Today I talked to the insurance company and it seems that everything I think they might do will be covered. She told me what requires a prior authorization, and told me if the doctor forgets to get the authorization that's on him, and I should not pay for it. I had been told that before. I would think that the doctor would know what requires an authorization. If they tell me they want to do any of those things I will remind them that it requires an authorization.

Sandy, I agree that it's ridiculous to have so much trouble getting what you need, and things they want you to have. So many people need a CPAP but won't use it because it's uncomfortable. A lot has to do with the mask you get. Mine is less intrusive. I think my step-son wouldn't have given up on it if he had tried a different mask. He just sent it back.

DH likes his steak very well done. I quit eating steak for a while because of that. Now I know to start his sooner and put mine on when his is half way done. If he's cooking, I get it well done no matter what I want! LOL

Mary, I would not change my ways because someone was calling me, either. I did change my ways when I was going to Weight Watchers, though. Going to the meeting did help me stay on track. It was just too much money. I got to thinking that I was paying $45 per month to have someone weigh me once a week. LOL If I try to do it at home I can't stick to it.

Mary, it seems to me that your refrigerator is new enough that the cracks in the shelves should be covered by the manufacturers warranty. They seem that they would be manufacture's defects. The shelves should not crack. I am always afraid around Thanksgiving when I put a heavy turkey in the refrigerator to defrost but DH says the shelves should not crack.

I did well with my food today and hope to see a drop on the scale tomorrow. I've been up a couple pounds lately.

Gayle, is Maddie back at your house now?

Good morning GG's,

Woke up early ~ couldn't go back to sleep, had stuff to do, so just got up. I needed to get my papers in order for a doctor's appointment today. I was too tired to do it last night, so guess maybe it was good I woke up early this morning. I hate when I feel rushed.

I feel tired already this morning ~ sigh..... I think it is because there is a lot of emotionally draining family stuff going on. This too shall pass????? Praying for better times.

Carol Sue ~ you would think the doctors would know about the prior authorization stuff, but sometimes I have found that ~ they don't know all the stuff about the insurances ~ their office staff sometimes know more about that stuff than the doctor does. I understand how you feel about your C-pap. I feel the same way. I have gotten so used to it, I don't sleep as well without it ~ and on occasion when I have fallen asleep without it, I feel like I have a sore throat when I wake up. My mouth gets dry with it (even though it is humidified), but when I sleep without it ~ I guess because I am a mouth breather ~ it gets dry way down my throat. They say that if I lose enough weight, I wouldn't have to use it anymore. But, I feel like even if I shouldn't “need” it anymore, I'm not sure I could sleep without it because I am so used to it. You are right about the mask. I went through about 4 different ones before I finally found one that worked for me. But that is frustrating too ~ because they charge such a high price for the stuff ~ and if you get one and it doesn't work, then you are out a big chunk of money. I guess I was having so much trouble sleeping ~ and felt so crummy, that I kept on with it because I wanted to feel better.

Sandy ~ glad you had a nice visit with the lady from your church. Hope the rain you got was just the right amount to help with your plants ~ not too much, but just right. Yes, it was nice to have a few days when I could work on things I needed to. Maddie is looking forward to school starting. I'm glad she is looking forward to it. I think it will be better maybe for all of us ~ we will still have her after school and can enjoy that time with her, but she won't be stuck with us all day long, and will get to be around kids which (even though she likes being with us ~ well most of the time ;) she needs to be around kids her age and do kid stuff.

Mary ~ sorry you are feeling tired. Hope you can get some rest in there somewhere. I had from my insurance one time ~ similar to you ~ a kind of wellness coach person who called and we talked about my eating and exercise ~ it didn't make much difference in the way I did things either. I don't know what the answer is. My sister thinks when we are together, that we will help each other. I start out with good intentions, but she buys some treats even though I tell her I'm trying not to do that ~ and so it begins ~ one thing leads to another. Oh well ~ I try to just take it one day at a time and with that day, try to do the best I can. If I mess up, not beat myself up, but get back to doing right as soon as I can and keep trying. I figure the more times I do the right thing is less times that I am doing the wrong thing ~ seems that that has eventually gotta help.

Hope Karrine and Nan are doing ok.

Headed out to the doctor soon (sleep dr C-pap check and all).

Hope you all are having a good day.

Good morning! I hope to be out of the house soon ...have to shop for my gd's birthday party (Sat) plus need to get my hair cut. So far I've done the most essential daily stuff here at home and will wait until late tonight to mop the kitchen floor, oh, and today's my day to declutter the wraps, baggies etc. Dh went fishing today.

The kids had to go to their house inspection tomorrow so I babysat. It seemed to go very well but it took three hours! I was tired when she left and dreaded babysitting but the kids were pretty good. Stayed in their room watching movies, the little one fell asleep for a while, and later they played outside. They got hungry so I gave them rice (that's all they would eat of what I prepared). I made barbecue chicken fried rice and stir-fry broccoli for us. I think they have bought a very nice house. But there is still the appraisal before the closing. Be glad when it is settled so we know for sure they got the house. I look forward to cleaning my carpets. :D

My oldest son has been diagnosed with sleep apnea and has a C-pap but it rarely uses it. He says it bothers him and he takes it off. His previous gf said she would notice him stopping breathing and would awaken him. I hope his current gf does.

My weight has only been 1# above my sig weight now for two days. I think a lot of it depends on how much sodium I get. Tonight is pizza night and I plan to have a big salad and only one slice of pizza. I agree with you Glynne, I don't beat myself up over it and I just keep trying and work on developing new habits. At least my bs is much better now due to the med and I do try to watch how many carbs I'm getting although I still haven't gotten back to tracking them exactly.

Sandy - Glad you are enjoyed the class so much. I personally feel our country these days could use more fear of the Lord!

Well, off to get ready to go out...

Mary: Sure hope your son is able to find a sleep apnea device that he can get used to. Occassionally DH would seem to stop breathing, but only perhaps once a week or so so we ignore that. He sleeps beside me and I don't sleep as much as he does so I notice.

Gayle, hope the Doctor is able to help you and Insurance will kick in and really make a difference.

Carol Sue: I agree that paying Weight Watchers or such places to weigh me once a week I refuse to do. I live so far from such places that I'd have to also add gas, and hope I had access to a car to go. Tried ON line such as this one, but I'm stuck. Eating healthier, digestive system is in good shape, but exercise is literally a pain in the neck.

As we talk about others helping us in the habits that are supposed to help us, I recognize that sometimes I simply wish my family would STOP telling me what to do. I really, really resent it. Even when told that they are worried about me, I'm sick of hearing "I wish you would exercise more." or "I wish you would get that weight off" or. You need to get some exercise. or You need to lose weight.

I'm not eating all the stuff they do that would really cause me to gain weight. I'm eating healthy 95% of time and trying to limit the time sitting, but am using calories biting my tongue to keep from saying?

Leave me alone!!!

Rain, Still more. Our cucumbers have moved across the garden, climbed 4 feet up the fence yet very, very few cucumbers. I have 3 vines so surely I have "cross pollination"

Every time I start out to take a walk, it rains. We have been saved from flooding, but the rain is very, very discouraging.

HOWEVER, I'm really, really enjoying reading lots of books! Have completed a 12 lesson CD that I borrowed. Have Laundry caught up and finances, too. I am being possitive.

Well, I have to do another sleep study. He said the home test is for diagnosis, but I need a repeat for titration because it's been so long since I've had it done. The only good thing is the doctor thinks I can get a new machine, and he says the new ones are much better. I don't go until August 22. This place will let you bring a mask home and try it out for 2 weeks and if you don't like it you can return it and try a different one. I like mine because it doesn't cover your face, just goes against your nostrils. I am going to try a newer one that is the same style because I think the one I use is being discontinued. It's really worn out and we had to put tape on the hose because it's leaking. The woman at insurance told me that I have to pay 20% of the cost, which is better than paying for the whole thing.

Mary, the first year that I had my CPAP, insurance called me periodically and I had to read numbers off the machine that proved that I was using it. If I wasn't using it, I would have had to pay for it myself. When my son got his, he had 30 days to try it out but had to return it because he couldn't get used to it. I know someone else who got one and they never checked to see if they were using it. So it's unusual that you son can have that machine and not use it. His sleep apnea might not be as bad as mine because I would hate to try to sleep without it. Sometimes I fall asleep in my recliner and I keep waking myself up because I stop breathing, then I gasp for air.

Gayle, I was thinking about something I wanted to ask you and it's probably a stupid question, but do you have a furnace in your house? Does it get cold enough in Texas in the winter to need a furnace? It's funny the things we think about and don't know about other parts of the country.

Sandy, I know what you mean about other people telling you what to do. Actually, the more they bug you about it the less likely you are to do it. DH used to really nag me about my weight and I hated it. He no longer does that. I don't know what made him stop, but I'm glad he did. I know I need to exercise more, and I know I need to lose weight. I don't need anyone constantly telling me. When they say "I wish you would get that weight off" or "I wish you would exercise," you should say "I wish you would shut up." LOL I know you aren't going to say that, but it's probably what you're thinking! LOL

Hello again,

Carol Sue ~ Sorry you have to go through the sleep study again, but glad you will be able to get a new machine and equipment. I do better with my stuff now. They say you should change the mask cushion and filter every month. Change the tubing every 3 months. And the head gear (hard part of the mask) and the straps and water chamber every 6 months. I started using a C-pap in 2008. Last year was the first time that Steve would get the stuff replaced according to their guidelines. I was always trying to make them last as long as possible before changing them. But it wasn't often enough, and because of that, I was getting a lot of air leakes and not getting good therapy. The cushion not being replaced ~ it was a fight every night as time went on ~ because the new one stays in place on your face better ~ when it gets older, it tends to slide around and then makes these funny noises and flutters on your face and wakes you up or keeps you awake. Don't know if you have had that kind of experience with yours or not. Kind of sounds like maybe you have the nasal pillow kind of mask ~ or the one that just goes around your nose? They tried that kind on me at the check up, but I couldn't tolerate that air blowing into my nose with force. I felt like I was being smothered. My nose often feels stuffed up ~ that is why I end up breathing through my mouth. I kind of feel paniced if I can't breath through my mouth. Once Steve started getting the stuff and I could replace it like they said to, I had better readings with hardly any air leaks.

I never woke up gasping for air ~ I just always felt tired and never rested well. At my sleep study, they told me how many times an hour I woke because my body would wake me because I had stopped breathing. And my oxygen saturation would drop so low ~ that if I had been a hospital patient, they would have been calling a near code on me. No wonder I didn't rest well and didn't feel good.

