Christmas 2008

Time is short and things have been crazy. We finally got family portraits done!!! The first ever since our wedding!! It was insane. The kids were wild, Gracie would only sit still if she had a chair to sit on or my lap. Hayden was into everything. That boy is crazy, but luckily very photogenic. Unfortunately everyone is trying to get the kids to smile, meanwhile the adults have these frozen looks, just trying to figure out when the picture will be taken. All in all it will take alot before I will get Travis to do that again!!!

Halloween

This year for Halloween Hayden could not decide what he wanted to be. When he finally decided he wanted to be Superman, there were very few costumes left. So here we were in a store and in his size his choices were a policeman or Boba fett. Well he chose Boba fett. For those of you who are not familiar with ole Boba he is a Star Wars character. In the end he absolutely loved his costume and I had to pry it off of him. Princess Gracie was a Tulip Fairy and I have to say she was absolutely adorable. She actually kept her head piece on all night it was amazing.

We went trick-or-treating with some neighbors and then to a small party afterwards. Gracie went to a few houses and she would walk right up to the door. She would then stick out her camoflage treat basket and get her candy. She did also put some rocks in there too.

Danielle

Party, Party, Party

It is hard to believe that I am turning 40 in less than a week. I don't feel forty, at least not most days anyway. The closer I actually get to it the younger I feel. Life is just really good. My kids are amazing and funny and keep me on my toes.

I look better and feel better than I have in years( more to come about that). I am really looking forward to the big celebration on November 8. It is also my friend Amy's birthday the big 40 too. But she is a week older!!! We are going to barbecue, drink beer and possibly karoke. Could get verrrry interesting. For those who don't know, I can't sing worth a darn.

I am very excited because my sister Cathy is flying in on Nov. 5th for my birthday!! She has not been to visit me in Arizona since I got married 10 yrs ago!!! I can hardly wait, I haven't seen her since I went to Washington last sept for my 20th high school reunion. Also coming is my Step-brother David. He lives in NC and is one of the coolest people you will ever meet. When you combine him and my sister you know some fun is about to happen!! David arrives on the 7th just in time for the party!!! My parents are alsohere snow birding for the winter and it is going to be so nice to have so much of my family together to celebrate.

I have been on a bit of a journey this last month or so. I have been doing a very unusual diet plan called the HCG diet. For those of you who haven't heard of it I will outline how it works. For 6 weeks you give yourself a daily injection of HCG (a pregnancy hormone. low dose) and follow a very strict 500 calorie diet(VLCD very low calorie diet). The HCG releases abnormal fat in your body and uses it make up the difference in calories. For this reason you don't get hungry and you lose weight from all the places you want to.

The average weight loss is about a pound a day. I am in my last week of shots and have lost 25 1/2 pounds. And since April I have lost almost 40 lbs total, I had been trying to lose weight on my own prior to this diet. I wish I had done measurements before I started , because the inches I have lost is the most amazing thing. During this diet I really had great energy level, even a mood elevation. At times you do get bored with your food choices. But we all know how much I like veggies, it is probably easier for someone who likes them!! During the diet they actually discourage exercise, mostly aerobic. you can do light weights, or yoga. but it is not necessary for wt loss. My kinda weight loss!!

When you finish the injections you continue the VLCD for 3 more days until the HCG is out of your system at which point you begin what is called phase 3. Phase three lasts for 3 weeks during which time you eat a normal calorie intake of approx 2000 calories but continue to restrict sugar and starches. You increase your protein and can eat fats as long as you are good about staying away from the carbs.

This phase is important they say to lock in the weight loss. The diet is supposed to reset your metabolism and help you maintain. During phase 3 you continue to weight yourself daily. If at any time you go up by 2 or more pounds you immediately to what is called a "steak day" no breakfast or lunch then a large steak and an apple for dinner. and you should go back to normal the next morning. Once phase 3 has ended you slowly add starches back in watching to see which ones seem to cause wt gain for you. They report a 70% success rate for keeping it off.

I did this through a doctor but now that I know how things work I feel pretty comfortable with the diet. This diet works for men too!! If Travis can get past the injection part he is contemplating it. For those who have more weight to lose, the process can be repeated multiple times. You can build up a tolerance for the HCG so that is why they reccomend only 6 week duration.

I know it all sounds crazy, but it works. An OB I work with was the one who told me about this she did the diet in April and lost 25 lbs and has kept it off without a problem to this day. Also my friend Casey is just a week ahead of me and she has lost 30 lbs and Julie lost 23lbs. A midwife at work has lost 35 lbs!! and there are a bunch more starting it now. Of course the doctor we went to has discovered how great a $$$ maker he has and upped his prices way too high now.

