tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361307586322167582024-03-14T09:17:45.965-05:00How exactly did I get here?AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-46844290440938270352011-04-11T05:01:00.000-05:002011-04-11T05:01:28.740-05:0086 hours!<div class="MsoNormal">I have now gone 86 hours without a cigarette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supposedly the worse is over, but I know I’ve made it as long as 2 weeks before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time though I am making the choice to avoid all smoking areas, which won’t be hard to do at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one is smoking in my home now or my car, my hospital campus is non-smoking so I don’t leave on breaks at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t hang out at anyone’s house where there is smoking, and I haven’t been to a bar in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My down fall during my longest previous quit was being around a group of smokers who were all smoking in front of me, before I was strong enough to fight the urge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I know better.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-26864531765375502122011-04-05T03:12:00.000-05:002011-04-05T03:12:46.381-05:00Day 3-Your first love<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #282626; font-family: "Georgia Serif", "serif";">My first love was Dandelion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a fat cat, a yellow tabby, and was the perfect pet for a young child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dressed him up in doll clothes and played house with him for hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would even ride in the seat of my toy grocery cart without complaint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I adored that cat and I think he is why I have such a love for all types of animals.</span></div><br />
I know short but sweet. Day 4's topic will take me some time and may end up sounding like a therapy session.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-56806968549942263362011-04-02T03:03:00.000-05:002011-04-02T03:03:25.042-05:00Day 2-Meaning behind your blog nameThis one is pretty easy. Basically where I am in my life is about as far off as possible from where I thought I was going when I was 15 or even 18. I didn’t really want kids when I was in my teens (having my sisters be so much younger gave me enough of a taste). I wanted to go into law enforcement. I hoped to live somewhere warm, sunny, and near the water.<br />
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Instead, I am a mom, who works as a nurse, and we live in Mid-Missouri.<br />
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So… How exactly did I get here? <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-55618218307705237242011-04-01T05:48:00.000-05:002011-04-01T05:48:53.567-05:00Exciting NewsI’m going to be an aunt!<br />
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Ok, I guess technically I am already an aunt, but this feels totally different.<br />
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My BIL (TJ’s brother) has a daughter who is 6 months older than Jax. But he and her mother were an off and on thing when she got pregnant and then off for most of the pregnancy. There was no family baby shower and the mother is not someone I have ever been close to. In fact my niece was 3 months old before we got the DNA results and nearly a year old by time BIL had gone to court for visitation. Also my BIL is not one of my favorite people. Yes I got lucky with my MIL in that while she sometimes annoys me, we generally get along but my BIL is a few years older than me and very irresponsible and self-centered and generally drives me bat-shit crazy.<br />
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Now my little sister is pregnant. And I am so excited! For one I adore Paige and we get along great, for the other her husband Eric is awesome and will be a great father. I’ve known Eric most of Paige’s life as he was just a few years behind me at catholic school (I also know most of his family well). There will be a baby shower, and there is no question of the baby’s parentage. But part of me thinks this is more exciting to me because this baby will be blood. I am done having babies myself, and hope it is a long while before I am having any grandbabies, so this niece or nephew will have a very dotting auntie.<br />
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Of course not to say I don’t dot on my niece (BIL’s DD). I certainly do. At Christmas I spent as much on her as I did my own children and last year I bought her tons of cute clothes while garage saleing. But I think there will be a stronger bond with this new baby.<br />
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Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like it is a bigger deal when it is your sibling’s child as opposed to your SO’s sibling?