KCHANDLER0's SparkPeople Blog

Going to Salt Lake City, Utah tomorrow to take my daughter for her 3rd cast change to Shriners Hospi

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:56:04 EST

Victoria is slowly getting better with her feedings. She consistently eats purees. Now time to slowly add some lumpier ingredients to her purees. If it is too thick, she will vomit. 20 minutes max is the amount she can try to eat 3x a day plus a tube feeding overnight. She is getting better with walking as well, although most of the time she scoots on her but, instead of standing on her feet. She can stand on her feet, but needs help balancing.

This morning I did Cindy Mylrea...

Interview went well for Director position...............

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:24:28 EST

Now I just have to wait for all my references to be checked. In the meantime, I have been doing Jillian Michael's workout dvd's as well as Greg Sims kickboxing bodybar dvd as well. I have also decided I want to train for my first marathon this summer. I have done 2 half marathons, but never a whole marathon. This summer I will be 46 years old. This morning I ran 3.5 miles uphill to the Beaver Creek Chapel and down 3.6 miles for a total of 7.1 miles in 98 minutes. I think I can get that ...

I have an interview for a Director position of a Christian Daycare!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:43:03 EST

I am soooo excited! This is higher up than the lead teacher position I had before! I have been Director Certified for 2 years and have been subbing and a full time lead teacher in early childcare for 4 years! Jennifer McDonald is coming to my own condo to interview me in my home! I am soooooo excited. Pray for me that I don't screw this up! I have another reference to add to my resume too! A good reference.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:22:47 EST

For the past week I have been working out with a Jillian Michael's DVD, Cathe Fredrich DVD, or going to the rec center. I have tons of Aerobics DVDs and I also have a membership at the Avon Rec Center. Although it costs $70 for a 10 punch card to watch my daughter at the avon rec center daycare while I workout. Sometimes it is easier to do a workout DVD at home, with my daughter watching me workout than taking her to the rec center to pay not only for the use of the rec center in passes, b...

Greg can put myself and Victoria on his insurance for $700 a month!

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:29:46 EST

Still trying to get babysitting jobs here and there. Greg and I hopefully made up and maybe he will start sleeping in the same bed as me. I do not know if next month we will be able to pay all our bills. But, $700 a month for health insurance for Victoria and I is cheaper than $1200 a month cobra. I ran 4.75 miles today. I just needed to get out of this condo! I need to exercise everyday somehow to manage this stress not only physically, but mentally too! Greg is off today, and was abl...

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Wed, 9 Jan 2013 05:09:49 EST

Filed online for unemployment. Getting a call for WIC assistance, and filing for disability. I have a call coming from Glenwood tomorrow at 9:30am for disability, and 1:30pm for WIC. Greg is no longer sleeping in the same bed as me because I am unemployed. The only thing I can expect from Greg is for him to hopefully keep his 2 jobs, and to watch Victoria when I interview for jobs. I cannot afford daycare, (full price)and my COBRA payment is approx. $1200 a month.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 05:32:41 EST

Went skiing today with friends for about 2 hours. It felt good to get out of this condo. Thank God, Greg got me a dependant ski pass for $35 for the whole season. Greg stayed home with Victoria and I skied with friends. Going to aerobics in the morning from 9am to 10am and then the bank, pick up my crock pot and counseling by 11am. Should be home by 12:00noon to feed Victoria which should take an hour and a half. The first half hour I will orally spoon feed her, then hook her up to the ...

Babysitting on Saturday too........

Sat, 5 Jan 2013 04:40:45 EST

Then, I should have a break for a few days. I need to exercise! I have not been able to exercise. Thanks Anne for your advice! I am debating bringing the kids to the rec center tomorrow. I have some extra punches on my daycare card. but that is costing me money for 2 kids, and I only make $40 a day. I also need to go to a counseling visit on Monday, and I do not know if I'll make the cobra payment to pay for the counseling session.

Babysitting an extra child besides mine.

Fri, 4 Jan 2013 07:20:47 EST

I am getting paid $40 a day. For 10 hours. The only reason I am doing that is because I am friends with the couple who need the childcare. I could use the money, but it is way under what I used to get paid for 10 hours a day. With 2 children I cannot go to the gym as much, and workout myself. Maybe on Saturday, I will workout. Saturday morning.

