High School? Really?

Today I registered my baby boy for high school (don't tell him I called him that). I can't believe DB is 14 years old and about to be a freshman! To top it off, now that we are out of that horrible district, we're putting him back in public school. His dad and I got a chance to meet his counselor, the soccer and baseball coach (he's trying out for both), and get a look around the school.

We've got his new backpack ready to go. New shoes, new haircut, new clothes (well, some anyway), and it doesn't feel real. When did he grow up? And when did he get taller than me? It happens so fast. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and enjoy more of his growing up again. Ah, to re-live the first steps, his first words, that cute baby smile, his adorable baby giggle, and all the other things that make up for the late nights, teething, and diaper changes. Alas, it's a one time deal.

I'm very proud of the man he's growing up to be. If he focuses and puts his mind to it, he's got a big bright future ahead of him. He's brilliant (and that's not just the mom in me talking), fit, athletic, and totally adorable. I just can't believe it's happening so fast. GB decided to comfort me by reminding me that soon he will have his Senior Ball and be graduating. Thanks a lot. Why not twist the knife a little and tell me soon he'll be moved out, married and have a family of his own. *sigh* What's a mother to do.

Guess I just need to put on a happy face and be encouraging and there for him, it's not easy. Sure does make me appreciate my mom more. Love you mom!

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Do Your Part Against Childhood Obesity

For no cost, you can help this problem, and get a little something in return too.

Childhood is a growing problem, and we can all do our parts. The First Lady, Michelle Obama is running a contest for "apps for healthy kids." One of my favorite little companies, Break Pal, is a finalist in this contest. They are trying to get their app into the schools to help kids, not just to help with the obesity rates, but the mini exercise breaks help with concentration too (this is true for adults as well). Break Pal integrates exercise right into the daily routine in short bursts, I've been using it and it helps with my productivity at work.

Please take a moment to register and vote for them, it's a great product that could really benefit our youth and give them longer healthier lives.

If not for the kids, do a little something for yourself. Here's part of a message I received from Phil at Break Pal (he and his wife are the owners):

Our application is the only one to integrate exercise into the day and also teach about nutrition.

Unfortunately we are a very small organization. Just my wife and Myself. We bootstrapped the entire project and built the app without outside funding.

We are competing against huge national corporations and unfortunately they are using their marketing power to garner votes for their apps and are leaving us in the dust. Some of them have PR firms working for them to get votes and I'm sure many ask their hundreds of employees to vote.

This is Where You Come In

I think that maybe bloggers can compete against these PR firms. It's worth a shot. Who better is there?

So I've decided to do something drastic.

I'm going to give out a premium version to anyone who votes for our app. They just have to contact me and tell me they voted and I'll give them a premium account. No catch. A free premium account and a thank you for voting.

It takes less than 90 seconds to vote.

What do you think? Would you vote for us? Would you be willing to spread the word? Maybe post it on your blog. It wouldn't take a full review or anything (unless you felt like it). Just a post saying we're giving away as many free memberships as people will vote for us.

As a blogger I'm sure you know all about contests and how great it is to win one. Getting into this contest has been the biggest thing that's happened to us and we really hope it can launch our program. This will bring it nationwide exposure.

If your interested here's some information

Easy voting instructions (this will take less than 90 seconds):

1) The fastest way to vote is to go directly to the registration page first. https://www.appsforhealthykids.com/register

2) You'll then need to confirm your email address (don't worry they won't spam you)

3) Go directly to our app and click vote http://www.appsforhealthykids.com/application-gallery/break-pal

4) Bonus - Share on facebook and twitter.

That's it!!!

We've produced a video on the subject with the help of our local 
Public access Television station. If you've got time there's some great information here.
http://www.breakpal.com/blog/help-end-childhood-obesity

Thank You, we really appreciate your support

Phil Weaver
www.breakpal.com
(209) 772-1954
139 Main St.
Valley Springs, CA 95252



So please, take a moment and help out our pals ant Break Pal. And if your really feeling generous, share on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site you use. You can link to this post for instructions.

