Son Number One...

After reading what I have written in the last few days, I have decided that I would take the next few days and write about each of my wonderful children.  I hope to be able to embarrass them a little and to share a thing or two that I think and feel about them each.  As the title of this post indicates, I'm starting with Son Number One, or as we have affectionately called him since he was born, JR. 

His birth certificate name is Jefferey Mark Hogg Junior.  Shortly before he was born there was a considerable amount of discussion (ok, arguing...) in me and Lisa's families as to what he, the first grandson on both sides would be named and known as.  Jeff.  Jefferey.  Mark.  Junior.  Jeff Mark.  Jeffy.  J-Dog.  Ok, nobody suggested J-Dog but it helps the read....

Lisa and I came up with JR.  Short for Junior.  Easy, fun, sporty and kinda cool.  It fit him.  Best thing was that everyone liked it.  Peace was restored...  I was so excited to have a son.  I remember the day he was born.  One of the greatest days of my whole life.  I was so proud.  Lisa had a bit of a hard time delivering him so he was a little bruised and his head was conical.  But he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

I remember so many things about him.  So many stories (keys in the power outlet, multiple bike accidents, numerous scars...).  But I think the thing that stands out is his love and loyalty to his brothers and sister and our family.

One time Lisa went to pick the kids at their elementary school only to find JR, Tim and Trevor rolling around on the ground beating up some kid because he had been pushing Tim around.  JR led Trevor in defending Tim.  He is a good brother and a loyal friend.

He's all grown now.  Makes me very proud.  He is a good husband, provider and a wonderful dad.  Much better father than I was at his age.  I respect him and how he has taken difficulty and obstacles that have been placed before him and overcome them with hard work and love. He now goes by the name of Jeff.  No more JR.  A little sad for us, but I respect his desire to be his own man, which he is.  He is respected at his place of employment and overall is truly a fine man.

I am so lucky and blessed to have had him as my Son Number One, and as my good friend.

My hot wife...

Speaking of weight loss....(yesterdays post...)

My much better half, Lisa has also been on a weight loss/fitness journey.  For many years I recall day after day, month after month the poor girl exercising her heart out and eating like a bird to no avail.  She just couldn't seem to lose the weight that she so desperately wanted and needed to.  During this time, she was diagnosed with a thryroid problem that required her thyroid be destroyed chemically.  This situation really didn't help things out.  In fact, it made things even more difficult for her.  I was not in the mode of watching my weight or working out like I am now so I really didn't realize how difficult this was for her. 

Bad Yoff.... 

She hates pictures of her during this period but I am going to post one here anyway.  You'll see why at the end.

I don't think this pic is even at her heaviest, but it will do I think.  She is holding our newest granddaughter Emberlee who is in Kindergarten this year.  Time flies...

In 2009, shortly after our accident (subject for yet another post...) she heard about a new way to diet and though she would try it out.  I thought it was black magic or just simply hocus pocus but lo and behold she began to lose weight.  In addition she began to tone up and started looking really, really good.  She kept going and now she has lost about 80 to 90 pounds so far.  Here is a pic I made her let me take a few nights ago.  I think she still doesn't like having her picture taken but is happier with the results afterward.

I loved her then.  I love her now.  I think anyone can see in her eyes how much happier she is with herself now.  I think she looks better now than (ever?) when we met 29 years ago.  She was and is my inspiration.  I never could have lost my weight if she hadn't set such a great example for me.  I never would have done the races and triathlons I have done if she hadn't been the example of sticking to working out no matter the results.  I am so lucky to have a woman that has beauty on the outside that approaches the beauty she is on the inside.  She is truly a great woman and an incredible wife, mother, grandmother and friend to those who know her. 

Ok, ok, enough with the sappiness. 

She's a hot chick and I'm glad she's with me....

Fear and losing weight...

I know, I know.  I haven't let anyone know about this blog yet.  I have to admit, I'm really nervous about exposing my mind and in particular my heart.  So....  I think I'll start with something I'm pretty at ease talking to others about.  I've lost a lot of weight.  No.  Really...  A whole lot of weight.  About one hundred and fifty pounds so far.  Here is a pic of me with my youngest son Jarom at what I believe is about 20 pounds short of the heaviest I ever was.  We were at "The Roof" (fancy all you can stuff in your face restaurant) in Salt Lake City celebrating his 12th birthday.

I remember this evening pretty well.  I was happy to be there with him and Lisa but not happy.  How could I be?  In the following years after this pic was taken, we went to Lagoon (a local amusement park) and was told I was too fat to go on some of the rides.  Nicole was heartbroken.  She wanted to ride with her Daddy.  The last straw was a trip we took to Knott's Berry Farm in southern California.  Again, I was just too big to ride just about all of the rides!  I decided to make a change.  I won't bore you with the whole process, I'll save that for another post.  I think it suffices to say it was hard and emotional.  But here I am about 150 pounds later (lighter?) at my first triathlon I competed in in May of 2011.

Can you tell the difference?

I haven't been back to Lagoon or to Knott's Berry Farm yet.  I have flown a lot since then and I no longer have to ask for a seat belt extension and don't have to worry about the other passengers looks as they are dreading me sitting next to them.  Pretty good stuff I think.  I continue to lose and hope to be down another 40 pounds or so by February of 2012.  It's been tough, but wholly worth every minute.

What's this all about...?

Hi...

I guess I should start this off by telling you something about myself, although my thoughts are that if you are here, you probably already know me or think you know me. Hah! A big part of why I am starting this blog is to have a place to put my thoughts and feelings. I anticipate writing things that may surprise you and may even surprise myself. I think that will be ok. I guess I won't really know until I start. First things first...

The name of my blog is my nickname, Yoff. When my sister Audria was born she couldn't say Jefferey (my full mother-given name...) so she called me Foffy. She still does...  Anywho... Tim (my second oldest son) and I were visiting family in AZ once and he heard her call me Foff. He immediately started calling me what he thought he heard her call me, Yoff, and so it began. Most of my kids call me that and many friends do and have begun too. I kinda like it. I think nicknames provide a sense of familiarity and closeness. Sort of like "I have a secret, but you know what it is..." kinda thing. Don't know if that makes sense but oh well. I anticipate most of what I will write here probably won't make a whole lot of sense, but I promise it will all be the true me. I hope that if you read my postings and have something to say (good, bad, critical, supportive, insightful, funny or whatever) that you post a comment. I really look forward to hearing from you who I know and those I don't yet know.

Until next time....

Have a good one,
Yoff