Your question about the furnace isn't a silly one. It can get cold here in the winter ~ down in the 20's or 30's sometimes. So, yes, we have a furnace. It is in the attic. Houses here don't have basements and the attics aren't so that you can store anything up there. The furnaces are small units. Things are different in different parts of the country. You never know. There aren't screen doors here or storm doors as they were called in Ohio where I grew up. Just the wooden doors with glass windows in them.

Mary ~ I hope things work out for your son with his house. How far will they be from you? I will be glad for you to be able to get some rest again.

Sandy ~ I can identify with you, how you feel with people telling you how you should eat and that you need to execise. For a while, my daughter was wanting me to do the weight loss surgery. Sometimes I thought about it, but I read about it and it just wasn't for me. It is not a magic fix and a person has to change their ways, or they will gain it back. The same changes that need to be made to lose weight the regular way, need to be made even if you have the weight loss surgery. I felt like if I can't make those changes to do it the regular way, I'm probably not going to have any better success with it just because I have that surgery. I didn't want to put myself at surgical risk. I knew people who had had the surgery and ended up gaining a lot of it back. She encouraged me out of concern. Then there is my husband. I suppose somewhere in there is concern, but (don't think bad of me ~ I know him well) his main concern is that if I don't change my ways, I will end up with some catastrophic situation and we will have no money left to live on in our retirement years. He has given me trouble for years ~ part of his controling personality. Finally, he gave up hounding me about it, because he could not “make” me do what he thought I should be doing. We had some bitter discussions. He is perfect ~ did his diet (and the exercise) and NEVER messes up EVER and just doesn't understand how a person can mess up. Geesh ~ if I knew how to do that or if it was as easy as he seems to think it is ~ doesn't he think I would have done it by now? Now-a-days, every once in a while he will ask me how I am doing ~ I try to share without giving too much detail. My eating troubles have nothing to do with hunger, it is how I deal with stress or sometimes boredome, depression or craving.

I know what I need to do ~ eating wise and exercise wise, it is just that I don't do it enough of the time to make much progress. The exercise is more of a struggle for me than the eating actually. I read how people enjoy it and it helps with depression and elevates your mood or makes you feel more energetic. It has never done that for me. The only thing I feel after I do it is a sense of accomplishment at having gotten it done. But it isn't something I look forward to ~ I have to MAKE myself do it. There are so many things I would rather be doing. And not just sitting around ~ I like when I am working on projects and getting stuff done. I am up moving around when I am doing that kind of thing. That should count for something ~ right?

I have been procrastinating here. I need to get my stuff together for a day with Jason tomorrow. He invited me to ride along with him to his appointments, then the grocery shopping and the “vegetable project” ~ LOL. I think it helps him if I ride along, because he is usually going on very little sleep, so maybe my being along helps him stay awake. He only has Fridays and Saturdays off, so any appointments he has to make he only has the Fridays to do them.

I'd better get to bed. Steve forgot he had planned to run out to the store ~ he needs apples for his breakfast. He had already put on his jammies and wanted to know if I would go. I didn't want to go tonight ~ it was after 11 then. He stays up late and the store where he wanted to go was open to midnight, so he could have put his stuff back on and gone, but didn't want to. So, I have to get up earlier than I thought I was gonna to go get those apples.

Hope you all rest well tonight.

Carol Sue ~ the pictures are of the different face masks I have tried for my C-pap. I had the first one, then the second one (no picture) was a variation of the first one. The second picture is of the total face mask. The last picture is of the one I have now ~ I like it much better

You with the C-pac that actually use it are really amazing. I can't imagine how on earth you fall asleep at all. I do sleep on my back and the bed is adjustable so my upper body is higher than my bottom, so probably if I needed it I could stand it. A Side sleeper must have real problem DH changes positions so often he would choke himself. (I learned to hang onto the cover because he keeps his arm over the cover, turns and takes all the covers with him and I wake up cold.

Gayle Thanks for answering Carol Sue's question about the furnace. I wondered too. We have screens on all windows except in the living room. In 2012 Drancho that knocked out power, downed our big maple, and blew down thousands of trees here in the east, we slept with windows open in weather that didn't go below 90 deg for days. Strange that this year we've had very few days that even REACHED 90 degrees. Rain still again today but DH was able to get grass mowed while dry and in between storms. We also got errands run that meant getting in and out of the car for multiple trips into stors.

I insist on parking way far from the entrance to stores to get in extra walking. Today, even at pre-administration at the Hospital for DH's Colonoscopy, we were quite a distance from entrance and got lost in hospital, adding more walking!!!

Carol Sue Sorry you are required the sleep study but glad to hear that there are new medications that my help you. Keep us posted, please.

Today I'm not as grouch as I was yesterday. Able to get some housework done as well as hours thi morning including bank and week's worth grocery shopping. Lucky for us that many items we needed were on sale, too!
Someone at Church volunteered at 4:00 Adoration time, so I didn't have to go back out. It is a 32 mile round trip and I work hard to find substitutes for the 4 hours a week I'm responsible for.

Garden has been absolutely beautiful with all the cooler weather and lots and lots of rain. Few pots have needed watering. Weeds are thriving, tho.

Got more sleep than usual last night...when I get more sleep, I feel so much better. Asked dh to let me stay in bed til 9 but I couldn't...I felt ready to start my day so showered, dressed and was ready for breakfast before 9. Surprised dh! :D It is sprinkling off and on today...suppose to rain next four days from what I heard.

Yesterday I bought my gd's gifts and got my hair cut plus shopped for a few other things however I forgot some things so we stopped for them after the gym today. I grilled steaks last night (inside) and served with baked potatoes and salad. It was good. Today for lunch I had my leftover steak, leftover potato salad (be eating a little each day since the 4th) and leftover salad from last night. Yummy! Potato salad is not so good for me, and my weight is staying the same one pound above my sig weight..maybe now that the holiday food is gone, perhaps it will go down again.

Glynne - I agree that losing weight is hard...it doesn't seem like it should be...in fact I often feel that I am just on the cusp of doing it...:D but then I don't do the necessary things to accomplish it. I am doing lots better but still in the evening I don't follow my own rules that I usually follow during the day...like don't eat when you're not really hungry, eat only one serving of carb, protein and fat at each meal/snack, and don't allow a large amount of both fat and carb at a single meal...choose which one for each meal to be dominant. If I'm eating beef, I try not to have another fat. Making sure I get plenty veggies with each meal.These are rules that I know work and also help with bs, but sticking to them is not always easy when something looks so good. Dh doesn't hassle me about my weight...it is me that complains more about it actually...but now and then he will mention it...however the strange thing is that if I wish (outloud) that I could have something (usually candy) the next thing I know he has bought it for me...or he will offer me some snack he has. So I need to be more careful about what I say! I could say he is inconsistent (which he is), but I also see that I am also inconsistent as one day I'll say don't buy me these candies and a few days later I'll be expressing a desire to have them...I realize I'm giving him mixed messages knowing he likes to please me. He is disciplined, but not so much as Steve probably...it is more that he doesn't have a large appetite anymore. He eats what he wants but just doesn't eat much of anything. He is disciplined in that he used to eat a lot of rice but now he watches his portions of it more carefully. He can eat more carbs than I can without problems so usually although he might kinda like to eat more rice, the amount that he eats and feels full at, is ok with his diet. Rice is one of the things that he still eats quite a bit of though. He told me this morning he is losing weight, he weighed 153 this morning. Wish I did.:^:

How do they conduct the sleep study? Do you have to go to a clinic and sleep there? Or is it done at home somehow? Because dh complained of fatigue, they had him wear a O2 finger device to monitor his oxygen saturation and it was fine. Our son snores very loudly and for long periods of time. When he lived here sometimes I notice he was not snoring and I wondered whether he was breathing but I knew he would not want me going into his room all the time checking on him. He's had his C-pap several years but I don't think he has ever worn it much. He gets his medical care through the VA and I don't think they follow up too well with people..and also sometimes it is he that doesn't followup as he should. I notice my other son snores very loudly too but he's never been tested. He weighs 210 and is only about 5'8" and carries most of it in his torso so I figure that contributes to these issues.

I too would not want to pay WW or any diet program again. I have learned from a lot of them, but it's up to me to put it into practice, a lot of it I have just not consistently enough. Only one program of that sort (Prism Weighloss Program) helped me lose weight. But funny thing about me is that I find it very hard to go back to anything even if it helped me. With that particular diet I lived on 1200 calories or less and was restricted from certain foods for a long period of time, I felt starved all the time (although I probably wasn't really), and I will not do that again even though I'd love to lose the weight again!! ETA: There is one program I would consider except I think it would cost way more than I want to pay plus I suspect even if helps one has to have "boosters" of it now and then and that is hypnosis. Some people can learn how to do it themselves. I imagine many of these companies are scams but perhaps not all.

I love that we are able to be honest about these things. Golden Girls is about a lot more than weight loss...on the other hand I don't want to turn it into a hopeless case forum either.:D I will never stop trying and I don't think any of you will either. We are all still learning and changing even if we are doing it more slowly than we would like. We all have our obstacles and challenges but we keep going and trying to overcome despite these things life has thrown in our paths. We can do this and taking one new step (change) at a time I still believe we can accomplish our goals. At the very least we will be healthier and closer to them.

Mary You said it, we must never stop trying. Some things I've changed and it is sticking, thank goodness.

Today, even 20 minutes weeding in garden has me gasping for breath. Probably the enormous amount of rain we keep having has the MOLD growing at high rate. I'm very, very allergic to mold, it interferes with my breathing. I take Symbacort daily and it has helped, but today that is not enough. I've come into the house that has great filter on the air.

Of course, I'm also cleaning house, removing bedding with the other thing I'm allergic to - dust mites. Just have to work a bit, and sit a bit, then work some more. I'm getting weak with all this sitting. Best I can do is to get up often and keep trying. Can't blame it on being 78 becuse DH is 4 years older and goes constantly as he always has done. He and our son were on the phone planning still more going and doing, then he remember the medical testing Monday and had to readjust his pans. He is always finding ways to make our property better, but wanting to brick the gravel paths in the small side garden is over the top. The cost would really bust the budget, but he is right, it would be nice, just not necessary. We tried to buy some gravel then found out they no longer deliver. We'd have to pay someone to haul it ($100.) plus the cost of the gravel. Definitely not in our budget. I can think lots of ways to use that money and so can DH.

