"The Hubby" and I have decided to make some serious life changes, we don't know exactly how we're going to do it or when so we are getting ready for it now.  How am I getting ready for it you ask?  I'm going through our garage and putting things into piles "Keep", "Garage Sale", "Donate" and "Trash".  Needless to say I have more stuff for the keep pile and garage sale so far than anything else.  It has been both stressful yet calming because now I have all my Christmas decorations together in a tupperware container.  "The Hubby" said that I have to pick a size container and if stuff doesn't fit then I have to get rid of it.  So far I have used 4 45 gallon containers.  I found another box of kids clothes so I guess I need to go back through the container to really see what I need to keep.

We have also decided that we are no longer doing a large, extravagant Christmas anymore.  All the toys that have been bought are being sold because the kids no longer play with them.  So because of that we are doing a small Christmas for everyone.  That may even mean more homemade stuff instead of things being bought.  We have so many nieces and nephews that I don't know what a 13, 12, 9, 9, 5, 5, 3 year old, and 6 month old would like that is homemade.  In the next few weeks our church is doing a series called Simple Christmas and I'm very much looking forward to it.  We have gotten so far away from the true meaning of Christmas that I think we all just need to stop going into debt over stuff that kids are only going to play with once or twice.

I'm sort of a grinch at Christmas time.  It's not that I don't like it but to me it seems to be more of "Look how much money I spent on you, now love me more" kind of thing.  Christmas to me has become way too commercial and materialistic to me and I'm hoping to put an end now.  My kids are becoming more spoiled everyday and this is part of the reason for this life change.  Every time I hear "I Want" from "O" I now send her to time out or something.  For "N" I tell him he owes me a dime or something, it depends.  "The Hubby" and I have agreed that we have to do a drastic change because the way we're (as a family and as a society) heading is not good.  At Christmas we are going to do our little present thing, we are not going to do Polar Express in Williams, we are going to watch Christmas movies as a family, make some chex mix and just chill.

I'm looking forward to doing a Simple Christmas.  It's not that I can't afford it but it's just not worth the hassle and debt to do it.  I think we should really take a few giant steps backwards in our lives to see the true meaning of our lives.  Is our true meaning to be here in this life and be in severe debt, unhappy with our jobs, wondering if you'll be able to pay all your bills for the month?  Or should we really be saying, is this ________________________ really worth $_____.__?  I mean if you add all those things up (Starbucks, pedicures every week, candy bars, etc) it could add up over the year.  That money could be put into retirement, college funds for the kids, savings or just a few extra payments on something.  Also you need to look at some toys with the mind set of, "How long do I have before I'm going to get rid of this toy?"  I'm not saying don't buy toys for your kids but really think about it. 

I really think that this is something that we really need to stop and think about.  I mean Christmas is family time and a time to focus on the true meaning.  I think that if you start now that by Christmas you'll have changed your life enough to decide that you don't want to go back to your old ways.  I have already started picking out crafts the kids can do for presents for the family.  I would rather have homemade presents than store bought ones any day.  How about you?

If you need ideas, don't be afraid to email me because I found tons of cheap, cool ideas.

It has been a long time since I have posted and no there really really isn't a really good reason other than the fact I have been super busy with "N's" school, play dates, birthday parties, church activities and things.  Things I think are becoming calm before the storm because this past weekend was fairly easy going and I also signed up with our Children's Ministry this past weekend too.  So I think I have a little while before I'll be getting more busy with that.

I'm trying to be a better person and that's taking quite a bit as well.  I need to learn patience with my daughter.  I love her but she has a lot of growing up to do.  She will never stop talking, she will ask the same question over and over, she is more defiant now.  I guess I have a few years left on that before she calms down like "N" did.  This past weekend we spoiled him by buying Xbox 360 Pro Bundle but it's cool because it came with Kung Fu Panda and Legos Indiana Jones.  Just so you know if you buy this, the games are in one case and they are hard to find in the box.  Be sure to check everything in the box so you don't throw it away.  He really loves playing games and he's starting to like playing Guitar Hero too.  I think it's pretty cool.  "O" wants to learn but I think she's still a little too young.

So here it is around 9:30am and "O" and I are sitting on our patio in the shade, she's coloring and talking and I'm drinking my coffee trying to work and then later on trying to get the house cleaned and put back together.  We have these spurts where we'll be really good at keeping the house picked up and other times we aren't. 

