WORKING OUT

I never thought working out would be this hard after having Christopher. I have lost all my baby weight due to nursing and some but trying to keep in shape now that I’m mobile again is really hard. I had an epidural in my back the first one they broke it hurt worst than having a freaking contraction. I didn’t want them to try it again. I ended up having a c-section so I had to have it. My back is killing me right now. Some days I look like a 90 year old walking in the house.  I have been working out all my life but don't belly dance after a c-section not wise. I feel like my guts are going to come out.  Steve has been bugging me to go to the gym with him and I keep saying no because it gets under his skin. It's so funny. I love how he is so determine. He just won't give up on anything. This week I’m going to get some x-rays done I think it’s a nerve problem because I have never had any health problems in my life. I love to workout I have fun.  Justin even gets into working out.  Today we were watching Denise Austin and Jay was like come on dad do some jumping jacks. I hope all is well with the x-rays. So wish me luck.

Sometimes

I left Christopher with Steve this morning to take Justin to school to only see them sleeping right next to each other. It is so cute!  The other day coming home I walked in to see Steve singing to him. Christopher was all smiles. I stood there for a minute to see what else might happen. Steve started talking to him telling him how he loves being his and Justin’s daddy.  That he is so glad he is finally here. Steve was telling Christopher about our trip to New York soon. He is so happy being a dad it melts my heart. Steve was kissing him on his neck making him giggle. It went on for about I don’t know twenty minutes or so. I love my little family I have there is nothing that means more to me. I’m lucky to have two healthy children. My brother sorry to say wasn’t so lucky he lost his little girl yesterday.  I am in a state of shock I kind of know what they are going though with myself having three miscarriages.  His girlfriend was five months along. My hearts and prayers goes out to both of them. It makes you stop and think about how precious life really is. I hope down the line they are blessed with a child although it could never feel the void from his first born.  Steve and I were very young when we lost our first one I was almost three months. Then we were blessed with Justin six months later. I was at very high risk with Justin because of my blood type.  I lost another when Justin just turned two.  I guess God had a plan with those babies like he has one with my brother’s  little girl. They were meant for something more. My grandfather is now with them singing Elvis tunes.

The death of a baby is like a stone cast into the stillness of a quiet pool;the concentric ripples of despair sweep out in all directions, affecting many, many people."~ De Frain

Paczki Day 2011

Fat Tuesday is paczki day. I’m going to send my loving husband to Hamtramck tomorrow to get a dozen of that 260- 300 calorie baked fat donuts. I can remember ever since I was little eating a paczki with my grandpa talking about the news that day. I will miss this Tuesday talking to him he passed away last Christmas. We love the custard ones and blueberries. Its okay I may not be able to eat a full one but I will surely have to pull double time at the gym. Get ready Amanda to bust out some sweat this week. The paczki are traditional Polish deep fried pastries, usually filled with some sort of jelly filling. While Paczki Day is observed the day before Ash Wednesday .The making of paczki started hundreds of years ago and came from the need to get rid of all forbidden food items in the home before Lent began, which included sugar and eggs. The paczki is similar to a Bismarck or jelly doughnut and is usually filled with rich fruit or crème fillings. So with that Steve is going to give up red meat as Justin and I will give up sweets for lent. I think it should be the other way around considering Steve has a sweet tooth mainly me. Lol No really I guess it’s not  that bad until Easter comes. I have been sharing this day with my son upholding on to my polish heritage now I can share it with Christopher. He may be too young to eat one but he will hear us talk about the past history. Did you know that Polish immigrants provided labor for Detroit's early auto manufacturers, beginning in 1914, when Dodge opened its first plant in Hamtramck? The American Polish Century Club holds its festival every July in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The 2011 celebration marks the Festival's 30th anniversary. The 2010 festival featured children's events and activities, carnival rides and music by Polka bands such as The Kielbasa Kings and Duane Malinowski & the Polka Jamboree. There were also traditional Polish dance performances by the Zajaczek Dance Ensemble and a craft exhibition featuring more than 50 local artisans. Vendors served pierogies, kielbasa and paczki. My family will be there in July. Yes I’m polish and I will eat a Paczki on Tuesday!

Justin's Room

This is what Justin wants to do with his room. He wants the walls to be black with stars and planets on it. So It took some thought and Steve and I are okay with it. My friend Heather just did her boys room in blue with black trim. It looks great but it's funny when I seen what she did it was the same thing jay wanted to do first. Heather and I think like we were sister's or something. Justin's favorite color is black it has been ever since he was little. Now all we have to do is find a light for his room.

This weekend

It has a very busy weekend for all of us Blue and Gold turned out to be great. Steve did very well for his first one. He was so cute giving the children their awards. Justin received his Ice skating loop and pin. He also received his Mathematics loop and pin. His Geography loop along with his basketball loop and pin.  Goodness and there is still more like his Collecting pin, Physical Fitness pin with four silver arrow points and a gold arrow point. Now he is a wolf I’m so proud of Justin he worked so hard for all his awards. All the cub scouts did great it’s so funny to watch them all grow up so fast. This is a great program to put your son’s in. They learn so much about the world and the best part is spending time with the parents. Jay loves the bonding time he gets with Steve. Steve loves taking Justin to the Go and See it’s. They are getting ready to go spend all night in a museum soon I think Steve is more excited than Jay.

So we went to try out this new restaurant that had Arabic food and I have to say it was different to try. It’s sure not your everyday food I’m use to. It’s more like you like it or you don’t.  Lamb is not all that bad but every once in awhile kind of food for me.

