Foster Cline, Kalispell, and other goings on

Today, at our school, we had a guest speaker, Foster Cline, MD, and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed hearing him speak. He was engaging, relevant, and humorous. Some of the big things that I took away from the lecture was having fun and not becoming frustrated.

In other news, I have returned to form so to speak and feel much better. The trip to Kalispell was fantastic. I think we all had a great, great time. I actually bought my first pair of cowboy boots since about 30 years ago. We shopped and just thoroughly enjoyed having our dog with us (whatever her name will be-Hannah or Willow). I don't think there were any major mishaps. I swam in the pool for the first time in months, and I did all right. I still have a long way to go. I don't swim that well, but I do much better than my "like a rock" efforts in the past. Also, in case you haven't, I suggest looking at Dez's pics that she has taken recently. I'm really proud of what she has captured, and I think she's enjoying herself. :)

I have felt somewhat stressed at work and made some mistakes, which I hate. We are growing, though, and that is fun and challenging. I am hoping that I am able to grasp all the things necessary and work for the betterment of our kids. Changes are brewing, so more on that later. Right now, I want to focus on doing the best I can for the kids and our parents. I have good intentions. Sometimes, though, I lack time to follow through with them-sure seems that way at least.

Kalispell

We finally got to take a little family trip on Sunday-Monday (Jay's days off). Jakub is on Spring Break and he has been begging to go somewhere to spend the night and swim in a pool. What better time to swim in a pool than "Spring Break". So, we pointed the truck North to Kalispell.

The trip over wasn't very far, about 2 and a half hours. The town of Kalispell is a good sized town. It has everything you need without being totally overwhelming. It is also about 30 miles from Glacier National Park (which we wanted to go, but didn't make it to). I found a hotel that we could bring the dog along with us... Good luck finding that... and having it be anything "nice".

We stayed in the Aero Inn, which I do NOT recommend. It is pretty much a hole, though I got what I payed for. We had to stay in a smoking room because of the dog. It smelled like someone had been smoking in it 24 hours for 30 straight years. Pretty bad for folks that don't smoke. It was a sacrifice we made though so we could bring the dog.

We shopped a little bit and then headed back to the room and ordered Papa-John's. This is a luxury we don't have where we live because there isn't a pizza joint within 40-50 miles. We chowed down and then headed to the pool. I will have to say that the "Inn" had a decent pool, which was really what the boy's wanted.

We finally retired for the night. Another problem with the "INN" was the mysterious CONSTANT "popping" sounds in the wall all night long, and the fact that you could hear everything that was going on in your neighbors room. I am making it sound horrible. It was pretty bad, but seriously... we had a blast.

We checked out the next morning and went shopping some more. We found this Western Store that had boots on sale, marked down AND take 50% more off. We got the mens all a pair of NICE boots for like $107 bucks!!!

The reason we didn't go to glacier is because I wasn't aware that "pets" weren't allowed. I didn't know if they would let us in if we promised to keep her in the truck or what... Plus, from what I understand we wouldn't have gotten very far in. I have all summer to go, we will just leave a LOT earlier next time and during a time where it is warmer.

OH!! About warmth, it was BEAUTIFUL this weekend here. The temps were nearly in the 60's!!!! The sun was out and man was it beautiful. I now know that winter here only makes you appreciate the seasons soooo much more. Spring has nearly Sprung!!!!

On our treck back home we stopped in Libby and had some time at a playground and at Kootenai Falls State Park. I would have like to have stayed longer but we were all tired. We did see the falls and made it halfway over the bridge... of DEATH. I honestly can't wait to go back so we can explore more. I did get some really good photos.

Yesterday I did some MAJOR Spring Cleaning. I can't get over how AMAZING the weather is here right now!!! I opened all the windows in the house and let it air out. I plan on doing the same thing today, along with some more Spring Cleaning. I got all of our winter stuff taken to storage and got out the kids spring toys.

