little bit of this, and that

I am sad to say I couldn't handle the Cinch diet.  I did great until the stress from the week caught up with me.  Gary being sick, me being stressed about keeping the kids away from him.  (Have you ever tried to keep your kids away from their daddy after he's been out of town for a week?) All they wanted to do was see him and hug is neck.  Bless their hearts.  They finally got to hug him yesterday.

Wednesday after lunch I was going nuts. I had that weird taste in my mouth, along with hairy feeling teeth...and a non stop head ache.  I also felt so sluggish.  Maybe that diet wasn't the best for me, or the stress was interfering.  I was so sluggish at one point on Wednesday I thought I might be getting the flu. And y'all know me.  I love food, cooking and preparing meals for the family.  If I had to eat another egg with spinach I thought I'd die.  I do love all those foods, but I dunno?  I just couldn't handle it this time.  I did it for 2 1/2 days and maybe I will try again soon.  And I lost 3 pounds. I don't know if it was worth it?

Gary is feeling much better.  Thank you so much for all the well wishes.  He even worked a bit yesterday.  He sat in his office and took a few phone calls.  He was struggling at around 4 in the afternoon.  I looked up from what I was doing and he was asleep on the couch.  Poor guy...the flu really got him down. The wild thing about it all to me is, one of Gary's co -workers was at the same convention in Indianapolis last week.  She got a flu shot and STILL got the flu.  She had is just as bad as Gary.  I'm still thinking we aren't getting shots in the future. Blah!

Yesterday was a horrible day for me.  It was great until I took Hayden to get a haircut and he refused to sit in the seat.  I took him to the bathroom and gave him a talking to, but he didn't care.  I was so mad at him.  He has never acted this way about a haircut.  I couldn't believe it.   So I grabbed him up and left.  I'm sure the people in Sport Clips thought I had lost my mind...they would be correct y'all.  I cried the entire way home.  I was so stressed out.  It seems like my bad day just got worse from there.  Everything went wrong and I just threw my hands in the air and cried some more.  Thankfully, today is a new day and I am so thankful for that.  I hope Gary feels better soon because Hayden really needs a haircut, and I don't want to take him.  Daddy can take him!!  Is it weird that I feel so bad about this, like I am a bad parent because I couldn't make my kid sit down in the chair to get a hair cut?  I feel like my two year old won this battle.  But was it even a battle at all?  Oh and while I'm complaining...Can someone please take NO out of the English language?  That is all Hayden says.  All the time, No, No, No.  Booo!

I am looking so forward to this weekend.  I think the weather is going to be nice!  I want to relax and maybe get a mani-pedi..hint hint Gary!!  I also would love a steak..hint hint Gary. 

What are you doing this weekend? 

Booster Thon

This morning Layla bug had her first BoosterThon.  It was such a cool fundraiser for her kindergarten class, as well as other classes in her elementary school.  The kids ask family and friends for pledges and then have a fun run in which they run laps to actually earn the pledge money. We pledged so many dollars for each lap Layla ran. It is really the only fundraiser in the spring semester at her school.  I was so impressed with how cool it was to see all the kids running and having fun.  All the children in the entire school ended up getting pledges from all 50 states here in the US, so the teachers had to dress up in costumes for the day.  I loved seeing everyone--teachers, principals and parents involved in making sure the kids had a wonderful time.

Lining up to take off running!

Look at the sea of kids...whoooa!

On your mark, get set, GO!!

Here is a picture of the teachers dressed up in fun costumes!

Every time the kids passed the start/finish line volunteers would mark the back of their shirt for each lap they ran.  So fun and such a cool idea!  Here is Layla reeving back up after getting her mark.

Stopping for a quick picture!

Water break...good thing there was a ton of water. The kids faces were so red...they needed hydration!

Slowing it down a bit, walking a lap or two.

