I've had an impossible time accessing my blog for months. On April 17, 2017 I posted the below post on a different blog site. I've finally recovered my original Blogger credentials and can move forward with my intended site. I posted this several months ago but want to add it to this blog site to keep things in order. I hope you enjoy!
~Sara Jane
I have been substitute teaching so much more than my normal recently, but instead of the thought of that stressing me out, I’m really excited for what I have accomplished. I’ve decided to exclusively teach at the schools my children attend (very occasionally I’ll make an exception). The students see me at the school often since when I’m not teaching I’m at the school usually volunteering my time to help teachers and with PTO activities. I love the connection I’ve made with so many students. It is very rewarding to walk down a hall and when my class realizes I’m subbing for them they get so excited and all rush to hug me. It really makes me feel like I’m doing something right!
Last week I taught for one third grade class for three consecutive days. When I left after school on the last day the other teachers in that grade told me how happy they were knowing that I was the one teaching that class. That when I sub they know I’ve got control over the class and things will be done correctly. It was a small conversation with a big impact. I feel so lucky to have the freedom to teach where I want to when it fits my schedule and am so happy I made the choice to stick with a school where I can make the most impact, no matter how I’m spending my time there, teaching or volunteering.
I’m fortunate to have a lot of time to volunteer, which is something I take seriously. I am very careful about what I dedicate my time to and I’m intentional with all I do.
My Grandma Jane joined the Houston Junior League when she was 25 years old (the youngest age you can join; women can only join between the ages of 25-40) and has loved being part of The League since then. She is 86 meaning she has been a member for 61 years. WOW! Now that all three of my children are in school and we have all settled into a lifestyle accommodating to that, I strongly felt that it was my time to apply to be a member of the Junior League of Austin. I had looked into joining last year when my youngest, my son Orin, was in Kindergarten but missed the deadline for mandatory meetings by just weeks. I remember being SO disappointed. I marked in my planner (I don’t go anywhere or plan anything without it!) the dates that I needed to send in any information and meetings to ensure I didn’t miss it again. I attended my meetings, did everything asked of me immediately and am so happy to announce that I was accepted! It was a very proud moment when I made the phone call to my Grandma to let her know I was The League’s newest member. I could hear the joy and pride in her voice.
The Junior League is a league of women (worldwide now!) who dedicate our time and efforts volunteering for our local communities and making a big impact. I can not wait to get started for my provisional year and see the impact that a group of dedicated women and myself will make. I am so proud to be part of this prestigious League and to work with like minded women who are all eager to help our community in the best, most impactful ways possible!
I was also very recently placed on our PTO Board (for my youngest children’s elementary school) for next school year. Even though my board position officially starts next school year we are all very busy planning to make sure things start out smooth. I was asked by Shannon (our PTO President) to be the Treasurer which I was excited to do having a background in banking, but sadly had to turn down the position. I can’t be the Treasurer and handle cash while being an employee of the district. I didn’t even think about the fact that being a substitute teacher makes me an employee. I’m sure it is because any income I make goes directly into a savings account and I don’t ever really see it. So, I’m not the new Treasurer but I am on the board for “Family/Community Events” which I was excited to accept and to work with my friend Jill, who knows her stuff, and am excited to meet and work with one more lady who will be on this venture with me.
Between The Junior League, PTO board, teaching, being a mother (of two elementary students and a high schooler in band and AP classes) and being a wife, plus so much more that is always going on, next school year is sure to be even busier than this one has been. I’m a little anxious but I know with proper planning it will all go smoothly.
When Chad and I were planning our family and were ready to try for our second child, I told him that we could have two more children (we have both wanted three since we started dating as teenagers) but that when we were done having kids that he was going to have to “fix what you’re about to break”. I said this meaning that he had to promise to help me get my body back to as normal as I could get it after having so many children. He laughed and agreed. I wasn’t joking and he knew it but probably didn’t think I would hold him to it. About 3 years ago I told him that it had been more than three years since I had our last child and I was very ready to get my body back. I was the heaviest and biggest size I had ever been in my life, including at the end of my third pregnancy and post delivery. Before I had children I was about 105 lbs and a size 0-2. At the time I told Chad I was ready I was almost 200 lbs and a size 14-16. For some that size fits their body well, it didn’t for me. I was SO unhappy and I didn’t feel like I was in my own body. I hardly recognized myself and the thought of shopping for clothes (let alone swimsuits) was a reason for major waterworks. I told Chad that I was ready for my plastic surgery wanting liposuction and a tummy tuck. He told me to schedule some consultations and get quotes. I did. Of course with both procedures (all of the doctors I saw recommended a lot of lipo) the quote was in the five figure range. I was even more discouraged because while I wanted to be happy in my body again, 10K+ is a lot of money and I didn’t want to take that much from my family. That is the same amount that we would spend on two ski trips! I couldn’t justify spending that much. I cried to Chad and he again told me that he loved me no matter what and thought I was beautiful. He didn’t ignore my weight gain, he embraced it (way more that I did) and told me it didn’t bother him because I became what I was by giving him three great kids. To me his words and sentiment were beautiful but a lot of BS. I wanted to FEEL beautiful and happy in my own skin and i just really wasn’t. It was depressing.
