Phillip's Party Pictures

Well the one time camera I used this time sucked! Here are two pics and the rest can be found at http://photos.yahoo.com/irish_angel72

Love you all! hernia surgery tomorrow so I will be out of th loop for a few days!

Roller Coaster of Emotions

Wow so much has gone on the past 24-48 hours that have caused so many emotions in me it is not even funny. First off Bill and Jenn welcomed their new baby Shay into the world at 3:00am on August 17th. He weighed 6.2 ounces and was 19 & ½ inches long. His blood sugar was low so he was on an IV but other then that he was healthy. I guess he started going into distress at the end of the labor (I heard this from my step-mom nobody else tells me anything). So anyways my emotional thing started on Wednesday night, I called Bill’s to talk to Will like 5 times no answer, called my dad and step-mom as that is where Will goes after school, no answer. I finally called my little sister to see if she knew where my dad was and she said “Oh they left me a message they were going to Bill’s with Will to get Will’s clothes cause Jenn is in labor at the hospital” Ok something seems wrong to me that my little sister knew where my kid was and I have not a clue. But I got over it. Then to hear my step-mom talk about going to see “their” grandbaby yesterday really had me a little wigged out. I think it is weird they are closer to Bill then to me it seems. Oh well something else I just need to deal with!

Then the next morning when Bill called to tell us about the baby I was very happy that he was ok, but made me yearn for a baby even more (I cannot wait one more year and we will start trying) plus I felt for Kenny when I told him “You are a big brother now” and he said “Only up there down here I am still the baby”. I just do not want him to have the middle child syndrome, which is even worse since he does not see or talk to his dad much. I do not want him to ever feel “less then”. The Baron and I will do all we can to make him feel special, I just felt bad for him. He is happy about his baby brother but ha a lot of mixed emotions. He told me it is weird to have a brother and not have me as its mother. Some things a 7 year old mind just cannot always wrap around a concept like “Half-Siblings”. Oh and then to hear my step-mom talk about going to see “their” grandbaby yesterday really had me a little wigged out. I think it is weird they are closer to Bill then to me it seems. Oh well something else I just need to deal with!

But yes my clock is tick, tick, ticking!!!

Then I will not use names on here but I have a friend that from the way everything is pointing used one of her customer’s credit cards fraudulently to pay a bill of her own. I am so mixed between anger, as this is so stupid and because I recommended this friend to their employer makes me feel like crap, I know this employer will not look at me different but still I did refer this person. Second I am feeling so terribly bad for them as they never told me just how bad their situation was. There is always another option and I wish I could have helped this person to come up with a different solution, as now they could be really fucked. I know the customer did call the police and after working at American Express I know credit card companies do prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. I am very worried about this friend. I know money troubles, as do most of my friends that read this, but there is always another way. I just wish they could have felt that they could talk to me. I hope I have not failed them as a friend and that is why they felt they could not open up to me.

I love all my friends and will stand behind this one as they face the music. While I do not agree or support the act I love the person and can look beyond that and my own anger. I will try to be the friend they need right now, I am not here to judge. I know some of my friends may laugh as they do not share the same beliefs as me, but for me I will pray for my friend, be a good Christian and not cast judgment, I will be there to love and try to help. I just need to ask God for the strength to help me look past everything and do the right thing. I try to do this in all of my friendships. Whether or not you believe in God and that Jesus died for our sins does not mean that I do not love you all and value your friendship any less. For those non-believers I still pray everyday for you and your families and that God watch over and protect you because that is part of my faith.

I do love you all, I look forward to seeing everyone at Mr. and Mrs. Rheaume’s tomorrow and Mrs. H do not forget weigh and measurements tomorrow see you at 9:30am at Curves!

