A Touch of Keeping It Real

There is so much floating around inside this little head of mine. So let me give you the basics before I start on today's randomness. I'm very tired today {was at the office until late last night, so I didn't get to bed until close to midnight}. Nehemiah is fabulous and has started sleeping in his room again a few nights out of the week. This is not a battle that I have the energy to fight every night.
I'm tired ladies and gentlemen, so I have to do what I have to do to get some rest.
                                                  
Now, onto the randomness. Some of my favorite blogs are those written by individuals who are brutally honest in bearing their souls. So I've decided to try to be one of those bloggers. Get your seatbelts on and buckle up cause I can't promise that the things that are about to come out of my mouth will be tasteful…

First: I made a conscious decision about what my life needs and doesn't need right now. With that said, I decided to call it quits with the man friend. Yes, I did just post that he and I were official, but official isn't what I need. I need stability and reliability, both of which I was not receiving. I'm no longer the girl who sticks around for the sake of being in a relationship. I'm now the woman who owns her needs and wants.

Does this mean I'm heartbroken? Nope, not even close {really, I'm fine}. Will I take what I've learned from this experience and move on? Of course. Have I thrown in the towel on dating and falling in love? Not even close. Do I still want to be married anytime soon? Um, no. I realized this little lady is nowhere near ready to head down the aisle, unless of course I'm rockin' out a fabulous bride's maid dress for one of my besties.

Second: I weighed myself at the gym Wednesday night and I have lost 8 pounds! I probably gained it all back yesterday when I ate those 4 chocolate chip cookies at the office. Anyway, I feel fab and I'm not looking too bad now a days either! I promise I will put pics up soon. My tummy is shrinking and I love it.

I'm so proud of myself because by no means is this journey easy. I'm devoted to getting my workouts in and I have cut so much junk out of my diet. School starts again next Wednesday, so I'm thinking I will be hitting the gym at 5am. I mean business about reaching my goal weight and maintaining it. I don't deny myself any food and this helps me so much. I'm more cautious of calories because I see how long it takes to burn a good amount of them while I'm on the treadmill.

I have also been avoiding Mc*onalds. I will eat there on a rare occasion and I order a happy meal. It's still junk, but not as many calories as the yummy Big Mac. My bestie Sam {who hits the gym with me} teases me that I have turned into a rabbit because I eat so much lettuce. I do eat other stuff too, but I eat a ton of veggies and fruit. I'm a bit concerned that I may not be getting enough protein because I don't eat much meat.  What's your thoughts on this one?

Third: If you haven't gone out and purchased the Black Eyed Peas E.N.D CD, you have no idea what you're missing! I absolutely love this CD. I have even managed to turn my mom into a Black Eyed Peas fan!

Fourth: I'm starting to feel a little undone. My plate is full, and I'm worried that some things will start spilling over the edges soon. I need to cut back on some things, but I'm not sure what I can remove. I have no downtime {which is why the laundry basket of clean laundry has been on the landing for about 2 weeks} and I'm desperate for some. Help!

Fifth: I think I'm starting to overcompensate on some things when it comes to Nehemiah. I don't get to spend enough time with him during the week, so I've been a little lax on a few particulars. Yes, this is the real reason I haven't forced the sleep-in-your-own-room issue. I know he misses me, so is it so wrong to let him snuggle up with me at night?  Think long and hard about this one before you answer.

I've also been lax on the discipline issue. Before you scream at me, hear me out. When there is a major issue it is addressed, end of question. It's the smaller ones I let slide. You know, the ones like oh say cleaning up the toys. I realized this is a big issue in our house after I asked Nehemiah to pick up his toys and he said, and I quote: "If you want the toys picked up then you do it yourself!" Yikes! Yes, Nehemiah is spoiled in a sense {he is an only remember}, but I don't want to have a bratty kid. Where is the line between cop and push over?

