Updated pics

Here are some updated pictures of me - 65 lbs gone! I'll be back in the swing again tomorrow after 2 weeks off.

These are the jeans I started my diet in.

Jeans that are 6 sizes smaller!

Pictures from Mexico

........More pics
Keegan waiting in the taxi



Riley and the flowers


Grand Mayan Resort - My uncle got Matt and I in for a 1 night "get a way" (Time shares).
Cost to rent one week - $ 25,000

Keegan taking a little snooze

Cooper and Mommy swimming

We stopped in Chicago at Matt's dad's house before flying out the next morning.

...more pictures from Mexico

Carson, Cooper, and their new friend.

Cole family in Mexico

Lil' swimmers

Riley, Donia, and Keegan walking to the "toy store".

Swimming studs

Mommy catching a few rays

Thunder Thigh Thursday - Home from Mexico

Home at last - Home at last - Thank God we are home at last!

We had a great time on our trip, but it is ALWAYS nice to come home (even though there was a 87 degree temp difference - Yuck!)

As for my "Thunder Thigh Thursday" - I am down 1 pound. I was totally shocked considering I did not follow through with my plan of exercising and dieting - that all went out the window when I couldn't read the labels at Walmart! So, I enjoyed myself! 2 weeks of no worries. I figured as long as my clothes and suit fit - I was in the clear!

Here are a few pictures of our trip -

Enjoy - we sure did.

A view from the Cross in Acapulco

Family picture at the Grand Mayan resort

Oh, daddy is going to be mad that the BEARS lost!

Cooper and Mommy hangin' out at the pool!

Daddy, Riley, and Keegan going fishing at Bou Bous.

Mommy's big day fishing. No sail fish - but these were tough enough!

Thunder Thigh Tuesday

I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again.....Ok - well, I know I will be back again actually, I'll be back again on the 15th.
So, this is where we will be. It's looking pretty nice and warm if you ask me. Especially since it is -6 below zero with the windshield here.

Ok- Now for my final weigh in - I lost 3 lbs!!! That brings me to a total of 62 lbs!

Here is my new look for Acapulco!

HA - yah right. Thought I would make you laugh a bit!

Now, I have been told by my father to " Take you your points and go to hell for 2 weeks" - and for everytime I mention points or weight I have to eat something bad for me! Yikes!

I am not sure I can do that. I still have 13 lbs to go before March 9th. So we'll see. I am hoping to sweat a bit off basting in the 90 degree sun, and I have taken my work out clothes to do a bit of walking..... I don't feel I have it in me to just blow it for 2 weeks. Now if I can only figure out the conversion from lbs to kilos I will be ok!

As for Riley - We got her MRI report back and things are ok. They were worried she might have some fluid on her spinal cord, but luckily there was none. Her cerebellum has come down a bit more, but nothing to be concerned with just yet. So, we will keep an eye on her.

Alright, we are off. I will blog again when possible!

Thunder Thigh Thursday (Wed.) and then some

I thought I would start my Thunder Thigh Thursday (Wed.) blog with a picture of a little naughty girl who feels the need to hit our big screen t.v. I think she enjoyed her first trip to the naughty spot! So innocent!

Now, to my weigh in - I am down.........

+

I can't believe it! 59 lb! Only 41 more lbs to go to my final goal. I have decided that I would like to lose another 15 lbs before my hysterectomy in March. That means, no screwing around in Mexico. I am hoping that I will have the will power. I will have access to a work out room so hopefully that will help.

Even though I am losing weight, I am starting to feel and look like this woman. That is just not right for a 32 yr old. I guess after having 2 twins pregnancies this is what you end up looking like. Let me tell yah - it turns my husband on - NOT! Oh well, I know my insides probably look better than this and that is all that matters, right?

Well, I will do my last Thunder Thigh Thursday on Tuesday next week. That will be it until I return home on Valentines day (unless I find a way to capture a computer.)

I weighed in today because tomorrow we are leaving for Children's hospital. Riley - my 4 yr old is having a MRI of her brain and spine to see if her Chiari is getting worse. A year and 1/2 ago her cerebellum was pertruding 15mm down towards her spinal cord. It's about time we find out if it has grown downwards any more. They have to sedate her, but hopefully she will come out ok.

I will report again when I know more.

GO BEARS!

