Moring everyone! Someone swiped all my allen wrenches out of the garage (more like someone misplaced them and denied using them) so I skipped my treadmill workout today........guess I'll stop on the way home and get some tonight.

Hope you're doing well, it's chilly here this morning

Good morning all,

This is my first time starting a thread so here it goes. I did really well the last two days with my eating. I am still so sore from raking leaves all weekend so I will start working out on Wed. I also decided I would weigh myself on Friday considering last week I did the vacation thing and I know I gained.

Yesterday was nice getting back to work and in the swing of things. I have parent teacher conferences this week I love going to Cody's {13} he is a straight A student and my daughter has high grades for a 3rd grader but my 17 year old well that goes without saying. 46% of our high school is failing pretty sad. I have complained alot but school politics gets you no where but I still think saying my peace is ok.

Hope you all have a great day! Good luck on your eating today

p.s. sorry guys I forgot to put the date

morning holy...hope you find those wrenches..
hey sheila- have fun at parent teachers conf.

I am doing well...24 hrs w/o the coke thing and doing ok..and yes i have tried C2...not my favorite either...i just really decided i need to give it up. Just a personal thing...and trust me..i have a major addiction...JAVA! That's really my fix. Every morning i get up and make a beautiful cup of espresso with hot steamed mild and 1 tsp of raw sugar...can we say sweet morning high. So really the coke was just a afternoon/lunch "pick me up". But you know what i discovered yesterday around 2pm when i was dragging and thinking...god do i need a coke desperately...i guzzled about 1/2 L of water and 20 mintues later i was wide awake again. So i think i've realized, i'm fooled by the "effect" that coke gave me. So here it goes...day 2 w/o coke LOL.
I did get up this am and feed the ponies and then take the dog for a 30 minute walk. Man i need to get my mutt in shape. She was dying after 30 minutes LOL. Well gonna run...need to get ready for work soon. Have a great day every one!

Good Luck with No coke. I did that already but I switched to Diet which I hated no I like but I only get to have 1 a day and have dropped to 1 every two days. Good luck Have fun with the headaches. Drop a wedge of lemon in your water or a wedge of orange or lime.

sheila

Here is a 3-d ultrasound of the baby and never mind jessica's last name it's misspelled by her friend who used photoshop it's supposed to be PEREZ LOL

Hello Everyone. We have had a couple of busy days here. Alex has finally learned how to pedal his bike so he has been having a wonderful time riding. He can do it by himself on flat surfaces but he still needs a push when going uphill. It's good for me because I've been walking with him! It's kind of hard to push him and the stroller up the hill he has to go up on our block but luckily it's not very far.

More good news: We are passing our inspections!! We passed fire and framing/insulation today. We have to get the contractor to sign a paper and take it downtown then we will get our final approval!
It looks like the end of the nightmare is finally in sight! And it's only taken 5 months (well, if you count the first meeting with the designer it's been almost nine months). I will never, ever do this again!

I'm being paged I will try to check in again later!

Hello all! Other than the fact that my G'ma had surgery yesterday, it was a great day. It got up to 80 degrees ~ by the weekend we are supposed to have highs in the 50's ~ but for a couple glorious days we are in the 80s!!

Michelle, what a beautiful baby! Oh the technology that they have now.

GG, good for you for going without your coke. I have Diet Coke as mine, but now that it is summer (at least warmer) I am switching to iced tea. I have an ice tea maker and I use pepperment tea, with Splenda.

Karen, Congrats on the inspections! I don't think that I would do that again either. Or I would check references closely and ask more questions (Not that you didnt do that).

Molly, how've you been? Haven't seen you around.

MJ, I hope you're still not screen-lickin'.

Check back later.

Lisa

Morning ladies,
I am glad everyone is having a happy Tuesday.

GG: I know it is tough to give up coke, but you can do it. I had to give it up about a year ago, when my then 2 year old would throw a tantrum because he wanted to drink my coke. I decided if it wasn't good for him, then why was I drinking it? I decided not to buy sodas any longer. We have really stuck to it at home and when we go out to eat I either have water with lemon or ice tea. The boys usually get lemonade when we are out or they enjoy drinking the propel water at home. It still gets hard especially around my extended family since they usually have coke in the fridge at all times.

I recently discovered a new drink that I liked, it is called Enviga and is a sparkling green tea. It still has the fizziness of soda, but it only has 5 cals.
Well, I am off to get some work done.
Check with you later.
Diana

Good morning!
I am happy to say I am on my way to the gym, I coulnd't get to the gym again yesterday, (have not been there since Thursday, that's not good) we I forgot we had to meet with the child advocate yesterday at 8:30 AM 25 miles away from home and with lots of traffic, so we left the house at 7:15 to drop Sean off at the Boys and Girls Club, got late to the meeting, but I am so glad we made it! it was well worth it, we had hired the advocate before and we had to let him go, he is very expensive, but we can't be without him, not with all of Sean's problems and many many challanges.
The reason I am saying THANK YOU ALL and I MEAN IT, is because I love to read the postings in the morning and read how well everyone is doing, you sure encourage me, things are not that easy for me at home, Sean is really a hanful and I get depressed easily, you guys are the best!!!! Thanks again!
It is going to be a very difficult couple of weeks since there is no school.
Karen congratulations on passing isnpection!!!