Sixth: Tomorrow is my oldest sister's birthday, and Sunday is my mom's and my niece's birthday so we will be having a ton of fun this weekend. The weather is going to be very nice too and I can't wait to enjoy it.
So that's all I wanted to share. A little personal, but nothing you couldn't  handle right? You now have permission to take off your seatbelts.

Have a fabulous weekend the Thinkpink247 way!

A Brief Update

Another week has gone by, and I finally found a few minutes to post! Eeek! This crazy busy life of mine is all I know, so I don't have much choice but to make it work. The Fibromyalgia has not been giving me much trouble, and I am not complaining. I have noticed that it's taking me much longer to fall asleep at night, and I'm having an awful time getting up in the morning {nothing new here}.
I am still trying to hit the gym at least five days a week, and I'm starting to see some results. I was going through workout withdrawal when I was ill last week, and it was a bit challenging to get back into the routine. On Monday I signed up for a 15 minute abs class that meets twice a week. How much damage can you do in 15 minutes right? Apparently the answer to that is a lot. I am still super sore from Monday's class, so I have no idea how I am going to survive tonight! I'm determined to stay with this class, so we'll see how it goes.
Nehemiah is doing well of course. He loves to dance, and he informed me last night that he is the newest member of the Jabbawockeez! I am considering signing him up for a hip hop dance class. Nehemiah has a ton of rhythm, and he can watch people dance then imitate the move. He is determined to break dance, and is highly upset that I won't let him try!
The last bit of news; my final grade for Sociology was actually a 99.2%. Way to go me! Who would have thought that studying actually works J
Happy Wednesday.

And It Goes A Little Something Like This…

I apologize for being such a poor blogger lately. Time management is extremely difficult, and I don't have any down time at work anymore. Nehemiah and I are doing well {minus the strep throat I have}. The Fibromyalgia has been flaring up, which is due to the ample amount of stress I'm dealing with. The major source of the problem is work, so there's not much I can do in that department. Good things come to those who wait, so I'm trying to be patient with all the changes we're going through at the office.
Nehemiah is doing well. I can't get over how fast he is growing! He just keeps growing taller and taller, and he's so smart. Sometimes I'm taking back by his ability to reason. You can't pull anything over on him because he doesn't miss a thing. He has been a little mouthy, so it seems that I'm constantly correcting him. Tantrums are less frequent {thank you Jesus}, but are still intense when they happen.
For those of you who follow me on Face*ook this is not new news; the man friend and I are officially together. Yep, I'm in a relationship. So far, everything is good. I'm so not used to be complimented and supported. He's so wonderful, and my family and friends all seem to think that this is it: meaning that he's The One. I don't think we're far enough into the relationship to make that determination just yet, so I'm just taking each day as they come.
The most exciting news that I have to share is my besties and I will be getting together once a month for a Fabulous Friday. Mary, Sam, Jen, and I have been best friends since first grade! Growing up we all lived by each other. As children we fought and made up, and in high school we sort of went our own ways. However, through all the bumps in the road, we managed to stay best friends. We each have careers and families, but when it comes down to it, we're always there for one another. Mary lives in Georgia {she is the bestie I went to visit in Hawaii}, so we will phone her in. We're supposed to meet for dinner Friday night, and I'm praying I'm better by then.
My workouts have been successful, and I've been hitting the gym at least 5 days a week. I'm starting to lose inches, but the scale isn't decreasing. I got weighed at the doctor's yesterday, and I'm not gaining any weight. This is good, actually very good. Maintaining my weight has always been a challenge, so I need to pat myself on the back. Due to the strep throat I can't go to the gym, so I'm totally freaking out. I praying that I will be able to go again on Friday.
So dear friends, I just caught you up on what you've been missing. I pray all is well with each of you, and it looks like I will have the chance to catch up with your blogs too.
Have a great week!