Birthdays and Winter in Wisconsin

Well, it's been a busy last week or so. We finally got the snow the kids had been hoping for. Me, I don't care so much. And Riley and Keegan finally tured 4! Holy Cow 4! It just seems like yesterday I was getting ready to burst with them!
Boy, time flies when you are having fun! We are all busy with school, colds and trying to get packed for this insane trip that we are taking to Mexico. To be honest, I have no idea where to start with it all. All I know for sure is to pack swim suits and sun tan lotion. From there, I guess we'll see what pops itself into the suit case!
* Stay tuned, there should be an exciting Thunder Thigh Thursday ahead!

Thunder Thigh Thursday

Good afternoon my friends. It's that time of the week again! I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Thursday's seen to come around so quickly that I barely have any time to blog about other things, like how I have not started one bit to get organized for our trip in 1 1/2 weeks, how stressed I am getting about what preschool to put the kids in next year. I found out that Riley and Keegan are more advanced then any of the other kids and they are at the top of their class and that they seem to be getting bored. Bored Vs. $2,000 a year for preschool? Should there be any questions? You want your kids to excel, but is $2,000 a year exceptable with one income and a family of 6? I don't know.

Riley and Keegan will be 4 on Sunday. So, I am sure you will see a birthday blog next. After that...I am unsure.

Ok, So now with the weigh in. I lost 2 lbs this week which brings me to 55 pounds gone! Can I just say I am getting VERY bored myself with this diet. I know I need to keep going (because I have 45 more to go) but I am drowning here. I have been working my tail off at the fitness center and I am starting to feel like I am spinning my wheels. If anyone has any ideas to get me out of this rut, please - do share.
My dad told me my muscles are "weighing me down". Damn those muscles. Don't they know I still have a hell of a ways to go??? My work out routine is getting boring......... I have been trying to change it up but it is just to much for me right now. I am ready to throw in the towel - But I CAN'T! I have the "good" me on one shoulder, and the "bad" me on the other. It's killing me!

Oh well. It feels good to be smaller (thinner just seems like an impossible word for me - Like I will ever be THIN.)
So, I must now leave you to go eat my rabbit food. For you that are eatting snacks and treats today - eat one for me too!

Thunder Thigh Thursday and my secret to losing weight

2 weeks to Mexico and I am down 53 lbs! Can I make it to 60 before I leave? Not sure but I am going to work my buns off to see. I have been working out twice a day for the last couple of days and it feels so great. It's like I am becoming an exercise freak - and I LOVE IT!
I have to hand it to my mom. She has been a trooper in the mornings. She comes over with my dad and she is the babysitter while I try to get my fat butt in shape. Thanks Mom!!!

Because my dad and I work out in the High school fitness center - I had access to a "fatty" odometer today. You know, the skin fold test thingy...
Well, West has an electric one and so there was no fat to be squeezed today, but numbers to be punched in and read. One of the Phy Ed. teachers helped me with it and it was so cool. I now have have an idea of what my BMI is. If you think I am going to list it on this blog, you have got to be out of your mind. That's for me, God, and the teacher to know. Too bad. Maybe once I get it to where it needs to be I will let you know.

I will now let you in on my weight loss secret. Here it is------------------------->
Yup...I do ballet with my kids every day. Yes, that is Keegan in the back with a "tutu" on. I'm thinking he has much better form than Riley.
And to be honest...he is better at it then she is.
Matt is so proud!
We play the video that goes along with it and we have a blast. Thanks Betsy - we love it!

Ok, so now my secret is out. Anyone else wanting to lose weight need to get this ballet program. It's great!

Oh the other hand....We are getting a bit worried about Riley and her Chiari Malformation. We have been noticing more balance issues, she has been falling a bit more, she seems a bit more fatigued, and she complained to my mom the other day - mymom was swinging her by under the arms and she said "ouch, it's hurting the bottom of my neck." Which they have done a million times and now it is starting to hurt. HUMMMMM. So, I called her Neuro and I believe we will be having another MRI for her in Milwaukee. I am just hoping to god that it is not starting to grow any more than it has. So, we'll keep our fingers crossed.

I made my appointment for my hysterectomy. It will be on March 9th. I am very excited and nervous about all of it. I do believe it will be for the better.

Ok - Until next time America......

my-calorie-counter.com    The webs free Calorie Chart

I was ready for a fight - and then a miracle

Ladies how many of you have male ob/gyn's? Is it just me, or do they sometimes not get it?

Now that I am all done with having "twins", I was wondering if I should switch to a female OB?

In the winter of 2004, when I was trying to get pregnant, I was referred to my doctor that I have now. He is great with helping women who can't get pregnant on their own. Especially women who have (PCOS) poly cystic ovaries. I can't tell you how great he was during my pregnancy and even when it came time to deliver my twins by c-section 9 weeks early, and even tying my tubes which he wasn't so sure was the right thing for me, but smiled and did it anyways.
He was wonderful.