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-88387488214445727182011-03-31T23:45:00.000-05:002011-03-31T23:45:26.878-05:00Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #282626; font-family: "Georgia Serif", "serif";">I am Amanda Jill, or AJ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life story can be found <a href="http://ajowings.blogspot.com/search/label/history">HERE</a>. </span><span style="color: #282626; font-family: "Georgia Serif", "serif";">I am 34yo and work full-time as a nurse in a skilled nursing/rehab unit at my local hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have 3 kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DS Bailey is 15yo and lives full-time with my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DD Corbin is 9yo and is HF ASD or Asperger’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DS Jax is 2yo and my wild child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hubby TJ and I will celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary in May and have been together most of the last 10 years as of April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TJ is the stay-at-home parent and it has worked out pretty well for us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sOISaZ4da_YSg55dqY-Jd-2_RbmX2kpjSIMu1JOX34owDBAYZvFgCthoShtJcN8V1aHjTQb85Q8r2s6mCGyF7TtGu64tC5B20iAP5B0JSVp0p-HDFzDCKIyRKjjUyRE1UrNbNtR47mg/s1600/fixed+head+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sOISaZ4da_YSg55dqY-Jd-2_RbmX2kpjSIMu1JOX34owDBAYZvFgCthoShtJcN8V1aHjTQb85Q8r2s6mCGyF7TtGu64tC5B20iAP5B0JSVp0p-HDFzDCKIyRKjjUyRE1UrNbNtR47mg/s320/fixed+head+shot.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I just took this one this evening.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">1. Growing up becoming a nurse never crossed my mind, in fact I tell people I kind of fell into being a nurse. (Guess that could be a blog post all its own)</div><br />
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2. I would like to get my RN BSN (Registered Nurse, Bachelor’s of Nursing) and work in OB. Maybe even go on for my Masters and become a Nurse Midwife.<br />
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3. When I got pregnant with Jax it was after two years of TTC and just two months after I had lost hope and accepted that it wasn’t going to happen for us.<br />
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4. I own no skirts or dresses. I hate them. I bought a skirt to wear for my sister’s wedding last May and have since got rid of it. I looked hideous in it.<br />
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5. I want to get a tattoo, but my OCD is one of the things holding me back. I feel like I must wait until I have decided on the perfect placement and have found an artist I trust to get it exactly like I have it pictured in my head. (In other words, it may never happen)<br />
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6. I started school in kindergarten at the local public school. When my parents got married I went to my dad’s old catholic school for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Half-way through 7th grade my parents transferred me back to the public school. It was strange to reconnect with kids I had started school with but hadn’t even spoken to for 3+ years, but most of them remembered me.<br />
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7. Every few years I cut my hair off. It is something I have done since my teens. I grow my hair out, it gets super long, and I get tired of it and chop it short. Right now I am in a grow it out stage from cutting it last summer.<br />
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8. Sometimes I feel like TJ is the only person in the world who really knows me and understands me. And while I love that he and I are so connected, it can feel a bit lonely to only have him.<br />
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9. I am one of those few people who loved high school and would like to go back to those days sometimes. I was so confident back then and while I do remember some drama issues I shrugged most things off.<br />
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10. My grandmother has complained that to look in my closet is depressing. Full of grays, blues, and blacks. I have added a few pieces of color since she said this, but need to do better.<br />
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11. I love to read. In fact combine my love of reading and my ADD and my mom had to stop leaving the cereal boxes on the table during breakfast. Even if I had just read all four sides of the box the day before I would reread them just for something to do while I was eating.<br />
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12. I have a love/hate relationship with shoes. I love how the right shoes can make an outfit and am always tempted to buy cute pairs, but I hate wearing shoes and during the warm months I am either bare foot or in my flip flops as much as possible.<br />
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13. I can’t spell. I love spell check. I’ve been told that it is unusual for someone who was one an early reader and two loves reading as much as I do to be THIS bad at spelling.<br />
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14. Even though I suck at spelling, I was always the one to come to for proof reading regarding word usage and grammar in high school.<br />
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15. I feel like my brain has shrunk since high school. Is it possible to get dumber as you get older, because I sure feel like it when helping DD with 4th grade homework?<br />
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Wow, that wasn’t too bad. I think I came up with some good things.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-33422212927633568742011-03-30T02:44:00.000-05:002011-03-30T02:44:29.428-05:00We are going to be quiters!That’s right, TJ and I are going to quit smoking. I have already cut my cigarettes in half in the last few days and only have 2.5 packs left. I will not be buying anymore.<br />
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We have both said for years now that we needed to quit, but now we both agree and are seriously ready. What is different for us this time? Jax. He says cigarettes, he says lighter, and he pretends to smoke things, like his French fries.<br />
