Going Down

I made a HUGE step today in my weight loss.  I was a bit intrepid about stepping on the scale this week.  I’ve been sick for almost a week.  I’ve had a ton of sinus drainage and it just really upset my stomach.  On top of that, I think I had a stomach virus.  For the close to a week, I puked almost every day.  Yesterday was so bad that I wasn’t even keeping water down.  However, I also know that you can’t starve a body and lose weight.  The bodies natural reaction is to start to store what it has, thus, usually adding on a couple pounds.  Today when I stepped on the scale, I was in for a HUGE surprise!!

I was down 6.2 pounds….in ONE week!!

I’m so amazed, happy, and relieved.  Relieved that is that I also ate my first meal without throwing up today!!  I just kept drinking water yesterday and all day today.  I decided that I’d give my tummy time to heal and just keep full of fluids.  Much to my relief, dinner stayed down and I was even ready for my night snack a couple hours later.

Not only am I feeling better though, but the whole family is.  It seems they had the stomach bug too.  I’m not sure who gave it to who, but I probably got hit the worst because of the lap band.  Sadly, kiddo did have a fever for a couple days.  She’s much better today and no sign of the fever.  Also, I’m proud of her because she lost another 1.6 lbs. today as well!!  She’s just on a slow steady streak and loses that much a just about every week.  I keep telling her how good she’s doing, because she is.  That’s really major that she’s doing it the right way and that it’s coming off slow and steady.

Hubby was affected by the stomach bug too, but he was fine by the time he had to work yesterday.  He did have quite the “to do” list that he never go to last weekend.  He just took his time and rested and seems to beat the bug the best!!  While we all needed some down time, I did manage to get his hair cut.  Boy did he need it!!

Well, that’s all that I have for you right now.  I know, I’m so darn boring lately!!  I do have photos to post if I can ever get on schedule with some of the photo memes.  Miss K and I also went to go see a movie that I really need to tell you about!!  Ah, for just a couple more hours in the day or just a day to play catch-up.

Oh, and the funniest….or saddest part of how much I’ve lost lately is that I have a brand NEW dress that I wanted to wear tomorrow night to our Appreciation Dinner for religion class and it’s TOO BIG!!  Yes, this dress has been sitting in my closet because I was too fat, now I’m too thin.  Isn’t that crazy!?!?  I’m still wearing it and I’ll look good….and at least I get to say that I’m not that big any more.  For a total, I’m down about 4 sizes now.  Yes, that means that I’m getting into more and more “regular” sized clothes!!  WOOT WOOT

What are you up to….or down to??  Let me know, because I do love hearing from all of you!!




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Diabetic….NO MORE!!

So as many of you know, things have been pretty busy around here.  I’m happy to say that we’re slowing down and that we’re pretty much back to “normal”.  We had so many appointments, it was starting to drive me mad!!  The only one I have left is next week for my pancake exam….and of course, there’s always my monthly fill check in a couple weeks.

One of the doc appointments that I had last week was my 6-month diabetic check.  The blood drawn for that was done right after race weekend, me drinking sweet tea, and having birthday cake.  Hey, I do get to celebrate now and then!!  Anyway, even after all that, my blood tests were in the “safe” range.  That means that I’m officially off my diabetic meds!!  WooHoo  I haven’t really taken then since after surgery because I watch my numbers at home.  However, having the doc say this makes it official.  Now we’ll see if I can get off the high bp meds too.  I don’t have too much hope in that with family history, but anything is possible.  Also, my cholesterol is good and he lowered my dose to half on that.  This is mainly a precaution since I can’t take my low dose aspirin everyday because it deteriorates the lap-band.

There was no weight loss this week.  More importantly, there was no weight gain either!!  I’m almost down another full size.  It all depends on who makes the clothes and where I got them from.  I’m about ready to say “good bye” to plus size and “hello” permanently to regular misses sizes!!  Plus size stuff now tends to just….fall off.  I think my top half will always be a plus size, except for full cut regular sizes.  The chest has gone no place, even with this weight loss!!  HEHE  Back to more regular exercise with the schedule calming down and I’m actually looking forward to it.  The weight loss will resume and balance out again then!!

