"I believe that the only people that should be around an child and raising a child are people who absolutely, 100 percent love that child." Angelina Jolie

I'm not really a fan of Angelina Jolie normally (she's a good actress, but I'm a Jennifer fan) but this quote stuck with me this morning, it's very true. You can't fully love a child if you don't love yourself, doing heroin, not consistently participating in the child's life, not obtaining proper long term treatment, not caring what the child is doing in school, how the child's health is or what his friggin' interests are is not loving the child at all.  Giving birth doesn't make you a mother, and it doesn't automatically make you love the child and most certainly doesn't make that child love you.  

He who eats alone chokes alone.  ~Proverb

We decided to get creative at dinner last night (unhealthy really) and make buffalo chicken nachos (clearly Gino never ate that if he sees a piece of black peppercorn he cries that it's spicy) and a BBQ chicken pasta with bacon, onion and scallions. I saw the pasta on Nate Berkus and I knew Gino and Deezy would love it (Daddy and I, not so much, too much BBQ not enough chicken).  We think it is important to eat meals together, it can get stressful at times (Gino takes two hours to eat everything!) but it's still an important family value that is dying in our country. Parents wonder why there kids don't talk to them and are getting intro trouble, if you sat down all together at the dinner table, maybe you would know what went on in their day. When I was growing up, we all ate together at the dinner table, I have fond memories from child hood of my father and older sister laughing hysterically at this and that. I remember coming down in the morning (my father was a professor of Anthropology at a NYC college so he only taught two days a week and the rest of his days was home) to my sister and father singing (to the tune of Good Morning, Good morning from Singing in the Rain) "Good morning, Good moorrnninggg! How'd you like to bite my butt" and then we would all let out great laughs.  When things are running smoothly at dinner with no crying about not liking this or that, meal times are generally very pleasant in our house.  Gino is often telling some story from school, something gross he did or saw, or laughing at my big "kid (A.K.A Daddy). The best part is when my husband does something and Gino starts laughing, he has a lazy-ish eye when he laughs that blinks crazy while the other one stays half open, then Deezy starts laughing that cute baby belly laugh.  It's impossible not to smile and laugh along with them. My husband has that contagious laugh just like my father, you could be watching TV and think something is really stupid but for some reason they laugh hard, and you cant help but laugh with them (or at them ). That is one of the things I love most about my husband,  could be sooooo angry at him (like this weekend, I wanted to smack him) but it's literally impossible for me not to laugh when he tries to make me smile. Then almost immediately, you feel better after a good giggle or laugh. 

"Laughter is the way to true love" -unknown

Every day that I am a mother, I realize more and more what I picked up from my parents.  I always said growing up (I'm sure many of you said it too) "When I have kids I am NEVER going to do that!" but in reality, you will or do, you end up doing some of the things you swore you never would.  My parents made us eat all of our dinner even if we didn't like it, because it's healthy and it's rude to yuck the chef's yums.  I think it is important for a child to learn to eat the food in front of them (in my house there is always a veggie, a meat/poultry, and a rice/potato/pasta,etc so for health reasons it's important they eat their food) for many reasons.  I am very strict about mealtime, partly because that's how I was raised, but also my son Gino was premature and his "mother's" prenatal care was very bad (smoking, drugs, drinking) so he was born 10 steps behind other kids.  When it comes to vegetables I am lucky if there are any left by the time dinner is on the table, Gino loves to help me cook and usually eats all my peppers, carrots, beans. I also can't stand whining, so you get until the count of three and if you don't properly you can sit on time out (for Gino its 4 almost 5 minutes because he is almost 5) and then come back and finish, you don't get out of eating in my house, you'll sit and eat until it's gone.  Call me crazy and strict, but it is important to have a child eat even what they do not care for so they get all the vitamins and minerals, otherwise Gino would eat doughnuts and that's it. Deezy loves food, the buffalo chicken nachos we made, he ate some, made faces and stuck his tongue out but kept taking more out of the bowl, if I didn't breast feed him still I think he would eat me out of house and home already! 

