Friday, March 16, 2012

Asthma, Another Doctor Appt., A Major Visit and Weight Loss

It's been a few weeks, I think, since I posted on my Blog. It's been pretty hectic around the Cottage for about the past 3 weeks, seems like we've been living at the Doctor. It started with the Bookworm for a severe asthma attack and asthma induced cough, followed by the Princess with a double ear infection, followed by Mom with a severe asthma attack and asthma induced cough. It's been cRaZy! 3 visits later and the Bookworm is finally starting to get a little better due to an antibiotic, only took the Princess 1 visit and she is better, and Mom, well 1 round of antibiotics and 1 round of prednisone and it didn't completly work, so yesterday I was so sick that I had to go back to the Doctor today! So, two butt shots, another round of prednisone and another antibiotic and hopefully I will be feeling better soon!

So enough sickness.....the Major flew in on Sunday for work, yes work, not for pleasure. I think a lot of people misunderstand when he flies in, he's only at our home to sleep. His timetable is up at 5am and out the door for his hour drive then he is home at around 9 at night or so, enough time to spend about an hour with the kids before they went to bed for school the following mornings. Was it nice to see him for 3 short days and like 6 short hours, yes, and we are thankful, but saying goodbye again is harder than the first time. It was an early wake-up yesterday morning at 4 am to take him to the airport to fly back, add being sick on that and all I wanted to do yesterday was sleep! Praying for traveling mercies as he is on the plane headed back to the Middle East on his 14 hour flight.

So, I've been really watching what I have been eating. When you have food allergies, it makes it a lot easier to lose weight. I must read the labels on everything to make sure that I do not consume anything that has caramel coloring or turkey in it. I have also eliminated all caffiene and sugar out of my diet. To date I have lost 22 pounds, feels wonderful and it's nice to have clothes that are getting very loose! I'm looking forward to having to buy new clothes in a few months!

Things at the Cottage are on a nice schedule. Spring cleaning was done last week, and I must say that I did some serious Spring cleaning. Everything inside the Cottage, outside the Cottage and both vehicles, were all cleaned. Feels pretty nice having had nothing to do for the past days! Except for things like laundry! Of course I have also re-located my garden and have already planted the plants that can be planted now. I've planted lettuce, beets and a few brussel sprouts. I also planted some sweet pea flowers that I will be able to cut in put in the house to add some color during the Summer months. I also put in a cute little water feature in the backyard, it looks nice and the two teens and I went and they picked out one koi a piece to put in the little pond. Spring is here at the Cottage and when the pollen is gone it'll make going outside a lot more bearable!

Happy Spring!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Marching Right Into March

Where did the Winter go? Oh yeah, that's right, what Winter! It's hard to believe that today is March 1st and Spring is almost here! Which also means we're marching deeper and deeper into this deployment too, 3 months and 2 days into the deployment and 6 more months to go....

The two teens and I have been trying to stay busy with things to do while the Major is away. Now that it's getting into Spring, we actually have done months. This is the first Spring that we have had and the Princess hasn't played fastpitch softball. It feels strange not having to go to any practices, but it is also nice having some down time of just spending some good quality time together at home.

Things are going well, both teens are missing the Major terribly, I am too! I think we're all missing him more lately because all of the extracurricular activities are now over, such as wrestling. Out of all the deployments that we have been through, this has been by far the toughest. But with Faith and trust in God we are facing one day at a time and marching right along our way!

The teens are doing well in School and are really excelling! The Princess will be inducted into the High School Beta Club in a week and the Bookworm made first chair tuba in Honor Band at School! They are so proud and Mom is proud of them!

March means garden time and that's what I've been getting ready for in my wonderful backyard here at the Cottage. This year I decided to relocate my garden to another area in the back, I think it's going to be a better location with better soil, so I am hoping for another pretty terrific garden with lots of vegetables to put in the freezer and to give away to neighbors and friends.

I leave you with a thought and a verse. Just as when I plant seeds in the ground in my garden and then they begin to sprout and grow and mature into the vegetable that I will eventually consume, we are to grow in our spiritual walk with the Lord. In order to do that we must study and meditate on God's Word.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."