Sounding Off

July 1 weight and measurements

2011-06-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

Weight -

Hips 53 3/4
Waist 45 3/4
Breast 50 1/2
Chest 43 1/2
Neck 16
R thigh 27 1/2
L Thigh 28
R Arm 15
L Arm 15 1/2

There's No Place Like Home...

2011-06-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well, there I was in Idaho, cleaning out my closet when those darn red shoes clicked together...and now I am back in Kansas! We have been here since May 28, and are currently in Larned, but planning on moving to Lacrosse or Otis before school starts. Skipp started a new job in Hays and he loves it, so i am pleased.

So far this summer the girls and Aaron have joined the summer reading program at the library and have read about 60 books for the girls and 3 for Aaron, not bad for 3 weeks....

Looking forward to finding my own place and getting settled...probably going to try to buy something since there are no 3 bedroom rentals anywhere!

May 7, 1972-2011

2011-05-07T07:35:00.001-07:00

Tauruses born on May 7 are quiet, highly principled people whose concern for others nearly always outweighs concern for themselves. They are uncritical in the extreme. Yet despite their seeming mildness, there is nothing weak or unreliable about them. Their ability to put their own quiet strength behind the people they love is remarkable.

Friends and Lovers

People born on this day love selflessly, often sacrificially. They have no ego issues within the boundaries of a relationship, whether it is with a friend or a romantic partner. May 7 individuals cannot settle for an "ordinary" love -- they need to find a soul mate.

Children and Family

The relationship between May 7 people and their family members is complicated. There often is some form of estrangement between the individual and a parent or authority figure, making it difficult to retain a close familial relationship in later years. They have a natural affinity for parenthood, though. They have the ability to inspire a child's creative instincts.

Health

The sensitive nature of May 7 people can negatively affect their health if they do not take a strong interest in remaining fit. Vigorous daily exercise is the best way to expel the stress so prevalent in their lives.

Career and Finances

May 7 people often find themselves drawn to a career by abstract circumstances rather than by deliberate selection. They need more than a career -- they need a calling. No amount of money can substitute for the satisfaction these individuals require in their life's work. When it comes to managing money, they have a surprising flair sparked by their other creative energies.

Dreams and Goals

May 7 individuals tend to keep their hopes and dreams to themselves. Generally, they wish to make a success of their important relationships and maintain the clarity of their creative inspiration. They judge the success or failure of a venture in a purely subjective way. If it reinforces their dreams, they are content. These individuals have little regard for the financial ramifications of their endeavors.

Chianna's first Primary talk!

2011-05-01T17:10:00.003-07:00

RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH

When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He organized His church.

He gave each of the Apostles’ the priesthood.

Because people would not believe the gospel, the Church was taken from the earth.

About 190 years ago, a young boy was trying to find the true church.

His name was Joseph Smith.

Joseph did not know which church he should join

He loved Heavenly Father and wanted to do what was right.

Joseph decided to ask Heavenly Father which church was right.

He went to a grove of trees and knelt to pray.

Joseph saw Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ knew that Joseph Smith would always choose the right, They chose him to restore the true church to the earth.

Because Joseph Smith wanted to know the truth, the true Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church.

We are led by prophets and apostles who have the priesthood and tell us what Heavenly Father wants us to do.

I know this is the true church. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Heavenly Father.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

April 28

2011-04-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well, 2 days after the end of the program, my weight this morning was 298, so maintaining a weight below 300 for the first time ever. Next round supposed to start in 40 days, but I am going to wait and see what happens with Skipp and the job thing. If we will be in Kansas on June 1st, then i will start then, but if not, then we are going camping from June the 6th to the 16th, and if that is the case, then i will start the diet on the 17th.

Not really sure how I feel about moving back to Kansas. On one hand, I really feel like we should never have left, and on the other hand, I have really gotten involved in a bunch of activities with the kids, for one thing, Bailey sold 1000 boxes of cookies and she won a train ride with the girl scouts, so I want to stay until after that, AND, her girl scout troop is going camping in July, which I think she should get to do...so I have to decide if I follow Skipp right away, or send him June 1st and follow him in August...just before school starts.....

April 24, 2011

2011-04-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!! Good Morning everyone! This morning I weighed 297.6...so 18 pounds down since the first of the month!! YAY! Technically 2 days to go on the diet, but no more drops after today, so I would like to lose 2 more and make it an even 20, but I am ECSTATIC that I am finally below 300!!!!!!!!!

April 21

2011-04-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

howdy there folks...kind of had a traumatic day yesterday, this whole month has just been bad, but i have managed to stick with the program and am down to the last few days....today's weight...301.6.

Remember, I had three levels of goals, 1st goal, get below 300, second goal, get to wedding weight of 287, 3rd goal, get to the 100 pound mark of 276. I am within touching distance of the first goal, so wish me luck for today.. When i am depressed I eat or bake, so planning on baking today, and then donating it all to the youth auction tomorrow. Maybe a buttermilk pie and a pan of brownies.

