"Diabetic Haters"

That's what Derek was accusing every pharmacy in a 20 mile radius yesterday. As you all pretty much know, Derek is a diabetic. Yesterday my smart man accidentally lost his insulin pen "somewhere". We figured it out around 6 o'clock when we started to think about dinner and within minutes the entire house was flipped upside down. I started calling every pharmacy in the phone book trying to find one that carries the actual pen to inject the insulin...no luck! Finally at about 7:30 (at this point Derek is yelling at everyone and starting to really freak out) I called the emergency line at his Medical Center. They paged the on call doctor and by 8 o'clock he had called back and called in a prescription for a disposable pen. Everything was fine, but it still really got to Derek. It's funny because he has a prescription for the insulin cartridges which is the same exact stuff as the disposable pens but the pharmacy can only fill it in the cartridge form. I understand the legality of it, but wouldn't you if you were a pharmacist who saw this guy dependant on getting this medicine feel a little pity? Whatever, we got it all figured it, it's hard to see Derek so upset and scared at the same time.
On another note, I ate Mexican last night! I didn't overdo it though, and I had the points. I am definitely retaining water today though. My best friend is home from Nashville this week so I am going to hang out with him tonight. This is the first time I will have seen him since my engagement and I am planning to ask him to be part of my wedding. I am so excited!!
Well, I am off to get my work done. Just a few more things on my to do list and I can leave for the day!!! Yippee for a short Friday!!!!

I almost forgot...

I got my new bedding for Christmas...don't be jealous!

Mmmm...carrots

It's 11 o'clock and I am munching on half my lunch...carrots and broccoli to be exact. I ate a lot of carrots and broccoli over Christmas, it was my go to food when there wasn't any "good" choices. I am so sick of broccoli that when I chew it now I have to close my eyes and swallow to keep from gagging! Sounds delicious right?!? I don't have much left and I don't want it to go to waste.
Christmas was very long this year. We drove to South Dakota on Friday and tried to drive back home Sunday afternoon. The blizzard was so bad that we got stuck about 2 hours out of town and had to stay in a hotel until Monday morning. I was so relieved when we finally pulled into the driveway. Christmas Eve was a nice dinner at my parents house and Christmas day I had everyone over for wine and appetizers. I really didn't eat a "meal" on Christmas day, just grazed on fruits, veggies and COOKIES. We have a handful of sweets left and I have them in a bag ready to go to the New Years Eve party we are attending.
I got right back OP yesterday and the scale was already down .5 this morning. In total the scale is up 2 lbs. from before the Holidays. TOM is on the way though and my sinus infection is still holding on tight. I think that most of the gain is water retention so I will stay off the scale until next Wednesday. I have a few weeks off from school so I am going to be cooking at home and getting my daily run in!! Woohoo for TIME!!
I'm not sure it counts as a workout but we are planning on painting 5 rooms in the house this weekend. I think I might go crazy. I can't wait to see how it turns out though!! I will have to take some pics and post them. Derek is letting me paint the spare bedrooms as nursery's. One is for Rosie and the other is a blue theme (hopefully I will get another niece or nephew soon)!

Sinus Infection and all...

I came down with a bad sinus infection this weekend. I haven't been feeling up to doing much lately but I'm trying to stay focused on getting everything organized at work so that I can take a day off on Friday. Derek came down with the stomach flu the same day, so far I haven't shown any signs of that, thank goodness!
I learned one thing over the past week, I am severely impatient! Yep, I can't wait to find out what I got for Christmas. I know my parents are getting us a dinning table, but that is it. I have no idea what anyone else got me. Why do I care, I don't know? I guess I don't like surprises that much. I know I am not getting the one thing I asked for. A puppy! Yep, I asked for a puppy...I'm glad I'm not getting it though because I don't have the time to take care of it. Someday maybe.
We are going to work on picking out paint colors for the house next week. I figure painting and tiling the floors will be a good work-out during winter break and this allows me to get some of the stuff done I have been putting off for months.
I am also looking into joining the small gym down the street. I have the treadmills and free weights at home, which I love, but I really miss having the classes. Hearing you all talking about them gets me thinking about joining again, just need to see how the finances are going this next year before I make that decision.

