Hi all!

Thanks for the warm welcome back.

Bobbi – the Christmas photo of Charlie was adorable! Not sure how he was feeling about wearing the Santa hat, but what a gorgeous face he has!

Rie – Congratulations on the very successful fishing trip! When you mentioned Big Horn, it brought back memories of a road trip a few years ago with the boys and driving through the Big Horn National Forest and seeing all the ancient rock strata with the “million years ago” kind of dates posted (makes one feel really small!), the hills, the waterfalls…totally unexpected “detour” but so worth it. Granted, you were in another area I am sure, but what beautiful country! It was wonderful to hear about your moving so freely in and out of the boat and up and down the shoreline of the river. What great proof of how far you’ve come. I am glad you had that major NSV to take in. Sounds like your knee held up well and allowed you to enjoy the trip as well. Good luck with your oral surgery and especially the recovery!

DH got the kids and I some Disneyland tickets last week as our Christmas gift, and I chipped in some to upgrade us to 2-day park hopper tickets, so at the last minute last week, I managed to get time off from both jobs and the kids and I ran away for a few days of theme park fun. No one does the holidays like Disney, and it's always better BEFORE Christmas when there's still the anticipation and warm feeling of the season, and seeing Small World and the Castle at night takes my breath away every time. I could stand and stare forever at the castle and It's a Small World! Ended up being incredibly windy the 2nd day (enough that it blew over a tree on the Jungle Cruise ride, which had to be closed until they could clear it) and the fireworks and Fantasmic show got canceled (bummed out the kids) but we still had a great time and had the chance to see the World of Color show an extra time that 2nd night as a result -- that was absolutely amazing, and highly recommended if any of you come to Disneyland/California Adventure! My kids love to sleep in but actually set their alarm for 6:30 the first morning so they could get to the park when it opened-- and they actually got up! Did it again the second day, even after not getting back to the hotel until 1:30 in the morning (they completely crashed when their heads hit the pillows both nights!) LOL So 2 days in a row of 16-hour days at the parks, plus the walk from and to our hotel -- despite food choices that were not diet friendly (breakfast from the minimart anyone? :D), I actually lost the holiday weight I had gained from Thanksgiving on. Who would have thought! So now it's back to eating better and getting back into that walking mode, because it definitely helps! Will wait for FB access to post photos of the castle and Small World at night for you all to see, as being able to view them larger on FB would be a definite plus for detail.

As for the baby news…it is a grandchild (step-grandchild officially). My stepson and his wife were expecting, and her water broke at 23 weeks. They hospitalized her and kept her on strict monitoring, but 2 weeks into her very long expected stay, the ultrasound showed no movement and lower fluid levels, so they felt they had to operate and get the little guy (in every sense of the word!) into a better environment. Mom had some serious bleeding issues and ended up with a hysterectomy, and they found the placenta had grown through the wall and into the tubes – told her it would have kept spreading to other organs and in another month she might not have survived it. Scary! A few days later, she had a lot of pain and they though embolism at first, but CT scan was negative, except they found a pelvic abscess they had to drain from the back to reach…..and discovered she was allergic to the contrast dye when she had trouble breathing. Yikes…she had quite the recovery. Our little bundle of joy’s name is Noah, born at 25 weeks and weighing just 1 lb 14 oz! He is beautiful and for a while was doing amazingly well. I had the chance to see him just before Thanksgiving and he was up to 3 lbs 8 oz and was just on CPAP (at room air settings) and had been off the ventilator for awhile. I have attached a picture of him with his fingers kind of holding my finger -- all 4 fit on the most distal segment of my index finger! He smiled at one point and we could see his dimple. Too cute! Seeing him was like witnessing a miracle. Someone so tiny with so much fight and will to live, who was so perfect – it affected me in a way I can’t explain. Two days later, they had him off CPAP and he did so well on his own that they didn't put him on oxygen at all! When I saw him, he had had his first brain surgery for hydrocephalus, where they drained the fluid and put in a reservoir to collect excess fluid being produced, that they could then “tap” and drain off whenever they needed to, which they hadn’t. A couple of weeks ago, they discovered the reservoir was leaking so they had to perform a 2nd surgery. This one isn’t that common in the US evidently but the doctor performing it at our Children’s Hospital studied under the doctor who invented the procedure. I found a Youtube video by the original doctor explaining it, and another by a doctor performing it live for a conference at some point – amazing to watch and amazing what they can do. They inserted a scope into the skull and down into the brain to the ventricle (a cavity filled with fluid), and then created a hole in the floor of the ventricle to create a new path for the fluid to flow out and bathe the brain and dissipate. Then they cauterize (burn) part of the area that creates spinal fluid so that less is made and therefore won’t build up the way it was. If all goes as planned, it's the last surgery he will need brain-wise. Watching that surgery through the scope and seeing the delicate structures made the surgery really scary to think they were doing that on a baby so small – but how amazing that they CAN do it! He pulled through surgery well, though it took a while for him to recover from the effects of anesthesia, but a day later they had to intubate him to give him some rest because he was expending too much energy breathing on his own, and then a couple days after that they discovered he had pneumonia. All to be expected, I know, with a preemie, but so hard to watch someone so tiny struggling so much. He is going to be one strong, capable, amazing person one day. I can just feel it! Thankfully, he has stabilized enough that they were able to move him back to the original hospital and he is breathing on his own again. I am hoping I can get by to see him again soon and hopefully hold him this time. He’s amazing! I'm working on a crocheted afghan for him -- feels good to get back to crocheting, as it's been years, but he inspired me. :-)