When it came time for my 6 week check up, I pleaded my case about having a hysterectomy. With having PCOS, I get my period maybe twice and year, and of course, never ovulate. My ovaries are filled with cysts, there is abnormal bleeding, and a bunch of pain that comes with it all. Not mentioning the diabetic drug I needed to be on to regulate my insulin caused by the PCOS. Not a fun thing to have. He told me NO. HE thought I was to young and that the side affects from PCOS are a lot more mild then the side affects of Menopause. Who is he to tell me which is worse? How does he know? Are his ovaries filled with little cysts that keep bursting??? So, he told me NO. Ok.

Today, I had my lovely yearly exam. I was ready to put up a fight about having a total hysterectomy. As I am laying on the exam table waiting for him to finish the test, he says to me " Are you regretting the tubal I did last year?" Knowing he has no children of his own, I wanted to blurt out, " Why don't you come to my house and stay with my 4 children who are all under the age of 4, and then you tell me if I am regretting the tubal" But no, I politely said, "Nope, not one bit". He smiled and giggled. I'm sure he was thinking I was going to hate it. He tried to talk me out of it, but come on, 4 kids under the age of 4 is enough for anyone!!!

So, he starts to ask if I am having more than 4 cycles a year? I said, "no". He then tells me that I have endometriosis - which is new from last year. I said...."We need to talk..." "I have been wearing protection since August not knowing when Aunt flow is going to show up and I have been having pain!" He says to me, " Oh, That is not acceptable at all". YAH THINK!
So, I nicely started my conversation by saying, "I would like a hysterectomy please?" And wouldn't you know it.....HE AGREED!
So, here I sit waiting to schedule my appointment. I could not be happier!
Also, They now do it laparoscopiclly, not via c-section. That should make things a bit easier too. I know many of you are thinking, "She's Crazy", but until you have lived with PCOS, You have no idea......

All I can say is "Thank heavens, there is God".( and she must be female!)

I DID IT !

Well, I am here to announce that I lost my first goal of 50 pounds!!!
I can not believe it. You know, last week Molly asked me if I ever though I would be able to lose this much. There is no way I thought I would be strong enough to even lose more than 20 lbs! I had tried dieting many other times (yes, with Molly), but we always stumbled and fell off after about 10 pounds. So, for me, this is a huge accomplishment!
At 50 lbs I am - 5 pant sizes smaller and 11 inches slimmer around my waist!

AMEN SISTA!

I have 2 more goals to reach, both in 25 lb increments but I don't have a time line set for that yet. We'll see how much more I can shed before our trip.

(Thanks to Matt, we have a # 50 ND jersey, and the "I'm too sexy" song!)

50 lbs lighter and in Matt's Frat sweatshirt from College! I am also PRE- Wedding weight!48 lbs lighter... Not very light...Once again....Not very light. 4 months post c-section.... That's Molly's baby Jack.
Not LIGHT at all - but 20 wks preggo with 2nd set of twins.....In KEY WEST! (It's a "virgin" don't worry) Who goes to KEY WEST in August while preggo with twins??? They can atleast say they survived Hurricane Katrina in a Hotel!
Holy Mother of God!!!!! Keegan is a bit worried that SHAMU got on the back of his tube!

No worries this summer bud!

Thunder Thigh Thursday

Happy New year everyone! Hope everyone had a great New Year's weekend!
I sure did. We watched A LOT for football games and a few basketball games. Go Badgers!
And of course while you sit around an watch t.v. all day, there is a bit of un-normal eatting going on.
Yup that was me. I am sad to say...I do not have a loss to report today. Actually - I do. I gained 2 lbs over the 3 day weekend and today I am back to my 48 lbs today. So really, I lost my 2 lbs I gained. Oh well. As I sit here eatting my "rabbit" food, I understand I have only 2 lbs more to go for my 50 lb goal. The way my date (my dad) and I have been working out, it shouldn't take much longer. So, please stay tuned....I may post my 50lb weight loss before next "Thunder Thigh Thursday".
Hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy New Year!

Thunder Thigh Thursday

Ok....I am finally here to blog about THUNDER THIGH THURSDAY!
Well, I must admit that it has been a rough last couple of days due to Christmas BUT - I SUCCEEDED! No weight gain to report today! Actually, I have to report a 3 lb loss! HIP, HIP, HURRAY! So....drum roll please.... that brings me to a total of 48 lbs! And here is a picture of me now.... And me then.....YIKES....and AGAIN!