Craving candy has really really grown smaller as I avoid eating candy. I never smoked, but I don't see how it could be harder to quit than it is to limit te food we eat.

Our Son is selling his property with 2 ponds (one with frogs and one with fish) and Swimming pool, hot tub and Gazebo as well as a great home. He hopes to sell it without a realtor. They are moving to Florida, too many states away. I'll really miss all 5 of them. They are so busy that we don't see them much since they were here Easter. After we all worked together at office for so many years and they lived with us the first 5 years of their marriage, it will be so strange not to have them close. Thank goodness Pat lives here with us and plants to keep staying in this general area.

DH made the most delicious Cod for dinner last night with cantaloupe, kale steamed, and corn on cob for them (I passed this time.) He is such a good cook and actually seems to really enjoy doing it. What a blessing for me.
He asked me today if there was anything I had to give up since he retired that bothered me after I had house to myself for about 5 years. I had to laugh. YES I had to give up cooking, cleaning and shoping for meals!!!!
Definitely celebrating that.

Gayle, I don't think I could wear a mask similar to the ones you showed. The one in the middle is the one they gave me to use when I was in the hospital. It covered my whole face and I felt like I was in a space suit. LOL I kept it on for an hour to really give it a chance, but there was no way I was going to fall asleep with that on. Here is a pic of the one I use. It's the one like the lady is wearing in the picture.

http://www.cpapxchange.com/cart/merc...2AFEAE908AF479

I really can't feel the air blowing into my nose. I can't use the one with the little pieces that go into your nose. My nose gets irritated. But the one I use, the piece with the hole just rests against your nostrils. I am a side sleeper and I don't have any problem with it. I also use the humidifier and the ramp feature. The ramp allows it to start out blowing the air lightly and gradually increases it as you fall asleep.

When I first started using it, insurance covered 100% and they sent me everything new every 6 months automatically. I didn't change it that often, so I started to accumulate supplies. When insurance changed to only covering it 80% I stopped ordering and was just using the supplies that I had accumulated. By the time I used them all up, the company had changed hands and told me I needed a new prescription. Right now the velcro on my headgear is very worn, and there's a hole in the hose, which DH taped.

I think my mask is being discontinued and there's another even less intrusive one they said I could get. I will look for a pic and post it if I can find it.

Mary, I assume all sleep labs are the same. When I had my study done I was in a small room that just looked like a bedroom. A bed, small bedside table, a TV. For the diagnostic test they fasten wires to your head using this stuff that's like sticking a wad of gum to your scalp. That's the only way I can describe it. You also have leads on your similar to a heart monitor. This all registers on a screen out in their office, and they also have a camera on you so they can see how much you toss and turn. Everything gets recorded on their equipment. I then had to go back a second time and sleep using the machine and mask I was going to get, so they could adjust the air pressure of the machine to my sleep patterns. According to what this doctor told me, this study is needed because it's been so long since my first study and my needs might have changed. From the results of this study, they will be able to adjust my new machine.

I asked about the home study, and he said that can be used to diagnose sleep apnea, but for titration, you need to do it in the sleep lab.

I think we could all get this weight loss straightened out if we would just get down to business and make ourselves do what needs to be done. It is so very easy to slip things into our mouths that don't belong there, like the mac and cheese DH was eating for lunch today. I didn't need that!! I was not hungry. It was just there. It was going into my mouth or down the garbage disposal, and my mouth won. I admit that my weight problem is all due to my lack of self control. I know that if I only ate when I was actually hungry I would not have this problem. That's what food is for, to nourish the bodies that God gave us. The fact that the food tastes good makes it pleasurable and we do it more than we need to. Some people are very good at getting the weight off when they want to, like Bobbi always did, but I am not like that. I can't say I don't understand why I can't lose. I know exactly why! LOL

Sandy, at 73, my DH is able to do much more physical activity than I can at 70. My bad knee hold me back a lot. I think because men have more muscle than women they are able to stay active longer, but remember, women usually live longer than men. I think that's because women keep up with doctor visits better than men do.

Your son would probably get used to his CPAP if he had a different mask and my step-son would have, too. This place I'm going to allows you to "borrow" them for 2 weeks to try them out before purchasing.

Just got home from gd's birthday party. It was at a Big Al's bowling alley. I am achy today so I didn't feel like bowling but I would have loved to as I've always enjoyed bowling. If it's a sport, that would have been my sport I guess. Not that I was really good at it...but sometimes I did better and sometimes terrible. I ate 1 and probably 1/3 smaller pcs of pizza and had a small salad. I shared a pc of cake with dh...but it had candy all over it and I couldn't eat any of that. Used to be I'd have loved it.

They asked me to babysit tonight, I don't really feel like it but I told them I would. I sure hope they come home at the time they said...10:30. I have some chidken adobo marinating...trying a new recipe for it...we will have it tomorrow and I hope dh likes it since it's a little different than our usual way of making it.

Carol - I doubt I could sleep in that type environment...even when in a new place like when traveling...I rarely sleep much the first night. And with the stuff attached to me, I really can't imagine sleeping. Wonder what they do with someone who can't sleep? I used to think I couldn't be hynotized but now I'm not so sure because I have listened to diet hypnosis tapes and I think I was. It was just like resting really well and sometimes I actually went to sleep. I believe that was the hypnosis. But there were also other times when I don't think I ever reached that stage and it felt like a waste of time.

I agree with you on this weight loss thing. I'm the same way, know what to do but don't always do it. Sometimes I just don't care and sometimes I really do care.

Good evening GG's,

It has been a tiring couple days. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a quiet day ~ to kind of just take it easy and rest up.

Mary ~ I can identify with your babysitting situation. Often times when Sara asks if we will watch Maddie, I don't feel much like it, but I never say no. We have the same hope ~ that she will return when she says ~ sometimes she does, other times (not sure if she loses track of time or what) she doesn't. That can be kind of frustrating when you are tired.

When I had my sleep study, I wondered as well, what would happen if I couldn't sleep. I was still working the night shift at that time and so I thought I probably would have trouble. Especially because they wanted you to go to sleep fairly early. They gave me a sleeping pill so I would sleep. I did wake up once in the middle of the night and needed to use the bathroom. You had to call someone to come unhook you from the machine. My worry wasn't about getting tangled up in and pulling off all those wires that were stuck to my head. I had to have this tube up my nose (kind of like a feeding tube, but tiny). That was placed and they dripped water from an IV bag down into your throat and it somehow helped measure some pressure in there. Anyway, I was scared to death that I would roll over or get caught in that tube and pull it out and have to have it placed again. I had always dreaded if I ever had to have a tube like that. The first sleep study, I had the tube, and while it wasn't fun, the guy who did it ~ did a real good job ~ explained it well and talked me/guided me through the placement of it. (Maybe it helped that he wasn't hard to look at ~ LOL. He reminded me of Mario Lopez). The next sleep study a different person placed the tube. It did not go in the right place and I coughed and strangled and choked. She told me that she would have to take it out and do it again. I asked her if she just couldn't leave it in ~ I dreaded having to have it placed again. She said that with me coughing like that ~ it was not in the proper position and wouldn't work right anyway. Thankfully the second time she got it right. The third time I had a sleep study, they didn't say anything about the tube, I questioned them about that ~ they said the doctor hadn't ordered it, but if I wanted it, they would call him. I said no, if he didn't want it, I don't want it. The room and setting of the sleep study was pretty much the same for me as what Carol Sue described how it was for her.

I hope your little ones behave well and that you don't get too tired. Hope you can maybe rest up some tomorrow.

Carol Sue ~ I didn't mind the mask that covered my whole face ~ the problem with that one was that I could not get a good seal on my face with it ~ it leaked air constantly. The first one, I used quite a long time. But was having air leaks, so they had me try another one similar to that ~ but on that one, the thing that rested against your forehead dug into my forehead and actually hurt. Finally the one I am using now, is fairly comfortable ~ still with some air leaks, but better than the previous ones. They want the hose to point up toward the top of your head instead of down toward your chest. It doesn't stay up there by itself though. They make a thing that clips to the headboard of your bed and you can hook it to that, but I didn't think that would work because I roll around too much. So, I devised my own solution. I took a couple of the stretchy cloth hair bands and I put that around my head ~ around the back and across my face and it holds the tube up like they want it. It also helps hold the mask tighter across my face. I already have the straps pretty tight ~ and to have those straps any tighter to help there be less air leaks would hurt my face. I have always slept on my side or stomach never my back. And with the C-pap, if I sleep on my back, I get even more air leaks. It is like gravity pulls my face down toward the bed and the mask isn't tight enough. Sleeping on my sides or stomach seems to work ok. The key to cutting down on the air leaks was to change that cushion on the mask every month like they said. I had really good readings when I went for my check up this time because of doing that. I think my sister sent me a link to information about a mask like yours, but I just can't do the nose thing ~ even one like yours. Like you, I use the ramp feature. Usually by the time it is up to the full pressure, I have gone off to sleep. During the check ups, while checking your mask, or trying new ones, they put it up to the full pressure right off (they don't wait for the ramp time) and I think when they don't let the pressure increase gradually, is what makes me feel like it is going to smother me.

Like you, my lack of success at losing the weight is because of my lack of self control ~ and like you, I know exactly why I am not losing.

Sandy ~ I had always wondered about your age ~ when you would tell about all the hard work you do in the garden and all ~ but I didn't think it would be polite of me to ask. I think you are amazing ~ to do all that you do, the garden, the activities at church and all, at your age. I feel ashamed at all my whining about stiffness and pain.

All you ladies are amazing ~ you all are older than me and I think you all are pretty active for your ages. I could do more/need to do more, I just don't. I need to work on that.

Why is your son moving away from your area? Just curious. It is sad when we don't get to see them as often as we would like. Sara talks about moving somewhere else from time to time. And she tries to talk us into going where she goes. I understand her reasons, but I don't want to move again. Glad your daughter is staying in the area and you will still be able to enjoy time with her.

Your dinner of last night sounds delicious. I don't think I would mind if someone else took over the cooking. I do it because I have to, but don't particularly enjoy it. From time to time I like to try a new recipe.

I keep thinking of and praying for Karrine and Nan ~ wondering how they are doing.

Guess I'd better get done with this. I still have the PT exercises to do. My father-in-law's wife has encouraged me to start attending church again. I am thinking about it, but haven't gotten around to doing it yet. Maybe tomorrow? I go alone, so sort of have to work up my nerve.

Hope you all are having a good weekend and can rest well tonight.

