Call TLC, I need a show

And no, I don't want to guest star on that Honey Boo Boo sack of redneck crazy. (Fascinating though, just fascinating). I'm thinking a Sorta Extreme Couponing show. I am not truly worthy of making it on a couponing show, as I actually paid for most of the items shown, and on Extreme Couponing you aren't cool unless the store pays YOU to walk out with their shiz, but this is a $hitload of groceries for $96, right!!!!

 Here, let me get you a better shot!!!!! ****

And for anyone that is scared because I recently said that I am gung ho to lose some major poundage, and thinks I'll be shoving all those Sponge Bob Square Pants fruit snacks in my pie hole, no fear, I gladly tuck into the Fiber One bars shown in back and the Carbmaster yogurt (only 60 calories, my friends, SIXTY!) and leave the high fructose corn syrup to the ones that I love dearly. But, seriously, I sometimes get sick when I see those shows because the people buy tons of bad for you food, but I was able to rock tons of produce and turkey meat, and Cheerios and canned veggies and lowfat cheese in my $96 (as well as aforementioned bad for you food like Teddy Grahams, coffee creamer, and french fries).

Cross this off my Bucket List, finally saved more than I paid at the grocery store. SUCK IT, KROGER!!! I beat you!

If I had "eat dinner with a kid dressed up like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh" on my Bucket List, I'd be able to scratch that one off last night, as Rylan came to eat his chicken nuggets in character.

****Yes, I put all this on my table and placed it in a photo-friendly manner then got on a stool to give you a birds eye view. I also rotate the underwear in the drawer to the top of the pile when I put away folded laundry because I feel bad for the underwear that didn't get worn before I did laundry. I'm really weird and I accept that. The good news is, I am a mostly stay at home mom, so I'm training two little weirdos to be just like me. Ha HA!

Letting it all hang out

I gots something to say. I toyed with the idea of starting an entirely new blog to discuss this matter. Because it seemed to be about ME, not Rob and Sara plus one plus one more. And I don't want to bog down my family's blog with my issues.

But, I realized, my issues affect my family. And when I fix my issues, my family will benefit. And, I need my family's help to fix my issues. And, I'd like to show others with the same issues that they can fix these issues, even though they are crazy busy with a crazy family.

So, here goes. I shall bare my soul and let it all hang out.

So I weigh a whole lot more than I'd like to. I have a theory, that you can only blame post baby weight on your babies until they are 2. And, Max will be 2 in October. Truth be told? I owned 20 of the lbs I'd like to lose pre-Rylan. I was sometimes in a size 12, alot of times in a size 14. I gained 40 pounds with Rylan. Then I dropped the weight I gained with Rylan. To the exact pound and stopped. My body LOVES those 20lbs it owned pre-baby. Then I got pregnant with Max a minute later and gained the exact amount I had gained with Rylan (40 ice cream filled pounds). Which I was able to lose, to the exact number, once again, that I weighed before both children. My body SERIOUSLY LOVES those 20lbs.

Then.....I got Death Fever Feet arthritis, then I broke a toe, then I had to go on steroids like a bazillion times in a row, then I fell down some stairs and sprained my ankle, and now I have these woman issues causing me to have all kinds of crazy hormone imbalances and my body thinks its pregnant (its not) and shouldn't lose weight. During all these unfortunate events, I've been shoving large amounts of food at my pie hole and not exercising enough.  So, that 20 lbs that I needed to lose? Turned into 40 pounds that I need to lose.

It ain't pretty.

Really, really ain't pretty.

But maybe it COULD be pretty? Maybe I could turn it all around and start doing lots lots lots better? Maybe I could tell Death Fever and sprained ankles and fire ants and steroids and Adenomyosis (my lady part problem's name) to SUCK IT and get skinny despite all their meanness? Maybe life handed me lemons and I'll make calorie free lemonade?

In my adult life, I've been anywhere from a size 8/10 to a 14. Recently, I had to suck it up (and, suck it in) and buy my first ever size 16's. This is something I swore I would never do. Ever. I didn't even do this post baby.  Other people carry a size 16 and look awesome. I am 5'1 and I don't carry a size 16 well. I also have arthritic post Death Fever feet that would LOVE to have 40 pounds less to deal with. And while I like a woman being a curvy lady and not a bag of bones, I also like a healthy heart and a diabetes free body. I'd rather fix the issue now, before such problems start. I also want to feel healthy and comfortable and run and play with my kids and I want someone to say "Sara, take a pic!' and me not want to hide behind a plant, or my kid, or my husband. I want to look at said pics and think "look at me having fun with my family!" not "ugh, chins for days, boobs for weeks!"