In addition to the photo of his fingers with mine, I've also included two others: one with his dad (his wife said dad was telling him the next football play -- Noah must have approved because he's smiling LOL), and the third is my favorite. It took my breath away and warmed my heart -- so tiny next to his dad's fingers, so alert, and so perfect! Thanks for letting me share!

Good Morning Goldies,

Everyone is back to being so busy, as I just mutter along.

Darcy, Noah is adorable, he is truly a gift. The best to him and his family, I bet it will be fun to watch him grow and change each day. And welcome back. This is a good place to come back too.

I go for my thumb therapy tonight, it is doing better, but there is so much scar tissue and that is what it causing the problems with not being able to bend it. I fear, I may have to go the whole 8 wks, no matter the cost. I am at 44% usage, was at 15%, the normal is 88%. That is full bending motion. Which DH reminds me, I need that or it will only get worse as I age. Thank you hun!

Hope everyone has a great day, three more and I am off three, sound good to me.

Good Mornning GG's

We got some snow yesterday, but it didn't stick and now it's just drizzling rain and icky out. A fitting day for a funeral. BIL was cremated, but there was a service. It was officiated by his stepdaughters husband and was really fitting. Thank all of you for your support.

I cannot believe how much weight I have gained! How could this have happened? Oh yeah, the usual way. I did turn down a lot of stuff but apparently not enough. But I'm back to eating clean and I already feel better. the "junk" was making me tired and sluggish.

I'm still having problems getting on here and can't navigate well, so I'm just glad to get in and read everyones posts.

Rie, I love it that you were able to get around so much better and enjoyed your fishing trip. We don't realize how much the added weight hinders up in doing the things that we really want to do.

Mary, I do the same thing, sit around and feel sorry for myself and eat when I am sick. I hope you feel better soon.

Darcy, It's amazing what they can do with preemies any more. The little guy looks so alert. What a cutie.

Carol Sue, I hope you are continuing to feel better every day.

Nancy, I hope things are ok. Let us know how you are doing. We care and we worry.

Marie, I'm going to start to take down the Christmas decorations today. I want my house back to normal again.

Bpbbi, Charlie looks very handson in his Santa hat. And looks like he thought so too.

Gayle, If I don't do my stretching I have problems keeping the "foot care" done too. If I go too long I can sure tell it.

Donna, Are you back to work? Still doing your hip stretches?

Everyone, Have a good day

Good to hear that everyone is having an easier time getting to 3FC. I am still using IE because I'm afraid to try something else. DH knows a little more than I, but not a whole lot. We don't really have anyone to help if we screw something up.

My doctor appointment went well. He was not as upset about the seeping incision as I was. He pressed on it and drained it. DH said lots of fluid came out, so it might be on the mend. My incision healed much faster with the first surgery, but that might be because this time they opened at the same incision. Also, after the first surgery, I only took the pain pills for 3 or 4 days. This time I'm still taking them. The pain isn't really terrible, but the Percocet makes me feel so good! Can you say "Addiction"? LOL I don't mean to joke about that, because my nephews wife ended up in a drug facility because of pain meds she was taking after an accident. She was a mess. I am not supposed to take ibprofen so I think I will try Tylenol for a while and see if it helps.

Chicky - I'm glad to hear your thumb is healing. It's strange to hear that the recovery would be so hard just from a thumb. I hope you get full mobility.

