Wow, Newie...so busy! A mom's work is never done huh? Sounds like you're getting a good workout thru it all.

Cyan, that salad sounds yummy. I had grilled chicken salad tonite to try to make up for the 3 brownies I ate today!

I only had time to walk 2 miles today. Probably wont have time at all tomorrow because of an extra busy schedule but hoping to get those miles on up there this weekend.

It's almost the weekend..Hooray! Everyone have a great one!

Miki

I love fridays...its so weird...just the other day..it was monday...it seems like the days between monday and friday vanish!

Well, I am continuing with my protein with every meal plan...and I am slowly getting used to it...I try to keep my protein intake for the day at 30% of my total calories...it is very challenging for me to do this. Anyway....

have a great weekend everyone and stay OP

Cyan

Hi, everyone! I am working from 1 to 8 today, so I get to spend the morning at home. I've been going so much lately that I have been keeping my workouts to job-related activity--I walk from one end of the store to the other all day anyway during this season--and I don't mean a strolling pace either. Tomorrow I'm going to spend most of my day out in the yard gardening and mowing the grass, so I'm resting up for that too. You wouldn't believe the weeds I have in my flowers and outside my back fence!--it's shameful.

I had an interesting but scary event yesterday. Our cat swallowed a 2-inch piece of yarn--tore it right off the ball my daughter had in her hand while she was playing with her! I've heard that swallowed linear objects in cats can be dangerous, so I called the vet for advice. They told me that if no vomiting, diarrhea, or yarn hanging out from the rectum (yuk!--they said not to pull it--ugh!!--I don't think I'd want to) happened within approximately 24 hours, she'd probably have no ill effects. It's been over 24 hours, and nothing bad has happened, but I plan to watch her for a few days more, nonetheless. Maybe she'll pass it. (I just love watching poop.) Also, no cat in my house is going to even look at yarn again. Cyan--have you had any experience of this type with your cats? It really scared me.

I'm doing okay on the food, I guess. The slow weight loss is rather frustrating, as I know you all know. I'm going to keep sticking with it, though, since I know from all of you that it will pay off in the end. Yesterday I ate Subway salad for lunch and McDonald's salad for dinner. Too much lettuce and not enough real food. Because they didn't satisfy me, I ate 2 slices of low carb bread with butter and a 2-cup bowl of Life cereal in the evening. I really need to keep the protein level up.

Well, got to go--it's 11:22. I've got an hour before I leave for work. Talk to you later.

Man its been hot and humid and gray in montreal...ugh

One of my refrigerators broke...and I lost all of my food in the breezer and fridge...I was so angry because I had shrimp and sole and frozen lunch diet food...and soy milk and....not fair...all gone....we have an upstairs kitchen we dont use often and I guess it must have stopped working a few days ago because everything was warm....so now I gotta get it fixed or buy a new fridge...very angry about this.

Newie..I have not had Molly or Cyan eat yarn..although when Molly was a kitten, she did have a penchant for dust bunnies..she would fish them out from underneath our appliances and eat them that sure gave me a fright..but she gave that up..she must of had a bad experience with a dust bunny. She now prefers carbs and fatty meats...cheese, cats milk and bacon...strangley enough..she is very thin..weighs about 7 pounds soaking wet...naturally thin I guess..she's abyssinian.

Cyan is a gourment kinda cat...stritckly finer cuts of meat, shrimp and his favorite lobster....he only gets that on his birthday...and christmas. Shrimp he gets a couple of times per week along with chicken breast...yes I know, I over indulge my cats...but to me they are my furchildren. Cyan is a big boy..weighs in at 17 pounds but he is not fat...he's big boned and a wild abyssinian..his dad weighed 17 pounds too.

Anyway, its late ..have a great rest of weekend

Cyan

Hi everyone...just a quick hello. How is everybody doing? Good, I hope. I didnt get to walk Fri or Sat, but yesterday I walked 2 miles and today 3 so I'll eventually get them back up there. Anyway, really busy so cant stay. just wanted to ck in...Later!

MIKI

Just checking in to say hi to all. Went to the dr's yesterday to have an endo....something or other done. Nothing serious, just an intestinal infection. He figures I have been hungry but ignored the pains and kept going on. Pretty much on target. We don't have set times to eat, especially dinner. I pretty much have to wait til everyone gets back from basketball to start eating. And that can be around 7pm. So dr said to eat more smaller meals and not just 3main meals.
I did ask him about the Xenical and he said it wouldn't cause any problems at all. Actually he said it was a safe medicine.

Well, as of today I am at 183lbs!!!!!!!!!! already 2lbs below my prepregnancy weight!!!!! i am so happy. My clothes are starting to feel great too. And I am getting compliments. I know if I exercised and all it would be even better. This is helping get a great jumpstart on things.
Hey, did I tell you all about pix I put on our website of the boys? www.morninglightministries.org check out the photos page. The top one is from 2 weeks ago.

Well, need to clean my house not fun, but such is life.

