So it's been almost a year since my last blog, I can't believe how time flies! So here's a little recap of what we've been up to....

 It's also been a full year since Andrew and I made the promise to live a "healthier" life style. So far so good! I'm so proud of our accomplishements. We stuck to making healthier eating choices, and we inccorporated working out to the mix, the results......Andrew has lost about 50lbs and I've lost a little over 30lbs! Yay Us!

In March we celebrated our 1yr Anniversary of purchasing our first home and to celebrate we went out and bought a car! :)

In late April I started classes for Spanish interpretting in the medical field, it was a six week course which I completed and got a certificate for.

In June, Andrew started working for Paradise Tomato Kitchen and since their corporate plant is in Kentucky he had the opportunity to go to Kentucky. He enjoyed his time there but we were estatic when he got home, and before Tomato Season got started we were able to have a couple weekend trips, one to Malibu, and and to SF for some family time and to watch the Giants play, after that Andrew's summer consisted of WORK, WORK, and more WORK, working 14+ hours with hardly any days off. Lucky for us he was off on Kaelyn's 3rd Birthday and we were able to celebrate it at The Fresno Zoo. While "Daddy" worked, Kaelyn and I were able to spend some quality time with my family going to the waterslides, and to Gilroy Gardens for some summer fun.

2011 also had its very sad points. We lost loved ones that will forever be loved and missed, and never forgotten. We know they are in a better place now.

For Halloween we dressed Kaelyn as "Alice" from Alice in Wonderland and she was the most beautiful Alice EVER. (In my humble opinion). Also, in October, I was hired as a Spanish Interpretter the hiring process dragged and little, and although I'm hired I haven't yet started doing any interpretting, so for now I'm still working for my Mom 4days a week and enjoying 3day weekends with Kaelyn, and leaving my "career" in God's hands. I know everything works out the way it does for a reason...

Thanksgiving was spent in our home with my family. Christmas was wonderful specially since we were able to spend most of it with Mama and Papa (Nash) and Taylor. New Year's Eve we drove to SF to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary and of course the New Years with Mama, Papa, Taylor, Amy and Sean.

I can't believe later this year Kaelyn will be turning 4yrs old and starting preschool, where does the time go?

2011 was truely a blessed year, but we are happy to be starting a new year, together... happy and healthy and plan on making 2012 even better!

"Never Grow Up" Lyrics

This is EXACTLY how I feel about my little girl. My Kaelyn Marie...I wish I could keep her this small and innocent forever...


Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to
Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up
(Never grow up)
Just never grow up

YES...YES....and YES!

Yes, I am positive, Yes, I am loving life, and Yes, I am happy most of the time....Why wouldn't I be? I have an amazing life! I have a beautiful, healthy, intelligent and loving daughter, and I'm married to a man that loves me more then I thought I could be loved, siblings that keep me laughing and young, and fun, and supportive parents and Inlaws that love me for who I am. Why wouldn't I be Happy? What more is there to ask for? Sure, we could use more money in our bank account, yeah having another vehicle would be great, and yes the thought of how much easier life would be if I wasn't "sick" has crossed my mind...but no I'm not going to sit around and mope and cry and bitch about it...Every morning I get up..suck it up, take my meds, workout and go on with my day with the best attitude I can have..I go to work and work HARD to help my family and our situtation. I see my husband as my partner and my equal. I appreciate everything he does for his family, and I let him know that I know he does his BEST to give us the life we have and I don't expect or demand more then he gives.

I'm sure as heck not going to have people make me feel like being happy and positve isn't the right way to live...I've learned that happiness comes from within and if your not happy with yourself you can't be happy with anyone else...I tried to be a good friend, offer help in whatever way I could, I gave advise, and listened to all the negativity...in the end I came out as the "bad guy"...funny how people's minds work...at the end of the day I stand by what I say...you are not a victim of anyone else but yourself and until you realize that, it's so long "friend." Good luck with the way you live your life. I'm moving on with my "happy and postive life." 

Who Knew!

