On a quest to be my best.

18 years ago today, life as I knew it changed forever.  My mother cam in to my 2nd grade classroom and explained to me that she was going to the Dr and that she would possibly be having the baby(that everyone but me was really looking forward to) tonight.  I have to say, being the only child for so many years, I wasn't exactly very thrilled.  She arranged for my teacher's aid, who happened to be a friend of hers, to take me home and relatives would pick me up later that day.

Little did I know that the situation was actually more serious than my mother let on.  She was 34 weeks pregnant and the baby was in distress.  His heartbeat was irregular and they were afraid that he was going to die because of the problems he was experiencing.  My mother was taken in for an emergency C-Section where she gave birth at 8:29pm to a 7lb 11oz, 21inch baby boy.  At 34 weeks he was a pretty large baby and seemed that he would do quite well on his own once they could get his heart beating regularly.

After 10 days, they sent him home, attached to cords and monitors.  One being an Apnea Monitor that would sound if he stopped breathing and alert the nearest person to pick him up and stimulate him until he began breathing on his own again.  Not only was I not thrilled with this kid "stealing my thunder", I was equally annoyed at this monitor going off several times a night. 

Then there was that day....my mother left me by the baby so she could take a shower and told me what to do if the monitor went off and to make sure I called her.  Sure enough my mother stepped into the shower and the alarm went off.  I panicked...picked up the baby and began to rub his back and scream for my mother the whole time.  The episode lasted no more than a few seconds, but it seemed like forever for me.  I think my screaming may have startled him into breathing again more than me rubbing his back though.  From then on he was mine to protect and he kinda grew on me like a fungus. 

Since then he's not stopped growing. Now he's 18 years old, with a 6'7" stature that finally fits the name he was given- Hubert Barrington McCarthy III

So....with that said.....Happy 18th Birthday Fungus!  I love you Little Brother!

Whenever we are traveling in the car, my little one tries to have control over the radio- she LOVES to dance and sing.  It's just her "thing".  If I change the station and it's a song that she's into, she'll say, "Mommy, I like that music, turn it back!" or "Can I hear that music again?".  There are sometimes that this just won't happen because I'd rather not hear my 2 year-old singing songs like Sexual Seduction and I'm So High.

Other times.....I let her dance.  The results are what you see here:

I've always been in awe of my daughter, as a first time parent, that's pretty normal.  Then I've noticed that everyone that meets her is also quite in awe at her, simply because she's so......."bright".  She has this amazingly large personality and speaks more than most 4 year olds that I know.

So at first meeting people are head over heels, then they ask....."Is she potty trained?"-as if she's a puppy that I'm teaching new tricks.  When my reply is....."We're working on it" their response is usually filled with a bit less magic then their initial awe with her.

Potty training is a HARD thing to do. I thought that getting my bright, personality filled child to use the bathroom would be an easy task.  I was wrong.  The child would come to me proud as can be and announce that she had filled her diaper/pull-up with some horrible substance that I would have to clean.  Other times she would disappear with it, never to be found until a foul odor would come knocking at my nose- then to find that she has a rash as a result of sitting in it-  THEN she would announce-  "I think I have a rash".  A child that can clearly state that they "think they have a rash" should be capable of using the toilet when they need to.

I've tried it all.....

Having her go bare bottomed only increased the time I spent cleaning the carpet.

Buying "cool alert" pull-ups that get cold when the child "goes" simply increased kept her standing instead of sitting and upped our diaper budget.

Praising her with niceties only made her feel that every bodily function should be praised the same way(not exactly the behavior I want for my little girl)

I changed to rewarding her going to the potty with stickers, and something clicked.....until I noticed her going into the bathroom, waiting a few moments, flushing and washing her hands- so she could ask for a sticker.

I finally gave up and decided that I'm simply doomed to buy pull ups for the rest of our lives and have to hear over and over again, "Jasmine is too smart to not be potty trained".  Until this past weekend, that is.

I woke up to my daughter telling me, "Mommy, I need to use the toilet".  Since then, she's been going, ALL BY HERSELF!  After giving up on the hopes of never having to change a diaper again, you can only imagine my shock.

Now she's away with my mother and has been quite dilligent in going to bathroom when she needs to.  Only requiring 1 or 2 pull ups per day for naps and overnight.

I'm still in awe.

There are sometimes you hear a song, and it just "speaks" to you.  Why, I don't know and never will, but I have this with some songs.  This would be my latest:

Share the song that most makes you think of "disco."

Share the song you would choose to come out to in a boxing match.

No, I'm not some health nut. Not now, or ever for that matter.  I've been doing ok with my weight goals, but have plateaued and need to remotivate myself. But at the same time I fail to see how I can get back on track while consuming a pack of Oreo Cookies.  I was made painfully aware of my need to shed a pound or 2 after my trip to Jamaica 2 years ago. 

I felt great about myself until my 75 year old grandfather told me I looked "tough like a baked dumpling", which for the record, is not good.  Yes, it's a bit mean, but in Jamaica it's really not a a big deal.  Island Women are known for being a bit more voluptuous, so it's ok.  I still felt great.  But then I got home and got my pictures back.  THIS is what I saw:

Ok.....so I'm not insanely HUGE or anything, but this is the largest that I have ever been(not pregnant).  This was me at 186lbs in July '06.  Now at 165-ish, I'm trying desperately to not get back there.

SO....today I relapsed and ate a few Oreos, the world is not over.  I shall start anew.....

Tomorrow......after I finish eating every last Oreo.  :)

After each birthday I, like many others, take some time to look back at where I've been and where I'd like to go in the coming years.

All of my birthday celebrations, gains and losses(of weight, money, homes, and people), joys and pains, ups and downs.  After looking at my life, I can honestly say.....It's been one hell of a ride!

I've done things that many people won't get the chance to experience, met people from all over this earth, and so much more.  Yet, I've not really done anything!  This just tells me that this life has soooooooo much more to offer. This year, I've decided to reiterate my goal from last year- Live Life Fully.

From ages 1 to 5, I lived fully.

At age 26, I plan to do the same!

My birthday was last week Thursday, the 6th....and I had a blast.  I didn't plan anything for the actual day of my birthday, but I took advantage of a night out to celebrate my boss's birthday. It was her Black Dress Birthday Bash....but I enjoyed it just as much.

The evening started at the Hard Rock Cafe, where a limo arrived to take us, all 16 of us, to our restaurant of choice.

 We went out to eat at this place called China Grill in South Beach, where we had a great food selection. I love to eat and this place did the trick!

After our lovely dinner and many, many, many toasts we got back in the limo and headed back to the Hard Rock for more fun!

What aspect of your personality could use a little work?

Well, I'm a bit "bubbly".....and social.  I could work on becoming a depressed recluse, but I'd rather not.  This is what a middle ground would feel like for me.