The Biggest Loser

DISCLAIMER: This story won't mean anything to you unless you watch this TV show.

I have been a fan of The Biggest Loser for a long time, but have really gotten into it this season (one of the reasons I'm not able to watch all of American Idol). And I tell you what, one of the main reasons I'm loving this season is because of this girl...Tara Costa.

Let me just say that this girl is TOUGH with a capital T! She has won most of the challenges (beating all the guys), but is also so encouraging and nice to all the other contestants. I am constantly talking about her to Don because I can't believe how she kicks tail on that show.

So anyway, I meet my sister and her kids at the mall today. As we're eating lunch, Andrea tells me that when she was running in downtown Greenville the other day she passed this girl several times that she could have sworn was Tara from The Biggest Loser. Tara is from New York so we couldn't figure out why, if it was her, she would be in Greenville.

So, an hour or so later Max and I are heading into Belks to leave and there, at the little coffee shop, stands TARA! Me, being the big dork that I am, stopped and said "Are you on TV?" She laughed and said yes. I told her about my sister seeing her running and then asked her what she was doing in Greenville. She said she was here to get away from things (people like me) and really focus so she would be ready for the finale. I told her that she was THE BOMB and that she looked great. And she does...I'm talking this girl is beautiful and so in shape! As of last night's show she had lost over 100 pounds and by the looks of her today has lost way more than that. Anyway, it was just so strange because we had just talked about her and also because she's the main reason I'm loving that show right now. Oh, and I completely forgot to get her picture so you'll have to take my word on this one!

By the way, I'm thinking about contacting Tara and seeing if I can hire her to be my personal trainer after the babies are born...

My 9 year old niece, Lily, took this picture of me on her mom's cell phone as I was trying on a maternity shirt. The good news is that at least the doctor will be able to easily put an IV in my hand...check out those veins...what's up with that?!?

28 weeks

Well, here we go...I'm starting my 28th week tomorrow and I'm officially beginning to look like a freak show. I can't see my toes and shaving my legs is nearly impossible, but the good news is the babies are staying put! I took these pictures this morning and I swear my stomach did not look this big when I was looking in the mirror...photos won't lie to you though, will they?





It's been a nice and relaxing weekend. Don was actually out of town from Thursday until Saturday afternoon - went to Charlotte for work and then to Charleston to run the Cooper River Bridge Run. So, Max and I spent Friday outside enjoying the sunny weather, went to eat Mexican with our neighbors, played outside again on Saturday, went to a cookout Saturday night, church this morning, and another afternoon spent outside playing in the dirt. Oh, and my friends, Jane and Sally, surprised me by stopping by this afternoon. Jane, I know you read my blog so should I go ahead and announce the news? Only kidding, Jane, only kidding!

It's spring break this week so Max and I will be trying to find things to do. We've already lined up some cousins and friends to do THIS little Easter craft so that should be fun (probably on Tuesday because the high that day is 50 degrees...bummer). I also need to find him an Easter outfit so a little shopping will be done - something I use to enjoy but not so much now...so sad. And who knows what other trouble we'll get ourselves into...we'll be sure and let you know!

Have a great Easter week!

Mighty Max

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog's namesake so I thought I would post some pictures of my boy from last night and this morning.

Bath time! How many ribs can you count?



Shooting some hoops! Yes, I'm a paranoid mom because I make Max wear earplugs in the bathtub because he still has tubes in his ears.

This is kind of random, but Max has had a hemangioma on his arm since he was about 2 weeks old. It literally started as a small, red, flat dot on his arm and within weeks became raised and a lot larger. By the time he was one it was huge - raised about 1/2 inch off his skin and bright red. We were told it would eventually become flat and that the red would go away. Well, the red is pretty much gone but there is still a lot of loose skin. Our pediatrician said to give it a few more years and see if it goes down any further and if it doesn't then we can have it taken off. Max knows exactly what it is and will say hemangioma - it always cracks me up to hear him say such a big word.

You know how before you had kids certain things would bother you? Well, I was the "fingernail and toenail Nazi" with all my nieces and nephews. I couldn't stand to see dirty, long fingernails on kids. Well, I've done an okay job with keeping Max's nails cut and clean, but I checked them last night and I saw dirt and lots of white on his nails...a big NO NO! So, here are his clean and short fingernails and toenails. We'll see if I'm able to keep this high standard up when I have three children - yeah right!

His toes are still a little wrinkly from staying in the bath for so long!

Max decided to give a little Tom Cruise/Risky Business impersonation after his bath...







Max had his Easter party and Easter egg hunt today at school so I dressed him in Spring colors...I love green on him!


Several people have asked if I'm still alive because I've been so slack on posting - sorry! Well, I'm still here and the babies are still cooking. All of a sudden I'm feeling the pressure to get a lot of things done for the babies room and Max's new room so I've been on the go a lot. But, when I do that I'm worn out in the afternoon and night which is usually my main blogging time. But, I tell you one thing, this pregnant body cannot keep up this pace so I will be slowing things down a lot. By the way, whose idea was it for me to have twins at 38 anyway???

