School is underway and a challenge has started!

Labor Day weekend!  The sign of the end of summer and the beginning of school.  Our school actually started this past week, so we have a week under our belt.  The kids LOVE their teachers and have adjusted well.  Ty enjoys having mommy to himself again.  Mommy loves having a schedule.

Ty had his preschool screening this week.  We got about 1/2 into the screening and the teacher stopped.  He couldn't finish because he doesn't talk.  Yay!  Exactly what I was talking about, and finally someone confirms what we already knew.  He needs help before starting school.  Obviously we have two years before Kindergarten, but it might take that long to get him caught up to kids his age.  Our next step is to have a more thorough evaluation by the school district to determine exactly what therapy(s) he will need.  We should hear back from them in the next week or two to schedule the appointment.  We are very excited for him.  How much easier his life will be when he can talk.  In every other category he's pretty much normal or above.

I have hit my goal weight and continue to loose inches and fat.  I have never felt healthier and stronger.  This morning I completed BodyPump class at the YMCA with heavier weights in all muscle groups.  I can run longer and faster.  Jeff and I have signed up for a 16 week Isagenix Body Challenge.  Jeff is signed up for the Performance challenge and I for the Weight Loss challenge.  We are both excited to tackle this challenge together.

For inquiring minds, I have released 19 pounds and 53 inches.  Jeff has released 15 pounds and 31 inches.  We've both gained lean muscle mass.  Pictures will follow as the challenge progresses.

And for the kids.  They continue to enjoy the shakes and bars for snacks.  So much better for them than other snack foods they could indulge in.  Larson has taken some additional supplements and we are happy to report that he has more control over his emotions.  Maybe not perfect, but better.  This is a game changer for him.

Happy Labor Day Weekend My Friends

Trying Something New! Isagenix

I'm I a bit of a fanatic when it comes to eating and exercising?  Yes!  I have to be.  To be me and live in this society in this day, I have to be.

I'm a bit of an obsessive compulsive over-eater (self-diagnosed).  I eat until I'm stuffed and still eat more.  It all starts after my noon meal.  I can't stop until I go to bed.  I walk to the pantry hundreds of times a day.....for no reason what-so-ever!  It's horrible!  It is horrible to be obsessive, and obsessive over food is a nightmare because you have to eat.  It's not something you can "quit cold turkey."  Yet amazingly I don't weigh 300+ pounds!  I don't because I have used systems to help me control myself and I exercise.

As you know, I've been exercising and doing different eating programs....counting calories and Weight Watchers.  I've also participated in LA Weight Loss.  All of which worked for me.  To a point. 

So I learned of Isagenix from a Facebook friend.  I'm not the "gimmicky" gal, and I tried to just eat a balanced diet and exercise.  Because to a point it works.  (For sure I'm not into the pill idea, because in the end, a pill didn't change your habit.)  After following my friend for some time I decided to check into it more and went on the website.  I really liked the idea of the nutrition the different solutions this company delivered.  I like how the focus is on nourishing the body appropriately, and the natural side effect is weight loss. I liked how they explained toxins and how detoxing your body is beneficial. Everyone also claimed to feel so much better.*  Huh.  Sounds just like every other program, right?  But I couldn't stop thinking about the nutrition.  I didn't really believe I was doing the best I could do, even on all those programs.  

After a quick discussion with Jeff, we decided to give it a try together.  He's in the fitness industry and wants to tone up a bit more.  We jumped in a little over a week ago.  I won't get into the details of the program other than it consists of shake days and cleanse days, but of course we still eat "real" food too.  It has fit into our lifestyles.  Let me say, that it has taught me how many times I mindlessly search for food and how many times I eat the miscellaneous drop of food off the kids' plates.  I am down 7 pounds and 15 inches in my first 7 days.  Dangerous?  No.  The first week of a program you tend to drop a lot of weight.  The inches are spread out over my body, so it's a little over 1 inch in each area measured.  How fantastic is that!?  Over an inch around the bust, waist, hips, and butt....each.  Yes, my clothes feel good and I don't think about what to wear.  It all fits.  I open the closet, and it all will look nice.

I'll definitely blog more as we go.  But if you have questions, contact me or check out the website.  Or contact me through the website at: http://jenihemingson.isagenix.com/us/en/home.dhtml.  I'm not an expert on this system yet, but I'm happy to help you navigate an answer any questions.  I really do feel good!