"Without discipline, there's no life at all." Katharine Hepburn

You know you are doing your job as a mother and doing it well when a child's teachers (multiple, not just one) come up to you and tell you that "You have the kids that parent's wished they had." So for some people I may be strict, if expecting a child to eat, not whine, do what is asked of him with out a bad attitude, and time outs is strict, then so be it I am strict, but it has paid off and I don't have those unruly children that are rude and freak out in public.  However, I am not the mother (parents) that I saw in Ihop scolding their child telling him (who looked no more than 7 or 8) that if the spankings weren't enough they could do whippings, etc.  Those parents brought me to tears and made me so unbelievably angry that I was shaking, what was equally disturbing were the people around them saying nothing.  Believe you me I confronted them and told them they were disgusting and the way they spoke to their CHILD was appalling and that they should be ashamed of themselves. That poor kid, thinking about him still makes me wish I had done something more than confront them.  I may be strict and expect proper behavior, but there is a line that is not so fine that I would never cross.  I love my children and can't believe anyone could treat a child like that. Honestly, there is this show called "What would you DO?", I half expected that host to come out and speak to me that's how much it upset me. 

 

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.  ~Stacia Tauscher

"... you know how bad a mother you have to be to lose custody of your children ... OJ has custody of his children ..." Howard Stern

I believe in second chances...third and fourth even, sometimes it takes an extra chance or two to get things right...But five (5) years of chances is absurd! Yesterday, after I got back from a park trip with Deezy and a friend of mine, the doorbell rang and the USPS guy was unloading two huge packages (which I had expected because of the letter "mother" wrote to Maddox), these were XMAS presents that she didn't get to give to Gino because she had her own visitation rights terminated and lost her post-Xmas visit.  Of course the boxes were letting of an intense smell of cigarette smoke in my non-smoking house-hold, that was #1 that irritated me.  I let the boxes sit in the kitchen over night, I put a motion in to impound our address to make her think we moved so she wouldn't just show up at our house and throw a brick threw the window in the room where our son slept. But, unlike her, we don't lie in court so we can't very well say we moved, that would be lying under oath, we are planning on moving sometime soon however, so that is why we will say we are impounding our address. So this morning, I woke up, I can't return them to her she will bring it up in court, so I decided to check to see what she sent.  Previously when she has actually given him something, it's been a pretend gun or something, we do not allow toy weapons in our house, so of course I will check. (I used to smoke a lot of cigarettes, that's not the part that annoys me, but I never smoked inside, it's gross and everything smells disgusting) Opening these boxes I was practically holding my breath, it smelled like old cigarettes.  These things she is sending are going to a child, with severe asthma and I can barely open the box, that was #2 that irritated the crap out of me. While going through everything, just about all the clothes she sent were not his size and had characters he doesn't even watch anymore on them. Not only that but second hand, which is not usually a problem, but this woman rarely pays support and doesn't even get visits with the child, I think she should be able to splurge take some money out of her heroin habit and get the kid new stuff, not used. wrong sizes, characters he voices he doesn't like anymore, and old and that makes reason #3 why I was irritated. While looking through everything, there was cars things (which he still likes one thing she got right), She clearly has no interest in anything that could possibly help him gain any type of knowledge, books (which he loves and will pick OVER playing with toys hands down every time) are never something she sends him.  Of course AGAIN there was a ton of this character (Thomas) who he grew out of 2 years ago, he stopped liking Thomas BEFORE the last time you gave him a whole bunch of Thomas videos (which he never watched, maybe he watched one once).  She clearly has no idea what my kid likes, what his interests are or anything, I'm sure she never bothered to ask him anything like that when she was allowed visits. There was also a bunch of matchbox cars, that are beat up and used in a broken box from old cars sneakers (why she has a child's used shoe box is beyond me), he does have an interest in cars of any kind though because his father is an amazing mechanic. And a doll, which Gino has a huge thing against because he says "ew that's for girls" he is anti anything that would make him feel like he was playing with anything that had to do with a girl. If she was a good mother, sincerely cared about Gino, participated in all aspects of his life, etc. I would not have an issue, I DO however have a serious issue with a woman who has merely filed motions after motions in court to get visits, phone calls, etc. with a child and one awarded them didn't give a fuck anymore and shot up in her arm, neck, toe w.e again and thought it was alright.  If she cared at all about him she would be actively involved in his life and would be doing what needed to be done to at least have visitation, instead she doesn't obey court orders and thinks she can get away with using.  If she gave a crap about my kid, she would have asked him what he liked, I would put money down she doesn't know what his favorite color his, what his favorite character from cars is, That he can write his name or how he writes his name and writes MAMA on things addressed to me, I bet she doesn't know who his two favorite teachers are, how he acts when he is nervous, what his favorite books are, who his best friends are at school, who is school GF is or his grown up one, etc I could make the list go on and on. Never has she asked about his dental/mental/medical information, how he is doing in school...not a thing. She has merely attempted to get visits and when she was allowed she with out fail fucked up every time.

