has been staying with me since A moved up here as the dogs at my dad's house are not friendly to cats--and it is not even a cat we had when we were together, it was one A got AFTER we separated) had gotten outside and was stuck under the porch somewhere. Brody (the cat) has been an indoor cat since A got him as a kitten last summer. But Horace (my cat) and Narnia (our dog) both go in and out. So Brody decided to follow them last week during that great warm weather where it got into the high 40's & low 50's. However today we had a winter storm advisory in effect all day, with blowing snow ans sleet, snow, rain mix, with 4-5 inches of accumulation. I have been very careful to make sure that Brody is not out when I leave, as he is not ready to be outside without someone here. Horace spends a lot of time outside, so I don't worry about him. Anyway, I know Brody was in the house when I took the boys out to the car, but I forgot J's walker, which he needs at school, so I ran back in to get it. I left the door open as I did so and he must have run out then.
So, J got his snow pants on and played on the porch (he loves the outdoors, it will be incredible for him as his walking ability continues to develop) while i called and called and searched for the cat. But to no avail, not even a mew was heard. So when we came in I put a dish of food on the porch hoping that when he got hungry enough he would come and get it.
Then we played a video game (the new Harry Potter one that G got for his birthday), then the kids did their homework (G has actual homework being in second grade, J just does some pen and paper work to improve his fine motor skills which I call homework as he is in pre-K and does not get homework yet). After that J wanted to watch something on netflix, but as I have not paid my monthly fee, netflix is offline until another check comes, hopefully later this week. So he decide to watch Alvin and the chipmunks the Squeakwel. I made dinner (Ramon noodles with peas, egg, and bits of beef) and while dinner was cooking, I was able to go back outside and coax Brody from the hole in the porch. His issue was that he did not want to step on snow, and the hole in the porch is near the edge, so the snow had gotten in and around the hole. I had to get him to stick his head out so I could grab the scruff of his neck and get him out. He was so happy that he buried his little head in the crux of my elbow as I carried him in.
the boys had the Ramon dish for dinner, I only had a little bit of that, but made some bean and salsa mix eaten on a tortilla (well 2 tortilla's actually). I also had a sandwich thin, toasted with butter while I had been cooking dinner, as I was hungry.
At 9:00 I had a mini-fruit roll -up, which I had opened for G earlier, but then he decided he wanted a banana for snack like his brother (smart boys, eating fruit instead of processed fruit flavored sugar, not so smart Mama snacking on the open fruit roll up so it would not go to waste--instead it goes to waist--I need to stop doing that).
I am reading the boys the Chronicle of Narnia book series, and they are loving it, we are doing 1-2 chapters a night. We are on book 3--A Horse and His Boy. I have always loved these books (which might be noticable as my dog's name is Narnia) and I am so happy to share them with my kids. J is still a little young for them, but G is really following the story and loves it. maybe in a couple years we will reread them when j is able to get more out of them. But I had forgotten so much about book 3, which is a story of choices and starting out fresh to change the mistakes of the past, and build a better life for the future. Which is kinda where I am right now in my own life (though I lack the talking horse and such), but still, some of the undercurrents of the book I am really connecting with, especially the idea of moving forward and not knowing what would have happened IF...
Anyway, I am hoping for an early bed after I do the dishes. This cold is kicking my butt...
A side note: Prayers for 2 kids who need families...
I could not figure out how to get the photo of Michael to upload to facebook, so I am going to do a blog post about both Micheal and Haven. I have been assigned as their Prayer Warrior through Reece's Rainbow. So I am committed to praying for them until they have a committed family. Please join in in sending your prayers and your good will out to them and to potential families who may be a good match for them.
Here is Michael D.:
He is in Russia and he looks very well taken care of at the orphanage. Please prayer that he is adopted before he is transferred to an institution when he is 5 years old, where in Russia he will then be unadoptable. If he has a committed family before his 5th birthday, they can keep him at the orphanage while the necessary process is underway. He is running out of time...
Info from RR: Michael D.
