Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Camping in the Woods Has Its Problems

It is days before the home school convention I will be speaking at and sure enough I got poison ivy on my chin.  Can you believe that?  We live in our camper - in the woods...but still...right before the convention?
The leaves have filled the forests.  The campground is in full bloom and pollen is covering everything.  The forest is filled with dogwoodsWith the nice temperatures the kids have enjoyed doing school and playing outside as much as possible.  But, about every fifth time they pass the ball, someone misses it and the ball flies into the woods.  Someone has to go get it, and I know there is a patch of poison ivy over the fence.  Or, maybe it was dear hubby when he hiked through the woods to get lighter wood for our campfire.  Regardless of where I got it from, I sure have it.  That is part of living in the woods.  Whether the danger be poison ivy, bears, mountain lions, weird neighbors, or snakes, we have to deal with it the best we can.
So, hopefully the witch hazel I am putting on my chin will help the poison ivy to go away.  If not, I will see you at the convention with a very bumpy, red chin!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Daddy is so Strong!


Another day in the National Forest. Each day brings new adventure and great memories. After breakfast, chores, and bible study, I took the kids for a walk. Gabriel flew by on his bike; riding on the road half the time and in the ditch the other half. Josie was pretending to be a mommy while pushing her stroller and Tytus rode his tricycle, pretending it was a dirt bike. He doesn't use the pedals but instead pushes himself along on the ground with his feet - kind of like the Flintstones.
Naomi walked by my side with her camera at the ready. My dear husband came along and cut down a tree that was hanging over the road. It was quite low to the ground and he was concerned it would poke a hole in the roof of someone's camper. Of course, the kids were impressed when daddy cut half way through the tree and then pushed it to the ground with his hands. I was a little impressed, too.
We spent the next five minutes cleaning up the branches and then continued our walk. It was a beautiful day and none of us wanted to head back. Yet, we had to. Josie and Tytus were tired and Shae had to get back to work.
It was an active day with many projects to be completed. With the convention coming up, the one I am speaking at, we have a lot to get done. I am excited to share with people about our life and travels. I only have one hour for each class and I am finding it difficult to condense everything I want to share.
Cody spent the afternoon doing voluteer work and Hanna was writing and helping with cooking. Monday is work day so we do a lot of baking for the week. She made a huge batch of rice and a pan of cornbread. Josie made the pinto beans, with help of course. Naomi helped with school for the younger ones. Shae and I did our exercise video - I still have 10 lbs to go.
Now, it is late and I am still working on the magazine. It is much easier to get things done when everyone is in bed. I just hope Shae can sleep through the noise of my typing!

Constant State of Pain


I can barely move.  In fact, I have felt this way for a couple of months. 
No, I don't have arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, or any other disorder...

I am just trying to get in shape!

I have six children.  I had my first two when I was 19 and 21 years old so the weight came off quite easy.  Then number three came along.  She weighed 10 lbs at birth and my rear end seemed to mirror her large size.  After months of work, I lost most of my weight -
EXCEPT 10 LBS.
I got pregnant with number four and gained the usual 40-45 lbs in the pregnancy - plus the 10 from the last pregnancy - I wish I didn't know how to add.
Once again, I worked hard and lost it all but the 10 lbs from the third child + 10 lbs from the fourth child which equals = 
20 lbs. + my normal weight.
Dear child number five came along and then number six, all with the same math equations.  Of course, it didn't help when the doctor put me on steroids at the end of my sixth pregnancy!

I looked like an inflated balloon!
  
(Notice the large round balloon under my dress!)
Sheris large rear covers over half of the view of a kayak!
(Notice the large portion of the kayak that cannot be seen because of my large hind end!)
One more shot to make sure you understand the extent of my weight gain.
(No, my back side is not also pregnant - even though it is as large as my belly!)
Now, these shots were taken at about 8 months pregnant, before I was put on steroids!  I know that I am joking about my size as a pregnant woman.  It doesn't bother me.  I felt beautiful and special as an amazing child grew inside of me.  But, now I am having to face the facts - either lose the weight or risk diabetes, heart disease, and a shorter life with my husband and children.  There are a lot of people who count on me and I don't want to let them down.  So, last year I began to make the extreme changes necessary to lose my weight and get in shape.
Hence, my constant state of pain, or maybe a better phrase might be soreness.  I will share some of my weight lose stories and recipes with you in my column - Womanhood under Sheri's World Section in the magazine.
Now, I have to get up and walk down the two stairs in my camper to get to the kitchen.  Ouch...my muscles do not want to move after my hard work out today.....

For more on Sheri's weight loss and how she is doing it go to their online magazine - to Healthy Living Getting the Weight Off  and visit her facebook page at The Lemonade Digest Healthy Living