Easter 2008

Easter is a time of Resurrection and new life. It happens in the spring time when trees are budding, dogwoods are blooming and daffodils are sprouting their yellow sunshine across the landscape. It's also a time when we celebrate the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ. When He rose from the grave, He gave us new life within ourselves.

Well, this Easter was special in terms of new life. If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know that 3 of my family members have had some type of Bariatric surgery in the last year. At Christmas time, I suggested that we take a group photo and chronicle our journey.

New life was abounding and presenting itself all over the place! Between my wife, my sister and myself, we have lost 400 pounds in one year! Isn't that AMAZING!!!!!!! I am so proud of all that we have accomplished.

My wife made this comment to her OBGYN yesterday, "If I had not had surgery, I was wheelchair bound". "I could not walk and I know I would have been in a wheelchair before my life is over".

Can we say proud! New Life is all around us. Take a moment today and give it a ponder!

Love you guys!

Caught in the act!

Well, I set up a security camera on Easter Eve. Not knowing what I would find. Guess what?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Easter Bunny is real!!!! Real I tell ya!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I actually caught the sly devil delivering eggs. Now I will tell you this, it's not what I thought! Click on the video to watch the glorious hopster delivering the goods!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Old habits die hard....

…and some refuse to die altogether!

Beth and I have been married for 12 years. During that time, we get to house sit for my in-laws when they travel. You see they have 3 dogs, a bird and a partridge in a pear tree. And we all know how hard it is to pack a partridge in a pear tree in a car! Anyway, when RJ was a baby it was a really cool thing. We pretended we were on vacation in Gatlinburg. As the years progressed, it got to be impossible having to carry all his “STUFF” with us. So, we decided on those house sitting days, only one of us would go and the other would stay home.

Now to the old habits refusing to die! This past weekend, right after the Lunch Bunch, Beth headed off for her parents house. We view this now as a mini business trip instead of a vacation! RJ stayed with me for a guy’s night out. Not long after dinner, these habits I speak of decided to rear their ugly head. In the past when Beth was away house sitting, it was a chance for RJ and I to “pig out” so to speak. It was nothing for us to grab a gallon of Blue Bell ice cream, hot fudge sauce and all the other necessities that Satan has surrounded us with, and finish the half gallon in one setting. So what did I do? As soon as dinner was completed, I headed to the “aisle of shame” as RJ calls it. That’s right; I went to that “den of sin” known as the candy and ice cream aisle at K. Rogers

I decided to stay away from ice cream, but hit the sugar free candy hard! I walked away with 3 bags of sugar free candy and one bag of sugar free cookies! When I came home, RJ was on the couch watching TV. He immediately knew what this was, a chance to have a “boys night out”. We picked a good movie and picked our first object of obsession, the Russell Stover Caramel Drops.

Let’s put it this way, we finished the bag within 20 minutes and that was all she wrote. I felt terrible. Mel was not a happy camper! Oh yeah, Mel is the name for my pouch (stomach), as in “Mel’s Diner”. Beth’s’ pouches name is Alice, from the same TV show! Anyway, Mel was not doing well. I never had the gastrointestinal distress that a lot of people have from sweets. This was the first time since surgery that I did have an acid reflux attack. If you have never had one, they are painful. The rest of the candy was disposed of. What was so supposed to be a fun night out for the guys, turned into a disaster of epic proportions!

What did I learn from this episode “Boys can be pigs”? Once again, surgery was done on my stomach, not my head! I feel like I have come a long way in making good food choices. But I also figured out that it’s a long and winding road that leads to a healthier me!

So, what “old habits” are you dealing with? And most importantly, what are you doing about it. For me, it’s “Food for thought and moderation”. In other words, before something goes into my mouth, I will think about it and remember this night! I’m gonna try my best anyway!

Toileting Troubles

Well, it had to happen!

Yes, as parents we all have to go through the dreaded potty training. Luckily, for some, it's all behind us now. For others, it will be happening before you know it.

This week I had to take a course on potty training in conjunction with CPR. Where's the connection you ask...

Scroll down and you will see....LOL!!!!!!!!

Have a good, laugh filled day!

3 Month Photo Update

Jan. 11, 2008 273 pounds

Feb. 12, 2008 258 pounds

Mar 12, 2008 243 pounds

Oh the weather outside is.........

.....frightful! but the snow is so delightful! Wouldn't you agree? OK, maybe not! But I love snow! The fraility of it. It's here one minute and gone the next. To me, snow is so clean...but don't eat the yellow stuff! Anyway when snow happens around here, which is rarely, Nashville just shuts down. So, what did I do? Thats right, I pretended I was 10 years old again and played in it. RJ and I had a blast!

~~~~~~~~~

We made snow devils. He refused to make snow angels, he's said that was to childish! What do I know, I'm just papa.

I will tell you this, the weight loss has made these days more enjoyable. I was able to climb a hill after sledding, and was not winded. It took a lot longer for me to say it was time to go in because I was tired. I never got tired, I got COLD!!!!!!

But things change! I realize I am not 10 years old anymore! and at the rate my son is going, he won't be that age for long either!

We went from this...

...to this is less than 6 hours!

At least I've got my pictures to remind me!

Have a great day!

Oh yeah! Mama Jo, this one's for you!

A progression of sorts...

A progression of sorts...

Feb. 2007

Dec. 2007

Mar. 2008