Because I love you

2011-04-20T22:03:00.001-07:00

A teenage son looks down on his mother with anger in his eyes.
"I want to do what I want to do!" he shouts over her cries.
"Why can't you ever let me have fun? Let me hang out with the guys?"
"Why do you insist you know where I am and everything I do.
Mother whispers quietly, "Because I love you."

The teenage son does not hear his mother's quiet words.
He shouts and rages on and on he wants to make sure he is heard.
"Why can't I have an I-pod, or a cell phone? A laptop is not absurd!"
Why don't you let me have the things that I want?" his angry message flew!
Mother whispers quietly, "Because I love you."

The teenage son sees mothers lip moving quietly.
But he pays no attention to his mother's silent pleas.
He cannot see beyond his desires, to his mothers bended knees.
With fists raised up and anger flashing, he shouts "I hate you!"
Mother whispers quietly, "I love you."

The teenage son looks down on the woman's pure love.
"How can you put up with me when I push and I shove?"
"What makes you stay and care for me? What are you made of?"
Why do you let me roar and rage the way I do?
Mother whispers quietly, "Because I love you."

April 19

2011-04-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends. 303.6 today. still 3.6 pounds before I break that bearier. I think it may be more of a mental block than I thought. Even though I feel okay about it, I still am having trouble sticking to the plan and losing the wieght. I find myself craving stuff, even when I am not the least bit hungry. Well. 6 more days! I can do this!

April 18, 2011

2011-04-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Good morning folks. I am on a 4 day freeze again, so am going to do a fruit day. I am eating nothing but fruit until supper and then will have a small supper. No bread or crackers at all today. not a problem! still at 304.6, so coming along nicely.

My mom and I are both doing this together and today we are both 5 pounds from 1st goal, so my step-dad told us whichever one hits their goal first, he will buy them a new outfit! YAY! I need a pair of jeans that fit. lol

Speaking of clothing fitting, I tool my measurements today and have lost 3.5 inches!!! Woo Hoo!!

Lost one in my bust, one in my chest, 1/2 in my thigh and 1 in my calf!

April 14

2011-04-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

YAY, down 2 pounds this morning...304.6! I am on a roll and back at it. Not sure what was going on but glad it is over!!!!!

So that is 11 pounds in 14 days, that does NOT suck!

So, still not particularly hungry, but did have a strong craving for a cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake last night. I texted my sister and she talked me down! LOL Thanks Michaela!!!

Woke up this morning really thirsty, so gonna try to add one glass of water to my schedule, just to bump up the water a bit. No sense being thirsty, because it makes me think I am hungry!

April 13

2011-04-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

WOW, talk about a crazy week! Okay first ...weight 306.4. I know, same for 2 days. Only thing I can think is stress and my cycle started. So hopefully in another day it will go down again. They say as long as you don't stay the same for 4 days you are okay, so i am just going to stay on the diet and hope.

So, all three of my kids are home today and tomorrow! why? well, Bailey goes to all day school tuesday, friday and every other wednesday, and it is not her wednesday week, so she is home, Chianna is not in school yet, she is always home, and Aaron, well, Aaron is suspended for fighting! GRRRRRR!

April 11

2011-04-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so yesterday was crazy, I started reading "Under the Dome" by Stephen King and couldn't put it down, I barely stopped long enough to harvest my wheat on Facebook, which anyone who knows me knows is insane. lol

So This morning I was down to 306.6. That is 9 pounds in 11 days.only a little over 6 pounds until I am at the "magic number" of 300. Still hoping for no mental roadblocks this time. I feel confident enough to break through!!!

April 9

2011-04-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Yay, down a whole pound today...307.8!!!

I am feeling really good about this diet! I am glad that I am doing it, and I feel like I am making progress. I am actually excited to see that 300 pound mark coming, instead of scared like I usually am. I have been working on my self image and hoping to not have problems this time!!!

April 8

2011-04-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

308.8 this morning...but check this out

Bust - 50 inches (down 2 inches)
Chest - 45 inches (same)
Waist - 44 inches (same)
Hips - 53.5 inches (down 1.5 inches)
R Thigh - 26 inches (same)
R Calf - 21 inches (down 1 inch)
R upper arm - 13 inches (same)
R Forearm - 10.5 inches (down .5 inches)

Total inches down - 5 - In a week!!!!! That is totally amazing!

April 7

2011-04-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Only down 1/2 a pound today, 309.4. But at least it is down, and that puts me at 6 pounds in 6 days. You really cannot beat that!!

Last night I was having my snack and dumped it, so I grabbed another package, and so I actually ate 1 1/2 packages of the melba toast crackers (6 total instead of 4) so I probably had too much fat. Plus I washed my hair, and I know the shampoo I use is not on the list of stuff. Hopefully tomorrow's weigh in will be better!!