The pictures are a couple examples of the C-pap hose holders I was talking about.

Went to church this morning and our son and fam followed us there. Last night our son put the kids to bed ...we thought too early and really without dinner but they may have eaten a lot of junk at the party, not sure...and one went to bed with a slice of pizza. I don't like that but let it go. One went to sleep quickly watching a movie, and the other one stayed up til about 10 playing his video games. At ten I was going to bed and I checked on him and told him it was time to stop playing and go to bed which he did. So we got by easy. It makes me kinda sad though...I would still like to do the traditional stuff with them..give them a snack if wanted, brush their teeth, read a story or two, pray with them, give them a kiss and tuck them in, plug in a night light, turn off the light ...good night. But at the same time I didn't feel well enough to do it and they are not used to that ritual anyway. I've tried to tell their parents that the electronics at bedtime is not good for them, the kids scream for them and it's easier to give in I guess. I also don't like them eating in bed and not brushing teeth and think they will pay for that in the long run, but I can't change them.

After reading about both your sleep test experiences I don't think I could sleep unless they gave me a very strong sleeping pill. I am very particular about my environment for sleeping...it must be dark usually (if I'm very tired or don't feel well, sometimes I can sleep in the day time but even then all doors must be shut and blinds pulled), and I must be free to move about...not sure I could sleep with the gadgets on me and a tube up my nose...euuu....no, none of that! Sure hope I never have to have this test.

I've been thinking of Karrine and Nan too...

After church today we went to a diner...shared chicken fried steak dinner and each also had a salad. I couldn't eat all my 1/2 which is a switch (maybe cause of the salad), but we also shared a sundae so that probably was more than what I left of the meat and potatoes. Not a place to go on a diet...but you know me...if I really like it, I eat it. I was just nicely full though not stuffed feeling when we left. Also made a stop at Home Depot as dh needed something...I just wandered around.

Going to work in the yard a little while today and also try to get a nap.

When I was in the hospital after both of my bowel surgeries I had a tube up my nose down into my stomach, and I had it for about 4 days. I didn't sleep much the whole time I was in there. That doctor would not prescribe anything for sleep. The couple times I did fall asleep, they came in and woke me for something. Grrrrrr

I didn't have a tube in my nose with my sleep study, but that was at a different clinic so I don't know what they will do here. When I had the first study done I felt as if I didn't sleep all night. I just laid there quietly, not moving, and did steady breathing. They said I did sleep. I don't know how they can tell if you're asleep. I don't normally take anything for sleep, except Tylenol occasionally, and sometimes Benadryl. I don't take them together because I don't like the groggy feeling. I always worry that something might happen during the night and I wouldn't be able to get alert. I can always take a little afternoon nap if I don't sleep good at night. The paperwork they gave me said not to take certain things for sleep, but I don't know if a Benadryl or Tylenol would count. When they are getting me set up I will ask them what happens if I can't sleep. Normally at home I fall asleep with the TV on. I don't know if they would let me do that. I like that white noise in the background.

Mary, my daughter-in-law used to put my DGS in bed then read him a story, then light out. When he got a little older and got a regular bed, he wanted her to lie in bed with him until he fell asleep and she started doing that every night. I didn't think that was a good idea, but it was a nightly ritual for them. He will be 8 in a month. I don't know if she still does that. No one does that for him when he stays at our house, but DH usually lets him fall asleep in the living room then carries him in to bed. My biggest beef is when he plays with his electronics at mealtime. When he stays at our house we usually take him out to eat somewhere and he wants to play with that game the whole time. I want to make a rule that he has to shut it off until after he eats, but DH says to let him do what he wants. So he doesn't really eat, just a couple bites. I doubt if he is allowed to do that with his parents. They eat healthy, and insist on him eating a healthy meal. When we come home and he is hungry, DH lets him fill up on junk food. Oh well, I try.

Mary, I think a lot of people need the sleep study done, but they don't do it because they don't want to have to wear the mask. If you aren't going to wear it, there's no sense in having the test done, IMO. There is a mouthpiece you can wear instead of the mask. I think it's for people whose sleep apnea is not real bed, and it is fitted by a dentist.

Gayle, my CPAP is on a high bedside table. I have the hose going up over the headboard in the back and then coming down the front. The mask I use now has the hose connected in the front, but the one they are planning on switching me to is connected to the top. I like that I should be able to try it out for 2 weeks before I buy, plus if that one doesn't work, I could probably get a different one for another 2 weeks. I think that once insurance pays for one, they won't pay for another one.

This is a pic of my daughter-in-law, grandson and step-son at a ballgame.

The kids are away for the night...sorta a gift from her dad as he paid for an extra night at the motel and they will enjoy the pool and other amenities. Should be fun for them. Dh went fishing after we came home from the gym so I'm alone til evening probably. Its a nice day, sunny but not too hot. I did my weekly cleaning in our bath and bedroom, then cleaned the vanity extra well in main bathroom, then cleaned out and organized one corner of the garage. So much needs to be done in there. Pulled out a few things for dh to make a decision on. I started the laundry while I was out there. Need to transfer it to the dryer now and after that I think I'll take a nap. Seems like I'm taking a lot more naps these days.

I have inserted a lot of naso-gastric tubes in my day, but so far have never had one except I had one put in very very temporary for a test done by an ENT doctor. Can't remember why now, but he was SO good at it...he talked to me all the way through the process and it was a very tiny tube, much smaller than feeding tubes I worked with. I've always been very scared of having tube left in after surgery but so far I have not experienced that. I was supposed to have one after my hernia surgery but because my stomach would not stay down they had to suture it in place and left me with a J-tube (abdominal) tube and bag for drainage. I had to go home with that and that scared me bad enough. I was always so afraid it would get accidentally pulled out, imagining it would hurt really bad...duh later when the doctor pulled it out it was nothing...no pain at all..I could have done it myself. Same thing with getting my chest tube removed...nothing like I'd imagine....funny how our fears are often so much worse than reality. Having the chest tube put IN (without anesthetic) sure wasn't fun though.

I'm fortunate that Benedryl and Tyl do not affect me that way unless I don't get ANY sleep..but usually I sleep at least a little after taking them and that takes care of any grogginess for me I guess. Even worse for me is taking a narcotic (like after surgery) and then not getting a chance to sleep it off for some reason...I get so nauseous! Hate that! But if I get enough sleep I'm fine.

I too don't like electronics or any toys at the table when we are eating. When we are babysitting, I remove them and tell them they can have them back after they eat and leave the table. When their parents are with us, often they have their phones out, but I still remove the kids toys and phones and the parents don't complain. However when their parents are eating with them (without us), they have their electronics out and they allow the kids to have theirs and they are all watching movies, or playing games and I don't say anything. It seems to be their family time. :dizzy: My dd does not allow this at family meal times so I know not all families do this but I suspect many do.:?: Even she often is checking her phone but I can tell she tries not to. Even our older son always has his phone and plays games while eating with us. I put up with it because it's just us, and he's an adult, and so far he doesn't do that with others and children at the table. It's a whole different world now.

Nice family picture...nice looking people!

Well, I'm really needing that nap now...gonna check my laundry and then lay down. Hope you are all having a good Monday.

Mary, one time I had a tube inserted at a visit with a ENT. I guess they do that daily and they are very good at it. I woke up from surgery with my NG tubes so I don't know what it was like having them inserted, just that it was uncomfortable having them in there for days. But when you have surgery, you do what you have to do.

I have also had drainage tubes in my abdomen. I believe that the drainage tube was the reason I ended up with seromas after my last surgery. I remember once nurse told me that the drainage bulb was supposed to be deflated after they drained it each time, but some of the techs do it so fast that they don't make sure it's deflated. If it isn't, it won't suction the fluid from your abdomen properly. I remember I kept reminding the techs to deflate it, and they didn't like that. Finally, the doctor told me he was going to send me home a day early because I wasn't getting much fluid from the drainage tube. Looking back, I think the reason for that was because they weren't closing it properly. I should have spoken up and told the doctor that, but the nurses and aides hated this doctor because he was so picky, and he would have probably reprimanded them. I was only home 1 or 2 days when the first seroma opened up on my incision, and I ended up with 3 more.

When I had chest tubes removed they told me it was going to hurt, but it only hurt a little bit. When the doctor removed my drainage tube from my abdomen it hurt so bad my body actually levitated when he pulled it out. It didn't come all the way out, and he had to pull again. With the next surgery, I was anticipating him pulling it out and I braced for it, but that just made it worse. It's over in a matter of seconds, but it really hurt when he did it. Like I said, I don't think enough fluid was removed from my abdomen when they pulled the tubes, and that was part of my problem, but they would never admit to that.

I think parents allow their kids to play with their electronics because it keeps them occupied. But at the table, they should eat. My adult children have taken calls at the table, but like you said, they are adults and you can't be correcting them at this point.

Just got home...dh had an eye appt and I went with him this time in order to stop at the optical shop to check price for glasses for myself as one of my frames broke. If it isn't really important I generally don't go with him as he is kinda sensitive at times about losing independence, but we were both glad I went today because I was able to help provide some info they needed. I think I probably should go to all his appts as I'm amazed sometimes at things he will tell them...either he has forgotten or doesn't understand what they say, or maybe he just feels he should agree with them...sometimes I honestly am not sure. They will ask him whether he's had a symptom and he'll say no even though I know he has!

Carol - Sorry you had so much trouble with your tubes...perhaps I was just very fortunate. You really had a bad experience...hope you have no more of that. After my gall bladder I had a drainage bag of course in the hospital but didn't have to come home with that one. Your saying you reminded the staff about the deflation, reminded me of me when I had the chest tube in. As a nurse I was taught the drainage container was supposed to always be below the level of your chest but the staff (esp aides) were always raising and carrying it higher and I was always telling them not to do that. I think I offended some of them. I had taken care of patients with chest tubes but they sorta scared me...I guess I associated it with the last days of people's lives even though intellectually I knew that wasn't necessarily so. Overall that was a very scary time for me, but I learned a lot thru it.

Yes electronics are this generation of parents way to keep their kids quiet and entertained and it is way overdone with some. Some parents do limit the kids time on them. I think the worst is allowing them to watch the movies and games as long as they want at night and sleeping with the devices. Makes things easier on the parents though. :dizzy: Parenting done right is hard work.

My bs was over 200 this morning! I knew I was eating too much but was still surprised at that, so rewashed my hands at tried again and got about the same the second time. So I MUST get back to being more careful with my eating!

