A Long Overdue Post... and some BIG News!!!

Geez Louise, I've been quite absent lately!!!   The holidays just got the best of me but now I am back from all my holiday traveling and ready to settle in for the winter (ha! I live in AZ!! More like settle in and get ready for the heat in like 4 months!) 

• We got back from Michigan last night. Had an absolute blast. I will post tons of pictures tomorrow once I remember to bring my camera and cord to work.  Luckily, we had no issues whatsoever with travel, which may have been a first for us. It was freezing cold and I spent a good amount of time, inside, under a blanket, napping.. which was perfecto!!
• Back at work today.. seems like it's going to be a pretty dead week, which will be nice so I can get organized and ready for the chaos the beginning of the year always brings. 

Ok, so are you ready for my BIG news??    I've got a BUN in the OVEN!!! Can you believe it??  I'm just at 13 weeks and am soooo freaking excited!!!  Obviously, I've known since around week 4 and let me tell you, it's been a beast to keep in. I'm not good with keeping my own secrets and this one has been really hard. I've hinted at it a couple of times but truth be told, it's one of the reasons I haven't been blogging..  I've wanted to spill the beans forever.  If you don't know my history, this is a huge blessing.  let me fill you in:

2003 - started trying to get pregnant the traditional way..   when that didn't work, started doing the whole taking my temperature, Ovulation Predictor Kits, etc... nothing.
2004 - started working with my OB/Gyn to see if we couldn't jumpstart something. Took Clomid for about 5 months and then did the Clomid Challenge with Super Ovulation for about 3 months..  Clomid should not be taken for more than 3-4 months before moving on..  I ended up with a burst ovarian cyst... OUCH!  Really started questioning whether or not I wanted to put my body through all of this..
2005 - saw a fertility specialist. Was diagnosed with Diminished Ovarian Reserve and told my chances to conceive were a slim 4-6%....  thought about doing IVF and then decided to start the adoption process.
Late 2005 - finished adoption paperwork and waited, waited.. met with 2 birth moms, weren't picked. Devastated.
2006 - moved to AZ. Found out that all of our Adoption paperwork and $$$$ did not transfer across state lines.  Had to start all over. 
2007 - The Great Stull Depression of 2007 - lost our business, lost everything, no money or insurance to do either adoption or fertility treatments. Decided we needed to regroup first and then get to deciding what we wanted to do about a family.
2008 -  decided to have LapBand surgery. Started the 6 month insurance waiting period
2009 - BAM - found out I was pregnant in May...  shocked to say the least...  had a miscarriage at 6 weeks..  sad but hopeful that with my surgery and better health, that the silver lining was that we could at least conceive..
October, 2009 - Lap Band Surgery - you know this story..
May, 2010 - visit with a fertility specialist. Decide that we will go straight to IVF as soon as the summer is over..  Summer over, we kept putting it off and putting it off..
October, 2010 - after reconciling with myself that I really didn't want to do IVF b/c of what it could do to my innards, I was pretty much at peace that I might not ever carry a child.  and then BAM!!!!  was getting ready to head to Chicago for Margo's wedding and realized that I hadn't started my period which was wierd b/c for the past several months, I had had very short cycles (like around 21/22 days long) So, for good measure, took a test and was SHOCKED at the results...  I'm telling you if you don't believe in miracles..  you should. This is a Bona-fide miracle here... 

I was very apprehensive for the first couple of months b/c of my history and just kept hoping for the best everytime I've been to the doctor for an ultrasound. But, there is a Baby Stull in my belly with a perfect strong  heartbeat who likes to shield it's face whenever the ultrasound tech starts to move around the belly. 

For the first couple of weeks, I was pretty sick - but only in the afternoons.. I finally went to see my LB doctor and she wanted to take out ALL of my fluid. Once I started crying and begging her to not, she agreed to take out 1/2 so I went from 9cc to 4.5 which immediately eliminated the vomiting that I had.. it was crazy. Haven't thrown up since. It's actually kind of nice that I can eat a sandwich now without getting stuck!! I'm still trying to be mindful of the lap band rules and so far have really only gained like 4lbs back.  The biggest symptom I have is the extreme tiredness.. I could sleep for hours. Other than that, I'm doing pretty well.  

Ok, gotta run, just wanted to share the good news.. Will keep you posted. I promise I won't be one of those crazy telling you every little detail of my pregnancy people!!! 

