National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement Officers

I’d like to invite you to participate in the National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement Officers on Friday, June 17. As I write this post, 65 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in this country. That means there are 65 sets of families, friends, and coworkers who have been left in grief and sadness. To honor these heroes, I am asking people of all faiths and all walks of life to come together and pray for the officers still working the streets.

As law enforcement family members, we pray every day that our officers return home safely. We cry at the news of another fallen officer. And, we reach out to the law enforcement community around us for support and reassurance. Now I am asking the community around us to do the same. Please make a commitment to support your law enforcement officers and their families. Please set aside some time on Friday, June 17 to stand united in prayer for our men and women in blue. Please spread word of this campaign to your family, friends, coworkers, and places of worship.

If you can, schedule a time to come together at your city hall, a local park, or your place of worship and pray together. Raise your voice to lift up our heroes in prayer. Give your time to help strengthen the law enforcement community and ask that each officers comes home safely each day. Show our officers that you appreciate the sacrifices they make to protect and serve you and your family.

Weightloss, Health, and Getting into Shape -- Week 1

Sadly, my scale says I gained 0.2 ozs.  Not a big deal, so I'm not real concerned.  Not saying I didn't want to see it go down instead of up, but with the late week and weekend issues I had, I'm not surprised.

I woke up Thursday with a headache.  It didn't get too bad, luckily.  However, it didn't go away and got worse on Friday and started into a migraine.  It was one of those issues where I was not feeling well, didn't really care to eat, but had to eat to keep from feeling sick.  I tried my best to eat well, however only certain things sounded good so I opted to eat often and in small quantities.  The biggest issue is that when I don't feel well I tend to not drink enough liquids either.  Bad, bad, I know!  Saturday I felt better but just couldn't seem to eat enough not to feel crummy.  I also had some things I had to do outside the house.  I probably should have packed a thermos of Shakeology but didn't think about it.  At one point I had to have something to eat.  So I drove through Wendy's and got a value meal sized chicken sandwich and a coke.  Well, the rest of the weekend didn't go so well either.  Needless to say I am being more careful this week, or at least am going to try to be.  LOL  This morning I came downstairs to find that my youngest had toasted me a Eggo waffle.  I was good though and only added a bit of honey.  Other than that all I've had is a shake, some fresh veggies and a few Special K* crackers.  Not sure what's on the menu for dinner yet though, something quick and easy hopefully.

Right at this moment, I don't have an update on my daughter so I will try and let you know how she is doing tonight.

I did try a new flavor mixture with my shakes for the week, I make a pitcher at a time so I don't have to rush to make two shakes each morning.  Anyway, I mixed some peppermint extract into the chocolate mix and milk.  WARNING....a little extract goes a long way.  I put a bit too much and had to add some more mix and milk.  LOL


*Observation note:  As I browsed down the isle of crackers, I checked the calorie count verses serving size and I found that Special K has a larger serving size (120 cal for 24 crackers vs 140 cal for 16 crackers) than another popular multi-grain cracker.

Shakeology

Weightloss, Health, and Getting into Shape

I have never really dealt with any weight issues.  I weighed all of 102 when I graduated from high school.  Several months later I moved in with my grandmother and out of the abusive home I grew up in.  With less stress and more happiness I gradually got up to 125.  Several years later, when I got married, I was up to about 130ish.  After I had both my girls I, like many new moms, weighed more than I really wanted to but I wasn't overly concerned.

I remember growing up and my mother, grandmother, and an aunt who were always "dieting".  Trying the newest diet fab and/or going to weigh watchers.  However, to be honest, I never saw a change in their figures.  I also never saw them exercise, which we all know is a big key to weight loss.  I laugh now because growing up my mom always saw me as her duplicate and knowing her, if we had a relationship, she would be jealous (like she was with other things) over the fact I don't share her weight issues.  Not that I'm bragging, but when you are told, as a child, that you too will have this problem, because your mom does, it's a relief that you don't.

My MIL on the other hand has, let her past run her life (unforgiving, holds grudges, depressed, hateful, etc.) to the point that she just doesn't take care of herself and therefore became obese.  She too does not exercise, and down right refuses too.  Instead, she decided to have lapband surgery, as her fix for the problem.  I’m Not sure why, under the circumstances of her health and history of not trying to loose weight, her doctor let her have it.  However, that's between them, not me.  What does affect me is the fact that she wants my oldest to be just like her and she even believes that kids get more from their grandparents than their own parents when it comes to things like this.  Even the moles that my daughter has, despite the fact one is in the same location as one of mine, she gets from her grandmother and not me.  There are only two things she hasn't claimed as coming from her; migraine headaches and scoliosis.  LOL  To make matters worse my daughter, is at the age of becoming a woman (if you know what I mean) and is a bit overweight.  This only feeds my MIL's mentality and ideas that my daughter is just like her.  :(

