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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Weight Loss Update!

Well I was certain that I had gained this week...being sick has made me feel miserable so I didn't work out on Monday or Tuesday. AND...my scale at home told me so...BUT I lost 1.8 pounds! I'm very happy! I am now at 15.6 pounds! I received my third 5 pound star at the meeting today. I have actually been losing much more rapidly since school let out! Who would've guessed?! lol I received my first star at 6 weeks, second star at 8 weeks, and third star at 10 weeks! Kevin lost .8 this week bring his total to around 23 pounds. Even though this is week 10 at weight watchers the first meeting is the start of the diet so it is actually 9 weeks of dieting. I'm average 1.75 pounds a week. Kevin averages 2.5 pounds a week. If I could lose like Kevin I could possibly look halfway presentable at Lacy's wedding but I know that isn't going to happen.

Well I've got to get to bed. I am exhausted. I'll be back tomorrow...
Love,
Katy

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Standard Teaching Certificate!!!

Well I have some good news! As of today I am completely totally certified on a standard texas teaching certificate! I completely finished my teaching certification! I'm very relieved and excited! I feel like I graduated from college all over again! This year teaching was harder than college ever was but it was 100 times more fulfilling! That is what makes my decision about staying in Eden next year even harder to make. Speaking of which...

I went to Eden yesterday morning. I wanted to talk to my principal, Mr. Siler. He is a wonderful principal and I needed to let him know what I have been dealing with. I was able to talk with him about gas costs and time to take care of myself. He said that I did a great job this last year and they would hate to lose me. He also said he would support me in any decision that I make and he completely understands. He said that I have to make the decision that will be the best for me and my career in the long run. That makes me feel better but I still have guilt about leaving. I'm lucky I found a job when I did and there are probably many others who are having problems finding jobs. I've been praying constantly about the right decision and substituting next year seems so right. What I really want in my life is to get healthy so I can enjoy life and someday be able to have children. I don't want to spend the next year working tons of hours again and not taking care of myself. I cannot have children at my current weight and state of health. I have to make that the priority. I'm going to make my decision and call Mr. Siler tomorrow. Pray for me to make the best decision.

Kevin and I visited Belmore Baptist Church on Sunday. It seemed like a pretty nice place. Not too big but not too small. The regular pastor wasn't there so I was kinda disappointed by that but it was okay. I didn't see very many young couples either. I really wanted to meet other people our age. I'm hoping we can visit again sometime when the regular pastor is there and see what sunday school classes they offer.

I've actually been feeling pretty sick this week. The medicine my doctor put me on to regulate my hormones has really kicked in and I feel like crap! It should get better as times goes on but for now this is ridiculous! It has made me feel so bad that I haven't even been to work out this week. I'm going to go tomorrow and see if maybe it will make me feel better.

I'm sure I'll be back to write tomorrow but for now...I'm going to bed! Good night!
Love,
Katy

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Office 07

Weight Watchers Update! We attended our meeting and weighed in on last Thursday. Even after our vacation (where we ate VERY badly), my hormone medication, and only working out once last week we both still managed to lose. I lost 1.8 pounds and Kevin lost 1.4 pounds. The first time I have ever beaten him on weekly loss! That brings my total to 13.8 pounds. Kevin also reached a very important milestone though. His total is now 22.4 pounds. He has now lost over 10% of his total starting weight. He received a keychain from weight watchers for his accomplishment. I never thought I would be so jealous of a cheap keychain. Its not really the keychain though...it is what it represents. It will be a very long time before I reach my 10% goal. My weight loss really has increased since school has been out. I guess it really makes a difference when I have the time to eat better, exercise more, and focus on myself a little. I also started taking a nutritional supplement this week that my doctor recommended. It is called JuicePlus and it gives you all of the fruit and vegetables you need for the day. This should really help since I'm not able to eat vegetables very much.


I had two workshops on thursday and friday of last week. They were over Microsoft Office 07 which is VERY different than the previous versions. Old versions used menu bars and dialog boxes. The new version uses tabs, ribbons, groups, and command buttons. It takes some getting used to the new locations of some of the functions but I think it is a good upgrade. It is more icon based so students won't have to read as much. Not that they can't...they just choose not to.

I think that I forgot to mention that we had a good visit last Thursday with Dwight, Crystal, and their girls. They just came in town for about 2 days for Dwight's work and we went to eat at Ichibans. It was soooo good! I actually ate all the vegetables on my plate and enjoyed them! The best thing was that I didn't get sick afterward!!!

Kevin is finally thinking about college and it makes me so excited! He has money available to his through his GI Bill and I think it would be such a waste for it to disappear. Even if he never gets another job I think he will be so proud of his accomplishment and make him feel better about the his current work. Even an associates degree will help him so much!

