Gen Gets Fit

I never had a problem with weight when I was young. 

I was always the skinny scrawny kid. I didn't break a hundred pounds until I was 17 years old. I don't think it was genetic, both my parents were over weight. I was a very picky eater, I only drank water and I was the only one in my family that loved wheat bread(still do), and if it had vegetables in it I didn't touch it. I lived on ramen, hot cheetos, pizza, fries and strawberry nutrigrain bars. I made up for my poor diet with physical activity. I was a gymnast, a dancer, a swimmer, and a cheerleader. Sometimes doing all theses things in one day.

I got married when I was 17 and finished my senior year of high school at home. We moved across the country to Mississippi then to Georgia, because of this I was no longer very active. Then a week before my 18th birthday we found out we were expecting our first baby.

Two things happened, the doctor said I was underweight and needed to gain more than the normal for a pregnancy. The second was I believed him and justified every bite into my mouth and started "eating for two". I unfortunately gained 50 lbs.

The benefit of being so young was that it wasn't very difficult to lose. The pounds were falling off pretty quickly. I lost 35 of them in 6 months with out much work. I also found out we were expecting our second baby!

I gained another 40lbs and welcomed a beautiful baby boy. This time I was a year older. The weight was a little more stubborn this time. I actually had to put in a bit of effort but I was able to lose most of it from this pregnancy, 35 lbs. I still had the 15 from my first baby and 5 from my second, 120lbs was not bad but we found out we were pregnant again!

This time it would be different, I knew I didn't have to gain so much weight, I knew I was not "eating for 2". I was working out regularly. But for some reason I didn't understand why I gained 15 pounds in the first trimester. It was TWINS! That explained it. You see I am fortunate enough to not get morning sickness so I never have a period of time where I can't keep anything down so I just ate and it stayed put. LOL.

Sadly at the beginning of the second trimester we lost both of our babies. I went into depression. It took all I had just to take care of the 2 kids we already had that I didn't do much else. So those 15lbs stayed with the 20lbs and I just kept adding from there.

A few months later we were expecting again. Since I was still depressed from our loss, I didn't try hard to stay fit or healthy and the 20 lbs I gained stuck after baby was born.

We were once again expecting. I gained another 20 lbs. Making my weight at delivery 175 lbs! (Holy cow) I am a very short woman so that is huge on a 5ft frame.

As I look back, now I see that I was depressed for a few years. I didn't care much about my appearance.

I finally decided I was ready to work on my self. I started to watch what I was eating and started walking. Not a huge change but just enough to kick start. I was able to lose about 10 lbs. In about 18 months. It wasn't a huge loss and it took a long time, but I also had 4 kids, to care for.

Baby #5 was on the way. We knew she was going to be our last and I decided to just enjoy my pregnancy and not stress about weight gain. I would work hard after she was born. I did just that gaining a wonderful 20 lbs. Unexpectedly she was born via cesarean section, my only one and the recovery was much harder than I could have ever imagined. After an infection and a ripped open incision, I added a few more pounds.

I topped the scale at 187 lbs!

I knew I was over weight, and I knew that I had a lot of work to do, but I never thought I was fat; until I saw a picture of myself. I didn't recognize that person. That is not who I saw when I thought about what I looked like. It was very eye opening.

I made up my mind it was time to change that picture. 

My youngest baby will be 3 years old in a month. I wasn't sure I was ready to share what I have accomplished because I am not where I want be yet, but I am proud of how hard I have worked.

I have lost 30lbs so far. I will continue to work hard to make it to my 130lb goal.

I thank my wonderful husband who through it all has always told me I am beautiful and sexy. I am so happy that I am finally starting to feel that way again.

These were taken at my heaviest and this morning. 

Moving Forward in Faith

   I know God has a plan for each of us. I know He hears and answers our prayers. I know that if we have faith and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost that God and Jesus will guide us in our life to the places we need to be and the people we need to meet. I know that having faith and trust can be hard. I know that the Lord doesn't give us what we want, but what we NEED, and if we are lucky to be in a good place spiritually then what we want from the Lord and what we need line up. I know that this is not usually the case. In my life God gives me what I need until I learn to make it what I want. 

    It has been a little bit over 2 years since we started our traveling family journey. (The Start) This was supposed to be a short term thing, maybe a couple of months. Then it turned into a year, now we are 2 years in. 