December 31, 2012

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:49:59 EST

Last day of the year and did an hour and a half aerobics class this morning. I feel like my body is constantly sore from exercise in the last week.

Ran 4.1 miles in 50 minutes today with yak trax on my running shoes...

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:23:06 EST

Burned 500 calories. No Migraine. No colitis today, or irritable bowel syndrome. Very relaxing day. Even though Victoria threw up twice. Victoria is slowly eating some more, but continues to throw up her pump feed one to two times a day. I think she has a cold now too. Hopefully she will not get up at 2am in the morning tonight.

Exercise............

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 01:05:46 EST

I have been running with my yak trax on my running shoes outside. Thursday, I ran 4 or 5 miles outside, and because of the yak trax, I did not slip on the ice. Friday I did the booty camp aerobics, which from the week before I was so sore I could hardly walk! But, I came back to the booty camp aerobics class and continue to come back every Friday as well as Monday mornings. I might start walking Victoria outside in the mornings to get her better adjusted to winter weather. I would like t...

I lost. I did not get my job back.

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 23:59:17 EST

Although, recently I have been called to watch kids on 3 separate days and now every Saturday with one child, besides my own.

My friend is a ski instructor during winters in Vail or Beaver Creek. She said she was working on getting me a referral to babysit on New Year's Eve. I watch her daughter now every Saturday through the winter along with my daughter. It was fun today. I've got to say, Keanna has got to be Victoria's best friend, and what an active little girl! It is grea...

"Breath of Heaven"

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:35:26 EST

I have traveled many moonless nights Cold and weary with a babe inside And I wonder what I've done Holy Father, You have come And chosen me now to carry Your Son
I am waiting in a silent prayer I am frightened by the load I bear.In a world as cold as stone. Must I walk this path alone? Be with me now, be with me now
Breath of Heaven, hold me together Be forever near me, breath of Heaven. Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy Breath of Hea...

Human Resources is willing to hear my case!

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:52:07 EST

On Christmas Eve, Monday morning, December 24th, human resources is willing to hear my case about being dismissed from Prater Lane!!

I wrote a letter along with my resume enclosed to show I am better qualified for this position as a lead teacher than my co-teacher who still has her job.

I have approximately 4 years of early childcare experience, I got my early childhood Director's certificate by scholarship at Colorado Mountain College, and I got straight A's while atten...

It seems like a waste of money for me to eat as much as I have been.

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:11:42 EST

Tonight I let my husband cook dinner, and Victoria ate. My husband can eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Maybe, I will lose weight after all. We should really feel the weight of my unemployment in 2 weeks, right in time for the New Year. Yay!

Lost my job today December 19, 2012

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:11:46 EST

And, the other teacher still has her job. I wrote about the incident on Sparkpeople and then deleted it. Another teacher I worked with had a big part in me losing my job. She has none of her own children, doesn't need health insurance because she is on her husband's health insurance.

My child has many severe medical needs.

Psalm 35

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:21:46 EST

Psam 35:4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
Psalm 35:7
Since they hid their net fo me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, may ruin overtake them by surprise--may the net they hid entangle them, and may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

Psalm 35:10
My whole being will exclaim, who is like you, O lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy f...

Sunday, December 16th, 2012

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:00:40 EST

Went skiing today. I went with a couple from my church, and then did a few runs alone. I skied from approx 12:30pm until 3:30pm when the lifts close. I got out some nervous energy I was feeling about the recent suspension from my job. I need exercise in my life daily to relieve stress. I feel so much better after exercising than after eating out of stress. I also pray that tonight I will be able to sleep through the whole night instead of getting up at 2:00am because I am so used to get...

Last blog entry was supposed to be December 14, 2012

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:06:00 EST

I get migraines I do not know how to relieve as well as irritable bowel syndrome and I do not have time to go to the bathroom at work. Sometimes I don't have time to take my migraine medicine to relieve my migraine.

May put off graduate school for a while longer...........

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:36:23 EST

Right now my job takes a lot of my time and to enroll in graduate school and take care of a special needs little girl, and to eat healthy and exercise and lose weight, and take care that my husband is eating right and exercising with his 2 jobs, is more important.

September 2nd, 2012 doing Glenwood hotsprings 10k..& Shriners........

