I'm swollden

Yup, that's right, I'm swoll-den. Day 7 of the prednisone. 6 more to go. I tried to go to the gym yesterday to do my run but I.just.couldn't. I got on the treadmill and started to work and had the most terrible throbbing pains in my legs starting below my knees and extending down. Terrible. Then I started to run... I thought "I'll just jog it off" umm... yeah, right. I lasted maybe .25 miles and had to stop. I have terrible swelling and pain in my legs when I try to do anything and my belly is near about grown out to Africa or maybe Egypt, I'm not sure which. I have gained 9 pounds since starting this wonder drug, which did ward off the hives, but I'm so over it and ready to be done. Too bad the weight, water and bloat won't magically fade as it so lovingly appeared. All this, just in time to attend the wedding. I'll be nice and moon faced I'm sure. Nice.

Tomorrow I get my hair did and I'm excited for that. Everytime it's time, it's time I think I can't go another day longer with being the fugliest person around. I'm sure it's not that bad, but I'm ready and excited... not that it's been more than 5 weeks or so.

Ashley's preschool is participating in Vacation Bible School this week and she appears to be having a blast. I still really enjoy the fact that she is soaking up religion, even it is not particular to our own. Today when I went to school to pick her up her teacher told me I wouldn't believe what she had been telling them today. Of course, I had to know. Apparently Ashley thinks her Mommy has a baby in her belly (and with the prednisone, it's actually hard to deny that it looks to be true) but oh no no, it's not. How is this... now even the two year old thinks I'm looking fat and her spreading the news people will probably start to ask me more and more about it. I think Ashley's Daddy thinks it wouldn't be such a bad idea and although I'm not against the idea, I just know that we'd set ourselves back so far in all money progress we've made by trying to swing the daycare of a then 3 year old and an infant. Daycare was average $641.00 a month before Ashley turned 2 and went to her preschool. Now it's $380 to go up to $400.00 in September. I can't be adding another $650.00 on top of that and expect to pay our bills. We'd be right back where we were before and although I know some might say it would be more friendly if I just didn't work and stayed home, I'm close to reality knowing that even though I don't make a lot more than that a month, I do get insurance for the whole fam-damily for free (good insurance at that) as well as BONUSES... one of which is hoping to be right around the corner. YAY!!!

I guess since I've been thinking about it, I'll share some of the "Dave" in my life. Referring to Dave Ramsey. Since September, we have paid for everything we have purchased. Okay, so maybe that's not completely true... however, the only purchases that were made on a credit card totalled about $100.00 while hubby had my check card and were paid off within the same month and therefore, incurred no interest or fees. We redid our spare bedroom, or maybe I should say "did" the room because it was a trainwreck with a blow up mattress in it, before my parents came to visit and we PAID for it. We bought a new mattress for our room, switched our old one into the spare room, bought a bedframe, paint, decorations, it looks spectacular and WE PAID FOR IT. Now that feels good. All in all though, our spending has been a bit steeper than it should and we haven't been buckling down it still feels good to know that we aren't CREATING more debt to try to wipe away later. I do plan now though to get back on the boat after this wedding crap and visits to Virginia the next two weekends... I mean, damn, a girl does gotta look good for it, right?

So, we are still in debt but I think it's cracking and it feels good although we, of course, like most still yet have a way to go. We're getting it, not accepting it... I guess that's what really matters :)

I find this blog thing funny. I enjoy it, but I really haven't had too much to say. I find myself rather boring at times and just follow you all but I do like the sitemeter thing. I find it interesting to see what has brought people to my blog. The #1 hit getter has got to be the word "yuve". I talked about Ashley saying "I don't yuve you" and apparently from that, I have found that my little one speaks spanish because folks from all over spanish speaking countries have come to my blog from far and wide with regard to the word "yuve". I still haven't really figured out what it means though. Any idea? Is it bad?

Okay, so I've come, I've blogged, I've shared some not-so-interesting stuff and I'm not going to proof... I'll just spell check and post, hope it makes sense! TTFN blog land.

Ohmigoodness... did ya miss me?

I'm baaaack... and been up to so much that couldn't even begin to share or tell it all. Life is rolling, indeed with no way to stand it still.

I've been around. Gardening, getting tattooed (for the 3rd time), running, parenting, disciplining, traveling and alot more whatnot in between.

Right now I'm itchy. Seems as I'm having one of my terrible allergic reactions that send me into shock (literally) but this time I presented myself to Urgent Care within minutes of noticing my rash had turned to hives. See people, this is bad for me. The hives put me in the hospital, swell my throat, drop my blood pressure and oxygen saturation... it's bad stuff. This time I'm not playing around. A $25 visit to urgent care, and $80 later at the drug store I'm stocked up and will be pill popping for the next 15 days. Yay... okay, not really yay. I'm sure to be swollen and puffy after 15 days on steroids (good old dose pack) and gee, just in time for the wedding I was asking fashion advise for a while back.