***Mrs. H real quick this is especially for you. You are the one friend that has never failed me, never been dishonest or try to sugar coat something to make me feel better. You have been the kick in the ass when I needed it, a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with and share life’s victories with. Thank you so much for my being my best friend all these years. I may not have always been as good a friend as I should have been to you, but you have always been there and I thank you for that and I love you!!!***

Kenny's First Day of School!!!

Well after the little fiasco of them also withdrawing Kenny, not just William from school he was all good to go! Here is some pictures of my handsome little 3rd grade man!

Wow a major anniversary for me

Hey fellow bloggers,

Some of you may have recieced the email that had this but I wanted to make sure it was archived on my blog for me!

Well 4 years ago tomorrow was my weight loss surgery. I was 335 a week before surgery, last week at my Dr's office I was 158. That is a 177 pounds lost! This is a post I put on a national support group website I belong to and on my Dr's message board.

If you are reading this blog it means somewhere along the line in these past 4 years you were there for me,(as only my favorite people even have this blog site) whether it was before surgery or a few years after, you were there and I feel you are all true blessings from God. Thank you for all you have done for me. Your love, support and friendship means more to me then you will ever know!

4 years ago today, I was drinking chicken broth and apple juice as I had down the Go-Lytely the night before per Dr Simpson's orders. The next morning I knew was going to be the first day of the BEST of my life. That is what I kept saying as I looked at my wonderful son's. Hard to believe William had just turned 5 and Kenny was almost 4. I was going to miss William's first day of Kindergarten, that killed me inside but I knew if I did not do this I would very likely miss his graduation from high school, his getting married and all the wonderful things the Lord had planned for him, as well as his brother.

So there I was, 335 pounds at my last check a week before, married to a nice man but I was not in love, I was depressed, felt miserable and the only good thing I had going for me were those two wonderful boys. I was doing this for them as much as them. "This" was my Duodenal Switch.

Fast-forward 4 years later. Here I am a mom still to those two little boys, who lost 172 pounds and are now happy and healthy! My kids tell me they have the most fun and beautiful mom of all their classmates. I finally had found the strength to leave a marriage that was not fair to either of us. I am now engaged to the love of my life, and hey my ex found the love of his life and they are going to have a baby any day! I am HAPPY!!!! Now every day is not some amazing day, but you know what? Everyday I wake up and it does not hurt to stand up due to the weight my feet have to carry all day, I have a slew of clothes to choose from that I actually like the way I look in them, I have energy to get up before the alarm and make breakfast for my house. There has been a lot of change, my oldest now lives with his dad, but being healthy in my mind, not just my body I recognize that his dad and him are close and because he chooses to live there does not mean he loves me any less. I have changed my thinking, people are not out to get the fat girl, and they are there to support me in my decisions. My friends are amazing, my fiancé Todd is a dream come true, he knows all about my weight issues I had, the years of bulimia, the WLS and he supports me and says, "That has made you who you are today".

I am truly blessed to have been a member of this site, the support I received before and after surgery were amazing and I hope my story can assist others. Please feel free to read my whole story on my profile and also check out my personal web page www.geocities.com/stephileeaz.

A few quick tips for you:

1. Take measurements before surgery...oh man they help during times the scale does not move cause those inches are coming off!

2. Do what your Dr advises, people on here will share their ideas of what you need to do but in the long run Dr knows best!

3. Re-train your brain! There is no thing as a bad food, bad choices maybe but do not look to food as an enemy. Food was made to be good nourishing the body, take care of that body with healthy choices and you will do well.

4. As Dr Simpson says Protein, Water, Walk and Walk some more!

5. EXERCISE!!!! It feels so good, start off in little increments if you must but MOVE! It is amazing what it does not just for the body but your soul.

6. Be good and honest to yourself, love yourself!

Thanks for letting me ramble!

Love and Hugs!

