I LIVE

It has been months since the last time I have been on here and I have to say for good reason. There has been a lot that has changed.

We sold our house and bought a new one. This was quite a project. Packing up one house and moving everything over to our new house and unpacking it. We had to do this with three kids and while teaching school. I had no time off due to maternity leave. So everything was done on nights and weekends. There was barely time to sleep. We are very grateful for the help we had, couldn't have done it with out them!

We have been adjusting to our new surroundings, new school, new schedule and all the everyday stuff there is.

Also we found out that we are expecting #4 in late December, early January. So needless to say, time has been of the essence around here. I hope to be better about blogging and posting photos this summer.

Happy summer to everyone and I hope to be back on soon!

Valentines Day

Another Valentines day has come and gone. The roses have already begun to wilt, the chocolate is eaten and forgotten but the memories, the happiness, the excitement and the smiles that this one day brought will live on forever. I love that so many people will remember Valentine's day for the diamond that sparkles from their finger and as the beginning of the rest of their lives. I love that is scattered with red rose petals, chocolate and first kisses. I love that it is a day to celebrate the love that we feel for those special people in our lives. I love that it is day to thrill, excite and honor what we so often take for granted. I have just finished reading stories on how friends and family shared their special days and it brought a smile to my face! I love Valentines day! I love it for all the reasons above, I love it because I am true and hopeless romantic and I love it because for me it marks my first date, my first kiss with the man that would become my best friend, my husband, my partner and the father to my beautiful children. So you see Valentines day for all its grandeur will always hold a special place in my heart and my memories :)

Update

So, it has been close to a month since I embarked on herbal life and I have to say I have had mixed emotions. It took a little while to see some progress but I have lost 7 lbs and counting without having to add anything dramatic (likes major gym time) My energy level has increased and my body just feels better, it is amazing. I love it. The only negative thing and I do not really know if it is negative is that it takes a while to get going, I wanted instant results, but as with anything, these things take time. Now that I have seen the results, I am excited to try another month and see what happens :)

Trying something new

So, to get back to finding a "better me" or at least one that wears a smaller size a friend of mine has introduced me to Herbal life. I will be embarking on this adventure tomorrow. It is a combination of a shake for 2 meals and one meal of your choice, you choose which one and you can eat whatever you want. Thus you are not sacrificing anything. The shakes, made from a special powder, combined with a cell activator pill, a multivitamin, special tea and high protein snacks throughout the day will work together to jumpstart my metabolism. That is what the name of the program is, jumpstart. Its a "natural" way of getting things going. I know several people that have tried it and stuck to it and have lost major weight. I hope that I am one of them. Then once you reach your goal weight you slowly work your way back to three real meals and no shakes! I will keep you posted! Tomorrow is day one; wish me luck!

New Years resolution

Well, it seems that my New Years resolution has for the last 15 or 20 years been to shed those extra pounds, this year is no different I still need to shed those extra unwanted pounds, i feel like 100 hundred of them. The toll of three pregnancies and three small children has def taken its toll on my figure. There is less time to work out then there was before and my mind had more space for worrying about what I was putting in my mouth. I eat, most of the time without thinking about it. I am usually so busy that I pick here and there and it is what I am picking on and the fact that I am no longer in my 20's that has led to the extra weight. So this year I am going to try to embrace a two part resolution. Part 1: lose weight. Take the time to work out a little every day, to watch what I eat more carefully and to feel more comfortable in my skin and my clothes. Part 2 : this is where I am going to be more positive about life and try not to worry so much about the little things. To just enjoy life and my boys to the fullest and to remember that the glass is half full, not half empty.
So Happy New Year Everyone! and here is to seeing your new year unfold the way your heart desires.

Christmas eve

Here is Henry, happy, healthy and ready to embark on the festivities of his first Christmas!