I am not one that believes in the "one size fits all" and "everyone must be average" (especially with children) garbage that is pushed down our throats.  If God wanted us to all be the same He would have created us that way!  The problem I am in right now is that my daughter’s doctor wants to send her to a children's weight loss center for overweight and obese children.  Don't get me wrong, I want my children to be healthy, but I don't see where sending my almost 13 year old, who already deals with not fitting in and being self conscious about herself having to go through all I read she would have to do.  Not to mention all that my husband and I would have to go through and do, just because we are bad parents who LET our child become over weight.  All because she is above average on the scale.  Therefore, I have opted to do all I can to help her get into shape and down to a healthy weight.  

Because I have blood pressure problem, it is important for me to maintain a healthy weight as well.  So with this and my daughters situation in mind, I decided to check out Shakeology which was being sold by a fellow police wife.  At first, I was apprehensive about the price.  But then I realized two things.  One, if I signed up as a coach I could receive a discount and in time maybe help others.  Two, if I had to send my daughter to the clinic we would be paying just as much if not more.  I have to say I am very happy that I took the plunge.  My daughter and I are both enjoying the delicious shakes!  I have lost three pounds in the month that I've been drinking them and while my daughter is not good about weighing herself, I can see a change in her size as well.  :)

I would like to not only share my website with you, but also our progress as well.

I have promised my daughter a new dress if she will do this with me and makes good progress between now and the first part of April.  Her 13th birthday is the week after Easter, so between that an Easter a nice dress would be wonderful!

I am attending a ball on March 19th, the same day as my 17th anniversary, and my goal is to at least maintain where I am now, if not loose a couple more pounds.

Each Monday, I will come on here and let you all know how we are doing.  I would love to hear from others who are trying to loose weight, get into shape, or at least maintain their current weight.  The more the merrier and the more support we can give each other.

Have a great week! :)

November is Prematurity Awareness Month

My youngest, Vanessa, was born 6 weeks premature. She was 5 pounds, 8 ounces and 21" long.

Things seemed fine at first. Then she became jaundice, normal I know. Then she would have moments where it was like she was holding her breath. Five days after she was born we were told to expect a call to schedule training for a heart monitor so we could keep a close eye on her for a while at home.

The next morning we received a call alright only it was to tell us she had a 101 fever and was going through testing, which included two spinal taps already. During these tests they discover she had hydrocephalus as well. She spent four more weeks in the St. Vincents NICU in Indianapolis on an antibiotic to treat what they thought was spinal meningitis.

Once she went home we had lots of Dr's appointments to monitor everything, but I'm happy to say that everything turned out fine. The hydrocephalus healed itself and she has no signs of being premature nor sick.

January 12th she will turn 8 years old. A wonderful answer to many, many prayers!

I have gained flack in the past for my supporting the March of Dimes, however no matter what anyone says I believe this organization is a wonderful organization that is out to help all babies and I thank them for that!

Lingering Fears

I can remember times when I would lay in bed and hear my dad grumbling about something. The louder he was the more I anticipated my name being yelled and my being blamed for whatever he found that he didn't like. Maybe it was something I did, maybe it wasn't.

You know what’s sad, is that I still get that fear when I hear my husband downstairs. What's funny is that sometimes he's just talking the dog, or yelling at her for something she did after I went to bed. Not that there aren't times when he's come into our room and said something about what he may have found that he was not happy to have found. Like one of the girls not cleaning something up as they should have. On an occasion he's been annoyed by something I did.

Though I know that I am safe with my husband and that he would never hurt me, even in anger, that fear can still linger inside and rear its ugly head now and then.

I feel that small child fear now and then, and not just in the above situation, but in other situations and at other times.

It is quite common for me to jump to conclusions as my husband calls it when he’s upset about something and I automatically assume it’s at me. The difference is that unlike with my parents and other parental figures (even now), I can stand up to my husband. Which he kind of finds funny, I might add. However, there are times when I’m standing up to him because I have allowed my fear run wild.

I wish in my times of fear I could remember bible verses such as these (taken from blueletterbible.org/NLT version):

Psalm 27:3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident.

Psalm 91:5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day

Proverbs 3:24 You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams.

Micah 4:4 Everyone will live quietly in their own homes in peace and prosperity, for there will be nothing to fear. The LORD Almighty has promised this!

If I give my fears to God, He will take over them for me. He will do the same for you as well, if you let him.

Stay Tuned

WOW, it's been nearly a year since my last posting. Lack of words or wisdom to share, I guess!? Sort of a rut you could say, I suppose. But, I'll get on the ball and have something to post very soon. So please, stay tuned for more to come.