I'm going to go work on the picture CDs that I'm making for my seniors last year. I'm still yet to finish them. Until I'm back to ramble again...
Love,
Katy

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Road Trip!

Whew! We have had a busy couple of days! I last posted about my onery little puppy Tootsie. Well she has had the e-collar (sattelite dish lol) on for almost a week now and her staples are healing nicely. She gets to go have them taken out tomorrow.

I was going to post about our trip before we left but since Tootsie kept me so busy the day I was supposed to be getting ready...I ran out of time. The VA had requested that Kevin go to their large VA hospital in Albuquerque, NM to undergo some testing for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) related to his time in Iraq. So we decided he would go up there this summer when I could go with him. A few weeks ago we received an invitation to Kevin's cousin's wedding on the saturday before his appointment so we decided we would drive up to Kevin's parent's house in Haskell stay Friday night in Haskell, go with Morris and Judy to the wedding, stay the night in Haskell, and then drive on to Albuquerque on Sunday afternoon. Cody and Sarah's wedding was so beautiful! We enjoyed spending time with Morris and Judy. Sunday was Father's day and Monday was Morris's 55th birthday! Judy made an amazing dessert called dump cake and I got the recipe! I'm kinda excited to see if I can take the recipe and make it more weight watchers friendly!

8 1/2 hours in the car on Sunday! It wasn't too bad though because my dear sweet husband drove and I napped, played my Nintendo DS (I know...I know! It is for kids but I love it!), and read my magazines that I haven't had any time for during the school year. Driving in to Albuquerque on the interstate you have to go down some EXTREMELY large mountains which make me very nervous! I just focused on my solitaire game and Kevin told me when I could look up so that helped a lot. I'm really afraid of heights.

Big towns are nice to visit but I never want to live there. Before we even got into the hotel we had a guy begging for money at the hotel entrance and then the next morning I was woke up by a guy pretending to be guest services about delivering flowers and wanting to know if we had heard anyone having sex too loudly! We called the front desk and apparently they are having problems with people calling trying to get personal information out of guests.

Kevin's appointment went well. Thankfully there is no indication of TBI though the doctor did tell him he has above average short term memory loss. He said that this is common in Marines who come home and suffer from PTSD. A little disappointing but nothing to fret over. I told him that now we know why he keeps losing his sunglasses! The appointment was over quickly (by 10 am) so we decided to go down to Old Town Albuquerque and look around. We ate lunch at an adorable little restaurant in Old Town called the Church St. Cafe. It was built in the early 1700's making it one of the oldest buildings in Albuquerque. After eating we walked down to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. We had a ton of fun walking around looking at all the exhibits! Well I'm a big dork and love this stuff and Kevin went along for the ride. I actually think he enjoyed himself though. On Monday we drove home (8 1/2 hours to Bronte) and stopped at my parent's house. Thankfully they babysat our puppies while we were gone. We decided to spend the night at their house since it was already almost midnight after we chatted all evening long.

The diet didn't go so great on our trip. It is difficult to be picky when you are guests in someone else's house. I don't think that we did terrible though. If I didn't gain and just maintained my weight this week I will be okay with that. We ate lots of wonderful meals and had a lot of fun. I managed to walk around old town without getting winded which is something I never would have been able to do 2 months ago. I've also been on the Provera (hormone) pills this week so that alone could possibly cause some weight gain. It has made my face break out and I've craved sweets like crazy constantly! Last week I lost 2.6 pounds! It is amazing what can happen when I have the time to workout and make better food choices! Weigh in for this week is tomorrow night before our Weight Watchers meeting so I'll let you know how that goes.

We had some really good talks with Morris and Judy and my parent's during our trip. It made me feel really really good because my dad said that what is most important to them is that I make the change to get healthy in my life. I was so worried that he would be disappointed in me if I decided to just substitute teach next year. I think he would still like me to but he let me know that he loves me and will be happy with whatever I decide to do. I have workshops tomorrow and friday. I'm going to try and finish up my Senior picture CDs and then go to Eden on Monday. I'm going to mail the CDs and talk to Mr. Siler. I'm not going to say that I'm not going back for sure because I may chicken out but I'm definately going to talk to him. I've got to make this decision for my health. I will never be happy until I'm healthy.

Now I'm going to go watch a few of our DVR'd shows with Kevin and enjoy my evening! Until I'm back to ramble again...
Love,
Katy

Thursday, June 12, 2008

My Strong Willed Child

I'm so mad at my chihuahua right now that I could scream! Tootsie my oldest chihuahua (she'll be 6 in November) is driving me crazy! She has what we like to call a split personality disorder. She is very sweet to people she knows but is a terror to strangers. Right now I'm so frustated with her that my mom is calling her my strong willed child. It is a book she read when I was little because I liked to have my way so much.