Love Stephi

happy days and bitchy redheads

Hey everyone,

Well let’s see last night the Baron and I went to our pre-marital counseling at the church. We were going to see how we did on the 178 questionnaire we had done back in June. We were told by the deacon that we are so compatible that it is boring LOL We had 5 questions we either did not agree on or we answered the same but was not what the “stock” answer for the test was considered as correct. It was fun we laughed a lot then the deacon gave us a booklet to go through together and basically with this book we create our whole wedding ceremony, the readings, the prayers, the vows etc. Cool stuff man!

So right now I am ready to beat down a specific redhead. I cannot believe that anyone would say that Ry is undisciplined and basically a child nobody wants to be around! COME ON! I love that kid, she listens incredibly well, has manners, has a full routine at home. I just do not get it. I guess some people try to find faults in others so they do not have to look at their own issues! That is my take on it because I know this persons child, and while he can be a great kid if he chooses usually he is fighting, whining or doing something not appropriate. I know this is hard I have gone through it with Will, but the difference is I accepted that my child had issues, I spoke with his teachers about it, worked a plan, had him in counseling to work on his issues etc. Is he perfect? Heck no neither of my boys are, but by accepting Will’s problem and working on it we are all better off for it.

Ok that is my lil bitch session on that. UNCLE TODD AND AUNT STEPHI LOVE THE RYSTER AND YES SHE IS FRIGGIN PERFECT!!!! She is after all a princess like her mum and me J

Love you all!

Quiz Stolen from Brig's Blog

You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow. Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three. Captain Jack Sparrow 83% William Wallace 75% The Terminator 67% The Amazing Spider-Man 67% Indiana Jones 63% James Bond, Agent 007 63% Maximus 63% Lara Croft 58% Neo, the "One" 46% El Zorro 42% Batman, the Dark Knight 25% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Look what I got!

one of the wonderful people we insure at my office had these delivered to me today. She just wanted to thank me for always helping them with anything they have questions on and being so nice to her! Wasn't that sweet! And yes believe it or not I am sweet and nice when I want to be!

My new rings!!!!

Ok seems Todd has been using the 50 bucks a week I thought he was using for lunch or whatever to use towards the down payment for my bridal set. It is white gold with 1 and 1/2 ct diamond with 1/2 carat additional on each band. Here are some pics. He took me to a nice dinner to give it to me and even got down on one knee when we got home and proposed again! LOL He is the best!

I am going to work out today after work and tomorrow with Kris. I have to go to my surgeons office today at 11:30 to see about getting my hernia repaired. I will let you all know what happens!

THANK GOD I GOT MY NAILS DONE YESTERDAY!!!!!

LOL A revisit to my blog one year ago

Hee Hee this is what I said on my blog exactly one year ago today...

"i think i am just going to give up on dating. If the right guy comes along and just sweeps me off my feet that will be cool, but I am done looking!!!

Wow how a year changes things!

Long time no post

Hey everyone. I have not posted in awhile so I thought I would do a quick one. First off, Phillip I will get your money to Kris to give you. thanks again for your help sweetie! I went ahead yesterday and did my weigh in and measurements at Curves, I should have waited until Saturday I was super bloated yesterday but figured I would go ahead and do it. Actually not as great as I wanted as I was also down and out for a week and did not get to work out, but started back again on Monday. Anyways I lost 2.5 pounds, and according to their body fat tool that they use 2 of those 2.5 pounds was pure body fat lost! I lost a quarter inch in my waist, half an inch on my upper thigh and a half inch on my upper arm (WooHooo as I have a strapless wedding gown) I did not gain or lose in my tummy or hips, but I GAINED A QUARTER INCH IN MY BUST!!! YES!!! So I lost where I wanted and gained where I wanted! I really like working out there, first time EVER that I look forward to going and working out.I had been down and out due to a cyst in a not so fun area. I am better now and thankful that is over.

We have Will with us until Wednesday, then him and Kenny are going to Show Low with their dad and step-mom. Will is going to be up there for good at that point as he starts school August 9th. Kenny will be there until August 5th, then he will spend a week with Todd's parents in Payson before coming back to start school on the 14th.this weekend we have no plans other then I am going to work out with Mrs H on Saturday morning. That will be a nice change form being so busy!

