Introducing a new chapter – The Fantastic Four

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 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 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 😂…… 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 🤦🏽‍♀️….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 😂😂. 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…..

Jan 07

A little bit about me….

Breaking up is so hard to do…..

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I’ve loved you for so long….we have this terrible love/hate relationship and I can’t do it anymore… I wrote you a letter a few weeks back but somehow I let you wine & dine me back into this terrible relationship. You beat me, you kick me, you mock me and you make me hate myself at times…this relationship has to end now!!! I just can’t do it anymore!! I do know that if I stay in this relationship one day you ARE going to kill me, and I have too much to live for..

This relationship is a typical example of domestic violence…..the sad thing about it…it’s with food.

(I actually wrote this last week but didn’t post it…thought I’d share, maybe it will encourage someone else too…please know I’m in no way joking about domestic violence! Me and my doctor talked about this vicious cycle that people with eating problems go through & she likened it to an abusive boyfriend and that’s when I wrote this….)

Can you relate?

Dec 14

My heart is heavy…

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This isn’t a post today about weight, it’s about the tragedy that happened today in an elementary school where more than 20 people lost their lives today…

I’m praying for everyone who has been affected by this needless crime!! I don’t know how a 20 year old could kill his parents and then children….why, why, why???

So senseless and violent! So for anyone in the cyber world who reads this, please be loving and forgiving to one another…if someone cuts you off driving…it’s ok, if someone steps on your shoes….it’s ok, children if your parents say no to something you really, really want…it’s ok, parents if your having a hard time paying the bills…it’s ok.

Whatever we are going through…it’s ok…our lives do have value so never feel like its ok to take a life…even if its your own…IT WILL BE OK!!!

I live in Colorado and we have had some of the most senseless crimes; Columbine, and the aurora movie shootings and others…and I ask myself why!? Then I realize…..these really are the last days….

My prayers are with mankind!

(Edit: I include the families in china as well and any other countries!!)

Nov 07

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 🙂

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

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 🙂 and yes I know I look tired.

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

Nov 05

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!!