This That & A 'lil Bit of Everything

Party, Party, what a life.

2008-07-01T19:25:00.001-04:00

So, I had a play date planned with Melissa so Gracie and Joey could go swimming. Little did I know that my mom invited my Aunt and cousins over the same day. We had a GREAT PARTY!!! I love when that happens. I say the more the merrier. I got to see my cousin Cheryl, whom I haven't seen since Joey was a baby. She lives in Alabama and doesn't get up this way much. We had such a great time, even the little Thunder Storm didn't ruin the day. Here are some shots that I took with various cameras since Keira broke my PNS.

So that was Party 1 on Saturday. Then on Sunday was Andrea's baby shower. She is looking like a prego mommy, last month when she was here, she didn't look pregnant at all. Wow what a month will do.

I had a great time at the shower. It was nice to see Sue and Amy who also is prego, she just found out. How exciting.

I'm so not used to being such a social butterfly. I need a day off. I will post pics from Kendall's surgery day on another post with the whole story.

Been a while!

2008-06-21T17:43:00.004-04:00

Gosh it's been forever since I've blogged. I'm trying out this new thing called Windows Live Writer, maybe that will help me be a better blogger. I can write my posts offline, and edit my pictures right here. We'll see!

So, Joey came home the other day with a purple Mohawk. What a shock that was. He is officially a first grader now. Wow how that year flew by, my baby is getting old. He also acts like he is 30, the stuff that comes out of his mouth, I wonder where it comes from.

The girls are getting big and bad, worse by the day. They fight, bite and pull hair, scream, throw, and hit. I think we are in what is called the terrible 2s. Problem is there are 2 of them, and Joey never went through this, EVER!!! Yesterday for example, mom said they just screamed all day, what's up with that, glad I was at work. Only thing is Kendall kept doing it all night, so no one got any sleep. Oh the joys!! Why can't we blink and make it all better. They had corn on the cob for the first time yesterday, it was pretty funny to watch them figure it out how to eat. Of course I had to take pictures.

Kendall is getting her belly button removed on Wednesday, I'm a little (lot) nervous about it. On one hand, I want it gone now before she gets too old to remember the surgery, and on the other hand, she loves that thing. She walks around showing everyone, and her and Keira play with it all the time. Oh well, it MUST go.

7 Totally Random Things Tag

2008-05-23T08:08:00.004-04:00

So, my dear friend Melissa tagged me! I guess I'm supposed to write 7 random things about myself that people would not know. So, here goes:

1. I do everything to the right first except my hair.

2. I hate fish.

3. I must wash all the dishes before I go to bed.

4. I am totally (anally) organized at work, at home not at all.

5. I hate my hair.

6. I fear bugs.

7. My favorite color is Home Depot Orange.

So there you have it 7 meaningless facts about me! Be back later with a real post.

Filled and feeling it

2008-05-19T11:39:00.002-04:00

I finally got a fill last Tuesday. WOW! It was really cool to see how the band works. The Dr put the needle in the port, and filled my band up with saline. Then I had to drink barium, which everyone says taste terrible, I found it to be not so bad. I took 2 good sips, and then I got that feeling, the feeling of all hell breaking loose in my throat and the world is going to come back out. The Dr starts laughing, he says you see that is what you are NOT supposed to feel like. Then he backed out some of the saline until I felt better. I could see the barium going down through the tiny hole in the band, it looked like a thread in my tummy. I then took 2 big sips of water to make sure it went down ok. For the next few days it was liquids and soft foods, and now I am back to normal food. I am having to get used to eating such a small amount of food again, after being able to eat whatever and how much for so long, I have to re-train myself.

Mom and I went to the mall yesterday, and I could barely eat a bowl of soup at Applebee's, then I tried to eat a chicken wing and there you go, eyes tearing and that stuck feeling once again. Oh that hurts so bad. But, I'm down a pound this week, would be more, but I'm on an Iced Coffee kick from DD, and of course Joe brings one home for me, and doesn't order it with Splenda and skim milk.