Ashley.is.potty.trained. Yay for that... no doubt. She's done so well, and actually has been since about the time that I left you for my short stint away, 2 months ago!!! Geeforevertimeflies :)

It's hot and my flowers are blooming. We are seeing all sorts of critters that I could do without. You see, I'm from the mountains of VA and we don't have critters, bugs and snakes this big up there. I don't know what it is but one glimpse of a 2-3 inch flying roach will set you scared, well it will me anyways! I could do without the frogs, toads, lizards, snakes and big a*s bugs I see daily, however I don't mind the cute little bunny that hangs around my house from time to time.

I've starting running on the treadmill during lunch. I had previously been going to Curves and quit there and then started at the club I belong to now. Did I mention that the firm I work for now pays for our family gym membership? But at any rate, I had been doing and doing the elliptical and lifting a little big of weight and seeing no results. Over the past 3 weeks I have switched it up and now I spend my entire workout time on the treadmill. I've gotten to where I walk .5 miles, run 1, walk .5 and then run 1.5 (total 3.5 miles a day) damn do I feel good afterwards, despite the terrible sweat I break out into. Sometime I feel like I can't breathe, but it's getting better and truly, the feeling of accomplishment when I cross my finish line is all the encouragement I need! Talk about feeling good!

Also, I have put down the Dr. Pepper. I have figured out that I drank approximately 5 sodas a day on average. Regular sodas at that for a total of 750 calories and 200g sugar so what did I do but put it down. I'd never really thought about it but I was consuming probably about 1/2 of what should have been my daily calorie intake in freaking Dr. Pepper. Oh how I do love it and miss it so. I started out last Monday, drank 1 12 oz can this weekend and had 1 can this evening. Only 2 sodas in 10 days is crazy good for me and for that I'm also quite proud. Talk about DT's though coming off all that caffeine!

Okay, I'm tired, 15 days of benadryl is also bound to take a toll. I'm going to finish up so you think you can dance and then go to bed. Here's to showing up about 2 months late :)

P.S. yes, that's right, you read that I got my third tattoo. Yes I know it's big and if tats aren't your thing I'm really okay with that and really don't care, so just don't share.

all fixed

Today around 10:00 am I received the call.. little one has a fever. She seemed all right to me this morning, and last night too, but none the less her little body is hot and so we are home. Beautiful day outside too, we'll be going out after little one gets up from her nap. Nothing that sunshine and bubbles won't heal, right?

I got my video working that I was trying to post last night. Blogger thought there was something wrong with the html code, I told it to ignore it and now it works, yay! At any rate - Happy Friday!

For your viewing pleasure

Nothing much new to share except for a little tidbit of everyday life that was so amateurishly put together by me. Enjoy.


P.S. I don't think this video is working but I'm tired and tired of trying so I'll fix it tomorrow! Night Night!

Yup, I said it... it was Me.

Somewhere along the way "Damn it" has become my new favorite word. When you are at that point, when you think you might break, when frustration is at the peak just before losing it, there's nothing that a good loud "Damn it" won't heal. You say it, and it all loosens up and dissipates... like "Damn it"... (POOF... it's gone... did you hear it, did you hear it?) Well, okay, maybe it's not quite that healing but man, it does tend to feel good.

So maybe, perhaps, it was me, in a few of those 'I'm either going to lose it or curse' moments, that I take the high road and curse. Not directly at anyone, just to lay it out there. So it was me that said it... it was me. Damn it. In the words of my bosses' granddaughter "Damn its the magic word" and I so believe that cute little 3 year old.

So here we go...

Rewind to March 15 (I think). We had gone to Virginia for Joey's nieces' birthday party. She turned 6. We were going to stay at his brother's house in VA Beach and had left the party and followed him to a gas station. Joey got out and topped off our tank because, why not, gas is about 30 cents a gallon cheaper in VA than NC. While waiting in the car I looked over at his brother's big red truck and saw the biggest dent/scratch running down the passenger door. When hubby got back in the car I asked him what happened to Jimmy's truck. He said "damn. I don't know". And there we have it spewing from the back seat "damn, damn damn".

Now, fast forward to about a week or so. Nice, beautiful day here in Eastern NC. Came home from work and Ashley and I went out front to blow bubbles and wait for Daddy to come home. When Daddy arrived home it was time to go inside and get dinner together but Ashley just wasn't ready yet. A 2 year old is never ready to do something just because Mommy said so.

So, in an effort to appease, as I do so often, I decided it would be okay to sweep off the back porch really quickly cause the pollen was BEYOND thick and leave the sliding glass door open and let Ashley blow more bubbles on the screened-in porch while I got dinner together. Okay, done. I even moved her little Dora table and chairs from the corner to the middle of the porch and set up the matching umbrella that had been hiding in the garage for her. I was finishing up the last little bit of sweeping as I see her, walking around the edge of the umbrella touching each little plastic piece at the end of each spoke along the way putting the magic word in full effect. "Damn it, damn it, damn it". Calm and collected.

