Looking on the bright side

Well, I woke up this morning with mastitis. YIPPEE! (You know how sarcastic I am being, especially if you've had it...Kim, I have a totally new respect for all that mess you went through!) I think my body is just completely run down. But, on the bright side, I have now lost 8 pounds since I got off work for Christmas. I didn't want to do it this way, but sometimes you have to look on the bright side to get over mess like this.

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and calls. I hope to be at the singing tomorrow night, even if it's only for a little while. Can't wait to get out of this stinking house!

The house that sick built...

This is the new name Nick has given our house. EVERY year, it never fails, we get sick the week of Christmas. Two years ago, FLU...last year, Peyton had pink eye and walking pneumonia...this year, Santa brought us all a horrible viral cold. And, he left something special in Mommy's stocking JUST FOR HER...a stomach virus. Woo hoo! Thankfully we are all on the way to being well again. Andrew went to the doctor today. Diagnosis: Upper respiratory infection and double ear infection. The antibiotics should have him feeling better in a day or two.

I will be uploading Christmas pictures soon. Despite the illnesses, we had a really good Christmas. Can't wait to share.

Holiday pictures

What a weekend!

I think I should start calling Peyton "Calamity P", because she sure can dredge up some drama. She was a mess trying to get a tree Saturday. I kept telling her that we had to find our tree. So for an hour she cries crocodile tears because "our tree is lost and we will never FIND it!" Then we get home and get the tree in water and lit just in time for Bama's kickoff. She begs to decorate the tree immediately. My reply: "Peyton, we can't decorate the tree right now because Daddy will end up knocking the tree down!" I tell her that we will decorate it at HALF-TIME. She freezes, looks at me and begins to BAWL. When asked what's wrong with her: "I don't want to decorate just HALF of the tree...I want to decorate the whole thing. WAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Sheesh! She has such a tender heart these days. It seems like everything makes her cry. Nevertheless, we made it through the day unscathed. Will post pictures of the tree and Andrew's adventures and discoveries.

Sunday was busy but a blast. The M&Ms put together baskets for some women that we love that are going through difficult illnesses. It was a real blessing being around the group and getting to deliver the basket. I don't know how everyone else responded, but Lena loved her basket. She was so appreciative and couldn't wait to sit down with a box of tissues and read our prayers. Please continue to pray for this work and its success.

Crystal, Teale and Natalie...we missed you so much. Teale and Natalie, I hope you are feeling better. Crystal, I hope you had a great trip and got home safe and sound!

Not for the weak of stomach

Okay, if you have a weak stomach don't read this post, because it's kind of gross. You all must know I love you. I wouldn't share the nasty details with just anyone...

So last night, we get home from church and I am really thirsty. During the process of feeding Andrew, getting Peyton in the bed, and getting myself ready for bed I drank probably 3 tall glasses of water. Right before bed, I was a little hungry but I am trying to be good so I didn't want to eat much. I grabbed a few Ritz crackers, chomped them down, and headed to bed to watch the news. Sitting propped up in the bed, I had a little burp come up. But it made my throat feel funny. I sat there a few minutes trying to clear my throat and couldn't. Nick was taking a shower and had the bathroom door locked...I barely made it to the kitchen sink where I proceeded to puke 5 times. EWWWWWWW! And you must know that I am NOT a puker. I don't have a weak stomach and rarely ever throw up. I think something triggered my gag reflex because I just could not stop throwing up. And the fact that I had consumed three glasses of water didn't help either. System overload! I busted all the capillaries around my eyes, so now I look like I have a pink and red polka dotted eye mask on. NOT COOL! I told Sandy Coe what happened and she likened me to her backyard dog who comes in the house and drinks his water all in one gulp and then throws it up. HA!

Anyway, I never felt nauseated or anything. Perfectly fine this morning. Lost a pound, too. I don't want to be sick to lose weight, but I guess at least something good came out of it.

Awww, man!

I totally forgot about the fact that we had a Christmas party to attend last night. It's Nick's dad's company party. Each year, it's held at the historic Alabama Theater. Gorgeous place if you've never been there. Anyway, they have delicious catered food, a sing along with the old organ, and screenings of Christmas movies. This year was "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "The Christmas Story". I love going. I hope it's something that the kids can remember in the future as one of our fun family traditions.

What I did NOT like about the event was my personal lack of restraint. Amid the spread of healthier options (fruits, raw veggies, cheese) were the mouth watering goodies...chicken fingers with homemade spicy BBQ sauce, fried bacon mozzarella cheese crackers, petit fours, homemade brownie bites, cookies, paninis of smoked sausage, meatballs, roast beef, and turkey...MMMMMM! I did okay, I guess. I had some chicken fingers, half a panini, too many of the bacon cracker things, and dessert (of course). Well, now that I list it out it doesn't seem like I did too good at all. At least it was on the first day. I don't have to weigh in for 5 more days. Maybe I can burn it off by next Monday!!!! :)

So far, so good...

I feel good today because I know I've been eating right. I had wheat Chex for breakfast and a banana for a snack. For lunch it's lean roast beef on wheat w/2% cheese, an apple and baby carrots. I have to stay late at school today so I brought a 100 calorie bag of kettle corn and some fat-free pudding. I'm on my third glass of water, too. I have to make sure I don't get too hungry or I will end up going on a binge in the candy basket in the office. If you jumped on the bandwagon today, feel free to e-mail me and let me know how you're doing. I do MUCH better with support of friends. It's easier to succeed with the help and encouragement of those you love!