Life...

I am up way too early after being up way too late. So, this is a blog that may just be something for me to do right now to stay awake. There hasn't been too many changes lately. Benjamin received his new room assignment and his schedule in the mail about 2 weeks ago for teaching next year. I don't think I've ever really seen him so excited about work! It was cute really. He went yesterday to see the room and couldn't stop talking about how much bigger it is and all the furniture he acquired. He had to call his mom to tell her all about it. I think the family just puts up with his excitednesses because he just is so cute when he is excited! I was never that excited about my room when I was teaching!

The kids are good. We took Bayleigh to a pre-k screening hoping to get her into public pre-k instead of paying for it. It will definitely help our money situation! For now, both kids are signed up at our usual spot even though I will most likely not be working this upcoming school year.

Me? Well, I have no idea what is going to be happening this next year. I haven't gotten a job, so I started to apply for some teaching jobs. I also applied for grad school, but applied late; too late to get into the program I'd like to get into. So, everything is very unknown right now. My Plan A doesn't seem to be going anywhere, so I am trying Plan B, at the same time trying Plan C. Guess I may have to move onto Plan D soon...just haven't figured out what that may be yet.

I often wish there was some kind of something that told you a little bit of what is going to happen next so I wouldn't freak out about it so much. I know that is where faith comes in and remembering that it's all on God's Time and where He wants/needs me to be. Sometimes I think that all those things are just cop-outs for not being good enough to get the job you want. I think that is where I am right now with it all--saying those things is just a cover up for what is really going on.

I still have great kids who wear me out. I still have a wonderful husband who helps me all that he can and does all that he can to make sure we have money in the bank. I just know it'd be easier if I were able to contribute to things financially. I'd really like to do that, even on a part time basis or partial year basis! So, in the wonderful world of lyrics, I'm going to thank M. C. Hammer for this--pray, just so we make it today....

Boot Camp

I finished day 1 of boot camp today. I drank 3 bottles of water-one during the workout and 2 on the way home. After only an hour, my muscles started to ache! I couldn't believe it! It felt so good to sweat!

I made it, I did it. I had to push though. But, I wasn't alone. There were about 30 other people there pushing through it with me! I think this may be what I have needed to get my buns going!

Sadly, since I did this through an online deal, I apparently didn't do everything right. So, I don't know when I will be able to go back. :( I may let you all know my stats to see how bad I am and how much I improve over the month!

Graduation!!

I know I am a little behind in stuff, but I am now a person who holds a Master's of Education degree in School Counseling!! :-)

I am not so sure if I really thought this would ever happened! I did it.

Here is the proof:

The World of my 18 month old

So, in my house there is something that must not go without replenishing. This item is graham crackers. Jordyn LOVES them! Unfortunately, she has had to do without them for a few weeks. She has asked for them and asked for them. She goes to the cabinet they are always in and points, then says "gram crakr, gram crakr" over and over.

Well, on Tuesday we all went to the grocery store. I have never been around a child more excited to be in the grocery store. She squealed and yelled with excitement in the parking lot. I couldn't make out if she was saying "Grandpa," "Kroger," or "graham cracker" though. I figured probably not Kroger or Grandpa, but I guess we'll never know.

We went down the isles. Once we found the graham crackers, she would not sit down! I put two boxes of graham crackers in the cart and she tried her hardest to climb into the cart to get a box. It was too funny!

Which brings me to today....as always, she wanted a graham cracker this morning. I had to choose between using the restroom and getting her a graham cracker. I chose the first. Well, my Jordy is a climber! She got the stool and climbed up toward the counter to get a box of graham crackers. She brings me the box while I am sitting on the thrown and all I can do is laugh. I took the box from her, she attempted to open it while I held it. All the while repeating "gram crakr" over and over. I told her I couldn't give her one right at the moment and she gave me the saddest little face and the biggest tears. I, of course, was laughing. Poor kid.

Nothing gets between her and her graham crackers!

Insurance

Since Laura asked, I figure there are more people out there who may want to know what I had to do to get insurance to approve it. Well, Benjamin's insurance approved it with no problem. My new insurance required 3 months of documentation of my breasts bothering me. I had nasty skin stuff under my breasts, so for the past 3 years, I have gotten prescribed yeast medication to get rid of it. That never worked at all and I gave up on medication all together cuz it was impossible to keep moisture away! So, I had a little documentation from my OB since she was basically the only doctor I had seen in a year. Luckily, I started seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis as well. Even more lucky, I had seen them for over 3 months!

