Two years ago we were having a hard time helping Gracie (5 yrs old) understand giving/wanting/needing/selfishness/kindness...just to name a few.  There were a lot of things that contributed to the lack of understanding.  Age was a big part of it.  But another big part was the fact that little brother had been getting a lot of extra attention in the 2 years past & that had slowed down dramatically.  Life was calm & it was time to pull in the reins & work on the things in our life that we just couldn't stop to take the time to do in the past few years.

While surfing the net, I came across a blog (via Pinterest) about a women who took her entire family out on her birthday & did random acts of kindness (RAK).  She did 1 for each of her birthdays.  I LOVE this idea.  And with my birthday being right before Thanksgiving & Christmas...it's perfect timing!  Double bonus...it's something that Lulu & I can do together...just the 2 of us, milling around the Tri Cities, making someones day a little brighter.  There are so many character traits in doing this that I want Gracie to understand & love.  I plan on making this a yearly tradition, with hopes that she does it with her children down the road.  We started doing this 2 years ago & it gets better & better every year.  The first year, I'm not gonna lie...was kind of a nightmare.  She REALLY didn't understand why everyone was getting all these balloons, drinks, toys...and she couldn't have one.  Last year I tried to make it a little more kid friendly by doing things that would get her interested (we Ding Dong Dashed, handed out lolly pops & balloons, & helped some people hang Christmas lights on trees)...just to name some of the 34 things we did.  This year we are cooking up some REALLY fun things, and my girl is excited!!

So, Lulu & I will be out and about sometime in the next week doing our 35 (YES, 35) random acts of kindness...1 for each of my birthdays.  And I think that admitting that I will be 35 this year should count as 1...but the whole point of doing this is that "it's not about me"...lol...so I'll let it slide!

Pictures to come!!

Water water water...

My new best friend

The kid I have to glare at while he eats

Fudgesicles...and REALLY

enjoys them!





I'm on day 4, and so far so good!  On Tuesday I had good "before" for my before / after pics done.  Love em!  Yesterday I added a app on my iPhone called My Fitness Pal...love it!!  All is good in diet world!!  The next 3 days will be the test.  DSAMC is getting a award from the ARC tonight, so I have to eat REALLY good there, Friday is Gracie's b day...my big girl will be 7!!  Saturday is her party, and Sunday I have a baby shower that is sure to have some tasty treats!!  I'm thinking one of those days will have my "cheat" meal in it...just say'n!

Happy weekend everyone!!

Day 1...done!

Well that wasn't so hard. lol. I know, it was only the 1st day. My intentions were to eat "clean". That didn't so much happen, BUT I did eat really good. And I realized that I have a addiction to cheese. Anyway, I sat down this evening and googled a calorie calculator to see just how did I good calorie wise...I rocked it. Here is how it went down...

Breakfast:
Oatmeal 1/2 cup 150 cal
raisins 2 tbs 40 cal

am snack:
Babybel cheese 75 cal
strawberries 1/3 cup 25 cal

Lunch:
Chicken Cesar Salad (romaine lettuce 1 cup, tomato 1/2 Roma, croutons about 5...just enough for some crunch, chicken breast 1/2, dressing 2 tbs.) 230 cal

pm snack:
String cheese 80 cal

Dinner:
Scrambled eggs with sausage & mozzarella cheese (6 tbs egg whites, 1 egg, 1 small sausage patty, about 1/8 cup cheese) 270 cal

Total it up kids...870 calories!! That still leaves room for a apple & natural peanut butter before bed!!

So yes, I clearly need to eat less cheese...but other than that it was a pretty good day. And NO, I'm not going to do a daily post of what I eat...that's just flat boring. Oh, and I went to the gym & did 30 min of cardio & a few leg machines until they were jello. Not my best day at the gym, but it will do!!

1 day closer to a skinner me!