Then we were off to play laser tag and games. That place in Taylor is so packed on Sundays it was a mad house with little people everywhere. Justin and Steve played laser tag with about forty people. They had a blast. Then it was off to the games. I love going and having fun with my family it’s so precious. This weekend was awesome can’t wait to see what is next.

These two do everything together. I love my men!

A Father and His boys

What makes a father? Was one of the questions I heard on the radio?   I think about my husband I know that Steve does everything he can for his boys. He is the perfect father who loves to keep us happy. Just the other day he was watching the boys sleep. He told me they are just so adorable.  They are a blessing to have.  He is the cub master for Justin’s boy scouts troop. He is always there for jay when he falls down and scraps his knee to kiss it to make him feel better. No matter what it is from playing hockey, swimming, birthday parties, shopping for me to running around the house playing nuff guns. Steve has always been there for Justin.   Steve is always teaching Justin something new and it’s great to see that. No matter how tired Steve is after a long day at work he still has time to go outside to play in the snow and make a snow man. I see his face light up when Justin say's Daddy.

He gets up in the middle of the night with Christopher to sing him to sleep. He loves the fact that he gets to change his diaper and clean up puke.  Steve loves to shop for the boys. No matter what crazy game Justin has come up with Steve will always play it no matter how weird the rules are.  Steve will climb down on the floor to play with Christopher. The boys are Steve’s heart.  He dances around the house with Christopher to keep him from being fussy while playing uno with Justin and letting him win. He helps me with the dishes and doing laundry without me asking him.  He loves to cook so I don’t have to while he is tearing apart the basement floor.  He is a man of many talents from grocery shopping to doctor appointments and taking Justin to school he is there. I can always count on my loving husband to be there. I love you honey and thank you for all that you do.

Happy Birthday We all love you!

If you think the court system is out of control, be sure to pass this one on.

It's time again for the annual 'Stella Awards'! For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico , where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy.


Here are the Stellas for this past year -- 2010:

*SEVENTH PLACE*

Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son

Start scratching!

* SIXTH PLACE *

Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.

Scratch some more...

* FIFTH PLACE *

Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental Anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish Keep scratching. There are more...


Double hand scratching after this one..

*FOURTH PLACE*

Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.

Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..

* THIRD PLACE *

Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?

Only two more so ease up on the scratching...

*SECOND PLACE*

Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.


Ok. Here we go!!

* FIRST PLACE *

This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down?

$1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.

If you think the court system is out of control, be sure to pass this one on.

Wow is all I have to say I guess common sense is over rated!

Our New House

Steve and I are new house owners finally. Oh it feels so good to have something pay off that you have been working so hard for. It feels great to have a house of our own. God I love saying that!!! On top of that we are planning to get remarried in a year. I already have plans for the cake, hall and invites. I won't go try on my dress till a little more baby weight comes off. I have already lost 35 lbs my goal is what my weight was before Justin. So I have about ten more pounds to go.  This is so fun to plan this out because I was never the girl who had it planned when I was little girl like most.  There is just so much stuff you can have at a wedding like is it going to be outside or inside. I think we are going to do the church thing again because the first time we were married in a church as Justin sat with the wife of the pastor playing.  It was too cute he just turn two when we married but Steve and I knew each other  before.  This time we have to pick out food and Steve is being crazy he wants Mexican food all the way around. I’m not too sure about that because Mexican food is a little beyond messy. I love Mexican food it’s in my blood! Our flowers I think I have them picked out so far but there is a wedding expo this week  so they could change. Justin will be standing up in our wedding and he is so happy. He is going to be a mini Steve same everything. Christopher of course will be the ring bear but he will not carry the real rings. You know just in case something happens.   Babies, Babies everywhere my baby brother and soon to be sister in-law are having a little girl. My best friend is due in March and my other friend is due in July. This is so great I love kids. There is so much to do this year it’s kind of overwhelming to think about it. The house needs to have some work done to it and that’s okay. We can do most of it ourselves.   Justin’s room was already tore apart we just have to paint it now. We might be turning his room into a play room not sure yet. We are holding off on buying new furniture until we tear apart the living room. I swear there is so much to do and Steve wants to take on everything all at once. Overall this is just so great we are house owners! I guess I just had to tell someone about it.

Looking at some old pictures

The last few days I have been looking at some old pictures for my scrapbook. Some are so old I can't copy them to get them printed. Which is sad because they are good pictures. I came across some baby ones of jay and can't believe how much the boys look alike. I have some of my great grandparents with my sister and me. Our clothes were so out of date then. We both had bangs which is a no for us. I remember my aunt cutting my hair when I was younger. She couldn't get them even so she just kept cutting. Let’s just say I didn't have any bangs after that. My mom never let her cut our hair again. It makes me laugh because I was about Justin's age I think. It seems so long ago but watching Christopher grow and change brings me back when Justin was little. He walked when he was seven months well he ran he didn't do much walking. He kept me on my feet that's for sure. As of yesterday I'm back at my pre baby weight. I can't believe how fast time goes by. Christopher is trying to run away by how much he moves around he is all over the place. Although he sleeps in bed with Steve and I. That was a bad move now he won't go to sleep without one of us laying next to him. Which is not good with Jay taking swimming lessons and boy scouts it makes him cranky. He is so spoiled rotten! I'm a picture person I take so many pictures and videos I have no ideal what to do with them. Christopher just got his three months taken last weekend. He smiled once for the lady and that was the picture we got. I have some army pictures of my uncle who passed away last year. Those are priceless along with my pictures of my grandparents on my dad's side. My grandma and I look like we could be twins that's weird. Pictures tell a story of the person and times. I love it because life is so short it's nice that people can have something to look back on to hold on to when times are rough or the person has past.