Annoying Weight Gain

One of the nifty benefits of taking Tamoxifen is that you'll never have to worry about being skinny again. I am currently at an all-time high for my weight.... (not counting those months of pregnancy and nursing....). I weigh 15 pounds more than I did when I got married, and 20 pounds more than I did a year ago (granted, a year ago I was too skinny, having lost weight from all the stress). I'm still 25 pounds away from where I was when I went in to deliver Nathan, so I guess that's some comfort. (not).

I DID find out that my silicone implants are responsible for 2.8125 pounds, but the rest I blame on Tamoxifen. I'm working out 4 days a week, and chasing kids, climbing stairs, doing mountains of laundry, etc., so there is really no other explanation for the weight gain, and it is pissing me off.

Back from Mexico

We had a great time on the cruise - of course any vacation that doesn't involve a trip to the emergency room is a "good" vacation by our standards. :) But we really did have a wonderful time. Pictures soon.

In case you have forgotten, there are pictures of the kids on our new family website for 2008. Click here.

Emergency in China - Please help

All - as Todd and I prepare to leave on a cruise, orphanages in China are struggling from the recent weather disasters. An American charitable organization called Half the Sky , is rallying support. Their mission statement is as follows:

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.

As many of you know, Anika came from the YueYang County orphanage in the Hunan province. Although I've never been able to establish that she was fostered through Half the Sky, I think their program is incredible, and have donated to them in the past. Jenny Bowen, the executive director, was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch in Beijing later this year.

Today I received the following email from Jenny:

ERASED - thanks to those of you who donated during this crisis.

Please consider donating to this worthwhile cause. It breaks my heart to know that Anika may have a little brother or sister in the YueYang orphanage at this very moment....