Red Lights: A Record of Life's Defining Moments

Summer is going too quickly...

It seems just yesterday that we were starting summer break and suddenly I'm seeing summer coming to an abrupt halt pretty quickly here.

We have had a wonderful, carefree summer with no commitments and just time to enjoy being a family of two.  It is still my hope that this is the last summer we are a family of two and that by next year at this time, we will have added another child to our family.  It is all in the hands of the power that be and depends on if the right match comes along before then.  I pray each night that God direct the situation the way it is meant to be and to help me to cope if its not the way that I want it to be.

Mikey is growing up before my eyes.  We had his FSCD meeting the other day (the government agency that supplies funding for a community support/respite worker for him) and the worker started asking about all the things that we had listed as challenges for Mikey last year at this time and I was shocked to realize that we were so far removed from some of those things that I had completely forgotten about them.  We are not without our challenges but some of the toughest stuff that we have faced over the years seems to be getting better.  Its amazing to come out the other side and breath.

His biggest accomplishment of the summer is that he is getting ever so much better at playing the Wii and also getting much better in the pool.  He is not quite swimming on his own yet but he is right there on the edge of it.  I'm still thinking we might nail that before the end of the summer.  The things he has done this summer are just what kids are supposed to do in the summer.

Mikey starts his second daycamp tomorrow.  He attended on a few weeks ago that was a gymnastics camp with a water theme.  Tomorrow he was supposed to start a sign language day camp but they did not have enough chlidren registered so he will be in a Bug daycamp instead.  I will be using the time while he is in the camp to get some things ready at school.

Next week we are going to get away before school starts.  I've booked us in to a hotel in Sylvan Lake where they have beaches, waterslides (a great outdoor one), boat tours, mini-golf  and go-carts all within walking distance.  We will be there from Monday through Thursday and then heading home through Calgary so Mikey can get yet another Build-a-Bear (still one of his greatest toys).  I'm hoping that a friend from highschool will come down the weekend we get back to help with some more preparations for school to start.

Then on Wednesday of that week, I'm back at it.  Mikey will be with his community support/respite worker for those 3 days.  On Monday, July 31 we both begin our 4th year in our respective schools.  Its crazy how quickly its all gone.  This is technically Mikey's grade 5 year and should be his last year in the elementary school.  I'm a bit nervous about him not being ready to move to middle school but we will wait until a ways in to the year to start figuring out the next year.

Okay... that was a big old update.  Hope anyone reading is enjoying their summer!

Falling Off Friday: Week 6 Check-in

Its been just over 6 weeks since I started on this weight loss journey and I am happy to report that this week I brought my total weight loss up to 19 pounds!  Still a long way to go (can't believe how much I let myself gain before finally taking charge) but feeling very good about the direction I'm heading in right now. 

The challenge for me will come in a couple of weeks when I start back to work and time is a bit more premium.  I do feel though that I've gathered enough good, healthy eating habits that I will be able to tackle it head on.

Thankful Thursday

There is so much to be thankful for and so I like to take time on Thursday's to list my "thankful ten".  Here is this week's installment...

1. For just being alive - waking up every morning and having another glorious day to live through.
2. For my home... I'm doing some major cleaning and organizing the last couple of days and stop often and think about how fortunate we are to have our lovely home.
3. Always for Mikey - could not write a list without recognizing the amazing gift I was given when God chose me to be his mother.  I am blessed.
4. For water delivery... its so much easier than going out and carrying these giant jugs of water ;).
5. For summer holidays - even if they go by too fast.
6. For good friends.  I seem to blessed with more than my fair share of them and for that I am so thankful.
7. For the potential of a second child for me.  I'm waiting patiently and just feel so thankful that I have the resources to see this through if that is what is meant to be for our family.
8. For my job.  I have always loved teaching but there is just something that about this particular job that touches the very core of me.  I'm looking forward to seeing all the staff and students in a few short weeks.
9. For having the resources to be able to take a trip to Sylvan Lake in a couple of weeks.  I know that we are going to have a lot of fun doing all the water stuff (water slides, beaches, boat rides...etc.).  It will be great to get away.
10. For my health.  I was sick over the weekend and it was a reminder to me of how much I value my health (and am so thankful for it).

August Already!

Wow is summer ever going by quickly.  Crazy that in 3.5 weeks I will be back to work.  Lots to do before I'm ready for that.

Mikey had a great time at gymnastics camp last week although was very tired by the last day of it.  It was great to have him doing an activity as he had really been ready for something in the weeks leading up to it.  He will be doing a sign language class put on by the college next week.  They have a different theme each day and then do games and activities related to that while learning the signs that go with it.  I'm sure Mikey is going to love that others are speaking his language as he still uses a lot of signs :).

The following week I've booked us a suite at Sylvan Lake and we are going to get away for a few days and enjoy the beach and the waterslides.  I'm really looking forward to that... stay tuned for pictures in about three weeks.

Then the next week, I head back to work.  Its amazing how quickly that is coming :(.