Well, need to get some thing done...want to do some things today that I tend to put off. Giving Halo her anti-flea med is one. We de-flea the yards but I still like to give her a monthly treatment too just in case. I keep a running list of things I don't often get too and do them on Tues if I can.

Glynne - How you doing today?

Sandy - Hope you are doing ok, working in your garden? Enjoy but do be careful.

Good evening GG's,

The sunshine kind of came and went today.

Tried to figure out something for Maddie for breakfast. She wasn't in the mood for the usual stuff. She will go in spells ~ eat something for a while, then doesn't want that anymore. She finally decided to try some pancakes, but they didn't turn out very well. I think the Bisquick was past it's “best if used by” date. I got some new when I was out today ~ so will try again tomorrow.

People/friends are on my mind. One of my friend's husband is having testing done to know if he has some kind of bone marrow cancer. My sister has not been feeling well. She is always worrying about me ~ feels that my health things are more serious than hers, but it seems she is always sick. She will just get over one thing and then she gets something else. She never feels good it seems. She has fibromyalgia ~ I wonder if that lowers her immunity so that she can't fight off stuff.

I feel bad, one thing and another going on here ~ I haven't gotten a chance to call mom for a couple days. It makes me feel bad ~ Mom was always there for me and so I feel like I want to do this (call her every day) for her ~ even though she probably doesn't even remember if I call or not.

Mary ~ Has your son gotten any news about the houses they are looking at? It is sad sometimes how much time the kids spend on the electronics. I feel bad ~ I have disappointed myself and feel like I have let Sara down and not done so well for Maddie. I had hoped to not have Maddie spend so much time on the iPad when she is here this summer, but so many days, I just don't feel up to playing with her all day ~ I suggest things and she has no interest in doing those. You are exactly right Mary ~ parenting done right is hard work. Sara and I were talking about it last night ~ people fuss that kids don't go outside and play anymore like back in “the good old days”. But unless a parent or adult is right with them, it just isn't safe anymore. Here just in the last couple weeks ~ in a couple of our local grocery stores, there has been an incident where 3 men have been following women and their children around the store suspiciously ~ the mothers feel that these guys were working in a team and making plans to grab their kids. So, no wonder kids stay inside and don't play outside anymore.

Carol Sue ~ nice picture of your stepson, daughter-in-law and little grandson. Thank you for sharing. Wow, you really had a time with your various tubes and their removal. My C-pap is on a box at my bedside ~ they told me it has to be kept lower than the bed. If it isn't the water from that chamber will run up into the tube and the when the machine runs ~ blow in your face. I accidentally filled it a bit too full the other night and even thought it is placed lower like they told me, the water got in the tube and blew all over my face. Not a comfy feeling.

Sandy ~ hope all is well with you.

Guess I'd better get off and fix Steve's supper. You're probably wondering why so late (10 pm here now) but he keeps a different schedule. Being retired, you can do that LOL. He stays up until 2 am, so supper this late works out ok for him. He sleeps until about 10 or 11 am then.

Hope you all have a good rest.

We went to the gym as usual this morning....there were a lot of people there so I had to skip some machines, but I used others and still got a good workout. After cardio, I worked on upper body. Dh doesn't like it when the parking lot is crowded because then he usually can't get disabled parking and has to walk almost a block sometimes, which can start his back hurting before he even gets in the gym. :( I told him just count the minutes walking back and forth as part of your cardio so you don't have to do quite so much inside. He also took the stairs this morning so told him to count that too. It's all exercise.

After I got home I started right in cleaning so I have the main bathroom weekly cleaned already, plus all daily work done (most done before gym) except haven't yet removed all dishes from dishwasher, but I often tend to do that as I use them and finish off at night whatever I don't get out earlier and load it again. That's one thing I sometimes do quickly though if I know someone is coming over.;) Otherwise I'm never that concerned about drop in guests because of my housekeeping system. These days we don't have many guests other than family anymore. We're more likely to have salesmen than actual guests..seems like something's wrong about that though.

Forgot to mention this yesterday...I did check about cost of glasses for me at the optical shop in dh's eye clinic...he got a good deal there himself, even better than the sales at the mall places...but not me! They want $459 just for the lenses and at least $100+ for the frames! I've never paid that much before and think I can find something cheaper at the mall...they are usually having sales. Because of my high index vision, I usually don't qualify for the regular sales but they usually work out some way of giving me a discount anyway.

We kinda goofed off yesterday...went to Costco for kleenex, and had lunch there. While I was there they were giving out samples of a new whey protein drink...forgot the brand but I tasted the vanilla and it was good! I remember it had 110 calories and I think about 4 gm carb. I forgot to check the fiber. I use milk chocolate BioTrust low carb but it is 150 calories and 8 gm carb I think. I don't use much of it though...only about 1/5 of the scoop in my mochas for a little extra protein so it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. But I think I might go back and get the one at Costco for my vanilla one as I try to keep both on hand and last night I noticed my vanilla one was expired.
It was not as good tasting anyway. I find it hard to find good tasting protein powders that also meet my nutritional requirements. Just thought now that I also forgot to check what the sweet in the one I sampled...I don't want something that will upset my tummy.:^:

Also finally got the flea med into Halo yesterday. So many more things on my to do list though. Didn't get my menus and grocery list made up so wasn't prepared to grocery shop today. If I shop on Tues or Wed I get 10% off but sometimes it just just doesn't happen.

Glynne - It is a difficult time to raise children in many ways. I'm glad I'm not doing it. It's so sad that children can't play outside on their own anymore...at least we have a large backyard where they can play fairly safe...I still check on them often as the fence in back is low. But in front, we have to be outside with them if their parents aren't here. I think we are stricter than the parents! At the same time there are those electronics to keep them busy which we didn't have. Mine watched Sesame Street and Uncle Rogers etc. and on Sat, cartoons, but now all you have to do is put in a video and they can watch movies. They can even watch movies in the car while traveling...boy I could have used that a time or two...instead we played who can see the red cars or brown cows...or whatever..anything to keep them busy...LOL We made a lot of memories though I wouldn't trade for anything...we used to sing a lot in the car. Even when I drove them around to places here locally, I used to sing and they often joined in. Sometimes I made up songs to sing. Sometimes they quarrelled of course...I remember my two oldest used to fight over the brown cows and the black cows they saw in the fields. It was like "I get all the brown cows, NO, I get all the brown cows!" What???:dizzy: or over where they got to sit or one was touching the other or staring at the other...oh where was a good movie when I need it then?:^: I'm sure we've all been through these things and even movies do not prevent it all but they do help so I understand why modern parents use them.

Steve is more on my schedule...:D...however I rarely stay up that late anymore...I used to though...now I usually head for bed about 11 or 11:30, with the kids here I can't get on my computer once they are in bed so we've even been going to bed earlier some nights. At least one night a week it's closer to 12 as I take longer finishing up the kitchen. The last couple nights I've been decluttering the kitchen cupboards. Got rid of a lot of unneeded and expired stuff and looks much better now. Still more to do. I was planning on doing papers next but with limited use of my office this has worked out better.

As to the kids' house...they are now waiting on the appraisal. Once that's done if it's still agreeable, they should close. House buying is a big process anymore but is probably better for both sides I think.

Well, need to get some lunch and then onto other things. Sandy, hope things are going well with you. Continuing to pray for you and Nan, Lorraine.

We went to the gym as usual this morning....there were a lot of people there so I had to skip some machines, but I used others and still got a good workout. After cardio, I worked on upper body. Dh doesn't like it when the parking lot is crowded because then he usually can't get disabled parking and has to walk almost a block sometimes, which can start his back hurting before he even gets in the gym. :( I told him just count the minutes walking back and forth as part of your cardio so you don't have to do quite so much inside. He also took the stairs this morning so told him to count that too. It's all exercise.

After I got home I started right in cleaning so I have the main bathroom weekly cleaned already, plus all daily work done (most done before gym) except haven't yet removed all dishes from dishwasher, but I often tend to do that as I use them and finish off at night whatever I don't get out earlier and load it again. That's one thing I sometimes do quickly though if I know someone is coming over.;) Otherwise I'm never that concerned about drop in guests because of my housekeeping system. These days we don't have many guests other than family anymore. We're more likely to have salesmen than actual guests..seems like something's wrong about that though.

Forgot to mention this yesterday...I did check about cost of glasses for me at the optical shop in dh's eye clinic...he got a good deal there himself, even better than the sales at the mall places...but not me! They want $459 just for the lenses and at least $100+ for the frames! I've never paid that much before and think I can find something cheaper at the mall...they are usually having sales. Because of my high index vision, I usually don't qualify for the regular sales but they usually work out some way of giving me a discount anyway.

We kinda goofed off yesterday...went to Costco for kleenex, and had lunch there. While I was there they were giving out samples of a new whey protein drink...forgot the brand but I tasted the vanilla and it was good! I remember it had 110 calories and I think about 4 gm carb. I forgot to check the fiber. I use milk chocolate BioTrust low carb but it is 150 calories and 8 gm carb I think. I don't use much of it though...only about 1/5 of the scoop in my mochas for a little extra protein so it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. But I think I might go back and get the one at Costco for my vanilla one as I try to keep both on hand and last night I noticed my vanilla one was expired.
It was not as good tasting anyway. I find it hard to find good tasting protein powders that also meet my nutritional requirements. Just thought now that I also forgot to check what the sweet in the one I sampled...I don't want something that will upset my tummy.:^:

Also finally got the flea med into Halo yesterday. So many more things on my to do list though. Didn't get my menus and grocery list made up so wasn't prepared to grocery shop today. If I shop on Tues or Wed I get 10% off but sometimes it just just doesn't happen.

Glynne - It is a difficult time to raise children in many ways. I'm glad I'm not doing it. It's so sad that children can't play outside on their own anymore...at least we have a large backyard where they can play fairly safe...I still check on them often as the fence in back is low. But in front, we have to be outside with them if their parents aren't here. I think we are stricter than the parents! At the same time there are those electronics to keep them busy which we didn't have. Mine watched Sesame Street and Uncle Rogers etc. and on Sat, cartoons, but now all you have to do is put in a video and they can watch movies. They can even watch movies in the car while traveling...boy I could have used that a time or two...instead we played who can see the red cars or brown cows...or whatever..anything to keep them busy...LOL We made a lot of memories though I wouldn't trade for anything...we used to sing a lot in the car. Even when I drove them around to places here locally, I used to sing and they often joined in. Sometimes I made up songs to sing. Sometimes they quarrelled of course...I remember my two oldest used to fight over the brown cows and the black cows they saw in the fields. It was like "I get all the brown cows, NO, I get all the brown cows!" What???:dizzy: or over where they got to sit or one was touching the other or staring at the other...oh where was a good movie when I need it then?:^: I'm sure we've all been through these things and even movies do not prevent it all but they do help so I understand why modern parents use them.

