Weight Loss

The past few months I have really been focusing on my weight loss. Why? I just woke up one day and decided that I needed to do this for my long term health. I have always battled weight issues. I have never been a small girl but I used to be in shape. When I was younger, I could run the mile in 8 minutes without getting overly winded. But, playing basketball year-round will do that! 

Emily took a picture of me in February and I couldn't even stand to look at it. When did I pack on this much weight? What the hell is wrong with me? As I watched my mom lose weight just by changing her eating habits, I thought, I could do that too! I want to stick around forever to torture my children as much as possible! 

In May I began this "diet." I use that word with caution. I have tried many diets and can stick to them for a few weeks, and then I get bored with it. Eating or drinking the same thing every day is so obnoxious. I decided to cut out all soda (including diet soda) and just count my calories. I try to stick to 1200 calories a day. I use an app called, "My Fitness Pal" which counts calories for you. It holds me responsible. Who knew a little app would do that?! The top pictures are from June...about a month into the "diet." The bottom pictures are from last week, As the picture stats, it's a little change, but making progress. I figured it is best to have the weight come off slowly and stay off, rather than dropping it quickly and gaining it right back. To date, I am down 70 pounds. I have a lot more to go, but I am feeling so much better! My energy is even up. 

Here's to hoping I continue this weight loss!

All Work, No Play

What a summer!! I knew it would be busy with just having family running the deli, but the amounts of madness and the massive amounts of business, no one was prepared for what hit us!
It was the best summer we have ever had, and boy did we feel it! Although, I must admit, we were much more rested and mentally prepared for it this summer. (Having the winter off did us a world of good!) The last few weeks of summer, Greg and I just worked straight threw with no days off, and that about killed us! We had decided that we needed to stay open 7 days a week during summer to add that money into the bank account to see if it would help. We decided that history showed Sunday's to be slower, so Greg would take Sunday's off and I would take Thursday's off. Also, it gave a day for Emily and I to have a mommy-daughter day every week. Well, Sunday's turned into CRAZY busy days and I would come home dragging my feet! So, by the end of summer, Greg and I decided that it was just going to be even more insane, and we would just suck it up and work straight through. We crashed out the day after Labor day. We got the kids on the bus to school and went back to sleep!!
We have one month left of work and as of November 1st, we will be closed for 4 months again! I am counting down the days. My house is showing my lack of being home...I can't remember the last time this house had a deep cleaning! But, my time off is coming and I can focus on the house and the kids again.
Speaking of kids, they are keeping me running!!! Liam is in debate again this year. He has practicing 5 days a week for right now and has his first tournament this upcoming weekend. His first debate is on police brutality. I am actually impressed with all of the info he has gathered. I told him to research both sides, as I know A LOT of really nice police officers, which you never hear about on the news.
Fiona is doing volleyball this year! She is only in 6th grade and playing on the 7th grade team. She, too, has practice every night. I told my mom that I was on the verge of a mental breakdown because I feel like I am never home and always on the go. I have so much to do, and no time to do it. She told me to track my mileage and it would help me realize why I am never home. 105 miles one day on top of working a 10 hour day! Amazing I haven't lost my mind yet!
Emily...oh my sweet little Emily. She is 4'8 now and still growing! (Only a foot shorter than me!) Wearing size 6 shoes now! She says she hates school, but I think it is because learning doesn't come easy to her like it does Quinn. He flies through his work, where Emily has to really work hard at it. Greg and I keep telling her that she gets to take great pride in her work because of all of the time she works on it. We've also learned that I have to be the one to help her with her homework and not her dad! She listens to me and shuts down for him! (More of an emotional meltdown!)
This winter, Greg and I are going to start the adoption process for Greg adopting Emily!! We have changed her name at school already, but legally it is still listed as her birth name. She puts Emily Hill on everything and tells everyone she is a Hill!
I'm trying to think of anything else that has been going on, but heck if I know! It is all a blur this summer! Greg and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary! Of course we had to celebrate it a few days early because of kid activities but it was still nice! He took me to the place he proposed to me at.
In August, my grandpa passed away. It was expected. He was 91 and wasn't in the best of health. He developed memory issues and was so thin. My mom spent almost every weekend in Corvallis helping my grandmother take care of him (yes, he died at home...the home he built back in 1952!) All of his kids, grandkids and great grandkids (except for my sister) were all able to attend the memorial service. My grandmother turned 92 the week after. She is still in amazing health (Emily is officially taller than her!) She is such a strong woman and took care of my grandpa 90% by herself. If I could be half of the woman she is, I would be amazing!

Disneyland Bound!

Every year Greg's parents send us on a trip. Last year just Greg and I went to San Diego for a belated honeymoon. This year we decided on a family trip! Greg's parents make it a point to take every grandchild to Disneyland. Greg's two oldest have been, but Quinn and Emily have not yet (sadly, either have I). So, for our trip this year, we are taking all of the kids to Disneyland for his parents! Oh darn, I have to go too!!!
I found a steal of a deal for a room while browsing the internet for two days! Greg and I are in charge of paying for the room and food. Family suite with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, full kitchen, two meals provided, pool, hot tub, wireless, etc. When traveling with 4 kids, it get's expensive! But, this deal I couldn't pass on. Now the total price about gave me a heart attack, but I had to remember what all we were getting.
I am so excited to go! The kids will miss a few days of school, which is alright because they are all doing amazing! So, mid November, we will be Disneyland bound!