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This I feel is the last straw for us. Yes, we both know all the other reasons we should quit like our health and the money we will save. And while Corbin has always asked us not to smoke and to please stop, she never showed an interest like he has started doing.<br />
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So I will quit and I will teach my kids that they should never start. Corbin already knows I regret starting, and so will Jax.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-61884223259041436282011-03-29T02:21:00.000-05:002011-03-29T02:21:34.296-05:00Long-Time / No PostWow, I have really sucked at this blogging thing. But now that I have left my evening job at the state facility and am working once more at my old 12 hour over night job, I really hope to have more time to spend here.<br />
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It has been a long winter here in mid-MO. We got a taste of spring, and I loved it as did the kids. But now it is cold and wet with occasional snow flurries again. We are so ready to put away our winter wear and have fun in the sun.<br />
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Jax is talking so much right now and saying new words everyday. He also loves to help us with chores around the house. I tried to get some pictures of him a few days back but he still tries to steal the camera which just makes for unhappy pictures of him reaching for it.<br />
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I had a parent teacher meeting for Corbin last week and I am happy to say she has gotten her grades up in all her subjects they were low in. And now that I am home more in the evening to help out with homework I hope they get even better, but math is still a struggle for her.<br />
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Ok, I know I say this all the time but I will try to be here more often and to post more comments on blogs I follow.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-60883171386970274592011-02-16T06:57:00.000-06:002011-02-16T06:57:17.228-06:00Proposed bill would close Missouri's state-run institutions for disabled, igniting fierce debate - NBCActionNews.com - Kansas CityI am an LPN at one of these institutions. Is my job in danger? Oh, joy a new stress.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/proposed-bill-would-close-missouri">Proposed bill would close Missouri's state-run institutions for disabled, igniting fierce debate - NBCActionNews.com - Kansas City</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-26789136504514098822011-01-22T18:00:00.000-06:002011-01-22T18:00:36.658-06:00This is my Daughter<a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Staring-in-the-Face-of-Aspergers-Syndrome">Staring in the Face of Asperger's Syndrome</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-76371959455717678822011-01-18T06:34:00.000-06:002011-01-18T06:34:43.471-06:00New Me 1-18-11Two weeks ago I resolved to get back on the wagon with my weight loss/ healthier me plan and set my goals. And I haven’t done 100% what I had planed but there have been changes.<br />
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Water - I went from 0 water a day drinking a pot of coffee and half-gallon of unsweet tea to 3-4 liters of water one small glass of tea, and I have been drinking my pot of coffee but went from 3 scoops of grounds to 2 scoops and today I will try just a half of a pot. So in the water front I have done awesome.<br />
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Diet - I set a meal plan up. On work days I did good. I ate everything I needed to for my calorie needs and balance, while not eating extra. On days off, not so good. I tend to only eat part of my breakfast, then eat dinner with the family which of course is not what I planned and often not that diet-friendly. But I have been watching portions on those nights and sticking to my no oil-light salt-light butter spray popcorn for snacks those evenings (which the kids love when I share).<br />
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Exercise - Even worse then the diet. The weather here turned very crappy (lots of snow and very cold). Then I had a bit of a head cold/cough at the same time so add in my asthma (sensitive to the cold) and I chose to not leave the house for several days. However yesterday I went back and started on my Lazy man Triathlon. The biking and swimming I should complete fairly quickly, however it will take me most of the 6 weeks to do the walking as it is 26.4 miles and I do about 5 miles a week of walking. I’ll try to keep you all posted on how I am doing there weekly.<br />
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However even with my half-a%#ed two weeks, I have seen changes and the scale moved some but the measurements have too.<br />
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Jan 4th -<br />
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Chest-46<br />
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Waist-44<br />
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Hips-51<br />
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Jan 18th<br />
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Chest-45<br />
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Waist-42<br />
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Hips-50<br />
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That is 4 inches in two weeks. Not bad for not giving it a full effort. So here goes the next two weeks with more exercise and staying on plan with my meals more. <br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-41905364555368616372011-01-09T13:28:00.000-06:002011-01-09T13:28:25.681-06:00Pay It Forward...Rock the ONEder Fund.<a href="http://www.kellehampton.com/2011/01/pay-it-forwardrock-oneder-fund.html">Pay It Forward...Rock the ONEder Fund.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" /></a><br /><br />Help Kelle raise $30,000 for NDSS for Nella's first birthday!AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-17540869782314664922011-01-04T06:52:00.000-06:002011-01-04T06:52:14.010-06:00New Me Jan 2011Ok. I know it has been a minute, but December turned into a very busy month for us and now things are calming down again.<br />