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 10:03:06 EST

I am tired because Victoria kept getting up in the middle of the night last night and threw up again. We went to Salt Lake, Utah and went to shriners hospital and got great news! Victoria's scoliosis treatment will be paid for 100%. Yay! Now, if I could run more to get in shape for this 10k coming up. I was going to do the half marathon, but I don't feel I am in shape enough for it. So I will run the 10k in beautiful Glenwood Springs and try out the natural hotsprings pool at the end of...

Dunk-n-dash #2 and Victoria's Scoliosis treatment

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 08:26:41 EST

There are 6 dunk-n-dashes in a row every Monday. I'll probably register for 2. This Monday I am trying to get a younger friend just to run while the dunk-n-dash is going on. I lent her my old nike chip running shoes that hopefully she will try this weekend. She has been a smoker most of her life, but she is only 28 years old. She said she timed herself and did approximately a mile in 8 minutes which is really, really good. I am hoping she will do a 5k with me and give up smoking and be ...

Just did Avon Dunk-n-dash......

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:59:59 EST

It is a 1 mile swim and a 5k run. Greg and Victoria came to watch.

May apply to UNC for an MA in early childhood with teacher licensure and special ed endorsement.

Sun, 8 Jul 2012 01:30:17 EST

Right now I have my Director's Certificate in Early Childhood from Colorado Mountain College. I am waiting to hear from the graduate admissions rep so I can get on the University of Northern Colorado website and try and find out the closest place to Avon, Colorado to take the GRE. You have to have above a 3.0 GPA with your last 60 credits of classes. My last semester from the University of Delaware I had a 3.2 GPA and most recently 33 credits from Colorado Mountain College with a 3.725 GPA...

I am concerned about my father.....and my husband.

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:28:20 EST

My father is eating frozen dinners that you microwave every day while my step-mother is away camping. I only stay about an hour a day with him because I have to work and have lots to do with my own family. I need reading glasses badly or bi-focals and we cannot afford to buy them at the moment. I am having trouble reading the directions on his microwaved packet of food to put in the microwave for his dinner meal. Tomorrow night we will all go out for dinner. Myself, my husband, Victoria a...

Starting to teach swim lessons on Saturday mornings.....

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:20:22 EST

I am approximately a size 12 at the moment and would like to become a size 8. I try to run in the evenings (not every evening) and do between and hour and two hours of yoga in the early morning (not every morning). I try to run everyday, and do yoga every day but it ends up about 3 or 4 times a week of running and yoga, and then there is rock climbing, biking and swimming. I am also trying to eat healthier, but when I feel stressed I snack, and sometimes not on healthy food.

Victoria on St. Patrick's Day

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 10:47:49 EST

Victoria at Halloween-She's a ladybug!

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 10:14:54 EST

Victoria will be 1 yr old April 29th!

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 10:00:53 EST

I am working full time now at Prater Lane as an infant teacher. Tuesday thru Friday, 10 hour days. Victoria accompanies me 3 days a week Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. She stays home with me, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and home with Greg on Thursday. Our family day is Sunday. I have lost 7 pounds so far. My daughter looks much better. .

It is December 4th and still cannot sleep a whole night through...

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 05:34:27 EST

It is 2:50am. I woke up and ate an apple. I also have a headache because I cannot seem to sleep through the night. I seem to get migraines when I do not sleep well. And, I am too tired to exercise, and then I eat. Never ending cycle. I still weigh 170 pounds at 5'5 or 5'6. I cannot fit into most of my clothes and cannot afford to buy new ones. On the one hand at least my daughter is not crying and it is quiet and I have some peace. My daughter is still on a pump and cannot feed throu...

Today is the big condo association meeting.....

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:31:25 EST

One of the board members, and his family smoke marijuana all the time. Sorry if that is a personal attack. But I don't want someone in leadership of our condo association, to pass on smoke or any of that type of opiates to my daughter growing up here.

They also want to take my husband's underground parking space away and give it to the commercial owners. There is no guarantee that everyone who owns a condo here get to have more than one car. Especially if the commercial restaur...

Could have gone to a Halloween party tonight...........