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Valentine's Memories

When I think Valentine's Day, one specific Valentine's Day always comes to mind. It's not the typical type of memory you may associate with a day all about romance. Let me start at the beginning. I had been dating my boyfriend for less than a year when we found ourselves expecting. It was May of 95, and as you can imagine, it was a bit of a surprise. I had always wanted children, and wanted to have them fairly young (as most of my family tended to do), so was not upset at the idea of being a new mom. Now, I'm sure you've heard people say they can tell the moment they get pregnant, and I never really believed them, until it happened to me. I knew, I just waited for my cycle to confirm it. Nervous about being a mom before I was 20, with a man I wasn't married to, I delayed telling my family until I was 7 month's along. So, the first 7 month's were stressful as I tried to keep it a secret. I had only put on 5 pounds at this point, and just looked a little pudgy around the middle. 


My boyfriend didn't think he was ready to be a dad, and tried to convince me to put the baby up for adoption. I told him I'd think about it, but knew in my heart that I could never do it. From that first moment of conception, that was my child, a piece of me, and I couldn't bear the thought of someone else raising him. After much thought, and many discussions, I told my boyfriend that I was keeping the baby, even if that meant losing him. Luckily for all three of us, that was what it took to change his mind. When he realized how important it was to me, he came around. 


So as you can imagine, the first 2 trimesters of my pregnancy were very hard on me emotionally, although physically I was feeling great. I had a little bit of morning sickness that summer, and got dehydrated easily, but other than that, things were great. Now at the 7 month mark, my family knew, we were keeping the baby, and things were falling into place. I was very happy, and so excited to hold that little bundle that had been kicking me. His due date according to the doctors was February 1st, but I knew better, it was more like the 12th from calculating to the day of conception (they didn't believe me that I knew the exact day). So, the 1st rolls around, no baby, the 10th and the doctor wanted to discuss inducing. I knew it wasn't time yet, so told him not yet. That afternoon I went into labor. After a long night, my son was born at 2:53 am. 


Now for the hard part, he came out grayish in color, and I was told he was having difficulty breathing and holding his temperature. I got to hold him for a few seconds before he was taken to the nursery to be put in a heated bed. They ran test after test. Being as young as I was, I was scared out of my mind. I got into the nursery as soon and as often as I could to hold and feed him. I watched infuriated as the nurse took blood from his little foot, I wanted to punch her for hurting my baby, but knew in the back of my mind she was doing her job, and he wasn't really hurt. Didn't make me like her anymore knowing that though. 


So the days drag on, I watched nurses care for my new baby. And my heart broke every day to see him in there. Finally, his temperature was normal, his breathing was perfect, and they found nothing wrong. They believed that he swallowed a little of the amniotic fluid. On Valentine's Day, we were able to bring our little bundle of joy home. Since that day, Valentine's has always been a family celebration for us, and not a day for my husband and I (yes, I did eventually marry my son's father). I like it much better this way, it's a day with a lot more meaning now. It's not about candy and flowers, it's about family, love and life. 

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Around the World

My wonderful son, the adorable teenager that he is, has interesting taste in music. He's very open minded, enjoying everything from Bach to Linkin Park. Today he's decided to listen to the same song, over and over again. Have you heard the Around the World song? It's very repetative, and it goes like this: Around the world, around the world, around the world, around the world, around the world.... etc. You get the point. But in case you don't, just play this.