911

SCARY! Henry was rushed to Dupount Children's Hospital in Delaware by ambulance on Saturday morning, December 18th. There is nothing so heartbreaking as seeing your 2 month old be strapped, carseat and all, into the ambulance. It was quite an experience and one that I do not hope to repeat any time soon. Henry was seen the Thursday (2 days before) before by his doctor. However, Saturday morning he did not look quite right to me so I thought that I would take him to the local medical center or walk in clinic. I figured the co pay was worth the peace of mind. It was there that they tested his oxygen levels and took chest x rays. He was only breathing at 83% and his x ray showed pneumonia in his right lung. They immediately hooked him up to oxygen and called the ambulance,, he was working too hard to breathe and eventually he would have tired himself out to the point of no return. They were wonderful men, they talked to me the whole way and kept the conversation light, they were very reassuring and calm on such a scary ride. Henry was admitted to the hospital and given antibiotics, we then moved to 3E. This was to be our home until Tuesday morning when we were released. I have nothing but good things to say about the people at Dupount, they were absolutely wonderful!
To all the moms out there I say trust your instincts no matter how silly they may seem. You know your children better then anyone out there and you know when something is not right, go with it. It is the best thing I ever did and I will never doubt them again. I cannot even imagine what the outcome would have been if I had dismissed them as needless worry. God bless :)

Gingerbread house party

The boys and I were invited to a friends house for a gingerbread house making party. It has become a kind of tradition and was so much fun! The kids did a fabulous job decorating their houses and playing and it was nice to get some adult time with good friends. This is one tradition that I hope continues :)

X mas Concert

Here is Jack at his first ever Christmas concert. TOO CUTE! All the pre k-ers were dressed in their Christmas best and sang their little hearts out. How can you not feel the spirit of the holidays :)

Survived

Well I did it, we did it. I successfully got one husband out of the house by 6 am and three little boys dressed, fed, packed and in the car by 7:30. Not too bad if I do say so myself. The children were at their designated spots by 8 and I was at school by 8:10. Not too bad, I even had 5 min to spare before I would be late. It was a good day. I cried all the way to school but once I was there I was good to go. The kids missed me, it was nice to be welcomed back. It will take us a few days to get back into our groove but I am confidant that we will all be there in no time. Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement, it was much appreciated. I was home with all three little ones by 5:30 and then it was dinner, baths and some cuddle time on the couch with the 25 days of Christmas. A pretty good day! :)

And we are off

Here we go again, back into the hectic schedule of life. Wish us luck! Hopefully there are not too many tears and I am not too late my first day back :)

Dear Henry

Today is my last day with you before the craziness of our life picks right back up where I left it 7 weeks ago. Please forgive me today if I hold you a little tighter, rock you a little longer and snuggle with you a little more today. I have cherished the past 7 weeks, have loved spending my days just you and me. I know that you will be fine, you will be with grandmere and meme until we break for Christmas, I am grateful for that, but I am not so sure how I will be. I will miss you. I will miss the break in our routine and schedule. I will miss seeing your beautiful blue eyes when you wake to see the world, your cry that means mama and your little fingers wrapped around mine. I am sure I will cry my way through day one but it will get better, easier, it will be ok, you will be ok, I will be ok.
People around me do not seem to understand how hard it will be, it will be ok, you will be fine, don't worry. I know it will be fine, I know it will be ok but it will still be hard, it will still hurt, I will still miss you. I love you little man :)

Portable North Pole

Those of you with kids check this place out. It lets you make personalized messages from Santa to the kids. It includes information about them and its pretty neat. Jack got a kick out of it last year. Helps keep the magic of the holidays around! The first one is to Charlie and the second to Jack. The older kids one lets you pick a secret that Santa shares with you. Pretty Cute! Let me know what you think!


http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/9fgQXMSSTCawCs3iv5bRVA

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/O7LptVvV6-w6hGd0PUoL_Q

Little man

Here is my little man all dressed for the weather. It is def cooler here, no snow yet, thank goodness! Isn't he just the cutest thing ever! I love the little overalls and the a little too big hat! I cherish these moments!

Just Cause we're cute :)

Elf on the Shelf

Today there was a "knock" at the front door. I told Jack to go get Daddy and then answer the door, when he opened the door there was a little elf sitting there with a story book about his adventure to Galena. He was very curious as to what this people was. We sat down and read the story; first this little elf comes to your home as a spy for Santa, you name him and every night when you are sleeping he reports all your good deeds and foe pas back to the big man. He returns to a different spot each morning, the only rule is you cannot touch him or his magic won;t work. He disappears on Christmas Eve and will return next year. Totally stole the idea from some ladies on Face book but def think it needs to become part of our family tradition. I love it!