The Christmas Party

Derek and I at my family Christmas party. I had a few glasses of wine and a plate of food before this was taken so I was already feeling bloated!

Your prayers were answered!!

Thanks for all the support my friends, I totally rocked the presentation...SERIOUS!! I even shocked myself. I knew the material, I projected, I breathed and I think everyone was impressed with what I had to say. The presentation I gave was on the safety program that is administered at our company. I looked into the practice, toured sites to see it in action and wrote up a critical analysis of the entire program. This was the assignment, so each student was required to go to a different contractor and follow the same format. After I finished my presentation this JACKASS (sorry, but he is) raises his hand and says, "you are bias because you work there"...I got really, I mean steaming upset. The teacher knows this kid is just a big baby and he is constantly trying to suck up, so the teacher let me respond. A lot of thoughts went through my head, of course I am somewhat bias, isn't that healthy though? I responded as such "wouldn't it be worse if as an employee I didn't believe in and support our safety program?" He didn't say anything. I then went on to point out during his presentation that the "cable" method of handrails is not recognized by OSHA and therefore they are not meeting minimum requirements. Okay, I was a bit bitchy about the whole thing...maybe he will learn a lesson.
Anyways, all of your thoughts and prayers they really mean something to me. I know my heads in a strange place right now, I have a lot on my plate. I don't think you realize just how inspiring each and everyone of you are to me. Thanks again! HUGS!

I am so mad at myself...

Well the stress bubble has officially popped and I am on the verge of going crazy. The scale was up this morning (2 lbs.) I ate like crap yesterday, we had Rosie and I was shaking I was so hungry so Derek ran and got Boston Market, what was I thinking?!? I don't even like the food that much, but I was hungry and I needed something to eat.
Anyways, tonight is my last night of class this semester. I have a 20 minute presentation to give and I can't get my leg to stop bouncing. I am anxious to be done for a few weeks but I HATE standing up in front of everyone. I feel bloated and ugly. Maybe if I drink some water this afternoon the scale will forgive me for my mistakes over the past few days.
This is a crazy busy week for me. I have meetings ALL day tomorrow and then dinner and a play with 5 of my close girlfriends. Friday night is the official unofficial Christmas party with my co-workers. Saturday I am baking cookies with grandma and watching Rosie. No stopping I guess until Sunday! Oh well.
Wish me luck for tonight, I will check in with everyone tomorrow if I get a break in between meetings!!!!

Pictures!!

Okay, I am starting with a trip down memory lane, here is a picture from last Christmas (I am in the white sweater next to my Dad)!

This is the picture we took on Saturday of the 3 girls (oldest to youngest)...and 27 lbs. lighter!

And finally, the snow princess herself!!!! This is her princess coat, she has pink UGG boots that match this...way too cute!!!

So, needless to say...pictures went well. I decided on Friday night that I would put my hair up in pin curls, I did this while watching recorded episodes of Greys and Private Practice from last week (arghhh...stupid new nurse kissing McDreamy)! Yes, so I was very preoccupied and must have put the pins in too tight, I woke up and saw a bozo the clown look alike in the mirror...it was BAD! I ended up having to take another shower and just let it dry curly, luckily it worked out okay.

Just one more day of class this week!!!! I still have a lot of work to do on my project, hopefully work is slow so I can get things done early today. We actually made it out to Trader Joe's this weekend. I was very excited to get some of my favorites back in the freezer. I will be cooking a lot more now that I have a few weeks off from school!!!

The scale was still sitting right at the 119-120.5 this weekend, I will be very happy if I can maintain here through the Holidays!

Another one done!