I had to give up my workouts for a few weeks due to a minor foot injury and Monday was my first day back. So I am trying to focus less on lbs and more on in or clothing size for tracking as lbs lost have been disappointing but I have been losing in and toning up. So yesterday I did my weights first and followed with a 5 minute warm up on the stationary bike before doing 20 minutes of HIIT and a 5 minute cool down. I am hoping that by using HIIT I can see as much if not more results then I was seeing with doing a 45 minute to one hour moderate intensity cardio. I’m also hope it keeps me from ending up with continuing foot issues.<br />
Sooooooooo, current measurements are:<br />
Chest- 46in<br />
Waist- 44in<br />
Hips- 51in<br />
Yup I’m a pear, mostly. Currently I wear a size 22 jean and XL top. I think I could be happy in 12s but would be thrilled to no end in 10s.<br />
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And some pictures in my workout clothes:<br />
Front-<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcGvP9Q9uk3tcNi34Cl06EllT0cFkJ9OfHJ-wZteCoWT4H849cLgNNEEHv6uTfzkiPe-Zye406C7UwRmMxxEjaM6Ny_EAXUPgv0bWl6IBaxd_A783GEcjaGQUFyw8HydSCAPxyIyHB_U/s1600/wtjan11f2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcGvP9Q9uk3tcNi34Cl06EllT0cFkJ9OfHJ-wZteCoWT4H849cLgNNEEHv6uTfzkiPe-Zye406C7UwRmMxxEjaM6Ny_EAXUPgv0bWl6IBaxd_A783GEcjaGQUFyw8HydSCAPxyIyHB_U/s320/wtjan11f2.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzlEJsGdElUIgeGKceXu4cq4V6oakn5LhR5CnNQYJR2XN2-du3cSrkV6BwXInqZsYKwN7k96aYg1nbfcL97Or5oJPdDkTNF-u9yGQJgPx4GtRaOUHkA9I9mOUiQRKvS-FCWZRjOdzgZ8/s1600/wtjan11s1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzlEJsGdElUIgeGKceXu4cq4V6oakn5LhR5CnNQYJR2XN2-du3cSrkV6BwXInqZsYKwN7k96aYg1nbfcL97Or5oJPdDkTNF-u9yGQJgPx4GtRaOUHkA9I9mOUiQRKvS-FCWZRjOdzgZ8/s320/wtjan11s1.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>Thanks to <a href="http://littlefatgirl.blogspot.com/">Eschelle and Erin</a> for giving me the courage to do this!<br />
I will change this and not return ever again!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-37828308212708065892011-01-03T23:36:00.002-06:002011-01-03T23:36:07.422-06:0015 yearsThis is going to go up very late on January 3rd but better late than never. Today is my oldest son’s birthday. Bailey Joseph is 15 years old. Wow, hard to believe it has been that long.<br />
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My pregnancy with him was my first unexpected blessing. I had just graduated from high school when I started a new job at Wal-Mart and was excitedly waiting to start school in July. I was to work as a cashier and during my training shift the chickie I was working with warned me that her and several other cashiers were just getting over a stomach bug. Sure enough, within a few days I was sick, only mine stuck around. After about two weeks of feeling quite green and not being able to keep much down, it was a question from and older lady that went through my check-out lane that tipped me off. The next morning I had a positive home test and I was terrified, thrilled and shocked. My families reactions varied but for the most part was better then I expected.<br />
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I ended up being very ill for about a month and lost 15lbs, which left my 5ft 9in frame down to 130lbs at about 3 months pregnant. I ended up bouncing around with my first husband and seen at 3 different OB clinics all of which got all worked up about the fact that I wasn’t gaining weight fast enough even though by 6 months I had evened back out at my original starting weight of 145lbs they refused to count those 15lbs as a gain and at every visit I was told I needed to eat more and gain more. By the end I was up to 180 after stuffing my mouth all day every day.<br />
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Anyway, at 32 weeks I started with preterm labor which was stopped with meds and again at 34 weeks. Then at 12:10am on the night of Jan 2nd or early morning on Jan 3rd my water broke. I was at the hospital around 2am with no contractions and they started Pit about 4am. Bailey was born just after 11am, weighing 6lbs 8oz 21in long. The nurses were amazed at his size and all told me he would have been 10lbs if he had waited till his due date. He received 9s on his APGARS and went home with me at discharge. <br />
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I did not get any hospital nursery pictures of him but will try to scan the first professional pictures. On his due date I was back in Missouri living with my parents and he and I headed with my mom into town to a WIC appt and to get pictures of him. WIC weighed him at 10lbs 1oz. My chunky, grumpy little man was always hungry and gave us the cutest little mad faces even though he rarely fussed.<br />
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I have to scan that first picture as it is still my favorite of him.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-23751566459923778202010-12-16T10:46:00.000-06:002010-12-16T10:46:07.156-06:00A must read Christmas story!I have followed Katherine's blog for over a year now and adore her 3 beautiful boys, and her sense of humor. Today she shared a beautiful story of a true event that her father experienced that I just have to pass on, so please go read <a href="http://katandgray.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-story.html">A Christmas Story</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-64914730740497081142010-12-14T06:45:00.000-06:002010-12-14T06:45:36.049-06:004 things4 shows I watch: <br />
