Aww Dee, you do look very cute! I'm glad things are looking up for your stress level now. I'm hoping mine is better soon also.

The agency asks us if we want to adopt the two baby boys, toddlers. We say yes after thinking hard about it, because we have 3, wanted one more. But this will put us as 5, with the younger four being stairsteps, 4,3,2,1 this fall after all their bdays.. Oldest turns 8 in Oct. ... so our kids would have been 8, 4, 1 and later a newborn if we decided not to adopt these and go on with our original plan. This will be much harder on us but we said yes and will just do the hard work, have 2 potty training and one beginning mid next year... It will be hard. But we said yes! And never heard anything more.... and waited.... and waited then finally called once a week... had to leave a message... nothing again. Then caseworker comes by for her visit, checks my who house as they have since 2001 when we started, have never found anything except toys on our toyroom floor, for which we got a violation which called for unannounced visits to come by and be SURE the toys were not on the toyroom floor any longer. (They can't ever find anything else to gripe at us about so they find these type things.) So we passed - because I stayed up late every nite making sure the entire house was clean and all floors had nothing on them in case she stopped by the next morning. Then I had to follow my kids around making sure they didn't really play with any sets of things, etc. Because if they were on the floor even just put there! they would say we didn't pass. So needless to say we are excited the boys are coming and we are then able to sign on them and tell the agency we are done. No need to ever stop by again.

So we call once a week because we are excited, we want to move forward. We have spaces in our home for them, under our license, what is going on??? and the caseworker who has no children and doesn't understand the turmoil we are going thru every day until we hear, says to my dh, Do not call me every week anymore. We will call you. They may be waiting til next month to move them, blah blah blah. Then tell us that!! -- Now I can see if we were harrassing them but calling once a week and leaving a message?????????????????????

So just letting you know why weight loss is taking a back seat. Yes, this happens to me every time we adopt but until you have been thru it you have no idea. It's like a doctor saying, you are pregnant, well no you are not. then wait a week, you are pregnant for sure. Then another week, no you are not. And being rude to you about it. But we have no control. I'm so tired of having no control in my life changing events.

Gotta run, taking them and a friend of theirs to see Harry Potter later and gotta go shower and bathe the baby, feed the animals, water tomato plants, get them all dressed and fed, etc etc. You get the idea! Stayed up late to sweep and mop and chairs are still up on table. Soooooo clean now.. hate to mess it up. But hey, life goes on. I got to enjoy it for one nite tho!

Hugs to each of you, I will go post weight. It's not as bad as last week's gain and I'm sure I'll stop gaining soon. Alot is salt because I crave it when I worry. Sucks.

I'm still here just been super busy. Have guests for a couple of weeks so things are a little crazy. Went to the beach a couple of times last week. It has been really good weather for it here. HOT and HUMID every day. Happy with the weight loss was hoping for more but TOM came on Sat. so I will take any loss. Jacked up my workouts to two times a day, three times per week. The other three days just one wo.

Selena-Bless your heart. I know what a challenge you are going thru with those agencies. My sis was a foster parent for a few years a long time ago. She ended up adopting one of the children. But the whole process could be frustrating and heart wrenching at times.

Dix-Love the new pic. Glad to hear all is well with the baby.

Have a great monday!

Selena - I've often thought people should be made to pass some sort of test before they are allowed to procreate, but what you're going thru is ridiculous. Toys on a toy room floor, the horror.

We're starting to work on the next BL challenge. Signups will start in the next couple of weeks or so, I think. I'll be out of town again the 13th-18th. And so will the Red Team leader, CruiseCAT. So that weeks results will be posted on the 20th. Which is is my birthday, so how about we go for a win?

I briefly saw 142 on the scale yesterday, but this morning it was gone. It will come back, I'm sure. Which reminds me...I'm very close (12lbs) to my ultimate goal. By the time we start the next challenge, I might only have 10 pounds to lose. Should I not participate as a team member, and just moderate? I can't just not check in with this group, it's what's kept me ontrack. But I could hand over the reigns to someone else so my lack of big weight loss doesn't hinder the teams efforts.

Hi all!

I got back last night from a wonderful relaxing vacation with the family. I had a great time, but also indulged with great food...so I posted a gain this week....but I'm already back on the wagon this morning and hope to post a loss next week. Maybe the change in routine and food will work in my favor to get me going again. I was getting so stagnant on the weight loss, even with exercising and eating right every day....Like my body figured out what I was doing and not giving in anymore.

I have a lot to do to get the house back to normal after being out of town, but I'm going to try to catch up in the thread in the next couple of days.

I did see Dee's new picture! WOW you look great!!

Here's to a great week guys!

~Suzie

everyone!

Selena-Hugs to you and your Family-hope things get settled very soon.

dixied-Please don't leave us, We do need you to stay, as a one of our Blue Teamates. Like you said you need to stay on track and this helps you, so it's settled. You silly girl, try to make us nervous!!

suzie-glad you had a great vacation, and welcome back

Mary-just got mine too, and I had a gain, temporary, but still. Enjoy you time with your company, sounds like you are doing great with activity.