Steve is more on my schedule...:D...however I rarely stay up that late anymore...I used to though...now I usually head for bed about 11 or 11:30, with the kids here I can't get on my computer once they are in bed so we've even been going to bed earlier some nights. At least one night a week it's closer to 12 as I take longer finishing up the kitchen. The last couple nights I've been decluttering the kitchen cupboards. Got rid of a lot of unneeded and expired stuff and looks much better now. Still more to do. I was planning on doing papers next but with limited use of my office this has worked out better.

As to the kids' house...they are now waiting on the appraisal. Once that's done if it's still agreeable, they should close. House buying is a big process anymore but is probably better for both sides I think.

Well, need to get some lunch and then onto other things. Sandy, hope things are going well with you. Continuing to pray for you and Nan, Lorraine.

Mary, I wonder why your post posted twice? The time on them was about 40 minutes apart.

I need to get myself to the eye doctor. I haven't been there for years. I didn't like the last one I went to. Then I went to an opthomoligist and was diagnosed with a hole in my macula. I chose not to have that repaired. I want to make an appointment with the opthomoligist my brother-in-law went to but haven't gotten around to making the appointment. I seem to spend so much time at the heart doctor's and I'm just tired of doctors and tests. It seems that I go and they find something wrong. I would like to go and have them tell me everything is fine. It seems that every visit turns into a series of visits.

Gayle, my machine is higher than the bed and I don't have trouble with the water. I know it should not be higher, but that's the way DH rigged it up for me and I have no other way to do it. Mostly I have to just accept the way he does things or his feelings get hurt and he refused to do anything for a while. Big baby. LOL

He is that way with other things, too. He will help fold clothes, but he puts his away and leaves my sitting on the bed. When I fold clothes, I put all of them away. He says he doesn't know where mine go. Well, open a drawer and look! How hard is that? But I can't complain, or he will never help again.

When he helps with laundry, he will only use hot water and a hot dryer. Even if I tell him, not to put my tops in hot water or a hot dryer. In fact, one time I had my clothes drying on low and I think he went in and turned it to hot. He says he didn't, but I don't think I turned it on hot. He says the dryer runs too long on low.

Ok, so now I'm done bashing my husband. LOL

I sometimes go to be very early because after 8 o'clock DH takes over the TV. We don't like the same shows, plus he flips channels, so I go into the bedroom to watch TV, then I fall asleep. I get up very early, between 6-7 AM, and he sleeps til 9 or 10. The morning hours are when I do my computer time or read.

CarolSue Having special free time to use the computer is such a blessing. I just putter after years of using the computer to type for engineers. Feels good to come here or go to put jigsaw puzzles together, or check facebook for pictures of family and friends. My DIL puts so many things on, but not much about family. She must surf the net a lot. Right now she needs prayers for intense hip pain that Dr isn't sure what to do next.

Mary You mentioned certain shopping days with big discount. Wish we had that around here. I have to find a substitute for 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Fridays each week for our Adoration Chapel. I asked DH if we could go for that hour then catch Krogers on way home. They offer double fuel points on Fri, Sat and Sundays. Problem is that when I went to use my fuel points yesterday, I filled up after using 7 cents off per gallon and felt great util I went closer to home and saw a place that already offered lower price on gas. Felt angry, then realized at least I had gas and let it go.

Gayle Your schedule with our husband and crazzy supper hours reminded me of our lives when kids were here. DH worked 25 miles away and with horrible traffic, he found it easier to simply work later till traffic became less. However, the kids need fed several hours earlier. I fixed more food when he got home but don't remember being upset by it. Being retired now and DH doing the cooking makes it really easy now. At times I'm the one coming home late and I can eat left overs with pleasure.

Garden is lovely BUT the Day lilies that usually bloom up to early August are not going to make it that long. They bloomed earlier (and we enjoyed them) but I prefer them to be spread out for our enjoyment. Also while they bloomed we were gone too much of the time. Today is in the 90's and I refused to walk even tho I got up early. Feels good to be in the air conditioning and simply getting housework done. Early this week I walked 2 of the 3 days very early and it wasn't too bad outside. Did have to take shower before I went to Bible Class yesterday.

Reading today training on the Bible by one of the top theologians of my time. It is slow reading, but I love to study so I was happy for 4 hours this morning. Now reading another book as laundry is doing itself. Still feel blessed that automatic washer and dryer does so much after helping Mom wash clothes, carry them up from basement and then down two flights of stairs to lower ground where the clothes lines were. Later in evening, I brought up all the clothes and put them away. Next day I ironed. I've never found laundry a chore, but do appreciate how simple it is now!!! Remember the frozen clothes in winter on the clothes line and how stiff they were.

While reading in the Living room that I share with DD who has her studio in window half, I looked at the shelves across the room and saw enough dust to almost need a dust pan to clean up. I know I simply forgot to clean them in past week or so, but she also does some sanding in that room and it goes every where. Not with a machine, but by hand. Tomorrow I'll definitely tackle that while she is out taking her walk.

DH is at wits end trying to find what to do with his time in retirement. Feel sorry for him, but I've always had so many things I wanted to do and so little time to do them, that I'm not very sympathetic when he said "I don't know what do do with myself." Boy, I do, just give me the chance!!!

Sandy

Dh is fishing again today and I stayed in bed until almost a little after ten. It's going to be a warm day...think supposed to get to 80 so I really should have gotten up and out of the house earlier. I need to buy groceries today. Kinda achy today but will take some Tyl if necessary before I leave. Also want to clean my office and the hall...that's pretty easy so shouldn't take long to do before I leave. It is kinda hard to get it done though because the kids are still in here, in fact they just finally got out of bed. They play with their electronics in bed til late most mornings. I barged in to do my budgeting and answer messages etc. I have to order some OTC products after this and then I'm done with my computer for this morning.

Sandy - Yes 10% off groceries is significant I think! Really helps. Sorry I missed it this week. We get it on two days only because we are both military (dh) and seniors. For fuel, we get the best price at Costco most of the time and since we are there at least once or twice a month it works out well for us. Since we don't work we don't use a lot of fuel when we are home. My dh enjoys cooking but I think his back bothers him too much as he rarely asks to cook now. Last night however I asked him if he'd like to make the chicken fried rice...he likes it with a lot more garlic than I use so know he likes to cook it his way sometimes. I had a salad with leftover adobo chicken on top instead of the rice. Sandy I realize everyone is different, but dh and I cannot imagine not having enough to do in retirement! We feel like we are busier in some ways than ever...I don't know how we managed to work and do everything we did in our younger years now be cause we feel we keep very busy now.

I can imagine the dust that sanding would cause! Good thing you have hard floors (I think?)! You must be very patient to put up with that but I know how precious it is to have our adult children around too. I put up with a lot just for their presence.

Yesterday I got a quick sweeping done in our garage but no de-cluttering. That garage is SO dirty but I only did what I could easily reach...too much to move to get the rest. I also did a quick clean up under the kitchen sink, another place that is usually a mess. I skipped cleaning under the main bathroom vanity this month because of our visitors stuff in their. It can wait until they leave. I am also skipping going through my bathtowels to see if any need tossing (rags or Halo) because right now we need every towel we can find!

Carol - I don't know why my post was duplicated! I edited it so maybe it happened then but don't remember what time that was and it shouldn't have duplicated the whole post. I usually have to edit something. I don't mind doing laundry...it's always been one of my favorite tasks in fact, but I have to admit I don't put away all my dh's clothes.:o I did when he was working but he's has the time now and he is rather picky about where and how they are stored so I leave his pants, outer tees, and button down shirts, sweaters to him I do put away his underwear and socks. On the rare occasion he takes care of the laundry, he folds but does not usually put away my clothes, and that is fine with me as I have my own peculiarities. ;) We are creatures of habit I guess. There is so little on TV right now that is not reruns that I do not watch much now and think that is another reason we have been going to bed earlier. Dh headed back to bed about 10 and I think by the time I finished the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen it was after 11. Dh was up early to go fishing but gosh, I was in bed (well up and down) for almost 12 hrs!

It is always interesting to see how our lives are the same and how they differ and I always look forward to hearing from each of you. Praying for you and Nan, Lorraine! Take care.

Dh had a field test this morning so I went to the gym on my own. I did the arm bike 6 min, then stationery/recumbent bike 24 min to get my 30 min of cardio. Then did my usual three machines...this time worked my tricips, arms/shoulders, and back/abd. I decided I wasn't ready to go home so I went shopping for some organizer things, ended up getting a medium size basket at Michaels, it is a pretty blue and will be for holding snack items...when it's just us, it will be mostly saltine crackers and occasionally chips, but right now there is also graham crackers as kids like them. If we don't have enough snacksI may also use it for processed foods dh likes to make for his lunches or on pantry night too like those Asian cup o soups etc. Or I might end up using it for something entirely different like ziplock bags and paper products. I seem to have a lot of those and they get to be pretty messy when someone is looking for the right one/size. However I use it I think it will be helpful. My pantry will look different when the kids leave...right now it's a mess cause I have to buy more plus the kids have some of their things in there too and now and then they buy more.

I also tried on some cute tops...but they didn't look cute on me. The two that looked the best had weird drying requirements and I don't want to bother with that. It's bad enough I have to hang dry my Lularoe. My belly is looking SO big these days even though my weight hasn't really changed...seems like my legs look skinny below it. makes it very difficult to look good in clothes.

All Ive done here at home today is daily clean the bathrooms and make our bed and I made cornbread (from a mix) and heated up some canned chili. The adults liked it. The kids didn't eat. My son is playing soccer (co team) so they are gone now. I'm still doing laundry...have one load ready to fold, one in dryer and one to still put in washer. Then late tonight I will sweep and mop the kitchen/dining room floor. I bought a new pail to use for mopping...it's very nice and light. I also bought dh one of those little benches that you can kneel on and then flip it the other way to sit on it when gardening. Think it might make it easier for him and perhaps me too. My arthritis has really been bothering me the last few days.

