And the hits just keep on coming..........Dm has colon cancer (found that out yesterday). Sounds pretty curable/operable......be back later.
Kitten is VERY cute....see ya later!
Ginny

Ginny:
HUGE PRAYERS FOR YOUR DM! MY MOTHER HAD BREAST CANCER AND A MASTECTOMY A FEW YEARS BACK, THE "C" WORD CAN BE VERY SCAREY. MY MOM IS WELL. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH COLON CANCER. THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL. YOU ARE DEFINTELY ON MY PRAYER LIST. A BIG HUG TO YOU.
Pam

Hey everyone!
One more day til the weekend. I get off half a day tomorrow to go to my son's field day. I'm very excited about that. I am having a harder and harder time just getting out of bed to go to work everyday. I just don't want to get up. It's awful. I feel so tired and drained when I get home. I haven't even cooked dinner. The youngest ate a pot pie. I am going to reheat leftover london broil and just add some cucumber and tomoato to the salad we had last night. We started walking outside again. It's been nice. Perfect weather. We got our pool set up and ready, son and his friend have been swimming every day this week. The water is only 74, still too cold for me. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR. I told him maybe this weekend..........
Eldest son had two job offers today! HMMMMMMM. That was exciting. We've filled out the college application and that is ready to submit. Things are plugging along.
I hope everyone is doing ok.
Talk to you later!
Pam

Pam, thanks so much for the encouraging words and the prayers. I have been bugging mom for years to take care of the darned colonoscopy- of course she procrastinated until she had huge problems- and now of course you know the result.
But, as I now know, it sounds operable and pretty treatable. She goes to the surgeon Tuesday, and I will know more by then But for now, I am running back and forth between NY and NJ.....she is an 70 minutes away...and she has a CAT scan tomorrow.
I will be with her for that. On to you! Oh, these last few days of school are a bear, arent they???? Sorry it is wearing you down so much. But wonderful news about Ds!!!
HOPEFULLY he will get a job- and stick to it???? Too much to ask???? Hmmmmm.......
Which school is he applying to?
Gotta go.....got stuff to take care of for Dm.....running her life now and mine and the kids......I need a rubber room. Forgive me for not getting personal.
Ginny

Hi Ladies,
I am so happy! I am off work until Monday morning. I took tomorrow off as a personal day. So I plan on being lazy and enjoying myself. I do have to go to the BMV to renew my license's plates and that is the only major thing I have to do tomorrow. My birthday is on Sunday and I put my family on notice that this year they had to be nice to me and do what I wanted to do. Since if you remember last year, we eat dinner at my mil's of what the twin ss's wanted and went shopping for baseball stuff on my birthday last year. I think we are going to go hiking for my birthday on Saturday if the weather is nice.
Ginny I will keep you and your dm in my thoughts and prayers. My dad had colon cancer 10 years ago and he is doing fine now. No side effects what so ever. Hugs being sent your way.
Pam, I will keep my fingers crossed for your son and his job offers. Where did he fill out his application for college for? Hang in there for your 1/2 day tomorrow. Enjoy your youngest son's field day. Our field day is next Friday.
Hi to Mouse, Summer, Paisley, and Robyn. Hope you are having a wonderful day! Only one more day until the weekend. YEAH!
Well I better go and get some work done. I have to plan three games for a baby shower that my TOPS group is giving one of the ladies in our group.
Talk to you all later.
Have a great evening!
Take care,
Kerry