Date of Birth: June 2006
Gender: Male
Eyes: Gray
Hair: brown
Character: calm
For those of you who do not know, Reece's Rainbow is an absolutely amazing organization that helps connect people seeking children with waiting children who have special needs. It also helps raise funds for adoption for both waiting children and for families. Additionally (this is the greatest of all) they are working in various countries to help establish supports and groups for people who WANT to keep their children. It is truly an inspired and amazing group that is addressing the issues from multiple fronts. I have been following the founder since the very beginning of Reece's Rainbow back in 2005--before there was even a website. Many children with special needs in foreign countries are institutionalized at a very young age for even minor special needs, and given no education, not chance to become active, functioning members of society. Like the US used to do 30-40 years ago, until it was finally realized that people with special needs, given the right supports from early on, can often go on to live full, functional lives--have jobs, friends, and even families of their own. By institutionalizing them, it takes away not only the life they could have, but also puts a high burden on the government to care for people, many of whom could care for themselves. Of if they have families, the families and friends can and do help with care that is needed if the person can not care for themselves. There is very little need for institutions, as even residence facilities provide a better quality of care and provide more opportunity for people with disabilities to experience life and contribute to the community by being part of it. So, I advocate for the adoption of children with special needs (hence the two amazing little boogers I have (who in a foreign country would be institutionalized (well J with his medical issues would probably not have survived his first six months)). And I advocate for as much inclusion as is possible for adults with special needs. When my mother started working at the residences, she would always invite one of two of the residence to join us for BBQ's, holiday meals, etc... They are people too, and can contribute to life (maybe in a different way than most are used to) and deserve to be treated with respect.
Oh, and a note on why an International Downs Syndrome (and other special needs) Adoption group? Why not focus on the USA? Well, both of my kids ARE from the US, and I do pray for kids who are waiting in the US, as there is a high need EVERYWHERE for children without families to be adopted. So I choose to advocate for both--I am not nationalistic in my desire to care for the orphans of the world, all people, no matter where they were born, deserve to know the love of a family (even when that family is not perfect (as long as it is not abusive), it is still better than not having one). The first goal should be to keep familes together whenever possible (employing supports rather than punishments to fascilitate that), and when not possible, to get the child into a permanent family as soon a possible. I have qualms about both the insititutional model of raising kids who for whatever reason are no longer with their familes, and I have issues with the way foster care and adoption are run in our own country. But I understand the necessity of both, and until other solutions are in place, they are the systems that we all must work with to ensure that families and children can find the safest and most potential supporting way to live.
He is in Russia and he looks very well taken care of at the orphanage. Please prayer that he is adopted before he is transferred to an institution when he is 5 years old, where in Russia he will then be unadoptable. If he has a committed family before his 5th birthday, they can keep him at the orphanage while the necessary process is underway. He is running out of time...
Info from RR: Michael D.
Date of Birth: June 2006
Gender: Male
Eyes: Gray
Hair: brown
Character: calm
And this is Haven, and her info from RR:
"Girl, Born March 2006
Poor Haven……sweet little girl. Such a pretty girl burdened with such medical and cognitive difficulties….and no mama to love her through them.
From her medical records: celiac disease, CP, toxic Hepatitis, hypotrophy of III stage
From our team who visited there: Haven is afraid of strangers and would not interact with us 
"
"
I am not sure which country she is in, though most EE countries transfer to institutions at the age of 5. It appears she is NOT in Russia, so even if she is transferred, it might still be possible for her to be adopted. However, medical care at the institutions tend to be very poor, and often over 50% of kids transferred do not survive their first year. With her medical issues, an institutional life will be a short one. So pray that a family steps forward for her soon.
For those of you who do not know, Reece's Rainbow is an absolutely amazing organization that helps connect people seeking children with waiting children who have special needs. It also helps raise funds for adoption for both waiting children and for families. Additionally (this is the greatest of all) they are working in various countries to help establish supports and groups for people who WANT to keep their children. It is truly an inspired and amazing group that is addressing the issues from multiple fronts. I have been following the founder since the very beginning of Reece's Rainbow back in 2005--before there was even a website. Many children with special needs in foreign countries are institutionalized at a very young age for even minor special needs, and given no education, not chance to become active, functioning members of society. Like the US used to do 30-40 years ago, until it was finally realized that people with special needs, given the right supports from early on, can often go on to live full, functional lives--have jobs, friends, and even families of their own. By institutionalizing them, it takes away not only the life they could have, but also puts a high burden on the government to care for people, many of whom could care for themselves. Of if they have families, the families and friends can and do help with care that is needed if the person can not care for themselves. There is very little need for institutions, as even residence facilities provide a better quality of care and provide more opportunity for people with disabilities to experience life and contribute to the community by being part of it. So, I advocate for the adoption of children with special needs (hence the two amazing little boogers I have (who in a foreign country would be institutionalized (well J with his medical issues would probably not have survived his first six months)). And I advocate for as much inclusion as is possible for adults with special needs. When my mother started working at the residences, she would always invite one of two of the residence to join us for BBQ's, holiday meals, etc... They are people too, and can contribute to life (maybe in a different way than most are used to) and deserve to be treated with respect.
