breathing...the right way...

inhale*2*3*4, hold*2*3*4, exhale*2*3*4, hold*2*3*4 and repeat (over and over and over again)
Never would have dreamed that I did not breath "properly". Doc said that eventually I will get to inhale*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9*10, exhale*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9*10. It is hard enough to do the four count, but I am conscious of it and that really helps!
Enjoying the sunshine. Praising God that Stellan and his mom are headed home!

Learning to breath.

I have always been an athlete with a nice body and awesome endurance. That is until I had my children. An unspecified amount of weight was added to my frame and the endurance turned into fatigue most of the time. Not that I did not want my body back, I just lacked the motivation to get it done. I had not been to the gym in who knows how long... and of course in the winter I did not do much moving at all. So, this spring, I gave up soda because I wanted to get in better shape. To start riding my bike, to get my weight lifting in, to get my running in. With ultimate goals in mind I did not need the sugar (in soda, and many other sweets too) to make my workouts null and void. Then, one week later, I could hardly move, I was vomiting and had what looked like two grapes under my skin on my lower back. Diagnosed with two bulging disks, I started at the chiropractor three times a day, down to two and now at once a day. In laying on that table I found relief from my symptoms and have learned so much about my body and myself. Hampering in my healing is a (now)tiny little scar on my "L3" back. The first day I went to the chiro, he asked if I had fallen. I had a scar about the size of a dime on my "L3" that was so white is seemed to glow. Nope, it turned out that that was my epidural scars. You see, what they don't tell you when you have that lovely epidural is that it may come back to haunt you. (more on that after I do some more research). He was not saying that the site is what caused my issues but it surely was not helping. All the scar tissue from four epidurals was not going to aid in healing. This past year, I have learned a ton about my health and my life but I think the biggest thing I have learned in the past month is how to breath. Sounds totally dumb doesn't it. But that is the case. Apparently I was "never taught to breath correctly". So, that is what I have been working on. Sitting on a funky balancing pillow (to build my core strength), sleeping with a pillow between my knees, doing my chores with both hands not just my right, and BREATHING correctly. Who would have thought.
I am still soda free, it has been a month now! I have lost nine pounds just from dropping all that sugar. (I can't wait to see what happens when I add some cardio to that!). I feel so great, BUT am still on a weight restriction. I can not pick my daughter up and am still supposed to "take it easy".
I plan to get this blog back up and running. I have a review I am working on getting published and so much more. I have learned so much that I can't wait to share. I know it will help all of you too... can you say sea salt? how about hormones?
Bet ya can't wait!!! Well, you are going to have to.
Happy day.

Boston Bound

Baby Stellan and his Mama are bound for Boston. Please pray for:

*safe flight, transition

*doctor's wisdom

*Stellan to do well when they start weaning him

*strength, patience, rest, clarity for MckMama and her family...this is obviously an extremely trying time, and without the Lord, they might even be tempted despair...they will not.

Wordles Wednesday

Happy Easter!

I know that my Redeemer lives!

He lives, to bless me with His love;

He lives, and grants me daily breath;

He lives! All glory to His name!

What joy this blest assurance gives!

He lives to plead for me above;

He lives, and I shall conquer death,

He lives! My Sav ior, still the same;

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my hungry soul to feed;

He lives, my future to prepare

What joy this blest assurance gives:

He lives, my everlasting Head.

He lives, to help in time of need.

He lives, to bring me safely there.

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

weight restriction~shmate restriction

(in my mind) yeah, but I can just move this little 15 lb baby to her seat... she shouldn't be too heavy...
(my body SCREAMING) YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT!!! (Jeremy re enforcing) "YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT, I will move her, just say so."
So that is what I did all day today. Lay on the couch, sit up on a chair, ice my back, hold sweet extra, care for her on my lap, when I needed her moved I just asked. What an awesome man. I will not lift anything more than a katsup bottle until I am told I can again. I would not like to get yelled at again.
As I sit on the edge of a hard chair (chiro order) the pain in my hip and back are awful so I thought I would listen to the music on my blog and write a quick note.
I used to worry that Jeremy would not be able to handle our household if anything ever happened to me. Well, he has proven me wrong. He is amazing. My house is immaculate. The children's rooms, clean. The laundry, done AND put away. The kitchen, everything done. The kids to their school and activities, ON TIME. The children that stay at home and our sweet extra, taken care of. Me, taken care of. It makes me feel so great knowing that he loves me so much. As my sister told me last night, "Anna you are a lucky woman to have such and amazing husband". I don't believe in luck, but it sounds really great doesn't it. I never thought that being laid off would be thought of as a good thing. But, God knows what needs to happen. I am the reason that he is laid off right now... honestly I can not run the house in the state that I am in. I am no longer vomiting or shaking but I am still extremely sore (even my clothes hurt to touch my back). Enough about me, I will make it!
If you have not checked on Stellan, there are some new posts. He still really needs our prayers.
I just want to add that although I have this awful "injury" I will be okay through some proper care (nope, no pain meds :( just lots of water) and being careful to get better. I will be okay. I have a family and enough friends that I will be non the worse for ware. I appreciate your prayers. I am truly blessed beyond measure.