1. Grey’s Anatomy <br />
2. Biggest Loser<br />
3. Extreme Home Makeover <br />
4. Mercy (still working my way through the only season)<br />
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4 things I am passionate about: <br />
1. Family <br />
2. Reading <br />
3. Music<br />
4. Nursing<br />
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4 phrases I say a lot: <br />
1. Thank you and You’re welcome (Jax is saying TY a lot so we try to say YW back as well as TY when he deserves one) <br />
2. Great (both happily and sarcastically)<br />
3. Pee and Pooy (potty training means lots of potty talk)<br />
4. Well Sh*t<br />
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4 things I have learned from the past: <br />
1. No regrets, even bad decisions can be lessons and make me who I am today<br />
2. Forgive even if you can’t forget<br />
3. Marry your best friend or it will never work<br />
4. Let go and love with all your heart<br />
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4 places I would like to go: <br />
1. Ireland <br />
2. Scotland <br />
3. Australia<br />
4. Key West<br />
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4 things I did yesterday: <br />
1. Spent too much time in the bathroom<br />
2. Called in sick to work (See #1)<br />
3. Snuggled lots with Jax<br />
4. Watched some more Boston Med<br />
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4 things I am looking forward to: <br />
1. Jax being 100% potty trained<br />
2. Having Corbin all grown up so I can know how independent she’ll be rather then stuck waiting, hoping, and worrying about it<br />
3. SUMMER!!!! I am sick of cold and snow already <br />
4. Eventually buying our own home<br />
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4 things I love about winter: <br />
1. Can I think of one thing? Ummm Christmas is usually ok<br />
2. Seeing family at Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving is close enough to winter right?)<br />
3. The start of a fresh new year<br />
4. January is both my boys’ birthdays<br />
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4 things on my wish list: <br />
1. Our own house<br />
2. A better vehicle<br />
3. A job I truly love<br />
4. A warmer climate <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/380/1AE7A7BC6E60D2CE8918C8C7C6EFD188.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-33199738383818356712010-12-13T06:56:00.000-06:002010-12-13T06:56:24.547-06:00Monday Minute and More Love Monday<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://happilyalawmama.blogspot.com/search/label/Monday%20Minute" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6852/mybanner4cc5e5e13d728.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Join the fun with Cristy for Monday Minute!</div><br />
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(1) Who is your favorite actor? <span style="color: #073763;">Curently I love Gerard Butler. I am really enjoing his movies lately and the accent + his body don’t hurt.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fSoxX4nwxCApBpaSLtfe75KiKmPTVmUnb5kPt_MPCeQUzTGgXhw0h_wUIqiosU6K4fSk5xPFBnQVn4Caob7iWPFNCLDmiWwjyAj3yk_Xo3OF837f4VvJrA3Pl4eWHiAnV1V4YnssBkk/s1600/pre5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fSoxX4nwxCApBpaSLtfe75KiKmPTVmUnb5kPt_MPCeQUzTGgXhw0h_wUIqiosU6K4fSk5xPFBnQVn4Caob7iWPFNCLDmiWwjyAj3yk_Xo3OF837f4VvJrA3Pl4eWHiAnV1V4YnssBkk/s320/pre5.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>(2) Do you collect anything? <span style="color: #073763;">Americana décor - I became obsessed with it in my teens in part to being born in the year of the bi-centinial</span><br />
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(3) What's the biggest turn off in someone of the opposite sex? <span style="color: #073763;">Too cocky and or controlling. You are not better then me and you are not my boss.</span><br />
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(4) If you HAD to change your first name, what would you change it to and why? <span style="color: #073763;">I would love to not have a name that was so popular during my generation but haven’t really thought much about what name I would prefer. Maybe Miranda, close but not as over used.</span><br />
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(5) What virtue is better: forgiveness or justice? <span style="color: #073763;">I’d have to say for my own mental health I have learned it is important for me to forgive injustices toward myself in order to move on past the hurt and anger.</span><br />
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Then head on over and share the love with Katie!<br />
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<center><a href="http://loveiseverywhere.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/Sweetk313/morelove.jpg" /></a></center>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-18247696363501431842010-12-10T15:58:00.000-06:002010-12-10T15:58:06.932-06:00Five Foto FridayI realized I really need to take more pictures, and not just of the kids, but of me, TJ, and other things that might catch my eye. So I decided I should start doing a weekly photo post to encourage me to use my camera more. So here is the first installment of my Five Foto Friday. These were all taken in the last two weeks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzSfH-HbP5L0qXsIFhE9CVcdFp5pnuTJd7bMT3Uz0TNT1THY1rqAYeJb_zdaZvDtI7GCF7-hoyYP6EafuTow6UVVvqdqtP1NaJ160Db9tk6eOQ0fZmwPX72okx8Frsh1k_CdE5dTriIs/s1600/dg3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzSfH-HbP5L0qXsIFhE9CVcdFp5pnuTJd7bMT3Uz0TNT1THY1rqAYeJb_zdaZvDtI7GCF7-hoyYP6EafuTow6UVVvqdqtP1NaJ160Db9tk6eOQ0fZmwPX72okx8Frsh1k_CdE5dTriIs/s320/dg3.