This is so timely!  I was just reading another blog a couple of days ago that was titled the Biggest Loser.  She was talking about how she wished to lose weight but nothing seemed to work, and she was imagining herself on the tv show.  I was totally relating.  I just can't seem to find time to exercise.  And I like chocolate, and pop...a little too well, even though I shouldn't!  I am only 5'2" and weigh 175 lbs...yikes, I can't believe I put that in print!     I guess I have to start somewhere.   Here's the whole timeliness of this, though.... Today I discovered that our little town is putting on their own version of The Biggest Loser contest!!!!  It will run from Feb. 2-June 1st.  The person who loses the highest percentage of their weight wins a one year membership for 2 at our local health club, a Wii, a Wii fit, and a gift certificate that can be used at numerous locations in our town.  I am excited to start!  Even my kids are excited.....well not about the giving up desserts part!  But they are excited about winning a Wii!  So, hopefully this will help me stay commited even when we start traveling in March again for my hubbies job.

Carylee

So, I'm just reporting my results with my fitness challenge.  I said I would try to walk or use my dd Dance Praise at least 3 times last week.  Well.....I did special stretches 3 days (I use a routine from a book called The Core", I think.  It is aimed specifically at women.  And it really helps my back, etc. May be a few New Age ideas that I ignore in it, though) . and I used my dd dance praise 2 times.  I also walked to church  2 times and to the post office once.  Okay....so those are both only 4 or 5 blocks away....but its a start, right?  It is just soooo hard to find time to exercise......unless you count all the painting I've been doing!

Carylee

Okay....I did exactly what they said to do....I copied the buttons info and then pasted it here....and it didn't work.  :(   Help!  Anyone who knows how to fix this problem.  I can't seem to get any pictures or "buttons' to show up on my blog. :(

Today is our 18th wedding anniversary.....back then I was a size 8.....7 kids later, I am a size 18!  Yikes.  So here's my committment....I am going to try to walk or use my daughter's Dance Praise 3 times this week.   That would be 3 times more than normal!

Here's the link to the blog that I found this on: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BeccaBeard/481256/?#c1101341

Hopefully I can figure pictures out later this week. Right now I am trying to get the house dejunked so we can put it up for sale.  Grandma took some of the little ones and dh has some with him at work....so I should be able to get things done.  SHOULD is the word.  In 2 days I have only managed our bedroom and half the laundry room.  

Carylee

Well, I will say that two days of driving back and forth to Madison (1 1/2 hours away) was exhausting.  Thank God I have an older child who can help babysit!  Friday I found out that my 4 year old, Gideon, needs at least 6 caps and some more fillings.  All the enamel on his teeth is breaking down.  So now Tuesday I have to take him back up to the ear, nose, and throat specialist.  They will put a scope down his nose and throat to take a look.  Then, the following Tuesday, we have to take him back up to the hospital to be put under and have all his dental work done.   They knew he couldn't sit that long for it.

 We are really starting to wonder if this is Gastric Reflux (GERD).  That would explain a lot of things....like his horrible nursing as a baby....his bad teeth (from the acid), etc.  Supposedly, the doctor should be able to tell it that is it , amoung many other things Tuesday.  If anyone reading this would prayer for wisdom for the doctors, I would appreciate it.  We just want to know what is going on. 

Well, I spent a third of the day driving so my 4 year old could go see the asthma/allergy specialist.  He has had some problems of some sort ever since he was born.  He never could cry very loud....even as an infant you would have to look and see him cry because he was hard to hear.  Now he is very quiet when he talks.  He also has clubbed fingers.  This new specialist doesn't seem to think it is asthma at all....he wants us to see an juvenile ear, nose, and throat specialist, and a genetisist.  Ugh.  More doctors.  I would rather treat this with more natural health remedies....but of course insurance doesn't cover that and I can't even make the grocery bills, whether less hundreds of dollars in supplements.  So back to Madison we go...and back to prayer in hopes that we can figure this out soon.

While we were in the big city, I did go grocery shopping....and now I have those grocery shopping blues again!  I did have a little fun, though.  With store specials and coupons I was able to purchase 10 boxes of cereal at $1.40 each (brand name, not store brand), normally over $3 each.  All in all, I managed to only spend $19 and get 10 boxes of cereal, a lb of grapes (for free!), a gallon of oj, breakfast sausage, hashbrowns, and a dozen eggs (all free with the purchase of the overly priced oj, but averaged out to a great price each).  It felt great to stock up.   Unfortunately, that $20 was really needed somewhere else in my grocery list....so now I have to figure what else we don't need for the next two weeks.   We really only eat cold cereal 2 times a week.....so it should last us a while....I just wish we could stock up on sales easier without hurting the rest of the budget.

Another homeschooling, Christian friend suggested that we check into our states food share (food stamps) program.  I am really struggling with this one.   We are almost feeling like it is becoming a necessity, but we hate getting government assistance.  We already get WIC, and sometimes feul assistance.  I just wish it wasn't so hard for a large family to "make it" these days.  This world is SO based on a 2 income household.  I know our God is above "the system".  I just wish that sometimes I could see what HE was planning next !