More Fun Times

The past week has been a little crazy. We had the blue and gold banquet which is really big in our ward and I was helping with it. This week I have something every single day until Monday. It seems like we just keep running and running. My house took a back seat because the time I had at home was very limited. The blue and gold banquet was a big hit though. It took us 3 1/2 hours to decorate for it. We ended up buying two cakes while there. Needless to say, watching what I ate did not go very well. I stayed the same which works for me. I didn't do measurements because I decided to take the week off from that as well. I did eat some of the red velvet cake and chocolate Branden bought. I did learn something about myself this week. I started my new fertility pills and they make me nauseated. I learned that when I'm nauseous, I eat so I don't have that sick feeling. After I eat is the worst, but if I keep eating I don't feel sick. I have to be really careful. People have been asking what I eat so I decided to post pictures.

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Branden and Brax had Monday off for President's Day. We had a fun weekend hanging out together. On Monday, Brax and I headed to St. George to spend some time with my sister-in-law and niece (Kelly and E.). Kelly really wanted to take E. to Creative Minds but wanted someone to go with her. Brax had a great time and I got some really good pictures of both of them. They had a tot place that Brax played in with E. They also had a representation of a workshop, mechanic station, construction worker, Lin's supermarket, Tuacahn, pirate ship, Staheli Farm, and a castle. We spent about an hour and a half there. They had a lot of fun and I'm glad we went.

Valentine's Fun

The past week has been a whirlwind. I spoke too early about being sick. Low and behold, last Tuesday I woke up with a fever. I started coughing a couple days ago. I now lay in bed at night coughing and today my voice comes and goes. Oh well, onward and upward.

My sweetheart took care of my for Valentine's. We went to the temple on Friday and lunch in the cafeteria after. We then headed home and got Brax. We went to Chronicles of Narnia #3 at the $2 theater. It was a great movie. We then headed to The Sweet Tooth Fairy. If you have a sweet tooth, not a good place. We bought 4 cupcakes and came home and cut them in fourths. Brax loves cupcake wars so him and Branden judged each one. Two were great and two not so great. The funny thing is none of us liked the same two. That's okay, we're all different. Anyway, we also went to Subway on the way home for dinner. I didn't have to cook at all on Friday. It was great! I haven't cooked much this week either. It's been kind of nice.

Brax is finally getting rid of his Molluscum Contageousum. It has been nice not to have to hold him down and pop each little bubble. He just screams and neither of us like it at all.

I didn't do my official weigh in on Monday. I did weigh myself, but so far this week has been crazy. It's the blue and gold banquet tomorrow for Cubs and it's taking some time and energy along with car insurance renewal and many other things. Anyway, I did do my weigh in and measurements today. It was great news for me! I am down another 2.6 lbs, which makes the grand total in a month (4 weeks) 10.8 lbs. I am down another inch on my waist and hips. I lost an inch around each thigh as well and 1/2 inch off my arms. I am still feeling great and starting to look better. My clothes are getting a little baggier and that makes me feel wonderful. I have started a new workout program this week. I do two workouts a day and have included a workout with hand weights. I'm feeling it today, but that is a good thing. More to come next week. Maybe one of these days I'll remember the camera.

Week 3 in Review

A lot has been going on at our house lately. Well, at least a lot more than normal. Braxten has had some spots on his chest and stomach that look like chicken pocks. He'd had them for 2 months and no progress so I took him in to the doctor. We found out he has Molluscum Contagiosum (if that's how you spell it). It is spread simply by someone touching the infected area and touching themselves somewhere, so it's highly contagious. We found out it is from the same family as small pox. We had 3 options. Option #1-put cream on it so they blister and the heads pop out. Option #2- pop them and scrape the heads out. Option #3-leave them alone and they should go away in 6 months to 2 years. We decided on option#2. He screamed and squealed but we got all the ones we could popped. He has a few more now that we need to take care of. He hasn't been getting a lot more which is a good sign. I hope we can totally be rid of them soon. He was also sick over the weekend. He had a fever Friday and Saturday with a cough and chest congestion. He sounded and looked a lot better today and headed off to school.

The weekend of January 28th and 29th we had company! My mom came down for a funeral and brought my sister, Cara, my sister-in-law, Katie, and Katie's 3 kids (Kennedy, Jacey, and Luke). We had a lot of fun. We did some shopping, relaxing, and playing. We met the family that adopted Cara's baby at a park in St. George and played for a couple hours. We had so much fun and it was nice to soak up the sun. I hope my family had a great time while they were here. It was nice to see them again.







This past week we got a letter home from Braxten's principal. It was to inform us he was below 1st grade level on reading, which we knew he was because he had been in reading recovery. It went on to say due to a House Bill passed last year they can't advance until they are up to grade level. I felt like a horrible mom and cried when I read it. Brax and I both cried when we discussed it. I just felt like I was failing my son. We made a plan and put sticky notes on things around the house so Brax can look at them and associate their words with the objects. We also helped him read words on the groceries before we put them away. He has also helped me cook and had to read the recipe. We've put more of an effort into reading with him. We felt like we'd done a lot before, but even more so now. He is a smart kid who simply needs a little help. He did get to join an advanced math camp that he is super excited about.

