The Commercial

So apparently my commercial is now on the air. I have honestly gotten about 25 phone calls, the same amount of emails, a bunch of texts, and Facebook wall postings, saying the people have seen it. That’s right, I’m a superstar…a media sensation, if you will… (please know I am TOTALLY kidding about that)

You know, it was weird. I didn’t take long to make up my mind that I would do the commercial. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people hide who they really are. I had no qualms with people knowing how big I used to be, or that I had surgery. I feel nothing but blessed that I had the opportunity to have the surgery. I have gotten my life back. The day of filming, I was nervous. Would my hair conform to my ideas? Did I have the right outfit? I had my makeup done at the Lancome counter at Younkers, knowing that I was no pro with that stuff. Oh, but I had no issues with my jewelry…I knew that part was great! The actual shoot was so much fun. The two guys I worked with were hilarious, and very good at making me feel comfortable, and not pressured. So that was a great experience.

However, my very first acknowledgment of the commercial was a text, on 8/31 at 7am, from my good friend Sarah. The instant I read that she saw it, my stomach and my heart switched places, and I seriously was seconds away from an anxiety attack. It was really happening now. All day I was contacted by friends, family, acquaintances, etc…and it hasn’t really subsided yet. It’s on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, and even airs during the Doctors and Oprah… It took a while on the 31st to realize that I couldn’t let it overwhelm me.

With all that being said, I thought I'd throw in a before and after pic. I don't have a ton of pics, so I'm sure there are better ones out there.

AUGUST 2005





JUNE 2009






So, that’s that…

So, where did our summer go? Okay, when did it ever actually come? Where is this global warming we keep hearing about? Crazy fall weather… it seems like we should go to the pumpkin patch this weekend :0)

Then, I think...where were we last year at this time? Aristana, although by this point, a punk...was a much smaller punk, and easier to control. My brother Brady and his family were living in Tampa, Florida, while Brady was stationed there with the Air Force. I was only four months post-surgery. The election commercials were airing, full-force, and I was absolutely positive that we didn't need to have another child. Needless to say, seasons change, we grow up, and God makes our decisions for us. I am glad things are where they are...although, it would be nice if Aristana was still a little less "punky."

I can’t believe how fast time is flying! We just passed the 18 week pregnancy mark, and can’t believe we’re already there. When I was pregnant with Aristana, things crawled at a turtle’s pace, because everything was anticipation for the next thing. How many weeks until we can find out the gender? Are we ready for this? …not to mention the proverbial “undo button” panic attacks (thanks for defining that feeling Andrew). We were excited to pick names, paint the nursery, and pack it with diapers, toys and onesies. This time around, the anatomy scan crept up on us (it’s a girl, by the way, for anyone who doesn’t know yet!) , we are finding it impossible to agree on a name, and are still dreading giving up the office/paperwork storage space/Mike’s closet, for the newest member of our family.

***To our precious little one… Please, if you are reading this someday, don’t think that we are anything other than ecstatic to have you entering our lives. We just had the extra time, extra money, and extra room, the first time around. You are truly a blessing from God!

Okay, now that that has been cleared up… Here are some more noteworthy tidbits…


An absolutely huge, excited, and with a sigh of relief, congratulations to Sarah, Cliff, Hattie, Atticus, and Paloma Cruz, on welcoming their two new sons/brothers, Miles and Keenen home, from Haiti. It was a long, over two year adoption battle…and the fact that they are home is a MIRACLE! We haven’t had a chance to meet them in person yet, since there are initial emotional obstacles to overcome for them first. However, they have been in our hearts for a very long time, and seeing them will feel more like a reunion to us, than a meeting.

Next, my little sister Lauren has finished up another summer at Camp Alice Chester, where she directed the counselors at the Girl Scout camp. She has now accepted an assignment with the Americorp. She will be based out of Sacramento, CA. Unfortunately, she won’t be home until July 2010, so we’ll have to be sure to send pictures of baby girl quite often. I am very proud of you Lauren. As unconventional life is sometimes, I am glad that you understand the need to do these things now, while you can. “Real Life” has a tendency to get in the way of new experiences with each year that passes.

Congrats to Scott, Wendy, and little Anna Schultz, on learning that they’ll be having another baby girl! Same to Martha, Brian and Emmett! I don’t know if our social group can handle anymore estrogen!


Okay, I want to mention a little about Aristana, since I realize there are so many funny things she does, that we’re not documenting. I don’t want to lose them forever.