Last night we had to finish our grocery shopping at our other Walmart and decided to pick up some pie pumpkins to make homemade pies and when we got home decided to try to make pumpkin cookies instead.  Well, it didn't turn out so well because our blender was crapping out (as it always does when it comes time to being used).  So eventually we will be getting a food processor which will be nice because that means I can also make my own pesto sauce and peanut butter!  Yeah me!!

"N" is now going to school full days now and because of that last week I thought it would be a nice treat to go to Chuck E. Cheese.  He's never been there and he really has been good and I wanted to kill some time.  I spent a total of $19.00 for 100 tokens and 2 drinks (since we already had lunch) and we were there for almost three hours or so.  It was fun because I played a few games with them, was able to sit and talk with my girlfriend and they could play without having to be watched constantly.  They had so much fun and I had fun too because I was able to let them go do their own thing without having to worry where they were.  I think we will have to break down and buy an air hockey table because "N" has been hooked on them for years.  I'm not kidding he's been playing air hockey  since he was about 2-3 years old and loves it!

Things have been going pretty good with me in general.  I'm still learning what I can and can't eat which I think I'll always be doing.  I did learn that I cannot eat bratwurst or hot dogs anymore.  I can't eat eat them because they are just way too fatty.  After losing your colon things just will never be the same.  It's true with digestion, foods you can eat and even sex.  I know that I needed the surgery to save my life but it really changes your abilities.  Sunday for instance, I ate at church and stayed with my girlfriend for a "Getting To Know Us" class (four and a half hours).  Normally after each meal I have to use the bathroom because now the food gets digested as I eat so within 20 minutes of getting done my food has been digested.  So after that I end up really needing to go and when I'm at home no big deal.  When we are out it's more difficult and I find it very embarrassing to talk about right at this moment.

So getting back to this story.  When you have these surgeries your comfort level goes down and you now need to time things.  Sunday I was miserable and because of that and not being able to use the restroom I was up all night in pain.  I have learned my lesson and I am also changing how I eat.  Before I go to bed I always have one rectangle of Live Active Cheese by Kraft and also an Imodium Multi Symptom to help as well.  Some days are better than others and since I've started on a birth control (to stop cysts from forming on my ovaries) it's been more difficult for me. 

My diet right now is ok, it could always be better but for breakfast I have a Kashi TLC Strawberry soft baked cereal bar with DanActive dairy drink with an Imodium.  I eat whatever for lunch (PB&J or something) and dinner we'll eat taco salad, chicken enchiladas, chicken parmesan, or something to that extent.  I do limit certain veggies though.  If we have corn I will have a small spoon full and a small amount of lettuce since it's not easily digestible.  The beans I'm careful of as well but I know that I can have one chicken and black bean enchilada because I will have big problems since there is a good amount of fiber in them.  I still do have to watch my fiber intake since I can't eat a normal amount anymore but I still have to have some.  I also have to work on staying hydrated.

What I'm learning is so much that I almost need to write down some things or else I will forget, for example certain foods that I don't eat a lot of I need to write down my body's reaction so I remember if it was good or not.  Especially restaurants, they are horrible because of the amount of fat and grease they use.  One of the worst of me is On The Border, Kyoto Bowl (not sure why), Panda, Mc Donalds, pizza places.   Basically most food places but I did notice that when I ate sushi I didn't have really any problems.  What to I consider a problem?  Having to run to the bathroom more than three times in an hour after eating, a burning sensation as I go to the bathroom, a diarrhea like consistency and painful gas.  As time has passed the pains have minimized up until I eat something that doesn't agree with me.

As in life, you live and learn and move on.  Once you figure things out then it won't be so hard later down the road.  I have been told that it could take up to a year for my bowel movements to really calm down.  They are better as long as I don't eat or drink certain coffees, carbonated drinks both soda and alcoholic and some dairy products.

I took yesterday off because my wireless router decided to stop working and with "The Hubby" being out of town I figured he wouldn't get too mad.  So I thought I would be a sweet Mrs. Suzi Homemaker and make homemade bread.  Yeah I tried three times and have yet to make it turn out.  So I don't care what he says, I'm going to to store and going to buy bread because I'm not going to wait since I want a PB&J sandwich.  I'm just really frustrated right now with things and the bread has really put me into a really bad mood.

I'm a bad mom because I now have "O" hooked on Jon and Kate plus eight.  She thinks it's funny to watch the sextuplets.  Not much has changed except that "The Hubby" is back home and I'm still just trying to work and clean.

Well since I have nothing really important to say I'm just going to call it for the day since tomorrow is play date day for the kids.