Week 2 Results......

I did good again... & yes I'm tooting my horn..... I lost 2.5 more lbs this week for a running total of 6.5..

I'm so excited!!! This will be a tough week. We have meetings all week in Seattle.. basically eat, drink & sit... but they do have a gym so I will just have to make sure I stay disciplined.

I found a tip on my favorite WW blog about portion sizes. I already had been doing something like it ... She said to save one of the containers that your Lean Cuisine comes in and that should be about the right serving size for your meal. I have been using a salad / dessert plate instead of the dinner plate. It's hard ... last night I did have 1 piece of fried chicken, a spoonful of mashed potatoes & salad and it was great but not a whole lot fits on the plate *lol*.. and I've made sure I don't have seconds unless it's the salad...

Well on to week 3 . . . . . . . . . .

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

Would love to see them win today!!!!

If they win today they head to the NFC Championship Playoffs!! Let's go HAWKS!!!

Come What May and Love It.......

Deb, Thank you!!!

I loved it !! I loved the passage & I loved the plaque..... And it is so true .....

"Come What May & Love It".....

Leo Heilman

Leo married my Aunt apx. 15 yrs ago. He was a good man. He loved to farm, loved Arizona, and loved his dog. In Elijah's words... "I loved Uncle Leo."...

Today was Uncle Leo's funeral. It was held at the Catholic Church in Ephrata. It was a great celebration of his life.

R.I.P. Leo ... You will be dearly missed.....

My Aunt wanted the memorial handouts to be more personal. She asked me to make them. They turned out nice & looked just like him... (Thanks Heather ... we make a great team!!)

Birthday Post

Yesterday was my birthday... Wow, I guess it's ok to talk about your age as long as you are the one bringing it up *lol*... I turned 45... OH MY!! I remember being my kids age & thinking that that was old *lol*.. .Well as we all know the closer you get to the old number it's not that old *lol*.. Back to yesterday....

It was a great day & I owe it all to my kids, my friends and my facebook friends... I can not believe all the wonderful birthday messages I recieved via Facebook. It was literally overwhelming...

I told Adrian first thing in the morning "It's my birthday today." Adrian - "Really... Runs over hugs me tells me Happy Birthday & then picks up one of his toys and says here mom.. This is for you". *lol*

I forgot to mention it to Elijah... He comes in afterschool & says "Happy Birthday Mom." I said thanks.. He said Mrs. McCoullough told him at school... He goes "Really, its her birthday hmm".. *lol* Then he says "Mom, we should celebrate - you should take us to Dairy Queen " *lol*

The girls made me birthday cards & Jenn put them in my car, so I got them first thing.. They are so cute!! They called me a little later and screamed " HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA DARLA"... that was an amazing feeling.. Then later that afternoon we met at gym & they ran in yelling "Happy Birthday Grandma Darla"... I just laughed.

Jenn & DeAndre bought Chicos Pizza... and we had pizza here at the house. The girls each got me a little vase with a glass rose to put on my desk at work... They were both so excited ...

I'm gonna post a few pics and they are less than flattering of me but they are what they are....

I had a great day!! Thanks everyone...

P.S. I also got a beautiful bouquet of flowers at work

I'm a Snacker...................

Last night after we finished working out, I came home & ate the rest of the salad and a roll I had had for lunch.. I decided I could make Tacos for the boys & survive... OH MY GOSH... Do you know how many times I caught myself putting stuff in my mouth.. and I wasn't even hungary it was by habit *lol*... No wander when I sat down at dinner I was never hungary *lol*

Well I'm definately not a slacker but last night proved me to be a snacker .... Guess, I better watch that or get a shock collar *lol*

Week 1 - Total Success

Well today was official weigh in & I was down 4 lbs. I was so excited!!! Things I've learned in the past week...

#1) I love to work out - It is such a stress reliever

#2) If you push yourself a little more each day, it's amazing how much farther you can go the next time

#3) Still not worth eating a candy bar to have to work that hard on the elyptical to get rid of it *lol*

#4) I tried a new WW Dessert - Strawberry Cheesecake - It was wonderful - My new favorite!!

