been awhile.

quite frankly, I forgot about my blog.
Maybe I should do more... :)
I will.

Lets start with what I've been up to...
I had lap band surgery in July.. It went very well, and I've lost 48 pounds so far... it is quite a struggle, but I'm thankful for it every day. Especially when I step on the scale or glance in a mirror!!!

I graduated from Midwestern State University in December with my degree, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. I passed all my exams with very high scores, and I am now a certified teacher. I intend to pursue more certifications soon.

I'm substitute teaching and looking for a teaching job for August. :)

My kids are great. Kelsey is a big Kindergartener. She is starting to read, and she is a big ball of energy. She had four teeth pulled at the dentist recently due to some permanent teeth causing issues, and now she has a very cute little lisp. :)
Kiersten will start school in April in the special education program at Cunningham. She is doing so well. She has a ton of signs, and she's starting to really talk more.
Jason is going to school now. He's doing a great job, and I am so proud of him!

amazing news

my degree plan was approved. That means that I do not have to spend $1200 on a class this summer for one hour of credit... I dont have to stress about a science class when science is my worst... and I dont have to worry about missing school for kids being sick or surgery or something for the rest of the summer.today is my last day of class...

I have one final on monday.. then I am done... finished... complete...

I have student teaching in the fall... graduate in december... and will pray that I get a job in the middle of the year.

my birthday

is tomorrow... :)

we turned in our notice to vacate today..
and the landlord seemed happy... .weird... never been late on rent... never put up a fuss... painted the whole house when we moved in and tiled the bathrooms for free.... HOW are we bad tenants???

oh Im sorry.. that's right... we've called once a year to have the plumber come out and unclog the pipes when roots grew into them... oh ... and we called when the air conditioner went out... we are so BAD.... *sarcasm inserted here.

intent to vacate...

just did the notice... weirdly enough.. I actually started to worry today that maybe we were making a bad decision to move.. .money wise I am pretty scared about it all... the upfront cost of moving is big...

was just about to say that we need to back out and live with our current house... till jason got home to find the air conditioner out... again... called the landlord and she was furious and got angry with US about it.... ...... that just confirmed that we really are making the right decision.

ps... just saw a clip on tv from an old all my children... looks like dr baker on days of our lives wasnt that guys first job... LOL.

my artwork

lap band

so I had my first appointment. the doc said that the average weight loss with the band is 50% of excess fat... meaning... since I am 100 pounds overweight... I would typically lose 50 pounds.. which would put me right at 200 pounds in 2-3 years... not good enough... however, he said that this is average weight loss... for the people that rely on the band alone.. and that counts those that cheat the system (only cheating themselves) and lose no weight or gain... so ... if in 3 years, I am only down to 200 pounds.. I have nobody to blame but me... I really think that this is all I will need to help me... the band is a tool to help you feel full after very small portions... since my main problem is that I can't stand to feel hungry.. I think I'll be good.. and... the only reason I am not active is because I am just too darn tired... I still want the band.. am looking forward to it... just hope I can pay the copay and out of pocket to get it.

glazing

today I learned an important lesson. When glazing pottery, really really really make sure you do not get wax resist on your finger and touch a part of the pot that you would prefer to have glaze on. if you do, the pot will have glaze everywhere and be beautiful... except that there is a fingerprint without glaze. :(

8 pots glazed.... 32ish to go... plus whatever I make tomorrow... :)

just two weeks of pottery makin left. :(