Hi, all. I was a missing Mouse, I think. Things are hectic at school... my new TA is out on the sick list again. She never should have come back, and to put her in MY room with a heart condition was just flat out stupid. But, what can I say? I'm not sure if she was there today or not, since I was off; and she was sent home before I left on Thursday for my doctor's appointment.
Doctor's appointment was really interesting. I heard from the endocrinologist locally on Wednesday afternoon, and she was very insistant that I consider gastric bypass. I'm not interested. AT all. Period. End of story. I have loads of reasons, including all the people I know who have had it and had complications, have huge issues with any kinds of food, etc. I can't live my life that way. I have enough issues to not want to add that one.
But, I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw my reproductive endo on Thursday. I should have known better: this woman should be nominated for sainthood. Except she's Jewish. Oh well. Anyway, just for starters: she spent TWO HOURS with me Thursday afternoon. And then asked me to come back in 2 months to check in... her receptionist asked her if she wanted to do a Thursday again, and she said yes. I happened to say that I hoped she hadn't had other patients waiting for her for the 2 hours (she does spend a lot of time with her patients, but this was pretty amazing)... and her receptionist looks at me and says, "Didn't you know? She doesn't see patients on Thursdays!" :blink: !!!! Yea. Okay.
The reason she spent 2 hours with me beyond the actual exam was that she had also talked with the endocrinologist up here, and also does not think gastric bypass surgery will solve anything. She says that she has seen women who have endocrine disorders have the surgery and not really lose weight. She doesn't think that the surgery would solve my root problem. And, in the 4 years since I've started seeing her, we've managed to get a lot of this undercontrol. I am no longer insulin resistant, and this was done WITHOUT support from the medications for IR. I can't take glucophage. The liver function tests are normal, my testosterone is way, way down. Woo hoo!
Of course, this doesn't address the issue of nausea. AS you know, I had another hida scan on Monday. The gastroenterologist called me today with the results: its NORMAL. There is NOTHING wrong with my gall bladder. So why am I nauseated all the time? Who knows. But, they're going strongly with the theory that it is hormonal and related to the endocrine disorder. The CCK injection, which is a hormone, made me pretty sick Monday night. But the gall bladder function was normal.
So, in light of this, and the fact that my disorder most closely resembles PCOS... I am no longer allowed to have ANY refined sugars, or sugar, at all period. No flour or wheat. I'm basically allowed to eat lean protein, green vegetables (no carrots or tomatoes and not all green veggies either), and lowfat dairy products. Any non-caffinated, non-caloric liquid (there goes both my propel (it has corn syrup!), and PepsiOne (it has caffeine!) I want, as long as I drink 64 or more ounces of it a day.
Ginny: Prayers for your mother are going out, and for you too!
Kerry, Pam, Paisley, Robyn: I'm thinking about all of you... Robyn, what did the OT try to do????? I'm curious!!!!

Evening Ladies,
Well I spent my whole entire personal day from school, cleaning our house. I didn't realize that is was that dirty until after I started. I worked on it all day long. When my dh came home from work, he was like you did a nice job. You didn't have to give it such a cleaning though since we have the kids this weekend. I told him that it needed to be done and that next week we are to have an appraisal done on the house for our home improvement loan. So he will have to do the minor cleaning up after the kids go home on Sunday evening. But we did go out to dinner tonight and had a nice time. I surprised one of our friend's by not getting a beer to drink with dinner. I had a Sprite and then switched to water. So I was pleased with myself.
So tomorrow morning I get to go and do all the running that I needed to do today and didn't get it done. I especially have to go get my license plates renewed tomorrow morning. Then if it doesn't rain in the afternoon we are going hiking.
Mouse, glad to hear that your doctor's appointment went well. Sounds like you have a nice doctor who really cares about your health.
Hello to Ginny, Robyn, Summer, Pam and Paisley.
Hope you all have a nice relaxing weekend.
Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

My apartment is in about the same state, Kerry. I sympathize. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be home much more this weekend (I am ONLY in my apartment now because the street our garage fronts onto is closed for a stupid parade. How can you close an ENTIRE STREET DOWN and not allow residents out??? With no warning????), since I need to run around to buy stuff for the new "diet"... mostly so I can keep it up during the camping trip. I also have to buy a tent, and sleeping pad. And then I'm gone 3 days next week because of the camping trip and the following weekend over Memorial Day a really good guy friend of mine (friend from college that I haven't seen in 2 years!) is coming down. He's going to stay with me so he can go to the local SF Convention.
I'm taking the "I don't have any time!" and lazy way out: I'm calling a cleaning service. I don't have much of a choice since I'm working 14 days in the next 2 weeks, plus gone on the trip for 3 of them. But I have to pre-clean a bit: I can't have them see how freaking dirty the place is! So, today I'm going to vaccuum and mop the kitchen floor, and do laundry. Get it put away. I'll call the cleaning lady on Monday from work, I hope she's still around.

Afternoon Ladies,
Well I have got all my errands done this morning. I didn't have to wait in any lines anywhere. Not even at the BMV. Usually there is a long line there and I will just sit and read a book. I did make it to Curves this morning and then came home to take a mile walk with my sdd. I have decided that we wouldn't take the chance of going hiking today because of the possible thunderstorms we are to get. So I think we might just stay home and rent movies. But they will be the ones that I want to watch. LOL. My one sds wants to play UNO this afternoon too. So that sounds like a fun way to spend the day inside.
Mouse, so does your doctor think if you change your diet, than you will lose some of your weight? I am glad to hear that there are some doctor's out there that don't believe in that gastric bypass surgery. There are many people in my area that had it and are having some major health problems related to it. That scares me that the doctors didn't do enough studies to research all the side effects and benfits from the surgery. Sounds like you are going to be really busy the next few weeks.
So how is everyone else today? I hope you are able to find some time to relax after the hetic week we have all had.
Ginny, how was your dm's doctor's appointment. I have been saying prayers for you both.
Well I better go and get my shower for the day. Oh wait my dh wants me to give him a haircut. Remember when I gave him his last haircut,minus the guard. LOL For some reason, he is setting up the clippers for me. I guess he doesn't want to look like Mr. Clean again.
Talk to you all later.
Kerry