Fast forward... Daddy was at work last night, Ashley and I were fixing baked potatoes for dinner. I had cooked them in the microwave, cut hers in 1/2 and turned in upside down on the plate to smash the insides off the skin so we could put butter and cheese on it. She was standing next to me, on the stool so that she could help. I ended up somehow touching a piece after I had repeated to her over and over not to touch it, cause it was hot. I said, "ouch, it's hot" she adds "damn it".

Having already known that this was a fun new word for her I had asked her teacher if she had ever shared it at school. She's young and laid back and she and I are on friendly terms. She laughed and said no, but she would tell me if she did. Today was the day.

I went in to pick Ashley up at regular time. Her teacher told me she had said "something" today but she wasn't sure if it was the same word. I mouthed it to her and she chuckled and said "yup". Apparently Ashley, in great angst was trying to tell one of her friends during snack or lunch or something. One of her friends moved her cup:

Ashley looked at her and said "no, it goes right der, damn it".

Friend said "yeah, damn it".

Oh lawd... I've done it now!

So apparently I'm not the only one that feels that there is a magic word out there and it just ain't please or thank you. What am I to do now... can't really take it back, now can I? All I can do now is either learned to spell it real fast, which will only be a temporary fix until such time she learns to spell or just cut it out all together... I think I'm make a conscience effort for the second idea.

*Disclaimer* Please be advised that each and every time the dear children using said word or adult phrase were corrected and told, without too much drama, cause that would just make it even more fun, that we should not say that, that it was a bad word and that sometimes big people say things that they should not and that little people really shouldn't. Ahhh... so funny, like when your teacher made you say "Penis penis penis, vagina vagina, vagina" in sex ed, kind of way. Do not punish, do not chastise, I know, dears, I know, "I bad, damn it".

Hey there...

so it's been awhile. I find myself saying that quite often these days. I guess the bottom line is that my life just isn't.that.interesting. It's funny though, cause when I do have something to say I really have something to say but the times in between are just that. The times in between.

Tonight hubby went to bed really early and for some reason, that just makes me stay up even later. I suppose because he's usually the one that makes me go to bed. He's always wanting more sleep, as I am, but the night owl in me always gets the best. So, when he goes to bed early it's like my free pass to stay up way later than I should and not "be in trouble" for it. Not that I'm ever really "in trouble", it's just that we like to go to bed together. Don't get any ideas though, it's not at all, most of the time, for the dirty adult reason that one would expect. It's just cause that's what we do and its nice to climb into bed and spend those last waking moments with the one that you love. Simple as that.

So, in my time using my free pass tonight I spent a while looking at the blogs that I heart and then hopping on myspace and then facebook. Facebook has a thing, new to me, that tells you, based upon the information you provided who you might know. I thought, oh, interesting. Wrong. Clicked on the link, and they were right, they are all, 100% people that I know, or used to know for that matter. Mainly old girlfriends. Not a single one of them is one that I think I wish to know now however.

I don't regret my decisions. I don't. But they make me different, they make me hide from those that I knew long ago. Mainly in the way that I look. I suppose that's why I can be free and post pictures of the here and now on here, my blog... because you all didn't know me, with the exception of one, two counting hubby, and you all just don't know any better. Not only that but I've not yet come across a blog that I care to read in which I've thought, 'if I comment, if they know I'm here they will think I'm fat'. 'They will think I'm ugly'. You all just aren't that type, now are you? (If you are, please leave). Even better yet, you didn't know me, the young, rested looking Lisa (did you even know my name?). You all didn't know me, the skinny, fit Lisa of years ago. The Lisa before life became beautiful and I met my hubby and had Ashley. It's just that. My life became beautiful but yet, I hide from those that might remember the old me, not know the new/different me and might look and say, 'wow, she's put on some weight' or 'did you see Lisa, she's fat'.

In response to that I'd probably say "well duh, you dumbass" but I know, it would hurt my feelings, even if I didn't know and of course no one would think that and actually say it, well I would hope not, but still, I don't even want to give those an opportunity to think it. I looked for a picture of me to update those above referred pages but pictures of me are few and far between because I love to be the one to harass others with the camera and the ones that are between the few and far between are just.plain.bad. Cheese and Peas, I look like shit. Do I really walk around like that all that time or do I just somehow break and morph the camera every time we two come in contact?