Every insurance requirements are different. The insurance lady at the plastic surgeon's office really helped me. She knew exactly what the insurance company required without even talking to the company. My OB did refer me to the plastic surgeon, so that may be all that is needed. I went in uneducated about the insurance side of things, but I knew a lot about the surgery itself. You can actually Google what specific insurances require for a breast reduction (technically called a reduction mammoplasty). Hope that helps!

Breast Reduction

It was a month ago today that I had my surgery. A surgery that I have thought about since middle school. I can't believe that insurance okayed it! It was all at the last minute, so I didn't really prepare that much.

Let me explain. In June, when I went to see the plastic surgeon, I was only covered under Benjamin's insurance. Over a month later, his insurance approved it and I was going to pay a certain percentage of it. I picked a day when I would be on vacation from work. Then, I got a job and new insurance. My new insurance needed a lot of documentation before they would okay it. AND they let themselves take a whole 30 days before they had to approve anything. I tried to get the necessary paperwork in before the 19th of November because my surgery was on the 20th of December. Anyway, it's December 14th (a week before surgery) and I still had no clue if this thing was gonna happen or not. I had to decide if I should go to my pre-op appointment. I did go and 2 days later, I found out my surgery was approved! I was just beside myself excited. I had a whole new wardrobe to buy!

So, on the 17th, I shopped for jammies and shirts that buttoned up. On the 18th, Benjamin graduated from college. On the 19th was Benjamin's birthday. Then, it was the 20th. I was the first surgery of the day, so I had to be at the hospital by 5:30 a.m. (Benjamin was really excited about that!) I had the option of staying all night or just staying for a few hours.

I was oddly not really nervous about this surgery. When I went in to have Jordyn, I was scared that I may not come home. I was just ready to have my chest gone! I remember them giving me some anti-anxiety drug, then I got wheeled into the operating room. The anesthesiologist put an oxygen mask over my face, told me it wasn't the good stuff yet, then I woke up to the room flipping around. I say flipping, because the lights went from the ceiling to the floor. Nothing was spinning around, just flipping.

I was brought back to the same day surgery room, had a coke, and had some pain meds. I really didn't feel a whole bunch of pain. I was expecting what my first c-section was like, but it wasn't anything like that. Looking down was SO wired because I could actually SEE my stomach! I did decide I felt well enough to go home, so I made sure to stay long enough to have more pain pills (because Benjamin doesn't drive too nicely when you're cut open), and I went home.

I feel like my body is what it is supposed to be now. I was so uncomfortable in my body before the surgery. I didn't even realize how uncomfortable until after the surgery. My breast size affected everything from how I hold my arms to how I hold my children. The scabs and scars were daunting the first few days after the tape came off, but I've grown used to it. Life in my body just feels better! The best part is that I didn't really need to go and buy new clothes, my old clothes fit me better AND clothes that didn't fit before fit me now. I don't have cleavage up to my neck and I don't have to wear a camisole to hide things anymore. It is truly life changing in the best way!

2010--Year in Review

Well, Jordyn was playing with my computer, and therefore turned off my wireless. I had written a big long blog about the family, but it got erased!! :( So...I guess I'll try it again!

Jordyn

She turned 1 in October. Grandma and Grandpa Jones (my grandparents) happened to be visiting Tennessee during that time, so they were able to come. I think it's cool that they've been to her first birthday party as well as her blessing day. She hasn't quite learned to walk yet, but she cruises all around the house with aids from the walls and furniture. She loves playing Peek-a-boo and her first phrase is "uh-oh." She uses "uh-oh" everytime she drops her frog or anything else on the floor.

Bayleigh

She is nearly 4. I can't believe how time has flown by. She is able to do things that I've seen 2nd graders struggle to do! I know if I try, she could learn to read easily, but I don't want to push it on her just yet. She plays well with Jordyn, but she still has jealousy issues when her grandparents are around! Bayleigh loves to be helpful and to make things with anyone who will let her help. She can be so grown up sometimes!!

Benjamin

He finally graduated!! He now has a Bachelor's in Forgien Languages with concentrations in Spanish and Portuguese. What is he gonna do with that? Well, he's trying to become a Spanish teacher for now. He also received Associate of the Year for his branch of Terminix. This is quite a feat since he worked 4 days a week and went to school 2 days a week. I am so pround of him! He has worked really hard.

Me (Michelle)

Well, I did get a job. I resigned from it before Christmas. It was taking too much of a toll on me, my kids, and school. I've been hanging out with Jordyn recovering from my breast reduction. Jordyn is such a sweet kid! She makes me smile all day long! She is so much easier than Bayleigh was, so she is making life fun for me right now. I am waiting to hear back about my internship placement for school counseling. Once I finish this, I'll have my master's in school counseling. I already passed the state test, so I'm trying to get motivated to get these 300 hours completed by May.

Well, that is what the year was like in the Bybee house!