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this grin, just wish he wasn't running out of the shot.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbRYx3vTzrVZ6AhX0IgXk82PkU-5A7ydkS-TdDm5FY7m-1qOZ3LiFj5uL_qsClkvGtvNy1U8ZAIEanHcWNCDy11mWS2g5PJzROKOMP2vyGma20eZI4oACvBh0KfVUeTGfhWWtns801qg/s1600/dg12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbRYx3vTzrVZ6AhX0IgXk82PkU-5A7ydkS-TdDm5FY7m-1qOZ3LiFj5uL_qsClkvGtvNy1U8ZAIEanHcWNCDy11mWS2g5PJzROKOMP2vyGma20eZI4oACvBh0KfVUeTGfhWWtns801qg/s320/dg12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jax took this one of me with some mommy help.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVP3ysfot7rinb1hcqXNB234g3tW8EvSCjvidJsVW-O1dwkcb7xk69sAQ1mFQhU9_Oi_LkXOLkq74py_QayORI8xvDyu04T1fyLlQ5YFryIlWyw_joht_d8pO1kQNLzxUMzr-smiusl8/s1600/hw2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVP3ysfot7rinb1hcqXNB234g3tW8EvSCjvidJsVW-O1dwkcb7xk69sAQ1mFQhU9_Oi_LkXOLkq74py_QayORI8xvDyu04T1fyLlQ5YFryIlWyw_joht_d8pO1kQNLzxUMzr-smiusl8/s320/hw2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Helping Dad vacuum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IeqLzyrz1e5SPiE4IPGFHYMTjRFlbvlgjHQ6pJvIwooarMXk01ZAmVbJdwTb-jUWHVAV0eF2NmKmFptkY52Gd7z28-mKMPI9hcElz-Qmfau7IJKVT5jHh-qk8QTm_LKpvIS6yih7Jqo/s1600/tw1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IeqLzyrz1e5SPiE4IPGFHYMTjRFlbvlgjHQ6pJvIwooarMXk01ZAmVbJdwTb-jUWHVAV0eF2NmKmFptkY52Gd7z28-mKMPI9hcElz-Qmfau7IJKVT5jHh-qk8QTm_LKpvIS6yih7Jqo/s320/tw1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Riding the carousel at the mall with Dad.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXIKHKX5299wQwAVvh1bPXY0rO1hkfq8Nkl3EDLYDezCXewkgouEHpWjnvSlRWLcZ6dTabCpJfE9as6pETLCDsskt2CjXtYRIgeLdmNEqb8XqrWASIVuBc18OWx-MgAI8fLdEHuGq0P8/s1600/tw4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXIKHKX5299wQwAVvh1bPXY0rO1hkfq8Nkl3EDLYDezCXewkgouEHpWjnvSlRWLcZ6dTabCpJfE9as6pETLCDsskt2CjXtYRIgeLdmNEqb8XqrWASIVuBc18OWx-MgAI8fLdEHuGq0P8/s320/tw4.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And one of the few pictures I have of Corbin since she got her glasses.</div>AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-42651732674172659862010-12-09T18:55:00.000-06:002010-12-09T18:55:59.525-06:00Help a Mom, Win a blog design!Visit <a href="http://www.ashleyplus3.com/2010/12/very-special-giveaway.html">Ashley...plus3 for a very special giveaway</a>. And join in to help and show some love to <a href="http://eschelle-mumfection.blogspot.com/">Eschelle from Mumfection</a>.AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-15333720375188628512010-12-08T23:32:00.001-06:002010-12-08T23:32:36.717-06:00life story part 4And an update or part 4 of my story.<br />
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Shortly after that LJ entry Corbin and I headed down to San Antonio, TX where we started out staying with my grandparents. They were able to loan me a car till I was able to buy it from them and give us a place to stay while I got on my feet. When I left TJ and I had planned that once I was settled he would join me. In April 2005 he did just that. <br />
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That summer David got out of prison, again, and was living with his grandmother. We started talking and making plans to file for a non-contested divorce. In early September after not being able to reach David for awhile regarding sending him the paperwork, I tried calling his grandmother. When she returned my call she told me David had been shot and was on life support in SLU hospital’s ICU. She had tried to find my number but his phone had gone missing the night he was shot. After 6 months of ups and downs, of being on and off life support David passed away on Feb 29th 2006 at 30 years old. <br />
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On May 9th 2006 TJ and I were married while on a camping trip with friends and Corbin. That summer we joined those same friends in Pittsburg, PA and lived there until June of 2007 when we returned once more to Marshall, MO. And in June of 2008 we found out we were pregnant after two years of TTC. I first started this blog while I was pregnant and you can find Jax’s birth story <a href="http://ajowings.blogspot.com/2009/01/jax-birth-story.html">right here</a> and pregnancy reports in my archives.AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-80168366829062779482010-12-06T22:57:00.000-06:002010-12-06T22:57:08.030-06:00Life story part 3Now for part three:<br />
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On May 29th 2001 my daughter Corbin Jayne H. was born. Doug convinced me we should try to work things out for Corbin's sake so when I got my own apartment he moved in with me. Those the months were hell for me and all I could think about was TJ. When he came home on leave that September it just made things worse. I wanted so badly to be with him and the fighting with Doug got worse. In October I kicked him out and started talking more with TJ.<br />
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Then in spring of 2002 I decided to try to go to nursing school. I was so nervous about getting in. TJ came home on another leave and having him around helped distract me while I waited to find out if I had made it or not. Just before he left I got the news that I had been accepted. Knowing that TJ would be out of the Navy about the time I graduated nursing school, before he left we agreed to give our relationship a real try when he got home for good.<br />
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It was a tough year and I felt so lonely with no one to lean on when I got discouraged. I missed TJ so much.<br />