Hi, everyone! I've been alternately very busy and crabby over the last few days, which is why I haven't posted. Saturday I spent about 6 hours in the yard--got lots done but not nearly close to being caught up. That's pretty much my life these days. I think that's why I'm so crabby--constantly behind on everything.

I've not lost any more weight, but I did lose another half-inch off my bust line. If I was walking, I'm sure I'd do better. That's another area where I am behind.

Our cat Nikki has seemed to survive the yarn eating incident with no ill effects. I am mad at her, though, because she has been sleeping with hubby and me since we got her, and she has been taking up more and more of my side of the bed, which means I don't get a good night's sleep (probably another reason for my crabbiness). She started out at the foot of the bed and then moved up next to me. She spreads out--all 10 pounds of Mackerel tabby that she is--across the bed with her head hanging over the side and her tail swatting me. I've not been able to get her out no matter what I've done. I guess it's a funny sight, except when you are the person not able to sleep because of a cat hogging your sleeping space. I've been feeling like the piece of bologna in a bologna sandwich--hubby is 6'2"--225 pounds, and we sleep in a full-size bed. Well, last night both hubby and I kept putting her out onto a cat bed on the floor next to me. We must have put her out over half a dozen times. Finally she got the point and went to her own bed. I am sure there will be more nights like that, but I can't give up. I need to take back my bed!!

Only 2 more weeks till school starts--thank God!! My girls are driving each other and me absolutely crazy. All this summertime togetherness is too much. One good thing--they have learned a lot about chores, though they think it's punishment. They now know how to do the dishes, use the clothes dryer (the older one is in process of learning to use the washer too), fold clothes, and vacuum the living room rug. I have told them I am preparing them to one day live out on their own, but I know they won't appreciate those skills till they are actually out in the world. Till then I guess I'll just have to suffer through the complaining.

Sorry for the not-too-positive attitude of this post. It's been a rough few days. I do feel better, though, having vented. Thanks for listening/reading. I'll talk to everyone tomorrow. Bye for now.

Newie...very funny cat story...I too used to have the same problem with Cyan....so now he sleeps downstairs with Molly..he's ok with that.

I have been very bad with the excercising...although I have been doing lots of heavy cleaning...but still bad with the exercising...foodwise...not bad at all..I have been avoiding junk food and overeating and I am making sure I get enough protein with each meal.

I also stopped taking the pill last month so I am waiting to see the effects this will have on my body...so so good...my gyne said that I might gain weight if I stopped the pill but so far so good...keep the fingers crossed.

Taiwan....wooooohooooooo you go girl....it is no nice to hear that you are doing wonderfully well with your weight loss...keep going my friend...you inspire me to keep going too...

All of you lovely ladies do...you rock!

Hey Miki...all that walking...you should have reached Montreal by now You rock...pretty soon we will all me in the best shape of our lives...yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Okay ladies...gotta get back to work

Cyan

Hi, ladies! I'm feeling better today, though it will be a long one with bingo facing me tonight. Work is very busy, of course. Last night my food wasn't the best--it was our anniversary, and my husband brought take-out Mexican home for us--I ate half a burrito and some homemade tortilla chips, but the carbs made me feel not right all evening long. First, I craved protein, which I had in some cheese and cottage cheese. Then I craved cereal. I had a small amount before going to bed. On the low-carb diet I've been eating lately, I really don't have cravings. I also had trouble stopping on the tortilla chips. Well, I guess I'm learning what is good for my body and what isn't.

Cyan, it's good to see you comfortable with the higher protein level in your diet. Do you notice feeling any better with the change?

Congratulations, Taiwan, on your weight loss. That's great--and good to hear that the Xenical isn't dangerous for you.

Weather here is weird--cool and humid. I keep opening the windows to let cool air in; then a few hours later I close them and put the AC on because I can't stand the humidity. I guess that's life in the 21st century.

Hey, Miki, how are you doing? I know you said you were really busy. Take care of yourself.

Well, got to go--talk soon. Bye for now.

Its hump day...I smelling the weekend ladies!

Hey Newie...to answer your question...I dont really feel all that different but its too early ...I think I need more time...I know that when I eat a heavy carb meal...I feel bloated but thats about it.

Well I gotta get going on my work here so I will chat with you guys later

Cyan

Hi everybody!

I just got in from walking my 3 miles. Where in the world do the hours go everyday?? I just cant seem to find time to get done in a day what all needs to be done. I mean, working, cooking, eating, and exercising and the day is over. Seems that I just got home and all of a sudden, it's bedtime. It's driving me crazy!!

School starts Monday here. Hoping that will help me get back on a normal schedule but then again, I'm dreading the homework starting. Luke and I don't click when it comes to Math. He hates it anyway, isnt great at it, then procrastinates and drags it out the entire evening.