Hope you all had a great holiday season and those out East are keeping warm and are able to at least enjoy all the snow!! :)
xo,js

Remember When???

Remember when this past summer when I was a workout queen?? Anyone seen that girl?  If you have, tell her to give me a call b/c this girl has a belly full of jelly lately.  Sure, I've been working out with Kathi 2-3 times a week, but gone are the days when I sometimes did 2x a day and my cardio was through the roof...  please find her!  Pleaseandthankyou.

xo,js

Out of Touch..

Hey all... well, I feel so out of touch lately. I've been basically going through the motions of life lately.  Nothing out of the ordinary happening here.

1. We are in our new house and we love it.  We still have two rooms in which there is no furniture but we'll get there. With moving, Christmas, Christmas travel, we've had a lot of expenses and I just haven't found exactly what I "need" for these rooms!  Here is a pic of the backyard.. it's heavenly.. I can't wait until it's warm enough to enjoy it more.  We have a putting green back there and I quickly realized on Thanksgiving, that putting makes me want to hurl a golf club over the fence and into the wash.. it's so freaking frustrating!!! I could never be a golfer as I don't have the patience!! 

2.  Thanksgiving was pretty low-key, just me and Timmy. We ended up making the full meal, including the turkey.  I did not have one bite of the turkey b/c turkey and Antonio do not get along.  Needless to say, we had a boatload of leftovers that Timmy has enjoyed all week long.  We watched B&M's girls this weekend and this was the scene during the turkey slicing time:

I think the dogs ate more than me that day!!!

3.  I did a little Black Friday shopping but didn't go overboard. I went to Kohls (  there were a bajillion people there!) Target, Old Navy and Homegoods.. I think I ended up with more for me/house than for any of the peeps on my list!!!

4.  We are heading to Michigan in less than 3 weeks and to say that I'm excited is a huge understatement! We haven't spent Christmas up at the lake all together in 4 years..  so fun! I broke down and ordered a new winter coat b/c my others are like blankets on me now!

5. My band is absolutely a pain in the ass lately.  I am having such a hard time keeping things down and today's new development is that whenever I eat anything, it feels like there's a fire in my belly. I have some other health things going on which may be contributing to the pain a little but I have an appointment on Friday and may actually ask for an unfill.  It blows (literally) though.

6.  Even though my band is a bastard lately, I've been doing pretty well on the challenge. I think I'm down around 7 since the beginning. How come I only lose during a challenge?? It's bananas.

Hope everyone is well.  Will make more of an effort to comment and read blogs!! Some of your blogs shut my internet down though when I try to open them at work!  I've been using google reader a lot lately and sometimes can't get over to the actual blog to comment. HOpefully, I'll have something more exciting to blog about next time!!!  Boring is how I roll these days!!!

xo,js

Gobble Gobble...

Hey all - I've been horribly absent from Blogland lately. Just can't seem to get my blo-jo back.  Really, there hasn't been anything too exciting going on to tell you about!

I love Thanksgiving and normally it's one of my most favorite holidays, but this year, eh.. just not feeling it.
Last year at this time, it was my first day of regular food b/c it fell just about 3 weeks after my surgery.  I remember being nervous about not being able to eat much but it all went down just fine. It's so funny to think back at when I was just banded and all the things I "thought" I would never be able to eat, drink, etc.. 

This year, it's just me and Timmy cooking for ourselves. It'll be much different but I'm sure it will be good.  We are having an ongoing battle as to whether or not to actually cook a turkey b/c I know I'll only be able to eat a little and it seems like such a waste and so time-consuming. I would prefer to just get a turkey breast but we'll see!! I do love me some green bean casserole so you can bet that there will be plenty of that. We are going to "party hop" to a few of our friends houses that day so it should be fun.

I always miss my family on Thanksgiving and this year is no different.  I can't wait to see them all in about a month up in the great white north of Northern Michigan for Christmas.

Hope you all have a happy thanksgiving!! Gobble Gobble!!!

**sorry for the blandest post ever.. hope your turkey doesn't turn out this bland!! ***

Eighty is GREAT-y...

Well, I finally hit 80 down yesterday.  I let out a little "yahooo" when I got on the scale in the morning. My weight loss is so slow but I'm at least moving in the right direction!!

