Introducing a new chapter – The Fantastic Four

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It was my plan to start blogging again this year so I did all this research and bought all these courses to help me get started again….. I wanted to share my adventures in this world as a woman in her forties who loves makeup and fashion and how despite my health problems I still can keep it cute lol 😝. Unfortunately, looking cute has been the last thing on my mind. Being responsible for 4 new little ones has been extremely hard. I have 3 of my own kids that I’ve pretty much raised…….. my baby girl just turned 18 😫😫 on January 9th and she’s going to graduate in June and then I’m done right…..wrong! My new babies are 3, 5 (just turned 5 on the 21st) 6 and 9…… I know….. I know. Pray πŸ™πŸ½πŸ™πŸ½πŸ™πŸ½ for me please.

My life has been turned upside down and I’m really going through it…..I really hate to complain but I seriously need to vent and just scream 😱 (well on paper anyway). Due to circumstances out of my control, I’ve recently been given temporary custody of my three nieces and nephew. I love these kids with all of my heart ❀️ but I’m so overwhelmed.

One of my biggest issues is that it’s a major change and challenge in my home. We went from a family of four (where everyone pretty much did their own thing every day and night) to a family of eight overnight…. it’s been crazy to say the least. Now we have homework, home cooked meals, I’m literally slaving over the stove for them, bath time and playing referee between everyone. I really have to depend on my family to help me out. Without their help there’s no way I could even try this. So big shoutout to Zariah and Zamia and my hubby ❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️ I pray everyday for their sanity as well…even our dog has had to make some changes. (Not that he minds at all lol).

Anyway…….I’m still in heart failure (18yrs) and dealing with all my other health issues…… I know certain people always thought that I was sleeping a lot because I’m lazy but the reality is that I’m sick….. Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia and a few smaller ones….. (and it’s truly a blessing that I don’t look the way I feel, but then it’s deceiving because I’m always trying to be cute lol πŸ˜‚…… I mean, who wants to look sick??). The truth of the matter is that I’m very stressed out and it’s not good for my health but there’s nothing I can do…. my anxiety levels rise so high when I think about them going into foster care or being separated…..so that’s not even an option!! Family has to take care of family ❀️.

It is such a huge responsibility to raise someone else’s children…. especially when the children have special needs that you’ve never dealt with… My nephew (the 9yr old) has ADHD and man……..let me tell you…..that condition is no joke. He is on medication for it but the pills don’t last long and when they start to wear off his impulse control is null and void. He’s always getting into something and to say it’s nerve wracking is literally to say the least….smh. The girls are definitely much easier but they each have their own issues as well and let’s just keep it real…they’re toddlers and what do toddlers do? EVERYTHING πŸ€¦πŸ½β€β™€οΈ….they fight, argue, cry and throw tantrums… all the time. Oh yeah…..can’t forget this…they all eat like four big linebackers playing for the Denver Broncos πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚. Don’t get me wrong for the most part they are all great children with awesome personalities. Its just that when you have to deal with those new personalities 24/7 times four people it can be overwhelming. Although I must say to hear them say “I love you aunty” and give me big hugs and kisses…..those moments are priceless.

So in closing I guess I’m just reintroducing me and my family to you again……I’m going to be sharing my adventures with my new family and managing everything with my health. I hope my adventures can be encouraging and upbuilding for those who are reading my blog….please follow and share if you enjoyed this post.

Until next time…..

J.

οΏΌ

Kim Porter….May she Rest In Peace

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A beautiful mother of four beautiful children… My condolences to her family and friends and many loved ones. As a woman over 40 who deals with so many health issues her death really hits home for me…. we’ve all read that she had pneumonia for a few weeks and wasn’t getting any better and maybe just maybe if she had went back sooner she would still be here….no one knows for sure. πŸ˜”

No one has said exactly what she died from but I want to take this opportunity to remind all of us to be advocates for our health. If something doesn’t feel right please go get it checked out and make sure that you’re heard!! Especially as mothers….we make sure our babies are well taken care of but sometimes we forget about us….

(I am definitely not a model I just wanted to try to recreate a picture of this beautiful woman.)

Revelations 21:3;4 – With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: β€œLook! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4Β And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

First 10lbs down!!!

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So yesterday was my weigh in day and I’ve officially past the 10lbs mark…actually, I’ve lost 11 whoooo hooooo!! (From my heaviest weight I’m actually down 25, but lost the 11 in a month on Optifast & exercise). I can’t tell you how good it feels to step on that scale and see it go down, it’s so encouraging to see how my hard work is paying off… So having said that I’ve decided to show some of my before pictures and my now pictures….sigh, this is very hard for me to see and to show, but maybe it will encourage others…please be kind πŸ™‚

Also the pictures are actually 25lbs ago, and ugh. Lol

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The first 2 are my before and the last 2 I just took..I tried to wear the same dress to show my weight loss…you can at least see it in my face, I hope lol πŸ™‚ and yes I know I look tired.

(Sorry cousin I couldn’t cut you out of the picture.)

Got some news about my Diabetes

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Hello all I got some great news today…I don’t need to be on insulin anymore!!!! Whoo hoooo…me and my wonderful nurse practically did the happy dance over the phone! As I told you guys I had actually forgotten about my diabetes I wasn’t kidding…I haven’t even checked my blood or did my insulin in over 2 months….I decided I was going to change my attitude about food.

One thing that really helped me was the fact that I became a vegan 8 months ago but I was still eating poorly as a vegan..too many carbs!! I did lose 14 pounds on my own before I joined Med Fit, but I realized (and talked to my doctor about it) if I could get the weight off quick that would really help my diabetes.

I just want to let anyone know if your dealing with your weight or diabetes, you can get through this…it’s like one of my favorite passages:

And this too, shall pass

You have to decide for yourself to put you first…it’s ok. As parents we always want to take care of our kids first or our spouse, maybe even our parents…but now it’s time to take a look at the person in the mirror and make them a priority.

My first suggestion is for you to go see your doctor, find out what your A1C is and then ask for all the information you can get…I know at Kaiser you can attend classes, web help, pamphlets and you get your own diabetes team and you have wonderful nurses like mine named Rebekah (she is so understanding & encouraging).

And we circle back around to what we all need; support. Don’t worry, you CAN do it! Nothing should hold us back from being the best we can be!! Set some goals, maybe small, like no soda, or l will walk 3xs a week for 30 minutes. Whatever it is let’s start striving to reach some goals. I’ll start with mine & you can do the same or make your own…and since I know my doctor is going to ask me tomorrow anyway I might as well have them lined up lol.

1. I will exercise at least 3xs this week but the goal is for 5.
2. I will take 15 minutes a day and just reflect, meditate, or journal.
3. I will lose 2 pounds this week. (Hopefully more but let’s just see lol)

(Got this great idea from another blogger named No fries for 365, his name is Jason & he’s awesome check out his blog)

In closing I want to say in total I’ve lost 23lbs, soo if I get the next 2 and make it to 25…I’ll share some pics of me…lol. I may even tell you my weight. So anyway & as always 1-1,000 pounds, we can do it!!

J