Tootsie had a small cyst removed off of one of her front legs last Friday. The vet didn't like the way it looked and wanted to get it checked in case it might be cancer. The good news is that it isn't cancer but the bad news is...that she will not leave her bandages alone! I spent hours on Saturday trying to get her to let me take off the outer bandage because the stiches needed to breathe. After we finally got it off she started licking the stiches. She really wasn't a problem until yesterday when we arrived home to find she had pulled out two of the three stiches!

We called the vet who told us to wrap it up for the night and then bring her to the office in the morning so he could fix it. So I'm in a hurry and drop her off this morning so I can make it to my GI doctor's appointment and get my allergy shot. After those disturbing appointments (which I will tell ya'll about later) I had to mail the yearbook proofs and then went to pick her up. She was being so sweet. They vet had put staples in where the stiches had been and had wrapped it up all nicely in a purple bandage. I got her all loaded up inside her cage in the car and set out to finally go home. It is about 12:40 by now and I haven't eaten since 7:30 so I'm starving!

On our way home I stop at Subway to get a sandwich and I'm so proud of Tootsie because she is sitting so quietly in her cage. She isn't whining like usual or trying to eat the people at the Subway drive-thru window. I worry that something might be wrong so I talk to her on the way home so I can hear her tags jingle. We finally get home around 1:00 and I unload my purse, paperwork, and sandwich then let Reese and Gracie outside to go to the bathroom. I go unload Tootsie's cage from the car and open the door for her to come out. This is when the real fun begins...

She gingerly takes about 2 steps out of the cage, looks up at me, and freezes with this guilty look on her face. I look down and notice that she has ripped the purple bandage almost completely off and has 1 of the new staples pull halfway out of her foot. Her cut is kinda busted open and red but not bleeding. She had the stupid bandages dismantled before I could even get her out of the car!

So I called the vet and they asked me to bring her right back to get her fixed up. The vet was at his own doctor's appointment so they put her in a cage and told me they would call as soon as he gets back. Now she is going to have one of those stupid looking sattelite dish type collars around her neck to keep her from messing with her leg. The vet didn't charge us for this morning's fiasco but I'm sure we'll be getting a nice bill after our second visit! Oh I love this dog more than you can ever now but she is too smart for her own good! How am I going to be able to raise kids someday if I get hoodwinked by a dang chihuahua?!

Short and Sweet

Well this one will be short and sweet since it is 2 in the morning...I just finished proofing yearbook pages. I have to call the publisher first thing in the morning to check one page but then I can mail them off! Yay!

I had a really good day today! Kevin and I went to Gold's and worked out with Lacy this morning. After our workout we cleaned up and went to statefarm to finish the paperwork for refinancing our Tahoe. Everything went really well. Afterwards Kevin and I met Lacy at Applebees for lunch. She has to work from 8 tonight until 2 tomorrow afternoon. We have our Weight Watchers meeting and dinner with friends tomorrow evening and then are leaving for Abilene first thing friday morning so I won't see her again until we are back from Albuqurque.

Oh yeah, the VA has requested that Kevin go have some tests run at their hospital in Albuqurque, NM so we are taking a road trip up there this weekend along with stopping at Kevin's cousin's wedding on Saturday. Just a little note for clarification...

Anyway...I spent the rest of the afternoon riding around with Kevin while he checked on jobs they have been working on. It wasn't so bad. I actually got a little nap in the car. Afterwards we came home and have both been working all evening. While I proofed pages Kevin has been creating invoices for customers.

Tomorrow morning I have my appointment with the gastro intestinal doctor so we'll see how that goes. I hope she can help me figure out how I can eat vegetables! I'm finally winding down and getting sleepy so I'm going to try this going to bed thing again.
Goodnight!
Love,
Katy

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The Dreaded Doctor's Visit

Well it was that time of year again...my annual ob/gyn visit. It was actually overdue by a year. I know...shame on me. It was due right when my job/insurance changed last summer so it just got delayed and delayed and delayed. So since my allergist is at Shannon I decided to change my ob/gyn to Shannon also. It went great! I love my new doctor and she did a great job discussing ways to treat my PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Basically I have a hormone disorder that affects menstrual cycles, ability to have children, hormones, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. She was impressed with the weight I had lost so far because my hormone fluctuation and insulin problems make it extremely difficult. She also referred me to a gastro intestinal doctor for the stomach problems I've been having. She also suggested a nutritional supplement since I can't digest vegetables right now. I'm really pleased with how the visit went.

