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Friday, November 8, 2013

Fall

I know I know. I am horrible about blogging, and to be honest not so sure if many of you keep up anymore. Again I have been thinking about closing my blog. However my journey through loss was so in depth if I could help one person...

Speaking of loss, a very close friend of mine lost her mother unexpectedly the day after Christmas almost two years ago. A little over a month ago another friend expectantly lost her father. He was a great man and will be missed by all. I am just shocked and heartbroken for my friend and my friend's mother who is now a widow at the age of 70. Life is so so tough and unfair.

The Meindels are trudging along. Preschool is doing great! Carter really does not need speech anymore "although we will continue until he is 3" and he is ever so handsome!

Miss. Emmy has had her second hospital visit due to a fever (which turned out to be viral not kidney related thank heavens!)
 
We celebrated my grandparents 85 and 80 birthdays!

 
I am still focused on fitness as always and have lost over 33pounds! Currently in a size 4 or 26 for jeans! Feeling great!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Catching up!

This is the end of September catch up!

Carter had his first day of preschool! He walked in turned to me and said BYE MOM! He asks about school every day its so adorable! I loved school as well so I only hope he shares that!
 
His love for his sister grows daily! He is a HUGE helper and is so sweet!

 
I on the other hand am back to working three days a week! The hardest part of working is child care. I honestly don't know how anyone does it! Wednesdays are split up between my best friend(kids go to her house, a dear friend (who comes to the house), and my husband, Thursdays are spilt between my brother in law, my father and a sitter. It all works out but its so tough to leave them!
 
Me? Im finding time to cook, clean the house and of course work out. I am so into fitness! I am a dedicated 4-5 times a week. Sometimes on my two off days I fit in squats and free weights. I am a avid shakeology drinker. I also just started cutting sugar. I used to not eat carbs but I do now and I count everything. It used to be about being skinny! NOW? its about being fit!




Emery is 3 Months!







Isnt she just the most beautiful little girl!? She is so perfect! She has bright blue eyes and light almost red tinted hair! Its hard to believe she is mine! She is sleeping from about 1030-4 waking for one bottle then sleeping till 730. She HAS to be teething! EVERYTHING goes in her mouth! SHE IS THE HAPPIEST baby ever! Only negative thing is she HATES HATES the car. Makes going anywhere impossible! She is also still mainly breastfed! Its crazy that I have almost been breastfeeding for 4 months! She is also TEENY! She weighs just around 12 lbs and still wears 0-3 just grew out of newborn! NO SOCKS FIT as of yet! Winter is coming hopefully her little piggy's grow soon!

First Family Vacation!

We went on our first vacation as a family! To South Haven Michigan! My uncle owns a lake home there! It was so much fun!





 
We were able to go wine tasting, spend the day at the beach, enjoy the pool and hot tub! Carter went fishing WHICH HE LOVED and four wheeling! What a fun memorable time!

A hard post

As many of you know I lost my first Chihuahua 3 months after Cara. It was so unbelievably hard to let him go. He slipped a disk was paralyzed and needed emergency spine surgery one week after I lost Cara. He learned to walk again, however the disease progressed and we had to let go. Almost 4 years later I STILL cry thinking of him.
  It was very hard on our Pit Bull Gia as well. She looked for him and cried by Charlies kennel. It was her very best friend and she was his protector, sleeping by his cage after surgery. Almost immediately I added little Arthur to our family.
I needed some form of happiness as I just lost BOTH of my babies. Arthur was ironically born one week after Cara. Any of you that KNOW me in real life, know HOW MUCH of an animal lover I am!

When Carter began to walk it was clear Arthur was not fond of that. Arthur was NEVER EVER aggressive, being the sweetest little dog who just wanted to be held. Arthur began marking (peeing) in front of Carter's room daily. Never downstairs only near or in Carter's room. It eventually progressed to some drapery downstairs. We found ourselves living with EVERY area of our home gated off. We were living in a cage if you will. But that was ok if that is what kept Arthur from marking. As Carter aged and his love for animals grew he loved to pet and hold them chasing Gia and playing cars on her. Arthur grew very very scared of Carter. (Arthur is only 6 lbs so I can imagine I would be scared too.) Because our home was gated he had no where to get away and run and hide. Carter was never mean but Arthur would shake all day long. I began to realize that because Emery will eventually be a toddler that it is not the kind of life Arthur deserved.

I used to volunteer at an animal shelter and I vowed to myself I would never ever give up an animal to a shelter. I would do whatever I could for them. However in this instance we decided to reach out to people we knew to find a home for Arthur. Eventually we did. Last Friday I said goodbye to my sweet Arthur and he went to live in his new home with a woman whos kids are grown and has a 8 year old Maltese. I can only hope and pray that Arthur will live his life with her fear free and loved. I always worry that no one could love him like I could. I think about him all day long. It was a VERY difficult decision and most of Friday was spent in tears. I wonder if he misses me. I hope he does not and that I am only a distant memory for him. His new owner said I could come visit. I am going to give it a few months before I do. But I want to for closure to know he is happy and has settled. Arthur was only 3 so it was just not fair to live his life in fear. We don't know why or how he grew so fearful. We will miss him every day.

Gia is sad. She looks for him when she is outside and she has been very mopey. She is also 8 years old with a torn ACL and in a body brace. Poor Gia having to say goodbye to another friend.


Fairwell Arthur. We love you!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Sometimes...

I just can't believe this is my life! (In a totally good way) I have two gorgeous healthy children and a wonderful HEALTHY husband. (Had a slight health scare but all is well, not even worth blogging about because it was a blip on my radar and now in the past)

Really?! I am so blessed. I am blessed to have met and hold my sweet Cara as well even though she lives forever in my heart, it is so bittersweet. It seems like yesterday when I lost her and my world came crashing down. Fast forward and I am the happiest I have ever been.

Carter is the most loving caring little boy I know. EVER. He has such compassion and a drive to make others happy! Carter has signed up for preschool and is thriving in speech therapy! SO many new words.


Emery is the sweetest little thing. She smiles at everything and believe it or not has bright clear blue eyes!

My world is revolved around these two. Not that it was not before, but now more than ever. I am not fully back at work yet and am really struggling and having a hard time with going back the three days that I work. Its so hard to leave them and not be there. I think what makes it harder for me is she is my ONLY living girl and this is it. This is my last baby. EVER. due to my complications after delivery and Emery's kidney disease we just can't chance another baby. It makes it very hard for me to leave them knowing she is it. I am praying for the strength I need to fully be at work. What an amazing summer this has been for my family!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Emery's Baptism!

On Emery's special day she was able to wear my wedding dress! Yes you read that right! We had my gown made into hers. It was nothing short of amazing. I wish she could wear it over and over! We also had a huge blanket made from my dress that can be handed down to her on her wedding day! Always thinking ahead I tell ya!












It was such a FANTASTIC day! Filled with love and laughter! 

Monday, August 19, 2013

1 month of fitness!

Can we get a AWWW YEA for turbo fire? Chalean Johnson is rocking my world over here!

I am currently working on my fitness 5 days a week. When I go back I may only be able to fit in four, but honestly its a way of life for me now! I can't imagine NOT working out. I schedule it in every day and I actually will not go somewhere or do something if it is going to interfere! This is MY time. 

I will share an update on my 9 week post partum, and 4 week post fitness routine! HUGE changes! I am down 9 lbs in a month! Never thought that was possible. I am only 5 foot 1! 


Excited to where this will take me!