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:10:07 EST

I have Victoria's costume picked out. She is going to be a Lady Bug. I was going to be a witch, dressed in purple and black nylons, black hi-heels, black dress, purple and black hat and a purple and black broom. I also was going to see if anyone noticed my teeth. I was going to insert those rotten teeth over my good teeth.

Oh well, maybe I can wear it to something else before Halloween is over. Something that informs children that when they eat a lot of candy, this is what can...

Trying to see if I can get hired as a part time aerobics instructor...

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 05:57:37 EST

If I taught one class a week, I'd have to prepare all week for a one hour class, until I got the hang of it. Like first beginning teaching. The first year is always the toughest with planning, and then it gets easier. Same with swimming lessons. I used to have to write all my plans out with whatever I was going to fit into a half hour class. I might have to do that again, starting up October 29th, just because I have been out of the teaching swimming loop for a while. I would always lam...

I am 44, not menopausal yet............

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 19:31:32 EST

And, my husband does not want to use birth control. We are struggling a lot financially with Victoria and her medical bills from her premature birth, I will be working one full time job and one part time job in less than a month. I am stressed out enough with Victoria's care and work, and my husband still does not want to use birth control............Can anyone help! I have stopped eating so much, and am still not losing weight, although I am not exercising. I am just tired all the time. ...

The little things count............

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 01:27:30 EST

The other night we went over to a friend's house for dinner. Granted, they had more money than us which was noted by the bigger house, bigger, newer stereo, bigger grill etc.

I have made it a habit to cook at least one meal a day for my husband and that includes some type of meat. Groceries are not cheap for us with a new premature baby. For a while we could hardly afford meat and ate a lot of pasta.

But after seeing another family where the girlfriend gets home at 6...

Sunday, September 26th......

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:39:20 EST

One of the great things about early childcare is I get to bring Victoria to the same room where I am taking care of other infants in addition to her. Which allows me to have a huge discount for bringing her at the same place I care for other infants, and get paid as well with Vail Resorts group health insurance, the best health insurance in the valley. It also allows me to tend to her special needs as well.

I have been applying at charitable funds since Victoria's stay at the hos...

September 25, 2011

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:46:19 EST

I have been substitute teaching in early childood for one to two years while getting my early childhood certificate at night at Colorado Mountain College. Finally, I will start full time as a lead teacher October 28th at Prater Lane Childcare in the infant room. Good chance of getting good health insurance covered through Vail Resorts for Victoria and I. Greg will keep his health insurance with Vail Management, and will not have as much deducted from his paycheck with Victoria and I on ano...

Doing a sprint tri-athlon August 6th, next Saturday........

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:08:17 EST

I feel like I have been working out a lot. Yesterday I swam 1250 meters, and went for a 10 mile bike ride while Greg watched Victoria. The day before I swam 1250 meters and went for a 2 mile run.

This morning before anyone is up I had 2 bowels of mixed fruit (one with cottage cheese), a handful of cheese its, and I tried to finish up this crusty gourmet bread, that went stale even when I tried to soften it up in the microwave with butter and ended up throwing it out. (it was grea...

Victoria is home! And has her nasal oxygen removed!

Sat, 2 Jul 2011 10:55:53 EST

I am home now, with no excuses to NOT eat right. Victoria continues to have a g-tube but is taking baby steps drinking a little more from her bottle by mouth every day. She only takes the bottle once a day, while she is fed every 3 hours through her g-tube and all night long at a lower feed rate flow. She pretty much sleeps through the night.
She is a good baby. I went to a teacher's appreciation dinner on Thursday night, and it looks like Prater Lane will need me as a teacher in Sep...

It is 3:00am and I took my own advice and drank water......

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:36:34 EST

I sort of have a craving for ice cream right now. But, I do not think it is worth the pain I will experience later through my rectum, which sounds kind of gross, but it is true. It is almost like whenever I eat junk food I get hemroids BIG time.

That little taste is not worth the weight gain, the pain etc.

Victoria has survived her surgery well. Greg and I have learned how to operate her g-tube.

I have had almost 2 months here at the Ronald McDonald house to...

Victoria has surgery tomorrow........at 7 weeks.....

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:38:53 EST

She is getting an MRI to make sure nothing is wrong with her brain. She is getting a nissen to go around her esophagus and stomach which should make it difficult for her if she wants to puke or throw up. Which means she should be able to keep the food in her belly and help with the acid reflux. She is also getting a g-tube inserted to go directly to her stomach because when I feed her with the bottle she will not nipple. Hopefully she will grow out of the g-tube and take regular feedings ...