April 6

2011-04-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

310.0 today!! 6 pounds down in 6 days!!! YAY, the weight is falling off of me. I plan on measuring again on Friday as well. Want to have both of the results, it makes me feel better.

I have to say, I am not the least bit hungry, and I have not been tempted to cheat at all. My phone alarm keeps me in line, so I don't forget a dose.

I have been thinking about my menu, and although my husband loves casseroles, I am thinking the occasional pan of Tater Tot Casserole or Enchiladas will have to do, because Eating the whole foods, like I have been doing on this diet the last few days, the kids are eating a balanced diet!! I love it!

Last night I made chicken breasts and had a tomato with it, and for the rest of the family, I did steamed rice and vegetables (green beans and carrots). Everyone ate well. I was surprised at my 5 year old, Monday when I made fish, she ate a whole piece!! WOW!

Tonight I am making taco salads, I will have 1/2 cup of lean ground beef on mine, as well as 1/2 a tomato, and everyone else will also get cheese and olives. I baked some low carb tortilla shells for everyone else to eat their salads in, so they better appreciate the aesthetic appeal. LOL

April 5

2011-04-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!! So today the scale says 312.2!!! That is almost 6 pounds since yesterday!!

Found out a very important thing though, I am not hungry if I am drinking my water (or crystal light) This morning was crazy hectic, Picture day for Bailey at school, and Aaron had his follow-up abdominal ultrasound, and I walked out the door without my water bottle. By 10:00 am, I was STARVING! But I got home and drank 1/2 a bottle of Fuze in one sitting, and now at 10:30, not hungry. I am eating my fruit though, just because I need to keep on some sort of schedule.

Lunch - salad with diced chicken and Melba toast croutons, with the Ranch vinaigrette spritzer, it is low fat and 20 squirts is only 30 calories.

For supper, i am going to cook chicken breasts in chicken broth and serve over Ezekiel toast. Everyone else will have a gravy and regular toast.

Have a great day!!!

April 4th

2011-04-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

Good Morning friends!

Okay, this morning I weighed in at 318, which is 3 pounds down from yesterday.

My food today:

Fuze
Grapes
Salad
pickle
beef
melba snacks
apple
fish
tomato
Ezekial toast

Total calories is around 550.

I can honestly say I am not the least bit hungry.
The hardest part is the not using any lotions or anything.

HCG food Chart Calorie List

2011-04-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

FUZE-Slenderize - 10

Apple Slices 80
Grapes 55
Strawberries 55
Grapefruit – ½ 45

Chicken 3-4 oz 140
Beef – 3-4 oz 150
Fish – 3-4 oz 125

Melba Toast snacks 60
½ slice Ezekial Bread 80

Lettuce 1 cup 20
Tomato 25
Cucumber 30 slices 25
Pickle 15

April 3

2011-04-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Friends...

Today is day three of the HCG diet. Today is when the fun part ends and the hard part begins....Although it is only 9 am, so I haven't truly been tempted yet, except when the kids wanted the leftover pizza for breakfast.

So, my plan for today...

Weigh in- weighed 321 today, which means 6 pounds gained during the load days, but that usually falls off pretty fast. If I lose 40 pounds from the start of the diet, that would put me at 275. So that is my ultimate goal, but would be happy to get to 287, which is what I weighed at my wedding! That 300 pound mark is my stop point, if I can break that mentally, I should be okay for a while!

Food. As i am not a coffee or tea drinker, I found some naturally sweetened drinks (Fuze - Slenderize) that contain L-Carnitine, which is recommended on the diet, so i bought 25 of them and am going to have one every morning when I take my pills (not the HCG, my prescriptions).

At 10, I am going to have apple slices, then for lunch, am having salad with pre-cooked beef strips, and Melba Toast crackers for croutons.

At 3, I am having fruit, either apple slices or an orange, then for dinner I am making garlic chicken and serving it with tomato slices. I will make a Pasta Salad for the kids, but will not have any of it.

I also bought some Crystal Light, because I am not good at drinking plain water, so I figured 1/2 crystal Light and 1/2 water, i might be able to get my gallon of water per day done. FYI - Winco has 24 20oz bottles of water for $4.

So, wish me luck...here I GOOOoooooo! lol

April 2, 2011

2011-04-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, Day 2 of HCG, second load day. I know some people only load for 1 day on the second or third rounds, but I tried that last time and was hungry the whole time, so I am doing a 2 day load. I am also taking all three kids to the grocery store and cleaning out the van so we can sell it...busy busy day today!!!

Not sure what i am going to eat, I am never very hungry on day 2, but it will be high in fat, I know we are doing pizza for supper.

Tomorrow I am starting the strict phase of the diet, so I am preparing a menu and going shopping. no pasta, potatoes, or rice for a month...think the kids will survive??

