Let me catch my breath.

Things have been so crazy lately that I feel like I'm barely able to keep up with myself!  We got back from Des Moines and 2 days later, the boys and I caught a flight to Washington where we visited with my family there.  It was a very fun 11 days, but also was tiring taking care of two boys as my cold turned into bronchitis and I had some pretty severe asthma.  We got back at about 1:00 A.M. this past Sunday morning and I was able to get some much-needed rest the past few days.

Today I started back to work.  Let me catch you up.  The first time, several weeks ago, it didn't end up working out which was actually good, as I had agreed to work 4 days a week and looking back, I was probably a little goofy thinking I could actually do that and maintain sanity.  I admire you mom's that work full-time.  That is a tough task and so many of you do it so well!  So Monday evening I got a message from Brandon, my boss and friend, who said they needed me after all, and that it would be great if I could start Wednesday (today).  It all happened to work out with childcare and I've agreed to work Monday mornings, and a full day on both Tuesday and Thursday.  This is a very do-able schedule for me and I am very thankful to have the extra income.

Speaking of Brandon, ahheeemmmm...He and his family, 5 people whom I love dearly (Maria, Mitchell, Blythe and Brynley), have announced that they are moving to North Carolina.  While I'd like to try anything to make them stay (selfishly, of course), and I have actually tried to think of something I could do to make them stay, I have to realize that instead of feeling sad that I should rejoice for the time God blessed us with by placing them in our lives.  They are some of the most kind-hearted, loving, fun, cool, gracious and meaningful people I've known.  I have no doubt they will be very happy and that God is leading them.  It's hard to leave people you appreciate and hard to be the ones left.  We've been on both sides and neither is easy.  I ask that you join me in praying for the Nudd family as they anticipate and begin their new life in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.  We will miss you terribly! Ok, well at least they will likely be here a couple more months, give or take.  :)  I can cram in some time with them, although they might get sick of me hanging around all the time!  Oh well.  They shouldn't have told me they were leaving then.

I haven't weighed on Friday's like I'm supposed to.  I'll get back at it this week.  It's been too hard being on vacation across the country to keep up with it.

You won't find me on facebook or anywhere else on the internet (except for email and my blog), or reading books or magazines, or watching tv or movies for a little under 2 weeks.  My sis and I decided to try a "Media Fast" where we stop all of our bad habits and vices and only allow ourselves to journal and read our bibles.  It's already been very interesting and I'll let you know how the experiment has gone, once we finish.

It's just after 9:00 P.M., but I am so tired I think I might go to bed right now.  Good night!

Welcome to Des Moines

What an interesting trip this has proven to be.  All four of us are sick with this nasty cold to some degree.  We left Chicago on Friday much later than we had hoped, and once we got to our hotel in Des Moines, our relief was short-lived when Max threw up all over himself.  This was not some little spit up scenario, but a full-fledged heaving kind of throw up.  I felt so bad for him.

We had stopped for a plethora of medicines at Walgreens on our way to the hotel and as I gave Mason his cough medicine at bedtime, he completely missed his mouth and spilled it all over his blanket and himself.  Sometimes you just have to smile.

My cold has turned into something much closer to a full-fledged sinus infection and Mike is also battling this irritating illness. If we didn't love Kyla so much, I can say this would have been an easy decision to stay home.  On the upside, the hotel we're staying at has an indoor water park complete with a pirate ship that Mason has been more than delighted to explore.  I'll post some pictures after we return home.

The wedding was so much fun on Saturday night.  Kyla looked amazing and we're so happy for her and Lance.  They make a beautiful couple both inside and out.  Today we're going to take the boys over to see them at their house before we watch the Chiefs game with Dad Murrill and have to head home.

Please pray that we'll all start to feel better.  I've been sick over a week now and am concerned how the flight to Washington will go Tuesday if we are still fighting this virus.

Annoyed

This morning I'm a bit frustrated and more than a little annoyed.  However, I'll get over it.  I weighed in at 165.6 pounds this morning.  All week I've been weighing myself almost everyday and I've been weighing 164.6.  A whole pound lighter!  Oh well, that's how it goes, I suppose.  Maybe next week I can lose again.  I did, however, make good on my promise of having no sugar.  It's a good thing too, because I've been fighting a cold since last weekend that I can't seem to get over.  I'm sure if I had been having sugar, it would have already developed into something much worse.

In a few hours we are headed off to Des Moines, Iowa for the weekend.  One of Mike's friends from Grad school, who our whole family has come to love, Kyla, is getting married!  We are so happy for her and so glad we can make the trip to celebrate with her.  Dad Murrill is meeting us there tomorrow to watch the boys as we go to the wedding.  Sunday there is a luncheon where we'll get to take the boys to see the new bride and groom.

Thank you to Timi and Gina, for sharing your ideas last week for accomplishing a goal!  That meant a lot to me!  I've decided to take the next two weeks and devote one week to each of you!  First, for this week, I'll try out Timi's method and try to give myself prizes and incentives for doing a good job.  I know that it's probably meant to be spread out over a much larger time period, but I'm going to try it anyway.  I'll about Gina's goal next week.

After we get back from Iowa on Sunday night, the boys and I have until Tuesday to be at home.  Tuesday evening Mason, Max and I are flying to Washington to have fun with family for 11 days!  I'm so excited to see everyone but a little nervous about the flights out there with just me and two little guys!  I hope they will do good.  I may not be able to keep up with my blog for the next several weeks, depending on how it goes, so bear with me.  I will still weigh each week and post the results when I get back, if not before.

Have a great weekend!

The good, the bad, and the shocking

This week I feel like there is both good and bad to report when it comes to my weight-loss resolution.

First, the good: I weighed in at 165.6 this morning!  Yay.

But then there's the bad: I've continued to stay off of sugar, but I totally cheated this week.  I had a rice-crispy treat last weekend (okay...full admission: I had more than one), a chocolate frosty from Wendy's on Wednesday (but at least it was a small), and a piece of chocolate cake at Jen's baby shower last night.  Whew!  Now that the burden of stolen sugar is off my shoulders, I feel even lighter.  Pun kind of intended.  Let's see if I can try this again for the week and actually not eat any sugar going forward!

The big news is that I'm going back to work.  Don't be too shocked, I'm still in love with being at home full-time with Mason and Max, but my fellow-recruiter at the hospital is re-locating out of state so I've agreed to help temporarily while they work to fill the position.  It's going to be interesting - an adjustment for me as I'll be working twice as much per week as when I resigned.  I'll be working 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday and this will go until sometime at the end of November or into December a bit.  Living on one income has necessitated some lifestyle changes for us and things are definitely tighter financially (anyone want to buy a 2005 Pathfinder?).  I'm grateful for the option I have to make some extra money for us right now.

Here's where I need you:  What is a suggestion or encouragement that you wouldn't mind sharing, that has helped you with a goal (weight-loss or other) in the past?  Leave a comment to share with me and my 2 readers (ha ha).