Hey do any of you have any anti-spy software? Our computer is screwed and we cannot connect to our internet server, there is no virus and I am guessing spyware screwed us up. We also have friggin windows 98 so if anyone has the discs to upgrade our system I would appreciate any help. I miss not being able to get online from at home. We have not been able to check email, go to myspace NOTHING!!

Oh well I better get back to work. I am so friggin tired. The Baron woke up at like 2Am sick with food poisoning or something, I felt so bad for him he was throwing up like there was no tomorrow. I could not get back to sleep so I got out of bed a little before 5am and did 5 flipping loads of laundry! After work I am going to get the boys, go to the store, come home and VEGETATE!!!Love you all!

The Diva Princess
also known as the Baroness

Happy Birthday!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY 34TH BIRTHDAY MRS H!!!! I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE THE BEST FRIEND ANYONE COULD ASK FOR!!!!

Happy Sunday

I am exhausted but I have my Kenny back :-) let the spoiling begin! Todd and I will end up spoiling him rotten, oh well he is a cool kid. And Todd got a new car! Here it is a 2005 Chrysler Sebring LTD...awww... we are a Chrysler family LOL

Curves

I am so loving working out there, it is the first time I have stopped looking for anexcuse NOT to go work out! LOL Watch out everyone, Mrs H and I are going to be smoking hot and toned soon enough! Thanks also to our WONDERFUL friend Phillip who has provided me some help to make sure I can join this week. YOU FRIGGIN ROCK! Do you realize you will be the only person in wedding party invited to both the Bachelor and Bachelorette parties? It's cause you are so cool!

Oh well back to work and then working out with Mrs H tonight!

Love
the Diva

Hmmm did not expect this

You scored as Katie. You are Katie. Katie has a "do what makes me happy" attitude. Known to mix it up and get in fierce arguments with other girls, most of the time Katie is just trying to have fun and enjoy the moment. Genuine, kind people often attach themselves and become good friends with her.

Which Fresh Meat Alumni Cast Member are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Engagement announcement

We have an engagement announcement online at AZFamily.com here is the link. Oh and yes I know I used a pic where the Baron has a beer LOL

http://www.azfamily.com/pix/engagements/?image_id=53220

Surprise!!!

Here is the picture of Will opening the box with my mom in it. It was great!!! By the way the Baron's dad's surgery went well. It was a lot longer then expected, but the old man came up swinging in the recovery room so that is a good sign. He is in ICU and is heavily sedated, I will keep you posted on updates. Thank you everyone for your prayers, good thoughts and love. We both appreciate it!

More pictures of my mom's trip can be found at http://photos.yahoo.com/irish_angel72 the album is named Mom's Visit!

Mommy's Visit!!!!

Well this will probably be long, sorry to bore you if it is. Thursday I went and got my mom from the airport, she looked so great. Any ways I had left the boys here at my office and Doug & Monica watched them until Todd got off of work. I got my mom back to the house and called Todd (poor thing had been doing everything he could to kill time with the boys). I got my mom in the box and then the boys came in thinking this huge box was filled with presents, well when Will opened his “Nana box” he almost fell over! He was so happy, my mom managed to scare the living shit out of Kenny though LOL Well after visiting for a few my mom took us all to dinner at The Claim Jumper YUMMY. Then we went home, chilled out and then went to bed.

Friday (Will’s 9th Birthday) I got Todd off to work then treated my mom to a pedicure at my nail salon that was nice, then we stopped in my office so she could meet Doug and see Monica. Then we took the boys to Water World for the day and had a blast! We rode the slides, played at the wave pool and lounged in the lazy river! Then when we left we went to the store and picked up stuff for white Russians and Will’s birthday cake. Friday was a fun night; we ordered in pizza, did the cake and all had a lot of fun.

