11 Years Ago

11 years ago today at 11:58AM, I gave birth for the last time to my last child, Monique Louise.  In honor of Susan Weinroth's upcoming birthday, I am going to list Monique's accomplishments thus far.

At 11 you:
~Are in 5th Grade
~Get A's & B's and maybe a C or two
~Are still baby fat cute
~Love monkeys
~Share a room with your sisters
~Still snuggle with your momma and daddy
~Likes boys and has had a few crushes
~LOVES macaroni & cheese
~Helps momma anytime she asks without whining about it
~Adore your brother and can still win his heart
~Can beat up said brother (because he lets you win)
~Is still the baby of the family even though you're not a baby anymore
~Is into all kinds of music and crafts like your momma

It has been an interesting 11 years and I can't wait to see what the next 11 bring for you, my baby MoMo.  Happy Birthday Monique-E.

Love Always,
Your Momma

The Big 4-0!

Today I have lived for 40 years.  At 3:31PM I will be EXACTLY 40 years old.  It seems like yesterday that I was just a little girl living in north Minneapolis and starting Kindergarten at Hamilton Elementary School with Mr. Olson as the Principal.  My childhood is filled with TONS of memories and I'm fortunate to still remember most of them as my long term memory is awesome, but that short term stuff gets lost in minutes.  All of my childhood birthdays were made special...even the teenage ones.  After all, it is MY day and it's the ONLY one I get to celebrate just being ME.  I try to instill this upon my children as they grow up and we try to do something special for each of them on THEIR day.  Today though, we have no special plans and I'm still trying to decide how I want to spend my day after I get done with work.  I do get to go to lunch with my mom, brother, and niece today.  After work I am headed to the high school to catch up with my favorite English teacher Bil (with one L) Hoff.  His birthday is tomorrow. 

So at 40 I embrace my age as I always have, and I look forward to the next 40 years and the suprises of life and living.  Life truly is too short not to embrace and live it.  I've always loved my special day and I always will. 

So at 40 here are my some of my current favorites:

Favorite Color:  Blue, any shade

Favorite Number:  2, because it's my birth day

Favorite Hobby:  Scrapbooking and Photography, you can't scrap what you don't shoot!

Favorite Musician:  My dad still, and George Michael second ONLY to my dad. :)

Favorite Actor:  Tyler Perry,  Madea is near and dear to my heart after living in Georgiarrrrr.

Favorite Food:  Lasagna still.  It's the only thing that rhymes with my name.

Favorite Drink:  Water for non-alcoholic and Sex On The Beach for alcoholic.

Favorite Sport:  Football, then Surfing.  LOVE to watch both.

Favorite Scrapbooking Manufacturer:  Currently, Little Yellow Bicycle (Thanks to Kim Kesti and Tania Willis!)

Favorite Local News Anchor:  Don Shelby, WCCO.  He is retiring in November after 30+ years.  He's been with me almost my whole life.  I will miss you Don!

Favorite Team:  Minnesota Vikings.  Then the Twins.  Timberwolves.  Wild.  Lynx.  In that order.

So that's all for now.  It's raining outside this morning, but in my world the sun is shining today. 

A BIG THANK YOU to my parents for giving me life. :)

Love,
TT

One Month Update

Well this update is late, but I think you will forgive me. 
After one month of walking, I have lost only 2 pounds.  Not a major deal, but at least now I'm not heavier than my son (we are the same now).  I won't measure my inches until the 3 month mark as there is no signifigant change.  I am up to 2 miles per day in my walking and can do those 2 miles in 30 minutes.  I'm pretty proud of myself for that.
And the delay was because of Tommy.  Yes I always blame him, but this time it is for real. :)
He finally made it home on Thursday morning, which happened to be our 15 year church wedding anniversary.  I dropped him off at home, he showered and went to the dr.'s office who sent him to the ER.  Let me backtrack a bit to say that ever since the Friday before he has had an infection in his groin and it got progressively worse. 
Back to the present day...the ER contacted the Urologist at the clinic and he said it was too complicated and to send him to a bigger hospital.  So off to St. Mary's in Rochester he went by ambulance.  I went and gathered kids and headed down there. 
Once we got there and the situation was assessed (5 HOURS LATER), it was decided that they would operate and put in a suprapubic catheter so that the infection would heal faster.  So at 10:30PM they took him down to surgery and returned with him at around 2:30AM.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  They operate 24/7 there as it's a huge place and it's Mayo run.  We FINALLY got to sleep around 4...until the lab girl came at 5:30AM...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  You only know I bitched.  Don't bring your ass in here before 7.  Then the Urology Tech came in.  Then the nurse and doctors.  Then another lab girl.  I told them ALL we can get that many interruptions at home.
Anyway, long story short, he spent the night Friday night as well because his white blood cell count was elevated higher than when he came in on Thursday.  Saturday, that finally went down and so he came home.  It took them 2 hours to discharge him.  I will NEVER EVER recommend Mayo.  If I was taking my last dying breath, you AIN'T bringing me there. 
We are glad he's home and hopefully he will have a speedy recovery.  I want to thank you all for the Get Well wishes that were posted on FaceBook.  We appreciate the love and support and love you all!
Love,
TT

Progress Made

I am making progress in my jump on the exercise bandwagon. 
I started out on Sunday July 11, 2010 walking for 4 minutes 49 seconds and .25 miles.
Last night I walked 2.3 miles in 32 minutes 29 seconds.
All of this according to my Nike + on my iTouch.
I've increased my mile time by 5 minutes.  That is I can now walk a mile in 14 minutes 7 seconds, where on the first day it was 19 minutes 5 seconds.
I can run (without pain in my knee) for 30 seconds even.  Someday I will get to where I can run for miles, but until then, we are working into that.  
Not bad for someone who's quite overweight.

Oh and I am trying to make the transition from the treadmill to the great outdoors.  Weather depending of course.  I think I've walked outside 3 or 4 times this week which is a HUGE accomplishment for me since I don't like being outside much unless the conditions are absolutely perfect.

And I am making healthier choices when it comes to eating.  I am also trying to cut back on my portions.  That part is easy for me as I don't require much food anyway.  It's the healthy choice thing that I have to think about constantly.

Since I started out on July 11, I think I will make the 11th of every month my weigh in date.  I did lose 2 pounds in the first couple weeks, so we will see this next week what my weight is.  Hopefully some of this fat is turning into muscle as I continue to walk on a daily basis.  I was thinking I should take a day off, but I want this fat gone like yesterday.  I even consulted with my sister on joining the gym to get a regular regimen going so I can hurry up this process.  We'll see about that though.

I'll check in on the 11th and post my progress or digress here.  Hopefully it will be progress.
Until then.
Love,
TT