I’m Back

Hi dear friends. I apologize for leaving you hanging on the details of the lives of Nehemiah and myself. I had a serious family issue involving some of my nephews, so I had to take a sabbatical from blogging for awhile. I love sharing my world with all of you, but some things are not meant to be in print. Things are getting sorted out with my nephews, but prayers would be terrific.

The Fibromyalgia has been under control for the most part. I started having a flare up on Easter and it continued up until yesterday. It left me of the couch for a few days, but thank God, I'm much better today. I had a doctor's appointment a few weeks ago, and my physician was amazed at the progress I'm making. However, she and I were still not happy with my sleep patterns, so we decided to up the medication I take at bedtime. I am ecstatic about the fact that I am not at the full dosage for any of the Fibro meds! Trust that this is not by my own doing; God is truly shining mercies over me.

Nehemiah is doing so well. He had a fantastic Easter, and of course he got way too much candy {I managed to hide most of it}. We had Easter dinner at our house, and we had a good time. Nehemiah loved playing with all the kids. Since my bedtime meds increased, I have let Nehemiah sleep back in my bed. I know, I know what am I thinking! The meds literally knock me out, so I'm not sure that I would hear him if he called me in the middle of the night. Making sure that my kid is safe takes precedent over him sleeping in his own room. Once I am adjusted to the meds, Nehemiah and I will continue to work on getting him back in his bed. Until then, we're back to co-sleeping. On Saturday, my bff Lisa gave her son's old bike to Nehemiah. Nehemiah has a tricycle and loves riding it, but he has been asking for a "big boy" bike. When Nehemiah first got on the bike, he was trying so hard to get the hang of riding it. By the time my family left our home on Easter, Nehemiah could ride the bike by standing up to peddle. I have a feeling that the training wheels will be off by the end of summer!

When I went to the doctor's a few weeks ago, I got some really good news; I have not gained any weight for the past 2 months! Yay me! This is a great accomplishment, but I mentioned to the doctor that I am not losing any weight. Basically, the problem is this: the Fibro pain meds make it difficult for my body to break down carbs because my body doesn't know what to do with them, so they get stored. To fix this problem, I have to cut out most carbs that come in the form of bread and pasta. However, I am free to eat everything else my little heart desires; steak included.

Now, I've saved the best for last, so hang onto your seats. I have been working out consistently for a few weeks now, and I went jogging last week! I only jogged for a little while, and then I walked the rest of the way. I was so focused on my legs being strong enough to start running that I forgot one other major health issue; I'm asthmatic. The jogging made it hard to breath {I took my inhaler before I started the jog}, so I think I'm a little scared that jogging will bring on an asthma attack.

Now, the other terrific news is that my mom and I have joined a gym. My mom decided that working out would be good for her too. The gym requires a fee for new members, so my amazing mother paid the fee for me! The monthly fee is only $20, and special classes like spinning and yoga are $2.50 a session. A few years ago, I paid $80 for a 6 week Pilates class at another gym! We joined the gym yesterday, so I was able to get in a quick workout. Then, I woke up this morning at 5 and worked out again! My friend {who is also freaking out about our 10 year reunion} is also joining the gym, so I will be working out again this evening! I'm going at a slow pace, so that I don't injure myself {or anyone else for that matter}.

So dear friends, that's a glimpse into what you've been missing!

Happy Wednesday!

Thirty Things

Good morning dear friends.  I learned that my body definitely does much better with a lot of sleep because I got my 9 hours last night, and I feel terrific.  Nehemiah had a great night and a fabulous morning. Before leaving for work, I jumped up and down while clapping and yelling, "way to go Miah!"  Then I gave him a high-five, and told him how proud I am that he has been using his listening ears and speaking kind words. 

He was so happy this morning, and of course he told Nana; she gave him 2 high-fives! 
Sometimes we focus on the unwanted behavior so much, that we forget to praise the wanted behavior.  I love making a big deal out of the small things because Nehemiah needs praise just as much as he needs correction.

