Weighty Issues

Again.  It's always the weight.  I was doing so well at the beginning of this year.  My doctor and I had finally diagnosed my thyroid issue, and my medication was working.  My hair was growing back.  I was eating right, exercising, and the weight was coming off.  

Then came the burn.  It took months to heal, and I literally couldn't move without grimacing in pain.  I stayed home on the couch unless it was absolutely necessary.  While I stayed home, I ate.  And ate and ate, for 2 months.  Even after I was able to get around again, I still couldn't exercise.  For me, exercise and eating right go hand in hand.  If I slack on one, I'll slack on the other.  So, I'd take the kids to the YMCA and eat snacks while they swam.  For real.  And I gained 30 pounds. 

I had to see a plastic surgeon for my burn, and that visit turned into Panniculectomy surgery.  If you don't know what that is, click the link for the gory details.  I came out of that surgery ten pounds lighter, which was exciting.  I wasn't expecting the recovery to be as bad as it was.  I went into this surgery thinking that the recovery would be similar to my three c-sections.  It just wasn't.  Recovery took about 2 months, the first of which is just a haze of pain medication.  And food, of course.  Our friends and families blessed us with meals while I recovered, and they fed us very well.  Plus I snacked all the time, when I wasn't sleeping.  

When I finally got the nerve to step on the scale last month, I had gained 40 pounds.  Seriously, only I could wind up weighing more after having ten pounds of excess fat and skin removed.  

I went back to my PCP doctor and found out that my blood sugar was high again.  She recommended a low carb way of life.  Again.  I was doubtful, because I'd tried it before, for a whole summer, and only lost 7 pounds.  But that was before my thyroid medicine kicked in.  I contemplated trying again, and then it seemed like everyone I knew was talking about going Keto.  I took that as a sign, so I started up again a week and a half ago.  

Chris is on board too, this time.  It's definitely an adjustment for him.  A whole new way of approaching what we eat.  Low carb, high fat, moderate protein.  Lots of green veggies and meat.  Just no bread, sugar, potatoes, or fruit.  Except berries.  In moderation.  

So, I started last Monday.  I weighed myself the other day, on Wednesday, and I was down four pounds.  This post has taken me three days to compose, so I'm not sure what the posted date will show.  Today is Friday, I started this post on Wednesday.  I'll have to check for future reference.  

So, anyway, on Wednesday, about a week and a half after starting Keto, I was down four pounds.  We had co-op that day, and our Christmas potluck lunch.  I made a Keto friendly spinach dip that I planned to eat with celery from a veggie tray and some cheese and pepperoni.  There are several other Keto moms in our group, so we had some options!  However.  I wound up at the end of the line.  By the time I got to the food, all of my Keto food was gone, except for some cheese.  There was a TON of food there, so I think the problem was that kids were loading up their plates with way more than they'd ever eat.  Even my spinach dip was gone.  So, I just ate whatever.  Chips and onion dip.  Some meatballs made with jelly and barbque sauce.  And a cookie.  I did eat a few veggie sticks, and someone made a finger food that consisted of a dill pickle wrapped in cream cheese and a slice of ham...these were really good, and Keto approved.  

Oh, and I drank some apple cider, too.

I felt absolutely horrible for the rest of the night.  So tired and sluggish.  It wasn't worth it.  

The next day was a new day, thank God.  My plan is to make it to Christmas with no slip ups.  I really have to take it day by day.  Sometimes minute by minute.  Like a true addict.  Food is my drug of choice.  

My Current Situation

Today is Wednesday.  Co-op day.  My day started out hectic and hasn't stopped yet.  

Co-op is over, and I'm currently at the library with Jordan, Violet, and my nephew.  We are at the library so that Jordan can get some of his school assignments completed.  Usually, on co-op days, we bring our laptop and he can get quite a bit accomplished during his down time.  This morning, though, he swears he only heard me ask him to pack the charger chord for the computer and not the computer itself.  

Omgoodness.  

Every week it's the same routine on Wednesdays.  Why would I only want to bring the charger chord?  Jordan's  eleven, about to be twelve.  Every day he's becoming more and more like a teenager.  I still love him, though.  Whether intentional or not, his lack of ability to bring our computer to co-op backfired on  him, because here we are at the library, schooling away.  He's not even complaining.  

One funny thing Violet did today.  I had a doctor's appointment and had to leave co-op for about an hour, during her science class.  When I returned, she ran up to me, moaning that she had the worst day ever.  Why?  Because Mrs. Melody tried to teach her about dinosaurs, and she doesn't like them.

Literally, smh.  

One Year Later...

So, I'm not sure how I managed to go an entire year (give or take a few days) without posting anything here.  Truthfully, we've had one heck of a year and have been so busy.  Also truthfully, I miss writing here.  It's therapeutic and I like having a way to remember this crazy life of mine.  The thought having an entire year of life absent from this blog gives me waves of regret and anxiety.