Tomorrow night is the last night for religious education.  I want to use summer to really revamp my curriculum and add some new materials.  Hopefully I’ll have another class as crafty as this one was.  They finished up their Fruits of the Holy Spirit mobiles last week and they were a huge hit.  Even the parents commented!! 

So tell me….how are all of you, my readers and followers??  Can you believe that today is the first day of yet another month??  It just shouldn’t be May already!!

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Fruits of the Holy Spirit

My lesson for religious education last week was Fruits of the Holy Spirit.  We got the lesson in and we discussed what each of them was and what they meant.  However, we didn’t get our craft done.  In fact, it was a total disaster!!

I had the hardest time finding materials for Catholic Fruits of the Holy Spirit.  There’s just not much out there.  That set me on my way to create me own craft for us to do.  I decided on doves with each of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit written on them.  Well, my poor kids just couldn’t do that writing.  I told them that I’d put a tracer font on the doves and bring them back this week for them to do.  Then, we’d make a mobile out of all of them.

I went to work making this mobile for us to do in class tonight.  I must say, it worked out so much better.  It turned into more of a copywork craft.  The kids traced the words, then colored the doves and the top of the mobile.  We didn’t get them finished, but we’ll do that next week.  One thing that I did realize is that I made the doves way too large!!  So in order to be able to share it with all of you, I’ve adjusted the size and it looks so much better and works properly.

Directions:

1. Trace the “fruits of the Holy Spirit” on each dove and the topper.
2. Color the doves and the topper.
3. Punch the 6 holes in the bottom of the topper and 1 hole in each dove where marked.
4. Cut 6 strands of yarn at various lengths.
5. Put 1 strand in yarn in each hold in the topper and pull through.
6. Put 1 dove on each end of the yarn and tie off.
7. Repeat step 6 for all 12 doves.
8. Punch a whole at the top of the topper (not marked) and put a short length of yarn through the hole and tie it off.
9. Hang the mobile from the ceiling or other location.

Here’s a thumbnail sample of parts of this mobile….

Dove © Woman’s Day for the Dove Glitter Ornament.  Fruit Bowl coloring page © Hawaii Dermatology (which they got from another source).

To get the Fruits of the Holy Spirit mobile, just click to….

If you make this mobile with your kids in class or at home, please leave me a comment and let me know how it works out.  I’d love your input on this craft project!!  I do plan on making a couple more activities for Fruits of the Holy Spirit and I’ll post them as soon as they’re completed, but first, I have to find the time to finish them.  If you enjoy this project, keep an eye out for new materials, hopefully soon!!




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The information that is posted on this blog is general information purposes. It is not intended to substitute for curriculum or for obtaining advice from your principal, church or DRE. It is for informational and educational purposes only. All activities, games, information, etc. on this blog are free. However they are ONLY to be used for classroom and personal use. They may NOT be published on any websites/blogs or other electronic media, distributed in any manner, uploaded to any file sharing service/storage, or sold for profit. If you know someone who would benefit from these materials, please refer them to this blog. Do NOT share the materials that you download with them. Copyright © 2008-Present. All rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.

 

Sequence & Pray – Our Father

Thanks to a blogger, Holly, using my Sequence & Pray – Hail Mary cards and mat set, they’ve become very popular.  That’s also sparked people to ask for a set for Our Father.  So thanks, Three Sided Wheel , I appreciate your interest in my Hail Mary set and that you blogged about it.

This is a set for Sequence & Pray – Our Father.  The cards can be used for concentration/memory (if 2 sets of cards are printed) or they can be sequenced on the mat with the words to the prayer on each card.  They also could be used to just recite the prayer or a number of other things.  These all must be printed on legal size paper!!  That is, 8 1/2″ by 14″ size paper.  

Graphic © Katie @ Just So Scrappy Too with permission.

Here’s a thumbnail sample view of this activity….