There is such thing as "child time" my mother always talked about it, it's completely right.  In adult time, 5 years isn't a long time to wait for something or be introduced to something new, but try to ask a child to wait 5 years for something. How is it fair for her to ask Gino to wait for her and consider her mommy while she gets sober and gets her life under control (which most likely will never happen) when he has a loving and stable family right here. Would you tell your child he/she has to wait 5 years before they could get loved the way they were supposed to? This child has never had a relationship with her, even though she has been given ample opportunities to have a relationship with him.  She is so naive to think that he ever draws her pictures or even wants to for that matter, naive to think that he ever misses her and "talks" to her, naive to think he thinks of her as anything more than the occasional toy here or there, there is no mutual love or respect between the two of them, just an obedience on Gino's part to eventually stop crying and do what he is told/forced to do when visits are occurring.

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life..." Richard Bach

Last night, my husband was doing work on his best friends car and the kids, my best friend, my brother and I all tagged along.  There is nothing like sitting around a table, (attempting) to eat food fresh off the grill, watching the kids run around together laughing and so intensely curious about what Daddy is doing. Granted, I was irritated about the damn packages sent earlier in the day and the fact "I only have to do a break job" turned into about 4 other things on the car (I am intense when it comes to planned things changing, I got that from my mother).  Even with that, it's pretty much impossible to not love seeing my kids chasing each other and running, and so interested in what Daddy is doing. It was also nice to reminisce in childhood memories with my brother (who is currently living with us) and memories with my best friend.  It's always (almost always) good to see my husband's best friend from HS he's good with the kids (he is Gino's godfather, pretty much Deezy's too) and probably the only friend of his I actually like, don't get me wrong he's done some stuff to irritate me (like call at 1:30 in the A.M to tell my husband his ex gf wanted his address, not so bright) but he's a good guy.
When you get pregnant and/or have children, you really learn who/what matters and who/what doesn't, you make new friends (usually who also have children) and occasionally one or two pre-kids friends stick around, but everything changes when you are a parent. It's a drastic change that I am completely alright with, and the weird thing is I could sit at home and hang out with my kids and that's it, be completely fine with it.  It's hard to get bored when you have kids, there is always something to do (however, I would rather hang out with the kids then do the load of laundry in front of the machine). My interests and favorite things have changed from trumpet, hanging out with friends and have a few shots of whiskey (not on the rocks and not chilled) to watching my kids sleeping because they smile and laugh in their sleep,wondering what they are dreaming about, pretending I'm not watching the two of them while they play because I don't want the laughing to end, watching how my husband turns into a huge teddy bear when he is around our kids, and getting tears in my eyes every time I look at both Gino and Deezy and think how much they have grown.
Being a "mother" is easy, it's easy to be with child, but being a GOOD mother is a challenge that only a real woman can handle.

 "Having children makes you no more a parent than having a piano makes you a pianist."

