Empty Nest Syndrome

I haven't written in a long while, I've been enjoying this summer with Nikki home, Kaite, & Jeff. Well here we are it's August and today Nikki has left for school, but this time she has an apartment with 3 other roommates and is not planning on coming back home next summer. So I am going to use this blog as my journal to write about the "empty nest syndrome". I would like to find a group of other women who are going through the same thing. I have a couple of friends who are, but I would be nice to share tips and feelings about your children leaving and growing up.

So, I have an empty room now and not really sure what to do with it? I do need to paint it but then what? Should I leave it empty for a while, make it into a craft room or "my" room to escape everyday stresses, or how about an excerise room. The possibilities are endless I know, but for now I think I'll leave it empty.

Then you have the mother "worries", will she have enough food to eat, will she find a job, will she pay her bills on time etc. Just because your child leaves home doesn't mean you don't worry anymore. I think you worry more some. I hope that I have taught her life lessons well but I guess only time will tell. You want them to grow up and be able to take care of themselves but the same time the first time she needs something you want to help right away.

My daughter the one who brings life, laughter and sometimes drama into my house is headed back to school and I miss her already. Yeah she'll be home Monday sometime and then she'll leave Tuesday afternoon (for her hair appointment) but other than that we don't have any plans to see each other until Thanksgiving, what will I do now?????? It makes me sad to see her leave and happy at the same time because she is experiencing life like I never had an opportunity too and for that I am so happy for her and glad she has the chance to do so.

So my daughter, take good care of yourself, have fun at school and be safe. Know that if you ever need me for anything I am and will always be here for you. I love you very much!

Momma

Patience is a virture

So I have been told...Yeah I know this, yet I have no patience, at least I don't when it comes to my foot injury. It's been since the end of April where my foot has been in some sort of cast and I have another week until my next doctor's appointment. Honestly, it is not any better. I've been doing some reading about the achille's tendonitis and the neuroma, it appears that this may take a long long time to heal. The worst part is not being able to drive because it is my right foot UGH!!! I have to rely on the girls, Jeff or some guys from work to drive me around. That and I haven't been able to work in my garden. I started re-doing the front yard before this happened but I didn't get far. I know, I know things could be a whole lot worse (luckily we both are still working) so I shouldn't feel sorry for myself, it just really sucks when you have to be dependent on people to get anywhere. I am not a person who likes to ask for help! No way, not me, but I am learning to ask for assistance and realizing it is okay to ask for help. I would help anyone in a minute if they needed it, so why is it hard for me to ask for help?! I think it is a "Brown" trait. LOL For now I'll rest my foot and try to stay off of it and hope that it heals soon so I can get back to my workout routine. I think I've gained a few pounds since being really sedentary.

Drama Banquet

Tonight was Kaite's drama banquet for this year. It's hard to imagine that she will be a senior soon. I know alot of these kids in drama and I must say that they are all very talented kids. They put alot of hard work and dedication into the program and I am proud of all of them. Ms. Battice our director is awesome! She does a wonderful job with the kids and program too. She requires alot from them but in return we are rewarded with a wonderful show.

Tomorrow is Jeff's 46th birthday and this past week we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Where does the time go?! Jason and Nicole are coming over tomorrow for a barbecue. Jason will also be helping his dad work on his truck (it broke down last week-end when we were driving up north and towing our trailer). Afterwards, I am hoping for a bon fire or some family game playing Cranium. We all enjoy playing that game!

Sunday is the first of many graduation parties we have to go to this year. It's for my bosses daughter Janae. I just love her. She worked with me last year as our administrative assistant. She's really smart. I wish her all of the luck in the world and I know that she will be successful in whatever she chooses to do.

Some pictures from the banquet tonight. Kaite won the mock award for the person mostly like to get "lost" while driving. This is pretty funny since we got lost on the way to the banquet LOL!

Changes

Learning how to customize my blog...sorry for the changes. The picture, of course, is from Jeff and taken off of our deck in the backyard. He's love for photography is quite evident. I think he even has a flickr account?!

