Don't try this at home...

So we all know by now that I am have a degree in accidents. I am extremely prone to accidents. I am posting a picture of my recent, well a few weeks ago at least, accident. Here's the scoop:

A few days afer Tom left, I was cleaning up the deck. One item in paticular...a fishing pole...with a brand new hook and a very pretty plastic fish. I grabbed the pole and walked over to the shed. My neighbor across the lagoon asked how we were doing with Tom away, and I said pretty good. She said if we ever needed help to ask. I said okay and proceeded to put the fishing pole in the shed. I slid my hand down the pole and ouch! I hooked my finger! I tried to get it out but it wouldn't budge at all. The interesting part, there wasn't any blood. So I yelled across the lagoon to my neighbor that I needed to take her up on that offer! So here she comes along with her husband and none of us could get the hook out. It was bedtime for the girls so I sent them to bed. My other neighbor came over as well to check things out and we all agreed that the hook wasn't coming out. I needed to go to the ER. So my neighbor drove me to the nearest ER while the other neighbor stayed with the girls. And yes, I did cut the line so all that was hanging out was the hook.

Once I got to the ER they took me back right away. After three shots in the webbing area of the fingers, which was painful, they proceeded to take it out. But even the doctor couldn't get it out. So he asked for a scalpel and I asked for more drugs. No such luck. I had to toughen up but I was flipping out because there was a lot of blood. Finally, they got it out. Turns out it was hooked on a tendon. No stitches because of how long the hook was in there. They said it would be worse to stitch it up. So they wrapped it up, updated my tetnus shot and home I went. It's healed now but whenever I bend that finger it still hurts.

So the moral of this story? If you ever want to know how a fish feels....just ask it :) Enjoy the pictures!

Trying Something New

So as you all know the weight loss battle has been rough for me. I'm not winning right now. I'm eating good, exercising but my body is not cooperating. So, I have done research into the HCG diet. It's a hard one to do, especially the second phase. 40 days of a 500 calorie a day meals/snacks. Very small portions. I'm not sure how I will do on this but we will see.

I so want to win this battle. I am hoping to lose at least 40 lbs by the time Tom comes home. If you have never had a weight problem, be thankful. Because it consumes your life. But at the same time if you don't have a weight problem you did something that I didn't do in the past...eat right and exercise regularly. So good for you! Keep it up! Don't get in my position...ever! I hope to join you soon :)

Having said that I am going to get dinner ready. Fish, jasmine rice and steamed veggies.

A Different Father's Day

I woke up this morning and finished watching my recorded episode of "The Talk" from yesterday. I was eager to finish this episode as they were surprising a military family with a very special gift. Their husband/father for Father's Day. He was stationed overseas in Iraq for at least 7 months. This was the first Father's Day they have been apart. The surprise was amazing for the family, and for myself watching I felt happy for this family. I also wished that I could somehow do that for Kailey and Natalie but I can't. For now, Skype is their only connection to Tom.

I asked both girls how they felt about Daddy missing Father's Day this year. They both said they were sad but they said it's not so bad because they see him on the computer. I've never been one to be thankful for technology because of all the flaws it seems to have, but this I am thankful for.

I found myself thinking about the past ten years of my life with Tom. In July we will celebrate our ten year anniversary....but he will not be here to celebrate with me. Ten years is a milestone. We have been through so much since we met in 2001. Our lives have grown, our family has grown, and God has given us so much to be thankful for. I always tell God that he gave me an amazing blessing with Tom and the girls. Ten years in the military hasn't been easy for any of us. Tom has to go when they say "go" and we have to tackles problems at home without him. Sometimes I am mad at him for leaving us but I know it's not his decision. Tom was already in the Air Force when I met him, and I knew some of the things I was getting into by having a brother in the Army, but you are never prepared. Long shifts, no paternity leave when Natalie was born (and having a 1 year old toddler with a newborn is no picnic), missing school functions, and shifts that change so much it makes your head spin. Although it isn't always easy, I have seen the world with Tom because of his career in the Air Force. I chose to be his wife because he asked me and because I couldn't imagine one day without him in my life. He makes me laugh and brings me so much joy. Part of being a military wife is living life without the man you love for a short time. But knowing he is doing it because he loves us and he loves his country. Nine more years of being a military wife and I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to his retiring. But until then I will stand by him, do my part by raising our kids, and supporting him even when times are tough....like Father's Day and our anniversary.

Even though my husband isn't here on this special day, my heavenly father is here and we are not alone. His presence is constant.

Spring

Despite the extreme heat temps we had last week, Spring is back. I would like to have a few more Spring days for the Summer heat waves settle in. It was way too hot to go outside and poor Bella was so hot with her fur. I let her out to do her business, then right back in. We didn't even walk her. She has a permanent fur coat and I am sure she can quickly have a heat stroke.