Saturday morning we got up early, headed off to Wal Mart and filled a cooler with drinks and snacks and we went tubing down the river. We had so much friggin fun! The boys were awesome, so well behaved it was not even funny! Then that night we went out to karaoke to celebrate Monica’s birthday. I had a sitter and we partied hard core! My mom sang to the ugliest men in the bar and did not remember the car ride home. Todd had to help her walk so that was a good thing LOL I love it when she can let go and have fun.

Sunday we were all feeling like hell! I drove my niece home and then picked everyone up and we went to church, then my mom and Mrs. H and I all went to David’s Bridals and my mom bought me my wedding dress, veil, slip, bra, tiara EVERYTHING! It was so great being spoiled LOL then we went to Sam’s Club and got stuff to BBQ at Mr. and Mrs. H’s house. We all were there and also had a cake for Will. My mom had so much fun and just loved the H family. Thank you so much for showing such a nice time to her and Mr. H great cooking since the Baron was a dork and did not do it! Sunday we got home about 7:30 and we were all whipped!

Monday got Todd off to work, then my mom, the boys and I ended up puttering around, then went to the Olive Garden for lunch, then took the kids shopping. My mom got them each 5 new outfits, shoes, socks and underwear. Then we let Will spend his $100.00 dollars he got in Wal Mart gift certificates for his birthday. Mom bought me two new pairs of shoes J and then we went to Linen’s and Things to get a 100% cotton sheet to wrap my wedding gown up in that is how they told us to store it in the bag. So any ways we find these beer openers where you can record your voice, she did one that when you use it says “TODD! You do not need that beer” LOL she also bought him a 12 pack of Heineken to go with it, she also bought him a shoe rack as he has been dying for one for outside the front door since we take our shoes off before going in the house. She had also bought him on Saturday new river shoes that he must have thanked her for like 100 times. It was a riot when he used the beer opener, he loves it! I cooked us all a nice dinner and we enjoyed a quiet evening together.

So then Tuesday came BUMMER I had to take my mom to the airport, I hated saying goodbye. Then I had to drive the boys to Payson to meet Bill as Kenny is going there for 3 weeks and Will is up there for the summer. I was crying so hard after I dropped them off I went to Todd’s parent’ since they live there and cried on his mom’s shoulder LOL Then I drove back down, worked until 5 then went home. We had to go back to the airport to pick up the Baron’s sister and nephew at like midnight. Then I came home, back to bed and got up for work this morning and here I am,

Todd’s dad is having his surgery at 4:30 today and I will let you all know how it goes. My fingers are crossed and lots of prayers have gone out. I am also getting my pictures developed from my mom’s trip, so I will get a link to those once I down load them.

I love you all and hope everyone is great!

Hi Everyone!

Well let's see what has been going on since I last blogged? Well Friday we drove up to Payson to see Todd's dad and mom. His dad was not feeling to well all weekend, so that sucked. Todd's aunt was there too. He is not to fond of her, but it was a nice visit any ways. We took the boys to the movie theatre up there on Saturday and saw X-Men 3 it was great! I really liked it a lot. Then we left Sunday morning, came back here and cleaned then went to the pool. About 7:00 pm that night our flipping a/c went out. The compressor was shot, they finally got someone out there last night to fix it, but not until like 5:30 or 6:00. The house was not comfrotable again until like midnight last night. So basically we were all exhausted yesterday morning thanks to no sleep due to the heat on Sunday night.

I am getting so excited for my mom's big surprise visit on Thursday. I cannot believe the boys still have no idea that she is coming. I did a good job keeping this secret. We are going to get pedicures on Friday morning, then we are taking the kids to Water World for Will's birthday, Saturday we are going tubing down the river (Everyone is invited if anyone else would like to go with us!) then that night we are going out to karaoke for Monica's birthday (once again everyone is invited) I would highly suggest anyone taking the opportunity to come party with my mom as it is always a blast. Sunday we are going to church and then we are going to buy my wedding gown, want to come Mrs H? We can swing by and get you on the way, the appointment is at 12:30pm. Then Monday mom is taking Will to WalMart with the gift card she got him.