I don't get it

I just don't understand why I couldn't get a boyfriend in the 7th grade???


(Carowinds with my youth group, May 1984)

Could it have been the red gauchos, the OP sleeveless shirt, the yellow jellies, the hip glasses, the hairstyle (is that what you would call that?) or the extreme length of my arms?

Obviously, it was back to cleaning out closets today.

26 weeks

Tomorrow will be the beginning of my 26th week of pregnancy. As much as I've tried not to think about it, getting to this week and, most importantly, getting past it has caused me some anxiety over the past month or so. Max was born at 26 weeks so the number has always been in the back of my head - probably my least favorite of all the 40 weeks. :) Now, I don't think I'm home free if I get through the next week...36 weeks is my goal and is what I'm striving for. And can I just say that as I type this these babies must be having a play date inside my belly...I can literally look down and see my stomach moving up and down on both sides. One of the most amazing (and a little odd I'll admit) things to experience!

Here are my 26 week pictures I took today. You're getting to see me in pajamas which tends to be my outfit of choice lately...they fit, are comfortable and don't cut off my circulation.





I'm hoping that this will be the week Max can move into his new room. Our neighbor came over and helped Don move a desk, file cabinet and a few other things downstairs and into our spare bedroom. My sister and mom have told me (right Mom and Andrea???) that they would help set his room up so I'm hoping we can do that this week.

We have our monthly ultrasound tomorrow at the high risk doctor - one of the perks of being old, having twins and already having a premature delivery. And then on Tuesday I have my monthly appointment with my regular doctor...can't wait to step on the scale this month after all my visits to Marble Slab and Sonic (still on the cherry slush kick), my eating of a tub of cookie dough, and a few stops to McDonald's.

Oh, one cute thing Max said this morning. He came over to me and rubbed my belly and then asked "are the babies going to live with us forever?" It was said so innocently and not in a selfish way at all. I know he's still trying to comprehend all these things we're telling him and just can't quite figure it all out yet. But, he will soon and will be such a GREAT big brother...I cannot wait to see him with his brother and sister!

I'm offended

I've posted about politics before and it didn't go well, but I just can't keep my mouth shut on this one. When President Obama made his comment last night about the Special Olympics I was completely offended. Please tell me why, as the President of the United States, would you choose to make a derogatory jab at some of the most innocent and naive people on this earth? Now, I know politicians are humans and make mistakes - President Bush was well known for his misuse of the English language - but this is different. I would rather my president say "strategerie" then to make fun of disabled individuals.

And by the way, this is not a Republican/Democrat thing. Ann Coulter, one of the Republican talking heads, consistently refers to special needs people when making jabs at her rivals. She makes me sick...especially since she feels no remorse about it and continues to say she thinks it's funny. No class whatsoever. And besides that, eat a cheeseburger, Ann.

Now, I know people would say I'm being ultra sensitive, but after sending Max to a school for children with special needs I HAVE become more sensitive and most people would too if they were ever put in that situation. As I've mentioned before in previous posts, Max would probably not be considered a special needs child now, but there was a time when we had no idea what his future would hold and him being a special needs child was well within our reality. With Max attending the Meyer Center for Special Children I also got to know and become very familiar with children who do have profound special needs - children who will hopefully be a part of the Special Olympics one day. Please, President Obama, do not use these children in your weak attempt to make a joke.

Below is the new campaign initiated by the Special Olympics to encourage people to stop using the R word - retarded. I honestly don't remember using this word much, but I'm sure I did before Max was born - I cringe thinking about who I could have offended. Again, call me ultra sensitive, but this word literally makes me sick to my stomach when I hear people say it. I know people don't realize that using the R word could hurt someone, but trust me, it's offensive to people who do have children with special needs. And as parents do we really want our children hearing us say that word? It will only encourage them to repeat it and also use it in a negative way.


Okay, I'm now getting off my soap box. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Gracie Jia Shu Woodard

I just received an email that I have been waiting to receive for 2 1/2 years. My childhood friend, Rachel, recently got "the call" telling them that they had a beautiful daughter waiting for them in China! Rachel and her husband had a log in date of November 16, 2006, and were told at that time the wait would be 12 months...obviously, it has taken much longer and they have definitely been through their share of trials. But God is good and has given them an absolutely gorgeous 1 year old daughter who they have named Gracie. They will hopefully travel to China sometime this summer to get her. Please check out her new blog when you get a chance - Grace and Glory. I have followed several blogs of people who are adopting and it is so exciting when they finally get to meet their child...be prepared to shed lots of tears when you finally get to read that post!

Congratulations Rachel and Brian...Gracie has no idea that she has just hit the jackpot with her new family!!!