Day 1 - another beginning

I don't believe in diets!!! There I said it, however, I do believe that a person has to eat healthy food in moderation so that is what I am going to try to do. My goals are quite simple yet they will take every effort of my being to obtain them. If they weren't hard I wouldn't be hear in the first place
so here goes:

1. No snacking at night after dinner.
2. Eat smaller portions (listen to your stomach).
3. Excerise!!! (when foot is better - until then try to do upper body)
4. Love yourself for who you are RIGHT NOW!!! TODAY!!!
5. Reward yourself when you have reached a goal.

So those are the long terms goals and with that I hope to lose about 50lbs. Yep 50lbs or more depending on what my body says. I would like to be a size 6/8 today I am a size 14/16.

When Kaite gets back from Mackinaw I am going to take a beginning picture of my body and hopefully each week another picture as I progress through this change :)

Bad Foot

Well the doc said yesterday that I have to keep my foot wrapped and in the ortho boot another 2 weeks..... damn! I was really hoping to be able to start working out again. I think I might try ago this week just to do some upper body excerises. (However you spell it). Anways, thats my plan for now. Will check back later.

Accountability

Isn't that what we all need? Someone or something to hold us accountable for our actions. I am hoping that this blog will do just that for me as I try to change lifetime bad habits into better ones.

Bad habit No. 1 - Always having a snack at night, even if I am not hungry.
Bad habit No. 2 - Eating when I am already full or to large of portions.
Bad habit No. 3 - Emotional eating.

Better habit No. 1 - Don't eat after dinner!
Better habit No. 2 - Eat 1/2 portion sizes and listen to your stomach.
Better habit No. 3 - Journaling.

They say it takes 3 weeks to break a bad habit, hopefully that is true because these habits I have had all of my life :(

Daniel said on the biggest loser the other day "NEVER GIVE UP" and that is what I am going to do - NOT GIVE UP!!

"The Queen of England"

Nikki's version of trying to get Justin to say "England"
as in the Queen of England.

More Easter Pics

Easter

Easter was a GREAT day. We celebrated Easter with my family on Saturday, because I was suppose to take Nikki back to school on Sunday. Everyone came over for dinner, though unfortunately I didn't cook my ham too well, it was to dry. I love seeing everyone and catching up with all of us.

Jason & Nicole come over about 6:30 PM just in time to see my parents and his Uncles etc. Nicole had to work on Saturday so that is why they were late. After everyone left we played Cranium (he brought the game with him), it was guys against the girls, than couples Jeff & I + Kaite. Nikki & Justin won that game. Finally around 10 PM the kids decided to color easter eggs, I guess your never to old to color eggs. We finished around 12:30 AM. I made Easter baskets for Kaite and Nikki/Justin. They were filled with a chocolate bunny, jelly beans, chocolate eggs (no peeps).

Sunday, Nikki was able to get a ride to school so she and Justin spend some time with his family. Jeff, Kaite and I went to see the movie "I love you Man", it is definantely not a movie a guy should see with his daughter. Kaite got a big laugh out of it, but not Jeff. Then we had dinner at Texas Road House. It really was a nice week-end. I finally took some pictures too:

Random Things

So we lost the court case of the man suing us for the accident involving Nikki. Now we are suing the man who hit Kaite. There is such a thing in Michigan called a "mini tort" where you can sue the other driver for the maximum amount of $500.00 if you can prove they hit you. Well we should win the case with Kaite, but I don't want to get to cocky.

Work sucks right now as we have no work to speak of. I can't wait until all this crap is over with GM and Chrysler. It's like everyone is just waiting around to see what is going to happen. Jeff's job so far is okay. Last quarter Eaton laid off 8500 people nationwide but he is still there.

Kaite started her first job on Monday (though she worked for me last summer) at Cold Stone's. She says she likes it. I think it is harder to work with family though.

Going to see Nikki this week-end with my mom. We plan on doing some gambling and shopping. Nikki will join us on Friday and Meggan will be up at CMU for the football game on Saturday. Hopefully the 4 of us can get together for dinner or something.

Working out 3/4 days aweek on a treadmill, and bike at EZ Fitness. Stopped going to Curve's due to a back injury. I like the treadmill alot better not as hard on my back.

Daddy knixed the Kitty Idea

Well Daddy said no to Kaite on the kitty. She was a little disappointed but the reality is that with her new job (Cold Stone's), school and drama she's really not going to be home much. I have my dog Molly and Jeff has Buddy. These two are more than I need right now. So bye bye kitty, Jason will probably keep you so we'll still get to see her.