Christmas Card torture

Here is one of the 500 million photos that my sister and I took over Thanksgiving in an attempt to get a Christmas card photo. We did our best but lets just say it was a work out and not an easy feat! Jack was the best and his only complaint was that this was taking forever and was supposed to be a couple of quick pics, I guess I need to watch my wording in the future with such a literal little man :) Charlie was not in the mood and would scramble or cry or say No and he had to have his dragon in every pose, no dragon, no photo. And of course there was Henry. Henry was a trooper and held on to the last run of shots and then he was done, not having it so to say the least it was an adventure and I guess when the cards come in I will let you know how the final product turned out.

Don't Peak Santa

Yesterday I started placing Christmas decorations around the house, just a few here and there. Here is a picture of a santa I hung on the handle of the front door. Jack asked me what it was when he got home from school and I told him that it was Santa and that he was watching him, so he better be good. The second photo is of Santa after I left the room for a minute. When I returned I asked what had happened to Santa and Jack told me that he does not want Santa watching him that closely! Too cute! Have to cherish these moments :)

Henry

My time with Henry is almost over and I am already growing anxious. My anxiety is eased a bit due to the fact that Mrs. Uleau and Mary will be taking him until we are on Christmas break but I have a feeling that I will be crying lots of tears. It is has been a wonderful experience staying home with my little man. There is nothing like cuddling on the couch, rocking him to sleep or just being there to be the one to soothe him when he is sad or sick or grumpy. I do not know if I am just the general amount of sad and anxious or if I am trying to savor every moment as this could be my last baby :(

November Thanksgivings ~ Catch Up!

ok, so I have not been good about the daily thanksgivings but I thought that I would sum it all up in one post :)

I am thankful for so much. I am thankful for the health of myself and my family, I think all too often we take our health for granted and just assume that everyone is and always will be fine.

I am thankful for three healthy, happy and well adjusted little boys who love life and all the discovery it has to offer.

I am thankful for my family. My mom, dad, brothers and sister who I am very close with and who I know would be there is a heartbeat if I called. As I would be for them. I am thankful for all their love and support and thankful that no matter how many miles separate us at any given time they are all only a phone call away!

I am Thankful for my in laws. They have been wonderful and very welcoming from day one. It is nice to have them close. I am thankful for the wonderful man they have raised and for all their support and understanding :)

I am thankful for my house. It is not my forever house (this is what mike and I refer to as our dream house) but it has been a home for our family to love and grow in. We are very fortunate to have a roof and heat when so many other people as struggling and lacking for what we take for granted.

I am thankful for my job. There are days when I complain and dislike it but overall I am happy doing what I do where I do it. There will always be something that you love and hate about your job no matter what it is, it is the nature of the beast.

I am thankful for my husband. It is rare that you find someone who loves and respects you and is willing to stand by your side for life. I am thankful for his support, his shoulder, strength and love.

I am thankful for life and love. I have been very blessed in this life. I am loved by great people and have been very blessed. I am thankful for that. All too often we take that for granted. I am thankful for all the opportunities that have been awarded me in life and for all the good and bad experiences that have shaped me into the teacher, wife, mother and person that I am. It is easy to focus on the bad stuff sometimes and to live in the future, the dreams that you have for your family and self so I am thankful for the present and life today.

I am thankful for my friends. It is very important to have a few special friends that you can count on no matter what and who are there for you always. I have these special people in my life. There are a small handful of friends from high school that I keep in touch with, although I have to say we had a a pretty tight graduating class, which is nice. I am thankful for my college friends and that we keep in touch. These are still the people I call to share good and bad news with, seek advice and to just catch up on life with. It is nice that even though we do not have to talk much we can just pick up where we left off. I am thankful for the few, good friends I have made here in Maryland. It is nice to have their ear to bend and shoulder to lean on or some good old fashion girl time with!