April 1

2011-04-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today is April first...what better day to start a Diet then April Fools Day. lol

Started Taking the HCG this morning, did it at 7, and will do a 12 and a 7pm dose.

Today is a load day, so am supposed to eat a lot of high fat stuff. Had a donut for breakfast and Chocolate milk, for lunch I am having sweet and sour chicken, and for supper, eating with my sister...fried chicken!!

2011-03-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

This was at the girls' birthday party in February. I am 312 pounds here. I have gained 3 pounds since stopping the program and so I am starting April first at 315.

2011-03-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

This is in October 2010. At this point I weighed 325 pounds.

2011-03-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

Picture taken in June 2010. This was right after I had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart. I weighed 380 pounds at the time.

HCG for April

2011-03-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow is April 1st, and I am planning on doing my 4th official round of the HCG Diet. Last year I lost 40 pounds the 1st time, 20 pounds the second time, and 15 pounds the third time. I have to admit that the last time was right around Christmas and I did not follow it as closely as I should have, so I took 3 months off and am ready to go again.

My current weight is 315.4

Measurements: Bust - 52
Chest - 45
Waist - 44
Hips - 55
R Thigh - 26
R Calf - 22
R Upper Arm - 13
R Forearm - 11

Wish me luck!

2011

2011-03-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, i just realized it had been over a year since I had logged on. So, what has happened with me in the last year...

April 2010 - went to the dr and found out I have an enlarged heart. Need to lose 50 pounds fast.

May 2010 - moved back to Idaho with my family.

June 2010 - 20 year class reunion

July 2010 - started the HCG diet - lost 40 pounds in 40 days...WOW!

August 2010 - My grandpa was diagnosed with lung cancer.

September 2010 - Bailey started Kindergarten

October 2010 - Skipp went back to work for JST in Garden City

November 2010 - Grandpa passed away.

December 2010 - Christmas happened...WOW that was an experience - after 2 years of being away from family, we had 3 christmas dinners this year. :-)

January 2010 - down a total of 75 pounds since July. Stopping dieting until April 1 so my body gets all the hcg out of its system and we can do it again...

February 2010 - girls' princess birthday party extravaganza...lol

March 2010 - making plans for after the school year is over...need to get out of mom's house and out on our own again....

Well, I think that about covers it. I am apparently a horrible blogger.....

On the Road Again.....Soon

2009-12-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

My family made some decisions this week, and hopefully we will be back on the West Coast before the end of June. I think the finality of the decision has lifted my spirits, so....here is my song for today!!! (Forgive me if I forgot some of the words, this is a tribute to my friend Ramona back in Boise!!!)

I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas

"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
I don't want a doll, no dinky tinker toys
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won't have to use a dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door
That's the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy, what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinosauruses
I only likes hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me, too

Mom says a hippo would eat me up, but then
Teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian
There's lots of room for him in our two-car garage
I'd feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage."

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinosauruses
I only likes hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me, too

Happy December

2009-12-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, I suck at this blogging thing - no posts since July. The Love Dare thing went really well, and I feel much closer to both my husband and also my children.

Am kind of feeling grinchy this Christmas though. 2nd year away from my family and I miss them terribly. Skipp is getting to stay home with the kids this year, and I have to work, so I just have not gotten into anything. I don't even have a tree up yet.

I did go over to my friend's house last weekend and make Christmas Candy,
that was a lot of fun, but since I can't really eat any of it, well, you know.

I have made it my goal to look up a happy Christmas song every day for the rest of the month, hopefully that will help me to get into the spirit. Let's see how it goes.

Day 1
Randolph the bow-legged cowboy...oh wait...

Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolf
play in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolf with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee:
"Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!"

Plan - make Rudolph cookies with the girls tonight when I get home.

Fireproof

2009-07-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

My family watched Fireproof this week, and I really liked it. I have found the book "The Love Dare" and Skipp and I are going to do it..we are starting on Monday, hopefully I will be able to post some of our "Dare's"

New Job

2009-06-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

So, Jessica tells me I don't blog often enough, so here is my brief blog!! I started a new job on June 8, and I haven't run out screaming yet, so it looks like all is well!! LOL

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

2009-05-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great week I have had. My birthday was on Thursday, and I did not have to work, so I had plans to have some ladies from church who live in or around Lyons (and don't work) come over for lunch...well, it did not go as planned, but we still had a great time, and we accomplished some service while we were at it. One of my friends daughter ended up in the hospital, so the other friend, who was planning on bringing blueberry muffins, brought the muffins and we went together to visit the friend in the Hospital. We were there for probably an hour, just visiting. It was really nice, and I am happy to say that when I went back last night, the daughter is looking TONS better than she did before!!!