Chang'n it up

When I started this blog a few years ago, it was to inform family & friends of the ups & downs of our life with Down syndrome.  At the time Jake was having major medical issues, & mommy was having some pretty good stress issues.  This was my way of filling everyone in, and "venting" at the same time.  But those days are long gone.  They seem like yesterday, but it's been over 2 years since Jake has seen a hospital.  It's been almost 2 years since he's had anything more than a sniffle (knock on wood).  So our life with Down syndrome is...well pretty boring.  I'll take boring.  Boring reassures me that our family really isn't much different than yours.  School is out, therapy has been put on hold for most of the summer (our choice), and the sun is shining.  It's time to PLAY!

Where am I going with this...I'll get to the quick & dirty.  I'm going to use this blog as my way of chronicling the 20+ lbs I'm GOING to loose over the next 10 weeks.  There is nothing special about the 10 week time frame, but because I often diet (and most of the time fail), I know that good weight loss is around 1-2 lbs a week.  I know what works for me & my body to get the weight off, I just need the motivation.  I become a 2 year old when it comes to will power.  I HAVE NONE.  Some days are better than others, but I can justify "a day off" like  you wouldn't believe!!  So, here it goes.  I did something that I have never done before...took "before" (as in before & after) pic.  OMG, if that isn't motivation to get going...I don't know what is. 

So, for the next few months this blog will be about my diet, exercise, water consumption, headaches from lack of Starbucks, glaring at small children as the eat fudgsicles in front of me & the occasional "YEAH FOR ME", when the pounds do come off.  If it's not your thing, no worries...I'll be back to life with Down syndrome soon...until them our "special need" is for a slimmer, more energetic mommy!

Raise your glass (of ice water) to:
Seeing the magic numbers of 140 lbs
Buying a size 6 jeans
Running without feeling like I'm going to die
Having a happier, healthier mommy...because

WHEN MOMMY IS HAPPY...EVERYONE IS HAPPY!!

It's been awhile

Since my last post (way back in November), I had lost my blog writing mojo. But I think I've got it back. All thanks to Kelle Hampton and her amazing new book Bloom. It took me back to a place I haven't been in a long time. Or at least what feels like a long time. The cold, sterile hospital room, the darkness, the pain, the confusion, and the guilt. The mantras of "this might be ok", & "it is what it is". The massive amounts of denial. Calling therapy "school" & trying to make my big girl follow suit...all to make myself feel better. It's funny looking back at some of the things I said, did, and made up in my own mind to make myself feel better about our unique family. But I guess those are the things we have to do as humans to make it to the next day. There were times I wasn't sure I wanted to know what the next day was going to bring. But the next day always came...and we made it thru. Sometimes we reach for answers from places that might not be so "normal" or "accepted" for guidance or piece of mind, or just the sheer power to make it thru another day. I found my latest in the form of a psychic. Yes, a psychic. Roll your eyes, tell me it's all fake, it rolls right off me. This girl knew her stuff. I've never been into the whole psychic thing, but this experience has opened up my mind...a little. If nothing else comes from it, she told me that Jake would surprise us in his abilities of what he can do. Did I walk away thinking he will be the President of the United States...no, but I did walk away with the thought that maybe I am under estimating him. Maybe I am setting limits in my own mind to what he could be or do. Just like being open minded enough to go to a psychic reading, I need to be way more open minded about the potential my children have. To the potential that Zach & I have for each other and ourselves.

I'm having this moment of "what's stopping you" feeling about myself, life in general. Like all the things I've been saying I want to do, or I'm going to do...but conveniently find a grand excuse for each and every one of them. So, here is my 3 year (odd time frame I know but I like it) get off your butt and make it happen list:

1. Go back to school

2. Go to PA. to meet Jennifer & Tyson in person

Yes, there are only two items on my "to do" list, but they are BIG to do's. I have a 3rd that I am entertaining, but I want it to be in my own will, with no outside influences.

Chuck E Cheese's has put this girl in a mind numbing state of laziness, so off to put little people to bed I go!