April Fool's Plan in Motion...

Thanks to Love Actually blog, HH's April Fool's Day prank is in motion...

HH is driving me to work tomorrow (I love passenger days), so our neighbors who work third shift are going to put this on his car before he leaves to come get me after school.

Easter came early this year at our hour for HH....here is his basket spread!  :)  I can't wait to get mine.

We love to get candy as adults....HH is pleased with his loot.



One more day of school and then SPRING BREAK BEGINS!!! 

I am three weeks with no sodas too!

Never So Happy

to be woken up at 2:50 in the morning from a text.  My sister went out on a date last night.  I was so happy for her.  She called to tell me all about this "country boy" she met, and how they just talked for four hours at a local restaurant.  He is a professional plumber with a strong local company, and he used to ride bulls professionally traveling all around.  (Seriously....bulls, how freakin cool is that?)  I heard some laughter in my sister's voice.  I heard hope of the future.  She is twenty-six years old, and she needs that.  Next week will mark six months since the accident, and my BIL's birthday.  I am proud of her for taking this first step, even if there isn't another date. 

I'll take losing some sleep any day to hear that happiness in her voice again.

Four Years Post-Op

2008

2009

2010

2011

I had intended on including pictures of me from 2007, but I could not find any.  I know they are on my computer, just not sure where.

Highlights:

• 257.6 pounds lost
• maintained weight loss since December 2008
• weight stays between 135-140 consistently
• no Coca-Cola for four years

What I am Doing:

• Labwork 3-4 times a year
• always eat my protein first
• No sodas or liquid calories (protein drinks with milk and tomato juice being the exception).
• Weigh daily (although I can usually tell if I am up or down a few pounds based on how my engagement ring/wedding band or jeans fit)
• Tons of vitamins
• Almost zero fast food.  Most of it simply turns my stomach.  I do like chili from Steak n Shake and Fazoli's spaghetti.

The Downside:

• Eating frequently feels like a chore.
• My stomach is very finicky.  We make decisions on where to eat based on what I feel my stomach can handle at the given time.
• My energy level seems to stay very low.  I don't have a lot of stamina.  After a few hours or activity, I'm done.  HH helps out by dropping me off at the door at church, doing the grocery shopping, etc.  When I bought our Brad Paisley tickets, I noticed they had "limited mobility" seating.  I called and talked with the ticket office, saying I was not in a wheelchair, but didn't have great stamina, etc.  We were able to purchase special seating.  At the airport HH pushes me in a wheelchair through the security lines, because carrying our stuff and waiting a long time really tuckers me out.  HH has also pushed me in a wheelchair through several museums too.  I haven't talked about this too much on the blog because it has been a humbling experience needing help.
• I have made the decision that I don't think it would be best for me to have children from a health perspective.  Many people who have had the DS have had children.  I just do not feel this is the best decision for me personally.  HH and I do want to be parents, and we plan on pursuing international adoption (Africa) within the next 2-3 years.  We' loe to have 2-3 children through this process.

In Continued Spirit of Full Disclosure:

• I don't exercise.
• While I always make sure my meal has a heavy protein base, I have been able to eat whatever I want.
• Some DSers really have had to watch their carbs, I have not had to do that.

Looking Forward To...

• Being able to wear knee-length skirts, sleeveless dresses, and shorts (not capris!)
• HH's trust is coming in April/May.  This means I will be able to do plastics.  If we decided to move to South Dakota, timing might be more of an issue.  Do I have them in KY and join HH a little bit later?  Have them in SD?  Get things setting in SD, and fly back for plastics?  I am learning more strongly to having my plastics done here because I am very comfortable with the surgeon.  He has a lot of WLS reconstruction experience.
• Not retaining a huge amount of water in my thighs anymore!  I have so much loose skin there they literally fill up like water balloons.  It is painful and noticeable when I am walking around.  I can feel the extra water weight swishing around.
• Burning my last fat outfit.  I've saved a pair of my biggest jeans and shirt.  After plastics, I want to burn that outfit.

Would I Do It Again?

Outside of accepting Jesus as my Savior, and marrying my beloved HH...having the Duodenal Switch was the best decision I have ever made.

Thursday Awesomeness...and Six Days Until Spring Break

It started with a simple fax I needed to make, but it was a divine appointment.  Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oreo Cheesecake!!!!  Our security guard rocks!

My kids had to do a survey about middle school today.  I thought that Tyrell's response was funny as I was reading through...so I took a picture of it.  It is so easy to belittle people's worries, but when you step back and think this is the biggest change they have made in their entire life it is a bit easier to see.

This is our home for the next three nights:

This is one of the nicest hotels in our city.  I am at a conference.  I am the only elementary teacher that was selected for the conference.  I am really glad for the break.  It is very timely.  Now is the time of year with school where everything seems to be in super fast forward mode.

I was feeling good and did a silly mirror shot. 

The Casserole that Guilt Built

Tuesday night I made dinner for HH.  It has been a long time.  I read in a Facebook status that an old college roommate was making a Reuben Casserole for dinner.  I googled it, and found the recipe to be quite simple.