Interested in sooooooooo many things.........

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:31:28 EST

I was offered a job at File-n-Style to do manis and pedis in Denver. And, had to turn it down because my daughter is getting surgery on Friday and I need my full attention and focus to concentrate how to feed her and keep her g-tube clean and sanitary when she FINALLY comes home with us next Wednesday. I was going to work Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. I like spa work because it is usually one on one, whereas childcare is a ratio of 4 to 1 in infants and toddlers and 8 to 1 in preschool. I...

Got my hair hi-lighted today AND a mani/pedi..........

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:25:17 EST

I have been eating a little less during the night. And, I figured I'd spend money to make money. I got a mani/pedi at a nail salon here in Denver called File-n-Style AND a hi-light at Flaunt salon in Denver as well. At File-n-Style I gave my business card out which was my own previous business called Mountain Esthetics. It says on there I am a licensed manicurist and licensed esthetician. I also have my early childcare license as well. I'm hoping that the Denver salon will call me becau...

Sometimes I think my husband portrays me as ugly and stupid....

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 05:04:22 EST

Especially on Facebook. He has got a horrible picture posted of me when I first had Victoria. Why? To make himself look better, or better yet so women who have better pictures of themselves can post their pictures with something less than stupid to say?

I do not like some of the friends my husband has on Facebook. Yet he continually finds a way to keep in touch with them. Especially some of the women.

He doesn't listen to me when I talk about vegan, and gets angry w...

Colorado Mountain College (Edwards campus)

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 21:15:30 EST

I have spoken to Regis University officials about their graduate program in Early Childhood. It does not look like the costs outweigh the benefits in this field. According to them (Regis Univeristy) I am not licensed in early childhood with the state. According to my employers, Miller Ranch, and Prater Lane, I am. According to the Colorado workforce that gave me the scholarship in early childhood to attend Colorado Mountain College, I am. Regis just wants me to pay their expensive tuitio...

Victoria might need a

Thu, 2 Jun 2011 23:44:12 EST

I understand why Victoria would need a "Swallow Study" to find out where the milk is going after it is in her mouth. She is using a "haberman" bottle now which is usually used for babies with cleft palates who cannot grasp the nipple. She can clench the bottle with her jaw, and I got her to take 20 ml of milk by closing her chin so she doesn't spit the milk out and massaging her neck so I could "teach" her to swallow. The nurses said that was not safe. And, it doesn't matter how much she ...

Victoria, Victoria when will you drink all your milk?!@#$

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 20:53:07 EST

My baby Victoria is not swallowing or sucking with her tongue very well. They are going to have to do a "Swallow Study" next week to see why she cannot seem to swallow or suck on a bottle. She is 5 weeks old on Friday, and now weighs 4 pounds, 4 ozs. She has almost gained 2 pounds since birth weight of 2 pounds, 12 ozs. Why can't you drink your milk Victoria? Don't you know we all get to be home together if you just drink your milk? She cannot leave the hospital until she drinks her mil...

Victoria is almost 5 weeks old on Friday!

Tue, 31 May 2011 18:50:42 EST

Greg came down on Sunday. We went to church, saw Victoria twice, ate lunch and dinner together and made modified sweet love at the Marriot Courtyard hotel in boulder the night before Greg's big run, the Bolder Boulder. He did very well! I am sooo proud of him. I did not eat at all that night! Yay! Every time I see my husband with Victoria reading or singing, or holding or kissing or just changing a dirty diaper, it makes me so happy! I've waited a long time for the right man to marry a...

Colorado girl just had baby 4 weeks and 2 days ago.......

Sun, 29 May 2011 06:11:47 EST

It is 4:00am, after getting up and eating 3 slices of papa john's leftover pizza at the Ronald McDonald house. There is no one to blame but me for not resisting temptation at 3:00am in the morning. I also had 3 slices of papa john's cinamin/brown sugar bread sticks. And, diet coke. I wonder if I was home if I'd still get up in the middle of the night and eat until I go back to sleep. How do I end this cycle? Well, it is not 2:00am that I got up, it was 3:00am. Lost a pound before I ate ...