Rising Above It All: Updates and new pics

So, I've slacked a little. I've been totally lazy this summer, with the exception of keeping up with this nonstop house work that seems never-ending (was that a little redundant? :-) ). I decided to not take any classes or teach summer school this year and just enjoy my time off and spend some overdue quality time with Makenna.

I haven't done anything too terribly exciting at all really. Makenna and I have gone to the zoo a couple of times, Incredible Daves, shopping, the Founder's Day Balloon Glow, to various parks to play, and hang out at the house and in the back yard. I'm trying to reread Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince before we go to the movie when it comes out on July 15th (we are going on the 18th)...I already have the tickets bought and printed downstairs. :-)

Mom's last chemo treatment is coming up on the 13th of this month. Her first treatment made her terribly sick and gave her these awful blisters in her mouth on top of the normal tiredness. Supposedly she was told to come the next day and get some sort of shot but neither she nor my aunt that took her heard them tell her that. But for her 2nd and 3rd treatments she did and she was only tired with those treatments. So, whatever that shot is it does wonders I guess. I just hope that follow up check ups is all she will have to deal with from now on.

Makenna's potty training has made some progress but not what I was hoping for. We will be starting our 5th week of potty training on Tuesday. She has peed in the potty several times but only when I tell her to sit on it, never on her own recognizing she needs to pee and she has never pooed in it yet. I think over the next couple of days I am going to give in and go buy a book on this subject. I've been doing some research and have a few in mind.

I had my annual gyno appointment right after school was out and Dr. Reily has been trying to get me to have blood work done for the last 2 years just to check on few things like thyroid, blood sugar, anemia, and cholesterol. So, I gave in and went back the next week to have my blood drawn. When the results came back I wasn't anemic and my blood sugar was fine, but my good cholesterol was low and my thyroid was a little high. So I made an appointment with my family doctor to see if I needed any meds or not. He doesn't want me on anything right now for my cholesterol, just told me to eat a little healthier and exercise more...yeah, who doesn't need to do that. He did suggest to eat more baked fish and that can help raise it too. But he did give me a pill for my thyroid. Once we find the right dosage (if this first try doesn't work) and we get my thyroid regulated I'm hoping it will help me lose weight a little and also help with my energy level. He told me not to expect big changes but it might help with both of those things a slight bit.

Speaking of losing weight, in the 3 weeks between going to my gyno and then to my family doctor I had lost 4 lbs. Of course, that was on 2 different scales, but it's a good sign. I'm trying to cut back on the amount of food that I eat and I'm also working in slimfast shakes. I don't mind them and many years ago when I was in high school my mom and I did the slimfast shakes and we both lost a lot of weight. I'm also trying to walk at least 4 times a week about 1 1/2 - 2 miles each time which is about 45 - 60 min. By the time school starts back up, which is another month-and-a-half since we start later this year, I'd like to lose another 10lbs at least. It doesn't sound like a lot but it would be a big step for me. And if I can lose more than 1olbs between now and then, then GREAT! I could kick myself in the butt everyday when I think about how good of shape I was in when I was in high school and played a sport every season...I'd give anything to have that body and energy right now!!! I'm hoping that I can lose as much weight as possible before school starts and that will be enough motivation for me to keep it up because when school starts and classes start it's hard to keep up with life!!!

Makenna is just a growing and learning more every day. She's at least 1 inch taller than she was this time last year (according to my wall measurements). I think this growth is only in her torso though because she's still only wearing 2T in capris, and some 3T in shorts, but she's wearing 4T and 5T in shirts. That or she's just going to have short, stocky legs like her momma. She says things sometimes and I have no idea where she comes up with them. For instance, she told me to fix her some chocolate milk. I asked her what do you say, expecting a please or actually ask me instead of telling me and she said, "NOW." haha She is having a rough time with behavior right now and throwing little tantrums. I don't think they should call it the terrible two's as much as the terrible toddler years. !@#$%! This fall she will start preschool. I had to find one that took kids that weren't all the way potty trained. She'll be going 2 days a week for 2 hours each day. I could have signed her up to stay all day on those days or all 4 days but that was just too expensive and since mom is around to watch her I didn't see a point. She's in what's called the beginnings class...it's really the 2 year class but she had to be 3 before August 1st to be in the 3 and 4 year old class (her bday is August 24). They told me that if she seems like she should be moved up during the year they can but I'm fine with her being one of the oldest in the class...afterall she will be in when she starts kindergarten.

Well, I think that's about all of the updates for now. I put a few pics below. I hope everyone is having a fun and safe summer!