#5) The only thing I'm craving is Diet Coke - I've limited myself to 3 a day - that may seem like alot but I tell you that is nothing compared to the amount I was drinking.

#6)I'm trying not to snack- would love to get down to 3 meals a day with no snacking but that may come in time

#7) It is much funnier to workout with Jenn than without

#8) My 30 mins to my self is over an hour now & I DON'T CARE!!!

#9) DeAndre pushed me tonight & it was worth it

#10) Who would have thought I could go 8 days with out missing a day.....



Until next week......

Saturday Happenings.....

Another big change in my life is I'm no longer in a relationship with Nick.. Now you all may be going.... AHHHHHH Is Darla Ok but yes, I'm more than ok..... Nick & I have been together for a bit of 9 yrs in a very different relationship that worked for us or I should say him. I've always wanted more but never pushed because deep down inside I knew the answer. Well, part of getting healthier is having a clear, healthy mind.. So we agreed after the holidays that we would be just friends..... It was a little different at first not getting that phone call every day, every night but it's all good ... We still talk, we still text, he's still there if I need to vent, & he's there for the boys!! He asked if he could have the boys on the weekend & I agreed on the weekends that would work & only if the boys wanted to go (meaning Adrian) than they could, but he was not going to be their best friend he was going to be their parent & he better follow the NO POP, NO CANDY, REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE or there would be NO visists... I was not going to

deal with the reprucussions when they got home.. He agreed..

Back to Saturday Happenings...................

1) Boys are bowling league again

2) Nick picked up boys for the night

3) Jenn & I went to gym - had a little extra time (no kids) so worked the ABs (OUCH)

4) Picked up a few Groceries

5) Watched the SEAHAWKS WIN !!!

6) Made a Chicken Salad for dinner

7) And reassured Jenn per phone call & Facebook.. I wasn't lonely & was OK !!! *lol*

8) Uncle Leo passed - they removed the late morning and by mid afternoon he had gone - I'm so sorry for his passing but am so grateful he is no longer suffering...(Thank you all for your prayers)

9) I made some thank you cards....

This is the first week of the New Year & the changes I have made have been great... I'm happier, I feel heatlhier, and thank goodness I'm alot less crankier *lol*

Enjoy your Sunday!!!

The Power of Prayer....................

How do we decide what to pray for..

My (step) Uncle Leo had a 5 bi-pass surgery back in the first part of December.. I had taken my mom up to be with her sister & the last time I spoke with him, they were taking wheeling him off & my aunt had them stop so I could tell him a story about Elijah. Leo & Elijah were buds... I got quite the chuckle out of him & he waved as they wheeled him off.. Well sadly to say he has never fully recovered. It's been apx. 5 weeks or so.. His heart his fine, working wonderfully. It's the rest of his body.. The day after Christmas he crashed. The family was brought together & had to make the decision what to do. The decision was made to take him off all machines & put him in the comfort zone till he passed. The next day he was a bit better.. Doctors said "If it was my dad I would wait". So they gave him goals. If he was to meet his daily goals then they would just let him keep progressing. Well he has.. day by day he has improved a tad but still improved until yesterday.. There are more things wrong, he's back on the critical list and are giving him a 48 hour window for change..

Last night I sat down to say my prayers, and I was asking God to make him better, than I thought am I being selfish.. it's been apx 5 weeks, my aunt is exhausted, she gets her hopes up and then they are dropped again.. so than I prayed for comfort for her & strength to get thru these next 48 hrs.. but then I asked God to please do what he thinks is right... If he feels Leo is needed with him to please just let him go to sleep and take him but if he feels that he is still needed on this earth than to please be with him, help his body heal, and give him the strength to get better...

The power of prayer..............................

Day 5....