I was going to see what Mr and Mrs H were doing Sunday afternoon to see if you would be up for some BBQ and swimming? I am buying! I also figured since you guys have never met my mom it could be a casual way to hang out and get to know here and you will see she does exist!

Oh I got an IM from the ugly people yesterday, I guess their kids were taken away from them. Their son Matt who is 8 was molested and the guy is behind bars but the state of TX where they live now, is not convinced they can provide a safe enviornment for them. Sad for those kids isn't it?

I am just dreading next Tuesday though, that is the day I have to take mom to the airport and then bring Will to Payson to meet Bill as that is when Will goes to live there :-( Oh well I will enjoy the weekend!

Camping Pictures!!!

They are located in my Yahoo Photo Album:

http://photos.yahoo.com/irish_angel72

Album titled: Camping Memorial Day Weekend

Love ya!

Had a great weekend!!!

I had such a nice time this weekend with some of the most wonderful people I have in my life! Friday I got off of work and met the Baron at the house, we waited what seemed like forever for Mr. and Ms. H to show up at the house, but they got there an we were all on our way to Payson. We made a quick pee-pee pit stop in Fountain Hills and then we all met up at the Wal-Mart in Payson to do some food shopping and grab a few odds and ends. The little Ryster hung out with Aunt Stephi in the store, we had so much fun that little girl makes me so happy every time I am around her! We then left there and took off to find our site to camp; it was about 30 miles more up the beeline. It was almost 11:00 PM when we finally started pitching tents. It was a riot when we woke up the next day and realized we were in like the only area around us that was completely burned out area around. So the Ryster had a great time in a big pile of ashes J As soon as I get pictures developed you all will see the dirtiest little faces around!

Saturday morning the Baron and I and the boys went to see the Baron’s parents who live in Payson, get their truck and haul out one of the quads. The quad was a blast to have out there, we rode off and on all day each taking turns taking the kids out for rides, then The Baron, Mr. H and I took my boys, Taylor and his friend Jake to go target shooting. Jake almost blew off Mr.’s foot but other then that no trouble LOL Kenny was like a little freak cracking up while shooting, he loved it. Will was dedicated and calculated as always, the Baron just loves to unload all his rounds so I had to remind him he was not in the Marine Corps anymore and did not need to empty a cartridge LOL I got to shoot the .22, 2- different .45 and a shot gun! I had never shot a shotgun and it was AWESOME!!! That night we froze our butts off since there were no campfires allowed due to fire restrictions.

Sunday we got up packed up, rode the quad again, went shooting again, this time Ryster and Mrs. H came along and they got to play too! LOL Ryster was all about shooting. After that the Baron and our kids went back to his parents to drop off the quad. We borrowed his dad’s truck so we can haul his futon back up to him next weekend. Will rode with the Baron, Kenny with me J . We got home showered and chilled out for awhile, then went to Mr. and Mrs. H’s house to BBQ and hang out. It was fun.

Yesterday I got up made breakfast for all my men, cleaned my car, the Baron cleaned the truck. Then we went back to the H’s house to swim, BBQ and watch a move. I did some laundry there THANK YOU AGAIN MRS H!!!! for letting me do that. Movieman came by and helped us with some things we had to do and then we went home. Had a nice night. The kids were in great moods, we let them sleep in the living room, watched a great movie with the baron…can’t remember the name…Ed Norton as a skinhead…. Really good, graphic but good.

Today it is back to work. The kids are spending the night at their grandmother’s so I get some alone time with the Baron!!! Woo Hoo we have not had a night alone in a long time, so that should be nice. I love you all and hope everyone is great!!!!