What a year!

With Carter & Cooper's birthday just under two weeks away, I can't help but reflect on the transformation we've all taken in the last year.

Removing wheat, eggs, and diary from our diet continues to be challenging, but not impossible.  The boys love rice milk, I'm back to my quick shopping trips (although I have to go to 3 different stores), and I've found great products that allow for the boys to feel less excluded when it comes to treats at daycare & birthday parties!  My first few trips to the commissary, I literally spent 2 hours reading every ingredient list.  Now, I shop along the outside and rarely go down the center aisles except for a few items.

I've also been on my own major transformation with a 60lb weight loss over the last 15 months.  This was very apparent while searching for Ball gowns only to find that last year I was a size 18, and this year I'm a size 12!  I still have a 20lbs left, but I promised my MIL that she would have a family picture by my birthday (June)...and I will keep that promise!  I'm very thankful for the first time I lost weight (95lbs back in 2006) using the Biggest Loser Club online, because it was easy to fall right back into the habit of counting my calories.  I also did the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Raleigh with two friends, the Diva Dash in DC with my homie V, and a 5K in October with some awesome people from work.  I just have to keep reminding myself that I can't feed my feelings!

Although I didn't return to school last year, we've updated our goals for the next several years and have a game plan in place.  I was VERY impressed with my skills as a nurse when it came to my re-certifications this time, and have spent the last 8 months being a preceptor for different new hires on our unit.  Although there have been days where I've wanted to pull my hair out in frustration, it gives me an opportunity to re-evaluate each person's needs and find the best way to address them so they can succeed...which in turn makes us a better team.  It has also solidified that I eventually want to teach Nursing School or be a clinical educator.

On a recent trip to Raleigh we took the boys to the Lego store and although they didn't care much about making their own Lego person, I thought it was awesome!  Here she is, radio in hand anxiously chanting, "over 18, over 18..."

I'm trying to stay positive (at work & home) and take it one day at a time.