A Day at school for Miss Audrey

For the second time, Country and Town Church has called us to fill a cancellation at their Mothers Day out Program. We have been on their waiting list for 8 months to get a full time, 1 day per week spot...yeah, its that popular.
It is basically 4 hrs for Mom's to enjoy while their kiddos play.
The first day was a little iffy for Audrey. She is boisterous and much bigger than the other kids in the 18m to 3 yr old group, so she had a problem sharing and listening.
Today, however, she did much better. we really talked about listening and doing as her teachers tell her, as well as sharing and being kind to the other kids. Today, she exceled. So proud of her.
Making the decision to pull her out of part time kindergarten in the winter of 2010 was the best decision Jim and I could have made.
At 16 months, she had 3 febrile seizures from fevers that went too high due to the never-ending sickness. Seriously, for the 6 months we tried daycare, 4 hrs a day 4 days a week, she had an ear infection that never ceased, a nose that never stopped running, and a call once a week that she had something wrong( a fall from the slide, a cut on her hand from the door...etc...)
Dont get me wrong, her daycare was a fine one.
And I believe in daycare. I understand it is a necessity.
But we gained so much more with our decision for her health. She has been febrile free for 16 months, knock on wood and praise god!
BUT, what she has been lacking is social interaction with folks other than us. Unlike many kids that may clam up around others, she does the opposite and she over-exudes energy. She stands at the front of a classroom and thinks she is the teacher.
We want her to have a good start in school...that is just 2 yrs around the corner.
So, Mothers Day out is our first step, and the childrens program at our church on sundays.
And in the fall, she begins Preschool 1, perhaps 2 days a week.
She are hoping it gives her a good foundation of instruction, understanding that she so desperately needs from other folks that us. She is a good kid. She just has a big personality and we pray that god directs that energy into something amazing for her life.

House Updates

We have recently been working hard around the house. There are a few things that we have hoped to update and the time had finally come to get them done. We changed our shutters and door from a maroon to classic black, threw down some new mulch around the entire house, added a patio proch swing( LOVE) bought a new fridge and my uncle came and fixed our porch bams. Although my favorite addition has been that of a new Pergo floor in the dining room/sitting room...so much nicer than the ol construction grade cream carpet.
I am ready to sit outside and enjoy the patio swing while Audrey enjoys her all-fixed-up playhouse.
We are also ready for some camping.
Audrey is anxious to be outside everyday, and I am enjoying the sunshine along-side of her.
We have alot of great trips planned for the summer and I am counting down the days til we enjoy each one.
Mostly, I am looking forward to some relaxing days filled with fun with my kiddo, and maybe a few good books!

So Blessed to Call you mine

Sometimes I just stare in wonder at my kid. She is beautiful!
She is funny, and although she STIll hasnt mastered potty-training, she is so smart!
Each month that goes by I feel this strange sense of freedom with her. LIKE, last year when we went outside I had to keep her hooked to my side...now she will stay in the yard while I do the yardwork , and even help sometimes.
She tells me she either wants to be a SUPER BUNNY RABBIT or a RINA(thats balla for those who cant quite catch it) when she gets BIG!
She sits for pics, but cant quite get the look at the center of the camera.
She likes to look at herself in the mirror...and man oh man, does she have an imagination!
She also LOVEs to brush her teeth!
Lately, she is in her "I can do it all myself" mode, but I stare in wonder and amazement at what she CAN actually do all by herself.
God reminds me everyday thru her how much he loves me and wants to bless me...and I am so grateful for the blessing that is Audrey!

WOw.....when did I stop blogging

I feel like I don't have anything new to say, perhaps thats why.
Its March already. We have managed to keep very busy as always.
We are looking forward to spring and summer as it seems that winter never really came this year.
Audrey is growing so fast. I have to take the hem out of her 4T pants today! She cheeses it up for my camera willingly now, which is nice.
She has hit the " I can do it myself" phase of life...strollers are old news to her( even though she is still required by this nagging mom to sit in one)...she'd rather walk. She is going on the potty "all by myself", walking in the store "all by myself" eating and trying to make her breakfast "all by herself"
STOP....my baby only has 2 1/2 years til kindergarten.
I hope I havent missed anything.
Tomorrow, we goes to take part in Mothers Day out at Country and Town Church. They had a cancellation for the day. I think she will love it! She needs that socialization.
Our weightloss journey is still going strong.
I am down 17.8 lbs and 13 1/4 inches! I hope to see 20 lbs lost this week!
The first few weeks are big weight loss weeks and then it slows, so I have to wrap my mind around the concept slow and steady wins the race.
Hopefully by this time next year I will be looking at life on the other side of fat.

A healthier US

With the help of UAFD and Trimline Weight Loss Center' Jim and I have taken off a combined weight of 31 lbs in the last 17 days. I feel great! The program doesnt leave me feeling like I am missing anything or that I am hungry. I feel accountable, since someone else is blessing me with this opportunity and paying for me to get healthy.
I have lost a total of 16.6 lbs, with a goal of 99 total lbs. Hopefully, a year from now, I will be staring that goal in the eye!
I want to be healthier for my daughter, so I am around for the important things in her life!
There is no looking back.
Here is a picture of Jimmy and I 5 days into the program.

WE ARE FAT! When I stepped on the scale the first weigh in, I nearly threw up! I was even heavier than I thought I was!
Take a good look, you will never see these people again!

Everybody Poops...

Or at least tries to. Wow, we had a crazy weekend. Audrey had to poop....badly, but it was just not coming out. Sorry for the graphic imagery. So, Saturday, we stuck her in the bath with a little lunck. Sunday, was worse and we almost headed to the ER. But, Jim drove to the Pharmacy and our pharmacist said to try stool softeners, after an hour, they worked. Thank goodness.
So for now, potty training has had a bit of a back slide( not too bad though) for the lil girl that says she "doesnt want to go potty, cause it hurts!"
My mom was here, and of course, she hates to see her girl in pain, so she went to Weis and bought all things fiberlicious! What worked: Bolthouse farms carrot juice, it seems. All 100% carrot juice. I mixed it with orange juice( cant hurt to have a little vitamin c).
Now, I have switched to fiberlicious natural smoothies:

She was on a smoothie strike for a few weeks, but she seems to like these.

Hopefully we are on the road to poop happiness!

Its Potty time...gotta go with the flow

At least that is what Elmo told me.
For the last week, we have been in the midst of potty training. She is ready!
Very Ready!
The first day, I loaded her up on juice. Set the timer for every 10 minutes...and we were off! We watched Elmo Potty Time and she was lavished with MM's and coins for her dinosaur bank. A few accidents, but overall a success!
The next day, was food and drink as usual, and she was doing great. She had an accident every once in a awhile, but so far so good.

The 3rd day, we took a walk in the mall, and actually did great.
It is pooping on the potty when it is a little more firm than she likes, that is the hard part.
Now, 1 week into training, she has very little accidents, but still occasional problems with pooping. she says it hurts. But, I would say Potty training, although it has taken over most of our day to day has been a pretty good transition.
Yeah for big girl panties!