I have not felt so good about my body in a long time. This process has really caused me to examine my relationship with food at a level I have never done before. I really have come to believe that saying eat to live not live to eat. I have really been aware of how my emotions play in to what kinds of foods I want and how boredom makes you want to eat. Because now if i am feeling hungry i drink some water or have some tea and usually that feeling just passes. I am hoping to create a better relationship with my body too. For the first time in my life I am thinking about exercise as something I want to do, not a necessary evil. I am planning to join the gym in town soon and go see if I can create some abs!!

Danielle

Gracie Can Walk

Our little Gracie is walking now. She is a cross between a drunken sailor and Frankenstein. Watch out she is unstoppable now.

Haydens first day of preschool

So I am feeling a little bittersweet happiness right now. Today is the big day. The 12th seems to be a big day in the Jennings household. It seems almost a bit mystical in fact. Hayden was born on 04/12/04, Gracie was born on 07/12/07 and today on 08/12/08 Hayden has his first day of school. It does seem to add a sense that today was meant to be, That everything has fallen into place correctly. All this time worrying and wondering about the logistics of finding and picking a preschool. The fact we missed out on the other public school registration and just couldn't seem to figure out what to do. By chance I happened to call one of the high school preschool programs and they said we don't offer part time. But, she had seen something in the paper about a public school program that was still open to registration and they offered part time. So I went online and found the article and lo and behold there was just the right program with all the flexibility at a great $$$. The whole experience seens to me to personify the meaning of the word Serendipity.

Last night he actually went to sleep early, apparently being possessed by the devil all day will wear a guy out. School could not have come a moment too soon. Yesterday had to be our worst day to date!!! In fact at one point I just sat down and started to cry. It is almost impossible to explain how a four year can be so naughty and difficult it causes you to temporarily lose your mind. But anyone who has had one will know what I mean.

This morning he just about shot out of bed, well not completely he does take after his Mother when it comes to mornings. He got dressed in a flash and proceeded to ask every five minutes if it was time to go to school yet.

So we all got into the van and drove the whole 10 minutes it takes to get to school. Hayden immediately made a little friend even before we got in the door. They both had Spiderman backpacks which in 4 yr old lingo makes them simpatico.

Two seconds after we walked in the door, well maybe one second. Hayden found where to put his backpack and was off like a shot to go play. He never looked back.

I talked to his teacher as long as I could drag it out. But it was really hard to leave. It is almost as if by leaving it makes it more real. It became clear to me that Hayden going only part-time in the mornings to school is more about me than him.

I told myself that he had never been in a structured school setting. He might need some time to adjust and get used to it. He will be going full time soon enough when kindergarten starts. It's all BS, it is that I will miss him. He has to be at the babysitters when I work and it feels wrong to not see him all day when I am not working. I may have to just suck it up and let him go all day, cause in the end being at school is going to benefit him more, than being at home. Ouch that realization has a little sting to it. In the end my job is to have him, love him, teach him and let him go. I will keep working on that forever I think.

Dani

August in Paradise

So here we are enjoying the Dog days of summer, ah the sweltering heat of 105 degrees. What the heck!!! I have been out of Washington now since what, 1994. Holy Cow. Where did those years go to? Anyway I digress. You really don't get used to the heat and I don't care how dry it is. It is HOT!!!! Okay enough about the weather.

Today was a landmark day. The kids and I went and toured a preschool for Hayden. It was fabulous. In a great location. Reasonably priced, so to speak. And flexible so that Hayden can go to school on days I am not working. All and all a very successful day.

The funniest part was when we walked in, Hayden just took off without a word to me and started playing. That was when I noticed there really was only about 7 or so kids there, and they were all GIRLS. That is my boy, he loves his "grills" just the way he likes it. The teacher assures me that on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (when Hayden will be going to class) there are 3 other boys that will be there.

Where did the time go, seems like just yesterday he was a baby. ahhh time flies when you are having fun.

Dani

This is slightly more complicated than I thought but, should be fun. Today is hot, surface of the sun hot as usual. Gracie is asleep for her morning siesta and Hayden is having a surprisingly well behaved morning. He cleaned his room, got dressed and brushed his teeth. All by himself!!! and I have not yelled once today!!! Wahoo!!

He is wandering around in a day-glo orange shirt with Shrek on it that has a button on it. Every time he pushes it I hear Eddie Murphys' voice saying " Smiles everyone, smiles". Hey what can I say, I am the moron who bought the darn thing.

The height of excitement for us today will be a trip to the brand new grocery store that just opened yesterday. Now we don't have to drive 20 min to get to the store now!! Hey in my little world this is exciting!!!

Who would have every believed that I would be pushing 40, living in AZ with 2 kids and a mini-van. Yes, it is true I have a mini-van. gasp. The last movie I saw in a theater was Wall=e(animated of course).

Dani

Jennings Family blog

July 2008

We have decided to join the rest of the world and create our own blog. Bear with us this will be a work in process trying to figure out what we are doing!!