Moving on.

I left off last  year right after Thanksgiving.  We had a great Turkey Day Season.    The Christmas season was even more hectic than usual.  Both boys had their usual activities, and we added dance classes for Violet into the mix.  Lots of running around.  There are three kids and only two of us parents.  Said kids have activities in three different cities.  Thank God for my parents!  

Right before Christmas last year, Jordan dislocated his shoulder in a wrestling tournament.  The first doctor we saw said absolutely not more wrestling or football.  We were crushed and sought a second opinion.  After physical therapy and lots of work, Jordan is wrestling again this year.  We're taking it slowly to see how it goes.  This may or may not make me a nervous wreck.

In February, Shaun competed in Special Olympics for the first time... and placed FIRST!  This was so exciting and we were so proud of him.  I was so shocked at the level of competitiveness at these events.  These kids were out for blood!  I wasn't really expecting Shaun to do well, since it was his first time competing.  I guess he showed me.  Ha!

There's  nothing to report, really for the rest of the winter.  Nothing sticks out, anyway.  

Springtime sucked.  For me, anyway.  I burned myself boiling eggs to dye for Easter.  The handle of my pot broke off when I was taking the pot of eggs to dump into the sink.  The entire pot of rapidly boiling water cascaded over my torso.  I had never been burned before, so I didn't realize at first that not feeling any pain was a bad thing.  I finally saw my doctor a few days later, who sent me to a plastic surgeon.  The time between Easter and summer is literally one big blur of pain medication.  And pain.  I cannot express the pain.  

The good thing that came out of this experience was my panniculectomy.  Yes, I had one.  I had so much damage to my skin from the burn (and so much excess skin in general) that my plastic surgeon recommended this surgery.  I had it done in August, on the day of the solar eclipse to be more specific.  Recovery was hard.  The end of August and the month of September are also big blurs filled with pain, medication, and a few errors in judgement caused by said pain medication.  I'm all better now and I'm glad I had the surgery, which would have never been possible if I hadn't been burned.  So I guess in a round about way, I'm glad I was burned.  Sigh.  

I also gained over thirty pounds during this ordeal. Thirty freaking pounds.  I guess I could blame the medication, or the fact that I couldn't move for months.  I can also take responsibility and say that I went crazy and used food for comfort.  Same old thing.  

I'm starting from scratch with this weight loss thing.  It's not even about weight at this point,  but about being healthy.  I'm back to the gym and trying to eat right.  Chris is on board this time, too, so maybe we can make it work together. 

Thanksgivings

The Smith Family had a wonderful Thanksgiving season this year. We are fortunate enough to have huge families and also a great set of friends (who we think of as family) and enjoyed 6 get togethers with them. 

Meal Number 1:

A Kidpak Thanksgiving.  Otherwise known as Chris' office thanksgiving.  This group has grown over the years and I love everyone in this picture.  I'm thankful that Chris gets to serve with the folks, and that they are all sowing into the spiritual lives of my kids.  

Meal Number 2:

A Shadburn Thanksgiving.  Otherwise known as Thanksgiving with Chris' grandparents.  The kids had the best time playing with their cousins.  A little football, a little running around the farm, a little playing on the tractor.  Fun times!  And the food was good, too!

Meal Number 3:  

A Wheeler Thanksgiving.  Otherwise known as Thanksgiving with my mom, her sisters, and all of my cousins and their spouses.  This took place a few short hours after a Shadburn Thanksgiving, but we still ate.  It was Thanksgiving, after all. We missed a few that couldn't be there, but I still had a good time eating and talking with my crazy family. I can't even explain this picture.  You just had to be there. 

Meal Number 4:  

A Smeltzer/Smith Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving with Chris' sister and her family.  This took place at lunchtime on Black Friday, so we had time to recover from the two massive meals from the day before.  We went a little untraditional and ate Rob's delicious ribs, my crock pot mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, slaw, and rolls.  Carb overload.  Another good time, another good meal.  It's so nice to visit with family.  We don't get to see each other often enough.  

Meal Number 5:

A Young Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving with my Dad's side of the family.  This meal was for dinner on Black Friday.  My niece Layna cracked me up with this sign she made for her dessert.

It was good... she really did wow me.  Ha!  Here's a picture of me, my sister, and our Granny.  We love her!

And Finally, Meal Number 6:  Friendsgiving.  This was the third year of this tradition, and I'm so glad to be a part of it.  There was quite a crowd in the room and no one thought to get a group picture, so I'll just share this one.  

We have so much to be thankful for!

Halloween 2016

Can you believe it's already the second day of November?  I really can't.  My son Jordan, age 10, said to me the other day, "It seems like the older I get, the faster time goes".  Wise words.  He's right!

