Holy Cow! 24 Pounds!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. I weighed this morning at the gym and to my surprise I have lost 23 pounds. I didn't my happy dance and everyone just laughed at me! I'm up to 2 miles and have increased how much I'm doing on all the weight machines. I'm also up to 100 sit-ups...that's right 100! WHOO-HOO TO ME!!!

Down a Scrub Pant Size!

When I weighed in last Monday, I hadn't lost a pound. I was pretty upset...but then I really began to notice how loose my clothes were! Not only my work clothes--my street clothes are drooping!!! This weekend I had to buy a scrub bottom from Wal-mart...they didn't have the size that I thought I needed but Alan convinced me to try on the size smaller--to my amazement THEY FIT!!! I was so excited. I was doing my happy dance all over the fitting area at Wal-Mart!!!

On the work-out front-- we are up to walking 2 miles, I'm doing 80 sit-ups and I believe that Alan is doing 120. We just signed up for out 2nd month at the fitness center. I'm so proud that we are finally sticking to working out and eating better!

Exercise!

I just realized that I hadn't posted anything new about our diet and exercise. For those of you that know me well, you are thinking that I've quiet and am the fast track back to carbtown. You are WRONG!! :) We are still exercising daily (up to walking a mile and half, weights, and I'm doing 70 sit-ups--Alan over 100--show off!) and are low-carbing. It's been about two weeks since I've weighed (with my b-day, Bub's b-day and Easter--no way was I going to weigh!). I plan on weighing in on Monday and when I do, I will be sure and post something. I believe that I have lost--pounds and inches. I'm finally getting some curves at my sides!! WHOO-HOO!

Zoo!

Two men in a boat!

Brandon in Indian artwork!

Polar bear goin' in for a plunge!

My silly Alan!
I love my bamboo!

Brandon and Mom.

Brandi and Alan

GRRR!! I'm a Chinese Alligator!

Lions, Tigers and Cheetahs?

Dinner time!

Here are a few pictures from the Zoo. We had a great time--even if we did freeze our butts off! But with the weather being cold, most of the animals were up and about!

Brandon's Birthday!

Brandon's Birthday was April 7. We all went to Memphis and went to the zoo (pics will posted next post) and then out to eat. I think we all had a great time!

My Birthday!

I had a really great birthday! My Mom made my favorite meal--Cream Tacos and a wilted salad. It was so good and I really enjoyed it! Mom and Brandon decorated the house--it turned out great! Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes, cards, thoughts and presents. It really means a lot to me!

HodgePodge of Pictures!

Sadie and the battle for the plate!

Alan "wearing" my crown!

My "big" gift from Alan. I had been wanting a right hand diamond ring for a few years now! Didn't Alan do good?

Gifts from Mom and Brandon!

Bubba!

Me and Big Al!

Alan's Wrestling Face!

Doesn't he look cute? Enough said!

Suzanne Sugarbaker

Here is me in my Crown!! Ever since I was a teen (or maybe before), my family always called me Suzanne Sugarbaker. I thought (and think) that every girl deserves a crown. My Mom makes sure that every birthday I have one!

My Cake!

I really got spoiled this Birthday!! Alan made me a wonderful German Chocolate Cake. It was so good! It was the first chocolate that I'd had in almost a month. Well worth the wait!

Early Birthday Present!

This Wednesday I will celebrate the big 3-0. My Mom gave me my Birthday present early! We got new furniture with our tax return. Once it got moved in we realized how bad we needed a new entertainment center! It looks really good and we are enjoying it! Here are some pics! THANKS MOM! Once we get some stuff for the walls and some of pictures enlarged, I think our living room will be just what we wanted!!

13 Pounds!

We are now a week and half into our work out and just about three weeks into our "life style change" (AKA as DIET) and I've lost 13 pounds!!!!! I'm so excited. I haven't weighted again since last Sat...I asked Alan to hide the scale so that I wouldn't step on them everyday. I hope to weight in tomorrow. We are walking a mile and doing some of the weights. I'm huffing and puffing less and less--as soon as I stop we are going to step it up to a mile and half! As I lose more and more I will start posting pics.