A few months passed and again I was complaining to Chad about how I felt about myself when he said something that made me question everything he had ever said about me being beautiful to him. He said something along the lines of “Sara, I think you’re beautiful and I am more than willing to spend the money that you aren’t. But, first you need to lose some weight and show me you can keep it off and then I’ll happily spend every penny.” I was in shock. I was so furious that he had basically acknowledged how big I had gotten. He was supposed to tell me that I didn’t look big and that I was beautiful no matter what. Of course a big fight ensued and I cried. After a while I calmed down and really thought about what he said. No matter how mad it made me, he was right. Why would we invest so much money into a quick fix when I would most likely gain it all back with the same eating habits? I accepted what he said and forgave him…and maybe apologized for freaking out on him. I also accepted that I would be fat forever because diet’s just aren’t my thing. I LOVE food. Then I gave in. I started to diet on my own, I was determined to lose weight and I was completely unsuccessful.
About a year later (just about exactly 2 years ago from now) I convinced Chad to go to a consultation with me at Cedar Park Ideal Weight and Skin with my former OB/GYN Dr. Laurette Smith. She had been my OB for 10+ years and I LOVED her. She left her successful practice as an OB/GYN and opened this clinic which helps with weight loss and spa types of skin care/treatments. So we went in to this consult, with my favorite physician and talked to her about Ideal Protein. She had done the diet with great success and I trusted her that it would work for me too. We pulled the trigger. I did the diet. I did it and it worked! In about five months I got to my goal weight and passed my size goals. I had a pair of size 10 jeans that were my “goal jeans”, when those were too big I was thrilled to be in single digits again. By the time I ended the diet I was in a size 2-4 (depending on the brand). I was over the moon! I’ve maintained for a year and a half now and have been so thankful that I did this diet every single day. This past January Chad made another statement that kind of blew me away, but in a good way this time. He said “Sara, we are going on our anniversary vacation in May, if you want your tummy tuck now is the time, lets do it!” My consultations/quotes were half, some less than half of my original quotes because I didn’t need any lipo and what I did “need” for a little of extra skin from having three kids was so minimal. How exciting, right?! Then I did something I NEVER thought I would do. I told Chad that I didn’t want a tummy tuck anymore. OMG, I couldn’t believe those words came out of my mouth! Instead I went for an option that was even less expensive by thousands than the surgery. I decided to once again trust Dr. Smith and her staff at Ideal Weight and Skin of Cedar Park and am undergoing a few laser treatments to melt fat and tighten my skin. It started with me just doing this on my abdomen and minimal “love handles” but now I’m having treatments done on my face and neck too. It has been awesome! I did four sessions under the Vanquish machine, four with the Exilis Ultra machine and four with the Cellutone machine. I’m done with the Vanquish machine on my stomach but am going to have a little more work done with the second two machines. They do both fat melting and skin tightening. The Exilis Ultra machine is what is also being used on my face and neck. I’ve only had two treatments on my face and neck and can already see some results of diminished fine lines/wrinkles and it is so encouraging!
Doing these laser treatments was a big commitment for me because I’m the kind of person who needs fast results and clearly a tummy tuck has immediate results. These treatments are not immediate, it takes up to a few months to see the full results. I am still so pleased that I went this route and would recommend it to anyone! I’ll be doing more treatments of several of the services that this clinic offers and am excited to keep you all in the loop! If anyone has any questions about exactly what I’m doing here is the link for Dr. Smith’s clinic, I can’t recommend them enough!
http://www.idealweightandskin.com/ I have another round of treatment on my stomach, face and neck this week, I can not wait! Once I’m done with specific treatments I’ll share my before and after photos for anyone interested. If you decide to visit this incredible clinic for anything, a facial, weight loss, laster treatments…whatever, tell Dr. Smith that I sent you! She and her staff are truly the best and extremely professional. I promise you’ll leave happy no matter what service you are doing!
I’m SO thankful to have a husband who supports me feeling good about myself even if he thought I needed it or not, which he insists he didn’t. While I truly believe that he thought I was beautiful in all stages that my body has been through, I can definitely say that he now compliments me out of nowhere several times a day and proves how attracted he is to me almost constantly. We have been together for 17 years (tomorrow), since I was 16. He has stuck by my side during my very best and very worst physical years of my life. He is my rock and I LOVE living this life as his partner.
Life is good! :)
Until next time, count your blessings! :)
Sara Jane