Halloween is over and we have a truckload of candy in the house still.  Seriously, so much.  I finally gathered most of it and hid it up in a high cabinet that we never use, just so that I wouldn't have to battle with Violet over eating candy for every meal.  I never remember getting that much when I was a kid.

We kicked Halloween off with a visit to the "Haunted Barn", an annual event that a local restaurant puts on.  As usual, it did not disappoint.  

With my boys, right before our turn. 

We decided not to let Violet go on the ride and I was glad because she would have flipped out.  She was really upset with me and cried herself to sleep that night.  True story.  

Here's the only picture I had time to take at our church's Fall Festival.  Violet the Mermaid and her friend AJ.  

I had to work on Halloween night, so Chris took the kids and met up with some friends.  They had a lot of fun. 

Shaun dressed up, even though he's technically too old.  He mostly walked with the kids up to the houses.  Everyone knew who he was dressed as, and that made his night! Jordan was a Purge Guy.  

Here are some pictures from Trick-or-Treating.

Now, let's bring on Thanksgiving!  We've been having such a warm fall.  The high temperature today is supposed to be 80.  I'm so ready for some cooler weather.  It's November, after all!

Fall Field Trips, 2016

The kids and I have been on several fun field trips lately.  

I took the younger two, along with two of their younger cousins, along on a field trip to Jaemor Farms with our homeschool co-op.  I started thinking back, and I think the last time we went on a Jaemor field trip was during our first year of homeschooling, seven years ago.  Wow!  Shaun was in third grade and Jordan was so little.  Now, Shaun is in 10th grade and opted to skip this field trip.  :(

The rest of us had fun, but I think Jordan was a little bored.  He was one of the older kids on the trip. 

Obligatory Jaemor Photo.

Trailer ride.

This was a worm from the compost pile.  Blech.

Pumpkins in the market.

Jaemor activities.

On the way home, we stopped at this old rocking chair.  I've wanted a picture on it since I can remember.  It used to be a landmark for a pumpkin farm, but the farm was closed down and the whole place was a little weird.  But, we got a picture on the huge chair.  Ha!

A few days later, we went on the best field trip ever.  The Crisson Gold Mine.  I'm not even being sarcastic, it was such fun!  Even Shaun approved.  We panned for gold and gems. Everyone found treasures to keep and we learned about the history of the Dahlonega Gold Rush.  Big thanks to my friend Joanne for setting it up.

This last one is kind of weird, but it happened, so I'll write about it.  Violet is like a lot of kids her age and watches YouTube videos for every occasion.  Lately, she's into Halloween videos.  Kid-friendly, of course.  She's been walking around singing a song about a creepy graveyard.  Every time we would drive by a graveyard, she'd say "This one's not spooky.  I want to see a spooky graveyard".  And,  it just so happens that I knew of a spooky graveyard just a few minutes away from our house.  So we went there.  This graveyard is old and has the "slot and tab" graves.  We found graves from the 1700s.  I grew up visiting this church with my grandmother and it always fascinated me.  The boys had seen it before, but it was Violet's first time and she was fascinated, too.

  As we were walking down, a funeral literally popped up out of nowhere in the newer section of the cemetery, so we walked around the church and down this road to the newest section so we wouldn't disturb them. 

We found my great-grandmother's grave and kind of just hung around for awhile because we couldn't get back to our car without walking right past the funeral.  It was a peaceful place.  Weird, I know.  

Reading again!

I love to read.  I used to read all the time, even as an adult.  For the past year or so, though, I've had trouble finding books that hold my interest.  I think it has something to do with my stress level.  At the end of a long day, my brain just has not been able to follow along with the plot of a novel.  This is so sad to me, and strange.  Reading used to be the way I "escaped" after a long day.  Not anymore.  Lately, I've been relying on Netflix and Xfinity Go to take me away.  

I did see some books that sparked my interest in Books-A-Million the other day.  I reserved them at the library and actually finished them instead of renewing them 3 times (which is the limit) and then returning them back to the library unread.  

But!  Over the past month I read not one, but two books.  I used to read a new book each week...maybe I'll get there again.  For now, though, here's what I've been reading:

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl:  Book One by Paige McKenzie. 

Ahhh, some YA horror fiction, with praise from R.L. Stine on the back cover. I think it was a YouTube series that might interesting to watch.

In my younger days, like middle school, this book would have been one scary read. Now, in my mid-thirties, it was mildly entertaining.  A good way to pass the time.  I think Violet will like it in about 7 years.  Ha!

Next was The Cellar by Natasha Preston. 

 When I came to pick up this book, the librarian said she read it for me first while she was waiting for me to come in.  Ha!  She liked it and thought I would, too.  She was right.  This was  more of a "grownup" book.  Really exciting and full of suspense, but a little upsetting, too.  I recommend it!

It's nice to be reading again, and I'm taking suggestions for some new material.