We have a big week coming up. I hit the big 3-0 on Wed and my Brother has his birthday on Sat. We are going to the zoo on Sat with my Mom and Brother to celebrate. I will post pics of all the excitement!

Walkin'

We joined the Multi-purpose center today. The center is so much nicer than I had expected. B-ball courts, walking track (that's padded), weight machines, pool tables, rooms for conferences, etc. Eight times around the track makes a mile-WE MADE IT EIGHT TIMES. I would have liked to have gone some more, but I was afraid of over doing it...I had to have knee surgery several years ago and if I do too much it can flare up. Anyhow, I'm also down another two pounds, so that makes 8!

Down

The last few days I have felt really down. I don't know if it is because of my impending birthday (yes, I will be hitting the big 3-0) or the fact I'm not a mom yet...all I know is that I'm down and I hate feeling this way.

On other fronts, Alan and I started a diet last Monday. I am down 6 pounds. I'm really excited and for some reason, I'm really motivated. We are going to join our town's multi-purpose center tomorrow. They have a walking track, weight machines and b-ball courts. We can use it has much as we want for about 25 bucks a month. Not bad! I'm hoping that once we start walking, the weight will really start coming off!

I have started reading a great book called Hannah's Hope. I'm hoping that it will be give me some idea of how to handle all that I'm going through. I think I might write a little summary of each chapter--what to you think?

Strep Throat and Double Ear Infection

For the last 3 or 4 weeks, Big Al has been battling a cold. I was so doing so good--hadn't caught it. Wednesday morning I woke up with a horrible sore throat. Thought Okay, it is from drainage. Well, two days later and several slushies later, my throat was worse. This morning when Alan checked it and my tonsils was really swollen but no white patches. I had lunch with my Mom and since she is a nurse I had her check it out...the dreaded white patches. Luckily, my doc here in town was able to get me in. The verdict is strep throat and ear infections. I think he was more concerned with my ears than my throat. I feel really bad--Big Al is taking good care of me! Hopefully, I'll get a day or so of the antibiotic in my system and I'll be good as new! He also gave me some of the good cough syrup--I hope I can get a good sleep tonight!

Putting an End to Self-Pity

As many of you know, I work in an eye doctor's office. One of my many job duties is helping patients pick out and fit them for glasses. Well, one day we had a girl come in and right away I noticed that she was extremely skinny and obviously was wearing a wig. I immediately thought that this girl has cancer. After reviewing her paperwork, I saw that I was right. She has been battling cervical cancer for 6 years. This girl is just 23. I've been stuck in a rut and feeling sorry for myself--seeing this girl and knowing that everyday she battles for her life made me realize that I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself and be grateful for what I have (a wonderful hubby, mom and bubba who love me, life itself, a home, a good job, etc). I know someday that I will be a Mom. I just have to put my faith in God--that in his time it will happen.

Pics of Big Al and the Kitties!

Alan is gonna kill me when he sees these pics!

Whoo Hoo! We Got Our Furniture!

The delivery guys made their appearance today!! We are so happy that we decided to slurge and buy new stuff! It was well worth the money! Has promised, here are a few pics of the new stuff. Take note: not everything is set up the way we exactly want it...we need a new coffee table, pics to hang up and a new entertainment center...we figure it will take a few months to get everything the way we want it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We just wanted to wish everyone a happy day! I've been joking with Alan that our day isn't going to be very romantic--we are in the process of cleaning our living room--we kicked our salute to American couch to the curb, moved everything else out--after we eat at Mom's we are going to come back and shampoo the carpets! Talk about romance!! Here is a pic of the flowers Alan sent me!

We Got New Furniture!

I'm so excited! We went to Dixie Furniture on Saturday and got us a new couch and chair. They are so pretty. The only bad thing is that they can't deliver it until Thursday (which works out good so we can shampoo our carpet!). We did buy new cranberry colored curtains and lamp shades--they are so pretty! Has soon as we get the new stuff, I'll take some pics and post them!!