If you’re interested in this Sequence & Pray set, just click to…..

For those interested, I’ll be making more of these Sequence & Pray sets for other prayers.  I’ll create and post them as time permits.  Also, if you have any requests for prayers, activities, games, or anything else, please just click the “contact me” button in the column to the right.  I’d be happy to see if I could create what you need!!

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The information that is posted on this blog is general information purposes. It is not intended to substitute for curriculum or for obtaining advice from your principal, church or DRE. It is for informational and educational purposes only. All activities, games, information, etc. on this blog are free. However they are ONLY to be used for classroom and personal use. They may NOT be published on any websites/blogs or other electronic media, distributed in any manner, uploaded to any file sharing service/storage, or sold for profit. If you know someone who would benefit from these materials, please refer them to this blog. Do NOT share the materials that you download with them. Copyright © 2008-Present. All rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.

Easter Lesson

Tonight, I taught about Easter and the events leading up to it.  It seems like this lesson is even harder to get across than Christmas is.  Mind you, we started this with Ash Wednesday and Lent.  They still want the candy and the Easter Bunny!!  I honestly thing that maybe at their age, death is a little hard to understand and comprehend.  

I did a worksheet/activity sheet for Palm Sunday (review), Holy (Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.  These were brief because of their age, but show the progression of events.  I then discussed Jesus dying on the cross and how he was buried and rose (and that the resurrection was what Easter really is).  I actually think that they got most of this.  In the classes leading up to this and when we do prayer, the kids love the cross.  So, I chose to do Jesus on the cross for our craft project.

I chose to do the resurrection set from Catholic Icing.  We only did Jesus on the cross and we did it without a tp roll.  If you use card stock and tape it on the inside, it stands perfectly!!  They absolutely loved this!!  Also to craft an event of Holy Week, one could do The Last Supper craft, also from Catholic Icing.  I know this is post too late for many to use, but don’t forget that last year, I created several items for Lent and they can be used through Holy Week and Easter.  Please just do a “search” for them.  There’s also a Sequence the Events of Holy Week game.

I’ve also created my first lens on Squidoo!!  It’s just a very basic one until I get used to it and learn my way around the features more.  I’d be happy if you checked out A Christian Easter and let me know what you think.  Please keep in mind that this is my first one and that I’m hoping to do more as I learn the process.  Finally, this is a craft that I’m considering doing with my class next year.  I think it’s a great one and I found it because I have the site pinned on one of my Pinterest boards!!  This on is an Easter Resurrection Bible Craft in color or black/white.  There’s even a coloring page.  Had I found this pinned  before class tonight, this is what we’d have done.  No matter, they loved what we did and I’m glad that there’s choices out there for us and for free too!!.

What did you do at home or in your religion class for Holy Week and/or Easter??

 

 

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It Keeps Moving Along

**NOTE:  This was scheduled to post, but I made an error, so it didn’t post on the day scheduled.  I’m now posting it, but almost a week later!!**

I thought it was time to give everyone an update again. It seems like it’s been forever, although I know it hasn’t!!

This week, I lost 2.6 lbs. and 2 lbs. last week.  That brings my total over 30 lbs. total now.  I’m about to be at 3 months post-op.  I feel absolutely great!!  I can tell that I didn’t get a fill last month though.  I’m starting to get a little more hungry, but nothing that can’t be controlled.  The good part is that I’ve taught myself what full feels like, so I don’t go past that.  Also, hubby and kiddo are good about measuring my food out.  If it looks like more than 4 oz., they’ll ask me if I measured or not.  I monitor myself pretty well, but they don’t let anything slip either!!

I’m looking pretty frumpy in most of my clothes.  I did go buy 2 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of capris at Dillard’s.  The shorts are tan and black, while the capris are denim.  That way, they go with everything and I haven’t wasted money on clothes that will be too large for me soon.  While at my parents house, I did find a great pair of shorts at Kohl’s and I just had to pick them up too!!

