Camando

So today I look at the schedule for the gym and see what class' are going at what time. I really want to go but I see there are a couple class' at 8 and 8:00 and 8:30. Well, I said who cares and got the kids ready and left. I get to the gym and start getting the girls ready. I get Teresa out and go to get Mary. As I get her out she tells me she has NO undies on. WHAT????!!!!! That's what I get for not supervising getting dressed. So I scramble through the diaper bag and I can't find any undies in there. OH, and she is wearing a dress. So now I have a decision to make............I am already there......I don't want to drive home.......so I tell her to be good and keep her dress down and not show off her 'who who'. We are on our way to the gym now. I drop them off. Teresa cries but I'm outa there. As I'm working out I'm waiting for them to call my name to come either because Teresa is crying or they notice Mary has no undies. I get my machine work out done and go to peak in the window to see how everyone is doing. All is well so I head up to do some cardio. I get onto the treadmill and start walking. 20 minutes later I'm still free and clear. I head down to pick them up. I come in and Teresa is not with the girl I left her with. She points to the floor and there she is, sitting on the floor happy with toys. AND her sister is there playing with her nicely. WOW! What a great picture to walk into. A successful gym day in my book. Tomorrow is my first training session. We shall see how that goes!

playing in the street

These are both kinda hard to see. It was dusk last night when we were outside. So bare with me. On Friday we had a block party with a couple of our neighbors. One family has a boy who is 5 and Mary had fun playing with him. We live at the top of a hill on a culdasac. The boys were riding their bikes down the hill over and over. Mary has never done this, as we have never let her try. Well, now she has and loves it. She gets on her little bike and goes down to our driveway, skidding her shoes, and drives in the driveway to stop. She's pretty good at it. Her shoes do not have much sole on them anymore, but she had fun.

Then she was dancing and I had to take video of that. She's such a ham when the camera is around.

Gym Addict

I have become a gym addict. I love going and getting an hour or so to myself. I leave feeling good. On Saturday I had my free training session. So far I've just been going in and doing a half hour or more of cardio and then the rowing machine. The actual machines intimidate me. So, he took me around to do some stuff. I left feeling it. I also left paying for 6 months of one training session a week. I'm focused and wanna get it done! I'm on a mission.
In order to do this I will have to make a couple sacrifices. I will stop going to weight watchers. Since I already know the plan I can follow it at home. The other thing I have to give up is my monthly house cleaner. I will start trying to get things done on my own again. It's a little tougher with two kids, but I will try it. A clean house only lasts a half a day, but a better looking and feeling body lasts longer! I want to fit back into all my clothes when we got married, pre-kids.
So........Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off To The Gym I Go!

Relaxing weekend at the beach

This weekend Kevin and I took off in the motorhome by ourselves. We dropped the kids off at grandma and grandpa's and left to the beach for camping in Carpenteria. We have not camped by ourselves since before Mary. We got there about 12 on Saturday. The weather wasn't great but I was still able to wear shorts and a t-shirt, so it was fine. We got all set up and headed to town for lunch and the brewery. The spot we ended up getting was the farthest away from town you could get, literally. So we got our work out in when we went to town. It was good for us. Gave us an excuse to drink beer when we got there. By 2:45 the sun came out and it was nice. So we headed back to camp to go sit on the beach. awww so nice! We had a nice night going out to dinner and being silly w/out any kids.

I think this is so funny. This is Kevin in our shower in the motorhome. He is so tall he has to stick his head up in the sky light. When we bought our first trailer, that was a big priority so he could shower.

Sunday grandma and grandpa came up with the kids. We woke up to sun and great weather. We were excited for the fun day ahead. We walked to town, again, and ate breakfast. We then walked back and sat on the beach for an hour and got some sun. We then walked to town, again, and got lunch and met up with mom, dad, and the kids at the brewery. It was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy a beer while Mary and Teresa watched the people, doggies, and the train. Now we head back to camp to go play on the beach. Mary had so much fun, it was great. Teresa liked it too. It was her first beach experience. She even experienced eating sand. Didn't bother her at all and even kept wanting more. EEEEWW.

We ennjoyed our time alone, but missed the kids. We decided to keep Mary and they could take Teresa home. We already have a bed set up for Mary, but not Teresa yet. Mary was excited to stay and have a camp fire and roast marshmallows.

Monday we got up and it was all cloudy and icky out. Thank god we got one good day in. It makes it much easier to pack up and go home when the weather is not good. It was so nice to take the motorhome out and enjoy it by ourselves and then with Mary. Camping is awesome!

work outs at the gym

Ok, so I've taken Mary to the gym with me and left her in the day care. She loved it. I got to get a good work out in for about an hour and she was fine. Today I took Teresa while I left Mary with Aunt Linda. One of the girls took her and seemed ok, so I left. 20 minutes later they were paging me to come get her. When I got in there a different lady had her, oriental (not to be racist). Teresa is not sure of people she does not know or see often. The girl who originally took her kinda looked like me so I think she was ok then. SO, I got her and my stuff and was out of there. I did get 20 minutes on the elliptical machine so that was something. I guess I will just keep trying with her and just make sure I get the good work out done first just in case.

8 months old and WE HAVE AN ANSWER

First of all, Teresa is 8 months old already. She is now 21 pounds and 29 inches long. My little chunker.