Kevin and I have been discussing our Tahoe again. Gas is killer right now but I do not want to get rid of my car! Since my b-i-l Eric has been looking for cars we heard that Statefarm has auto refinancing rates as low as 4.89% right now. We decided to apply just to see what kind of rate we could get (we have 6.9% right now). We were qualified for 5.39% which is great! It will lower our payment about $85 a month and save us over $4000 in interest over the life of the loan.

I received the proofs for all the remaining yearbook pages. They look great...there should only be a few minor corrections. My mom went with me to Eden today and we straightened up my classroom a bit so that if the custodians need to move anything there wouldn't be anything in the way. I so appreciated her going. I got everything done in 3 hours which probably would have taken me 8 hours by myself. I'm enjoying getting to spend time with my family. It is something that I have really missed out on the last few years.

I'm still struggling with my decision to teach in Eden again next year. I love my kids and the people I work with but I HATE driving 48 miles twice a day. Once again gas is so expensive and I'm now about to have to buy the extended warranty for my car after only a year and half. I guess it all traces back to what I really want for my life right now. I will be 25 on my next birthday...I know I know that isn't old. BUT I've spent the last 8 (at least) years in a body I hate! I missed out on so much life because I let my weight control what I could and could not do. Kevin and I will have our 6th anniversary in November. I do want to have children in the next couple of years and that is NOT absolutely not possible at my current weight. I've also picked up serious problems with my knees, feet, back, and stomach in the last year or so...all related to my weight. If Kevin and I are going to continue living in the home we own (which I love!) I'm going to have to teach nearby. I'm scared to death of a big school but it is going to have to happen. If I substitute teach in San Angelo next year I will get lots of experience with the larger schools and get a feel for different schools in town. The drawbacks of subbing will be that I will have to pay for COBRA health insurance (expensive) and be only making minimal money. I have all kinds of inner turmoil right now. I just don't have a clear path that God seems to be showing me. I believe I hear Kevin pulling up outside so I'll say once more...
Until I'm back to ramble again...
Love,
Katy

Friday, June 6, 2008

Improving Mind, Body, and Surroundings

I swore to myself once school let out that I would be the world's best and most dedicated blogger...well that didn't happen. I will admit though that today is the first time that I've really had any down time at home. I've been finishing the yearbook, working out, and at a workshop this week.

Graduation was a week ago...I miss my seniors already! I went in to work last Saturday and worked on finishing up the yearbook. I had Senior ads pages and graduation pages to make. I completed and proofed all the pages! I mailed it off on Wednesday morning. The worry that has lifted off of me is like nothing else! The publishing company will mail me proofs in a couple weeks before final printing begins. Finishing my first year teaching is kind of bittersweet. I'm exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time. It was the hardest work I've ever done in my entire life but I have never enjoyed a job more. I'm enjoying the time off and my mind is finally clearer than it has been in a while. I guess I don't do stress well. It consumes all I do so I never relax. Hopefully this summer I will have a chance to recharge.

I renewed my contract with Eden for another year about a month and a half ago. I'm still struggling with my decision a little bit though because of the cost of gas and a few other things. Driving back and forth costs so much! I easily spend more than $400 a month on gas. I've been thinking about trading my Tahoe for a car but Kevin is completely against it. It is the only vehicle we own (Kevin drives a work truck) and he does not want it to be a small car. I do not want to get rid of my Tahoe but I can't stand spending such a large chunk of my paycheck on gas. Kevin wishes that I worked closer or didn't work at all. He was so patient with all of the time I spent at school this year. It was rare that I came home before 6 most days.

Kevin worked this weekend on our flowerbed and it looks amazing! He put down mulch and planted flowers and small shrubs. He is very good at that kind of stuff and has an eye for landscaping. We have been preparing to do a lot of work on our house. Kevin's brother is supposed to lay tile in our dining room, kitchen, living room, hallway, 2 bathrooms (both floors and walls), and front entry. We have pulled up the carpet and been living on concrete floors for a while now. We still have to finish pulling the linoleum in the kitchen and do some extensive leveling in the dining area. It will be a lot of work but I know I will love it after it is all done with.

I'm still working out and going to Weight Watchers. I lost 3 pounds week before last but only 1.8 this week. Small victories I guess. I sure was hoping for 3 again because I wanted to hit my 10 pound loss mark this week but I missed it by .6. I'm at 9.4 pounds lost right now. Lacy and I have been going to the gym early in the morning now that school is out. I'm really enjoying getting to go with her. I'm hoping the weight loss will pick up now that I can work out everyday and for a longer period of time. Well my wonderful mother has come into town and we are going to go do a little looking around town. Until I'm back to ramble again...
Love,
Katy