Life of the Party

      My step count for the month has rose a little bit. As you can see, there are days I do not wear my Apple Watch at all. But my step count is steadily climbing. I see this as progress. Honestly, after my appointment on Monday, it's really hard to focus on any positives. When you try your best, but still get beat down at each appointment it really gets demoralizing.     I guess I will just keep chipping away at progress and hopefully reap the results in the near future. There's not much to say on this point. I am still motivated, but I kinda need someone in my corner as well. If I'm telling the doctors things that I am doing to change, there should be a little bit of a positive vibe radiating from them. My goal for this week is to try to make sure each day I am above 7000 steps. I really need to work on closing all three rings each day.     I wish Apple had a way of having competitions with people worldwide instead of just who you are friends with. ...

      After three very long books, I was absolutely devastated with the ending to this. I wanted and even needed Morgan's character to finally eradicate the kingdom from Queen Guinevere. Some part of me just absolutely needed to see her annihilate. The woman who caused her so many hardships in book one in book 2. Morgan's character overall just needed to end on a happy note. Please tell me Sophie Keetch is going to write a fourth book.     My inner mama heart was also shattered to learn that one of her sons died. As an audience, we didn't even get to hear what happened to the youngest child that was basically stolen from her. So many unanswered questions. This book was just written and released back in 2025 so there may be a slot chance that the author will continue the story and give Morgan her ultimate victory. The ending seems so rushed as well. Maybe her funding ran out? I cannot believe that brother and sister gave each other for all the hateful and spitefu...

      Where do I find myself in this blanket of darkness? I have been up for hours with my toddler who seems to be stricken with night terrors along with a slight fever. She and I both haven't slept and grow sleepy with contempt.      She awakes with cries that only I can quieten, so here we are... my sitting on our sofa holding my toddler as she slips in and out of slumber. This time will soon pass and I might just miss these nights where she needs me the most. The solicitude that comes along with motherhood is something we don't really discuss at  length. Yes, you have other people in your life, but no on is really there on the late nights or early mornings.      I have found a new peace with motherhood. One that has brought me so much joy and sorrow at the same time. You are raising a child to live without you, but at the same time you are their support. I know one day she will not run to me, especially in her teen  years, b...

      I am absolutely disgusted with Duke Energy. The past year they have had several hikes that has led us to basically rethinking whether or not we can afford basic electricity. At receiving this month's bill, I was completely broken. Our bill, even with the use of propane had the difference of $220. Our neighbors of the road, had a bill that was well over $600. How could people afford to survive and make rent with having electricity prices so high.     Before you make the assumption that we can just simply switch utilities, you need to understand one thing about small communities. Duke energy is our only provider for electricity in our area. You have no other choices. And if you have children, it is a requirement that you have electricity in your home. It's not like you can simply skip out on this. We leave our temperature set, wear extra warm clothes, and have additional heat sources. We are simply surviving, not thriving at the moment. Duke energy really ne...

      So twice a year, I make the long 2.5 hour drive to see my endocrinologist. Yes, it is essential that you go and see your diabetes specialist a few times a year. Although it is a costly appointment for me, I still make the effort to go. I was really hoping for some good positive vibes, but unfortunately, that did not happen this go around.     I always share my updates with everything on my blog. I was more than thrilled to have an A1C of 6.3, but the PA suggested otherwise. According to their weight scale, I weigh 227 pounds I had previously gotten down to 225 but have failed to maintain that weight your body does fluctuate daily so I understand that as well. Due to the fact that I have not lost significant weight or had a lower A1c, my doctor was not very pleased with me. According to their chart in the main office, though I was right within the blue goal range.      She did mention that since I'm on a steroid for my tennis elbow that my su...

      The sheer essence of this book has been amazingly favorable for me. I have fallen in love with the story, and yes I long for more. I cannot wait to start the next installment! Morgan's character alone has made this series so enticing.      My "mama" heart sank when the wizard tricked her out of her newborn child. She has lost two children and I felt every stray thought she had. Being able to identify with the main character is always a blessing.      Blood ties do not mean everything. Keetch has out done herself with this rendition of Merlin. It's the story we have never heard, but so desperately needed. Can she regain favor with her brother or will she always be an outcast without her children. King Author is casted as a man of great uncertainty. I loathe his character in this book and wish that Keetch makes him pay ounce of flesh for what he has done to his sister. Power corrupts all! What is the importance of a crown? Can she ge...

     Oh the dreaded Dexcom.  You do not want to hear my reviews of the Dexcom, because at this very moment, I am beyond infuriated. My newest prescription of the meter itself have all failed to pair with the main device. So if you don't know, your insurance only pays for four a month. Each one should last roughly 5 to 7 days, but when they fail to pair with the main meter, that piece is absolutely useless. They will not reimburse you or give you one as a replacement either. You have to go without having continuous blood sugar measurements.     So now I will have two weeks without wearing my Dexcom, which completely terrifies me as a diabetic. I no longer have the one where I can sit and prick my finger and drop my blood on a little stick. I have become so reliant upon the system that I don't know how I'm going to get through the next couple of weeks without having it. I like being able to know minute by minute what my sugar is. Completely disappointed in th...

      It's happened to me... my elbow is absolutely  ridiculous and I cannot seem to get regular chores done. Here I am feeling all sorry for myself, but I know some people have it worse than me. Maybe the symptoms will slowly go away with time. The gave me steroids to help, so here goes nothing!     Oh the pain sucks! Wish me luck!

    Well, this is a diamond in the rough! This is just want I needed in this dreary weather; a love story that  intertwines Native American culture cover to cover. The main character, Lucas has been an absolute dream. Avery, our very overachieving female lead was a complete delight. This book was one of our Keeper's of the Flame book club choices for this month, and I'm glad it got the highest vote.     Avery falls in love with her roots and cannot seem to balance her singing career and her farming background. I think I could listen/read this book multiple times.      Where have I spent my late nights... Girls, it was with this book and warm herbal tea. My child doesn't sleep, so this has kept me company on those long nights of toddler tantrums.          I especially enjoyed the Hallmark version of a western tale. The epilogue added a upmost finesse to the overall book. Getting to hear directly from the author of the ...