Well, my Wii Fit will be in on Wednesday, I cannot wait to get it. It looks so cool and so much fun. I do like taking the babies for walks, but they are at a stage where all they do in the stroller is fight with each other. Poor Keira has scratches all over her pretty little face. Not sure how to stop that, but need to figure it out soon.

Busy Busy

2008-05-12T10:48:00.005-04:00

I've been a busy bee! Been a little hectic at work lately, and then you throw life in there and where does the time go! Last weekend my brother and his girlfriend Alisa ran in the NJ Marathon. It was Thomas' 3rd marathon in a year, and Alisa's first. They both finished in under 4 hours. I am so proud of my brother, it is totally amazing to me how those people can run 26.2 miles and still walk afterwards. To me that would mean sudden death.

Saturday, I went over Melissa's house to hang with the girls and do some croppin'. I needed some serious me time. Been a little cranky lately. Not sure if it is because I'm totally PMSing or I'm starving. But needless to say, I had the best time and made the cutest little Mother's Day gift for my mom and Joe's mom, of course they are not finished yet, still have to assemble them. Wait, did I just say I went to a 'crop' and actually did something. AMAZING!!! Thanks to Melissa, Krista and Robin (my new friend) for the much needed laughs. Oh yeah, and showing how to use Facebook, like I need something else to do!!!

Sunday was Mother's Day, I had the best day! We wend to Great Adventure, to see Josh Gracin and Chris Cagle. We met up with the whole gang, my Aunt Joyce and Uncle Ed, cousins Barbara and Renee, Erika and Micha, Taylor, Zena, and Augie. What a wild bunch!

The girls went on their first ride. I don't know whether to cry or laugh. It was a moment, I still remember when Joey went on his first ride. I guess they are getting to be big girls now, Keira really enjoyed herself, Kendall, well she was hard to read, not sure how she felt.

AND for the FIRST time EVER Joey stood next to a character and didn't FLIP out. This was totally monumental, I nearly forgot to take the picture I was in such shock.

The only thing that was wrong with the day was the weather, it was supposed to be 67, and warm, but it was more like 50 and wind tunnel(y). Oh well, we still had a great day.

So, I go for my fill tomorrow, I'm so looking forward to it. I am so hungry all the time. I am in what they call Banderster hell. And let me tell you it SUCKS! I can eat anything and everything and I do. I have been struggling to stay the same for the past 4 weeks, and it is killing me. This could be another reason why I'm so cranky. The foods that I am not supposed to be able to eat, go down so easy, cake is my demise. At least for the next 4 days I'll be on liquids so I know I will drop some pounds.

I'm back I scrapped.

2008-04-22T20:57:00.002-04:00

Not too sure if I like this one or not. That is the JOY of digi scrapping, you can change it if you do not like it and you do not ruin any of your stuff with adhesive. Thank you Melissa. ;)

This is from the funkyjunky spring fling kit which I absolutely LOVE!!!

It's been a long time...

2008-04-22T15:46:00.008-04:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted here. So much has happened, where to start, let's see where did I leave off. Gosh it was Easter. The kids are doing great. Joey has started baseball, and is loving it. He is on the Pitching Machine level of Little League now. That machine sure does make that ball fly over that plate. On Saturday at his game, he hit the ball every time at bat, I was pretty amazed. He never went against a machine before. Tonight's game is a makeup so the coach will be pitching, that should be interesting. The girls are doing fine, getting badder and badder, and cuter and cuter. They are so opposite it is so funny, Kendall is studious and Keira is just rough. We went out to eat the other day and they were playing with the crayons, well Kendall was all serious about coloring, and Keira was eating hers. Too freaking cute.