Last night we had a Super Bowl Party with Branden's brother Bryant and his little family. We had alfredo, shrimp, hot wings, fruit and veggie trays, chips and dip, cinnamon rolls, and peanut M&Ms. Yes, I cheated and had a cinnamon roll and M&Ms. I didn't go overboard though so I'm glad I had the chance to have fun and relax.

I better do my weight loss update. First of all, I'd like to say I've never felt better. I have tons more energy and feel like going all the time. I also sleep a lot better at night. I have lost another 1.8 lbs., which makes the grand total 8.2 lbs. I lost another inch around my waist and thighs. I have lost half an inch on my hips as well. My close are getting looser and I wore a skirt to church yesterday that I haven't been able to fit into for about a year. I'm feeling a whole lot better about myself and I can tell a difference. I've never had loose bras before. I'm grateful for that problem. I'm going to continue on and update my blog because this way I feel like I am accountable to someone.

Week 2 Update

I have had some good success with weight loss this week and not so good with the stopping bleeding part. I'm sure hoping it ends soon because this is getting old. Out of the past 36 days I have bled 32 of them. Anyway, that's not important.

The weight loss over the past week has been great. I am down 3.9 lbs. for a grand total of 6.4 lbs in 2 weeks. I lost 2 inches on my chest and waist. I lost 1/2 inch on my calves and arms. My hips are 1 inch smaller. I am so proud of how I'm doing. If I keep this up I'll be able to reach my first goal by the first of June which is what I'm hoping for. If I have to buy a new swim suit for the summer that would be great. I am excited and can't wait until next week.

Weight Loss/Exercise Challenge Week 1

I have been inspired to get my body looking and feeling better. After my webinar the other day, it helped motivate me even more. For eating, I started focusing on what I put on my plate. Meat is no longer the main course, but a side dish. We loaded up with fruits and veggies on our last shopping trip. It has been a great experience and I have more energy than I've had in a while. For exercise, I've been doing workouts that are on TV. They are called Classical Stretch. I thought they'd be easy, but I feel it every day I do them. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday two come on while Tuesday and Thursday only one comes on. I do all the workouts that come on those days. On Friday I also walked 4.8 miles. Saturday I walked 2. Today was weigh in and this may be mostly what you hear about.

In the past week I lost 2.4 lbs and am down 6% body fat according to my scale. I lost an inch around my waist, chest and thighs. I lost 3/4 of an inch around my upper arms. I'm down 1/2 inch around my hips and calves. Week 1 was a success and I hope that it continues.

Scout Camp in the Back Yard

The weekend of the 14th and 15th the scouts had planned a camp out. They met at the church at 4 and headed on the mountain with our silver car and another leader's truck. Both were 2 wheel drive. My sister-in-law Kelly came over about 5:30 pm because we were having a girl's night. Her husband was gone and so was mine. We got my Dixie Direct card and headed to Dairy Queen in Hurricane for dinner. We decided to get it and take it back home with us. When we arrived back at the house, the silver car and other leader's truck were in the driveway and on the rocks. Both were covered in mud. Branden came around the house and told me they'd gotten the car stuck in the mud almost all the way to the base. The boys had to push him out. After getting stuck a few times, they decided to head back here. The boys set up their tent in the back yard. They built a fire in the corner that is still dirt. They still cooked their dinner outside. Brax loved it. When he could be outside with the scouts he was out there. Branden came in for the night and the other leader headed home about 1o pm and they were all back up and going about 5:30 the next morning. The boys had fun. They played frisbee and football the following morning. They came in to use the restroom, but that was it. It was entertaining!

Just an Update

Life is mostly normal at the Anderson household. I did go to the doctor and found out that I was bleeding like crazy for some reason. I bled for 15 days heavily and had a 3 day break then started again. I'm on day 7 of cycle #2 in the last 3 weeks. The doctor just says it's because my hormones are out of whack. I'm going to try a new fertility drug. I keep changing my mind on trying more or not. For now, I'm going to continue to try. We'll have to see how these new pills react with my body. With the last ones, I felt normal.

I got the chance to listen to a Webinar the other day. It was the 5 principles to use in weight loss. It helped explain how you could lose the weight and keep it off. It was very informative to me. One thing I'd never thought of before was how to arrange your plate. It said 1/2 your plate should be fruits and veggies while 1/4 should be protein and 1/4 carbs. I also learned that 90% of the people that lose weight quickly put it back on. I am definitely an example of that. It said what percentages of different things you should have in your diet and how many of the different food groups to eat during your day. I learned that your muscles learn the workout routines you do and to help with weight loss you should change your routine every 6-8 weeks. It also gave some more tips. I have struggled with my weight for a long time and am hoping to conquer that soon. I started working out last week and started my daily routines this week. I have also started to really watch what I eat. So far I haven't given into temptation and I hope that this will continue. I'd like to lose 40 lbs. by the first of June. I know that's a tall order, but I can do it.

Other than that, we are just doing the regular things. Brax has school, reading, and piano. We bought him two pairs of shoes for school this year and has already trashed both pair. We are going to try to get him some new ones this weekend. Branden has work and Scouts. I am going to meetings for Cubs and Primary. Brax and I went to the park with our neighbors on Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) since he didn't have school. It was great to get out in the sun and hang out outside. We had a windy day, but the weather has been super nice and am looking forward to the heat staying, I'm crossing my fingers.