UGH! chins for days, boobs for weeks!

Pretty sure I grew, the coat didn't shrink

So, I'm letting it all hang out on our blog. I need to lose 40 pounds. And I'm gonna bore you with the details of how I get that done. Because what will give me more umph than knowing I need to blog about my success. I've thought and prayed and asked advice about whether to put it on the blog. Whether it mattered to me that my far away family and friends and slight aquatences and, even, strangers would know my size, my struggles, and my worries. And, like I said before, I considered starting a whole new blog to document my weight loss. But then I had Rob take my before pic. The one where I wear an outfit that I will wear every time I reach a five pound milestone to show my before and after.One that looks kinda rough now and will look better as time goes on. And these two little friends showed up and grabbed my hands. And I realized, its about US, not me. And I decided right then and there that maybe other women could watch me and see that I could do this with no gym, no special diet, just a lot of heart and a whole lot of willpower. And maybe they could be inspired, as I have been by other women that did such a thing. Or my family that loves me could just watch me go from fat to not fat and say "yay Sara."

August 20, 2012. Me, my extra 40, my two crazies and my stalker dog. 

Jax turns two

I have trouble writing that title. The reason why, is that my friend, Jacki, had Jax six weeks before Max was born. As in, in six weeks MaxRo is going to be 2. I have no idea how that happened.

Jax is a deliciously precious kid, that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. Last year at this time, Jacki had some babysitter issues and we took Jax for a day or two a week. He slept in the morning and my kids slept in the afternoon and so he and I got to bond in our afternoons. He's my friend. And now he's two and he's really smiley about it. He had a kick awesome party at the Wonder Place.

Max was a safari guy

Dunno

There was produce shopping

Max took over as cashier

Ry helped

Evil Knieval strikes again

Drumming with friends, always scary to have drumsticks in Max's hand

Max's new friend, Addi, sees a camera

"Hiya Dada!"

"Hi Max's dada!"

Rylan and Chloe made a very serious cake

Side note, Chloe's mama and I went to nursing school together and lived together during our first few years as nurses. We were trouble. Fun trouble. Like dancing at the Electric Cowboy trouble. Now we're both mamas talking breastfeeding and sleep schedules and preschool curriculum and my how times have changed.

Finishing touches

Then there was a potluck of sorts

Max's train. He was obsessed

Obsessed I tell you

And, finally, the much awaited cupcakes appear. That's Jax on the left with the cape. Lurve him.

Summer 2012

Newest Little Rock fun spot. This place gave me mild to moderate heart palpitations. Lots of rocks, crazy Max, too many people and so much water.

Mr Man had so much fun though

Fully dressed bath 

Pumpkin muffins on the porch. Max with no pants. That's how we roll.

Totally normal smile

This boy has MAD swim skills. 

My favorite $11.99 I've spent in a long time. A mister. Lovely.

This is Rylan's first summer to totally love swimming. He's been wishy washy for the past two summers, but this summer he is a total fish and its so fun to watch. 

June Recap Part Deux....Devin's wedding

June 30th, our niece, Devin, got married. I didn't even know that Bella Vista had a glass chapel, but they do and its beautiful. There is a pretty little walk from the parking lot, so the chapel is surrounded by woods. Devin looked beautiful and happy and she and her new husband, Cody had a lovely day.

Rylan looking "dapper."

 Dapper Max

Ry and his cousin, Wil (bro of the bride and usher at the wedding). So sweet

 The bride's little sis, Marley doing her bridesmaid duties

Grandpa walking Devin down the aisle

Isn't it pretty?

Can I just add that when I started dating Rob, Devin was 13 and it is totally wrong that she is old enough to be married.

Ry made pals with the flower girls and together they lusted after the cake

Everything went great. That is until this crazy 3 year old dropped his pants and peed at the reception. Luckily the reception was on the porch of a bar and not that many people were on the porch. Unlucky? It was OUR 3 year old. 

Congratulations, Devin and Cody! We love you!