Out Smarted!

I have to laugh when my kids think they can out smart me! Do I really look that dumb? ( don't answer that).

Last night's Bath routine was pretty normal until it was time to let the water out of the tub. Tui is in the habit of waving bye-bye to the water as it goes down the drain. Then when it is all gone, he lets me take him out of the tub....but not till all the water is gone.

So last night as the water was going down the drain, Tui was piling his bath toys on top the drain. I didn't think too much of it until he looked up at me with sad eyes and said...no bye-bye. I told him it was time to come out. So what does he do. He moves all his toys and then places his bare little hiney right on the drain. The water stopped draining and he looked up at me and smiled....put his hands on his hips and said again....no bye-bye. I couldn't help myself. I let out a giggle, which put the biggest smile on his face. He was so proud of himself for outsmarting mommy!

I've Got Chocolate On The Brain!
I have come to a conclusion. A most definite conclusion! I am fully capable of changing my exercise habits and eating habits to include more of the first and less of the other. I think I am an over eater and I hate the gym! I would much rather go hiking or play a sport to exercise than walking on a treadmill! But like I said before....I can adjust! I can walk on a treadmill....I don't like to, but I can. I love food! No I am not constantly eating, but when I find something I like ( steak...mashed potatoes...cookies), I have a hard time eating a child's size portion. I can eat less, I just like to eat more.....but I will adjust.
However, there is one thing....and only one thing I have found that is impossible to change. My love of chocolate! At first I started telling myself that I could eat chocolate once a week. Kind of a cheat day. Who was I kidding. Once a week! I can barely make it through the day without chocolate of some sort. I have actually done the science on this one.
There are receptors in your brain, or rather on things in your brain, called Peptides. These receptors act as magnets...sort of....to attract certain substances. The more of something you eat, whether it is chips, chocolate, or a coke, the more of those receptors pop up on those peptides, causing you to " CRAVE" more of that thing.
So I have a billion receptors on all these peptides and all of them are attracting chocolate. I can change that. I can train my body to slowly cutback on the amount of chocolate I eat and gradually those receptors will decrease as well. BUT....this is what I have concluded. I don't want to!!!!! I love chocolate! And if I have to go to the gym everyday and eat like a child with no appetite, then I deserve chocolate. I will not give it up!
So if anyone has any particularly delicious chocolate recipes....I am all ears ( and hips! :)

This is for Anthony!

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

Fun Tests.

You Are a Blue Crayon

Your world is colored in calm, understated, deep colors. You are a loyal person, and the truest friend anyone could hope to find. On the inside, you tend to be emotional and even a bit moody. However, you know that people depend on you. So you put on a strong front. Your color wheel opposite is orange. Orange people may be opinionated, but you feel they lack the depth to truly understand what they're saying.

href=">http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorcrayonareyouquiz/">What Color Crayon Are You?

I found this site through another frien's blog. It has all kinds of fun little tests you can take. Try it out. It was spot on about what color crayon I am!!

Tid Bits I've learned.

Many of you may know that 2 and a half years ago I almost died of a pulmonary embolism. I had 3 large blood clots that got stuck in my right lung and caused my lung vessels to burst and my lung to fill with blood. For a 29 year it is a rare thing to happen. I have a greater chance of forming blood clots due to a genetic disorder called " Factor V Leiden" .As a result of that situation, I was put on blood thinners. I was also pregnant at the time and therefore needed a special blood thinner that does not harm the baby. I was lucky.....blessed.....incredibly blessed. First of all because I did not die in my sleep ( this is usually what happens with PE's), secondly, because I did not have a miscarriage( which also usually happens with blood clots).

Well 2 and a half years have passed. I have been off blood thinners for almost 2 years. Now I find myself wondering if that is a good thing. I was given the choice of staying on the blood thinner for the rest of my life or waiting for the next blood clot to hit, at which point I would not have an option. I was in bed Sunday night when all of a sudden I took a deep breath and POW! I had a sharp pain in my right lung and I could feel my lung tightening up. I decided to play it safe and go to the E.R. For those of you who think I am a calm and collected person, you should have seen me that night.