Who knew....making "healthier" eating choices and a little bit of exercise does pay off! (Sarcastic tone) Although I'm not quite sure if I've lost any weight since I usually only step on a scale during my Drs visits, I am feeling GREAT and that's what matters most! I will admitt however that I will be ecstatic when I shed "the meatball" image LOL(Jersey Shore terminalogy). It's about time things start going MY way when it comes to my MG (knock on wood) I'm feeling healthy, strong, and yes I'm even starting to feel attractive again! the "Moon Shape" face is slowly.....VERY slowly dissapearing and I'm working on transforming my body back to what it once was, but best of all I'm able to stay active and pretty much live a normal life (well what's considered "normal for us MGers) I'm working 3days a week, running around after a 2yr old and I've even had energy left to workout! To me this is an AMAZING victory!!

A Promise to Ourselves and Eachother

Well, Andrew and I have been going back and forth about making healthier eating choices aswell as trying to figure out how we can afford a second vehicle that we desperately need to purchase (seriously we needed it like a year ago)..anyway..He came up with a "Contract" for us, which is just basically us staying away from Fast Food and Soda for the next month. If we are able to achieve that goal we will be one step closer to better health, hopefully some weight loss, and more money in our bank account, and we will each be entitled to a small "treat"! It's a WIN WIN and sounds so easy, but it's NOT lol  It's definately going to be a CHALLENGE for us fast food "junkies". I am, however happy to say that we have started off on a good note. Last night's dinner consisted of baked Salmon, white rice and a veggie packed salad and we really did enjoy it, and today as we speak there is a beef and veggie stew (extra veggies) simmering away in the Crockpot and making our entire house smell like THE ONE! With meals like these who needs Fast Food right? LOL Well, we'll see.... ;)

P.S. I think Kaelyn will also start having withdrawls from not eating French Fries, and her "Mama's" yummy tacos that she can't get enough of. LOL This next month shall be interesting! Stay Tuned!!

The Terrific Terrible Twos!

It all started 3yrs ago...when we found out we were PREGNANT... and with pregnancy came along all my health issues...from Gestational Diabetes, preeclampsia, to blurry vision and droopy eyes, slurred speech, became unable to swallow both solid food and liquids, and finally got to the point that I couldn't breath on my own. Which caused me to be hospitalized at 36weeks pregnant, intubated twice, and had to have an emergency c-section, and was FINALLY diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis ( long story short). Although looking back at it now I wouldn't change anything that I went through...not one single thing. Everything I had gone through and was still to come suddenly all became worth it on 8/23/08 this is when we meet the most wonderful, beautiful and loving little girl, our Kaelyn Marie Pirtle. All it took was one look in those big brown eyes and nothing else mattered, because for her I would do it again in a heartbeat. She's our little blessing and a TRUE miracle. Each and everyday I am grateful to God for allowing me to be apart of her life. I have been lucky enough to be here with her and experience every single one of her miles stones so far.

Fast Forward 2yrs and here we are now.....From temper tantrums to attempting potty training...life seems to get busier and busier as the days go on and we wouldn't want it any other way. Day by day Kaelyn amazes us with something new. She is definetely the apple of our eye and our "pride and joy" Each and everyday we count our BLESSINGS. It is just incredible how much a two year old soaks up. They are with no doubt a "sponge" at this age, which in my opinion is  awesome and a little scary at the same time. She is now counting, recognizing colors, numbers and shapes..and her vocabulary is growing each day..It is truely an amazing feeling to learn her likes and dislikes...to find out she shares a passion for things that you share aswell..She is such a happy girl, and when she hears a beat she can't help but to shake her little body. She loves all animals big and small..She is just a very loving girl, but I can't foget to mention she is developing her little personality and a diva attitude! Ahhhh the the wonders of The Terrific Terrible Twos! It's true what they say life flies by when you're having fun..and this is why I'm doing by best to enjoy every aspect of being a mother of a two year old...because in no time she'll be 18 and I will be wishing  my "little girl" was still in her terrible twos...