    Over the past few months Colt and I both felt like we were ready to settle down and make a life somewhere. We had a few places in mind. Colt and I searched tirelessly for months looking for an open position for him. Screen images of job descriptions, applications, and resume submit buttons were burned into our retinas. I don't know how many places or jobs he tried for. I do remember the ones that called him. One afternoon, 2 days since my last search, I found the perfect one, something Colt could do very well, and in the place we wanted to be. He applied and sent his resume right away. Two days later they called him and informed him that they had filled the position the same day he applied. They were disappointed because they said Colt would have gotten it for sure if he were just a day earlier. Our hearts were crushed. We felt defeated. We felt lost. A couple other offers came but we declined them due to their location (the northeast and our family do not mix). 

   In our moments of frustration we realized that we had been praying and telling the Lord what WE wanted. We were not taking the time and softening our hearts to ask what HE wanted for us. Slowly our hearts began to soften and our minds began to change. We still wanted some peace of mind by having some sort of plan. We have learned that God answers prayers in may different ways. We also know that we are blessed with agency. Through out our marriage God has left it up to us to make the biggest course changing decisions, then to seek His guidance and conformation of our choices. This time was no different. After much prayer and fasting Colt and I made a decision and made a plan, then we continued to counsel with the Lord, asking for conformation of our choice and plan. 

   Our choice and plan: We are for sure here in NYC until June and we will enjoy it. There was a reason we missed out on that "perfect" job and even if we don't know why we trust that the Lord does, but we will continue our search for the new "perfect" job. If Colt doesn't get the promised promotion and raise in May then we move on, putting all of our efforts into finding a stable position even if that means making compromises in our desired location, and pay. If Colt gets the promised raise and promotion we will forgo our job search and commit to our current life style of being on the road for the next year. Then reevaluate in one year's time. 

   So there you go. The apples are on the table, so to say.We didn't have conformation right away, but we kept moving forward with faith and trust. Until one day when the Lord gave us an answer plain as day and one that can not be argued with. 

 

   Colt's boss came to NYC to meet with a few people earlier this month( there was some "office drama" going on and since Colt is site lead he was middle man between employees and managers). He met with Colt for awhile. Colt called me after his meeting, he was given a promotion and a raise. It was March we weren't expecting it until May. We both sighed and felt like a weight was lifted off of our shoulders. God gave us our answer. He made it clear. Colt and I both said at the same time, "you know what this means." 

    I was first filled with joy and relief. Then quickly came on the tears. This was not what I wanted this was not what I was hoping for. At that moment I went to my bedroom to pray. I poured out my heart to my Heavenly Father. I told Him how much I didn't want this. I told Him how sad I was. I told Him my concerns for my children. I told Him I was done living out of a suitcase. I told Him I was done. I begged Him to let me know why. I begged Him to help me understand. Until just then I felt like He was there with me, that He was there listening and just waiting for me to listen and give Him a chance to speak to my heart. After a moment of just tears I began to feel peace in my heart and my spirit began to calm. I pleaded with Him to help me to accept and embrace. Then I knew all was going to be well. I knew that He understood my heart. I knew that He has a plan. I knew that it is now up to me to trust in Him and have faith.

 

   He gave us our answer in His time and in His way. He heard our pleas. He gave us the comfort we needed. Now it is up to us to move forward with faith and trust in Him. 

 
 I am sharing this because I know it will be hard for people to understand especially our family and friends. We often get questions and comments of concern for our family. Trust me we worry that we am messing up our kids for life, enough for everyone that is concerned, thanks. Also it is easier to explain it here then to repeat it and feel like we have to defend our decision to everyone, over and over. We love you all and are hoping that you can love and support us as this was not an easy choice to make. We do know that right now for our family it is the right choice.

Until next time. I love you C,M,B,C,E and L!

They Miss The Beach

It was a cold snowy day in February. I came back up to our apartment after a great work out in the basement gym and this is what I found. 

The kids had set up a "beach". They used the umbrellas and our camping chairs. They used the boy's blue sheet as the water and a pillow as a surf board. They even put on swim suits.

These kids and I have missed summer so much. We miss the beaches in sunny Southern California. We are all dreaming and longing for summer time.

This was Lindy's swim suit she made.

She poked two holes in the bottom of the bag for her legs.


Until next time. I love you C,M,B,C,E and L.

Museum Fun

Eva at the bubble table.

 New York Science Museum

 

Rock wall

From December

Working on parachute drops

Now zip line drops

Bobby loved the cow eye.

