Family Report, Hot Button Issues and Shrinking Ears!

Hey guys! Long time, no blog.

I know, it's been a little bit and I hope you're all well.

This is probably going to be long, so consider yourself warned!

So, thanks for the well-wishes to my brother! I'm happy to report that he's doing awesome and adjusting to his new lifestyle perfectly. I'm even more proud to tell you all that since 12/22/10 he's lost 30lbs! Bastard. hahaha JK! I'm proud of him and trying to convince myself to be happy at my accomplishments when he blows past my 50lbs+ loss in no time.

So I've got a new follower! Howdy, new follower! :)

I'm doing pretty well. I went to see DK on Thursday and I've lost 13lbs since 12/3/10. I can take that! This morning the scale read 205. I'm 6 lbs away from ONE-DERLAND!!! Insane!! It's a goal to be 199 by 2/1. I think I can, I think I can.

I was having some issues and I don't think I talked about it on here. I think it's worth noting.

I've been having RAGING reflux. Like waking up in the middle of the night choking on acid, reflux. OUCH and DISGUSTING. No matter what I ate, or what time I ate, it was horrible. it had been going on for about 3wks and not getting any better. I was eating Tums like they were going out of style and nothing was helping. I was also having a HORRIBLE throat belching problem. Like a bubble/gurgle (my DH affectionately referred to it as my "burgle from my gullet". How sweet, eh?!) that would never come all the way up. So embarrassing that even a few friends noticed it was happening a lot.

I was scared to go see DK though. I was terrified of an unfill. In my brain, and from a friend that I personally know who suffered from reflux, getting an unfill equals weight gain to me. My appt was even scheduled for the week before, but I postponed it a week to see if I could get it under control before I opted for the unfill.

When I went to see DK on Thursday, he said EJ looks great (yippy!), but that he probably thought I was a tad too tight and that was causing the gurgle and the reflux. So yep, an unfill was my best bet at relief. I was really dreading it, but now I'm happy I did it. I was at a 6.3cc in a 10cc band, and they took at .2, so I'm at a 6.1cc and it's AWESOME. I'm still pretty tight, but the reflux and gurgle were gone after one day. It's AMAZING what that slight unfill did. It's only been a few days, but I haven't noticed a change in my appetite, so I'm hoping I will continue to lose. I have a goal to get to remember!

Hmmmm, so what else. Oh good grief. Got some interesting news. My baby brother (not M) is going to be a dad. He knocked up his girlfriend. They are both 23 and have no plans for marriage. I love my brother, but he's really EFFED up this time. They both have zero education, zero stability, etc etc... I was beyond pissed when I found out, but I've come to learn and accept that some people just need to learn the hardway. I hope and pray it works out for them and they do what's right for that child. I'm also VERY thankful I live out of state so I'm away from the drama that will probably occur when it's D-day and beyond. Uggghhhh.

I've learned, well I've known this for awhile, what my hot button issue is... people who have multiple children without the means to support them and think it's quite alright to get pregnant and let 'the system' support them and their children. I can't begin to tell you how much that pisses me off.

I'm a working mom. I've planned my kids accordingly, and I bust my ass to provide for my family...and yet there are these women who think 'it's OK if I have another baby, I'll just get on Medicaid, or Wic, or whatever public assistance is offered in my area." What makes me even MORE angry is when these 'holier than thou SAHMs look down on me because I'm a working mom and how dare I let "someone else raise my children." How is it Ok that you let the government FEED your kids and yet I'M the 'lesser mom' because I work?! Uuugghhhh. See, hot button issue for me. Why am I talking about this? My brother's girlfriend, who was let go from her job for whatever reason and is now getting unemployment, decided that since she's expecting she will just get on public assistance for her and the baby. Not work, not even TRY to find a job. That REALLY tap-danced on my already irate last nerve!!! Public assistance should be available for people who are really trying to do the right thing, but have come on hard times. NOT for those that are too lazy to get off their damn asses and better their lives for their children. If you are perfectly abled, in body and mind, than there is absolutely NO FREAKIN' reason why you shouldn't be working to support your UN-PLANNED children!!!!!!!! ARRGGGHH.

I'll step off my soapbox. ;) I guess that was two hot topics for me. SAHMs vs. Working moms (you don't want to get me going off on this one either!), and the whole public assistance for unplanned pregnancies. In this day and age, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for unplanned pregnancies (well, with the exception of rape and abuse, but you know what I mean). OK, NOW I'm stepping off the soapbox!

Hmmm, what else can I bitch about?

My clothes are getting so big. I've gotten to the point that most of my wardrobe is way too big for me, and it's so aggrivating when I'm wearing a shirt or jeans that are too big on me and just hang on me. For instance, my DD and I went to JCP a week ago. I wanted to try on some clothes just to do a size check. It was snowing outside, so I just threw on some jeans, a shirt and a heavy coat. When I grabbed some clothes to try on and I looked at myself in the mirror I was disgusted. I looked like a frumpy, dis-shelved mess. My clothes were H.U.G.E. on me. Had I not had that jacket on to hide behind, I would have gone home to change. It was that bad. What an odd sensation. Upset that my clothes were too big on me. hahahah. It's the little things. You know, I could swear my earrings are fitting looser on me. Isn't that crazy talk?! Yesterday I was doing something and my ear was pressed against the side of my head and the back of my earring really poked the heck out of me. I was thinking "I don't remember the post being that long before!". Keep in mind, these are earrings that I wear 24/7. It was odd that I never noticed the posts being that long, but then I thought I wonder if my ears are shrinking too?!?! hahaha

I will say that it made me happy to wear an 18 in pants and a 14/16, XL in shirts and apparently the ears are getting smaller too! ;)