Today is a New Day

Wow, what a difference 2 years make!  For those who don't know, I will give you a quick run-down of the past 24 months in our lives.

Jan 1, 2011: Job Change

My wonderful husband, Brent, took a new job in Atlanta, and we would finally be back near family.  One tiny problem...he had to start immediately which left me with a 15 and 4-year-old alone at home to remodel and sell our house in Louisiana.  We spent the next eight, long, stressful months apart, and the blog would have to wait.

Summer 2011: Complete Chaos

The house was sold.  No, it wasn't.  Yes, it was.  No, it wasn't.  Yes, it was!  That left us only 2 weeks to find a house in Georgia and 2 weeks to move and 2 weeks before school started.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

August 2011: The Move is On

I should have known that Brent would get called out to fly while the movers were unloading the truck in Georgia.  Heck, I had done everything up to then myself, what's a little more? (You HAVE to keep your sense of humor during stress like this!)

September 2011: Settled At Last

We sort of settled in to a routine, but the last 8 months would finally begin to take their toll on me.

Those who have followed me know I had dropped close to 60 pounds in the Fall of 2008 and into 2009.  That is when I began my changing my lifestyle, transforming my nutrition and exercise and starting to growing a lot of our own food.  But trying to sell a house you are remodeling and living in throws all of that out the window.  Sure I was getting plenty of exercise, but eating Taco Bell 4 nights a week is anything but healthy.  I miraculously maintained within 6-7 pounds up until the move.

Then something terrible happened.  My low back began plaguing me again, and I found out I had 3 ruptured vertebrae.  And then my knees started acting crazy.  I found out I had patellar tracking disorder.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and severe insomnia. I am not even 40, and I seemed to be falling apart.

So without giving you all the details here (saving some of that for later posts) I have been through a lot of doctors and therapy in the last 18 months.  The fibromyalgia and insomnia are basically gone, and the back and knees are strong enough to start some serious rehab.  I am 23 pounds heavier than my lowest weight I achieved in 2009, and I have lost LOTS of muscle strength.  I have miles yet to go.

But Today is a New Day!  I am finally back on track and want to share my journey, ups, and downs with you all: more recipes, more fitness, more gardening (you won't believe what my father and I have been up to), and more ways to truly enjoy life.  We will eat, laugh, and live along the way. I am so glad you have hung in there, and welcome to all who are new.  Trust me the best is yet to come!

Hungry, Happy, and Back on My Way to Healthy,

Amy