I'm baaaack!!!!

Life got busy, I got sick, and these things happen. lol

Seriously, I didn't think it had been this much time since my last post. I have decided to get serious about blogging. I have a lot going on, and some folks who want to share with me, so here we go. Feel free to email me if you don't see posts on a regular basis. I'm not talking every day here - that's too much pressure - but hopefully more than once a week. I've deleted my other blog, since I wasn't doing much there either.

Let's see. We're settled into country living. The kids are doing awesome in school. DH John is great. He's managed to duck every time I've attempted to use the frying pan on him. lol I was going to delete my old posts and start clean on here, but I like them so they'll stay. The farms around us are starting to green up. They have a little yellow/green look to them. It's awesome! Then again, it's Michigan. We had awesome weather in the 60's yesterday, and it's supposed to snow tonight. Crazy! The water levels are really high in our pond and water table. We needed the water, but now we have to keep an eye out for flooding.

I had a health crisis starting last fall. It started out like the flu, but got worse and worse. I ended up by Christmas not being able to function. I threw up or had bad diarrhea every time I ate. I had extreme bloating and pain. I had gas that could remove paint from the neighbor's house. Bottom line, I was incredibly sick. I slept an average of 15 hours a day. After much medical testing and treatment, I still don't have a clear diagnosis. The doctors did find a growth on my liver, which could possibly be caused by dairy, and think I have early gallbladder disease. With my doctor, we decided to handle it with changes to my diet and getting healthy. I'm limited to 25 grams of fat a day, and nothing I'm allergic to, like dairy.

I have a long list of food allergies that seems to be growing exponentially. "Cheating" and eating those was my habit. John and I decided that since I had done well with this program I was on before, I would go back to that. I signed up to go back to that at the beginning of March. I ended up being in a special program for the first 12 people who signed up in March where we get daily coaching and support. I am now working on this program. What is it, you ask? Ever hear of Marilu Henner? She has a great lifestyle that she advocates. Healthy, comprehensive, and totally doable. Our group has named itself Healthy Inspirations. If I'm still active at the 6 month point, I even get to talk with her. Check out her website at http://www.marilu.com for more information. We have a great coach and I'm so incredibly determined to succeed. After being sick, I'm so determined to not go back to bad health.

So, in addition to my normal ranting and ravings, I'll be charting my progress here for the world to see. I will eventually find the picture of me from Christmas to post as my before picture. It's not pretty. I'm bloated, pasty, in pain and look a hot mess! This weekend, I'll be working on my goals for the next year. I'm not just going to get healthy and look fabulous, I'm going to get my life together and make some other things happen. I'm so excited! I will be posting them on here so you all can keep me honest. hehehe

Hey! If you are looking for a good read, check out any of Marilu's books. She has a new one called "Wear Your Life Well" and it's awesome so far. I'm reading it as I get the time. Coming Monday I will be doing the five day "Booty Camp Blitz" at the end of the book. I just want to kick it up a notch. I started out at 225lbs on March 1st. I'm already down to 218lbs. It was 214lbs, but, um, I had a carb week last week. lol Get the book and follow along! It's going to be a blast! I got my copy at Barnes and Noble.

Well, it's off to bed for me. I've been trying to get the correct amount of sleep now. That means during the week, I'm in bed at 10. I'll be doing that on the weekends soon too. Why stay up late. I just veg on the couch anyway.

Verse for today:

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities,
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Nighty Night!