Newie, my kids are just like yours. They honestly cannot get along for 5 minutes. They've also gotten more chores over the summer. I can tell you they havent been thrilled about that. Josh, my 13 yr old, now washes dishes and folds clothes. Luke, who is 11, has to vacuum and dust the living room. They are both responsible for their own rooms and beds of course.

Cyan, if you havent gained already over the last month, hopefully you wont. Sometimes there is a gain getting on the pill then a loss getting off. That would be nice huh? I'm so sorry to hear about your refrigerator breaking. That happened with our freezer two different times. It's VERY aggravating to think of all that wasted food. One of those times was the one and only time I actually put up fresh veggies out of the garden...had okra, corn, green beans, etc....lost it all.

Taiwan, you better follow doctor's orders with your eating. You have to be healthy when the new addition is on his/her way. I think getting to your pre-pregnancy weight may be a sign.

Hope everyone else is having a good week. It's halfway over!

Well, I'm going to check out Taiwan's boys now. I saw the link last time but forgot to go to it. Deana, We wanna see YOU too, ya know!

Miki

Deana, just had to come back and tell how adorable your kids are!! Makes me want to just squeeze them!

Miki

Its thursday....yeeeehaaaaaaaa...although my boss just asked if I could come into work on saturday..I was thinking when pigs fly backwards..... ....Uhhhhhh Noooooooo wayyyyyyyy...

Anyway, I am so hungry right now...thank goodness its almost lunchtime...I brought a turkey wrap sandwich....pita wholewheat...cant wait to munch down on that!

Hey Miki...I dont think I have gained weight since stopping the pill...but I will be weighing myself this weekend so I will let you know.

Hey Deanna...congrats on your weight loss...wow 2 pounds below pre-pregancy weight...do you want more kids? Miki mentioned something about another one on the way!

Newie hows the weather! Very hot and humid here in Montreal but I think my saturday ...things will be cooling down so thank goodness for that. Keep walking and doing your thing

We should have a posting of our weight and or measurements..like we did in the past..to kinda see where we are at...any takers..let me know

Cyan

Cyan, that was cute. You should say "when it snows in Taiwan":-) I wouldn't work on Saturday either. Crazy people!!! Well, we would like to try for a girl, so nothing yet, but yes, we'd like another. I've always wanted 4 kids of my own. Though since dh is from a family of 5boys and one girl, I think our chances are slim. I would like to be closer to prepregnancy weight with Joshua (that's only 20lbs more:-o) Actually, when I get to the states, I am thinking of joining WW and going off this pill. I don't want to be using a pill all my life.
Miki--thanks for the comments about my munchkins. They are my babies. Today we went to the lake and Josiah has NO FEAR of the water while Joshua stays as far away as possible. They are so opposite, yet so alike. Any pix of me will be head shots only --lol!!
Sounds like all are doing well. Newi, I bet your girls will be just as happy as you (maybe!) about going back to school. DId you check out the book The Five Love Languages of Children? Were you the one i recommended it to?

Well, hope the others are ok. has anyone figured out where ladyrider went? Gotta go as it's midnight!!!

deana

Hi, all! Thanks goodness it's Friday, though my life won't get any easier this weekend. I have to take hubby for an eye test where his pupils are dilated, and after that we're going shopping for beds. Then Sunday we have to go to a 1st birthday party for our great niece. After that we're going to see "Open Range" with Kevin Costner and Annette Benning--I guess you could call it a late anniversary date--our 14th was this past Tuesday. I'm working 1-8 today, so you think I could get something done at home in the morning, but I have two important errands to take care of, so forget about that. So, Miki, I feel your pain about the go, go, go pace--I feel it too. It's housework, laundry, meals, work, garden. Then you go to bed, and there it is all over again the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next. There doesn't seem to be a break from it, and there just doesn't seem to be time to finish anything. I'm constantly behind in EVERYTHING!! Also, work at this time of year leaves me so exhausted that I get home and don't feel like doing anything. I get so frustrated sometimes. I would just like to have a week or so where I didn't have to do ANYTHING.

To respond to your question about the weather, Cyan, the weather here in Chicago is now the PITS! For a while it was nice--70's and low 80's. But then it got humid and cool, and now it's very humid and hot. I hate it. The air is so thick you can see it. I am so grateful we were not affected by the black-out in the East. What a nightmare! Those poor people out there! Did you feel any effects? I haven't heard Montreal mentioned on the news, but I heard that the lights went out during a Montreal Expos game about the time it all happened.

Taiwan, you did mention that book to me, but I haven't had time to go find it. I wrote the title down, and the next time I get into a bookstore, I'll look for it. Thanks.

Well, it's about time for me to go. I have to get hubby's lunch together, and then it's time to start the day's rat race. My food isn't bad, though I ate some pretzels yesterday at work because I didn't bring enough food for lunch. I am drinking a pretty good amount of water. I also found that juice bars/popsicles help relieve hot flashes for me. I'm going to look for some sugar free ones when I go to the grocery store next. I am also watching my sodium intake. I've found it causes me to retain water. Okay, I'm really going now. Have a good weekend, all!