weight watchers here I am

So I did it. I joined weight watchers. Again. The last time I did WW was several years ago. Really, many years ago. This time I am doing it online. It seems to be the best fit for me right now. After reading my sister-in-law's blog I was inspired by her. So here I am. I am excited that it seems a little more flexible then it was when I last did it. Of course I am still STARVING!!! I am realizing how much I used to eat, especially candy. :(

Today was a pretty good day. It is only my 2nd real day on so I am really feeling the cravings badly. But I only had 2 slices of pizza instead of 3 and a big salad with it. Little victories, that is what it is about for me right now.

I am a bad blogger!

I had thought that with all my new-found time not spent in grad school I would be able to blog regularly, among other things. Like re-organize my entire house, magically be a super neat person (as opposed to my clutter-bug self) and work-out like a fiend. Needless to say, none of that stuff has gotten done. So here is the run down...

I was working out on a pretty regular basis and was doing well until 2 weeks ago. Between snow storms and a few other crazy things going on in this thing called life, I have fallen off the bandwagon. It does not help that I was eating better (though not great) and exercising 3-4 times a week for over an hour each time and I GAINED weight. One week I thought I was losing but I didn't. I felt like my body was starting to change but the scale was not budging and my clothes did not get looser. I finally have a doctor who I feel is listening to my concerns. One of the 1st things she said was that I need to see an endocrinologist based on my symptoms. Even if it turns out that my hormones are all A-OK then at least I will feel that I was listened to and taken seriously.

Vinnie is doing great in school and I am so proud of him. It is so hard to go to school at night after working all day. And then on those nights he is missing time with Lilly (and me) and on the other nights he is doing homework while I try to go to the gym.

My job is basically on the line due to the new governor's lack of support for early childhood education. I am hoping that I will be able to stay where I am or move into another position within the department. I had been given the impression in December that it was a strong possibility. Now, not so much. So I am just doing the best job I can and updating my resume just in case.

We had a crazy moment with Lilly 2 weeks ago. To make a long story short, Lilly choked on a tiny piece of tater tot and I had to do the Heimlich maneuver on her. It was intensely scary and I am so grateful that I have been trained. It made me want to tell every parent and caregiver to make sure they know how to do CPR and the Heimlich.

Okay, I think that is all the news for now.

Cheers!

Martin Luther King, jr. Day 2010

I am home today from work, in observance of Martin Luther King, jr. day. In years past I was reflecting on the life of MLK for the week or so leading up to the holiday because I was planning and executing lesson plans about him. This year I did not really reflect on it until today. My first reflection was on our world. I believe that MLK's vision will not be complete until equal rights are given to everybody. That includes those with disabilities and homosexuals. Specifically I am thinking about same-sex marriage, a hot button topic these days. Disability rights is often considered the last frontier in equal rights.

More importantly I have been self-reflecting. Where is the peace within myself? How are my daily interactions with my spouse, daughter, friends and family members? What do I do to make sure that I can be at peace? Is there anything I do or that happens on a regular basis that makes me feel not at peace? How can I change my circumstances so that I do not put myself into situations like that?

How could the world change if more people self-reflected on their own inner peace?

Mickey :(

Mickey is one of my mom's dogs. He is the best. He was a rescue, naturally. A big Australian Shepard with an even bigger heart. Well, Mick has cancer and my parents will be putting him down when we have all said our good-byes. Vin, Lilly and I will go over today.

So here is a little bit about Mickey, or Mickalla as I often called him...

He has an insatiable appetite. Literally...he was terrible! Some things he has eaten over the years: a huge tub of I can't believe it's not butter, a jar of Tiger Balm, uncounted numbers of make-up...he was especially fond of foundation and lipstick, bags of chocolate....He loves the finer chocolate, whole steaks off the grill or counter, and the list could go on. It is not really his fault. He was a starving pup when my mom took him in. A wild thing! He would jump (all 4 feet) up on the kitchen table and start helping himself. My mom quickly trained him not to do that!!

He is my mom's shadow. He would follow her to the ends of the earth. When my mom has gone away he would sit and stare at the door. One time I was there and had to move her car. The poor thing was so excited when I came in because he thought she was home.

When I was newly pregnant with Lilly he would come sit by me and put his head near my belly. After Lilly was born and I was staying at my mom's he would come get someone when the baby would cry. He would have a very concerned look on his face as if he was saying, someone take care of that baby! Now he is Lilly's best bud. She calls all dogs "Mick". My mom's other dog, Finnegan, cannot be trusted around children so he is always in another room or outside when we are there. Mick has shown Lilly true doggy love. He lets her hug him and brush his hair.

Mickey will leave a big hole in all our hearts when he is no longer physically with us, but his spirit will be with us forever.

Have fun up there with Shannon, O'Hara and Puss, Mickey. Give them all a lick and a nudge from me.

Lazy Sundays?

Now that I am working Sundays have generally become my biggest day of work, as opposed to the traditional day of rest.

Here is what I have done and need to do today: Went to 1/2 Mass (because Lilly could only make it through half); came home and made breakfast for Vin, Lilly and myself; washed the dishes and pots from last night and emptied/refilled the dishwasher; put Lilly in for nap; worked out at the gym (cardio & stretching); as I came home Lilly was waking up so I heated up lunch for all of us; gathered laundry and started it; now I am blogging :); need to do about 3-4 more loads of laundry and put it away; go grocery shopping; cook dinner; get Lilly's stuff ready for daycare and my stuff ready for work; make lunches; bathe Lilly and get her to bed.

Generally I like lists. I like to write them, look at them, cross things off of them...you get the idea. Sundays list is so daunting that I just try to get through it by routine. Because that is the kicker of it all...this is not an extraordinary Sunday. This is a regular, every Sunday thing. Granted Vin helps out. But I still feel like mostly everything falls upon my shoulders. I guess it is a good thing I have such broad shoulders.