Hi all. Sorry for the long absence. I do not want to offend anyone or make anyone sad, but I feel I need to explain my absence if I am going to be able to move forward. This site has been so helpful to me, I hope that sharing the events of the past month will help me to come back. You (especially RR) may want to stop reading this post now. If so, I will post again soon! Everyone sounds like they are doing well. That is always so great to hear.


**Edited in the spirit of holiday cheer**

Sorry to go on so. That is what I have been up to during my absence. I am hanging in there and am trying to focus on creating a life in which this decision would never have needed to be made. Part of that is getting myself (both body and behavior) to a place where I feel more comfortable and secure. I hope that this site will continue to help me in working toward that goal. I will post soon. Keep up the good work all.

Bailey-
Hey girl hang in there. If you need to talk email me. I have a child who has ADD and I have personally been through the depression.

Email me: [email protected]


HI EVERYONE!!!!!

GOOD MORNING!

I had to check something for dh this morning on the computer so I thought I'd go ahead & check in here. Lots of posts!

Jul - have fun at the tree farm. ~ Hooray for your loss!! ~ I didn't know there was "Baptist guilt" ! I have "Catholic Guilt" about everything!

Tech - nice for you that you got your new sideboard so quickly! ~ What kind of stuff do you sew? I had fun making those things this weekend, and just have to fit in the time to do more.

RR - sorry you don't feel well.

SB - I don't want to rush Christmas, but I sure don't want all this food stuff all the time!

Happy - no, we haven't heard from Nancy in a long time. ~ Hooray for going to that cardio kick class when you didn't want to! A victory.

Bailey - Glad to have you back. I'm so sorry for your troubles and your pain. That seems like an inadequate thing to say, but know that you are in my thoughts.

better run -

RABBIT

Hi All,

I don't know if it's AF, or what, but I can't seem to stay focused. I am determined, and I have the motivation, but I can't seem to really focus and do what's right. Everyday I bring my LC with me, but end up bring it back home to the freezer, and buying something in the cafe. I do plan to go back to the gym tomorrow after work.

Bailey- It's good to see you back! I was wondering where you were off to. I think we all try to keep an open mind here, and not judge each other for our decisions. We may not always agree with each other's choices, but I think we all support each other, regardless. I'm sure this was a tough decision for you and your SO, that you thought carefully about. I hope that everything works out for you, and that you are feeling better about yourself soon. In the meantime, please stick around for our support!

Dani- It's funny you mention Nanci, I was thinking about her, and the others that have not been around in a long time. I hope if they lurk occasionally, they are all doing well and maybe even pop in and say HI!

Jul- Congrats on the loss. I'm sure you're insanely busy this time of year!

Tech- Congrats on the new sideboard...I can't wait to have a house and get nice furniture like that.

RR- Hope you're feeling better this AM!

Have a great day all!

Okay if you've been here in the past 5 minutes you would have realized that I tried to type a reply and ended up typing a new thread?! The new icons have clearly confused me and then I couldn't figure out why I couldn't see the other replys and thought it was this new system. Dumb dumb dumb.

Anyhow I figured it out now and deleted the new thread so let's see if I can get back what I typed before....

Ooh, it worked.....so here we go again...

Well I weighed myself today and I must have done better than I thought while away because I managed to be down a pound!! I was thrilled to see that since the scale has seemed a bit stuck the past week, I hope I can hang on to it - I'll post my stats on the XMAS goal thread! The true test will be when I start my baking which I think will be this weekend.

Bailey - glad to see you're back and I'm sorry for what you must have had to go through. I completely understand how hard it can be to come here and "chit chat" when there's stuff going on in your personal life. But you know you can come here and do more than just "chit chat" - you can share your problems and get some support - so I hope you stick around.

RR - hope you're feeling okay today - pop in and let us know how you're doing.

Rabbit - you managed to stay strong with the fudge and I'm really impressed as I said I plan to do some baking and I know it's going to be really tough to stay in control. I can only hope that I can pack things up or freeze them before I get into them. Except sometimes even the freezer's not enough to stop me!!