Speaking of gardening...we have a strange plant growing quickly in our front yard near other flowers. We did not plant it and it looks very much like a corn stalk...right now it's about 2 ft tall...we have flowers spring up in different places, blown by the wind but a cornstalk is a first! Of course I'm not sure that's what it is. Anyone ever have a cornstalk suddenly appear?
Dh said that our potatoes are doing nicely...look forward to them, so hope they are good. We don't usually plant potatoes but I had some in the pantry that had overgrown so talked dh into it. He is not a big potato eater but they are one of my favorite foods!

Hope you are all having a good evening.

Guess I'm the only one posting these days! Maybe I need to get a life:?: Dh and our son took a trailer load of yard debris and some other junk to a nearby school for dumpster day. They only pay a $5 donation. It was good to get rid of a few things that were taking up space in our garage.

So far all I've done today is daily stuff and I folded yesterday's laundry, then went through the sock bag and paired up a few socks. Last night I got the kitchen floor mopped. I have one more load in the dryer..probably ready to fold by now.

My son is asking for my mac and cheese, but I have some steak I need to fix first. Think I'll make beef and broccoli stir-fry with rice tonight.

Not much going on here...hope you are all enjoying the weekend.

Mary The birds must have donated the corn for your garden. Years ago my youngest daughter wanted a Day Lily for their garden. I divided her favorite, planted it in a pot and she kept forgetting to take it to their home. Finally in the spring I was tired watering the pot, so I drove to their place and delivered the pot while they were at work. A few weeks later she called excited that the Day Lily is growing!!!. Called back and said her hubby said that is CORN, and he knows corn for the large amount he helped take care of growing up. She wanted me to check it out. Sure enough, she had corn but the Day Lily came along later. That stuff grows fast.

What makes your Mac and cheese so special? I felt hungry for it when I read that.

We just got back from another nursery and have the most beautiful Gerber Daisies!!! One is white and the other a gold. I'll put them in larger pots and just place them in the empty spots in front of garden where I can easily water them, and we can see them from Patio. Soon the Day Lilies will be thru their beautiful bloom, and that entire North Fence will have great foilage in many colors, but few blooms.

Walked this morning before it got hot and am so glad I did. Pictures of the gardens for records, bit of weeding, etc. See some poison Ivy to tackle when I have protective clothes on. Also, a varmint has dug another hole around my precious Lenten Rose and I shall move it tonight to a better place!!!

Glad this busy week is over. I've been home only one day in over a week and my ironing is high, with an iron that doesn't iron very well. Another issue. Thank goodness lots of my clothes are knit and take little ironing, and DH's are all iron free!!!

Hi everyone. I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted. Couple days. I really don't have much to say. DH weed whacked the hill, and now has a terrible itchy rash all over him. It seems worse than poison ivy, maybe poison oak or sumac. I think he should go to the doctor for a shot or antibiotic, but he is just buying everything over the counter to try to get rid of it. He's had this for several days. So now he sprayed the hill with something to kill everything. He says he's never going to weed whack that hill again. If we had moved to the other house that I wanted to move to, there would have been no hill. LOL

Sandy, I rarely iron anymore. Most of our clothes come out of the dryer wrinkle free, but a few of my tops need touched up. I don't wear those very often and I should probably donate them. If I am going somewhere special, I will touch up my clothes with the iron, as they get wrinkled from being crushed in the closet. I don't care if my every day clothes have a wrinkle here or there.

One time when I split my lilies, I potted some and took them to work for anyone who wanted them. I told them that over the winter they would go down to the ground and look like they were gone, but would shoot back up in the spring. One woman told me that they had a patio put in and she forgot the lily was there so it's gone. My son-in-law did the same thing when he put in his driveway. It meant a lot to me to give them a plant that has been from my yard, but I guess it didn't mean that much to them. One year I brought home a piece of a plant that was growing at our cabin. I planted it in my yard, and gave a piece to my step-son for his yard. He since sold the house. I told him to dig up the plant and move it to his new home, but he said the guy who bought the house will expect all the plants to stay there. So I have given up trying to give my plants to other people. There is one friend I gave some to whom I know still has them in her yard. I hate to just pull them out and have them die, but they do have to be cut back from time to time.

I also figured out why the hosta out back is no longer growing around the bird house pole. The pole got rotted and DH replaced it, but didn't put it back in the exact same spot. So now it looks stupid, that the hosta is actually growing behind it. I am probably the only person who notices it. LOL

Mary, my belly is very big, too. I hate it, but am not doing anything about it. They say belly fat is the easiest to lose. I don't see my belly very often, but one day this week when I got out of the shower I happened to look in the mirror. It's like I have a whole person in front of me. LOL If I could just cut that all off the front I wouldn't look so big. The rest of me is relatively thin, like you. I remember my mother was like this, too. I guess it's a family trait, that when we gain weight it all goes to our belly. I want to get back into some of my pants that have a waistband instead of all the elastic waists, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

Good morning ladies. What a nice supportive bunch you are. I look forward to getting to know you!

Good morning GG's,

Welcome Pamela ~ we look forward to getting to know you too.

Hello Mary and Carol Sue. :wave: No time this morning to write more. (Maybe lucky for you all ~ not to have to read one of my long sagas ~ LOL). Hope all is well with you two.

Thinking of you Karrine ~ wondering how Nan is doing. Prayers continue.

Take care all

Hi Everyone! I got the new CPAP mask yesterday to try out. I used it last night and it was OK. I have 2 weeks to use it and see if I like it. It is less intrusive than the one I have been using. It does move around a little bit. I put a clip in my hair in the back to help hold it in place. I have tried posting a picture of it.

Ok, the picture is posted. The things on the sides near his eyes are something you can buy to keep the straps from irritating your skin. I don't know if I would need them or not. For me, the less I have on my face, the better.

Got up late this morning (later even than my usual I mean;) but part of the time I was listening for my gd as her mama took the older ones to Vacation Bible School this morning but left her cause she was still asleep. So after she got home I guess I thought I could tack on an extra 1/2 hr in bed. :dizzy: Dh went fishing. Not sure what I'm going to do today...probably just stay home and weekly clean the main bathroom and perhaps do more de-cluttering...seems like that never ends, but I sure do like the way my kitchen cabinets are looking now after doing it. Today I may declutter in our bedroom...it's not too bad in there but more can be done.

I see I haven't posted for a couple days...didn't realize that. I've been very achy and it's been hard to even do my housework and go to the gym, shop etc. plus I often can't get to my desk because of the kids. When I get to my desk I do only what I have to and get out. I was also reading a new book on my iPad...one of the Frank Peretti novels...if you haven't read him, his books tend to focus on the supernatural..and are kinda (very!) wierd but about 1/2 way through I begin to realize what he's trying to say. This one was no different however I didn't like it as well as his others I've read. He's not a favorite author for me but I do read him now and then and in some way he does touch me.

Finally was able to find an exchange top for the one I returned. I don't like it too well but it's growing on me. I do think it makes me look very fat, but I am on the top end of my weight range. I've been eating terrible and my bs even with the Januvia has been very high. Finally I said no more and did better yesterday but forgot to weigh this morning. My bs was still high but not as bad as it's been sometimes recently. I go to the doctor the end of this month and I was so looking forward to showing him how my bs had dropped, and I just hope I haven't messed things up too much. I suspect my eating may have something to do with how I've been feeling too. I'm still having cravings but hopefully they will go away soon. I've been trying to please our visitors and although I like that food too it just doesn't work for my health.

Carol - l'm glad your new C-pap is working for you. I can't imagine sleeping with anything on my face but if I needed it I hope I could get used to it. Yesterday our older son popped in to get his mail and I asked about his and he said he IS using his C-pap now! He told me in the military (no C-pap then) no one wanted to share a room with him because of his sleep apnea and now he's had to share a room with another guy who stops breathing and HE lays there counting the seconds. That would be very uncomfortable. Carol, I've had that same thought about just cutting off my belly...if only it were that simple. It's the first place I gain and the last place I lose.

Pamela - Welcome!! Hope you enjoy chatting with us.

Sandy - I don't know what makes my mac and cheese special but all the kids like it. Some grandkids do, some not, they prefer the boxed kind. I remember the recipe I use was orignally one with salmon or tuna in it, forgot which but I didn't do that. It's just basically a white sauce, then add cheese to it, s/p and then the cooked macaroni and put in baking dish. I add some butter (these days Smart Balance) saltine cracker crumbs (or whatever I have), and sprinkle with paprika and bake 30 min. I like it when it gets a little crusty around the edges but the kids like it either way. One thing I'd do different if I were starting to make it now...I would use the unprocessed (or less processed) cheese. At the time I used what I was then used to...and it was the Kraft cheese slices. Now everyone's used to that and if I change the cheese it changes the taste a bit and some don't like that. I've always been somewhat health conscious but back then I didn't know some things I know now. Even the schools and medical people were saying different things as you may remember about a lot of things.

Well I need to get things done around here...been very lazy for almost 1/2 my day now...hi Glynne, hope things are going well for you, Karrine, prayers continue here too.

Welcome Pamela

CarolSuethe new CPAP looks far less invasive than some I've seen. I imagine keeping it in the correct position may be a problem. Wonder how it works? Sure hope you are satisfied with it.
Weeds, poison Ivy etc, sympathy. Even a little bit can distract me from doing what I need to do.

Mary I'm cleaning the bathroom and thought about how you would have been shocked how I let it get this bad. We have 3 in this house (because Mom's apartment had to have one, too.) Mine is out of the way and DH and I are only ones using it. I really feel good I am doing a good job (usually do once I get going.) Today is a rare day I'm home all day and am on load 3 of laundry, too.

When DH and Pat went on errands, I took advantage of some of the quiet time to finish a good book so I can return it Thursday to the Library. Also read a book by Thomas Kincade, the artist, and it was a wholesome book I enjoyed. A Season of Angels It was in New England, and about a woman of 89 and her family as she struggled to mend a few family broken relationships. I felt good after finishing a book like that.

Friend just let me know he has to have surgery to install a port so he can get dialysis. Bless his heart, his Dad is dying of Cancer, he has suffered with several serious illness and is unable to work, and now this. He is very good nature and never complains. Doesn't seem fair.

I get up set with politics and mud slinging. Seems unfair that the good guys suffer and some simply are mean and try to make life miserable for others!!!

Thank Goodness a friend agreed to substitute at the Adoration Chapel Friday at 4:00 PM so I can avoid the 32 mile trip.

Tomorrow Pat has her birthday. I'll be in a city that has Italian restaurant with good Lobster Bisque and Taramasue that I can bring home to her. We live so far from good places to eat that going out is a real production. I try to make one trip do many errands to save gas, and wear and tear on vehicle. It is a natural thing for me to do.