Then last night, my lovely husband took me to the Star Trek movie!! AWESOME!!!!!!! It was great...definately on my "own on DVD" list. Of course, if you know Skipp, you know that he talked all the way through the darn movie, I really felt sorry for the couple who sat behind us. LOL

Today I went to the city wide yard sale in Sterling and found 4 kitchen chairs for $3, so when the Missionaries come over, they won't have to sit on folding chairs anymore. LOL (Not that they complained, but still) Plus I found an ORIGINAL copy of the game Clue! For 50 cents!!! YAY ME!!!

Aaron is at a Young Men's funtion today, even though he is not technically a Young Man for 9 more days.....I guess that is close enough. LOL

March 18, 2009

2009-03-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

So today I went to work, I do in home care for the elderly. Anyway, he didn't need any housekeeping, or anything like that so we spent an hour and a half playing checkers. I feel creepy getting payed to play games.

A lady from church and I have come up with a fun swap. I am giving her daughter lessons in playing the clarinet, of which I am pretty good at, I played in school from 6-2 grade, plus in 11-12 I was in the All-State honors band. Then I played for 3 years in college, concert band and marching band. Plus I played in the Gem County community band for 2 years. So 11 years of experience. Anyway, she is teaching ME how to quilt. So last thursday she showed me this wonderful thing called a rotary cutter. I need one, it is on my wish list for my birthday now. I have cut out a whole bunch of squares. Tomorrow she will show me how to sew them together. It would be nice if I had my sewing machine, but I will just have to go use hers until I get mine back from Idaho. Hopefully this summer.

What else, oh yeah. The same friend from church went to a stampin up party with me on Sunday. The people get together every month at a different person's house and whoever is hosting gets the hostess benefits, maybe I can get that paper cutter I have been wanting. The only problem is that they do it on Sunday, but it is so much fun that we both decided to put our names on the list. We are meeting at my house next month. The third sunday in April. I am not sure of the date. sigh, I know I wrote it down somewhere.

Well, hopefully this recap catches me up for the week. Next time I won't wait 11 days to post.

Letter from ADHD son

2009-03-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

I found this online today, and I think it says a lot about the way my son behaves and acts. I am posting it here today so I will be able to come back and read it when he is really driving me crazy.

Dear Mom and Dad:
I have Attention Deficit Disorder. It's something to do with the executive functioning in the brain's frontal lobes. I'm like a factory without a CEO. It feels that way sometimes - like no one's in charge and I'm out of control.
When I was little, I was so hyper you called me "the mother killer." I'm sorry I gave you a hard time, but it wasn't my fault. You took a lot of grief for having a brat, but my ADHD was behind it. I didn't mean to run away, smack other kids, jump in the pool with my clothes on and do all the other stuff I did. Stuff that made you unhappy.
That's why I am writing this. I want you to understand how ADHD feels and why I can't control myself.
My ADHD means that I am easily distracted by things. I can sit in a movie like everyone else, but the man crunching popcorn next to me will bother me the entire picture. When I'm in class, I can't concentrate on the teacher because I'm too aware of the kid who's sharpening a pencil or the construction workers outside my class window. I'm no good at concentrating. Everything pulls my attention toward it - even if it's just for a few seconds. It takes a sonic boom to distract you. But EVERY LITTLE THING distracts me.
My ADHD means I'm impulsive. The popcorn man is ruining the movie for me so I may suddenly smack him. I may tell the boy who's sharpening his pencil to stop making so much noise. Then I'm in trouble for hitting the popcorn guy and yelling out loud in class. I'm always in trouble and making you look bad.
My ADHD means my sense of time is no good. Tomorrow may as well be twenty years from now. I don't think long-term. When my teacher says that this homework is due on Friday and Friday's five days away, I don't care. Five days is forever. Then when Friday comes, I'm dead where I stand because I haven't even started doing the work. When someone tells me that drinking will fry your liver twenty years from now, I don't care. I only care about how good that drink tastes in the moment and that it makes me feel less hyper and depressed. I know it's hard for you to understand, because you have day-timers and appointment books and Blackberries. Try to understand that I can't plan ahead - not even two hours from now. I can't even learn to plan ahead unless you teach me how to.
My ADHD means my sense of judgment is not only off, it's missing. Again, no executive function. I've heard of ADHD kids who die in extreme sports or one ADHD kid who jumped in a lake on a dare and ended up in a wheelchair because the water was only two feet deep. You need to know that I'd probably do the same thing. I'll take any dare offered. I don't see the risks involved because I live in the moment. I just think how cool it would be to jump in that lake and have everyone admire me.
I was lost in school by second grade. For one thing, school was always incredibly boring to me. I know my sister loves it, but I don't. For one thing, half the time they give us tasks I don't understand - like "write a term paper." I don't get how to go to the library, look up stuff, and take notes. If they would break it into small steps, I could do it, but they don't. They just say, "Write a term paper." Everyone else understands how to write a term paper or make a pie chart or whatever. I'm not stupid, but I just can't organize things. That's why I really started flunking out in middle school. I can't organize the work from one teacher, much less five teachers.
I wish they would not keep reminding me how high my IQ is and how I'm not applying myself. Most boys with ADHD have language-based learning disorders. We are not slow learners or dumb - -it's just that the words on the page jump around and we have trouble focusing our eyes on that stupid little print. I can't read very fast and I hate writing. I fail because school is all about reading. I know that there are computer programs and high-tech stuff to help ADHD kids, but they don't have them at my school.
I know you hate the kids I go around with, but they are the only ones who like me. The cool smart kids don't like me because I have a wicked mouth and don't know when to shut up. Also I don't get good grades. They're all worried about college and careers and stuff, but I can't think that far ahead. I don't have any goals and I wouldn't know how to set them.
I spend a lot of time playing video games. Like drinking, they calm me down. I get in the zone when I play X-Box because there's so much going on: shooting, characters, colors, quick reactions. The games work as fast as my brain, but when I stop, I get even more irritable. I know I act worse after I've been at them at day. It would be better if I would only be allowed to play them a few hours a day, but I guess you get welcome relief when I'm in that zone.
My favorite shirt says "NO BOUNDARIES." I can be really hostile to any limits you set. But I've heard that kids like me do better with regular hours for stuff. Like you wake up at a certain time, eat breakfast, and know exactly what's happening every hour. I know that would calm me down. That would take away a lot of anxiety I have inside me that everything is out of control. I also know I feel less jumpy when I get more exercise, but I usually don't bother. I just drift from one thing to another.
Sometimes I think no one likes me and that even you guys are sick of me. I know you wish I was more like my sister, Little Miss Perfect. If I give her a hard time, it's because I'm jealous. If you add up all the times she got yelled at since she was born, it would be less than five minutes. For me, I've been yelled at for whole years and lifetimes. I hate the way you yell so much and I really love you guys even if I don't show it. I wish I didn't have ADHD and I'm sorry I give you a hard time. I am trying hard all the time but it feels like I never get any pay-off no matter how hard I try. Trying really hard only moves me toward normal, it does not make me normal.
Well, this is my letter anyway. Maybe you understand ADHD a little better now. I love you.
Your Son