GG- I had to give up diet coke, it was difficult to do, but it is worth it, hand in there!

Michelle great pictures!

Sheila Good luck with conferences!

[COLOR="DarkOrange"]I am heading out to the gym right now before anything changes around here! DH is home until 1:00 PM so he is watching Sean adn I can just go to the gym and not think about anything.

Hanna

Hi Ladies!

How the heck are ya'll? Third day in a row that I was able to stay awake until 8pm or later! Woooooohoooooo....AND I was able to go home, clean Vittori's tank, sweep and mop the floor, vacuum, put fresh sheets on my bed, etc. Is this what it was like to live my life before? WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!

Michelle: Aw! Look at the baby!!! Awwwwwwww....almost makes me want to have one...ok, almost! Very precious! And Jessica is absolutely bee-u-tiful!

Lisa: How's gram? My thoughts are with you. Oh, and no screen licking! I promise....and I don't even have my fingers crossed behind my back!

Sheila: Go Cody-Straight As? Fabulous!

Diana: Hey there! I tried that Enviga the other day, not the berry flavor but the regular green tea one...and I didn't really like it (and it was majorly expensive). BUT...I mixed it with a little diet 7-Up, some cranberry juice, regular water (mostly) and lemon juice and boy was it tasty!!!!!

GG: Dang girl, does your husband have a twin in Michigan? Friends here? That's what I'm talking about! I really want a guy that can fix my car-and teach me to change my oil and a tire, a guy that can do home improvement stuff-and teach me how to do the stuff for myself as well. I come from a totally non-mechanical type family. All the guys have advanced degrees and are great...but they can only identify a wrench from like a screwdriver and that's about it! You crack me up-that espresso sounds yummmmmehhhh! I'm the same way...I have cut back on the dew, but I'm still shootin' the lattes.....not good. We really need to find a new addiction. Hmmm...can't think of anything to take the place of java....so fuhgettaboudit! Good job on boycotting the cokes though!

Karen K: Wow! Bunch of good news from you! Double carrot ovation for Alex! That is sooooo cool! And Triple carrot ovation for the inspections going so well! Each step closer.....

Hanna: GREAT JOB on getting to the gym little muffin! Also, good to hear you're back on w/the advocate. Did you get to interview one to work with Sean or was an advocate assigned? Sorry, I'm not all that familiar with the language but am very interested to learn more about your situation so that I can be more of a support to you.

Where's Joan? How are things going with the houses?

Have a wonderful day everyone! Melinda

hey all...lunch break. You know what, so far this whole giving up coke thing isn't too bad. I think it helps that i was already drinking 1-2 L of water a day already. I actually like water. If i do want a sweet to drink..i'll have about 4-8 oz of my POM green tea with lychee (its green tea w/ pomegranate and lychee juice..all natural). But no headaches...i think its because i still do my morning espresso fix so i'm not really having the headaches from the caffine withdrawl. I definately think i can kick the coke habit...but don't dare ask me to kick the espresso habit...or i might go postal LMAO. I have to have at least one nasty habit LOL
hey goodess...cute pics...how's jessica's neck twitch thing?
congrats karen on passing inspection
got2loose - i'll have to find that tea...sounds good. And i agree with you...one of these reasons i'm giving up coke is for the calories but also when i DO have kids (in about 2 yrs) i want my kids to lead healthy lifestyles...not addicted to coke or sugary sweets...i know kids will always be kids but i've learned alot from one of my friend who has a 3 yr old. They don't keep any unhealthy foods in the house...and their child LOVES fruit and veggies. Reaches for those first and foremost...and has no clue what soda is? That's what i would like from my child..but i'm realistic...kids will be kids LOL
hang on there happy2be...life is difficult at times...but that's what this place is for...support and help. Good job on getting up to work out. It definately give you energy for the rest of the day.
okay all...c u laters

lol at mj..you were typing while i was typing...lol
sorry but DH only brother is in florida and married LMAO...and i don't share well LMAO.
i'm with you mj..don't touch my java..try to get my espresso and i'll definately slap ya LMAO!!!!!
but yes...my moring espresso is wonderful and its my guilty pleasure i do every morning..but i'm also getting my serving of calcium with my mild. (:

just got back from the gym, I feel so much better, I was able to work out for 2 1/2 hours! I can't believe it!!!
I feel like I can take care of things now!
Got home and made myself a huge salad, mmmm...
I need to try to drink lots of water. I forget to!