I'm proud to report that the laundry, vaccuuming, dishes and everything that was supposed to get done today got done. I'm told the street will be open by 3:30, which is good so I can get my quilts from the dry cleaner too! I dropped them off more than a month ago, figuring that since they were near the gym, I'd get tthere eaiser. Yea, right.
I'll go there first, then BJs to buy the tent and some of the stuff I need.
There will probably be a side-effect of losing weight on the diet. It so closely resembles Atkins that I'm not sure how I can avoid losing weight on it; its also seriously low-calorie since I'm only allowed fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein and low-fat dairy. Its different from Atkins since I'm allowed to have the fruit (only berries, though... no pears, apples, oranges, peaches, plums, no canned fruit at all) and low fat dairy. On Atkins, you're not allowed to have real milk and some other dairy. She basically went over my food log and anything that EVER was in a meal that made me sick I'm not allowed to eat... She did leave some things that we're pretty sure can't cause issues like ground beef, ground turkey, romaine lettuce, low-fat feta cheese... because that's all plain food with nothing added.
She encouraged me to do most of my shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joes, and minimal shopping at the chain stores... I'll probably buy meat at the chain stores, since the ones I shop at have kosher sections, so those might be better. I did buy some awesome fish at Whole Foods the other day that wasn't much more expensive than the chain grocery.
I am using my counter-top grill a lot: I had my "dinner" for lunch today because of swimming lessons... Grilled some ocean perch, and bok choy with garlic and soy sauce, then steamed broccoli with pepper and low-fat olive-oil based margarine.
I do have some low-carb whole wheat tortillas that I'm allowed to have... but not a lot. I suppose I lose weight: I've had like 600 calories today, and I was stuffed after lunch. I'm going to have a piece of string cheese for a snack with a couple of strawberries before I leave for swimming.

Gee, glad that everyone is in the cleaning mode......anyone want to come up here and help me dig out????????

Sorry- gonna have to be brief. Life is sure getting hectic.

Mouse- I am SO happy for you!!!!!! Sounds as though you just might have found an MD that understands....and has some answers. Let us know how the new eating plan goes....I am praying for you.

Kerry- wishing you a WONDERFUL birthday! Do I dare ask, did you give Dh a haircut? (and yes, I remember the last one). You deserve a great day.....lots of love and happiness and relaxation. I so hope you have a great day.

As for me, this week looks busy. Dm meets with the surgeon Tuesday- and we should know more by then. Wednesday I am driving a trip to a park.....with 3 other drivers who are great company, so even though I will be working all day, it will be fun. Plan on going for a long walk that day. Things will probably be normal until Wednesday or Thursday- whenever Dm's surgery is. The CAT scan showed the mass a bit larger than they original thought- however her liver is clean and the mass seems to be all the cancer (or precancer) there is. So it is just waiting for the surgery now. Could bore you with lots more, but that is the gist of it.
Gotta go.......and just a question for the asking......why are men such knuckleheads??
Or maybe insensitive louts a better phrase!!!! They should NEVER ever wonder why some women read romantic novels......being that a tender thought would never occur to them and heaven forbid voice a kind word to their wife?!?

Ok, nuff of me bellyaching.....just not finding much romance in a baseball glove. Sorry had to vent. See ya.....
ginny

Hey guys!
Hope all is well with you all. Busy day here. I am sad to report that you all can not add me to the cleaning list today. I worked in the yard all day! Plus, had to run interference with my son's ex-girlfriend(who is my best friend's daughter!) and his current girlfriend. It was crazy. Things could get interesting around here since the ex girlfriend is back from NY and going to go to school here. The current girlfriend is leaving for college in August. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM. I love them both so I know my son is still walking around with a swelled head and would just love to see them both mud wrestling or something.! I did a lot of manual labor. i planted a flat of marigolds, five pots of plants, put cages around the tomatoes, weeded......Still have a rose bush to plant and about four more plants on the deck, but I'll do that tomorrow afternoon. Then, went for a walk. Of course, from now until school starts again you will have to kick a path through my house. I hate to be inside when it is so pretty outside. I have been doing very well with eating this week, and walking, hopefully I will finally get unstuck! I am currently very motivated to keep working towards my goal, so that's something. I have never ever, ever, stayed with a weight loss plan this long. To be honest, I usually don't make it past the end of January. I am so proud of me! It really helps that my husband and I are doing this together. It really makes a difference. We have both lost weight, and when one of us cheats, we both cheat! So, it's working out really well.
No time to get personal, I'm pooped.
Hugs to all!