- Michael Levine

“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” Sophia Loren

Unfortunately, there are a lot of women who don't think for their child, they just think for themselves.  Prime example, Gino's "Mother". No matter how long and hard I think about it, I just will never understand how you could do what she has done to him so far in his short 5 year existence. I understand the idea of addiction, as I said in my last blog, by husband is and will always be an alcoholic, there is no cure, but he does live day by day staying sober for his family.  I have also had my fair share of issues in life, like I said I am far from perfect, people who knew me when I was in high school and in my early college career KNOW I am not perfect. Usually people grow up and figure out what is important versus what isn't important, and some people don't. When I found out my husband and I were having a baby (he wasn't my husband at the time, just my fiance) that was the end of my daily ( I mean daily, morning noon and night) drinking and I focuses on work, school and making sure I was taking care of myself properly, because THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU MAKE THE CHOICE TO BECOME A PARENT. Yes, it IS a choice, I am a firm believer in that. My husband also got his act together and got sober, he went to meetings, one on one counseling, it's not easy I am not trying to make it sound as such, but when you are about to bring a child into the world (or already have) it should be a fucking no brainer! If you honestly gave a rats ass about the child, you'd either get your shit together or you'd do the right thing and back off and allow people who have their life together and love him the way he needs to be loved do their fucking job. Yes, this topic irritates the crap out of me, every time I feel on ease about our family and our stability something (from the court/snatcher) comes around and throws everything off kilter. This woman ONLY pays chunks of child support when court comes around to make herself look better. We could care less about the support honestly, the measly $35 a week does nothing to help.  We would rather have no support and have her gone and out of our life. Not only did we receive a payment (that is supposed to be weekly, but she has NEVER paid weekly) she sent a letter to Gino, saying things like remember you can draw me a picture when you miss me (this is the FIRST time EVER she has written the child anything) and talk to me because I will hear you, and that NO one can take THAT away from us, and that "Daddy and I are just trying to figure out a ay to SHARE you"...Gino is not an object, he is not a toy, you don't share a child, and besides that's not what is going on so why would you lie to him....listen, never once has my son even said he wanted to draw her a picture, he NEVER talks about her, Never asks to see her,said he didn't want the pictures she gave him of herself...I save everything so when he gets older he can see, but I will not be reading that letter to him the whole letter was lies to my kid and my husband and I have made it a point not to lie to him, think of me as you may. We don't go into detail about what her issues are with him, he wouldn't understand, but we don't lie when we have court we tell him what it's for, and he always says I hope we win! He knows court dates are about him and visitation, no point in lying to the kid, he is very smart/bright and would be angry at US later in life if we lied.

We put a lot into how we raise our children, I am VERY opinionated (pushy at times) and we strive to make sure Gino and Deezy know right from wrong; don't hit/punch/kick/bite, eat all of your food (I am oober strict about that, it's the only way to ensure proper nutrition), hugs and kisses, Gino loves to read, pick up your toys (even though I'm by no means a neat freak), say excuse me when gross noises come out of your body (I'm a kid at heart I still laugh but at least be polite), the list goes on. My husband is the good guy, he's not as strict as I am, however, we have had many talks about discipline and we back each-others decisions (at least in front of the kiddies). I am crazy when it comes to treating the children fairly and equally, I do realize Gino has had a rough first 5 years, but don't treat a child like they are damaged goods because they will act like they are.  That may be something my husband and I disagree on most, but I stand by my belief because I went through a lot of what Gino went through, and treating a child like "damaged goods" will make them act like they are.

You can learn many things from children.  How much patience you have, for instance.  ~Franklin P. Jones

 Lord knows my patience can ware thin at times, Gino has a tendency to whine when he isn't getting his way (something he picked up immediately when he started pre-school) why he thinks I will give in this time is beyond me, I never give in to whining, actually it gets you on time out. And good lord, Deezy gets into everything, hides EVERYTHING and has a serious nose for food. Honestly I thought I finished those thin mints a month ago and he comes into the kitchen holding two that he apparently hid somewhere, with a sneaky grin on his face! Gino and Deezy have two very different personalities, Gino is very sweet, almost always listens, helps out, and is shy.  Deezy is a sweetheart with a "tude", mr. smarty pants really, he knows when he is doing something he is not supposed to and he'll back away from you, turn and run! He's a character, and a HUGE flirt, put just about any female in front of him and he whips out the smile and charm, very charismatic like his father. However, they both test my patience on a daily basis, but looking at those little dudes running around together and laughing is totally worth how much than can really push my buttons! If I wasn't worried about keeping my kids names/identities unknown I would be posting pictures, I AM that mom that takes a thousand pictures and brags about her kids and I am not ashamed to do so!
I am not a perfect mother, I learned many good and bad techniques of parenting from my parents. I am stricter than some, but not as strict as my parents. I want the best for my children, and expect a lot. I have high standards because I know their potential. I work everyday on being a more compassionate mother than mine was, hugs and kisses always, taking an interest in what happened at school because unlike at my parents house, I do want to hear. I tell my children multiple times every day I love them and that they are doing a good job with every little thing they do and accomplish (even if it's picking up their toys).  I am not perfect, I have lessons to learn even though I have learned many lessons already. My kids teach me more than I could ever have imagined they would, it is amazing to watch their curiosity grow and change. At a young age they show their interests and a bit of what their adult personality will be like. I am a tough cookie, I expect a lot, but I love them with everything I've got, so much it makes me cry at times thinking about it, they grow so quickly and even when irritated I try and stop and think how amazing they are and how quickly they grow...Take a moment to appreciate every moment with them, the don't stay little forever.