I opted out of going for a walk yesterday because my legs were hurting and cramping.  I feel great today and would love to go walking, but guess what, it's raining.  I so need a treadmill, gym membership, or a Wii; all of which are not in the budget any time soon! 
                                       

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After my meltdown the other night over my up and coming ten year high school reunion, which symbolizes how close I really am to being 30, I decided to do something fun with 30. 

So, here are 30 things about me that you may not have known.

30.) I love handbags.

29.) I cry over touching commercials.

28.) I adore the Golden Girls.

27.) I want to travel to London and Paris.

26.) I have been best friends with my nearest and dearest since 1st grade.

25.) I hate sports.

24.) I was a football cheerleader in high school.

23.) I just recently learned how to cook.

22.) I love makeup.

21.) I'm obsessed with all things Clinique.

20.) I love dancing in my undies in front of the bathroom mirror.

19.) I have 15 nieces and nephews.

18.) I'm afraid of thunderstorms.

17.) My three favorite colors are pink, green, and brown.

16.) I hate chocolate cake.

15.) I'm very acident prone {don't believe me; a few weeks ago, I fell into the bathtub while cleaning it!}

14.) I love laughing.

13.) Fall is my favorite season.

12.) I've lived in the same town/city my whole life.

11.) I've never been married.

10.) I hate cleaning.

9.) I can't eat certain meat because I visualize the animal in head {ex, veal equals a calf and her mama, deer equals Bambi}.

8.) In my dream job, I would be writing children's books.

7.) I bite my nails.

6.) I like folk music.

5.) I love collecting pictures out of magazines and glueing them in a journal.

4.) I live in pajamas {only at home of course}.

3.) I can't stomach looking at raw meat {especially chicken}.

2.) I love ketchup, but hate the way it smells.

1.) I have a mixture of both Irish and Native American ancestors.

Geesh!

Can I just say that my legs hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt! Today's a bad day; my legs are not only achy, they are throbbing with pain. However, there is some light in all this darkness; I am still able to function. Once upon a time ago, I would have been home in bed all day. I'm up and at 'em this morning {I even got to work early}. To make it worse, I forgot to take my sleeping pill last night, so I only slept for about 4 solid hours. I'm tired, but I'm not more tired than usual. Could it be possible that I'm sleeping too much? I usually get between 9 and 9.5 hours of sleep a night. Let's remember, I rarely feel rested, so I have no way of determining the impact of getting more or less sleep. I didn't get a workout in this morning because of my legs, but at least I got up on time. When I get home this afternoon, I have a date with my couch for a quick nap {hopefully}.

You're all probably wondering how Nehemiah handled bedtime last night. Well, I am thrilled to report that my boy did me proud! Yep, in his bed all night! He had a very rough evening while we were at Nana's {hitting, pinching, and using mean words}, so when we got home, Nehemiah was not allowed to have any TV {I know, how dare I take away Tom and Jerry}. The funny thing is Nehemiah didn't put up as much of a fight as usual. There was no TV to keep him occupied, so he didn't protest about going up to bed. Lesson learned; shut off the TV about 30 min before bedtime!

As I mentioned yesterday, it has been cold and rainy outside for the past few days. Well, guess what it did last night; it snowed! I thought I was going to be sick when I opened my door {my nephew set off my car alarm-on purpose may I add} and saw that yucky white stuff falling. How dare snow try to sneak up on us again! Thank God it was all melted by this morning. My SUV was not very happy either, seeing that ice covered the windows this morning. The sun is now shining, and overall it should be a good day. I would love to go for a walk after work, but I have to see how my legs are feeling.