This past week or so has been crazy. We have officially moved into our new house and now the unpacking and setting up begins. I haven't been too hungry which might have contributed to my stellar weight loss this past week. 

I'm off work today to unpack. I may take tomorrow off as well or work from home b/c I haven't been feeling too hot and I have a dr. appointment mid-day.   I have to say I'm a super fast unpacker..  now just need to find where my nails and hammer are!

More later!
xo,js

1/2 Marathon - CHECK!

so today was the big day.. the day I have been training for for the past 2 1/2 months - getting up every Sunday, walking a new distance...

We got up at the crack of dawn.. (these 1/2 marathoners mean serious business)

Jen 1, Jen 2 (me) and Jenn3!

Both the Jens are runners but Jen1 wanted to walk the course with me and Jenn3 ran and beat her Personal Record (go Jenn!) and then met up with us around mile 7 and walked the rest of the way with us.  She's a freaking rockstar!!  She also served as group photographer, getting action shots.

We also walked with a woman from work's daughter Courtney. The woman, Mary,  who is 56 was about a mile ahead of us with her other daughter the entire time.. she's also doing the 3-day this upcoming weekend and has more energy than anyone I know!! 



After a couple of trips to the bathroom (who knew they give you a boatload of water in these races!!) we finished just under 4 hours. I do have to say had it been without the two trips to the bathroom, we would have finished around 3:30.. which I would have been happier with but hey, we didn't get picked up by the sweeper van AND we weren't the last ones on the course!!  WooHOO!

Overall, I'm glad I did it.  It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be this morning when I started remembering my lack of training this past week!!  I do have to say that the training walks we did over the past couple of months would have been so much better had we had refreshment stations at each 1.5 mile!!

Tim made a comment that pretty much sums up how I feel about this - "just think Miss Magoo, 2 years ago, you NEVER would have even thought of walking 13.1 miles.. I'm so proud of you"..  I feel the same way about myself today!!  So, what's next?? 

xo,js

Birthdays, Bret Michaels, Bandiversary and Beautiful Brides..

Hey all!! So, it's been a long time since my last post!! I had totally planned on doing a big 1 year Bandiversary blog but life got in the way and time just slipped past me!! So, unfortunately for you, you will get lots of babblings and bullet points.. with some pictures thrown in!!! 

• My Birthday was awesome!!  It's really my favorite holiday of the year and there is no shortage of me lettting everyone know that it's my special day. I mean, it's borderline obnoxious!!!  My girlfriends took me to the State Fair to see Bret Michaels.  I love Bret Michaels, not in a "Oh I think he's hot (because I don't!)" kind of love, but I genuinely love him as a person.  I know he has the whole "Rock of Love" personality scuzziness, but other than that, I think he's a good guy, total survivor, and bad - ass rocker. Plus he lives here in Scottsdale too. Anyways, here are some pics of the night.. super fun!



• My 1 year Bandiversary was on October 29th. I am officially 79 lbs down. I wish it were more but I'm totatlly happy with my progress and I've always known I was a slow loser!! I don't diet, I enjoy life, I still drink (sometimes a little too much beer!) and I know that if I were more disciplined, I'd have lost more but I'm good!  I don't make excuses, I don't blame my lack of weight loss on anything other than the fact that sometimes I indulge and don't exercise as much as I should be. I know that the lapband is not a miracle cure for my obesity, it's a tool and if I dont' use it correctly, it won't work.  Barbara said it best the other day in her blog - stop making excuses and suck it up buttercup!!! Loved it!
• This past weekend, we headed to Chicago for our friends' Margo and Steve's wedding. It was spectacular!! I don't know if I've ever seen two people more in love on their wedding day and a more beautiful bride! There was so much laughter, dancing and love that I'm full on it all still.  I love my friends.  (Deb - I'm sorry we never connected. I'm hoping to be in chicago again soon!)
  
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•  Our move is next weekend.. and we are in serious packing mode!! This weekend we are having a garage sale to hopefully get rid of lots of stuff!  I'm so sorry to the girls I have promised Sisterhood clothes too.. I've been so busy that I've been seriously slacking on getting those packages out. I hope to do it this weekend!!
• I'm meeting Vickie for lunch tomorrow! I'm super excited as I haven't seen her since July! 

Ok, that's all I have for now. I wish I would have more to say on my 1 year but I don't!!  Life is just chugging along.. 

hope you are all well! xo,js