Feeling kind of productive

2009-03-04T21:04:00.001-08:00

So today I decided to try to make my own bread crumbs. I know, it sounds kind of silly, but I usually buy bread crumbs at the grocery store, and they cost almost $5. So I took the ends of the bread, the ones no one eats. I had about 8 of them in a bag, I was saving them because I knew I would think of something to do with them.

So then I buttered the bread and sprinkled them with garlic powder and parmesan cheese. I probably could have used real garlic, but I wanted to be able to store them, so I used powder.

Then I broiled that side until it was well toasted, turned off the broiler and turned the toast over, then left it in the oven while I went about my business.

After lunch, I broke the pieces up small enough to fit into my salad shooter, then I "shootered" them into a bowl. I ended up getting about 3 cups worth of bread crumbs.

Trying to rearrange the schedule

2009-03-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

Well, most of you know that Skipp was laid off a few weeks ago, and, once again, just as the savings were running out, he got another job. I am pretty sure that it happens that way because he is so sure he can find a job that he doesn't ask Heavenly Father for assistance until I tell him that we can live for about one more week on what we have left in the bank, and then he panics and prays, and then something comes along.

So anyway, Skipp started on Monday. I am trying to work out a schedule that gets Skipp off to work every morning, lets Aaron get his homeschooling done in the morning, so I can work from 1-3, (yes, I have a part time job, but I only work 2 hours at a time, so my almost 12 year old watches his sisters while I am gone (with strict rules) and gets paid for his efforts.) and then come home and make dinner so it is ready when Skipp gets home at 5:30, eat, bathe the kids, get teeth brushed and kids in bed by 8 so Skipp and I can have a couple of hours together before bed...breathe...and somewhere in there I still have to do dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc.

The kids don't like changes to their routine, especially my boy with ADHD, so this week has been a challenge. I know that eventually it will all work itself into a routine, but I may have to pull all of my hair out first.

In the meantime, I am kind of letting the kids slide in the chore and schoolwork department.

Oh, by the way, Chianna's face is almost completely healed of her scabs, and I don't think it will even scar. YAY!

Horrible Mother!

2009-02-25T09:25:00.001-08:00

I feel like such a Horrible Mother!! Chianna, my 2 year old, fell out of the van on Sunday. She ended up having a concussion, so I had to wake her up every two hours all night Sunday night, so she was grumpy on Monday. Then, on top of the runny nose she already had, her nose is all scraped up (along with the rest of her face) so she doesn't want us to blow her nose anymore, because it hurts. I can't get her to take any Benedryl so her nose WON'T run (Skipp hid some in her juice this morning and she took it, he's sneaky like that). Plus she doesn't want top eat anything, SIGH.