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You all know that I am dreading the fact that I will be 30 in a few years. 30 has so many connotations to it, and it freaks me out. Frankly, I don't have it all figured out {I barely make it through each day with my head on straight}, and I seriously doubt that I will by 30. I love watching 13 Going on 30, but I am not by any means counting down the days until I will be, "thirty, flirty and thriving," {that's a mouth full}. Well, let me tell you what threw me over the edge last night. I checked face*book, and noticed that I had an invite to an event. The event; planning our ten year high school reunion! Ten year reunion, how can that be? That means that 30 is creeping up on me faster than I thought! I'm going to blink, and before you know it, BAM, I will need Botox. And did I mention that I found under eye wrinkles-wrinkles! The man friend thought my freaking out was hilarious {dramatic; of course, hilarious; definitely not}. So, I took a look at my fellow classmate's profile pics, and I can't believe that we are grownups! You couldn't pay me to do high school again {well, okay maybe}, but has it already been ten years since I walked across that stage to claim my hard earned diploma? Geesh!

The Mommy Meltdown

The temperature has dropped into the 30's again, and it's raining. So, it's dark and cold, and I'm tired. I am having the hardest time waking up in the morning. I would like to be up at 6 am so that I can get in a workout, but I usually end up sleeping until 7. Tonight, I'm going to try setting my alarm for 5, so that way if I keep hitting the snooze button, I should wake up by 6. Brilliant, yes I know. I had a great weekend. No flare ups! I worked my butt off on homework (which I'm swamped with this week too), and spent time with Nehemiah and the family. Nothing too exciting to report, but that's just fine by me. Oh wait, this is exciting; I have a 98 average in Sociology. I'm working hard to keep it up!

I do have some bad news to report. Nehemiah has spent the last 4 nights in bed with me. Now, I'm so tired at night, that I have been falling right asleep, and I've been staying asleep. Last night, I remember telling Nehemiah to go back to his room, but then I immediately fell back asleep. I woke up this morning, and there he was. Here's how the conversation went,

Me: "Nehemiah, why are you in my bed?"

Nehemiah: "Because I didn't listen to you when you told me to go back in my room. You went back to sleep, and I got in your bed. Maybe you should just put my bed in your room, or let me sleep in here again."

Smart little booger isn't he? So, here's my plan of action: continue to put the gate up at his doorway (he screamed at the top of his lungs the other night until I got up and took it down), slightly close my door (enough so that if he peeks his head out over the gate, he will think the door is closed), and pray that I keep my sanity. Now, the children in my family tend to not sleep in their own beds or in their own rooms, so Nehemiah and I are making a statement. One that says, "I'm the mom, and I'm not a pushover!" I have a fabulous relationship with my pediatrician, so I think I may give her a call this afternoon. I got over the fears I had about Nehemiah sleeping in his own room, and I now love having my bed to myself. When Nehemiah gives me grief about going to bed, it throws our whole night way off. He gets to bed late, so he wakes up cranky, and I don't get my much needed alone time. Someone help me pleeeeaaaassss!

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So, how about I had a major mommy meltdown Sunday morning before church. I got some new clothes back in January (super cute stuff that was like 70% off), and I haven't worn all of them yet. I didn't try the clothes on when I purchased them because everything was in my size. Sunday morning, I tried on this little denim jacket I bought, and guess what: IT DIDN'T FIT. I thought my mom was going to have to come and cut it off me (and I am not saying this so that you can get a laugh)! I tried on something different, thinking, okay no big deal. WRONG. The next shirt I tried on also didn't fit. I totally lost it! I screamed some obscenities (Nehemiah was not in hearing distance of course), cried (literally) that I was fat, shouted at my boobs for being too big, and then ripped through my closet to find something that did fit. Needless to say, we were late for church, but I did complements on the outfit I put together.

I don't obsess about weighing myself, but of course I got on the scale immediately after church. I have maintained my weight, so I don't know what the problem is. Now, I'm freaking out and obsessing about my weight. I still want to lose 30 more pounds, but I have been at a standstill. I announced to my mother that I will lose the rest of this weight very soon! I'm going to continue to do whatever it takes. I will keep you all up to date on how my progress is going. I'm ready for this challenge!