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Then in June 2003 less then 2 months before graduation TJ walked into Amanda's apartment. I was so excited I had waited to see him again for over a year, then he took me outside and told me there was someone else and he couldn't see me. I was so shocked I spent the first few days walking around in a daze. After waiting for 13 months to be with him, after 13 months of dreaming about our life together it wasn't going to happen.<br />
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I spent the next 6 months alone and angry. I didn't even want to try to find someone else. I just wanted what I had with TJ back.<br />
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In November I got the first news of David I had heard in 5 years. Still legally married to him I pursued this clue to his whereabouts hoping to finally get my divorce. David had other ideas. He convinced me that he had changed, that he had grown a lot and was a different person, he begged me to give him another chance. I refused for awhile but he wouldn't take no for an answer and he moved in with me.<br />
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In the 6 months we were together things where ok. We moved around a lot and ended up back in NC, but we didn't fight all the time and he never lost his temper. Then I got a job and he started stealing from my employer. When people started getting suspicious he wanted me to take the heat because with my clean record I would get just a slap on the wrist and he would go back to prison. I told him there was no way I would do that and turned him in.<br />
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Then I went back to St. Charles, Missouri, to live with an aunt, unemployed and broke, with little hope for the future till I can get a car. But TJ and I found each other again, we both free from our crazy exs and hoping to build something. <br />
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And this is where I ended this in 2004, so next up is my update on the next 6 years.AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-66458486387527598862010-12-06T08:14:00.000-06:002010-12-06T08:14:06.518-06:00Magical Monday Blog Hop<center><a href="http://forblogs.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i54.tinypic.com/643wo3.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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Join us for a blog hop at For The Love Of Blogs!AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-38884885800198954602010-12-06T00:19:00.000-06:002010-12-06T00:19:41.675-06:00Monday Minute and More Love Monday<a href="http://happilyalawmama.blogspot.com/search/label/Monday%20Minute" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6852/mybanner4cc5e5e13d728.jpg" /></a><br />
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(1) Who would play you in a movie? I really can’t think of any actress I look like, so I’ll go with Drew Barrymore because we are of the same generation, I love her personality, and I think she would do well at getting all the phases I’ve gone through.<br />
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(2) Are you a good speller? No but word usage is a biggy for me like two, to, too and their, there or your, you’re<br />
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(3) Have you/ do you smoke cigarettes? Yes, unfortunately I started at 21 in Job Corps<br />
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(4) Have you ever won a trophy? Yes, for Speech in high school<br />
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(5) Have you ever written (or started to write) a book? LoL, yes, in Jr high and it was bad<br />
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<center><a href="http://loveiseverywhere.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/Sweetk313/morelove.jpg" /></a></center><br />
If you are here for one hop, please visit the other. If you are here for the first time, I am working on my life story so have a look around.AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-84567825282632881362010-12-06T00:05:00.000-06:002010-12-06T00:05:37.227-06:00Life story part 2Ok on with part 2 - life started getting sticky after high school.<br />
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Then just after graduation I found out I was pregnant. Some people pushed me trying to make me get back together with Ben but I refused, wouldn't even tell him I was pregnant because I knew he would insist on marriage. My parents then told me they would not pay for me to go to school, due to my not being able to work full time while attending.<br />
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That's when I met David. He was cute and sweet and told me he didn't care if I was pregnant. 48 hours after we meet I went to North Carolina with him. 2 weeks later we married. Within a few months things changed a lot, he was controlling and angered quickly. Then he started hitting me. At 7 months pregnant he sat on my stomach and tried to smother me with a pillow.<br />
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My son was born almost 4 weeks early on January 3rd 1996. He was named David Auburn L. III. By time he was 3 months old I had convinced David to give him to my parents and he signed papers that he was not his father and gave up his rights to him. My parents and I renamed him Bailey Joseph H.<br />
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I was with David off and on for almost 2 years going through the usual cycle of domestic violence. When I left him in April of 1997 I said it was forever.<br />
