More Answers

If you took my quiz then you know what I'm talking about and if you didn't then you need to become my facebook friend and take my quiz. It's just that simple.

Question #2 was "What is Brandy's favorite pizza topping?" On any given time, depending on my mood, I will eat pepperoni or sausage but I HATE onions. I just hate them in general but especially on pizza. Overall though, more than likely if you see me eating pizza it's just cheese because I'm simple like that. Oh and extra cheese makes it that much better. Yummers.

Question #3 was "What was Brandy's first dog's name?" This was a bit of a trick depending on how long you have known me. The first dog I owned after Gabe and I got married was Annie, who I spoke about frequently here before we lost her. But that wasn't really the question. The first dog I ever remember owning was a champagne Cockerspaniel named Michael. He was a sweetie when he wanted to be but I still have a scar on my left cheek from where he bit me at about the age of 4 because I was teasing him (hey, I was 4, I didn't know any better!). My dad almost got rid of him in that moment but gave him another chance and it was worth it. He was an awesome dog who never did anything like that again.

More answers to come...

Catching Up On My Anniversary

This last month has been HARD. I've been working basically full time for the hospital, part time with my other job and for the college, taking classes, and of course doing the best I can to take care of my family and church responsibilities too. Too much. My part time job ends this week, which is a very good thing, and I am going to be really looking at my priorities. I need less stress in my life and that would be a good place to start. I hate to say this but I have been depressed. Life has been throwing challenges at me and I have no desire to step up. I don't want to continue feeling that way and know that if I am going to meet the goals I have that things have to change, one of them being me.

Other than my life being CRAZY, I do have something nice to report. The weight is still coming off. As of today I'm at 48.3 pounds down. I still can't believe it. I definitely have weeks where not a thing comes off, as everyone does sure, but it feels nice when it's as little as a pound. I got rid of my elliptical this week. I have had it about five years now and I just never really enjoyed using it. It's big and noisy and just plain hard for a short person. Of course I need a way to keep working out through the winter so I am getting a treadmill! Woo hoo! Actually it's used treadmill but when I say "used" I use that term loosely. My manager at the part time job bought it for his wife at tax time this year because she really wanted it. She said she's used it exactly one time. Yep, ONE time. So they sold it to me for CHEAP and I will get the benefit of the barely used treadmill. I have less than 37 pounds to go and I know getting my exercise up there will make all the difference in the world.

On a silly topic, I was told by someone that follows me on facebook that I needed to post more here because she didn't do well on my quiz. I figured I might as well give the answers here so over the next few days I will be answering all of my quiz questions with a few short stories to go along.

Question #1 was "What is Brandy's favorite holiday?" My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Most people might say because of the food but I just plain love the meaning of the holiday. It's a time to gather with the people that mean the most to you in the world and give thanks for each and every blessing you have received this year. Sometimes the years are hard and people we love are no longer with us to give thanks, but the blessings are still there. I hate that it's scrunched in between Halloween and Christmas and seems to be forgotten these days. I hope my children are able to see just how important it is to take time out and be thankful for all we are given.

And on an extremely personal note - to my husband of 11 years on our anniversary - I love you. Thank you for putting up with me and being there for me and all that you do. Thank you for wanting to be my husband and for loving me. No matter what life may throw at us, I am glad to know that I have you by my side to battle it together.

Going Down*

I finally broke the 40-pound mark today! I was 39.9 pounds down on Saturday and today when I got on the scale I could have done a little happy dance when I realized I not only got past the 40 mark but I was 1.5 pounds past the 40 mark.

In August I officially stopped nursing Livi (as I mentioned here) and everything as far as weight loss went just stopped. I dropped my WW points but things still weren't moving. I got frustrated, I changed things up, I might have kicked the scale a time or two when NOTHING moved. I didn't gain weight, I basically stayed within about 0.5 pounds EVERY SINGLE DAY. For a few days it was fine but day after day after day gets really, really old when you're doing everything you can to try to see the pounds come off. I just kept telling myself that after nursing and losing so much weight my first three months that my body needed to catch up and even out and eventually I would start losing again. Some days I believed myself and other times I felt like giving up and just accepting myself at this weight.