Lauren - stay strong, if you lose focus at this time of year, bad things can happen!

More Later,
Elisa

Hi everyone,

Bailey, welcome back. We are here for support. I would be quite surprised if someone was offended by your email. You have obviously been (and are going) through a very difficult time. You have to do what is best for you and it sounds like there were some potential risks. In any case we are here to support you.

Lauren, what's AF? In any case, good luck getting on track again. I am eating smart ones at lunch again. But that doesn't help prevent nightime overeating.

Well Nancy and Sonya, if you ARE peeking in from time to time... remember I (and others) am thinking about you.

Hi Elisa, I just posted this and then saw your post. I did not see the new thread though. Congratulations, you are doing well!

I am still houseless and from time to time this bothers me. I have been rather comfortable in the townhouse but I miss my furniture and I miss SPACE (cabinets, closets, basement... etc). We went from a 3br, 2 bath, full basement, pantry, etc.. into a 2br townhouse with no basement, little cabinet space, and fewer closets. We left most of our belongings in storage expecting to be in temporary housing through the summer. I am trying to be positive and patient. I know the right house will come by and that the next 2 months may be slow. I know I have a simpler life with less to clean, almost no yard maintainance, and lower utility bills. I have met nice people and have discovered that I really do want to live in the town we are in... I have plenty to be thankful for and appreciate. But from time to time I think I am going to burst with anticipation of finding a house. It's been 6 months in the townhouse (and counting).

sorry... didn't intend on writing so much about that.

Have a great day all! I am going to go drink some water now.

dani

Good Morning!!
Bailey-I will keep U in my prayers...Never think anyone would be judgemental..U R one of us and we all go through things together..Stay strong !!!!Keep posting cuz we are here to help..

I am on the way to the MD cuz I have been running 102 fever with a major sore throat since yesterday...I think it is possibly strep throat since SD#2 has it and is at the MD with dad right now..Poor man, he woke me up with a tylenol every 4 hrs and a cool bath cuz fevers are dangerous for the fetus if they stay around...I think I have what Lauren had...achey legs and general yucky feeling.....I will be back to post later on!
RR

Hi All,

RR- Sorry to hear you're sick...hope it's not strep! Glad DH is being soo sweet though. Maybe they'll give you some slow-working Erythromycin too!

Dani- AF = Aunt Flo! The only problem I've found with eating LC's or Smart One's is that I'm hungry a couple hours later. I am still trying to figure out my new plan. Maybe I can find some time this weekend to write it all down! Hope you find a house soon! Have you looked on Realtor.com? They list all the houses on the MLS, some have Virtual Tours...they're pretty cool!

Elisa- I did not see the new thread...you're safe! Congrats on the loss!!

I'm going to the gym tonight. It'll be good to get back there. I'm really determined. DH said that 2002 will be the year I get my little black dress...I'm glad he's got the determination to help me.

Have a great day all!!

Hello again!!!
Lauren--Well, it was strep...I cried when he told me but he assured me it won't hurt the little one..He gave me even slower working amoxil..THat is all the ob would ok..I have to go back in 10 days and get another culture....I have to stay home another day from work until I have been on the antibiotics 24hrs...Tell DH to start saving his money for that little black dress!!!!!

WEll, back to bed. Got up to get tylenol~~~~
RR

HELLO!

Went shopping today & now I am practically done. Have a few gift certificates to get, a few things to pick up at Walmart, but I think that is all! WooHoo! On to the rest of the Christmas fun . . .

Lauren - good luck finding your focus. It can be so hard, I know. I think your idea about writing it down is a good one.

Elisa - congrats on your loss! You are ! Baking is tough. This weekend I plan to make gingerbread men for dh to take to the office on Monday again. I thought I 'd try to make something every week. I just don't want to put myself in too much danger!

Happy - I like your icon! I almost picked that one. good luck on your house hunt. It is good that you are thinking of all the positives about where you are now.

RR - sorry about the strep! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Better run. Presents to wrap!