Parents and teachers got to walk the final lap with the kiddos.  I was stoked to get to go through the tunnel!  It was such a fun adventure.  Bless the teachers hearts.  They are going to have some very tired kids on their hands this afternoon.  Layla ran almost 30 laps.  I am so happy for her and can't wait to talk to her more about her first fun run :)

I am such a silly emotional mommy sometimes.  I just get so overwhelmed with happiness. I teared up at this silly run.  What am I going to do at her wedding?  I'll be a nasty slobbery mess.  Ughhh!  We used to live about 30 miles away from our current house. What if we would have stayed there?  We moved because at the time it just wasn't home for us. This is home.  I feel like God helped us find this house, he helped us build it, and placed us here in this community.  He made sure Layla was in the best school for her right now. She is surrounded by amazing friends and teachers.  I just love to see her so happy at school.  She is a bubbly little girl and has many friends.  Seeing some of the other children running alone not socializing with other kids, it broke my heart.  I want to tell her to be friends with everyone. I hope I can raise her to be kind and compassionate.  I hope with God's help I can raise a sweet loving daughter and a brave honorable little boy. 

here's the scoop

I very rarely watch TV during the day.  It may be on, but I don't sit down and watch it, unless it is The Young and the Restless.  I watch it every day.  Anyway, the TV was on one morning while Rachel Ray was on and Gary and I saw Cynthia Sass talking about her Cinch 5 day fast forward weight loss plan.  She actually has a 30 day plan, but the first 5 days are supposed to help you get over the hump and help with the cravings for fatty/sugary foods.  Gary and I both saw the segment and knew we could do it!  We just needed the perfect time.  One of my blog friends Kelli posted about it too...you can read her post here.

I have been letting myself eat whatever I want.  I count calories every day and enter them into an iPhone app.  I do better not eating so terribly bad if I hold myself accountable. Once the warmer weather hit I remembered the swimming pool...bathing suit and shorts weather.  Summer is not far away...my kids love to play in the water and go to our community pool.  I have to get these few extra pounds off.  Gary and I decided once he got home from his business trip, we would start the Cinch program on Monday.  I bought the groceries for the plan.  I literally ate everything we had here at home and only purchased the 5 foods so I wouldn't be tempted to mess up...haha!  I didn't want an excuse to wuss out.  Well, when Gary came down with the flu, I lost my partner.  But, I am still doing it.  I bought the book and read the entire thing on my Nook app.  The book is so full of recipes for the latter 25 day program.  And it of course has recipes for the 5 day fast forward and a shopping list.  All that for $13.80 and I didn't have to leave the house.  Not to mention I couldn't find the book in the few stores I went to. 

The food you can eat during these 5 days:

eggs

plain yogurt

raspberries

spinach

almonds

I started Monday morning rushing the kids to school.  I was so tired because Gary went to ER that night.  I almost gave up before I started.  But around 8 am I scrambled my egg, sauteed my spinach and measured out my raspberries and almonds for meal #1.  I ate the scramble pretty fast and took the raspberries and almonds with me on my way to take Hayden to school.  I drank a ton of water also...which is so important in any weight loss plan.  I drank a cup of coffee...with splenda.  You aren't supposed to have artificial sweeteners, but I can't do coffee black. And I was so tired I needed coffee.  I hadn't planned on having it, but life happens y'all!!

At around 12:30pm I made a parfait.  It consisted of yogurt, raspberries and almonds.  It was a little hard to swallow at first. So much thick regular non-fat yogurt...but I added cinnamon and it was WAY better.  And of course I drank water.  The plan says you can have tea, but so far I am just doing water.

All day I felt a weird feeling in my chest and stomach.  I can't explain it.  I wasn't sure if I was getting (flu) sick, or if it was the diet. Not pain, but a cool-slight burning. Also...my teeth feel like they have hair on them.  I can't brush my teeth enough.  I'm not a huge berry fan, maybe the berries make my teeth feel weird.  Besides being a little hungry in between meals those are the only side effects so far.

Dinnertime (5:30pm) rolled around and I made myself a hard boiled egg, a bowl of spinach (2 cups) and then I had a side bowl of raspberries and slivered almonds.  I chopped the egg and threw it on my spinach and put a ton of pepper on the "salad'.  I topped the salad with clementine juice. Surprisingly it was good.  I was about done with the raspberries by then though.  Ugh!  And my thought was I have 4 more days of this and a smoothie tonight.  Yep, since you are supposed to eat every 4 hours you have a smoothie late like at 10pm.  I tried so hard to stay up to have my last meal, but I was so dang tired from the day and the night before.  I fell asleep and missed my smoothie. Shoot.  I hope that doesn't mess me up. 

