I Do Not Like Roller Coasters.....

When attending an amusement park, I keep myself safely planted to the ground. I do not think that it was intended for humans (or at least this human) to be tossed about in the air, or going a million miles an hour while strapped into a tiny cart. Nope - not for me. But I've determined that I'm not a fan of the emotional roller coasters either.
K's brother passed away 2 weeks ago after a long battle with a rare lung disease. Even after a double lung transplant in 2005, he did ok for a while, but then last year the lungs started to reject and he spent the last year very sick. Although, it was very sad, it's comforting to know that he is not suffering anymore. He's definitely in a better place, so it's more that we are sad for his wife and children that are left to piece their lives back together. My SIL's life for so long has been taking care of P, that now she's not sure what to do. The funeral was last week and we spent 3 days in Edmonton for it. It's such a strange situation to go from crying (or comforting those around you) to then laughing about a funny story that someone would tell about P to then going back to sadness..... exhausting to say the least.
So, now that the funeral and all that comes with that is done, my SIL is left to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. Whether to move. Find a job. Get her bills in order. So she is coming for a visit this weekend to that we can help her to get organized. It's a crappy subject all the way around, but it's nice to know that we are some what helpful.
If anything, this situation really made me thankful that I have K and I told him he was never allowed to die. Doubtful that he'll be able to keep that promise, but hopefully he'll be able to keep it for many many many years to come.

The First Step

Despite the fact that at the time & shortly there after this feels like torture, I have always liked pilates. Not sure why....maybe it's that good burn you feel...or just the fact that if it hurts it's got to be working right? Well regardless, it was my first step towards my goal. Back on drinking what feels like 8 gallons of water a day....but really it's not that much. But with that comes going to the bathroom a million times a day....but my thought is that the more that comes out the better right? I rarely watch Dr.Phil but yesterday I watched him as he was talking about the '17 Day Diet'. It appears that it really works so I went online and ordered the book...so when it arrives, we'll give that a try. Until then, it's eating better, pilates, lots of water and possibly getting a work out disk for the XBOX Kinect... that ought to get me through until the weather is better and I can go walking outside.
I'm not sure if I want to put the pressure on to loose X lbs by X date....because I disappoint easily and would be likely to eat back anything I'd lost if I didnt reach my goal as planned. They way I look at it is anything lost is better than not...and as long as I look better & fit into smaller clothes by summer (spring would be better), thats good enough for me :)

Back Into Pumpkins....

This morning (well actually it began last night) we all turned back into pumpkins as the alarm clocks were set, the school lunches were made, kids up and out the door with the sunrise...and now here at 2pm, an empty & quiet house for me. Yes, happy that I have my 'me' time back...but already missing the little monkeys. Amazing how fast a house can go from 8 kids all bouncing off the walls with holiday excitement to just me and my 'furry children'.
Today's is my baby's 5th birthday. Where did those 5 years go? I suppose now that she's 5, I can no longer use the phrase "I'd like to lose my baby weight". Crap!
She is quite the little human (babies are 'tiny humans' so I guess she'll now join the little human category). Very smart - school wise and in the world. She was quite excited to take her birthday party invitations to school today to deliver to her friends...only the girls though. Thankfully at 5 years old, boys are still yucky.
I've tried to turn my emotions around. Instead of being sad that she's not a baby, I'm trying to go about it with being proud at what a wonderful 5 year old she is. It has it's moments, but I guess I'm just a sap.
It's nice to have the house back to normal and the schedule back. I miss Keith already. He really stuck to his promise of not working during the Christmas - New Years break. But it seemed like New Years Day a switch went off, and I've hardly seen him since. He works hard and I know that aside from him not really having a choice, he does enjoy it and he is so good at what he does...and although I'm so thankful for how hard he works, I do get my selfish moments sometimes and miss him. But that just makes that time he his home very special.
Well I'm off to do some planning for Brooklyn's birthday party this weekend. Always fun planning a princess party for 6-8 little girls!