******
well-not a great week, but due to a few blips this week, kinda thought it would be tough. Had to have both big toenails removed on Friday, so no workouts this weekend, do plan to get those sneakers on today, if fact that's what I'm going to do, as soon as I stop chatting. Also had way too much salt, and TOM hit, so wham-o, a slight gain, but I do plan to have a great week, OP and now that my toes are better, can up the exercise.

well have a great Monday and talk to you soon!

ARGH!

Selina - You are one of my heroes. It is a pleasure to have come to know you and know that you are doing such good things for these kids.

Dix - That pic is one of your best yet.

Institches - Ouch to the toenails. I've never lost one and I don't plan to any time soon.

I had 4 days out of town for a family reunion. We had a great turnout and way to much good food. I've been eating leftovers for two days they were so good. Needless to say I will be posting a rather large gain for this week if I don't have a freebie left. I also think that TOM might be rearing his ugly head soon.

I do have good news from this weekend though. I asked my Poppa to ride along when I went for my Saturday morning run. I'm used to running after dinner with temps between 70-80*. It was only 50* at 6:30am when we started. I had plans to do 5 miles but was ready to die a little after 2 and couldn't figure out why other than freezing to death. I got back and did the math and did 2.7 miles with my fastest pace EVER of 12:20. I am very impressed with myself because lately I've been doing between 13-14 min/miles. Plus I had two hills to run up and everything I train on is flat.

Thanks!

I have to admit, losing a toenail would freak me out. I live in Florida, and therefore only own open toed shoes (and running shoes, which can't be worn to work). I'd have to take sick leave until they grew back.

Good job on your run!

To anyone who is feeling burnout: push through it. I've been really stuggling with commitment lately, but the last 3 days have been almost easy. I even had a NSV this weekend. I appeared in public, in a bikini. Looking at our pictures, I still have a way to go, but I looked as good as the 20-somethings that were with us on our tubing trip. (well, expect one of them, but she's too skinny. And I have boobs, not ribs showing. )

Selina - :hugs: Try to keep some time to take care of yourself and treat yourself gently as you go through this stress. You are truly remarkable to work so hard to build a loving home for so many kids!!

Dee - stick around for the next challenge! I would really miss your insight and motivation.

As for me.... ooof I'm tired! Went home to visit my parents and attend a friend's wedding this weekend. Ate too much, but danced up a storm at the wedding, and went for a bike ride with a friend, so we'll see how the scales are tomorrow morning! Had a big NSV - saw lots of people I hadn't seen in months at the wedding and received lots of compliments!

Thank you, all of you. I'm sorry to always bring drama. I swear I would much rather NOT. Everyone knows I'm not a drama queen. I stay out of all the gossip and drama with all my kids' sports parents, all our school parents' drama, I just listen when ppl talk to me directly and then move on. I just don't care for it. So I really apologize for all mine lately. Please pray for us if you have an extra minute.

Dee, wow, that is soooo cool. I'm really happy for you. You are a true inspiration to not give up. I hope you stay on this site forever, even after you hit your last goal. We need more ppl like you.

Hi Mary, Institches, Zinkemom, Marianne, Jacque999, Idealmuse, Suzie, and everyone here. Big hugs to you and hope you are doing well.

My baby hadda go to the doc today, poor sweetie has an ear infection. Gonna go hold her, she woke up just now. On several meds, I feel so bad for her. Now I think I have whatever it is. Hurts so bad to swallow, I'm trying not to! LOL. And feel dehydrated because I don't wanna drink. Thank God she is taking her bottles still. I'm going to doc Wed. a.m. and hopefully will be better soon too. I miss chatting with you all. So sorry things are blah right now. I would much rather be some of your encouragement than a drain on our team. Thanks for listening though. I KNOW at some point THIS type of drama will end. It WILL.

G'nite, Selina

Hi girls - A good week this week I hit my goal weight for the challenge already. Been really busting my butt! 4 more weeks until my big triathlon so I'm hoping to at least get off another 10. I'll still be 10lbs more then I was at the same race last year, but considering where I was headed just a few months back, I'm quite pleased.

Hope everyone is doing alright.

Idealmuse - The idea of doing a triathalon scares me. Good for you for doing those. Running, biking, no problem. Swimming....well, I just sink.


After this week's hohum weigh-in (.01% lost) and dwindling team number (14 members of the Blue team remaining), I needed some happy news.

Here it is:

I took my measurements this morning, and since I started measuring in Sept. 2005, I've lost 49 inches overall. I'll post the breakdown:

Waist - 11
Bust - 7.75
Hips - 10.75
Thighs - 6.25 each
Biceps - 1.5 each
Forearms - 1.25 each
Neck - 1.5

So there, something to celebrate!

Awesome Dixie! That's quite a difference. I wish I had taken measurements at my highest.

Swimming isn't my strong suit. I know how to do it just well enough to get through it to do the other things.

I guess the team players are getting so small because of it being summer and people aren't around as much, plus the show isn't being aired which probably keeps some people motivated.

Being the dork I am for numbers, graphs and charts, I just plotted my training schedule for the next year. I'm running a 10K in Oct, a 15K in Feb and then the biggie...a half marathon next August (in my hometown). I'm determined to do the half marathon, it will be the day after I turn 39. Awesome, huh?

I just saw a quote I love:

If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.
Gail Sheehy