I think I've had this discussion a dozen million times with myself. The one in which I will get up earlier, fix my hair a little better and apply makeup in front of a mirror on the wall rather that the one attached to the visor in my car. Yup folks, I'm the lady you passed the other day putting mascara and lipstick on in her rearview mirror. I've had the conversation with myself in which I will be hot when hubby comes home and he will look at me and think wow, she's hot, but truly, most evenings, by the time he gets home from work I'm already worn out and used up the rest of the way, wearing pajamas (and I don't mean the sexy kind) because who can bear to wear those clothes a second longer? Funny, he loves me anyways.

So, that's it. They.just.don't.matter. I need not worry or give a care but maybe it wouldn't do harm to use that mirror on the wall rather than the one in the car. Love you all. Happy Thursday!

Before it all becomes too dated to post

So... a lot has been going on here. So much, that I can't decide or figure out exactly what I should share - especially since I tend to be so long winded.

Hubby applied and interviewed for a new job about a month ago (because he had great dislike for his old one). He waited and waited to hear back and finally, 20 minutes after deleting all the evidence in the form of old emails and writing the possibility off he received "the call" offering him the position. Not quite as much money as he wanted, but I don't run with the crowd that ever really gets as much as they want. This all came the day after his "old" boss had sat him down and told him he knew that he was due to "be bumped up" (pay wise) but that the work they had him working on wasn't making him (bossman) any money and they would have to revisit it another time. Jerkface much? You gave him the work, that's what you told him to do, he's doing it - so why is that his fault that you gave him a thankless task? So... in the afternoon, the day after being given that talk, when he was offered the new job we were, or I was beyond estatic. I couldn't believe Mr. Thomas has such gull, such nerve. So, the next morning, 2 days after being given "the talk" hubby was able to march himself into bossman's office tell him that what he had said to him was extremely unfair and that he was formally giving his two weeks notice. Imagine - bossman was shocked. Go figure. I believe it was a few minutes later that bossman walked up to hubby, handed him 2 paychecks, one of the remainder of last week and one for this week and told him if he didn't want to be there he could go ahead and go. That rawks. Specially since hubby was able to start his new job a week early and we got an extra week's pay! Yippy!

WOOOHOOO... we are cruising down the Road of Dave. This morning, officially, the final payment on my Victoria's Secret CC was posted and the balance is now 0. Big fat 0. Imag that at one point I had managed to rack up over $900 in undies, bras and clothes on that mammajamma! Now that's a lot of panties folks, even at VS. But now, it's officially PAID OFF and we are down one more credit card, in fact, that leaves us with just one (okay, it's huge) credit card - the revoked one - to be exact. How exciting. Next we will be working to pay off my car. Indeed, one chunk, one step at a time! We are so excited for that we decided it would be a great idea to wash the car... okay... not really cause we are going pay it off, but because it was FUN!

We had a good Easter and Ashley also enjoyed herself. Hubby, being jobless at the end of last week, and me, having the day off on Friday were able to go to the egg hunt and lunch at Ashley's school. My, what fun. Ordinally we don't get to participate in activities such as that and we were even able to volunteer our time to set up, hide eggs and clean up. We really enjoyed ourselves. It was also nice because after the lunch and clean up was over it was Ashley's naptime so we left her that at school and headed to the gym for a little while. It was nice to be together and not have to worry about Ashley. Geeforever, that never happens.

Ashley was excited about Easter. She's forever going around, singing Jesus Loves Me and The Bible Song. At her preschool, which is at a methodist church. They go to Chapel twice a week, and although we are Catholic, I see nothing wrong with that. She is little. They are teaching her that Jesus loves her, who Jesus and God are and all at the age of 2. I love to hear her tell me, as we talk about the people that love her, that Jesus loves her. I always smile, and say "yes, baby, you are exactly right, Jesus loves you. I think it's special. I think it's sweet and most of all, important. She and I read part of the Bible, right before Easter and we talked about Easter. I think it's imporant and not the least bit harmful for the littles ones to believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny but I also always want her to know and remember there is a more important, divine reason for the hoopla, presents, eggs and hoopla. We talked about "Jesus is Alive!" and read the story and she's gone about exclaiming it a few times. Love it.

We went to Church on Sunday, had a egg hunt, dyed eggs and had a marvelous time. Illustrated below:

It was soooo naptime!

Another note - the gym and Curves. I was having a really hard to getting to Curves like I needed to because they are only open 3 days a week during my lunchtime, which is not flexible. So, I decided to abandon my old lady friends and join the gym that a few of my friends/coworkers go to. It has been great so far. I was able to get to the gym 5 times last week and dripped sweat like I haven't in a long time. This week I've started off strong. Made it Monday and today - both days, especially today, sweat pouring off when I was done. Seriously, what an absolute wonderful, soul healing feeling for me! I'm looking forward to seeing results! I do miss my old ladies though - although, now that I think of it, I did spot one on the recumbant bike yesterday. At least 70. Maybe I'll befriend her :)

Okay... That's enough... Talk at ya later! Enjoy your week!