Hi Melinda! (Sean is bipolar we has diagonosed at 4 yrs old birth mother used drugs through out the whole pregnancy. )We postponed hiring and advocate for as long as we could, but dealing with the school system and specail ed is very compliacated, it always comes down to $$$ they don't want to spend, and also the teachers ans staff are not trained well to dael with children with special needs. We ended up hiring a privet advocate, from what we hear he is the best in the area. He is extremely expensive, we had a $2800.00 bill from working with him for about 6 weeks, we thought we could do with out him and work with the school district on our own, WRONG! so we just met with him again yesterday, we got yelled at for singing papers with the school we should have never agreed to, we agreed to put Sean in Day treatment, at our last IEP meeting (with out the advocate) we were forced to sing that kind of placement, the advocate was so upset we were told that, the good news is he can undo what we messed up, for a lot of dough of course! But it is 100% worth it! He charges $180 hr. $150 travel time from his office to Sean's school is about 45 minutes and he goes to observe and he will also meet us there for IEPs and he charges an average of $30 every 10 minutes on the phone and $3 for every page we fax to him, as you can see it can ad up very quickly
What a great business, isn't it? But we definitely need him

Have a great day everyone! I got to get in the shower.

Hanna

Wow, everyone is so energized today!

Today, I have to do my taxes. Ugh. I've been putting it off because we are going to owe and it makes me panic. I am biting the bullet today.

GG - great job on the no coke!! I wouldn't dare think about taking that espresso away. We have to have something, right? And good luck with your house hunt. I hope you find just the right one to call home.

Lisa - Hope grandma is OK. It's great you can still be with your virtual friends during a bad time.

Hanna - I'm so sorry about your challenges with Sean. It's really rough to go through that. I have a very good friend whose angelic child turned to the dark side as soon as he hit kindergarten. And I've seen her really struggle with this. I just breaks my heart for her. And you.

Michelle - I can't believe what they can do with a wand and a little jelly!!! Just precious.


Sheila - hang in there with the parent-teacher conferences. Woohoo for Cody and DD. As for the older one, he'll get through this as will you. Just some beatings with the 'ol wet noodle.

Will check in later

Kerri

Greetings All!

Haven't been able to check in these past few days. The weather has been soooooo beautiful here in St. Louis! The kids are on Spring Break and we've been outside a lot.

I just finished reading everyone's notes and catching up...

GG ~ Good luck with giving up Coke. Such positive changes you're making in your life! I used to be a major soda drinker and now drink a Diet every other day or so. When I was working I'd drink at least three cans of Coke a day. Not good. I gave it up when I was pregnant with my first child and have never really gotten back into it. I do think that the diet sodas tend to stimulate my appetite. I'll drink one sometimes in the late afternoon to give myself a little boost and before I know it I'm craving a sweet.

Michelle ~ when is Jessica due? It's a girl, right? AMAZING to see a picture like while the baby is still in the womb.

KarenK ~ congrats! We had plans drawn up to add on here but then decided to sell and buy a newer house. Your notes make me think that we made the right decision!

Lisa ~ sorry to hear about your grandmother. Is she going to be ok?

Diana ~ welcome! Good for you in giving up soda. You are one those parents that actually practices what they preach! It's funny as I grew up on a dairy farm and everything that we consumed; milk, meat, veggies, etc., etc... we produced. I never ever drank soda or ate any kind of junk food. When I went away to college I was in HEAVEN! So much for healthy eating habits. I still loved my fruits and veggies but I *loved* soda, potato chips and pizza even more! Now that I'm a parent I try to practice moderation all around as I see that banning something completely can do more harm than good. When we go out to eat they get to order soda. Here at home though they only drink milk or water.

Sheila ~ hi there! It's good to see your notes ~ welcome!!!

Melinda ~ I love your notes!!! You have a way of writing such strong, supportive words for others. I'm so glad to read that your energy level is returning. Sure do hope that things continue to improve.

Lauren??? We miss you!

Happy2be ~ what is going on with Sean and how old is he? Sounds like you have a lot on your plate.

Still no contract on our house:-(. Lots of interest but no buyer.... I keep thinking that a buyer is right around the corner as we are still having showings every other day or so. My mother suggested us burying a statue of St. Joseph in the yard. Sure ~ You bet. We'll get out and do an Indian Rain Dance at midnight if we have to. LOL! Whatever it takes to sell this baby and *then* I can get excited about the new house. I'm trying to not get too excited about the new house until this one is under contract. Impossible but I'm trying;-).

Eating is going ok ~ could be better. Exercise is going very good though. I've been walking daily, drinking my water and trying to not eat after 7:00 p.m. We're off to see my FIL and his wife this Thursday in Oklahoma for a few days. Keep up the good work gals!!