Thank you all for the condolences! It's very difficult, and of course my boyfriend and daughter are taking it harder than I am. I've lost many animals in my life, so I'm kind of used to it in some sense. But I've never seen, watched, decided to have one put down. That was harder to go through than the death of some family members I've mourned. Isn't that strange?

Jane, so sorry to hear about your BF's uncle. I hope he is pulling out of it well! It's hard when you start seeing your family begin to decline and leave this world. I had that happen after high school-- two uncles, grandmother and several older cousins. It's hard, and you start associating different times of the year or holidays with them leaving.

Angelia, you are doing fantastic! I wish I had whatever it is that's working for you, girl. Tear it up! I can't wait to see less than 300, and I KNOW I'm going to cry if I get to the 280s. I've been in the 300s since I had my first daughter 17 years ago!

Saying a prayer for all of you and your extended family. :hug: And hugs to you thinking about your dad. :hug: You are right, stay positive! But that doesn't mean we can't remember and miss people too, it's healthy for us to cry sometimes. :hug:

Not strange at all, Kerri! My doggie is like my baby (I don't have human children) and I can't imagine when the day comes that I have to do that. And to be very honest with you, my dog has more personality and compassion than some people in my family. His little crooked smile and wiggety-wagging tail melt my heart EVERY-SINGLE-DAY. He's my best little buddy!

I know you are and your family are going through such a tough time, I only made these statements to confirm "it's not strange". I would never say anything to hurt you.

My dad was a veterinarian, I grew up in his practice and I saw numerous animals leave this world in numerous ways, and you never become immune to it. My father would cry when he lost a patient he had known for years or had fought hard to save.

The amazing thing about pets though is that if treated right, their lives are pure happiness. They don't have the cares or worries that we do. So while their time with us is short, for them it's pure joy.

Turns out uncle has a 99% blockage on the left side and just had two stents put in. That's too close for comfort for me. Hoping he gets better soon!

JANE -- glad that your uncle is on the mend ... :hug:

UPDATE -- so, I ended up going to my first chemo prep appointment early yesterday becuz there was a cancellation. Have to have a few more tests, then it will start in about 1.5 weeks. Have lots of info to read, but they explained everything very well while I was there.

I also got weighed while I was there and am so happy to say that I am officially in ONEDERLAND, now that I am minus one very large 100 lb tumor. I was 86 kgs or 188.2 lbs, so I am sure I regained some water weight; and they think that will come off eventually as my body continues to adjust and heal. However, I am thrilled with that, of course. :cool:

I have met and surpassed my NSV size goals and am ecstatic to be in Onederland. After my chemo is done, I will work on my original weight goal again, which was 177 lbs; but I would be happy to maintain right here for a while until my walking is better, which is improving more every day. ETA: I even walked in snow without my canes -- just a bit, but I couldn't even go a few feet before the surgery. :D

I just made some homemade meatballs which are simmering in tomato sauce for our Spagetti & Meatballs dinner. We will have some salad with that as well. Hope you all have a wonderful OP Wednesday tomorrow ... :cheer2:

Elvislover, I'm not easily offended, not to worry! Your statements and story are right on. Thank you. Our Jazzy leaves behind 3 other furry critters in the family-- 2 other dogs and a 6 toed cat! She has been around the longest, so it's hard to see happen. Especially when the other 3 are not much younger than she was. Pets are always an important part of our lives, and looks like your furry friend is too!

Jane, Yes, I can see how hard it would be. The vet assistants were boo-hooing right along with us! It's really hard. They trust you as a "master" so much, and it's a really hard, hard thing to decide to do. I'm a nurse, so I understand it from a different viewpoint, with humans of course. But never easy. Bet you're happy you got to help a lot of people and pets, too. And hold their hands/ paw on the way out to hopefully that better place we all dream of!

And it looks like they found your uncle's blockage just in time! Wow, 99%. That is difficult to think about, isn't it? I hope he recovers well, Jane.

Well, I am not on the verge of giving up, but was about to throw my hands in the air so to speak. I've been at this since around Christmas time, and have barely budged the scale. I typically weigh on Wednesdays, but I figured why not this morning... to find 3 pounds gone! yay!

I was thinking my thyroid issues really ARE putting me on a slow bus to getting anywhere with weight loss, and was about resigned to that fact that it would be terribly slow. It isn't much, but it's moving... slowly! I'll take it.

Hi Kerri---Thank you, I just wanted to confirm. :) You have your own little animal family going there, how cute! I hope the memories of your doggy make you smile and keep your heart warm.

Wow Jane, thank God for your uncle! Hopefully our prayers have been answered and he's on the road to a full recovery!

I can't imagine the pain you and your dad went through losing an animal. But on the other hand, I can't imagine the joy and compassion you brought both the humans and the doggies when you were there for them through the good times and the bad times. My vet loves my dog and actually knew him before I did! And she's the reason we stayed with her even though she's a bit further away. I want a vet who loves my dog and advises us what is best for him, professionally and personally.

Justwanttobehealthy, wishing you good vibes and prayers for all of your medical treatments. Congrats on the one-derland goal but I am sorry it was due to all you went through. And meatballs and spaghetti sound delicious right now!