Reuben Casserole

Here it is in all its casserole glory.  HH loved it.  It took about fifteen minutes to prep, and thirty to cook.  We also are our neighbor's favorite people too since we sent them dinner as well.

Vote Please!!!

HH and I are having lunch at Jason's Deli.  HH is not into anything but white or blue dress shirts.  He is stepping out of the box with three shirts his mom and I picked out.  He agreed to wear it out in public today.  I wore my new maxi dress.  (Shout out for dresses that feel like you are wearing PJs....this is probably why I own six of them!)  I have started a facebook pole to show HH that people think this shirt looks good on him.  Please leave a comment here to show some support for HH stepping out of his comfort zone with clothing.

Free Ice Cream Cones!!!

Rachel and I looked so cute, we decided to capture the moment.

HH is going to tackle the Italian Wedding Cake Cupcake while driving....I got a Texas Milk Chocolate Cupcake.  Yes, today was a two cupcake weekend...it happens.

What's Up with Your Weekend?

On Friday, we went to the Southeast Christian Easter Pageant

 

This was the best that my camera captured our view, but it was really not bad seats at all, just high up.

 Our hot water heater went out.  This is the broken part.

We now have hot water, and better water pressure. :)

HH mailed my application out to work for the Bureau of Indian Education as an elementary school teacher.  This job has come open since HH learned of the group who is interested in us working there.  I didn't know when it would close, so even though South Dakota is a fact finding mission, I wanted to go ahead and apply.  I also emailed my boss to let him know that he might be getting a call soon.

This book came in the mail.  It was not available on Kindle, but had been recommended from a blog I read regularly.  I love being able to sit and read for long periods of time.  I've read about 1/3 of the book today.  This woman had some major faith.

Adventures in the Teller Line

I am talking to my best friend after school.  I stop in at the bank to make a deposit.  I make the deposit, but as I am putting the tube back, it falls under my car. I can't open my door because they have those concrete barriers.  I barely roll forward enough to get out of the car, and I mean squeezing out of the car.  My tire is pressing up against it, and I can't wedge it out.  I am reminded of a story my former bank teller roommate told me about a customer who got mad, through the canister out, and ran over it.  They charged her account $120.  I get back in my car, and try the whole back up/roll forward thing again.  No luck.

I have to climb out the passenger door finally in order to be able to retrieve the canister.  Success.  I showed everything my mom gave me during peak bank visiting time doing it, but success nonetheless. 

I can only imagine the conversation the tellers were having inside.

Cheering for My Alma Mater!

GO EAGLES!!!  Too bad I don't live closer to Denver!

Old Navy Posters

ONE

I won't ever have the fame of the Beatles.....but I have been diet soda free for ONE WEEK!!!!  This is a major accomplishment!

Yes, I'm Making Them into Nerds!!!

Every year I read my students "We Beat the Streets."  It is about three young men who are from the projects in Newark, New Jersey who grow up to become doctors.  They make a pact and stick to it.  I got to meet them several years ago when they were in Louisville on a book tour.  I just found out they have a documentary!  I will be watching the full documentary this weekend.  I'm going to show it to my students during lunch over the next week.  I'll turn them into documentary lovers!  (They watch a few more at the end of the year.)



On a note of personal interest, I plan on going to see this documentary:

A Great Day!!!

Great Thinkers=Engineers...You Can Do It Tyrell! 

Mmmm....Hot Chocolate!

His eyes are priceless!

Ran into my freshman college roommate that I have not seen in six years!

I love this boy!

He was pointing out that our student teacher had won an intermural award.

At the Science Fair, he asked such detailed questions of the participants.  It was so cute.  These middle/high schoolers took him seriously...I guess in part to practice their speeches before the judges came.  I was so proud of him.

Good times!

The Stockades in my hometown!

Mmmm...Graeter's Ice Cream

Quote

I Had to Share This Song....

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
But long that we'd have the faith to believe
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home, is not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Feels Good to be Needed

I've been down with teaching lately.  Not from the teaching kids aspect, I love teaching kids.  It's the paperwork, three hour meetings, seemingly endless data analysis, teacher bashing every news media source, etc that is beating me up.

Today, I woke up at 5:30, because someone needs me...and it feels good.  I'm taking one of my students to the Science and Engineering fair at a local college campus.  I wrote up the note, and told his aunt I would be there at 8:00.  On Friday morning he says, "I'll be on my porch at 7:45 waiting for you Mrs. F."

Seriously LOVE.THIS.KID.  Helping kids realize their potential, being a champion for them is why I became a teacher. 

Yeah, We Infer....Justin Bieber Style

The university professor at our school hates Justin Bieber.  In keeping with my theme of doing something silly every time she is gone for a conference, this time I created a Justin Bieber anchor chart for her classroom.  (She teaches her classes at our school.) 

Doing the traditional thumbs up dork pose.  :)  TGIF!