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That summer I lived in a battered women's shelter before going to Job Corps in the fall. I dated a few guys then left Job Corps to live in Kansas with Terry. While in KS I went to school and got my EMT and my CNA. <br />
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Within a year I was sick of the problems we were having and I moved to Florida to live with Stephen, who I had meet on a dating line. While living in FL I was diagnosed with Lupus and Fibromylagia. Loved my time in FL but missed my friends and family so moved once more.<br />
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This time back to Marshall, MO where I moved in with my best friend, Amanda. Long story slightly shortened I hooked up with a friend of hers, Doug, she and I got in a fight and he and I moved to St. Charles, MO.<br />
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On my 25th birthday I found out I was pregnant again. Was so thrilled this time. Doug was excited also and started hoping for a girl.<br />
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When I was 6 months pregnant we moved back to Marshall and my best friend and I made up. A few weeks later things got ugly with Doug and I and he kicked me out. So in I move with Amanda (best friend) and her son. We were both pregnant, she 6 weeks behind me and had a blast spending our pregnancies together.<br />
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While living with Amanda old friend of hers whom she talked about all the time stopped by to say hi while home on leave form the Navy. And of course I a sucker for military guys was immediately interested (helped that he was tall (6ft6in) and really cute). TJ and I spent as much time together that leave as Amanda would allow and I was hooked.<br />
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To be continued again…AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-88545094782566492792010-12-04T23:56:00.000-06:002010-12-04T23:57:27.814-06:00Life story part 1Ok once again this is an edit/updated version of an old LJ post, which I will be posting in parts because 1. It is LONG and 2. I am so tired from this head cold I am battling. <br /><br />Going to try to make this as quick, simple and to the point as possible for my crazy life.<br /><br />Born Oct. 8th 1976 to Edward and Theresa M. Named Amanda Jill M. By age 2 my parents were separated, divorced by 3 and never saw my father after 3.<br /><br />My mother worked crazy hours to support me alone and I spent most of my early childhood with my great-grandmother Mimi.<br /><br />Mom started dating Jeff H when I was 7. He and I became very close and his family adored me from the beginning. They married when I was 10 and that Christmas I legally became Amanda H.<br /><br />9 months after the wedding when I was 10 and a half my sister Paige Elizabeth was born. 2 years later we added Alexandra Lane. My early teens were spent helping my mom care for my sisters.<br /><br />In High School I certainly wasn't a straight-laced goody-goody but wasn't the worst kid I knew. I dated 2 guys my freshman year. One, Toney was an off and on thing the other Britt was to make Toney jealous. Just before starting my sophomore year Toney left for the Navy and when he came home for my 16th birthday he asked me if I would marry him after I finished high school. I was thrilled and knowing my mother knew she would be too. She had always loved Toney because of his family. That spring he married another girl. So I went on a short one night stand fling for a few months out of my anger. Then I meet Chris a 24 year old paramedic/DJ. My parents hated the idea of me with such an older guy until they meet Chris and mom started pushing me closer. Saw Chris through a painful divorce and custody fight, then just after my 17th birthday he dumped me for an older woman. So once again single I decided to be alone awhile. The end of Junior year I enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard as a Military Police and was being shipped off to Fort Jackson, SC for basic training. In St. Louis on my way out I meet Ben. He was shy, sweet, and cute. I fell fast. He was heading to Ft Jackson for his advanced training so we spent the whole long trip getting to know each other. I even got him going to church with me every Sunday so we could see each other, I am so luck my drill instructors where ok with it, I could have gotten into big trouble for it. After a bad knee injury near the end of basic I was given a medical discharge. When the summer was over and we came home we got engaged. He lived 3 hours away and between my busy Senior year, his college schedule, and his weekends with the guard it was hard to find time together but we spent at least one weekend a month together. I soon tired of hearing "Whatever you want you're the boss". I wanted a man with a spine to give me his opinion on things and not a yes man. So the weekend of my Senior Prom I broke up with him. I had been accepted to a prestigious broadcasting school in St. Louis and my parents had agreed to pay my way, life was looking great. <br />To be continued…AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736130758632216758.post-75048033921466933232010-12-04T10:31:00.003-06:002010-12-04T10:35:16.867-06:00Upcoming Life story postWell I found my old life story from way back in my LJ days and hope to post it here soon, but wow it really needs some editing and updating. I wrote it back in 2004 and apparently my writing has improved because it needs help. But I plan on working on it tonight and posting when I get home or in the morning. Yes, this is my weekend to work, but I have lucked out in that I had 3 weekends in a row off with taking vaccation, so now it is back to every other weekend again.AJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01603868675329965293noreply@blogger.com4