According to what I've seen, keep the humidity down and use diatomaceous earth to deter them. Usually they aren't a problem to gardens (unless of course you have new seedlings coming up--they like to eat those as well as dead vegetation).

Lily-- I have the same situation as you with your daughters. My younger dd (13) has no weight issues and is constantly complaining about what we eat. She is always telling me how her clothes are too big and falling off of her-- grrrrr..... I know it really bothers my older dd that her sister is a "stick". My mom was 5'7" and weighed between 95-105 pounds her whole life-- she could never keep a pound on no matter what she ate. I don't know why none of us inherited those genes! At least my younger dd doesn't have a weight issue but she isn't that thin.

Megan--I need to check into thrift/consignment stores. Thanks for the suggestion.

So these days I'm trying out calorie cycling, but not on purpose! I'm out of town quite a few days in April, where I tend to splurge , and then I'm very careful when I'm home so...calorie cycling it is! It's actually working okay today. If I go away, I avoid the scale for a few days to try to drop at least any water weight from what I imagine is a lot of sodium (among other things). Today I was thrilled to be below my red line!! I'm trying to maintain through April and focus on possible losing a couple more pounds.

I'm jealous of all the gardeners out there! We've had some great weather here for a few days and I do see my tulips just breaking through, but otherwise that's it. What I really need to do is get out there and do some spring cleaning...the yard is a mess really!

Megan - great idea to bring the coffee and filters! I don't think my DH would really be thrilled with my bringing a coffeemaker on our trips but good coffee would make all the difference. Until now I have never even used those coffeemakers...I'm happy to go out for my morning coffee.

I hope everyone is having some nice spring weather and is able to get out and enjoy it.

Hi ladies, my son called home from the Army base in Wisconsin this morning. They let all the soldiers call home to check on family after the massive storms we had last night. We are all fine, but there were several tornadoes that touched down within about 20 miles of us. The schools and many public buildings are closed within about a 100 mile radius of us due to wind/tree/hail damage with broken windows everywhere. I hope our good luck holds out as we are under tornado warnings again for this afternoon. With 60 MPH winds again, I pray my new roof doesn't blow off. I have left my hallway set up as our "safe place" for now with blankets, pillows, flashlight, lighter, candles and radio all accessible for us.

My sleep was miserable last night with the tornado sirens blarin and Molly smashed up against me in bed. Lucy got on the foot of the bed and everytime I tried to move my legs, she licked my feet. LOL.

I had an 1800 calorie day yesterday, so went over my limit. Will try to do much better today. The increase was because DH wanted to eat Mexican food at his favorite restaurant yesterday. I felt decent that I stuck to grilled chicken, rice and beans and left about 1/3rd of my food on my plate. I didn't touch the big basket of fresh tortilla chips or queso, that's an improvement for me. After the calorie high lunch I wanted to skip dinner, but was hungrier than ever. So instead went ahead and ate my low calorie dinner just like I normally would have.

We didn't get to start on the new hallway floor last night because the electricity kept going off. I did buy enough wood laminate yesterday for the hallway and computer room so hopefully we can work on it tonite.

Jessica, I'm noticing several rabbits in my yard again too. I haven't even got my garden planted yet. I'm still waiting on DH to till my ground. I can't gripe though cause every time he has his week off, I'm keeping him very busy with the inside remodeling.

Michele, I wish we all had those skinny genes here, but we don't. Shelbey is definitely more overweight than Lacy, but Lacy cares and Shelbey doesn't. (well I know it bothers her, but not enough yet to do anything about it). Even Lacy's get healthy attempts are usually short-lived. Shelbey's biggest problem is that she absolutely won't give up drinking an enormous amount of regular Dr. Pepper. I know that she drinks enough of this daily to ever keep from losing a single pound.

Lily - I hope the tornadoes don't come too close! When I told my parents I was moving to Indiana they were terrified I'd get killed in a tornado. I pointed out to them that they have a better chance of being killed in a major earthquake, because at least you can know that a tornado is coming! LOL about your dogs, that is too cute.