Apparently even though I was just trying to encourage myself, whether I truly believed it or not, I think I must have been at least partially right. Out of nowhere last week the weight started coming off again and I'm going in the right direction again. I will definitely be posting another update pic soon to show just how far I've come.

To all of you out there that are on the same weight loss journey just remember that it's worth it and please, please don't give up. Shoot me an email and we can become weight loss buddies. I'll send you any tips and tricks I've learned and I would love to hear the same from you. This path isn't easy but it is SO worth it.

*The nasty side of me giggled as I write that title. Yes, I'm just that bad.

Time Flies

I really wish I had something interesting to talk about but really, life is just about getting by right now. I am still working for the hospital doing full time hours but I'm not officially full time yet. I still have the part time job with the carpet cleaning company, which I'm hoping to leave in the next few weeks. School started and I am now giving 10 hours a week to the college so that they will pay for my education.

Outside of all that Gabe, Aiden and Livi are fabulous. I couldn't ask for a better husband that helps out with the kids and around the house so that I can work and study when I need to. While life is busy right now it is also really good and I am thankful for what I have. Hopefully you will be hearing from me more regularly again as I start to get my schedule a bit more under control. As Gabe would say "yeah, right".

Never Forgotten

My heart is full and heavy on this day of remembrance. I recall vividly where I was on 9/11/01. I remember the fear, the uncertainty, and the concern as I stood with my fellow man to hear the news as it broke so devastatingly on that day. I also remember the hope, as people gathered and drew strength from one another and honored those that were lost. This day, this time in our country, and these people are not forgotten.

One Year

Happy 1st birthday Olivia Ann! You are the very best surprise I have ever received. I am so thankful for the amazing year we have had with you and can't tell you how excited I am for the years to come. You bring joy to my life, which can't be compared, and your mommy loves you more than words can say. Happy birthday sweet baby girl!

The Word of the Day is BOOBS

Because mine are SORE.

Over the last few weeks my supply has really gone down and with Livi fast approaching the one year mark I thought that weaning was in our future. I wasn't that upset about it because I have been exclusively pumping for the last few months and that has really gotten OLD. Two weeks ago I decided to try her on whole milk and it went over fabulously. She drank it down like it was nothing and had absolutely no signs of gastrointestinal upset. All was well. Last week I was down to pumping twice a day and only getting about 10 ounces total. On Saturday I pumped in the morning and got only 3.5 ounces - my lowest ever for a first thing in the morning pumping session. That was when I decided we were done. If that was all I was going to get, not even enough for one feeding, then it wasn't worth it any more.

So do you think it was that easy? Ha! Of course it wasn't. Yesterday wasn't too bad. I felt a little full but nothing too terribly uncomfortable or anything. Today on the other hand I have rock hard boobs from h*ll!! They are hard and full and really, REALLY uncomfortable. Frick! Weaning Aiden was easy, my body did it naturally because I was pregnant. I don't have that particular issue this time but most certainly did NOT expect this.

So what do I do?? Part of me is seriously second guessing my decision to stop while the other part is looking up anything and everything possible to help until my body adjusts. I am thinking cabbage leaves and Zyrtec-D are in my future. If any of you can offer any insight or advice I would be forever in your debt. And ouch!

This Is What's Keeping Me Going

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

New Toy

I got my new Blackberry Curve yesterday!! I am LOVING it so far. If any of you out there have one and want to give me pointers or tell me the great things I can do but know nothing about I would love that. So far I've got my facebook and twitter going nicely but I want to use every feature possible so sent ideas my way! :-)

Warning

Things are slammed at work, it's finals week, and it's county fair time. Things may be sparse this week (but hey, you're used to that right??) so I will make up for it with tons of pictures when the week is through. Til then...