Her new phrase is “F.Y.I.” Example: She calls from the bathroom, where she has a tendency to play with the hand soap… “Hey Mom.?.? Don’t come in here. I’m not doing anything wrong, FYI.”

Yesterday, Dad took her to run an errand, and she apparently got upset when he wouldn’t let her “drive.” She got home, ran to me, and said “Mom, Dada make me cry.” Then she turned around, shook her finger at him, and said, “Don’t do that again, boy!”

She also is learning some of her physical limitations, because she always says, “I get older to do…” “I get bigger to do…” But she uses it as an excuse to now. “Mom, I know how to clean up. I get older to do it.” Sounds fine in reading…however, in translating to what she is really saying… “Mom, I don’t know how to clean up, I have to get older to do it.” Nice try…
Potty training has been well…yeah.

We (okay, I) have been offering her larger and larger rewards for trying to go potty. She has done it plenty of times before, but has been very stubborn lately. I don’t want to push her, so I make the offer, and ask every once in a while if she wants to try. If she says no, I back off, and ask again later.

A few days ago, she decided that she wanted McDonalds, two matchbox cars, two dollars, nail polish, stickers and ice cream, because she was on the potty for over four hours! The main problem with that, is she wants me to sit in there with her. One thing I have learned over and over and over again from potty training articles, videos, and books, is to be extremely supportive. So, we tried. …and tried, and tried…etc. On and off all day. Nothing. One time, she was on for over an hour, and when she stood up to walk to her room, she urinated all over herself. I felt so bad for her, because you could feel the determination she had to do it right

I guess that’s enough for now. Later…

Family History Subject: My father Bruce

So, I’m already writing another blog entry…short but sweet.

I’m kind of building on my family history again, which I think I’ll continue to do once in awhile.

This week on Family history: My Father Bruce

My uncle has been posting old family photos on Facebook recently, and it has been so fun looking at all of them. I knew my father was in a band, called “The Couriers,” based out of Manitowoc. I have a record of theirs, and a couple pictures. However, there were a whole bunch in the group of pictures that Gary posted. I wanted to share a few.

My father was a drummer. Ironically, my uncle Mike was the keyboard player. Based on the pictures, they look like they had a bunch of fun. Kind of reminds me of the old “Monkees” TV show, where they’d always be acting goofy.

Man, it’s fun seeing your parents in a whole different light.
IF YOU'RE READING THIS ON FACEBOOK, AND DON'T GET THE PICTURES, GO TO http://hinzblog.blogspot.com/, AND ALL THE PICS WILL BE THERE. THANKS!

Filled up to the brim with family history…

Around 2003, I started to trace my family history. I was interested to find out where I came from. I searched websites, and libraries, miles of microfilm, and a boat load of census records. I think I secretly wished to have a glorious background filled with royalty and riches. I heard rumors about possible “aristocracy,” and couldn’t wait to see what royal family I belonged to.
Each day of research brought me closer to the fact that there were indeed, no records of any of those things. I come from a family of polish potato farmers. Not that I minded, but thought things could have been a little more exciting.
However, I started to make contact with people…people who had stories. Suddenly, these “polish potato farmers” became real individuals, with personalities and stories. It was fascinating! My great great grandparents, Frank and Polly Omernik had 18 children. My great grandmother, in a time when women were supposed to keep their mouths shut, brought a black woman as a guest to dinner, at her country club, where black people were not allowed. Another great grandmother came to the US with her brother, hiding from Prussian officials who were trying to catch him for evading the Prussian army during the war. My relatives sat for weeks on dirty boats, with famine and sickness ravaging through the travelers, while trying to keep their families together, just so they had a chance at a better life, political and religious freedoms.
I have learned two things… They were so strong, and I am so weak.
Through this process, I have had the opportunity to grow very close to my maternal Grandmother’s family. My grandmother Therese was my very best friend, which is why Aristana’s middle name is also Therese. Getting to have long conversations with her sisters, gives me a glimpse into her life, when she was my age, raising a family. I love when I can hear my grandma’s voice when Anna Mae speaks, or see her smile in Mitzie. Even though she has passed, I swear I can feel her through my “Aunts.”
The day I reconnected with Mitzie, Anna Mae, and Mitzie’s son RJ, my whole search was blown wide open. I was blanketed with story after story, of their childhoods, and the good and bad times. I got to see pictures and old “artifacts” of generations gone by. I realized that I was missing so much.
This week, I got to go to Wilke Lake, outside of St. Nazianz, in the town of Schleswig, where both my grandparents and great grandparents spent their summers, with the whole family. I have seen so many pictures, and heard so many stories. We would also stay at one of the neighboring cottages a few times, which was fun…but I was too young to feel the connection to past generations.
I stood there, and pictured what was going on in those pictures, as I stared at my grandparents old cottage. My mother painted “The Funky Bunky” on the side of the old bunk building, when she was in her late teens. I was able to take a picture of Aristana standing under it.