New Camera

So I finally got a camera!!!! YEAH, and I have taken a couple of pictures of Jason's new kitties. Now the calico one is the one that Kaitlyn would like to have, but first she has to ask her Daddy.

Lawsuit

So, the guy that Nikki hit in December is now suing us for his $500 deductible in small claims, IDIOT!!! We or I should say Jeff & Nikki go to court in April, but after reading the police report that was made 3 weeks after the accident, hopefully the judge will see that this was caused by the weather - YOU Think!! The guy says he was backing out into the intersection of the parking lot when Nikki was coming down the intersection and Nikki stopped suddenly to avoid hitting him, but she slid into him, now do you think maybe he should have looked before backing out of a parking spot to make sure no one was coming? And then lets not forget about the parking lot not being plowed and with 7 inches of snow.

On a funny note we got a letter from "Judge Alex" offering Jeff and Nikki to audition for their show and take our small claims case to tv. If they are accepted they would pay their travel expenses, lodging and if we lose the judgement. That is pretty funny. Of course Nikki wanted to do this but not Jeff - no way!! I don't blame him, they do sometimes make the defendants look like idiots.

The Biggest Loser

So I watched TBL last night, I love this reality show. It's the only one I watch. But wth, why would the producers make it "to be continued". Of course they would, now I have to watch it next week to see if anyone is voted off the ranch. The contestants of this show are truly amazing. They are all such an inspiration to the rest of the world trying to lose weight. I know though that losing 90lbs in 9 weeks is typically unheard of. I guess if any one of us had 4/5 months to do nothing but focus on our weight loss we could do that too. But still to come so far and lose so much weight and to listen to their stories, is an inspiration. I can relate to alot of what they say.

MIFA-Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Assocation (aka) competitive speaking

Yesterday was Kait's first tournament for Forensics and she did quite well. I was very proud of her and all of the students who competed. She placed 2nd in her first round, 3rd in her 2nd round and then finally 4th in the last round. Unfortunately, she did not make it to the semi finals but overall she did quite well. Her fellow student John placed 1st in the finals for his reading in the "poetry" segment of the competition. Way to go Anchor Bay!!!

On a side note - I need a camera, I don't want to take Jeff's Rebel as it is too big and expensive if anything happens to it. Just a little camera would be great.

Winter SUCKS!!

Okay, so today we have had about another 7" of snow. I have to tell you that I am sick of the snow already. This has been an extremely snowy year for us in Michigan. I love the 4 seasons that Michigan has to offer buy enough of the snow already!!!

Going outside now to blow the snow away :(

It's Been So Long...

Well it's been quite a while since I last posted on my blog. Work has been extremely busy, than the holidays were here before we knew it. But now that things are settling down some I thought I would try to keep my blog going for a while longer. Not much has happened lately, well maybe not exactly, Kaite got into a car accident right before Thanksgiving. Some idiot rearended her while she was stopped to make a left hand turn. It turns out this idiot had no insurance on his car either. So now I'am stuck paying over $1,000 in deductibles and doctor bills (kaite had a bad headache and whiplash). Then as she was driving to the collision shop to get the car fixed, she was in another accident, this time she hit a car and was hit from behind because some other idiot slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting a mail truck which then caused the 4 car accident. Then get this after our car was in the shop 3 weeks plus $7000 later to fix the damn thing, Nikki and Jeff picked up the car, well on that day we had one of the biggest snow storms of the season like 10 inches of snow, anyways Nikki drove the car from the collision shop to work, she works at Jimmy Johns. Anyways for some stupid reason her boss had them out delivering subs and on a delivery (not an hour after they picked up the car), she and another guy both couldn't stop their cars and "wham" banged into each other. OMG!!! Luckily no one got hurt and it is only minor surface damage to the wheel fender. I think we'll wait until spring to fix it this time. The holidays were great, I loved staying home on Christmas this year and having all of my kids there. We had a great time at Mom's house this Christmas Eve. I think the highlight of the night came when we were able to talk to Rusty through Nikki's laptop webcam. Mom called me the next day and thanked me for that and told me that it was awesome. Well I hope that everyone who reads this has a wonderful, happy, healthy New Year!!