Not too much else going on but wanted to post with the hopes of again getting the habit of updating more regularly.  Will hopefully be starting my daily features as well.

Ten Years Ago Today...

It was a Monday.  I had flown to Toronto late Saturday, arriving there sometime in the dead of night.  A friend picked me up there and on the Sunday we went to a single parent adoption picnic.  I was surrounded by all these people who were already parents and only had the one picture that I had recieved of Mikey as "my child"... for I was to go to his foster home and meet him the next morning.

The memory is so vivid it could be just yesterday that it happened.  I can still feel the nerves and excitement as I walked in to the foster home and first saw my little imp of a boy.  In that moment my life was changed forever.  It seemed odd to sit down with the social worker and go through all the routine paper work with my son only feet from me playing on the floor. 

This began the four days of intense visitation and then the official sign over on the fifth day - July 30 - our official "gotcha day".  It is the day that I celebrate it all with Mikey.  Today is just a day that is special in my memory.

Falling Off Friday - Just Over Four Weeks In

Its been a while since I updated but wanted to take a minute to say that I'm finally making progress on the weight loss front.  I'm weighing in on Wednesdays and this Wednesday I was officially down a total of 15 pounds in the four weeks since I got down to it. Now, feeling that I have a good grasp on food intake and portion size, I have committed to doing some sort of cardio for a minimum of a half hour at least five times a week.  Stay tunded for progress as I'm in this for the long haul now.

Manic Monday: What is Going on This Week?

A bit different this time as summer means that there is not a lot going on.  We fill the days up as we go along and I love it.  Here are the few things that are going on this week :).

Monday, July 6

• Mikey - eye doctor appointment at 9:20 a.m.
• Meeting friends at the beach immediately after the eye doctor appointment.

Tuesday, July 7

• No plans at this point :)

Wednesday, July 8

• Mikey with Glenda from 1:00-4:00.  I need to get some shopping for school related things done this afternoon.
• Weigh in day - this will mark 2 weeks on plan.

Thursday, July 9

• Going to Lethbridge to meet a friend for lunch.
• Need to check Home Depot as I'm looking for a storage system that they never seem to have at the one here but have on their website.

Friday, July 10

• No plans at this point.

Saturday, July 11

• No plans at this point.

Sunday, July 12

• No plans at this point.

Falling Off Friday: Finally on Track...

I'm happy to report that I'm finally on the path to losing weight and now weight 5 pounds less than I did just 3 short weeks ago.  I'm happy with the start that I've made. 

So for the next week I will continue to stick to my food plan, journal everything that I eat, exercise daily and drink lots of water.  Hopefully I will be reporting new weight loss to you in a post each Friday :).

Thankful Thursday: July 2, 2009 Thankful 10

Its been a while but now with the lazy days of summer looming I have more time to post again so here it is :).

1. For summer holidays.  I am so blessed to have these weeks to spend at home with Mikey.  I often feel that I have the best of both worlds because of the career that I have.
2. For Mikey.  Alwyas for Mikey.  I still wonder every minute of the day as to why I've been so lucky to get the son that was perfect for me.
3. For my friends.  I'm so fortunate to have such great friends.
4. For my family and their continued to health.
5. For the future... as I begin this weight loss journey for real, I can see a healthier future for both me and Mikey and hopefully for the child that will someday join our family.
6. The sidewalks and pavement are finally done in front of the house.  Its going to be so great to not have to treck through mud and/or snow at certain parts of the year.  Its been a long wait and I'm so thankful its done.
7. For the country I live in... as we celebrated Canada day yesterday. It truly is a wonderful county and I'm blessed to live in it.
8. For a God that is always directing my life.  Its amazing how things always work out in the long run.
9. For the students that I have the honor of teaching.  Each one of them brings something more to my life and for that I feel so lucky.  The world would not be the same without knowing each one of these individuals the way that I do.
10. For our new support worker (Glenda).  She is so amazing with Mikey and its nice to have a bit of me time along the way.

Summer Time!

The crazy month of June is almost over and I can once again reclaim my life!  Wanted to take a second to post so that I can get back in the habit of blogging.  It is nice to see this school year behind me and I'm looking forward to a fun, relaxing summer.

No big plans for the summer.  Mikey will be attending a couple of morning camps put on my local organizations (one through gymnastics and through the college) and we will be doing some short local trips and/or day trips but no large trips planned at this point.

Personally, I'm going to use the summer to get a good start on re-establishing a healthy life style - exercising, eating right, sleeping right, and starting to lose some of the weight I need to lose.  I'm hoping that come September I'm well on track and can keep it going.  I will also use the time to enjoy the moments with Mikey that seem to be gone all too fast.  I cannot believe that he will be entering grade 5 this fall.  It will potentially be his last year at the elementary school as our middle schools are grade 6-8 here.  We will see what the year bring as at this point I believe he should stay put for one more year beyond that.

All else is good... start looking in for more updates!