Spring Break

Spring Break is officially OVER!!! Greg's kids went to Spokane with their mom for the week to visit their grandma, which left us with only Emily for a whole week! I missed the other kids very much, but it was so nice to have some one-on-one time with Emily. I feel like there is so much going on all of the time and Emily being so quiet and reserved, she gets left out of the mix a lot. 6 out of the 8 days of Spring Break, Emily came to the deli with Greg and I. I was worried she would get super bored knowing that we would be super busy. She did so well. Every morning she would help me brew the coffee, then she would make her breakfast (always eggs and bacon) and then proceed to go downstairs and watch cartoons in the area that Greg's mom set up for the grandkids. She would even help me sweep and mop in the mornings! She was such a great kid while at the deli (it would sometimes carry over to home!) I felt bad because we have to be at work at 7:00am, which meant no sleeping in for her or staying up late, but she handled it like a trooper.
Today marks two weeks until my procedure. I have had a lump on my breast for almost a year now. And instead of getting smaller, which the doctor last year told me it would, it has gotten larger and rather painful. So, April 14th it is officially being removed. I was hoping it would be an office procedure...not so much. I get to check into the outpatient area at the hospital for a day surgery. I am rather annoyed with this, but what can you do?! My mom took the day off of work to be there, which I told her I would probably be out of surgery by the time she gets kids in class, but she still wants to be there. Can't argue with a mother, right?! So my mom and Greg get to sit in the waiting room and plot against me!
Everything else is good. Kids are still keeping me super busy and the deli is back open after we got to take 4 wonderful much needed months off. I won't lie, I could totally be a stay at home mom and love every minute of it! But, I kind of need to work, so back at it I am. Also planning on going back to college in the fall to study medical billing and coding. Filled out my FASFA already and applied at a local community college. I am oddly excited about going back. Something I've always wanted to do, but never had the time nor the money. One of those things that gets pushed aside when you are a single mother. Having a wonderful husband by my side to support me and my decisions is a true blessings.

Cheerleading!

Fiona and Emily got to go to cheer camp for a week. Every day after school they would go to the high school and practice the cheers with the high school cheerleaders. Then that Friday night, the girls got to perform at the high school basketball games! Of course, the games were on Valentine's Day, so Greg and I got to spend our night at the high school watching our girls perform! They were so adorable!

Babies

I have to admit, when I pictured my life, I always imagined having 3-4 kids, enjoying my pregnancies and cuddling with my babies. When I was pregnant with Emily, I was miserable! I had morning sickness 4-6 times a day for 8 months, wasn't very uncomfortable but oh so very tired. I was HUGE with her even though she was only 7lbs 3/4oz. With Kara, I had no morning sickness, but had crazy heartburn the whole time (she did have a beautiful head of hair!) I was very uncomfortable during the last few months of pregnancy, but I hardly showed until the last month. I even wore my regular jeans into the hospital! Still, the dream of getting married one day and having 1 or 2 more babies was always my dream. Then I met Greg who had 3 amazing kids. My love for them grows and grows every day still. I feel like they are my own. 4 kids running around and all of their activities, I am exhausted! Still, the talk of having just one more baby comes and goes. Pros: We would have a baby together and have a product of our love for each other. Cons: Our youngest is 8 and all of the little birdies will be out of the nest in 10 years! That will give us time to travel and do whatever while we are still really young. Greg and I are never on the same page about having a baby. When I feel like I would like one more, he doesn't. When he is wanting another baby, I don't! Our friends are all for us having a baby! For the most part, I think that I have made up my mind about NOT having another baby, but there are those moments and sometimes days, that I would love to have just one more. Even have it planned out on where the nursery would be, work schedules, etc. And then a Monday rolls around where 3 out of 4 kids have activities going on after school and I think to myself, "and I am thinking about having a baby to throw into this craziness?!" We are still officially undecided. Greg is set on having one at the moment, he just wants to get through the summer madness of running a business in a small coastal tourist attraction, and then the subject will be seriously approached. I love my kids and I love my life, but to add another one to the mix or not...this is where we stand! But, in all fairness...I do make beautiful babies!

Christmas

Christmas this year was so laid back and relaxing. Normally, we would have Christmas morning at our house with my mom and then head up to Vancouver to spend the rest of Christmas with Greg's family at his parents condo in Vancouver before heading to his aunts house that evening in Lake Oswego for family dinner. But, this year his parents decided to have Christmas at the beach and came down to their beach house...which is 5 houses down from our house! The kids got to run back and forth and the girls spent a lot of time with Greg's mom baking and crafting. My mom was going to come over, but she hurt her knee really bad right before her kidney surgery and can hardly walk. Greg and I took her food everyday and brought the kids over to her. (More about my mom's health in another blog!) We were able to get the girls both bikes this year and Liam was in the transition year of not wanting presents and only gift cards so he could buy what he wanted. It was odd for him to not be unwrapping hardly anything and mainly just opening envelopes, but he really enjoyed purchasing his own stuff a few days later! The weather has been super nice here and the girls have been able to go out every day and ride them with the other two neighbor girls! It was an odd December where weather is concerned, but oh so nice!