I remember years ago that DH was cooking and needed buttermilk. He drove the distance to the store, picked up ONLY the buttermilk and came back to make his biscuits. I had a fit. He asked what I would have done and told him of adding bit of vineger to milk and it worked the same. He was NOT impressed. Now when he cooks, he never worries about substituting and he's a great cook. He can make something good out of almost anything and loves doing it.

Thinking of you Karrine

Mary, your mac and cheese is similar to mine. What's to change? LOL DH only likes it with Velveeta cheese. My mother made it with colby longhorn cheese. My daughter-in-law used my recipe for a pot luck but she used a few different cheeses. She buys a lot of fancy cheese. It was such a hit and everyone wanted the recipe, but I told them you would have to know what cheese she used and how much, and she didn't even remember. Just threw in what she had on hand. My mother would put a layer of sliced cheese on top when she baked it and we always fought over that burnt cheese.

I have always heard that belly fat is the first to go, and it is usually the second place I lose. My face is first.

I'm glad your son has started using his CPAP. When you really need it, you learn how to get used to it, and it's very unpleasant to try to sleep without it. I didn't take mine when we went to Las Vegas. Didn't even think of it, until I tried to sleep. We didn't sleep much there anyway. Fast paced.

Sandy, the girl that works at the sleep lab told me to pull my hair out over the back strap to help hold it in place. That didn't necessarily work well, so I do that, but then hold a small piece of the hair in place with a little clip that I have. That helps. It's only been a few days, so I'm not really sure if I like it better than the one I have, but I heard that the one I have is being discontinued and I would have to go to a different one soon, anyway. I just don't think I could ever use one of the ones with all the straps that go around your head, and the big mask over your nose. But you do what you have to do.

We've been to the gym and I lay down for 30 min afterward as I'm still achy and the workout seems to make it worse. For some reason I feel best in the evening. Surprised by that. Makes it hard to get started on my work but I can do it once I start. Today is an easy day as I just plan to weekly clean the office and hall, however I'd also like to do a little dusting in my bedroom. I did the de-cluttering I mentioned yesterday but it was just small things. I am offering some nail polish and earrings to my dil in case she wants them, otherwise everything was recycled or trashed.

Our son returns later today. I plan just to have a leftover night unless he gets home early enough, then it might be mac and cheese. Gonna have to talk to my dil and find out what time he's coming in. We have leftover soup and leftover shredded chicken for tacos. The chicken casserole I made yesterday was really good. My electric can opener has quit working so hoping to replace it soon. Not nice when you find out when you are preparing a meal. :( but dh was able to open the canned chicken with an old manual one. I can use it on some cans but it's not so easy. I keep it for emergencies though.

I checked out the book you described, Sandy and it looks good. I have so many books on hand and am trying not to add more for a while. Even my son said you'll never have time to read all these books! :o He's right. But I am often tempted to buy more. Right now I'm reading a mystery about two women realtors. It's not very interesting right now but I'm hoping it will get better. I'm also still reading the same book for my devotional time. Have another sorta biography started but it's in the main bathroom for reading in the tub and these days that is our visitor's bathroom. Now and then I pop in there and read a couple pages. ;)

Carol - Hope the c-pap works well for you.

Gotta get this day going...not much time before dinner after I go to the gym, do my computer stuff and clean house.

Good morning everyone! :) Think so far I'm less achy today, so thankful. Dh is fishing and the others are gone so I'm alone. Son got home late last night and I haven't seen him yet. I'm sure he was very tired as his plane was delayed.

Yesterday dh and I went to Costco and bought a new can opener and I also got some new salad bowls. Really like them. After I got home I remembered another salad bowl that I could have used instead but I like these so much (they came as 2 bowls even though I only needed one...you know Costco:dizzy:) so I'm keeping them. I might even pick up some for my dd for a Christmas gift as they are in her favorite color. I didn't get to my housework til late afternoon but I got the weekly stuff done...still need to do some dusting and straightening in bedroom.

Also yesterday we had another guy come to give us an estimate on repairing the dry rot on our eaves. He went all over our roof and said it's a waste of money to just fix the eaves as we need a whole new roof. His quote for the roof was higher than the last one, but he sure seemed like a nice guy. I didn't get a chance to meet the other guy so can't compare. He had his son with him (probably 10-12 in age) and he was so polite and came over and shook our hands and greeted us in Spanish, even though his dad was not around at the time. Someone has taken the time to teach him how to act. We could do the roof now but I'd prefer to wait until I pick out the siding so everything matches. Although we are saving pretty fast, we've also had to pay for some big things out of it and I suspect it's now going to be quite a while before we will have the total amount. Neither of us cares, we are not in a hurry, since now we know any siding co will trim the door, we don't feel pressured to get the siding done to get the door finished off. Our decision now is whether to go ahead and get the repair done on what dry rot we can see in the eaves/soffits to prevent it from worsening even though the whole roof will probably be redone probably in a year or so. So many decisions and each guy that comes out here seems to open up more issues to think about.

Was checking our Alaska Airlines mileage...we just opened up a new credit card with them...we will keep it for travel purchases only. We got 25,000 bonus miles and supposed to also get a companion ticket and I don't see that in our account and didn't get it by mail so will try to call them today. Dh and I are getting kind of antsy to travel.

Today is also my day to mop my kitchen/dining room floor. Usually do it late at night but perhaps the kids will be gone long enough for me to do it today..hope so.

Hope things are going well with all of you...have a good day!

Thinking of you all - sending a hello 😊

My mac & cheese turned out SO yummy!! I have to double the recipe but usually don't double the salt (because of the cheese), don't remember about the pepper though and this time I doubled it. It was a little peppery but didn't seem to bother dh or anyone and I liked it even better. The good thing (for me anyway) is my son eats so much of it that I can't overeat and I actually got down to my sig weight again this morning. ;) I served it with two veggies...broccoli and beans. My son likes broccoli, so was happy to see him eat a little vegetable at least.

I got the kitchen floor mopped last night, but haven't done much today. When we came home from the gym I laid down for an hour as my leg was hurting. So am starting my work day very late. We want to buy a shrub of some kind for the back yard so offered to go with dh to get it today. It's a cool day so wouldn't be so hot for browsing the nurseries, but he's still resting so not sure we will do it.

Just finished lunch of grilled cheese (lower carb bread, 1 T SB, 1 slice cheese) and Trop 50 OJ. Now to get my computer work done.

Glynne - Glad to hear from you. Hope you are enjoying life.

Carol - Hows the new C-pap going?

Hi Sandy, Karrine!

Summertime and the living is easy....LOL...hope you are all enjoying the summer. It's a cool day so far but it's to get to 78 today...and I think it's to be much hotter again soon, even into the 90s from what I've heard. The kids went to the zoo so we are alone today.

Last night we had panko breaded chicken breast tenderloins with both tater tots and 2 roasted garlic potatoes (not enough of either so did both) and a little leftover corn. Was going to serve a green veggie but forgot and no one cared except me. :( At least I ate pretty well yesterday and my weight was back down to my sig weight. Now my goal is one pound down by the end of this next week...wonder if I can do it:?: I'd love to show my dr I can do it! ;) Just eating better the last three days and my bs is down much better again too. I hope that couple weeks when I ate terrible won't affect my A1C too much. So far my meals have been ok today, but no exercise yet.

We went out this morning and bought a Burning Bush shrub. I've always wanted one of those. Dh is planting it right now. We have room for at least one more large growing shrub (we always buy them small so dh can handle them) and more smaller plants around them I think but we will do it a little at a time.

I want to get another lilac bush but we can never find the large ones here, only the dwarf kind. We are going to another nursery this afternoon to look.
I want the fragrant kind too. We have two dwarf kind in our front yard and one keeps dying on one side...had to cut it off last summer but it grew back again and is now dead again. The leaves crinkle up and turn brown, also the stalk is brown...last year it eventually went black. Gonna have to Google it but I'm wondering ...a pest, disease/mold or what:?:

Not much going on here otherwise. The children finished VBS yesterday so they are free until school starts. I know they have bought some school supplies...I can't imagine the cost...I remember the last time I had to buy them, it was a small fortune!

Enjoy your summer....

Mary, back when I was in school, the school provided the supplies. Do you remember that? We didn't have to bring so much as a pencil. Some kids had book bags, but most didn't. That was before they started having back packs. And we went home for lunch, so didn't need a lunch box. We stayed at school for lunch in high school but most just brought their lunch in a brown paper bag of ate the school lunch. My parents would not have had money for school supplies.

Our neighbor gave us cuttings from his lilac bushes years back and they must be about 12 ft high now. I have to stay inside when they're blooming as I am highly allergic, but it wasn't too bad for me this year.

Our other neighbor has 3 burning bush that border our yard. Once, when their house was for sale, DH dug out a piece of root and planted it in our yard, but when it grew, it didn't look like burning bush so he dug it out. LOL That's what he gets for "stealing."

I have been sticking to low carb for several days now. My blood sugar has been so good that it makes me think my meter is broken. LOL In the area of 105-110 all day yesterday, even 2 hr after dinner, and then 125 this morning. That's the lowest fasting I've had since 2009. I have not been taking Amaryl, just Metformin. I am not good at sticking to this long term, so I don't know how long it will last, but these readings will factor in to my next A1c and should lower it a bit. Who knows, this might become my new WOE. I just don't think about the carbs, and so far there has been enough for me to eat without them.

Today, we are going to a local amusement park for step-daughter's work picnic. I don't know how that's going to be, as our temps have been around 90 with high humidity. They warn the elderly to stay out of the heat, and we are both heart patients. If it's too bad, we won't stay long. My plan is to eat a burger without a bun at the lunch, and avoid the Potato Patch and ice cream stand. The Potato Patch serves french fries topped with just about anything you want, and it usually a must for a visit to the park. I know DH will indulge in both, but I will try not to. That's the plan, but you know what happens to plans.

Yesterday morning my left foot was hurting, then by evening that felt better and the right ankle started hurting. Don't know what's going on, but it might bother me walking around the park. I don't want to wear my ankle brace.

Ouch! on needing a new roof, Mary. That's a big expense, but things have to be done sooner or later. Your house will look so nice with the new door, and the new roof and siding when it's finished.

I like my old CPAP mask better than this new one. It seems to stay in place better. But I'm hearing that the old one is being discontinued. I bought some flat hair clips that help hold it in place, so that will work. I just know I can't use one of those bigger bulky ones.

Have a good day, everyone!