I welled up so many times, out of pure respect for those who came before me, just wishing I could be a bird in the tree, and travel back to those days, just for a short while. I’m tearing up as I write this…I can’t explain it.
I am including some pics, then and now, just for some visuals…

THESE ARE MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS, JOSEPH AND AGNES (HEIN) JAGEMANN


MY GRANDMA THERESE, THE HOTTIE


ARISTANA AND AUNTIE ANNA MAE (MY GRANDMOTHER'S SISTER)

A Cheeseburger-ific Weekend So Far

You definitely can’t accuse us of being vegetarians. Among the immediate Hinz family, we must have eaten an entire cow this weekend.

Friday night, Brillion had a parade at 9pm. It was really nice. The parade included lots of school bands, tractors, and emergency vehicles. Aristana seemed to enjoy it. Unfortunately, that led her to an 11:30pm bedtime again. I’m starting to see a trend this season. Winter, bed between 6:30-7:30. Late Spring/Early Summer, bed between 9:30-11:30. You know what though? This girl is LIVING LIFE! I love seeing the smile on her face while she experiences so many new things. Sometimes things get rough around naptime, but it’s totally worth it.

So anyway, we ate a dinner of burgers, nachos, soda, and popcorn.

Saturday morning, she woke up at 8am. Mike was already out the door by 7am, to help set up for the Bellevue Community/Firefighters picnic. I grabbed a sippy cup of milk for Aristana, and threw her in the wagon. We walked to the corner to cheer on all the runners in the Bellin Run. It’s always exciting to see a familiar face in the waves of runners and walkers. Rumor has it that there were over 17,000 participants this year.

From there, we headed back home . After some cereal, play time, a change of clothes, and new rubber bands in Aristana’s hair, we walked back to the corner, to Zesty-Fest. They had a bunch of classic cars to view, free ice cream, a DJ, and some drawings. We had a lunch of cheese curds and a cheeseburger. That’s two cheese burgers in 12 hours (I know, no big deal yet). We were surprised when a clean smelling, very good looking man joined us at our table while we ate. Dada! He came over to meet us, which was really cool.


After our walk back home, Aristana went down for a nap. I had to wake her up after 3 hours and 15 minutes. She normally sleeps about 1 ½ to 2 hours at a time. She was in a very deep sleep when I woke her too. I bet she would have slept at least another hour.

Again, change the clothes, fix the hair…off we go! We went to the Bellevue Community/Firefighters’ picnic, where we immediately enjoyed hamburgers, French fries, ice cream, and cheese curds with Grandma and Grandpa Hinz, who also came to support Mike. We played at the park, danced for an hour, ran around, watched the water fights and games, and had a great time. Even after lunch, we went through another two burgers and French fries. Uncle Matty & Uncle Nate also stopped by. Again, thanks for the support!

Among Mike, Aristana & I, we, as of Saturday night, have consumed eight burgers in 24 hours. Include the rest of the Hinz clan, and our total comes to 17 burgers. Moo…

Tomorrow, we head to Allouez-fest… I’m guessing salad will not be on the menu there either.

A great girls day in Manty!

My plan this summer is to do as much as possible, while spending as little as possible. Aristana is such a blast at this age, and this is the last summer we have together, baby-free. I look forward to the new Hinz, but will definitely miss the "just-the-two-of-us quality time" together.

So far this month, we've gotten to play at Bay Beach, the N.E.W. zoo, numerous parks, Grandma & Grandpa's farm, Grandma Gobble's beach...not to mention the fun we have just in our own backyard. I thank God EVERY DAY that I am able to stay home with her. She is such a sponge right now, and I'm so glad that we can utilize that ability to learn, instead of letting it pass.

It's 4pm, and I just put Aristana down for her nap, after a long, fun day in Manitowoc. Our Auntie Mitzi was in the hospital, so that's where we started. Praise God, just as we got to her room, they discharged her...early! We visited with her for about 15 minutes, until RJ got there to pick her up. After helping them pack her up, we all walked her to the car. After our goodbyes, we headed back to the van, and on to the next stop. Thank you God for watching over her, and healing her. She is such a special woman!