All she wants to do is lay down or be held. Daddy held her most of the day yesterday while I was at work, and this morning, I got called in to work again for a couple of hours, now that I am home, she doesn't want anything to do with me.

My Food Storage Talk 2-21-09

2009-02-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

Brothers and Sisters, I thank you for coming this morning. Several weeks ago, I was called to be the Food Storage Specialist. I have to admit, my first thought was “Have you seen my pantry? I don’t have any food storage.” Over the past few weeks, I have been studying and researching, and beginning my own food storage plan, and I welcome the opportunity to stand here today and talk about this subject. The church has a pamphlet called “All is safely gathered in.” The introduction in this pamphlet says “ We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go into debt to establish your food storage al lat once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.” This is signed by the First Presidency, February 2007.

Even with everything the church has taught, statistics done by the church show that no matter what the church does, no more than 15% of families have adequate storage.

Roger K. Young said, "I can't tell you how many times I have talked with people who are wonderful, faithful members of the Church, some even who are ward and stake leaders, who don't have enough food storage to last more than a week or so. (Even when they have been well blessed in material possessions and income.) In our discussions about how the counsel for food storage has been repeated by every prophet for over 60 years they commonly respond that with all of the other issues they are dealing with, food storage just isn't very high on the priority list.

President Ezra Taft Benson said "Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.

It is in our human nature to think that terrible things will never happen to us. However things do happen. In December 2007 Kansas was hit with an Ice storm, which knocked out power for a few hours, to a few days depending on where you were. Some of you were affected by that storm.

President Benson also said, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”

How do we become obedient to the Lord where food storage is concerned?

Doctrine and Covenant chapter 78, verses 13 and 14 tell us that the church and its members are commanded by the Lord to be self-reliant and Independent.

President Hinckley counseled us to “We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. As all of you recognize, this counsel is not new. But I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, my brethren, and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.”

While researching this subject, I found a wonderful article online written by a lady named Melanie Cooper. She wrote, “Years ago I began storing food for our family truly believing I would someday be done. I have since learned that food storage is like laundry. You may catch up from time to time but the task is never truly finished. If left undone for too long the task becomes seemingly insurmountable.”

Now I am not going to sit up here and tell you what you should or should not store. What and how much to store depends on what you will eat and how many are in your family. For instance, most of the food calculators say to store a certain amount for kids up to age 12, but my 11 year old eats more than I do, so obviously I need to store adult sized portions for him.

When planning your food storage, you also need to think of who is in your family. If you have a baby, are you storing baby food? Or a way to make baby food out of what you have? How about pets? Most cats could survive on mice, but a spoiled house pet like Brother Hudson’s dog would not survive. Do you have pet food in your storage?

The most successful families who keep up with food storage are the ones who eat what they store.

If you have no storage at all, like me up until a month ago, it really is easy to get started. Take a look at what you eat now. How many of your recipes have ingredients that can be stored?

For instance, I make a chicken pie that uses a can of chicken, a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of peas and carrots. If I have each of those items, I can make a chicken pie, and create a nutritious meal for my family.

If I have 52 cans of each of those, I have one meal per week for a year. Now I do the same with 6 other meals, and I have a year’s supply of food. I will need basic staples to go with it, like flour (or wheat) and water. Now every time I make one of my storage meals, I use my food storage and replace it.

Obviously, I am not going to go out and purchase 52 cans of chicken all at once. However, if every time I plan to make that meal, I purchase enough to make it two or three times, I will gradually build up my food storage.

Some people use the excuse that they don’t have food storage, but they have money in savings to purchase food in an emergency. Did you know that most grocery stores carry only a two to three day supply of food on their shelves which is replenished by a delivery truck? What happens if the trucks can’t get through? How quickly are the stores going to run out of food if everyone is rushing to the store for supplies?

Being prepared is only as hard as you make it. Start out simple, buy extras of things you will actually use, and do a little bit at a time. Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 tells us that “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” When the ice storm, or the tornado, or the hurricane hits, it is already too late. Today is the time to prepare.

Food storage is an important part of our lives. It should be high on our priority lists. We cannot become complacent. Terrible things can, have, and will happen. If we are obedient, self-reliant, and independent, we will be able to weather the storm.

Start small, store what you eat. Be prepared so you don’t have to fear.

I want to close with an anecdote I found online. The Author is listed as unknown, but the topic is prudent to this talk.

The Parable of Gomer

These are the generations of Gomer, son of Homer, son of Omer. And in the days of Gomer, Noah, the Prophet, went unto the people saying, “Prepare ye for the flood which is to come, yea, build yourselves a boat, that ye may not perish.”

Now, Gomer was a member of the Church, and taught Sunday School and played, yea, even on the ward softball team. And Gomer’s wife said unto him, “Come, let us build unto ourselves a boat as the Prophet commandeth, that we may not perish in the flood.” But behold, Gomer saith unto his wife, “Worry not, dear wife, for if the flood comes the government will provide boats for us.”