RABBIT

Hi everyone,

Lauren... dUH!! I can't believe I didn't get that one (AF) ...now I still need to knwo what a sideboard is! Yes, I LIVE On realtor. The thing is... my realtor can get things a tad bit faster and when the market was running wild, things would be gone in a day and realtor was not that fast... but I do look on it many times a day. In fact today I saw somethign and then just at that moment got it from my realtor too from her MLS system. It is a potential. We have asked to go look. I'll let you all know.

Bailey... deletion unnecessary!

Rabbit, I like the icon too... it is my first one. I also picked the pinkish motife for my display. This is fun!

RR, I am so sorry to hear that it is strep throat... Your doc will take good care of you!)

Goodnight all!

RR: Take care of your self. I get strep almost every year, just hate it!

Dani: Good luck on the house hunting. I was hoping we would move this next year but we just ordered another annealing oven and another glass furnace....makes us a little more committed to staying put...so looking into a kitchen/dining addition instead and we'll probably need to add onto the studio. I would love to move the packing room to the studio, currently its taking up an entire bedroom!!

Rabbit: good job on having your christmas shopping done!! I think I'm done except picking up a few gift certificates from Big Cedar Lodge for our partner and our welder. Now I just have to pack and ship everything.

Sideboard:A piece of dining room furniture with drawers for linens and tableware. A long narrow piece with a flat top suitable for serving a 'buffet' style dinner. A Buffet usually has a mirror and shelf and curled woodwork up the sides. Drawers and doors, and more like dresser size. My moms Sideboard is 11 feet long, my Buffet is only 4 ft long.

Bailey: I'm sorry you've had to go thru such a rough time and what a difficult decision to make. Please feel free to talk about whatever you need to. Take care and find comfort and peace.

My meeting was cancelled so I did not go to Columbia or my parents. This means I didn't get my tree from the farm and doesn't look like I'll be able to. I guess I'm actually going to have to buy a tree. I'm going to check around and see if there are any tree farms in the area (w/in 1 hr drive). I'd much rather have a fresh tree than one thats been cut since early november.


Later, jul

Hi All,

Well, AF is wrecking havoc on me...had to stay home this AM to wash sheets!! Another reason to have laundry in my house/apt/whatever...so I don't have to be restricted to laundry hours (9-9).

My doctor called and left me a message yesterday AM...I'm not pregnant!! Gee, really?! She also said my cholesterol and everything else looks great...it dropped from 312 in February 2000 to 201 now! She'd still like to see it at 180 or lower, but she's happy. The 312 was not a fasting number so in reality it may not have been that high anyway.

Dani- Good luck with the continued search! I'm always on there looking...dreaming!! We're gonna apply for an FHA this weekend and see what we can do.

Rabbit- I've got at least another week before I start shopping!! I'm horrible!!

RR- Ooh...sorry to hear it's strep. I'm allergic to penicillin, that's why I got erythro... Hope it goes away quicker than my sinus infection did. Remember to gargle...constantly...that's what helped me!

BFB- Hang in there chickie!!

Have a great day all...time to throw the wash in dryer!

Thanks to everyone for the words of support. It has been very comforting. I am starting to feel better physically. Now just feeling like LBH does. Man are cramps a bummer. Not really feeling better yet, but I wouldn't expect to. Hopefully, that will come with time.

Still tending to eat "comfort foods". Must stop. Up 4 lbs from my low today. Need to get back on the wagon!

Rabbit & Juldiet: DONE with christmas shopping? I haven't even made my list LOL. You two are truly inspiring.

LBH: Wow! How did your dr. figure that one out (LOL). That's great about the cholesterol! Sorry to hear about AF.

Juldiet: Good luck with the tree. I agree - fresh cut is the way to go. Haven't had a chance to cut my own down in years.

Dani: Good luck with the house hunting. What a lot of work it is.

RR: Sorry to hear about the strep! Get plenty of rest and fluids and listen to your Dr.!

BFB: How long is the course? Do well, but make sure you make some time for yourself. (Although I don't expect you to spend your little free time here, know that we miss you!)