Today I had my final biopsy to check the status of my endometrial cancer. It's 7-10 days to get the results so now the waiting begins. Today the whole procedure worked like a dream, smooth ride to the hospital (it's just over an hour away). Tons of people there for early morning surgery and I got called first! Then I was the first one wheeled to the O/R and the first one released! I hope being #1 all day means God made me #1 on one of his lists today. My results determine the next of my only 2 options: get pregnant or have a hysterectomy. No other options left.

Hi ladies.. Been a busy day baking and playing at the park with my son. Tomorrow were going to a field trip to another school to see some animals so that might be fun. I'm so used to having "me-time" when he's at school for 3 hours, but I really want to go with him.

Jane I'm glad everything with your uncle is turning out ok. What a scare right?
Justwanttobehealthy I'm sending you some good vibes as well to get through this obstacle and back to your life. You seem in really high spirits and that's good!!
Elvis, I'm going to send you some good vibes as well. Sorry your going through this and the waiting is going to be rough. Try and stay busy.
Kerri, I hope things are going a little better for you and you are doing awesome as well. keep up the good work you will see 299 in no time. I know what you mean though. I've been heavy since graduating high school. I am so scared of letting myself down. We can do this though!!

The scale today read 354.8 lbs, which means I have officially lost 50 lbs. Huzzah! :D

way to go maple!!!
just_ so thrilled for you to be rid of that nasty tumor and be in wonderland!!

not alot going on here...just trying to get and stay focused!!

Thank you sassieangels, I'll take all the good vibes I can get!! :flow1:

Congrats Mapleleaf, wow!!! Awesome for you!!! :carrot::carrot:

*waves to dgramie!* :wave:

Elvis: I'm sure that God made you #1 all day for wonderful reasons! Best of luck and prayers for you. I hope it all works out the way you need it to.

Angelia: "Me time" Ohhhh, to think of having some of that lol. It's cool you get to do those things with your little one, though. Definitely cherish it. My oldest just turned 17, and I wish sometimes I'd had more stay-at-home-mom kind of time with her. Same goes for my baby girl, who's 5 and in pre-K. Nothing funner than their cute little faces and expressions and personalities.

Maple: Awesome job! Keep it up!!!

Just_so: Wow, you got through all that well! Hope the best for the rest of what you need to deal with!


I'm happy it's Hump Day, that's for sure. It's dreary and rainy today. But so glad that groundhog is giving us an early spring. The weather has been amazing around here with highs in the 70s! This is abnormal, even for Texas. We're usually dodging an early year ice storm and even snow this time of year. Weird not to be going through that. I'm wearing sandals and barely bringing a sweater along just in case I get a chill! My favorite is taking my lunch break outside at work and reading a book on my kindle app for awhile, enjoying the warm weather. Ahhhh, love it.

Justwant2bhealthy Talk about a figurative and literal weight off hey? Glad you're doing so much better!

Kerri Yes, I was very blessed to have so many extra "pets" in my life and make their final moments easier. I miss that part of my life every day. Well, except calving season. Four AM in the dead of winter kind of sucked. Baby cows are cute though. Congratulations on your 3 pounds. Thyroid issues are such a big obstacle, I commend anyone who can push through it. I feel like such a louse when I whine about how hard losing is because I'm blessed with pretty good health and not only have I squandered it by letting myself get this big, I don't have half the battle taking it off many other people do.

Maple Wooohoooo!! I remember when I hit fifty I was shouting it from the rooftops I was so excited! It only gets better from here! Keep going!

Thanks for your thoughts about uncle, everybody. I'm very glad that he made it to town and got treatment. The more that I know about nutrition and health the more I think about how many people like him are probably in the same boat because they didn't take great care of their bodies. When you factor in genes and aging, it's a bad mix. Still, very blessed. we lost a 50 year old man in town here this week. Massive heart attack in his bed during the night. Zero warning signs.

Scale is inching down again, hit 339.1 today, which is exactly two pounds from where I was a week ago. The water weight is coming off sooooo slow this time around!!!!

Hi ladies.. The scale is playing it's little tricks on me, but I'm prepared and not going to give up. Last night I was cleaning up the dishes and slghtly slipped back to my old ways and was eating more from the pans before I put them away. I quickly told my husband though and forgave myself and moved on from it. I usually right around this mark give up and start with my old ways, but Im not going to do that.. I need to stay on this journey. My little man and I are going to my Mom's for breakfast and then to a field trip with his school. Should be a fun day!! I will miss these moments when he goes into kindergarten next year so yes I am trying to cherish every moment I have with him.

Maple congrats on the 50. Good for you. I cannot wait to get there.

Jane your doing great. I hate how sometimes the weight comes off fast and then slow.. Just annoys the heck out of me.

Kerri sound like your getting some wonderful weather in TX. We are too. The highs are in the 80's so sometimes it seems hot and my ac keeps coming on which I don't like because we love the winter bc we save money. I'm so worried that there won't be any snow in snowbowl when we go to Flagstaff AZ in 3 weeks. We had to keep postponing our sledding trip and now it's getting warm fast.