Stop #2: The Lincoln Park Zoo
In comparison, the Lincoln park zoo has nothing on the NEW Zoo. With that being said, it is a nice little spot for the kiddos to go. I imagine there is nowhere near the same financial support that the Green Bay Zoo has. We started off by visiting the wolves. Aristana is in a new "Awwwwww" phase when she sees furry animals. How girly! So she "awwww"-ed, and said "Hey big guy big guy," and we moved on. We saw the prairie dogs, which are always so fun to watch. I seriously could sit at a zoo, and watch prairie dogs, lions, giraffes, and otters for hours at at time...no kidding.

From there, we saw some deer, bison, black bears, and ducks. One thing that was awesome though, was a male peacock that was angry. It was BEAUTIFUL! At the NEW Zoo, the peacocks walk freely, which is nice, but they never have their plumes in full effect.


Stop #3: Lake Michigan (A.K.A. The Big Water)
Aristana is blessed to have grandparents who all have something different to offer her. GPa & GMa Hinz have the farm. GMa Gobble Gobble has the Bay of Green Bay. Jimmy & Boppa have Kelly Lake. Aristana loves the water, big or little. We took a walk down the pier, to see the waves and the boats. It' was pretty windy, so we didn't go out too far.

We had perfect timing though, because we got to watch the Lake Michigan Car Ferry leave the shore and head back out towards MI.

Stop #4: Cedar Crest Ice Cream Factory & Parlor

What kid wouldn't love to eat Blue Moon ice cream next to a HUGE cow? This is the second time Aristana has been here in a month. Needless to say, she's a fan. She likes to look at the cow, but doesn't like to get too close.

Stop #5: The Old Kiel's Drive-In
Back in the day, my mother and father owned a little drive in on the corner of Viebahn and 10th, called Kiel's Drive In. I love hearing stories about it, since I was too young to remember them personally. When I was born, it was the first place I went, when we left the hospital. Stories of pizza burgers and car-hops gave me an idea of what this place was like. It sounded like lots of fun. We moved to Green Bay in 1980, when my father accepted a position with the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department, saying good by to the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department. From there, Kiel's drive in changed hands and names many times. Sometimes a drive in, sometimes chinese food, sometimes empty. We went to take a pic of the building, and found that a BP gas station took over the lot.

Stop #6: Gass Lake
When I did live in Manty, I lived on Gass Lake Road, on the outskirts of town. We took some time to see the old neighborhood, again, not that I remember it personally. My dad built a kick-butt tree fort for Brady. See pic.


Well, the trees grew and grew, because we could barely see the old house. My grandparents lived in the house next to us, and the design my mom painted on their garage doors back in the day is still there.

After staring at peoples' houses, we went down the hill to Gass Lake. It was so peaceful. Just us, throwing little pebbles in the lake, listening to the frogs, and the wind in the trees.

So there we go... What a great day! Thank you Aristana, for being such a great Buddy! You are always such a trooper.

It’s not Sinking in…But it’s Real!

Two weeks ago, I started having horrible back pain (again…what’s new, right?). This time it wouldn’t go away. Two days ago, it moved into a whole different area of my back…an area I haven’t experienced pain in, in quite some time.

In three days I lost four pounds…hmmm. I’ve pretty much reached “plateau” status, so four pounds is weird. Quite some time ago, the same thing happened.

Over the last few weeks, my stomach hasn’t felt quite right. That also happened quite some time ago.

Over the past couple weeks, things have been happening a lot, that haven’t happened in quite some time.

ABOUT THREE YEARS, TO BE SPECIFIC…

Anyone remember what was happening three years ago? Yup… I was pregnant with Aristana.

So, yesterday I went to Walgreens, and an hour later, I was the proud owner of a used pregnancy test with a HUGE plus sign staring at me.

Today, I went to my doctor, and it was confirmed. We’re having another baby! The pregnancy is very early, only five weeks (for those of you who don’t know, a pregnancy is 40 weeks). The due date, as of now, is January 29th!

Can you believe it? Up until two months ago, I was positive that I didn’t want another child. Things were going so well with Lia Sophia, and I had many goals that I didn’t want to be disturbed. I felt a baby would only complicate the situation, and slow down my ability to accomplish the things I want. I realized one day, that I had given my business over to God, but not the rest of my life. If God decided that we should have a baby, He will make it work! So here we are…thank you God for trusting us once again!

Aristana has been telling everyone for us. “Mama have a baby in her belly.”
Wow. God is good!