Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Well, my baby girl is a year old today. It hardly seems possible. What a year!

I got to thinking about my physical health this time last year. Obviously, I was very pregnant and very post-pregnancy all within a few hours time. Funny how that happens.

I may not be going to the gym or working out religiously, but I'm in much better shape now than I was even before I got pregnant. That, to me, is amazing. I wanted to lose weight, but I didn't actually think I would. I had, in some part of my brain, resigned myself to the fact that I was going to be a size 14 forever. That was just going to be it.

How exciting that a year after having my youngest I'm in a size 10 and on the way down. That's a good thing. It's encouraging. And I never believed it would happen.

So, if you're reading this and thinking that you'll never get to where you want to be....just start. Do something. Anything. You can do it.

Why I Love My Job

I was running late tonight at work for a variety of reasons that were not of my doing, but I was left with a choice at 8:03pm. I could either help my last "assignment" (aka-"darling, sweet 96 year old woman") to bed or I could pass her off to the aide working her hallway and go home 3 minutes late vs. 30 minutes late. Either option was my call. I almost let the other aide help her to bed, but then I asked her a question... (all names have been changed for privacy reasons)

"Doris, would you like to go to bed?"

"No,I don't think yet. It's still early."

"Okay, that's fine. I just wanted to give you a choice, because I have you on my list tonight, but it's time for me to go home. If you'd like to go to bed I'm happy to stay and help you, but if you'd like to stay awake I'll let Susie know and she'll help you get to bed later tonight."

"Oh, in that case I'd like you to help me if that's okay."

"Of course it's okay. I'm happy to help you."

"You're always so cheerful and happy and it makes me happy to be in your company."

Did I mention I love Doris? Really. She's a sweet woman who doesn't get nearly as many visitors as she should and who doesn't get a lot of conversation with others, because it takes her awhile to answer sometimes. But I love her.

You know why else I love her? She said she couldn't even tell I'd had three kids and she didn't think I was old enough to have them....because aren't I only 20? Awww....

It was a good choice I made. I'm glad I stayed and left smiling...late, but smiling and thankful that my job gives me plenty of exercise and the opportunity to make people smile and feel loved. That's a good thing.

Does that get me out of going to the gym?

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P.S. - My husband pointed out that the gymnastics center that our kids go to offers adult classes. HA! You first, honey.

40 pounds & 9 years

40 pounds doesn't seem like a lot...until you realize that my youngest son weighs 40 pounds. Then it seems like a lot. Well, the day I had my daughter I weighed 40 pounds more than I do today. And I now weigh 10 pounds less than before I got pregnant with her last March.

I told my oldest son this exciting news and his reply was, "Cool. How come you're not any smaller then?" *sigh* Kids.

I hopped on the Cardio Killer again this morning and decided that I actually enjoy it more than the treadmill. Amazing, huh? I get a better workout and the time goes by quicker. And you sure do sweat more. Remember, it's gross, but in a good way. At least that's the story I'm sticking with.

It's my 9th wedding anniversary today. Happy Anniversary, wonderful husband of mine. You're awesome and I'm so happy you picked me. =) I love you!

My hubby and the baby (who is apparently very uninterested in playing UNO)...

One Child Down

I won't be going back to the gym until Monday, because of scheduling and childcare issues, but I'm planning on digging out some of my exercise videos from the closet. Actually finding them and trying to remove them from the cabinet should burn off just about as many calories as actually doing them. The closet is a mess.

I am happy to report that I am now the weight that I was before I got pregnant with my baby girl (she's 4 months...almost 5). That's exciting, because I have now lost the weight from one of my 3 children. Unfortunately, I'm still way above where I need to be. We're looking at a good 30 pounds above. I look at that number and think, "How did I get to this?"

But the good news is that I'm working on changing it.

I'll be walking in a local MS Walk tomorrow with my mom and kids. My brother, nieces and hubby all had to cancel for one reason or another, so it will just be the 5 of us. I haven't raised a lot of money, but I've raised some. And I'm walking it. Every little bit helps. If everyone does something, even if it's small, combined it makes something big. THAT'S exciting!