"If you're gonna screw up, do it while you're young. Older you get, the harder it is to bounce back." Winston Groom


I always thought the most important thing in life for me was to play trumpet and get my music education degree, now that is still important to me but not as important as raising my munchkins. Two years ago, when we were getting sober, losing people that made that more difficult and trying to better ourselves for our children, my husbands mother did some really messed up and shady things to us.  For one, she stole my trumpet and pawned it or threw it out...it's gone, at the time that was the most important thing to me, my father gave it to me. To this day, she still denies it, however it was in her house (which was actually my husbands apartment) and she and my husband were the only ones who had access to the house and my trumpet. It would be silly for that to be the only reason we don't have anything to do with his mother any more, there are way more serious reasons for that, but that is a little more private.  However, I will NEVER put my children with a person that could make a false accusation and have them taken away, so if my husband decides he wants to make amends with that woman that is on him, I will support him with that and only that ( I would prefer that not happen because of how much she lies and how manipulative she is).  She will not, I repeat will NOT have a relationship with these children, she is not a good role model, never was, not for her own kids and not for ours. Never said she didn't love them, she does, but love isn't enough ever to be honest, especially when you have brought negative things upon yourself MORE than once.  I am a mother, I need to protect my children, and that means keeping them away from anyone that may affect their stability and happiness. Her past makes it more than extremely doubtful she will pull some garbage again if given the chance, it is my responsibility to make sure she does not have the chance, and my husband fully agrees with me, especially since she is still acting all "buddy buddy" with the other junkie "mother". Still seems to be in denial about why we are not speaking, she clearly has not learned from her mistakes.

"The only mistake in life is the lesson not learned." Albert Einstein

The above quote was made by someone I am sure you all are familiar with, Oprah Winfrey. Now, I don't think I have ever watched a full episode of hers ever in my life, but I must say that quote rings very true for my family, current and past.
I was adopted at a fairly young age, my biological mother couldn't get her own life under control let alone add an infant to it, which if you ask me, she should have thought about before getting sexually involved with someone without the proper precautions. Now I have never been perfect, nor have I acted in such a manner, but I learn from my mistakes (which she seems not to do).  Nine (9) children later, she currently only has custody of one (1) of her children, excuse me if I sound doubtful but it's hard to erase 23 years of disappointment and heart break. My adoptive family, also far from perfect, may have been difficult at times, but hell, I wouldn't be where I am today without them and for that I am very grateful and I wouldn't change them for the world. My mother (adoptive) and I still to this day are very different people, making it very difficult to get along often resulting in arguments which are usually pointless, but I thank her for everything she has done for me and love her just the same. My father (the only one I have ever known, I don't know and most certainly don't care to know my biological father) is the most amazing man in my eyes, he's got it all, smart, funny, talented, patient, etc. I could go on for days about him. Growing up I had a great relationship with him, over time that relationship weakened due to tensions with my mother and I, but I cherish those times as a child with my Dad.  Lots and lots of siblings, Eleven (11) in my adoptive family, seven (7) of which were adopted themselves. All of us are different in many ways, but I love them all as if we all biologically were related. I am and will always be very protective of them all...over protective at times I'm sure.
So, as you can see I understand and agree with Oprah Winfrey's quote:

"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."