Melissa and Gracie came over this past weekend for a play date. We had so much fun. I cannot wait until we can do it again. The girls actually loved having someone new to play with. Of course, Melissa and I sat there chatting and taking pictures, what kind of scrapper moms would we be if we didn't. And of course I cannot get my camera to upload the pictures to the computer, and I don't have the time or energy yet to play with it. So, here are some of Melissa's.

Ok so the weight loss story. I've been hanging out at the high end of 180, yes that is what I said the high end of 180 for a couple of weeks. I go for my fill on May 13th, I'm hoping that I don't start PBing again, I just got that all under control and really can't stand to start again. So, other GREAT news is that I'm in a size 12. I can't believe that one, I haven't been in that size in so many years. I think it has been since the mid 90s.

Well this turned out to be a mini-book. More later I promise to try to keep up better.

I scrapped! Easter stuff too!

2008-03-27T11:04:00.008-04:00

I finally have a digi scrap page to post. Actually, it is a 2 page spread. I met up with my girl friends the other night, haven't seen them in like forever. It was great. We went to Cheeseburger in Paradise, food was good, company was awesome. I sure miss getting together with them, but life and babies seems to have gotten in the way. I am actually going to a crop with them next weekend (better get some pictures ready), can't wait for that.

Easter was an eventful day. We went to my mom's in the morning, and Joe's Grandfather's in the Poconos for dinner. We had a Great Day in all. It was nice to see Joe's Aunt Susan from Iowa and her kids, we do not get to see them often. Jimmy and Christina were also there as well as Joe's mom and Walter, Joe's uncle John and his family and of course Grandpa. It was really nice. Christina took a really nice picture of the girls, that I'm hoping to get my hands on the file so I can scrap it, they actually look angelic.

I am having a hard time on the weight loss side of life right now. Having all of this Easter candy and the actually Easter holiday, just killed me. I gained a pound. Cheesecake is an evil thing although it tastes fabulous! And Grandpa gets it from the Pocono Cheesecake Factory so it is even better. Almost (well maybe it is) better than sex!!!!! I'm glad I only get to have it like twice a year.

Happy St Patty's Day

2008-03-18T16:20:00.003-04:00

We celebrated St Patty's day yesterday. Mom made corned beef and cabbage. It was so good. Unfortunately, I was unable to eat too much because for some reason, it got stuck. Oh that really stinks. I only get to eat it once a year, and it got stuck. Thomas and Tori, Mom and Dad and the rest of us enjoyed dinner. Here are a few pictures.

I am down another 2 pounds this week. I wore a pair of jeans that I couldn't get on before surgery and I can get them on and off without unbuttoning them. Too cool!!! I have been eating a lot more than normal, I think I need a fill. But, I have been PBing (means productive burping, you burp and the food comes out) a lot as well, I am eating way too fast and getting the food stuck. At least once a day this is happening, I really need to chill out. I am just going to hurt myself, and my band and I really do not want to do that. I LOVE my Band. I haven't been this weight since... I don't remember the last time I was this weight.

Flowers, Soccer and RAIN

2008-03-10T11:57:00.009-04:00

What a weekend we had. Joey spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at my mom's house. He loved all of the attention. He also had his last soccer game on Saturday night, he got the cutest little trophy. He said he doesn't want to play soccer anymore, it is boring. Oh well, baseball starts in a few weeks. Can't wait until the girls start sports and activities, we will be running in different directions all of the town. The joys of parenthood. It was so fun to watch Joey play soccer, running with all the little people up and down the field, wishing I had half of their energy.

Saturday morning, we went to a flower and garden show at the Sussex County Fair Grounds, it took us more than 2 hours to get there, because of the horrible RAIN. We made it and it took us a half hour to walk the whole show. So we did it twice. The poor babies was so sick of sitting in the car when we got home, but they was so well behaved.