I woke up very hungry this morning, Tuesday.  After I dropped Layla off at school I had more time to make my breakfast.  I spent a few minutes scrambling the egg alone this time. (yesterday I scrambled the spinach and egg all together), Then I sauteed spinach after I scrambled the egg.  I put garlic and onion powder on the spinach and a touch of olive oil.  It was much better than the rush job I did on Monday morning. I ate it with blueberries and slivered almonds.  I don't know if blueberries are OK, but I can't do raspberries every single day.

I did a few things different than the plan recommends and I'm hoping those few changes will be OK. Let me just tell you, it was so hard to fix the kids dinner last night.  I wanted a bite of their mac and cheese, but I was strong.  The worst is seeing commercials for food.  I don't usually do things half way and I am determined.  I really like these 5 foods, so I don't feel too deprived.  I hope it gives me the jump start I need to curve my sweet tooth and more than anything I just want to retrain my brain.  I want to treat myself to good stuff once in awhile, not every day.  Lately I just grab a cupcake or candy whenever the mood strikes me.  Gotta get back on track and if I loose 8 lbs in 5 days then hallelujah!!

I will try to post again on Thursday to let you know how I am doing.  I know there are several of you that have questions, so if I didn't answer them in this post, email me and I can try to help you.

Monday night bullet points

• Last night, Gary came home from his week long business trip sick.  Not just sick, but 104 temperature sick.as.a.dog.  I was so worried about him, so I loaded him up in the car  and took him to the ER.  Once there they listened to his lungs and realised they were full of fluid.  Poor guy.  They did ex-rays and pumped him full of fluids.  While gone on his trip he got the flu.  I don't think either one of us has ever had the flu.  He was in bad shape.  Thankfully he is doing much better tonight.  He is still weak, but much better.  I won't let the kids near him.  He was allowed to eat his soup at the dinner table with the three of us, but I won't let him touch anything in the kitchen or rest of the house. 
• I am doing the Cinch diet.  It is a 5 day fast forward plan to jump start healthy eating.  You can possible lose 8 pounds in 5 days.  I bought all the groceries (spinach, almonds, raspberries, yogurt and eggs) for it and was ready to start on Monday...today.  Bad time to start a new eating program when your husband is sick. BUT I started and it was ok.  I wanted to emotional eat all day long, but I didn't.  I will post more about the eating plan this week.  I am just really tired tonight.
• But not to tired to watch the Bachelor. Home town dates tonight!  Whoo hoo!
• My kids realized that when they toot in the tub it makes bubbles.  Oh my goodness...the giggles that discovery produced.  I was worried they were going to make themselves do something other than toot.  They were trying so hard to toot.
• And that is an ender...can't really post much more..nothing can top the inappropriate toot/potty talk.  ha!

Peace out y'all!

single sentence Sunday

I can't even begin to explain how happy it makes my heart when I see my kids playing together peacefully.

If you picked 5 you were right!

1. I was allergic to chocolate when I was a kid.

True....isn't that so sad.  But true!  I am not a big chocolate fan now because I didn't eat it much as a kid.


2. I sleep with a snuggie blanket every night.

True....I sleep with my snuggie because Gary is always hot and I am always cold.  So I use my snuggie on top of my sheet and we are all happy.


3. I got married on the beach at sunrise.

True...it was awesome!!


4. I worked as an optician before I had kids.

True...I loved my job.  I worked for the best bosses ever.  I hated to leave them, but knew from the day I got pregnant I wanted to stay home with my kids.


5. I love mushrooms. Love love love them and could eat them at every meal.

My LIE....I do not like mushrooms.  They are slimy and nasty.  I do cook with them sometimes, and I made stuffed mushrooms for Gary because he loves them. 



6. I am very competitive when playing board games, cards and/or dominoes.

True....I love playing games and I get wild and crazy.  Luckily I haven't lost any friends because of it.


So there you have it, and for the record I am done lying for now ;)