Oh, and a note on why an International Downs Syndrome (and other special needs) Adoption group? Why not focus on the USA? Well, both of my kids ARE from the US, and I do pray for kids who are waiting in the US, as there is a high need EVERYWHERE for children without families to be adopted. So I choose to advocate for both--I am not nationalistic in my desire to care for the orphans of the world, all people, no matter where they were born, deserve to know the love of a family (even when that family is not perfect (as long as it is not abusive), it is still better than not having one). The first goal should be to keep familes together whenever possible (employing supports rather than punishments to fascilitate that), and when not possible, to get the child into a permanent family as soon a possible. I have qualms about both the insititutional model of raising kids who for whatever reason are no longer with their familes, and I have issues with the way foster care and adoption are run in our own country. But I understand the necessity of both, and until other solutions are in place, they are the systems that we all must work with to ensure that families and children can find the safest and most potential supporting way to live.
Day 8--Beginning a second week of my new life... (6 pounds lighter)
Okay, so today is the first day of Spring. I woke up as the sky was still gray (stupid time change, but that will change soon enough as its lighter earlier every day), and reminded myself that it is the first day of spring. I went through a mental gratitude list in my shower, and then got the kids up, dressed and out the door. And THEN realized we were running about 8 minutes behind the latest-we-can-leave-to-still-be-on-time cutoff. AND it was snowing. So listening to the radio on the way to school and there are winter weather advisories in effect until like 10pm. So, it is a snowy, and yucky first day of Spring. BUT I am grateful that it IS the first day of Spring. For some reason this winter has just been enough for me (I usually don't mind winter too much, and actually enjoy it for a good while).
So, lets start off with the weekly weigh-in:
And here is this week's (March 21, 2011) weigh in at 299lbs:
My camera appears to have messed up on this one, as I had to do it twice, and the second one I did for some reason is not readable to my computer. SO I have put the bad one on as it is all I have. I also have one still shot of the scale which I am putting here, but is also is a bit hard to see (though the important amount is there...)Oh, and I am including a copy of the weekly newspaper (we don't have daily ones out in this rural area, ), so that you can see that the pics were taken at least around the time of the newspaper...however the cat tail/cat butt was not planned...he just chose that moment to have a snack--right in the middle of my shot.
So, 6 pounds down in the first week, and I had a lot of disorganized eating, and episodes of wanton gluttony, but as they say in many philosophies like the law of Attraction, Positive Thinking, Zen ideal, etc... Your MIND is the most important part of any change. So, as I focus on increasing my health--mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, then THAT is what must happen. "What you think about you bring about." (from The Secret, though I don't recall the speakers name).
Okay, now onto today: I drank 12 oz of water on the ride to dropping the kids off at school, then got a small (12oz) coffee at Stewart's with half & half and a little sugar. I at a bowl (approx 1 cup (2 packets) of plain instant oatmeal and sprinkled in some dried cherries (less than 1/4 cup)--but no milk or sugar). I also had a 6oz Raspberry Dannon Light & Fit yogurt. And a bottle of water (which I took my herbal supplements with, except the approximate gram of cinnamon which I added to the oatmeal near the end (too much to be enjoyable through the whole bowl but, okay when concentrated into the last couple of bites, as I do use it for medicinal purposes...)
Side note: I have figured out a way to heat water to at least luke-warm to make the oatmeal in the car--using a smaller plastic water bottle (16 oz store brand with thin walls), I wedge the bottle 1/2 of water between the defrost heater output and the windshield. The hour long drive heats the water to a nice almost hot temperature, which I then pour over the instant oatmeal--and viola, warm oatmeal without having to pay $1.60 for a cup of hot water. I wonder if it will work for those little Campbell's Soup at Hand things, as they are about the same diameter, I'll have to try that.....
