My Weight Loss Journey Update.....

So about 4 1/2 months ago, I joined the gym.  I never really dreamed of losing more that 10 pounds, but here I sit today, 21 pounds lighter!!  I am very happy, but at the same time I still feel like the contestants on The Biggest Loser.......it takes SO much to make a difference. Believe it or not, there are pros and cons from losing weight....maybe I shouldn't say pros/cons but rather moments of ups and downs.....

The down side......Seeing a close friend you haven't seen since January, and she doesn't notice anything. (yes, another sign that I should be on TBL).  One of the biggest disappointments is losing this much weight and not seeing a difference in my clothes.  I have one pair of shorts that were big to begin with that are now falling off, and one shirt I can now wear, but when I try on clothes with the size I should have been able to get into before this adventure not fitting, it gets to me.  You would think that I should be down 1-2 sizes by now.  That's gotta be one of the biggest disappointments.  I would think by 21 pounds you should be searching for a new wardrobe.  Another disspointment is knowing that you are still classified as "obsese".  How about not being able to lose your C-section gut?

The up side.....A personal accomplishment....and I'm not done.  I never even thought that I would be down 21 pounds.....quiet honestly that was not really my goal at all.  Another big plus....having one instructor telling you how much stronger you have gotten.  Another instructor telling me how to track things better and how well I am doing.  Seeing new numbers on the scale.....wow....love that too.  And the few people that haven't seen me in awhile noticed that you have dropped, ask what you have done and how much you have lost.

At least I enjoy what I do and it relieves a lot of stress.  After the night I have had tonight, I can't wait to take off some more stress!

soccer

Part of being a mom is sacrificing your Saturdays to watch your kids play soccer!  Jacob and Jenna are both playing Upward Soccer this year.  We have some positives and negatives about this league, and I think next year we will move to JUSA soccer.  Jacob is on a team with all girls (except one boy) who is afraid of the ball, so needless to say they are the bad news bears!  Poor Jacob has to play everywhere since they are afraid.  So far he has scored two goals!!  One Saturday it was very rainy and muddy and the girls didn't want to get dirty so they put Jacob in as goalie!!  He did a great job.  Jenna's team has a lot of talent.....almost winning every game.  The bad thing for her is since there are so many good players, she draws back and does not play to her potential.  Every game they announce the players and they get to run through a banner.  It's pretty cool!

Grandfather Mountain

Whew.....I'm behind on posts. Before we had our Easter celebration weekend there was Good Friday. Jack gets Good Friday off, so we headed off to Grandfather Mountain. Wow. I loved every single moment of it....from the mile high bridge, the wildlife, the family time, to soaking up God's wonderful creation. It was another great family memory that I hope my children will remember.

Birthday Party

Jenna had two friends from school over.....Olivia and Regan. Oh, I've never heard so many giggles, and it is so nice to hear Jenna come out of her shell a little bit. The girls came home with us from school and then I took them to Build A Bear. We came home had pizza, cake and ice cream and then I listened to them play and giggle. Thankfully with girls, they were all in bed by 11 and I made it until 6 am before they were up again. The three of them have been together since kindergarten and they get along so well.

Happy Birthday, Jenna!

My dream since I can ever remember was having a little girl of my own. There is something about a girl!! I felt so blessed after trying so hard to have children to having two healthy baby boys. I remember going to my six week checkup and the doctor told me that if my period didn't start back up in a week or two to call them and they could prescribe something for me to "make me start" again. I ended up taking a pregnancy test and it was negative, so I called the doctor and he prescribed the medication to me. After I had finished the medication I still didn't start. I waited a few days and still nothing. Jack told me to take another pregnancy test. So on our anniversary, I took the pregnancy test and I couldn't believe my eyes.......I was pregnant. I cried and cried!! Here I had Jacob just now sleeping through the night and I was pregnant?? Jack calmed me down and looked at me and said "why are you crying......God is giving you your little girl"......he was right!! I was so nervous about what the medicine could have done to the baby so I called the doctor. He asked if I wanted this baby!! I told him the timing stunk, but I was blessed with a baby and I would never think otherwise. He said that mother nature would take care of itself if there was any complications from the medicine. Well, Jenna Hope McLean was a very beautiful and healthy baby!! I had just had a c-section so I decided on another one. They scheduled her a week early. I remember the boys going to mom's house the day before surgery so that I could run errands and go to the doctor. I went to babies r us and had to sit down because Jenna kept laying on a nerve. I went to the doctor for my pre-op visit and she checked me and said "don't you feel anything.....you are 4 cm dilated.......you aren't going anywhere!! I couldn't go to my mom's to tell the boys goodbye. Jack was at work and back in those days we didn't have cell phones so I paged him from the hospital. He wouldn't answer. I kept putting 911 after the number and finally he responded. It was raining and he was coming from Durham!! I didn't think he would make it, but it was such a wonderful sight to see him come through the door before they took me away. Jenna, you have given this family so much joy and we love you so very much!! Happy Birthday!!

Easter

Our Easter weekend was fun and full! On Friday we went to Grandfather Mtn. (more pictures to follow). Saturday we went to Miss Monica's for an Easter party. After that we went to Lake Benson for a walk/run and then headed into my dad's house. We went to visit my mom's grave stone and then went out to dinner. Sunday was church and then a family dinner at my sister's house. Whew.....no wonder I am so tired!! By the way, I HATE this picture of me. I still look fat and it reminds me how much more I need to lose!!

strawberries

The kids were on spring break this week. It was so nice not to have to rush in the mornings, pack lunches, and most of all worry about homework. On Wednesday we went to the park for my jog, then went to get our donut and then thrift shopping and grocery shopping (something we usually do once a week in the summer, minus the jog). On the way home, we noticed that one of the strawberry fields were open and they begged me to picking. I told them we would go home, eat lunch and then head over to Smith's nursery to see if we could pick there. It's hard to believe the strawberries are out so early, but it was fun to go with them and pick us some:)