Tom came over last night, he is our neighbor... kinda like a stand in Pap-Paw till Pap-Paw gets here. He took the kids for ice cream last night. He is the first person, besides family that has taken them any where so I was a little nervous. Y'all know how protective I am of my kiddo's. I wouldn't have let them go if I didn't trust Tom though. He is a good man and is an extention of our family.

So, there are no plans today. Like I said, just cleaning more and enjoying this weather. Maybe the boys and I will go down to the river and skip stones or something. I have really enjoyed Jakub being off for spring break!

Dez's Challenge

Weight loss has been a thorn in my side for... well what seems like forever. I have been overweight for most of my adult life. I was especially so after I had Jakub. I reached 250-260 pounds while I was pregnant with him. I lost most of it... then gained a bunch back... When I started working on my weight the last time I weighed 235-240 pounds. I lost down to 180 and then got pregnant with Jack. Now, granted, I am not nearly that large now.

I had a rough time this past summer with my thyroid, low iron and stress. I gained about 20 pounds in a matter of a few months. I would say having a thyroid problem is pretty much a trek through Hell. You gain weight, lose hair, feel like someone has tapped out your energy...your emotions are whack... you have 2-3 periods a month and you honestly feel heinous. I joke and say the reason I went through it is because I made fun of Oprah when she said all her weight issues were due to her thyroid...I would tell her, TO HER FACE (yeah, on tv) that she needed to put down the CAKE!!! So, That's when I started going through it. Having horrible menses also depleted me of iron... I became anemic. When I finally made it to the doctor I was put on Iron and thyroid meds and sent on my way.

It wasn't long before I was feeling better, but the weight still kept creeping up. I quit taking the thyroid meds. Luckily for me my body seemed to straighten itself out. I don't really know what caused the thyroid issues... I have a theory that it was a combination of my breast reduction and my tubal Ligation... all in the span of 10 months. So, I was feeling better and my weight stopped rising.

That was about the time that we moved to Montana. So stress and pure laziness have kept me from even trying to work on my weight. Up until a couple of months ago that is. I started a weight loss challenge for myself on facebook. I had several people sign up with me to either lose along with me or encourage me. It wasn't very long that the group kinda went southward and now no one visits it anymore.

Since I started this challenge in February I have lost 10 pounds. I know that isn't that much, but I have not been very committed to it either. Over the last few months I think that my prayers are being heard...and things seem to be coming into persepctive. I have stopped several of my little quirky habits that I figured I would have till I died. Then about two days ago I started exercising. I kept thinking how rediculous it was for me to be sitting here in the house on my fat bottom not doing anything about my weight. I can't help but think of Bette Midler in Ruthless People making the best of her confinement and working her toosh off... Literally.

I don't have to be fat. I don't have to live like this anymore. Heck, why have I been??? So I am really gonna do it this time...you'll see!! (Less of ME)

Dez

Figuring electronic devices out

I have all of this fabulous stuff that I am trying to figure out how to use. Back in July we bought a small hand held camcorder...very small. I have not really gotten the hang of it yet. With it you have to have superior lighting and every time I take video it's too dark to post.
Also, this month I bought a Nikon D-40. The picture this camera takes is so very awesome. The thing about it is, it can do sooooo much more and I am trying to figure it all out. I am a visual and hands on learner so all of the web sites and tutorials I have checked out don't really click with the way I learn. Plus most of them assume that you have some knowledge of the camera...which I DO NOT. I have always just had the simple point and shoot digital cameras. Compared to the one's I have had before this one is the Lexus with all the features... if that makes sense.
I hope you are all enjoying our journey with us. I am loving this blog and all the things I am able to do with it. I think Jason, who writes 15 blogs a day, likes it even more.

So today, Jason woke up sick. He has been working for Monarch School for 6 months and today is the first day that he has called in. You know Jason is sick if he is puking, which he is. SOOOO, I am trying to take care of him.

Jakub had cowboy day at school today, He came home all dresses up with a cowboy hat and hand made spurs (made of pipe cleaners and a jingle bell, great idea).

Jack, I don't think he feels well either. He has been sorta cranky and having tummy troubles too. I actually got him down for a nap... He needed it so bad and was fighting it.

Hope you are all doing well!