*Yesterday I had Jimmy Johns....we were in a bind.  I could definitely tell I had too much bread because I felt terrible.  Don't get me wrong, Jimmy Johns has fantastic tasting sandwiches, but I don't think I'll down a whole one again.  My body is already changing and is loving it.  It knows when it has something good going on.

Ty is 2!

Today my littlest monkey is 2!  Our little party will be tomorrow.  Big THANK YOU to Dora for making his cake.  Isn't it cute?!

It's been pretty non-eventful the last few days.  I'm been a good girl watching what I eat and getting out for a run every day. 

Unpacking is going well.  Everything is out of the garage and we need to rearrange a few things so we can get Jeff's car in the garage.  The only things we have left is building the cubie for the entryway and doing some touch-up painting after the movers mucked up the walls.

Yesterday was an unusually weird day.  In the morning we had Direct TV come out and install satellite TV.  Yep, we lost our mind and tried to bundle with Mediacom.  What a joke.  Not only was the service less than satisfactory, the tech was completely rude.  He didn't even want to turn the TVs on to make sure they worked.  He rolled his eyes when I made him wait until I logged on to the internet to make sure it worked.  Then he told Larson to back off when he was showing us how to use the remotes.  Excuse me!!!  Larson needs to know how to use the remotes just as much was Jeff and I do.  Geez!!  In any event, the TV is back to Direct.  Even better, the shows we previously recorded were still on the boxes so the kids have all their shows.  Just as the Direct tech was getting done, the Warnier Stellian tech came to look at our dryer.  The display isn't lighting up like it should.  Talk about another episode of "duh!"  I had to call 3 times to try to explain the problem and get someone out.  Apparently the display not working isn't enough for a repair run.  ARGH.  So anyway, he got here to diagnose the problem only to tell me he needed to order a part.  By the way, he knew what the problem was before coming out, but didn't order a part and wait for it to come in before coming out.  Now he needs to make another stop.  Well, whatever, we're not paying for it, and it wasn't too much of an inconvenience, but still!  (Side note, we LOVE Warner Stellian.  They've been awesome to work with so far.  Just a little amazed at how some systems work. Systems should not reflect the kindness of the people who are forced to use them.)

Just as we think the end of the day was upon us last night, Larson appeared to have pink eye.  We find the nearest Urgent Care and run him out.  Jeff and Larson waited 1 1/2 hours to get diagnosed.  A Walgreens nearby was open 24/7 so they were able to get the prescription filled.  They got home by 10:30, eye drops in, and off to bed. 

You know, every day we think we're going to get stuff done around the house and almost every evening something comes up.  I think God is telling me something.  Slow down and take it as it comes. 

On to the next big adventure....Saturday!  Ty is 2!  Ali has her first cheerleading camp, and it's our last day to organize/clean/paint before the big birthday party tomorrow.  This will be an interesting day.  Will we get it all done?  Stay tuned.....

Moving weight gain...bluck!

Ugh, with all that work moving boxes and climbing stairs in 90 degree heat, I still gained weight!  Guess all that eating out didn't help.  Only 4 pounds isn't so bad.  Jeff and I are going to have to set a schedule so I can exercise.  We don't have so many errands to run today so I'm planning to get out for a walk with the kids to explore the neighborhood.  Maybe we'll hit the park too. 

On the up side, the kids have already spent one hour reading for their Booka-wocky challenge!  They click it off 10 minutes at a time.  So proud of their hard work. 

The house is coming together nicely.  The living room is pretty much set up.  Last night we built the new end tables and found the lamps....including their shades AND light bulbs.  It was a productive night.

Yes, I call my kids Monkies

I'm a mom! I have three children whom I call Monkies. Especially my daughter. She can climb, hang, jump, and cling to you like no one's business. They cuddle, squeal, fight, climb, and have been known to fling poop. Well not exactly, but there is plenty of poop involved in my day.

I stay home to do my best to raise them. At first I thought they'd be better off at day care. I felt that I was really bad at being home. Then I realized, no, all moms struggle with the same issues that I do. Now that Monkey #3 is here, I'm an awesome SAHM! Well, some days.

I wanted to start a blog to share some of the ups and downs of being a mom. I'm hoping it'll be theraputic. There are some really funny and entertaining things that go on around here, and I'm sure in everyone's household. We all could right the best books. Also, being on round 2 of weightloss I hope having a blog to air my failures, temptations and successes, I might have better - no, quicker success.

I look forward to airing all my laundry and hoping others might comment. We can help each other get through these days of middle-aged, child rearing fun.