It amazes me how they can act so good in public, and as soon as we get home, they start screaming and beating each other with toys and brushes and whatever else they can get their hands on. Kendall has 5 small holes in her forehead, and a nice bruise. It's kind of hard to see in the picture, but they are there. Kendall got revenge this morning by promptly whacking Keira in the head with a small toy radio. Just what we have to look forward to I guess.

I'm down another pound this week. I have learned that I cannot eat in the morning. At least not scrambled eggs. They seem to get stuck and come back up. Not a pretty sight or sound as my hubby puts it. I am now moving back to 'real' food, meaning, I get to try to eat normally. So far I have been able to eat a half of tuna on toast, which I might say was YUMMY. I had a very small piece of Lasagna last night. And that is about all of the 'real' food that I have tried. I like eating my chicken salad and protein drinks. And whatever is for dinner I just eat the protein part, and maybe some of the veggies. Ok i just learned that I also cannot eat while doing anything except eating. I cannot have a conversation, do work, pay attention to anything but the food on my plate. I really want to get out and exercise, but the darn rain and cold are back and with a vengeance. UGH! Why can't I live in a warm tropical state.

Tickle, Tickle, Tickle

2008-03-05T10:01:00.003-05:00

That is Keira's new words. She repeats it of course, but she says it. It is the cutest thing. It just sort of popped out the other night when I was playing with them on the floor. Joe and I looked at each other and laughed and tried to make her say it again. She did over and over. Kendall just laughs and laughs, she had this sort of evil gotcha laugh, I can't remember what movie it is from, but I've heard it before, it is almost sinister, too freaking cute.

Not much else new on the home front. Except the pool liner is ripping really bad, and needs replacing, which we probably will not be able to do because it is more than the budget will allow at this time. It kind of sucks, we have this huge pool in the yard, and we may not be able to swim in it. If we let the liner go, it may collapse the pool, and then we cannot fix it because the town will not let us because it is not up to code. It was put in before the codes were written so it is grandfathered. We can maintain it, but not change it in any way. UGH!!!

I am down another 1.5 pounds. This is so great, I am not really trying,(just sticking to the plan) and the weight is just falling off. Never in my life would I have thought I could lose weight this easy. Last night my mom made dinner for us and my brother and Tori. She also baked a cake, and guess what, I had a BITE and I was OK with that. Just a BITE. It was YUMMY, but I didn't want or NEED anymore. I was totally satisfied with a BITE, just a taste. Can you say WOW, what the hell happened to me on Feb 5th? Did they do a band or a lobotomy? I did have a bad experience yesterday though with a scrambled egg. I took too big of a bite and didn't chew well, and it got stuck and came back out. OUCH! I will NEVER let that happen again.

Sleep, It's so Over rated

2008-02-29T09:06:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I've been up since about 3 am. Kendall had a bit of gas, or she was cold, I just don't know anymore. She just doesn't like to sleep, never has. Two nights ago she slept through, one of the few times in the past 15 months, I felt like crap the next day, too much sleep. Go figure! Why is it that twins of all people have to be so different. Keira sleeps so GOOD, has since about 3 months all night, except when she is really sick, only about 3 times. Kendall, NEVER!!!!! God HELP ME!!! I'm serious this really sucks! So, I proceed to get ready for work thinking I can actually make it there by 8 since Joey has no school, ok I got there at 8:45. So much for that.

It's too freaking cold out. I want to got out walking, (insert whine here) it's not fair. I just got this new stroller (check it out over there) to put the girls in to explore the 'hood and get some miles on the pedometer, and it is 17 freaking degrees out. So, I'll crank up the music when I get home and dance around like a fool, the girls and Joey love to see mommy act like a nut, they laugh so loud.

So, I did a no no this morning, I got on the scale on a no weigh day. It's Friday and my weigh day is Monday, but I'm getting a little OCD about the damn scale. I'm down another pound, too cool! I love my band, I need to name it, any suggestions? My mom did my measurements today since tomorrow is Saturday and that is measurement day (the 1st of the month). I have lost a total of 7 inches since I got my band (the 5th of Feb.). I LOVE MY BAND!!!!!