Well, I have officially completed 2 of my 3 classes this semester! I studied my ars off yesterday afternoon and I actually felt really great about the exam. we started the 12 page exam at about 5:45 and I was finished just after 6:30, second person to hand it in. I really had my stuff memorized I guess. I also turned in a 100 page project proposal so that is a total of 2 exams and 1 paper finished, leaving me with 1 paper and 1 presentation!!!
I got home early last night and hadn't had dinner, Derek wanted to go out and I caved. We went to Big Bowl and I downed an entire plate of white rice and chicken...boy do I feel bloated today. I have my water here though and I finally got a full night of sleep. I am pretty sure my body needed that meal, it's been a while since I ate a real "meal".
Rosie is having Christmas pictures taken this weekend. My sister and I will bring her and probably do some Christmas shopping if we have time before she needs a nap. I will try to post some pictures on Monday!!!

I need a push...

My arms and legs feel weak, my mind is scattered and all I can do to stop myself from feeling like I am going to pass out is guzzle my diet coke and eat Twizzlers Pull and Peels...what am I doing? I know, stress eating. It hit me last night, I have one of the most important exams of my graduate studies tonight and I can't keep anything straight. I know the material, I really do. It keeps running through my brain like one of those light up banner signs you see at a bar. Arghhh...make it stop.
My best friend and partner in crime (aka school) just called and told me to take the afternoon off work, we are going to meet up and study our butts off for the afternoon.
Well, if you have time, say a quick prayer that my mind clears out by tonight and that I "Ace" this test!!! I know I can, I know I can....
God bless, M!

1 down, 3 to go.

One class completely finished and I felt like I really did a good job on the final, YAY!!! I have two large papers, one presentation and one final left...only 3 more nights of class!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrap those presents!!! When I was in HS I wrapped presents at a kids store every Christmas and now my entire family asks me to wrap their gifts for them, I just love it!
2. REAL OR FAKE TREE? Fake, no question about it!
3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving, usually the Friday or Saturday after
4. When do you take the tree down? The first weekend after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? I have never had it, I think it looks gross though.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got a pair of Santa Bear slippers that I use to wear EVERYWHERE!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? 3 of them
8. Hardest person to buy for? My grandparents, they are at that stage were they are trying to downsize everything.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Rosie, she would be happy with a box!
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I hate purple and one year an ex (not at the time) bought me a purple stone ring...I hated it but felt obligated to wear it.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember, my sister and I use to trade though.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Baked Brie on French bread..mmmmm
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? I totally agree with Amanda ... Trans Siberian Orchestra Carol of the Bells
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I will be traveling the weekend before Christmas to visit Derek's parents, I will be home for Christmas though.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Thanks Amanda, I can't get that tune out of my head! Yes, I know Santa's reindeer!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open one on Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Driving in snow blizzards
23. What I love most about Christmas? I love baking and cooking for the family.

Hair, Gumdrops and other rambling

First off, my hair is driving me nuts. I had my hair trimmed over the Thanksgiving holiday...1/2", this past week it feels like my hair is about 3" shorter then normal and it is driving me up the wall. I really want my hair to grow out before the wedding, I know I still have a year but I am getting worried. Also, I thought some of the color would fade a bit more then it did, I still like it, just different then I had expected.
Gumdrops, do they really exist? Stupid question....I have never seen them or had them. I have four clear canisters on my kitchen counter (Flour, sugar, noodles and brown sugar) and I wanted to fill them with Christmas stuff for the holidays, I was thinking ribbon candy, gumdrops, ornament balls and something else. I went to the store to buy ribbon candy and gumdrops and couldn't find anything. I asked the clerk and she looked at me like I was crazy. Do these things really exist or are they just made up?? Anyone know where I can buy them?
The weekend was nice, we got our blizzard on Saturday as they expected. I shoveled the driveway twice and now my back is throbbing. We spent the entire day decorating the house and getting things picked up. Sunday I spent most of the day on campus working on my paper and making note cards.
Forgive me if I am MIA this week, I am trying to focus on school. I will be checking in on you all though!!! Have a great Monday!