Darcy - I hope things go well for your cute little fella, Noah. His story was heart breaking and must have been so scary. I will pray for him and your family.

Hmmmmm ~ facebook is having trouble loading this morning ~ doesn't matter rather I am on the IE, or the Firefox. Wonder what's up with that.

Good morning, Goldies

Darcy, Glad Disneyland was such a success. Noah is such a blessing. I will add him to my prayers.
Carol Sue, Don't be too stingy with yourself when it comes to pain meds. When I had knee surgery last year the nurse told me that it was important to use the pills to break "the cycle of pain" so you can rest and get better.

Today's plan is to go out to eat for my birthday. After that, the only major "food event" this year is New Year's Eve where we will be at a buffet dinner.

Despite my arthritis, I am keeping at up at the gym. I remain cautious with my knee and upper back but soldier on as best I can.
Lordy, it's time to start taking down the decorations before I head back to work on Tuesday. As Scarlett O'Hara so wisely said, "I'll think about it tomorrow".
I found an interesting site called futureme.org where you can send letters to yourself in the future. It's almost like a "God Box" where you can write out all your anxieties, hopes, and wishes and then get an email with them at some future date. I sent myself one to get on my birthday next year. It will prove interesting as I will forget all about it in a few days :). I hope everyone has a safe and productive day.

Trish

I just realized I can't add the little weight slider until I have 25 posts-OK. I'm usually not that prolific but I will give it a try.

Happy Birthday Trish ~ enjoy your day :)

Hello Chickies,
Just a quick wave :wave: as I run through. Darcy so glad your little guy is doing so well.

Christmas doesn't end here until January 6. But for most it ends by January 1st. DIL wants us to attend her family's get together this afternoon and evening. I want to go but DH is being a horse's rear end about it. He doesn't like to socialize like I do. DIL is giving him a guilt trip so we might go after all. I'd like to see her mom as we are friends. Either way we'll have a nice day, though.

It's cold and crisp and clear here today with just a blanket of snow to make it look Christmasy. The boys (3 generations) are outside playing with cars--real and toy. Boo won't give me a hug or kiss but dearly loves his poppy. When I tell him he's my little chick he just gives me a big NO. Ha, ha.

Well, must get to a store as I forgot my toothbrush at home. Have a great day, everyone.

Good morning GG's,

It was a chilly one here this morning when I got up ~ 36*. It is sunshiney here :) It has warmed up some now. Off to work here soon ~ 3 days then off the weekend. I am so sleepy ~ would gladly crawl back under the covers and snooze some more.

Jason and his GF Amber visited last night ~ we had a nice time. I am hoping for him that maybe finally this is "the one". He hasn't had very good luck in the relationship dept. He hates being alone, and I think sometimes has jumped into a relationship too soon because of that, and it has not turned out well. Amber seems like a real sweetheart. :crossed:

I offered to Sara to kid sit on New Years eve if she and Robert wanted to go out or do something. Please Lord give me energy ~ Corbin is no problem, Maddie is a busy one.

When Corbin was younger, I used to go to his house in the afternoons after school on my days off ~ I was working the night shift at the time, and would often get sleepy. I didn't catch on at first, but he would keep me moving so I wouldn't fall asleep ~ Grandma ~ lets go upstairs and do this, Grandma ~ lets go downstairs and do that. :D

Ok, guess I'd better go finish getting ready for work. Hope you all have a nice day.

Take care

Pics are of: Jason and Amber, Sara's family and Jen's family

I have been having a LOT of problems posting (and sometimes, even reading) posts on this website.

It is official - I gained 4 pounds between Thanksgiving and today. Yesterday and today I got seriously back to the gym. Hopefully, I will drop those pounds quickly.

I plan to do some shopping and cooking today. Expecting my sister to come to my house for a visit tomorrow.

Have a great day everyone,

Lynn

Thanks Glynne. My daughter just came into the room and said, "You can do anything you want for your birthday" and I said, "I'm doing it!". Seriously, I'm going to get off my duff now and go to the gym.

morning....gesh guess I better get me a foxfire, too! This has been a trip. Read every thing and now no time to write, but Donna figured I better report in or else! Love you all....k3

Thanks for the good wishes, Bobbi

If we're confessing here..I gained 10 pounds just this year! Last year I was struggling to get below 150. This year the struggle is to stay below 160. I have to stay focused and in touch with people on the same journey. I am such a lone wolf that I can sit alone and eat all day in front of the computer. This is one of the main reasons I went back to work, ha ha. Money doesn't hurt either.