And Gomer did not build a boat. And Gomer’s wife went unto Noah and she returned saying, “Behold, Honey, the Prophet saith unto us, “Build a boat, that we may preserve ourselves, for the government pays men not to grow trees, wherefore the government hath not the lumber to build for you a boat.”

And Gomer answered saying, “Fear not, oh wife, for am I not the star pitcher on the ward softball team?Wherefore, the Church will provide for us a boat, that we will perish not.”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned unto Gomer, saying, “Behold, mine husband, the Prophet saith that the Church hath not enough lumber to build a boat for everyone, wherefore, mine husband, build for us a boat that we might not perish in the flood.” And Gomer answered her saying, “Behold, if we build a boat, when the flood cometh, will not our neighbors overpower us and take from us our boat; wherefore, what doth it profit a man to build a boat?”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and she returned, saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith, build unto yourselves a boat, and have faith, for if ye do the Lord’s bidding, He will preserve your boat for you.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, with this inflation, the price of wood has gone sky high, and if we wait awhile, perhaps the price will go down again. And then I will build for us a boat.”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah, and she returned saying, “Thus saith the Prophet, build for yourselves a boat RIGHT NOW, for the price of wood will not go down, but will continue to go up. Wherefore, oh husband, build for ourselves a boat, that we may perish not.” But Gomer answered his wife, saying, “Behold, for 120 years Noah hath told us to build a boat, to preserve us from the flood, but hath the flood come? Yea, I say, nay. Wherefore, perhaps the flood will not come for another hundred and twenty years.

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “The Prophet saith, he knows it has been 120 years, but nevertheless, the flood will come, wherefore, build unto yourselves a boat.”

And Gomer answered her saying, “Wherewith shall we get the money to build ourselves a boat, for are we not now making monthly payments on our snazzy new four horsepower chariot? Wherefore, when our payments end, perhaps we shall build ourselves a boat.”

And Gomer’s wife went again unto Noah and returned saying, “Behold, the Prophet saith that we should cut down on our recreation, and our vacations, and even give each other lumber for Christmas, that we might thereby get enough lumber to build a boat.”

But Gomer saith unto her, “What a drag! Are we to cease enjoying life, just because we must build a boat?”

Wherefore, Gomer built not a boat. But behold, one afternoon Gomer heard thunder in the sky, and he feared exceedingly and he ran, yea, even to the lumber yard to buy lumber. But behold, the lumber store was crowded with great multitudes, all seeking to buy lumber, and there was not enough lumber to be found for the multitudes.

And on the same day were all the fountains of the deep opened, and the windows of heaven were broken up, and the floods came — and behold, Gomer had no boat. And as the water rose above Gomer’s waist, his wife saith unto him, “Behold, Honey, I told thee so!”

Author Unknown

Underground Salt Mine

2009-02-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

We went today to the underground Salt Mine in Hutchinson, Kansas. Thanks to Daniel for the tickets... ;-)

First, we got on an elevator that took us 650 feet underground at 6 miles per hour, in total darkness. My four year old though it was great, I didn't.

The mine itself is really cool, with the different layers of silt, and the types of things they used to dig it out, plus the fact that the salt field goes from Nebraska to New Mexico.

I think the best part was the stuff they store down there. The salt mine is 68 degrees and 40% humidity, constantly, so they have miles of stuff in storage, but they only had a few things on display. The had the sunglasses worn by Tommy Lee Jones and the "National Enquirer" that showed him coming out of a coma in the movie Men in Black. They had one of the Dorothy machines from Twister, and they had the costumes worn by George Clooney as batman, Arnold Schwartzenegger as Mr Freeze and Dean Kane as Superman.

All in all, it was a great trip, and I reccomend it to anyone looking for a great two hours. No kids under 4 and no food or drink down in the tunnel, though.

Oh, I almost forgot...I will post the photos as soon as I find the camera cord soI can download them. LOL

My Lot

2009-02-18T22:44:00.001-08:00

myLot User Profile

Sounding Off

2009-02-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

Well, everyone says I am too opinionated anyway, so I might as well go public and annoy as many people as possible as publicly as possible. After all, misery loves company.

I hope this will be easier than trying to remember to write in my journal all of the time.

I am Ellen. I have a husband whom I love, even if he tends to be rather childish most of the time. We have three children whom I also love, although the oldest one tends to make me want to pull my hair out...I guess it's a boy thing.

I live in central Kansas...in fact I live not toofar from the sign that says we are smack dag in the middle of the continental US. Before we moved here, I lived in Idaho.

I am LDS, which means I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I joined the church 2 1/2 years ago, and I am so glad I did. My current calling is Food Storage Specialist, which I am still trying to figure out...

I have lots of friends in Idaho that I miss dearly, but I have made tons of friends in Kansas as well.

Well, thanks for visiting my blog. Please leave me a comment and let me know who you are, and what you think.