Other than that, I’m not online much.  I’m still trying to stay active and moving the weight loss along.  When I am online, I’ve started getting more into some of the social media.  I find it fun and a great way to meet people.  I’m still not sure about all the Facebook stuff, but I try to keep it updated.  I just love growing and learning new things and social media is huge right now!!

Well, I think that about covers it.  Religious education and homeschool are both almost done for the year.  It’s going by so fast!!  We’ll be doing Algebra I all summer, but that’s it.  Everything is in good shape and we should finish almost on time this year.  I’m looking forward to summer and just having some down time.  Right now, I’m running Miss K to the orthodontist quite a bit.  That’ll slow down too after we get all this beginning of the procedure stuff squared away.  She’s going to have an even greater smile when it’s all done!!

What are you all up to??

 

 

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Week in Review

I’ve had a great week….and pretty interesting one too.  I decided it’d be a great time to get caught up and do some blogging!!

The race was rain delayed on Sunday and was supposed to happen on Monday at noon.  However, it was later announced that they were going to go for a 7pm race time.  I’ve gotta say this was a Daytona 500 that will go down in history!!  It was the first time in 58 years that the race had even been rain delayed.  Then the action during the race was crazy and bizarre!! 

Jimmie Johnson was wrecked on lap 2.  Jeff Gordon lost an engine.  There were some pretty big wrecks.  Oh, and let’s not forget the red flag that stopped all the cars on the backstretch!!  Juan Pablo Montoya was coming off pit road and hit one of the jet dryers on the track.  It caused a huge fire.  Once they finally got it put out, they had to repair the track.  I think it was about a 2 hour stop.  The funniest part of the whole thing was that Brad Keselowski was on Twitter and taking photos during the red flag!!

Photo By PIERRE DUCHARME/REUTERS

The very best part of the race is that Dale Jr finished in 2nd place!!  He had an awesome win and I’m so happy.  It was exciting to see.  Matt Kenseth won the race, which is just fine for that WI boy.  It’s going to be Jr’s year though!!

Photo by Rainier Ehrhard

In other news, I lost 3 lbs. this week!!  I’m feeling so awesome and I’m really happy.  I didn’t realize I felt “bad” until I felt so good!!  Yesterday, I started having serious digestion issues.  Then tonight at dinner, I just couldn’t eat at all.  Every bite I took, it got stuck in my throat.  Suddenly I had to RUN and it all came up.  I puked 3 times!!  It’s the first time since I’ve had the surgery that it happened.  My thought is that I have a stomach virus because my whole stomach is upset.  Not something I want to do again though and I must say, it wore me out and I’m so ready for bed now!!

Religion class is going great and I’m hoping to get some of our activities posted soon.  Just so much to keep up with right now.  If you’re looking for things for Lent though, please utilize my “search” feature in the column on the right.  I’ve shared many things over my blogging time and it’s all still available for you to use.  I want the kids to benefit from the things that I’ve used or found over the years!!

I guess that’s all for now.  More to come soon.  Have a great weekend!!

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Ash Wednesday

Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.

- Genesis 3:19

I hope that you all have a very blessed Ash Wednesday and that you’re ready to celebrate the season of Lent.  I’ll be taking my class to mass tonight and I think that they’re ready.  We practiced our mass behavior last week and they were doing really well with it.

What are you giving up for Lent??  Believe it or not, I’m still undecided.  I always try to make it something meaningful.  Something in the true spirit of Lent.  This year, I just don’t know.  I have no doubts that I’ll figure it out very soon.  Leave me a comment and let me know how you’ll be celebrating Lent!!

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Epiphany

I struggled with a lesson tonight.  I have the rest of the year planned, but tonight was a blank for me.  Since the feast day of Epiphany is 6 January, I decided to go with that for tonight’s lesson.  It worked out well and I want to share some of the activities that we did with you all.

We started with a coloring page that I made for them.  It tells them what Epiphany is and the date.  Then they had a picture to color from dailycoloringpages.com and I added that to the sheet.  You can download the Epiphany sheet here.  The kids said they “loved” the picture, so I’m glad I picked that one.  I was torn between 3 of them and narrowed it to 2 and decided on this one because it just seemed like my kids in class.