Cow eye dissection

Long Island Children's Museum

In a bubble.

 
 

 Building with blocks

Switch board operator Malayna

Radio Stevens

Lindy flossing the giant teeth.

Bobby Picking the giant nose

As Lindy rowed so did the little skeleton.

Just some photos of the stuff we do at our two favorite museums in NYC!


Until next time. I love you C,M,B,C,E and L.

Broadway

Around Colt's birthday we went to see Wicked. This was my first Broadway show in NYC. It was amazing. During intermission Colt and I said how we wish we could have brought the kids. They would have loved it as much as I did, especially the girls. Unfortunately when you have a family the size we do, buying that many tickets to a Broadway show is not possible. We are hoping to be able to take them to at least one show while we are here. Well Colt and I enjoyed our night out as just a couple.

A Glimpse of Spring

     I think (fingers crossed) that winter is almost over. I survived, barely, but I survived! 

     Today was a wonderful glimpse into spring. The temperature was perfect, the high in Manhattan today was 66*F! The city is beginning to defrost. I decided that I could not waste this amazing weather, because I have been looking forward to it and I don't know how long it will last. 

     I told everyone to get dressed and ready. Packed the back pack with a few essentials while the kids quickly did some school work. Grabbed the metro cards and walked out the door. I had one idea of what to do but wasn't sure how well it would work, other than that I didn't know what we were going to do or when we would be home. All I knew was it was going to be a fun day.

     ICE SKATING!!! Back in December when the kids and I were cutting through Central park after an eye doctor appointment we came across an ice skating rink (Trump Rink). Hoping that it would be open, it was our first stop of the day. It was open!! Colt and I had no idea how this was going to work. He wasn't going to skate, just hang out on the side and take pictures. I was skating alone with 5 kids that have never ice skated before. *FUN* First of all I was amazed at how perfect the weather was, because we were skating outside. After we laced up 6 pairs of skates it was time to hit the ice. I was ready for tears and cries of frustration. So I was surprised when I didn't see or hear any(except when it was time eat lunch and time to leave). Most of the kids were naturals on the ice. I was impressed by how quickly M, B and E picked it up. C had a bit of a hard time but he never gave up, just kept trying and trying. After a few laps around holding L's hands she was starting to let go of my hands. She wanted to be like her "friends"(sisters and brothers). What do you know our 2 year old was skating short distances with out my help. Since the weather was so warm the ice was melting in some spots, and when the kids would fall there, it was like sitting in a bathtub fully dressed. Over all everyone had fun and it was a great couple of hours making life time memories. 

     After we got everyone as dry as we could (thank goodness I threw a couple of extra clothes for the little ones in the backpack) we headed on a walk through Central park. As we were walking I pulled out my phone and searched for things to do nearby. Next stop the American Natural History Museum.

     Found our way to Central Park west and 63rd and jumped on a bus to 79th(NYC has the best public transportation ever). We get up to the counter to buy tickets, 2 adults 5 kids. 

The lady asks, "How much do you want to pay?"  

WHAT? How much do I want to pay? I asked her how much would it be, $110.

"Well, I will give you $40." 

"Here are your tickets, have a great day."

BEST DEAL OF THE DAY and it could have been better(if I decided to pay less, the guy in front of us payed $5 for 2 tickets). We walked around looking at all the amazing things for a few hours. We learned a lot and saw a lot. We all enjoyed our time there and plan to go back to finish the floors we didn't get to. Finally, it was time to go. Kids were tired and hungry.

     We had a delicious dinner at The Shake Shack(for my friends out west it was kind of like a cross between Smash Burger and Culver's). Then we made our way to the subway to head home. 

     It was a great day. I am so excited to see and do NYC as the weather warms up. Hopefully this beautiful weather is here to stay, but if not this wonderful day will surely hold me over.

Until next time. I love you C,M,B,C,E and L.

Mom and L skating!

M and B encouraging C to keep it up.

Mom, L, M and C skating!

Bobby with the dino tail.

L wanted a picture with these statues from Mexico.

Dad, M,C,B,E and T-Rex!

Eva!!

Lindy!

When I get time I will have to look up why the "u" is a "v".

This was a mosaic art piece on the wall at the bottom of the stairs at the subway.
The kids loved it . E and C are pretending to swim. B and M are pretending
to hold their breath.

These are just a few pictures from my phone. I will update and post more pictures and videos soon(when I get more than 5 minutes to go through the other camera.