I awoke at 6:35. Woke Max up. Started my coffee while I stood grumpily (par for the course on a Monday) in the kitchen. Got his breakfast ready. Drank coffee. Opened eyes.

Looked out window. Saw snow. Snow?? Snow was NOT in the forecast.

“Hey Max. It snowed. Uhhh, I better make sure you have school.”

School cancelled. Great. I don’t have to pretend to get dressed.

We’re leaving for our trip to Montreal Wednesday, so mother-in-law, hereto referred to as Granny, was due to arrive this afternoon at 4. Cleaning spurts ensue in between bouts of work.

2 o’clock rolls around. She calls. Her connecting flight from Houston is cancelled. Hopes to get on the 7 pm flight. Doesn’t happen. By 7 pm she is comfortably nestled in the in-airport hotel and our nerves are shot. All plans shot to hell.

And to top it off, the snow is slushy and no fun. Spent longer getting suited up than actually playing in the snow.

A nice dip in the temperature means she’ll probably miss her early flight tomorrow, and who wants to mess with ice-covered slush-snow? Sigh. Hope we make our flight on Wednesday.

I’ve written, though it’s been a while, about how sensitive Max is. He’s been better but still cries if you cut his toast, don’t catch his kiss when he blows it or give him a red shirt when clearly he wants a blue one.

Still, I felt better at soccer practice. Day 1 there was a 6-year-old sobbing like someone was beating him because he did not want to play soccer. I watched his mom coax, cajole and threaten him out of the corner of my eye and I wanted to hug her. Because I understood. Max has done the same thing. (That kid is now the best player on the team a few weeks later).

At their first game, the son of a couple I’ve befriended started crying on the field. He wanted his mommy. She might have been embarrassed, but I knew how she felt. They eventually pulled him and took him home.

He’s not the only one.

When you have one child, you don’t have much to compare to. You can look at other kids but it’s the behind-the-scenes stuff you can’t measure. Is it normal? Are you handling it right? Know what I mean?

By the way, Max is ROCKING at soccer! He’s not the fastest, but he’s dedicated. Sigh of relief.

So I’ve been on this diet and exercise plan nearly 3 weeks. I have just now hit the 5 pound mark of weight loss. Go me! Only 15 to go. It’s like reaching a small crest of a hill and then looking up to see I still have a mountain to go. Hooray.

Not me. Not by a long shot.

I don’t mind the 5-mile walks. I’ve found a walking buddy and rather enjoy them (except today when I have a headache and it’s cloudy).

I do miss foods I didn’t even like before. Like Twinkies. Mmm. Or big gooey pizza. I start planning my Anything Day the day after. Liquor, bread, grease, sweets…this week I really want homemade cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Buttercream, not whipped.

I’ve realized how food obsessed we are in this country. Going to the grocery store is like trying to dodge land mines. Those hush puppies are calling me. LOOK AWAY! It is my hope that after I reach my weight loss goal I can better manage the carb addiction and not let it pack on the weight like it has done.

Time for another protein shake. Sigh.