Next, we did our craft.  I wanted something pretty basic since this is the first week after Christmas Break.  I didn’t know what kind of mood they’d be in or how much effort they’d put into it.  For the craft, I chose the wiseman silhouette from DLTK  and it couldn’t have worked out any better.  I chose to apply it to a light blue background so that they’d really stand out.  They did!!  Here is the one that I did…..

If you’re interested in doing this craft with your kids or class, please just click the image above and it will open to the craft page at DLTK.  Notice we did ours different than the sites instructions.  I made copies of the camel/wiseman and then we cut them out.  After that, we glued it onto the blue paper.  This is much easier for my age group.

We also did a maze, and I don’t remember where I got that from.  They didn’t like it as much as the other activities!!  Finally, I wasn’t sure how much time we’d have, so I printed off a letter writing sheet from First-School.  It’s a good thing that I did have the extra because only half my class showed up today.  With a smaller class, you go through activities much quicker.  You can find the Ww-wise men writing sheet here.

The last thing that I have for you we didn’t do in class tonight.  Back in 2008, I made a file folder game that’s perfect for Epiphany.  This is a fun game more than a lesson, but it still gets the point across.  You could also add your own cards to make the game part of a lesson or for review.  The game is called Follow the Star and can be found here.  There’s also a game from 2007 called The First Christmas that would be good for review of Christmas and Epiphany.  For this one, players must answer questions about the holiday if they land on a “gift” space, which is the gifts of the 3 Wisemen.  You can find this game here.  

That about covers it!!  I hope that you find something here that you can use with your kids or class for Epiphany.  Mine really seemed to enjoy this lesson and took a lot away from it.

The information that is posted on this blog is general information purposes. It is not intended to substitute for curriculum or for obtaining advice from your principal, church or DRE. It is for informational and educational purposes only. All activities, games, information, etc. on this blog are free. However they are ONLY to be used for classroom and personal use. They may NOT be published on any websites/blogs or other electronic media, distributed in any manner, uploaded to any file sharing service/storage, or sold for profit. If you know someone who would benefit from these materials, please refer them to this blog. Do NOT share the materials that you download with them. Copyright © 2008-2012. All rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.

Oh Holy Night Number Strip Puzzles

It’s time for Nativity A Day and the 18th posting of it!!  Yes, that means that there’s only 2 more to go and I’ve still missed 3 of them.  I think I did anyways.  I’ll have to go back and count again because one day I missed, but the next day I did a double.  If I only counted that as 1, then it should actually be 2 and I’ll have only missed 2.  Time to count!!  HAHA

On with the Nativity A Day for today though.  I have a pretty big variety of number strip puzzles.  Some are horizontal and some are vertical.  There’s one for counting 0-12 and one for 1-10.  There’s also 2 for skip counting by 5 and 10 and one each of skip counting by 2 and 3.  I love all the images that I used and I used a variety of fonts.  We all know about my font addiction!!  HAHA

Nativity Illustrations and Images © Internet Sources and believed to be public domain.

Here’s a thumbnail view of some of the strip puzzles…..

If you’re interested in downloading these strip puzzles, please just…..

If you use my FREE nativity printables, please leave a comment and let me know how you and the little ones like them….or don’t like them. I’d also appreciate it if you’d click the button below once a day to vote for my blog. I love feedback and create by the input that I receive….thanks!!

The information that is posted on this blog is general information purposes. It is not intended to substitute for curriculum or for obtaining advice from your principal, church or DRE. It is for informational and educational purposes only. All activities, games, information, etc. on this blog are free. However they are ONLY to be used for classroom and personal use. They may NOT be published on any websites/blogs or other electronic media, distributed in any manner, uploaded to any file sharing service/storage, or sold for profit. If you know someone who would benefit from these materials, please refer them to this blog. Do NOT share the materials that you download with them. Copyright © 2008-2011. All rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.