EIGHT MORE SCHOOL DAYS FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you tell I'm a little excited?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pam

Okay, I promise: no more messages from me today!
I did my shopping at BJs... one tent, and 8 different kinds of tuna fish. Okay, I'm exaggerating; its only 3 different kinds. I bought some of the single-serve cans with the flip top for the camping trip and school lunches. I bought the larger cans for school lunch, and dinner. I also found pre-marinated and cooked albacore steaks. One was ginger-soy, and the other was lemon-pepper. I can have both, and one whole steak is 170 calories. All of it was wild caught, too. I love fish as it is, but its such a pain to have to cook when I don't get home till after 6:30 most days.
I'm using my counter-top grill lots, as I said: I had the string cheese and strawberries with no-fat sour cream as a snack before leaving for the shopping and swimming lessons. After swimming lessons, I went over to the chain store to pick up some egg whites and other perishables that I don't want to buy at BJs... their containers are just too big for one person!
I was actually HUNGRY when we finished swimming lessons, too. I can honestly say I haven't been hungry in months. I only ate because I knew I had to. So, I came home and used the grill on a couple of 93% lean burgers... to which I added low-fat cheddar slices, and guacamole. I admit to some ketchup as well, but not more than a teaspoon. I'm sure its not on the list since it not only has tomatoes, it has sugar in it!
I hope the little bit is okay; I figured the little bit of miracle whip in the tuna fish, and the ranch dressing on the salad were okay too.
Even with all I ate today, I had less than 1300 calories! I also drank 52 ounces of liquid... I forgot to bring water into the pool with me.
AND, the best thing about all this? I haven't been sick since Thursday morning!! And I mean not just throwing up, but only really mild nausea. That is more than likely caused by the medications and is unavoidable... All of the medicines I take have a side-effect of nausea, but its mild enough that I can ignore it.
We'll see if I'm still raving about this diet next week once I go back to work & the camping trip. I still need to go to Target and buy the camp pad. I didn't want to buy another air mattress since I already have an Aerobed for guests... But that needs electricity to blow up, and its huge; BJs had the kind with the built-in pump but no electricity needed.
Ginny: Thinking about you and your mom.
Pam: I am SOOOO jealous! 8 days! I have like, seriously, 30. Oh, and on that note: I have a serious offer from one of the Northern VA districts. They sent me a letter of intent to hire in the mail; but they won't guarantee grade level or type of class. As bad as things are where I am at, I at least have a class I want, with a nicely stocked classroom, and the tuition reimbursement. I'm so afraid that if I leave where I am now, especially if they don't WANT me to go, that I will have trouble getting into the doctoral program at Hopkins. Many administrators at the high school are involved in the special ed department at the University. And they are well-respected, so have influence. And that is important to me. I also can't guarentee that the stress level would be better in a different school. True, the union would stop some of the basest harrassment (like telling me I smell, or forcing me to see a therapist over a comment made by another staff member).
ARRRGH!

'Morning!

Pam- I am so jealous.....8 days left!? Like Mouse, we have almost 30, I think the official # is 27 for me. Have to make a paper chain for the days left....each day while waiting for dismissal one student takes off the link. Oddly enough, it was the older students on my route that asked for it....not the little ones. But you have only 8 links left......happy for you. BTW, can I buy tickets for the mud wrestling championship??? hehehehehe Congrats on staying OP so long too......sounds as though this is going to work for you!

Mouse- gee, speaking of things working out for you......I am optimistic that this new eating plan will be great for you!!!! I can identify with the no hunger thing- what a wonderful sign. This might just be the mix of foods right for you. Congrats on the letter of intent too....one great thing you have going for you is that now you have a choice. Should you decide to stay you can at the least say that you chose to stay as opposed to had to stay. Sometimes change is good, however. Leaving my last job (was self employed for 10 years) was very liberating, although somewhat terrifying at the same time. Remember all the grief Robyn went thru????? Yet it has all still worked out for her and she seems happier. You are a wise woman, and I am sure will make the right decision for you.
gotta go get ready for church. See ya!
Ginny

BTW, I must apologize for last nites outburst. Dh did apologize himself.....realized what a jerk he was.
Ginny