Well, the first time through it's funny. The second time through I wondered how many times they actually say "around the world". By the fifth time through I wanted to pull out my hair and shove it in my ears so I didn't have to hear it anymore. Then my brain decided to turn on, and I grabbed a pair of headphones, stuck them in his computer and handed them to him. Ah, peace and quiet. I'm not one to begrudge my kid the ability to listen to whatever music he enjoys (though I do pay attention to language and the message the songs portray). But other than that, he can listed to whatever genre makes him happy. And does, sometimes he plays classical music on his piano, sometimes he listens to country with me, other times he's listening to heavy metal, and now and then he listens to songs from animated films. I'm very happy that he has such broad interests. I just don't want to hear "Around the World" again, and wish it would stop playing in my head. AAAAAAHHHHHH Get Out Of My Brain!!!!

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Funny Sleepers

My husband (whom I will be calling GB in order to protect him from utter embarrassment, and I won't tell you what it stands for because if he found out I did he'd wring my neck!) has a habit of saying and doing the funniest things in his sleep - besides the horribly loud snoring. So I've decided to keep a log of some of these things. (So be sure to come back and check out any more stuff I add to this post.)

One of the things I vividly remember is one night several years ago we were in bed, and he was snoring so loud I couldn't sleep (I bet many of you have been there). Well, I nudged him and whispered "Roll over, you're snoring." Well, he yelled back (and I mean yelled, in a very angry voice), "I'm not even asleep, I can't be snoring. It's the dog." To which I nearly burst out laughing, since I had been watching him snore, could tell where it was coming from, and the dog was in our son's bedroom at the time. When I told him the story in the morning, he didn't remember any of it. Which is always the case.

Here's some of the other things he has said:
* DB! Come take off my shoes. (He wasn't wearing shoes at the time) - DB is what I call my son, it's short for Destructo Boy, which I'll explain in detail eventually.

* GB: "Who took the pictures?"
Me: "What pictures?"
GB: "The pictures on the computer?"
Me: "What computer?"
GB: "Your computer?"
Me: "There aren't any pictures on my computer..."
GB: "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

* GB: "DB!" (who had been in bed for an hour)
Me: "He's in bed, what do you need?"
GB: "Tell him to bring me the words"
Me: "What words?"
GB: "He needs to bring me the words so I can explain them."
Me: "What words are you talking about?"
GB: "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Teenage Boys - Eww

I am the mother of a 13 year old boy. Little boys are cute, and sometimes gross. They like to play in the mud and dirt, they play with snails and bugs, and they are in general semi-disgusting.

Teenage boys are worse. They're growing hair in places that a mother does not want to see (get your mind out of the gutter people, I'm talking about his armpits). They smell. Come on kid, I buy you deoderant for a reason. Take a shower and put some on! Then there is the hair on his upper lip - I'm too young to have a kid old enough to shave!! For goodness sakes, when did this happen??? Leg hair galore, I don't even want to know about hair anywhere else... but he tells me anyway.

One one hand, I don't want him to feel embarrased to talk to me about anything, especially while he is going through the difficulties of puberty, but did he really just tell me that? And how can I convince him that it's wrong for him to walk around in his underwear all of a sudden when it wasn't a problem before? Not only that, but his father still does it and that doesn't bother me. Well, I don't have an issue with seeing my husband's "package", but my son - EWWW! I don't want to know how big it may or may not be, I really don't want to know anything about it unless it is a medical type issue that a doctor may need to know about. But if I tell him that, or show disgust or embarrasment at discussions of such a private nature, he may start to feel uncomfortable talking to me, which is the last thing I want. So I'll suck it up, but get him shorts to wear to bed, and try and do what a good mommy would do for her son that is growing up WAY too fast.

I guess it could be worse, he could be walking around naked. Or really worse, he could feel like he can't talk to me about stuff, and have a big problem come down the way in the future. I miss the easier times when it was as simple as feed him, bathe him, change him, and love him. But he is turning into a fine young man, and as grossed out as I am occasionally, he is very smart, kindhearted, fit, likeable, honest and has a plan for his future that he is willing to work for. What more could a mother really ask? Top it all off, he's super cute, so I know my grandbabies are going to be adoreble. :) Not that I want grandkids anytime soon, he's still too young for that!

Until next time,

The Blogoholic