Bloggy break!

Hello to you all. We pray this finds you well, or at least better than I am. I have two bulging disks in my lower back so I am officially out of commission. Fortunately I have an amazing husband who just happens to laid off and a competent chiropractor so I hope to be back soon. If you get a minute please say a prayer, Jeremy could use me back ASAP.
Happy day,
Anna

*Not Me MONDAY, STELLAN STYLE*

Not ME MONDAY is usually hosted by MckMama but because she is with Stellan (praying for you my dear) we have all teamed up and are doing it STELLAN STYLE TODAY! Emily is hosting so click here to stop on by and check out everyone else's

"NOT ME MONDAY, STELLAN STYLE"

I have not had the same post up Praying for Stellan for over a week and just keep on changing what it says. Nope, not me.

I have not checked almost every hour for a tweet or a post over at MckMama's blog for an update on Stellan. Nope, not me.

I did not click over to her friend (my bloggy friend) Carrie's blog in an attempt to find more information one Stellan's condition. Nope, not me. (Carrie is MckMama's in-real-life friend and she is helping her and her family during this time. THANK YOU!)

While over at Carrie's site I did not fine her tweet about Sage's family and completely loose it. Nope not me.

That is all. I continue to pray for Stellan.

Happy day.

Anna

Please say an extra prayer for Stellan and his Mama today. Be near Lord and calm their hearts. Amen

I just realized that my header is croooooked. How annoying. I am trying to get a new photo of the kids. This one is a few lost teeth ago.
Happy Spring! Have a wonderful weekend.

*Wordless Wednesday*

*photo has been edited to meet blog protocol

Would I being willing to try and review a product?!?

Absolutely! Patiently awaiting the laundry soap from Ecostoreusa to try and give a review! Oh, I sure will let you know how I feel about it!

While we were gone... Santa in March

He gave them all a "naughty/nice coin" . L would not put hers down. This is how we found her later that evening, the coin is in her left hand.

While we were away we had the privilege to go to Jeremy's aunt and uncle's house. As you can see as much as we told the kids he was "uncle Mike" they truly thought he was "Santa". It's okay, that is his profession. He plays right along. They are still talking about it.

I'm baaaaaack!

As you can see I have been away from blogging for a bit. Jeremy's grandpa passed away so we went and spent a week away with his family. The neat thing about it is that we had just went to see him in January (his children *they had six daughters) threw him a 90th birthday party and we went to that. (if they would not have had the party we were going at the end of March when the boys are on spring break). He had just turned 90 and actually passed away in his wife's arms (they were married for 67 years, talk about amazing). We were able to go and be there for the funeral and the cemetery part. He had spent 20 years in the Navy so he had full military honors. That was amazing. David Alexander St. Dennis (his wife Marge) and many great grand children.
D and great grandpa.

Jeremy's grandpa, our children's great grandpa. He had six daughters (all whom are married), 14 grand children, 24 great grand children. Pretty awesome. We are home now and trying to get back into the swing of things. Jeremy is on nights (hey, it's a paycheck), the boys are back in school and we have our sweet extra. I have the opportunity to do a review coming up here on some laundry soap. I can't wait to give it a try. Stay tuned!!

Happy day.

Guess who got a hair cut!?!

Post bath. She wont wear a cape so she was itchy.

The back (before bath), yes, she is running from me.

Even wet, it lays so nice. And it still has a bit of wave to it.

The back is slightly stacked due to all of her thick hair, and it angles down to the front. This picture is after her bath, it is dry by now, like I said, lays so nice. (yes, that is the same shirt but it is not, she actually has three of the same shirt...)

I love it! She looks like a totally different little girl! We cut four inches to be exact! Thanks Robyn!

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26

Touched my soul

Recently I was made aware of the Mary Madeline Project, and it touched me deep in my soul. The work they do is incredible and made possible by people who so generously donate their wedding (and formal) gowns and dresses. I checked out the site, honestly had no idea that something like this existed. http://www.marymadelineproject.org/

Check it out, look around, (on the top there are options). You can see the work these gracious volunteers do. Incredible work if you ask me. All of us know someone or are that someone who have lost a baby or babies to infant loss. It just really made me feel like someone cares when I saw these amazing works of art that are made to comfort these parents and families. I am not at the point where I can donate my gown. I have always wanted it made into a baptismal gown for my children but since they are all baptized (the boys all in the same little navy suit and L in our families heirloom gown) I am still wanting it made for their children. I just really think that it would be amazing to see that happen. Someday, I may find a talented woman willing to do it for me. In the mean time, I continue to pray for these wonderful people that use their talents and for the people who so unselfishly give up their cherished gowns and dresses for those gifts from God.

Thank you for taking the time to check this out. In my opinion, it is incredible.

Happy day.

♥ Jump rope for heart ♥

Hey everyone, my son H is doing Jump rope for heart again this year for the American Heart Association. If you are willing/able to donate ANY amount for him and his school, 100% goes to the AHA. We would really appreciate it. Thanks for considering.

Happy day,

Anna