No skinny genes in my family either. It's been a struggle for me, and my mom has struggled with her weight too. My dad is very overweight, and he'll complain about it sometimes, but he refuses to exercise or change his eating habits. I'm kind of excited because my sister decided that she is going to lose some weight (she had gained a lot with law school and the stress of the bar exams), and her girlfriend is going to do it with her, so I think she has enough support to actually do it. She's good about exercise and is reasonably fit, so it is more about eating habits for her. I sent her links to my favorite cooking light recipes and a recommendation for mindless eating (the book), since she had asked for some advice. I wish we could do it together or I could provide support in person, but she lives in NYC. I'm hoping to take a trip out there sometime this summer.

In other news, our fence will be installed soon! They called me yesterday and said they're expecting our parts to arrive any day, so they want to go ahead and get started with setting up for installation and installing the posts. I'm guessing some day soon we'll come home to those little utility line marker flags all over our lawn. And you know what the fence means . . . we can get a dog!!! I'm so excited! DH is kind of freaking out about the responsibility though. We agreed that if we can't handle the responsibility of taking care of a dog, then we won't have children.

Jessica, Lucy hops in my bed everynight cause she thinks it is her bed too. LOL. Molly only jumps up there when it storms. She is scared to death of storms. Then she gets right up on the pillows and as close to me as possible. There just is no comparison to having hyperventilating dog breath in your face all night. LOL.

People are always amazed that I've lived in OK all my life and never actually saw a tornado! This is definitely tornado country. I'd be even more afraid of an earthquake. I visited California after I graduated from high school. There was a small "tremble" when I was there and it scared me tremendously. I guess it's whatever you get used to. From my experience, this little town is very generous with using the tornado sirens.LOL.

, we get up to five cats in bed with us at night. It would be OK except for the one who likes to loudly purr and wash herself while sleeping in between our heads.

It's spring here! It just lifts my spirits to look out at sunshine and daffodils (that, and finishing my taxes lifts my spirits too!) I'm swapping out winter clothes for summer and trying to find a place to put everything. I would kill for one of those fantastic walk-in closets like new houses have these days. Lily, will you come build one for me?

I'm down 4.6 pounds since Monday, so everything I gained in Florida was water weight. It seems like if I buckle down and get it off right away, it doesn't "stick", but if I screw around, the fat beds down and doesn't want to leave. So my lesson is to get it off ASAP, not "tomorrow".

Robin, I have to thank you for the frozen banana idea. Oh my gosh, that's the best dessert ever! I sliced mine in one inch circles and can just pop a few and it's like those little Dove ice cream mini-thingies.

Lily, I think that 1800 calories on day with Mexican food is really good! You could easily have eaten triple that number if you hadn't been paying attention.

Goal, don't change anything that you're doing! No way have you gained five pounds of fat. Antibiotics as well as anti-inflammatories cause me to gain weight, so I'm sure that's what's going on with you. I know how easy it is to be freaked out by the scale, but you watch -- your weight will go right back to normal as soon as you're done with meds.

Anne, there's hope! My first was DD, an extremely high maintenance child who never slept and would only let herself be held by me. DS came along and was totally different -- he took naps! He was mellow and easy going! It all worked out. (I'm not going to talk to you about teenage years though!)
You're in the 60s now -- practically the home stretch!

to everyone else! Is everyone going to do Gary's 5K this weekend?

Meg, my house doesn't have huge closets either. Hmmm, maybe should be added to my list of remodeling projects. When I was obese, I didn't have that many different outfits. Now I need oodles of more closet space cause my wardrobe keeps growing and thankfully my size is staying pretty much the same. I LOVE clothes now!

That is for sure about the 1800 cal's yesterday. I'm not gonna beat myself up over it. I could have done tons worse.

My collarbones and hipbones are really sticking out and I'm beginning to feel really "thin" again. Life is Good. I had felt sick and bloated and fat for about 2 months so this is a great feeling!

Meg, we have one cat. He only wants to lay right by my face and purr loudly. Drives me nuts, but DH loves the loud purr in his face.

I'm a little jealous that everyone else here is getting vacations. My "vacation" money is being spent remodeling my home. We are planning to take the girls to Branson, Missouri for a 4 day trip in June just for a small vacation.

My MIL has now asked when we can come over and "gut" her kitchen so she can have all new cabinets, appliances and such put in. Acckk, she also wants us to lay wood flooring for her. I don't know when we'll find the time cause we are very busy with our own home.