So YEAH 6 pounds down in 7 days (74 more to go to reach my first goal). AND (ignoring the raging snow storm) it is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING. Life is Good, Life is GOOD!
So, lets start off with the weekly weigh-in:
Here is last week's (the very first-March14, 2011) weigh-in at 305lbs:
So, 6 pounds down in the first week, and I had a lot of disorganized eating, and episodes of wanton gluttony, but as they say in many philosophies like the law of Attraction, Positive Thinking, Zen ideal, etc... Your MIND is the most important part of any change. So, as I focus on increasing my health--mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, then THAT is what must happen. "What you think about you bring about." (from The Secret, though I don't recall the speakers name).
Okay, now onto today: I drank 12 oz of water on the ride to dropping the kids off at school, then got a small (12oz) coffee at Stewart's with half & half and a little sugar. I at a bowl (approx 1 cup (2 packets) of plain instant oatmeal and sprinkled in some dried cherries (less than 1/4 cup)--but no milk or sugar). I also had a 6oz Raspberry Dannon Light & Fit yogurt. And a bottle of water (which I took my herbal supplements with, except the approximate gram of cinnamon which I added to the oatmeal near the end (too much to be enjoyable through the whole bowl but, okay when concentrated into the last couple of bites, as I do use it for medicinal purposes...)
Side note: I have figured out a way to heat water to at least luke-warm to make the oatmeal in the car--using a smaller plastic water bottle (16 oz store brand with thin walls), I wedge the bottle 1/2 of water between the defrost heater output and the windshield. The hour long drive heats the water to a nice almost hot temperature, which I then pour over the instant oatmeal--and viola, warm oatmeal without having to pay $1.60 for a cup of hot water. I wonder if it will work for those little Campbell's Soup at Hand things, as they are about the same diameter, I'll have to try that.....
So YEAH 6 pounds down in 7 days (74 more to go to reach my first goal). AND (ignoring the raging snow storm) it is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING. Life is Good, Life is GOOD!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Day 7--the end of the day...
Okay so, lets top out the end of the first week of this adventure.
After my 8:00am breakfast, I had another cup of tea. At 10:30am I had a multigrain sandwich thin with PB and a dab of honey. And another cup of tea, then some water.
At 12:30 we had a lunch of left over ziti. I had water with my lunch.
At 3:00pm I had a bowl of icecream, and some water. Then I had a small piece of leftover birthday cake.
At 6:30, we had a dinner of a small amount of scrambled eggs, a sandwich thin toasted, and a bol of cornflakes with banana and milk (the kids had the eggs with wheat toast and mandarin oranges).
At 9:00, I had another bowl of corn flakes with peaches and milk. And then a large cup of water.
So that rounds out my food journaling for the day. I have to figure out how to upload a little video that shows my first weigh in from last week. I will be taking another one tomorrow morning. So I will have a record of weigh change...
I need some sleep now though.... goodnight all...
After my 8:00am breakfast, I had another cup of tea. At 10:30am I had a multigrain sandwich thin with PB and a dab of honey. And another cup of tea, then some water.
At 12:30 we had a lunch of left over ziti. I had water with my lunch.
At 3:00pm I had a bowl of icecream, and some water. Then I had a small piece of leftover birthday cake.
At 6:30, we had a dinner of a small amount of scrambled eggs, a sandwich thin toasted, and a bol of cornflakes with banana and milk (the kids had the eggs with wheat toast and mandarin oranges).
At 9:00, I had another bowl of corn flakes with peaches and milk. And then a large cup of water.
So that rounds out my food journaling for the day. I have to figure out how to upload a little video that shows my first weigh in from last week. I will be taking another one tomorrow morning. So I will have a record of weigh change...
I need some sleep now though.... goodnight all...
Day 7--It is a NEW day...
"Today is a new day. I am starting over today."
I take that quote from one of the visualization tools from the secret (www.thesecret.tv). During the week I usually try to focus myself each morning after getting the kids to school by using the visualization tools. They are essentially visual affirmations to help focus thought and intention in a positive direction, to increase your feel good feelings and to help you begin your day in a better frame of mind.