This is the last week of school for the girls, and they are excited. They love school but I can tell they are ready for a break. I have so many fun activities planned for them. I love being a SAHM...Stay At Home Mom....and I feel that I have so many opportunities to help them grow this summer. Eventually I will go back to work so I want to cherish this time I have with them and show them the world outside of our home.

We miss Tom so much. He is doing well but misses us too. Thank goodness for Skype! The connection isn't always the best but it brings so much joy to our hearts to just have ten minutes with him. October seems so far away. I try not to think about the time. But every day I tell the girls it's another day closer to Daddy coming home.

I'm posting some Spring photos. Some of Cape May and the lighthouse we visited, our German Shepherd of four months, Bella, and of course the fam.

Blizzard 2010...Welcome to New Jersey

We made it to New Jersey! December 16th we rolled into our new home after almost a week of driving across country from Idaho. The highlights of the trip were stops we made to Nebraska and Indiana to see some awesome friends! It was as if time had never passed. We had great conversations and we were very sad to have to leave so soon. There never seems to be enough time but we are thankful for what we have.

The day after Christmas, a huge snow storm hit the east coast. By evening, we had 15 inches in our front yard. The next morning, we had 25 inches with 4 ft. snow drifts! Tom spent five hours digging us out and was able to borrow a snow blower from our neighbor. What a mess but it is melting slowly and we can see our Christmas decorations again :) So we will be able to pack those up in a few days.

Our youngest, Natalie, turned six years old on December 28th! She is looking forward to this weekend her big birthday party with family. Both girls are having fun playing the Wii that they received for Christmas and their dancing Mickey.

We are looking forward to the warmer weather so we can sit on our deck and enjoy good times with friends and family. Well, we don't have any friends yet but by Summer we should! Enjoy the pictures and we hope that your holiday was safe and fun!

Detox and Mind Over Matter

During training this morning, I asked my trainer if he thought I was ready to go on my own. He said almost. My biggest problem is letting fear and the "I can't's" get to me. If something looks too hard, I give up before I even try. For example, last week my trainer wanted me to jump up onto some steps. Before I even started, I felt defeated. I gave up before even trying. It broke me down for a few minutes. It reminded me of when I was in middle school and my P.E. teacher had us jump hurdles. Being so short, I not only didn't make it over the hurdle but I fell and was laughed at by my peers. Being short has always made me feel like I can't do certain things. But at the end of my workout I had mastered the steps. My trainer helped me through it and he opened up my eyes to a truth that I never knew....I give up too easily.

That was a hard lesson to learn. I'm still learning how to overcome obstacles. Even as an adult, I still have lessons to learn.

Another exercise I had to do was so tough, I was quoting Philipians 4:13 in my head over and over again. When I was young, my parents made me quote that verse every time I said "I can't." I guess part of me never completed that lesson. Maybe one day I will.

I believe that this whole experience has made me a different person. As a mother, a woman and a wife. I know now that I am much stronger than I thought I was. I will make it through this battle. And that's exactly what it is...a battle. I sincerely hope that my experience can be a testimony of weight loss. The struggles, the joy, the pain, and the outcome are worth it. I will get there. I pray that God will give me the strength to continue because I still have a long way to go.

I have a few days left of my detox. Nothing but fruits, veggies, almonds, granola and lots of water. Talk about tough! My body is doing good but my mind is playing tricks on me. Craving bread and butter, pasta, even just a piece of chicken. But I will overcome these cravings and make it to Friday. Maybe Saturday. We are leaving to Colorado for Thanksgiving on Saturday, so I don't know if I will continue it.

Everything I am going through is truly mind over matter and proof that when you give you struggles to the Lord, he provides a way to get through them.

If you are going through the same weight loss battle as I am....good for you! We will get through it and at the end of the road we will be healthier and stronger.

Why?

Why do people not smile and say hello when you take the time to do so?

Why do people stand in the hallway of a hotel and talk very loudly at 10:52 at night, while little children are trying to sleep inside one of the rooms?

Why do drivers give you the finger when you go the speed limit? You are just trying to protect the precious cargo inside your car AND provide safety for the other drivers on the road.

Why does garlic bread taste so good and you crave it when you can't have it?

Why do I wake up in the morning wishing I could have one more hour of sleep when I clearly had the required amount of sleep?

Why am I typing this blog when I should be in bed? I'm debating whether to call the front desk and complain about the noise. So I figured I would blog. These questions are some things I experienced today and I guess you could say why ask why. Life is the way it is sometimes. I'm thankful for what I have inside this hotel room. A husband who loves me, thinks I'm funny, beautiful and the love of his life. Two sweet precious babies sleeping so peacefully with their new pillow pets. Loving their life and making mine interesting and blessing me with their lives. They are pure joy. Even though I had to pull the car over today and have a talk with Kailey about her attitude....she is still pure joy.

I'm going to bed now. It's 11:00 and the noise is still very loud. Hopefully they will be considerate of the other people in this hotel.