Hi everyone,

This week feels like it's flying by. I guess it's because I've been so busy! I've been making sure to get enough sleep, though, and stay on my April NANS plan. My "fat pants" (I got rid of my true fat pants, but these are my fat pants for maintenance) are feeling loose. I finished stage 3 of NRLW yesterday so I'm going to give weights a rest for a week before I start the next stage. I really feel it tightening everything.

No skinny genes in my family either. My immediate family has always struggled with weight. My mom's family is all quite large. My dad has two tall and lanky brothers. He didn't get those genes. I feel bad for my mom - I know I've mentioned that she is on weight watchers again and has been doing quite well, but she says my dad (who is on his heavier side right now, and not trying to do anything about it) is getting tired of her wanting to eat ww-friendly all the time. I'm trying to be as supportive as I can from so far away.

Lily, watch out for those tornadoes! My area could actually benefit from tornado sirens. I always find out after the fact that there was a water spout or tornado a few miles away. I got a storm radio for Christmas, that will help. That front will hit me on Saturday, and I'm hoping it doesn't knock out power again since once again I'll be at my office .

Meg, I love how you say if you don't take care of it the fat "beds down", lol. It is definitely as you describe it - the same amount of weight can take a few days to leave if you do something immediately, and weeks if you don't! Crazy bodies.

Jessica, yay for dogs! Be sure to post a picture when you get one.

Allison, yup, it's my bean plants that they love just as they're sprouting. I will have to look for the diatomaceous earth at the hardware store.

Have a great Thursday all!

Meg~finishing your taxes lifts your spirits? Not so much here! I got an email from the CPA--we're filing an extension and have to pay estimated taxes ON TOP of the quarterly estimated taxes we've been paying all year. I hate taxes! Right now I'm at my wits end trying to figure out how to pay the taxes, the vendors and the overhead bills. Not the fun part of being a business owner!

Yes, I'm planning on doing the 5K this weekend. I signed up to walk the dogs as they'll love an outing to the dog park. The weather has warmed up and it should be in the 80s this weekend.

We also have two kitties who love to sleep with us (Charlotte and Wilbur). They are fine when they snuggle with each other but sometimes Wilbur gets too happy and gets in our faces purring-- he will get so happy sometimes that he gives "love nibbles"!

Lily-- after living in Houston most of my life, I wasn't afraid of tornadoes having lived through many. When we moved to California I was afraid of earthquakes though. After feeling a couple, I would much prefer earthquakes to tornadoes. I realize if we get a "big one" I won't be saying that but so far the earthquakes have been very mild. The thing that scared me in Houston were the flash floods. When I was a teenager with my first car I got caught in a flash flood and had to swim away-- my car was totaled.

I am going in next Monday to have allergy testing done and I have to be off my antihistamines for a week. I am 100% miserable. I thought I would have itchy eyes, sneezing, etc., and I do have those, but my skin is itching all over like crazy. I have bruised myself all over by scratching and I can't stop. I look like someone is beating me. I don't know how I'm going to make it until Monday. I'm taking oatmeal baths and applying lotion. Any other ideas before I go off the deep end? I actually started crying last night I was so frustrated!

ON those pill bugs- I had them up the wazoo 2 years ago and had my grounded teen do the research. Since they love decaying leaves we ended up cleaning out all the mulchy stuff from the garden beds where they were munching and hiding. They disappeared, and the newly planted seedlings survived. Good luck.

Well, another preterm labor scare for me, and a half day of evaluation at my friendly neighborhood hospital. I'm withholding details in the interest of good taste. Well, I had a good uneventful run of an entire 3 weeks. Seems like a new record. The good news is that the baby and I are fine, and look to continue to stay well attached for at least the next couple weeks, which puts us over the big 32 week milestone. I'm still holding out to make it to 38 and hoping the rest of this pregnancy is much less interesting.

Anne

Anne,
Since I am new I have no idea what you've been through, but you will be in my thoughts.
My daughters are now 17 and 13 and I remember the nightmare well with my 17 year old. I also won't go into details but we thought we were going to lose her and I was in the hospital and on bedrest from 25 weeks. Once they let me go home, we were back and forth to the hospital more times than I could count. I did make it to 38 weeks and she was born big and healthy!

Take care,
Michele

Anne, thank goodness you're both ok!!! I'm optimistic for you. What I don't know about pregnancy and childbirth could fill an entire library section, but you're so close that I am forced to conclude that this is going to be fine or even great!