Alot of the reason for the new work out regiman is because I need to and want to get healthier but along with that I want a life outside of work & the boys. I have been a mom for the past 25 years & wouldn't trade it for the world but will tell you that my parenting skills & my life is totally different with the boys than the other 3 kids due to the challenges of the ADHD. Last year between work being a little more stressfull & the challenges with the boys I have felt at times like a time bomb waiting to explode at any given minute... So alot of the reason for the new work out regiman is because I need to and want to get healthier but I'm also hoping at the same time it will give me 1 hr a day to myself. To clear my mind, to relieve the stress of the day, and to get some me time!!

Last nights work out report -

#1) I met a new friend - Heidi - We only talked about 10 mins but by the end of her workout had introduced our selves & tried to figure out workout times :) Thanks for being so nice Heidi ...

#2) I really started paying attention especially on the eliptical to the information it gives you.. It tells you, the speed you are going, your time, your heart rate and your calories. And the eliptical is by far the hardest machine I've done. So after I completed 20 mins on it (that's a first-yeah me) I looked at it.. I went 1.2 miles, in 20 mins., and burned 189 calories... Not bad and then it dawned on me 189 calories ... Oh my goodness!!! How many calories is is a candybar??? It is so not worth eating one and it taking me that long to only burn off part of it... I know I will think twice before not being able to leave with out one again *lol*...

STRETCH......................................

I hate to shop for clothes, absolutely hate it... So in December we have our annual Christmas Party . So I can usually throw an outfit together one way or another. Well this year we not only had our Christmas Party, we had 2 retirement parties to have attire for... Not gonna happen in my wardrobe. Well I love the Rider Jeans, they fit my short little waist & I can usually find them in black easily... So the parties are nearing & I'm procrastinating like usual, so the day before the first retirement party I run to Walmart & grab a pair of black Rider jeans. Now I know I've put on a lb or 2 so I go up a size & hey buy the stretch jeans.. They will be more comfortable & won't have to admit I really needed to go up 2 sizes... Well, the only problem was the only pair in my size was LONG.. What the heck, I'm gonna have heels on they will be fine..... So I run home that night, throw them in the washer & waalaa I'm gonna be ready for the next evening... Well, I get off work a tad late, get the kids situated with Jenn & put my clothes on. Well, if you could have only seen me...I thought LONG was in Length but in this case I think it was in waist length also... I could have pulled those jeans all the way up under my boobs (sorry about the profanity) and still have 6 inches dragging on the ground... What will I do... I need to think fast... So hey I remember back in high school, we used to tuck em under & tape em if we couldn't get them hemmed or better yet I knew people that stapled them.. After all it was in a darker room, there was gonna be almost 200 people no one would notice... I searched for tape, no such luck.. remember, I have Adrian (Mr. Mcgyver), so I have to find another option., a stapler... I staple the first leg and look down.. oh crap you can see the silver staple.. what to do..what to do... I know I run to the scrap room & I grab the jar of COLORED stapels & waalaa I have some black ones... (I thought the color coordinating would impress Annette - no such luck) So I swap them out & staple them up & I'm off.. I get to the party & after just sitting in the car I go to get out & guess what ... They STRETCHED..... around the waist.... Oh my heck.. could this get any better... I now have to keep pulling the waist up, keep looking down to make sure nothing has come unstapled.... I'm dying.. I have to go to this... I'm expected... As long as their isn't a lot of up and down I should be fine... Get to the party, sit down for a few & they start to slip down... now if I was 21 & a butt that wasn't the size of mine it might have been ok but NOT!! So here I go again trying to adjust these stupid pants... Oh great now it's time to eat...Up we go again... Pull em up, check the staples off we go... Sit back down, pull em' back up & try not to move to cause slippage... The party is finally over, I jump up adjust one more time & head for the door... OMGoodness!!! Those were the worst pants ever... Then I think crap, I need something for tomorrow's Christmas Party.. So the next day I toss those pants to the side, run to Walmart buy a smaller size - cuz I know they will stretch & they have my length ... Perfect fit... right!!! NO!!!! I tell you the length was great but with my short, little, fat waist these are the worse pants I've ever wore. I just had to be careful that when I sat, I didn't scoot around.. cuz of SLIPPAGE!!! Oh my... The pants had to be worn for one more unexpected event and that was today & I swear they are going to be discarded tonight... So the lesson I've learned is... buy the size you need, don't estimate & when it says STRETCH it means STRETCH!!! *lol*

I Have Only One Thing To Say...............