The girls first birthday!

2008-02-26T11:11:00.022-05:00

Ok so it was November 18th. I'm a little slow, but since I just started this blog yesterday, I'm backtracking. We had a pretty big party at our house. I guess there was in excess of 25 people there not including the kids, I couldn't stop them long enough to count them. We just got our house last July so I didn't know if it would hold that many people with all of the furniture in it. On July 4th, we had a HUGE pool party, but we didn't move in yet so it didn't matter how many people were there. Anyway, back to the birthday party, it was the day after Joey's 6th birthday party at Little Scoops, I know what was I thinking. So, we made lots of food, Dennette did, I made Baked Ziti and she did the rest. Love ya Necky! The whole family was there. It was a blast. I made this huge cupcake cake for the girls, and 2 smaller ones for them to play with, they didn't really care for it too much. But Keira did end up wearing most of her frosting. Here are a few pictures from that day (hopefully I can do this):

Jimbo and Keira

Tori and Kendall

YUMMY cakes!

ONDERLAND!
So, I hit a big milestone in my WL journey yesterday. I didn't say anything about it because I didn't really believe it. It was the first time in 12 years that I saw the #1 at the beginning of the scale. I almost passed out. I thought this was going to be a lot harder than it has been thus far, but I really do not miss eating that much. I just started back on soft foods from a full liquid diet that consisted of yogurt, pudding, and cream soups. Pretty much anything that would flow through a funnel at room temperature. I got pretty sick of cream soups by then end of 2 weeks. So, now I get to eat tuna and chicken salad, soft low fat deli meat, soft cheese, fat free refried beans, soft meats, soft veggies, and soft fruits (canned in light juice). It feels good to chew again. In 2 weeks I can start incorporating solid foods one at a time to see what I can tolerate. Right now I have a scrambled egg sitting in my throat for over an hour and it is starting to bother me. Not sure what to do about it. I guess I just wait to see if it goes down....HHMMM!

Joe had a beer last night, I took a sip. It didn't taste good. Glad I take that migraine medicine, makes life much easier on that end. I could really go for a Margarita, but that is way too cold for me right now, maybe by summer. I did have a taste of wine (by taste I mean sip), it was Pomegranate, and it was good, and I was buzzed. Oh well, guess that is what happened when you do not consume solid food for 3 weeks.

So here we go

2008-02-25T16:58:00.005-05:00

I'm starting this blog to journal my family, life and a special journey that I am taking into what I call 'bandland'. I am the proud wife and mother of 3 beautiful children. I have a 6 year old son Joey who is the apple of my eye, when he is good, but when he is bad, oh my! Then there are the girls, Keira and Kendall, they are 15 months old. The most adorable (if I do say so) little girls in the whole world, big blue eyes, blonde hair and milky smooth skin. OK enough doting. And let's not forget the fur baby Buddy, my Shit Zhu, my pal, love him.

So, I will be using this blog to tell my family and friends about our life, it's easier to keep everyone updated this way. I will also be showing off my digital scrapbooking layouts (as soon as I create them) from time to time, and posting updated pictures of the kids. It probably won't be update too frequently, if you know me, once a week will be a treat, once a month will be special, if your lucky once every 2 or 3 months. Really, I will try my best. But hey I am a full time working out of the home mom of 3, who has time for bloggin'!!!

Oh yeah! My special journey! OK so most of my family already know and 2 of my closest friends know, but I recently had WLS (weight loss surgery), I had a Realize Band implanted around my stomach. Here is the website if you want more info: http://www.realizeband.com/. I will be using this blog probably to bitch and whine about not being able to eat my favorite foods, or drink my Miller Lites, but hey, I want to be healthy and skinny for my kids and live a long and happy life, that is better than beer any day!!!

So here we go!!!!!