After taking some blood tests and monitoring my oxygen levels, the very patient doctor sent me home. We had ruled out a blood clot. Thank goodness! What we did find out is that my right lung has a diminished capacity as a result from the PE. The bottom of my lung won't inflate. So when I am stressed of breathing hard or have pulled a muscle, that lung will feel the hurt more than the left.

I am not meaning to write all this to show you what a freak of nature I am, but rather to let everyone know that this disorder is a lot more common that you think. There are simple blood tests you can take to determine if you have this disorder. Even if you don't have Factor V Leiden, you ( especially women who are pregnant or over 50) can get a blood clot that can move to your heart, lungs, or brain. Sitting too long ( ie; traveling), being over weight, injuries, and even child birth or surgery can all increase your chances of getting a blood clot. I found a web site that gives you more information and support if anyone has questions. www.fvleiden.org

I have seen the effects of blood clots first hand. I hope that no one else will have to go through what I did. The more you know......

Sweet Memories!
I am really bad at responding to tags, but this little game is really neat to do. I have seen many friends blogs with this on it and thought it would be fun. Here it goes.

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I have had together. ( At the bottom of this message click on comments, or remarks). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember will do.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see these responses. If you leave a memory about me, I will assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of yo in my comments ( or send you an email). Just let me know what you prefer.

Curious!

Oh how I love the curious stage of toddlerhood. The stage where they have figured out they can do things on their own without mommy's help. This can also lead them to do things that get them in trouble. Like climbing. We have a deck in our back yard that sits on a hill. So if one were to fall, it would be quite a drop. Does this frighten my son? Not a bit....which frightens me a whole bunch!!!

Pennsylvania Trip

Lake Erie.

Ahhhh.....there is nothing like Erie water. ( for anyone who lives near the great lakes, you know that I am being sarcastic). It's not that bad...it just is not like the ocean!

We had gone out to Pennsylvania to visit family and attend Anthony's high school reunion. While we were there we decided to take a little dip in the lake. It was a bright, clear, HOT day. Maybe that is why the water did not seem so repulsive to me. It was my kids first time in " moving water". Sydney was in the water before I could even get my camera out. She is not afraid of anything! Haylie was at least willing to put her feet in the water. Tui.....well, Tui took one step in the water and a wave came rushing up. He grabbed Anthony's short and was begging to be lifted up. Once he was up in Anthony's arms, that is where he stayed. I finally convinced him to sit in my lap. I sat close enough to the water that the waves would touch our toes. My poor little boy. He had better get used to it before we go on our trip to the ocean next month.

Not Gonna Say Bye-Bye!

I know that some of you have been better at posting your pics than I have been. I finally have a moment to sit down and blog. So I have a bunch of pics from the Farewell we had for the Williams Family. I had a hard time even wanting to go to the open house for them. I think I was actually in denial about them leaving. The moment we moved here to " W'loo", we had instant friends in the William's family! More importantly, they became family....family where I had no real family. Through all the good times and the bad ( near death experiences), they were there for me to do what family does. I couldn't have asked for a better place to be. I am so thankful to them and love them so much! And I am not gonna say bye-bye! We are not that far away after all.

Bling!!

I am loving making jewelry! Here is an example of a bracelet I made for a friend. I like making jewelry so much, I am thinking of taking orders and making my own web site. It may take a while to get it going, but I would love to do it! I can custome make just about anything ( colors, style, etc). The only thing I can not do yet is weld my own jewelry, so I am limited to what I can purchase pre welded.

Anyone for some bling?

Playing

This was a fun day for the kids to play in the pool and a fun day for me to play with my camera. I am still trying to figure out all the cool little dohickies and knobs. I love the setting where you can pick what color you want to show up and the rest of the picture is black and white.