This all brings me to where I am today, a full-time mother of two, a full-time wife, a full-time student, self-proclaimed complaint/motion/affidavit writer for my husbands (and my) case to do what is in our sons best interest (frequently going up against a "mother" who pretends to care but really continues these shenanigans to get back at my husband), etc. I am so many things! I think it is high time that laws about the best interests of children to be changed...."mother's" fuck up just as much as father's do but you don't see their rights being terminated as easily as a father's rights are terminated.  I have NO tolerance for women (or men) who choose people, substances, jobs, anything over their children. OWN up to your responsibilities and do what is best for your child.  In our case, the "mother" should leave all of us alone, she has NO relationship with our son, never has consistently tried to, nor does HE want to have anything to do with her ( he doesn't call her mom, I AM MAMA), she always (and I mean always) chooses heroin and other substances over "her" son, pretends she is sober when in reality she is just hiding the fact that she is not, blatantly disrespects and doesn't follow court orders, the sad thing is half the time this court system allows her to do all of that to Gino. If it was the father, and he did that, his rights would have already been terminated, and personally I think that it is absurd that hers have not been. My husband has full physical custody and shared legal custody of our son, and next week we will be fighting for Sole physical and Sole Legal custody. Eventually I will be filing a petition for adoption, but let me tell you no one caters to the middle class, we can not afford the absurd $30-50,000 lawyers would charge for a contested adoption case, so most likely we will be going about it on our own unless 50 grand pops up magically!
On our last court date two things were changed in our favor, the venue (which was 2+ hours away) and "mother's" visitation was terminated.  I wish I could have screamed with pleasure, but I kept my composure.  But let me tell you, when we told our son that he didn't have to have visits anymore he said "YES, WE WON!!! WE WON!!!! WE WON!!!!" while doing a little dance, honestly he came up with that on his own. He hated visits, which he stated every time he had a visit and every day after. We tried to be as positive about them (to him) as we could, but that made no difference.  It broke our hearts every time we had to take him to a visit (which were "supervised" by her father), he would scream and cry, and latch onto our legs. You want an amazing child who is very bright, listens well, does what he is asked to DRASTICALLY change, make him have visits with a woman he doesn't like who has never been there for him, who TELLS him to call her Mummy and NOT to call me Mama....let's see how you would feel.  Every time court roles around I get knots in my stomach and I feel anxiety attacks coming on because more often than not they side with the "mother". New judge, new beliefs.  There is always a chance that they will allow her to do more damage to my kid.
I met my husband 3 years ago, 6 months of which he tried SO hard to get me to give him the time of day.  I had just come out of a serious relationship that put me in a serious depressed/fuck men state of mind. He had a son (who was so flippin' cute) and lived with his mother, who seemed nice enough. I tried not to get involved, I really did, but with an adorable little boy who was in need of a mother type figure, and a man who was hilarious and very charismatic, it was only a matter of time before I stopped fighting to not talk to him. I am the first to say we started out the wrong way, but there is a reason for everything.  He was an alcoholic, with a mother who was worse than he was with drinking, other substances and she was manipulation, a liar and a thief. He was trying to raise a little boy with no good parent figures in his life. But I knew that the man I know today was in there, through good and bad we worked things out, he now has 2 years sober (almost), a steady job (that extremely underpays him), a wife and two beautiful kids, and a life headed in the right direction.  We had to lose a lot of people along the way to get to where we are today, some family and lots of friends, but in the end (well thus far at least) all of the difficult decisions have been worth it.  Don't get me wrong, there were times I was about to say GOODBYE to him and all the baggage that he brought to the table. It's true, you can not change anyone, but they sure can change themselves if they want to and put their mind to it.  My husband is the perfect example of that, and believe you me it was far from easy.
My days are packed with mother duties, while trying to make time for myself.  This week I started the fitness program P90X, I had been going to the gym but their daycare is not up to my standards even for my two hour workouts.  So I decided to go another route that I had heard a lot about and one of my close friends was trying as well! And let me tell you, I have not been this sore since I have birth to my 10 lb son (I am 5"1' 136 lbs, it was NOT an easy task) whose shoulders got stuck in the process. However, I am determined to stick to it, I want to be healthy, I am not over weight by any means and I am generally happy with my appearance, but I want to be able to keep up with my boys easily and get rid of my wrinkley belly button in the process! I have completed three (3) days of workouts so far, and I can barely walk down the stairs, it's pretty painful (no pain no gain they say) but not like "OH SHIT, I cut my finger off!" kind of pain, it's a good pain. I had a pretty serious knee injury in HS (tore my ACL in half) and had surgery on it, which ended up not fixing the injury in the long run.  So, I am working with a bum knee with a serious daily work out regiment, but if a man can have a prosthetic leg and do the workouts, I have no excuse.
I plan on blogging my daily trials and tribulations, ups and downs, good and bad, triumphs and loses, you get the picture. I am new at the blogging game, but hope along the way to meet people with advice and a general interest in what I have to say.

"Any woman can give birth, but it takes a special person to be a real mother."