MY BUTT AND THIGHS ARE KILLING ME.....
UNTIL TOMORROW.....

Baby Updates....

I have kept pretty quiet about the baby updates , I'm not sure why but here goes :)

Jenn is due April 19th... She is having a girl & the name they have decided on is McKenzie Leigh Adams... She is doing great... and so cute.. Her doctor is a little concerned with her weight gain but she is my side kick at the gym so hopefully this month he will be happy ... Mckenzie loves to kick her at night and she loves it when Jenn puts her phone on her stomach & plays music to her. I've waited, and waited, and waited patiently to be able to feel her kick but she has been far but cooperative. Finally Christmas Eve night I got the best gift. Jenn was sitting on the couch resting, and Deandre called me over & I finally got to to feel her. OH WHAT A FEELING!!! Things have changed sooooo much from when I had kids.. I had one ultra sound out of the 3 pregnancies & that was with Kevin cuz they wanted to make sure there was only one of him. Jenn gets ultrasounds every time she goes in. I will say it is quite amazing to see how much she has grown. One of the ultra sounds I swear she looks like Maleigha.. Here is a picture of me & her. This was taken in Novemember. ( Not to flattering of me but I love it of her)

The next few months will be preparing for the birth of my 1st grandchild. I'm so excited & I can't wait to hold that precious baby in my arms...

Baby #2 update - Kevin & Amanda's baby is due May 19th. They are expecting a boy. Mr. Carson or Carsen James Whitaker. Amanda is doing very well & Carson seems to be right on track. Kevin & Amanda's relationship has been estranged but with in the last few months have really been working hard on it. I'm proud of them both. It's a little harder because at this moment she is living with her parents in Bremerton but he has been very good about being able to make it to her doctors appointments. Speaking of change in the times- She was able to record Carson's heartbeat with her phone & send it to me.. It was so amazing!!! I had my mom listen to it & she literally freaked out.. It was rather funny!!! I'm not sure what is in store for them but I know deep inside what ever is meant to be will be . Amanda is exactly 1 month behind Jenn. She is feeling Carson moving around quite regularly but Kevin has yet to feel him. Shortly after Amanda found out she was pregnant, they were all over for dinner & Amanda had pulled up on the computer a site that showed the different stages of the baby... Kevin was in shock & by the looks of the picture you can tell exactly what he's thinking... ( i will have to post picture later - I can't find it ) *lol*

So this year is going to be a busy one & I'm proud to say within a few months I will not only be a Grandma once I will be a Grandma twice and I'm so excited!!!

Day one..

It is actually January 3rd but officially my day one of the new year.. Not going to make any resolutions just have a list of things I want to tackle...

#1) Eat healthier
#2) Excercise
#3) Mentally Destress - Hoping #1 & #2 will help with that
#4) Budget
#5) Become a happier, healthier individual & live life to the fullest

Accountability Report - Day 1 - Ate much better, only had 3 diet cokes, 15 mins. on the bike & 10 mins on the eliptical (almost killed me - but remember I'm over 40 & Overweight...) So I would say Day 1 was a success & am excited to go back to Mr. Eliptical for Day 2 ...

Happy New Year!!!

New Years Eve was once again a very quiet one. Me and the boys went out and saw the movie

Yogi Bear in 3D ...

What a great movie. I literally laughed out loud... Then we came home & impatiently waited for the new year to ring in. I was amazed how well Dick Clark looked on New Years Rockin Eve ... and to know he still has the drive to be there is amazing to me. I also noticed that none of the New Years show's were on until late & they broke for the news and then came back on. I remember as a kid or at least I thought they came on about 8 and stayed on past midnight.

I bought New Years Hats, Poppers & Blowers.. For being just the 3 of us it was really fun...