We went to see the geneticist for Teresa's hands. We had to go all the way down to UCLA again. We have been there twice for this now. The two doctors we have seen have been great. They are very attentive and listen to you. This time when we went the doctor came in and didn't look at us crazy like he had never seen this issue before. He actually knew what it was and had a name for it. So, we FINALLY have an answer. DO NOT go and google, or look up, this.....the name of the result is Arthrogryposis. He said if we looked it up we'd be freaked out. Only the major cases are posted and he said Teresa's is pretty mild.
Basically how this happened was by two defective genes of ours that joined when she was being developed in my womb. The chances of that are very slim, but it happened. Every 1 in 4 children we were to have could have this. If we were to have more kids I would have to go to him for further testing before hand. But there are no more kinds in our future, that are planned anyway. I asked if this could effect her children. He said on ly if she married someone who had the same defective gene.
This affects both hands and feet and there are issues with her feet as well. We have not really noticed it until she has grown and things are more noticeable. Over time, with therapy, this can be fixed.
There is a book written on these sorts of cases. The doctor is going to email the author and send her pictures and explain her case. Then he will see what sort of conclusion she comes to and what action may be best. From there we will go back to the orthopedist. He will then tell us how we should go about therapy from here.
We are very happy to have an answer and that this is it. It would only get worse if we did not take any action. Of course we will take action and keep on top of it. She will continue to gro wup normal and live a normal life.

Determined To Get The Job Done

Today in the paper there was a flyer for LA Fitness for a free week and a great deal to sign up. So, Kevin told me to go and use the week, and start today. Well, I wasn't going to pass up that opportunity to work out by myself. So I ran upstairs, got dressed, and was outa the house. I used to belong to that gym back in 2006, or something. Then I stopped after Mary was born. I have been doing Stroller Strides. It's great that I can work out and bring the kids too. It has gotten harder with two. I had a great routine when it was just Mary. I can't seem to get going and there by 8:30 very often, if at all. AND Mary has gotten to the age where she makes it hard to do my walk and work out. She's too busy doing what she wants to. So, it's just not worth the money there. I love seeing the other mom's, but I can still hang out with them.
Anyway, so I joined the gym today. They have a kids club so I can drop off the girls and do my work out and then pick them up after wards. And my mom, sister, and Corie all go to that gym so I can meet them at times too. It all ends up costing the same per month as Stroller Strides, so it's all good. I got to work out today when I went and I'm already sore, which is good. So I hope this will all kick in and get the job done between the gym and weight watchers. Yes, I am determined!!!!

Fun August Night

Aunt Corie came over for dinner last night. We always like when she comes over. Mary was having fun. They were dancing in the living room. The she would get swung around by her arms. I'm sure Corie feels that today.

catching up

NOt much really going on to post, but I'll catch ya up anyway. Mom and dad are on their way home. They should be staying tonight in Vegas and be home tomorrow!!! I can't wait to see them. I know Mary miss' them. Teresa has changed so much in the past two weeks they will not know her.
We have been staying around here, pretty much. Went to Stroller Strides one day for a good work out. I have not been able to get one at home. The kids schedules have not been the same and so I get no free time to work out. So, at least with the walking group I get to go and work out with them. It's just hard to get there at 8:30 in the morning. I need to try more often though.
I got Mary into a mini preschool class for 12 weeks. I'm so excited. She will go every Tuesday and Thursday for two hours. It's a start. It will give me time to do some shopping with only one child or something. It's not close to our house, but close to mom. So, if I need her to pick her up, she can. That start September 15th. I can't wait. We'll have to go shopping for clothes, of course. She's growing up so fast. I will have to figure out how to not let PINTO, her favorite bear, go to class with her. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.
I have hit a wall with weight watchers for the last three weeks. It's a little frustrating, but at least I don't gain. I finally lost .8 this week. So, maybe I'm back on track.
Anyway, that's about that for now. Things should get more exciting soon, other than the same 'ol same 'ol.

Come Home SOOOOOOON

My parents left last Friday to drive back to Louisville for a national car show. From the time I was little my dad has built old cars. I have grown up going to car shows and hanging out listening to the oldies but goodies. This car he just rebuilt, again, to drive back to the show. I remember so many good times in this car. Now I hope one day my kids will have memories going to car shows with Nana and Papa.

I've been missing them and, of course, the help with the kids. I've been doing ok, but still wish they were here. My aunt and uncle live in Indiana, about 40 miles from Louisville. So, they come down to see and hang out with them. It's not often we get to see them. My cousin is the same age as me and has twin two year olds and a step 4 year old. She Really has her hands full. I talked to mom today and she said they miss the girls, but have had kid fulfillment there too.

I'm glad they are having fun, but, COME HOME SOON!!

Cheap Fun

I so remember playing in boxes when I was little. Dad would go to the back of stores to get us boxes. The best box would be a refrigerator box to be a house. Those were awesome. My sister, Amy, and I would actually try to sleep in it.
I got these boxes today from Amazon. May asked to play with them before I had them emptied. One is for her and the other for Pinto. I had to tape the sides up so they would not fall down, even on Pinto's box. I'm not sure she really thought they were anything specific, but a box. Who cares, she was happy and entertained. All I had to do what order something from Amazon and get a box.

Beach Fun WIth Aunt Amy

Monday Aunt Amy took Mary to the beach for a some fun. This is the first time Amy has taken Mary any where on her own. A friend of hers has a little boy the same age as Mary, so they decided to meet up to have them play. It worked out great. Amy said the two of them played like they've always known each other. Mary was a good girl and shared and played nice. It was a fun day for everyone. Mary was beat after all that and slept like a champ. When I went to bed and looked at the video monitor at her, she was passed out, on her back, spread eagle, half covered. Pretty funny.

These pictures don't even look like my Mary. She is growing and changing so fast.

A Win In My Book

So, after 4 days in Vegas last weekend, I was not looking forward to weighing in at Weight Watchers today. Since we got home I"ve been drinking water like it's going out of style and trying my best to stay on track. Well, it all paid off. I didn't loose, but I didn't gain. I am exactly where I started at before we went! Wahoo!!! So, that is a total win in my book!