I was thinking about those two affirmations this morning. Today IS a NEW day--it is fresh, it is the chance to start over again, to let go of what happened yesterday, or last week, or last year, or even 20 years ago. It doesn't matter what has happened before, what has been done to you or what you have done that brings you shame. Today, right now, you have the power to make choices--choices about how you are going to feel, choices about what you are going to focus your thoughts and energy on, choices about what actions you take. Even if you are bedridden by disease, housebound due to infirmity or mental issues, incarcerated due to bad choices made on a different day; Even if you are sitting there looking at a stack of debt, losing your house, and wondering how you are going to get back on your feet; Even is you are enjoying a cup of coffee on a beautiful deck surrounded by a gorgeous view and a loving and stable family, and everything is going great in your life--- Today is a NEW day, a day that you can choose, by changing your perspective (or keeping the good perspective you already have had) to focus on positive things in your life or about yourself. A new day to start over and start walk TOWARDS what you want instead of spending so much time and energy focusing on what you do NOT want.
So, as with the gift we are given every day--I am STARTING OVER today...starting over with my attitude, starting over with where I focus my energy, starting over with my relationship with my children, starting over with my relationship with money, starting over with my relationship with food, and starting over in my journey to a more healthy life--body, mind, and spirit.
So before I go to my gratitude journal (maybe I will do that as a blog at some point, but for now it is in a paper journal, there is a totally different experience in writing with pen and paper as opposed to typing), I will journal my eating habit today...
I have had one bowl of raisin bran with milk, and 2 cups of black tea.
I'll blog again after lunch....
I take that quote from one of the visualization tools from the secret (www.thesecret.tv). During the week I usually try to focus myself each morning after getting the kids to school by using the visualization tools. They are essentially visual affirmations to help focus thought and intention in a positive direction, to increase your feel good feelings and to help you begin your day in a better frame of mind.
I was thinking about those two affirmations this morning. Today IS a NEW day--it is fresh, it is the chance to start over again, to let go of what happened yesterday, or last week, or last year, or even 20 years ago. It doesn't matter what has happened before, what has been done to you or what you have done that brings you shame. Today, right now, you have the power to make choices--choices about how you are going to feel, choices about what you are going to focus your thoughts and energy on, choices about what actions you take. Even if you are bedridden by disease, housebound due to infirmity or mental issues, incarcerated due to bad choices made on a different day; Even if you are sitting there looking at a stack of debt, losing your house, and wondering how you are going to get back on your feet; Even is you are enjoying a cup of coffee on a beautiful deck surrounded by a gorgeous view and a loving and stable family, and everything is going great in your life--- Today is a NEW day, a day that you can choose, by changing your perspective (or keeping the good perspective you already have had) to focus on positive things in your life or about yourself. A new day to start over and start walk TOWARDS what you want instead of spending so much time and energy focusing on what you do NOT want.
So, as with the gift we are given every day--I am STARTING OVER today...starting over with my attitude, starting over with where I focus my energy, starting over with my relationship with my children, starting over with my relationship with money, starting over with my relationship with food, and starting over in my journey to a more healthy life--body, mind, and spirit.
So before I go to my gratitude journal (maybe I will do that as a blog at some point, but for now it is in a paper journal, there is a totally different experience in writing with pen and paper as opposed to typing), I will journal my eating habit today...
I have had one bowl of raisin bran with milk, and 2 cups of black tea.
I'll blog again after lunch....
Day 6--Weird day...
I can't go into all the weirdness of the day, but I wanted to make good on my promise to myself to publicly journal my eating. So at nearly 12:30 at night (technically day 7, but reporting day 6)...
Breakfast--reheated coffee with half and half and 1 sugar around 8am
A's sister wanted to take us all out for breakfast, so I had coffee and the kids had a light breakfast of cereal as we were going to meet for breakfast between 9-10am
However they slept in and did not call until after 10:45am, so around 9:45 the kids and I had a banana each.
at 11:20am we met for brunch at the diner
I had 2 eggs over medium with 2 sausage patties and 2 pieces of rye toast with butter, and a cup of coffee and a glass of water. I also shared some of A's home fries.
After brunch A's sister headed home for her 4 hour drive. And we came back to my house. A had to leave for work at 2:00, but got to hang out with the boys and play some video games.
I had a bowl of Kid's Peanut Butter Crunch (like generic capt crunch) with milk around 3:00pm, and the kids had a cereal snack as well (they seem to be addicted to dry cereal sometimes). They also had some slim jim type snack sticks (the tiny ones) and I had a small portion of Ziti.
Mom stopped by and we had coffee as well around 4:00pm.
