My latest before & after picture

Just a few pictures...

I know I have been slacking on keeping my blog updated lately. Life has been busy hectic here. I finally downloaded the Easter pictures from my camera today and thought I would post a few. The dude in the bunny ears and glasses is my younger brother. I hope he doesn't read my blog he will probably kill me for posting that one! haha The two in the blue are my older brother and his son, a pic of Emily in her bunny ears and my hubby and Lily.

Getting Settled In.....

Emily has arrived and joined our family. Our week has been busy getting her enrolled in school and all of the paperwork and appointments that are required completed. She starts school tomorrow and is very excited. My heart is full and happy. We are crowded in our home, but, none of that matters...it is filled with laughter, joy and love. The important things that money cannot buy.

Late Night Ramblings....

Since I am up late and the house is quiet I figured what better time to catch up on my blogging. Lily had the tubes put in her ears on Monday and did great! She didn't even cry which the nurses say is rare. I can tell she is hearing better already, she is talking so much more which really makes my heart happy.

Onto other news......in two more days a beautiful 9 year old girl named Emily is coming to join our family. I am so excited! It is a long and complicated story, I promise not to ramble on too much and give you the short version. Emily is my exhusband's daughter. She lived with him until she was 5 and then her mom and my exhusband broke up and she moved back to the reservation in Canada. Emily is half Ojibwe Native American Indian.

During the first five years of her life, Carl and I took care of Emily while her parents worked and we both developed a very strong bond with her. My heart broke when she moved away. Emily is now coming to live with us because her mother's job takes her out of town quite a bit and the reservation is no where to leave a 9 year old girl. Because of circumstances she cannot live with her dad (my ex), so she is coming to live with us. Getting her settled in, enrolled in school and activities and making sure the transition is smooth and easy for her will keep me busy. We are all looking forward to having Emily join our family and giving her the stability that she needs and deserves.

"One hundred years from now,
It won't matter what car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like,
But, the world may be a little better
Because I was important in the life of a child."

- Unknown

She called me SKINNY!

I saw my niece for the first time in many months and when she saw me she called me skinny! While I will never be skinny, it was a great feeling to be called that......something no one has ever said to me before.

I have lost 162 pounds now and have gone from wearing a size 4X - 5X to a size 18/20 and an XL top. I have gone from a size 11 shoe to a 9.5 shoe. I have lost inches in my height too which I find odd! I used to be 5'6" and now am 5'4.5" tall. I am actually able to shop for some of my clothing on the regular racks instead of the "plus size" section. I have been getting most of my clothing at thrift stores and Goodwill because my body is changing every month and I can't afford to keep replacing my wardrobe. I love thrift stores, I am able to get some incredible deals and some cute clothing.

I am still struggling with my health problems. My sinus surgery is scheduled for May 15th, and while I am scared, I know that I will feel so much better once I get this taken care of. I am longing to feel better. I have been fighting illness for 3 months and it is wearing on me. I am doing my best to remain positive, but, have to admit I am a bit depressed. I have so much more energy and want to feel well enough to do things. I know it is just a matter of time and that I am going to have the best summer ever with my kids, yippee!! Sunshine & Peace, Jen