Oddly we ate dinner late, around 7:00pm. We had some of the ziti that was left over from last night and G ate some of the meatballs. After dinner, the kids had peaches for their snack, and after they went to bed, I had a piece of left over birthday cake.
Then, instead of blogging or writing, or doing ANYTHING productive, I sat down to check out G's new video game--Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. A's niece (adult) sent birthday gifts up with A's sister for G as it was his birthday last week. So G had presents from his aunt and his 2 cousins (the lawyer and the doctor--pretty amazing family to have two young ladies (still in their 20's) already with high degrees, and a son in college studying prelaw--A's sister is amazing).
So one of the gifts G got was this new video game, and I like to play them ahead so that when the kids get stuck, Mom knows what to do. most of their games are really simple s(as they are 4 and 8) so I don't really play them too much ahead, as I can figure them out as they go along if the kids get stuck. But this one was a little more complex,so I wanted to get through a few levels. Which is why from about 9:00pm until 12:30am I have been sucked into the game....
And now I am eating another bowl of cereal with milk, and have emptied almost 3/4 of a 2 liter bottle of seltzer water throughout the evening. And I am exhausted and ready for bed. I know, I actually have a rule about eating after like 9:00pm, but I broke that rule tonight. It is definitely time for sleep, after I let the dog in so she does not turn into a doggie Popsicle. I was so happy with the spring weather this past week. It is now quite cold again and was spitting snow earlier. however I have seen geese flying overhead, have had to dodge squirrels and chipmunks on the roads, and the dog has been finding a lot to bark at. I believe that spring has officially and literally begun (and these last few cold blasts over the next month will just have to be tolerated...)
Happy Spring, and Good night...
Breakfast--reheated coffee with half and half and 1 sugar around 8am
A's sister wanted to take us all out for breakfast, so I had coffee and the kids had a light breakfast of cereal as we were going to meet for breakfast between 9-10am
However they slept in and did not call until after 10:45am, so around 9:45 the kids and I had a banana each.
at 11:20am we met for brunch at the diner
I had 2 eggs over medium with 2 sausage patties and 2 pieces of rye toast with butter, and a cup of coffee and a glass of water. I also shared some of A's home fries.
After brunch A's sister headed home for her 4 hour drive. And we came back to my house. A had to leave for work at 2:00, but got to hang out with the boys and play some video games.
I had a bowl of Kid's Peanut Butter Crunch (like generic capt crunch) with milk around 3:00pm, and the kids had a cereal snack as well (they seem to be addicted to dry cereal sometimes). They also had some slim jim type snack sticks (the tiny ones) and I had a small portion of Ziti.
Mom stopped by and we had coffee as well around 4:00pm.
Oddly we ate dinner late, around 7:00pm. We had some of the ziti that was left over from last night and G ate some of the meatballs. After dinner, the kids had peaches for their snack, and after they went to bed, I had a piece of left over birthday cake.
Then, instead of blogging or writing, or doing ANYTHING productive, I sat down to check out G's new video game--Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. A's niece (adult) sent birthday gifts up with A's sister for G as it was his birthday last week. So G had presents from his aunt and his 2 cousins (the lawyer and the doctor--pretty amazing family to have two young ladies (still in their 20's) already with high degrees, and a son in college studying prelaw--A's sister is amazing).
So one of the gifts G got was this new video game, and I like to play them ahead so that when the kids get stuck, Mom knows what to do. most of their games are really simple s(as they are 4 and 8) so I don't really play them too much ahead, as I can figure them out as they go along if the kids get stuck. But this one was a little more complex,so I wanted to get through a few levels. Which is why from about 9:00pm until 12:30am I have been sucked into the game....
And now I am eating another bowl of cereal with milk, and have emptied almost 3/4 of a 2 liter bottle of seltzer water throughout the evening. And I am exhausted and ready for bed. I know, I actually have a rule about eating after like 9:00pm, but I broke that rule tonight. It is definitely time for sleep, after I let the dog in so she does not turn into a doggie Popsicle. I was so happy with the spring weather this past week. It is now quite cold again and was spitting snow earlier. however I have seen geese flying overhead, have had to dodge squirrels and chipmunks on the roads, and the dog has been finding a lot to bark at. I believe that spring has officially and literally begun (and these last few cold blasts over the next month will just have to be tolerated...)
Happy Spring, and Good night...
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