Christmas is almost here. I'm looking forward to the break from work--always welcome. My company shuts down the week between Christmas and New Year's.

My eating has been so-so. I'm keeping my activity up, but I know that I don't have the willpower that Melissa has to just walk by the snacks. Folks are bringing in all sorts of cookies and baked goods.

It should get quieter and quieter here at work as folks leave early, etc.

I hope you aren't digging out from snow. I have read that the storms in the northeast have been tough. We had a blast of that air down here. It was in the 40's yesterday and today (morning). We will be in the high 60's this afternoon.

Hey gals, I'm just catching up from last week! Been busy here, and I still have some shopping left and some homemade gifts to finish up.

We had a lot of snow on Sunday, and it rained at the end so it is like a whole sheet of ice on top of the snow. The side roads are still all icy here too. But it is a nice kind of winter wonderland landscape My weight is about the same. I think I am up 0.4 but no biggie - I'll get it off soon. Don't think I'm going to make my new years goal though. Its been hard since I can't really exercise. I'm more just maintaining my weight. I'm ok with that though - as long as I'm not going up!

Lori, Are you still in PT? Is that why you can't exercise or is it the weather? That would be awful for me. I need to do something almost every day. This is a tough time of year to watch the points, isn't it?

It is a tough time to be watching points. I've watched several of them pass through my lips in the form of chocolate today. Consequently, I have my set my goal to maintain until my next meeting which will be Jan. 2nd. It will be difficult.

I leave for NB tomorrow for my friend's mother's funeral. Don't think I will be able to check in until I get back next week. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas.

Susan

Well we lucked out with the weather--Saturday night we had some freezing rain and the roads were a little icy--we didn't get any big accumulations although on Sunday we did get a little blowing snow but nothing like they were calling for thank goodness!

Lisa: I do good when it comes to cookies/sweets, a table of savory foods like cheese, mini quiches, etc. it's a whole different story!

I'm getting there with my Christmas shopping--just need to pick up a couple of things for my older son (he finally gave me a list today) so it's a matter of getting to the stores to pick them up.

We bought our tree today and we'll get that up over the weekend--it's a little later than what we've done in the past but that's okay. I haven't gotten any baking done yet but am planning on doing that the next few days. It seems as if Christmas has snuck up on me this year.

Susan, so sorry you have a funeral at this time of year. Yes, there's the new year when we can get back on track. Merry Christmas to you, too.

Melissa, It's totally understandable that you're a little behind for Christmas with your surgery and all. I'd say you're doing really well. I wish I could sample your nut rolls--yum!

It's supposed to warm up a little today. One more work day and I'm off till 2 January!! Hooray!

Hello to Pam and Lori and Merry Christmas.

Hi Ladies,

I've got a little more Christmas Shopping to finish up hopefully tomorrow night if the weather cooperates. We've got over a foot of snow on the ground and a little more expected tonight and tomorrow. On Saturday I'm going to the grocery store to pick up everything I need for Christmas Dinner. I'll be having 11 people over...wish me luck!

Lisa I haven't even counted how many Christmas cookies I've eaten this week. It's unbelievable how many people brought cookies in to the office. Of course no one is making me eat them but I can't resist cookies and pasteries. Are you visiting your parents for Christmas or staying home?

Melissa My DS made it easy for me this year...he asked for $$. Living in Boston is pretty expensive so he mentioned to me and his Dad that's what he would really like. I did buy him a few smaller gifts and a gift card to a grocery store he shops at so he would have something besides a card filled with $$ to open.

Merry Christmas to Susan and Lori!

Pam, Lots of snow there! I will be visiting my parents in St. Pete (about 150 miles away). Will stay there a couple days. Yes, Boston is expensive, so I'm sure DS will appreciate the money AND the grocery store gift card. How is DH doing?

Pam: You're getting all the snow that missed us--I hope it slows down for you and that you're able to get out and about okay. The temps here are strange--tomorrow and through the weekend we're supposed to have a "warm up" with temps getting up to 48 on Sunday; that will be short lived because Sunday night a cold front is supposed to move through and bring rain changing to sleet to snow. It looks as if we're going to have a white Christmas this year.

Lisa: I'm planning on making my nutrolls on Saturday if all goes well. I did get a couple of batches of cookies made tonight. I'm getting there slow but sure. We got a few decorations up last night and tomorrow we'll get the tree in and start to decorate it. I'm starting to get into the Christmas spirit.

Tomorrow I have my follow up appointment with the doctor; one of my incisions got a little red and I think it's just irritated from my pants rubbing up against it. I'm hoping that's all it is. If anything maybe I'll have to put some sort of an antibiotic cream on it. I'm feeling pretty good although I still have these weird spots of being really tired.

DH and I are going to go out for dinner tomorrow evening and then go shopping for DS #1 and his wife. He finally gave me a list of what he wanted so now I can shop for him.

We have a big Christmas Eve dinner so I'm trying to get things together for that; it all comes together in the end.

I still can't believe Christmas is next Tuesday!

I'll drop by and post tomorrow--I hope everyone is doing well and that holiday preparations are underway!

Merry Christmas ladies! I've been so busy I haven't had time to drop in! After work I've been busy making presents (throw pillows and scarves) that I haven't even had a minute to myself lately! I'm doing horrible as far as my eating is going. I have no false hopes that it will get better any time before Wednesday. But on Wednesday I will suck it up and get back on track

Melissa - I have very visible scars from having an ovarian cyst removed. The one at my belly button (where the inserted the camera - the largest opening) is the largest scar. Apparently my skin heals in some way where I just get these big white lines as scars and you can just see that it is scar tissue. The docs say that it will never really go away. I have other scars from when I am younger that are the same way. Must just be the way I heal. I hope yours is nothing serious!

Pam - that is a lot of people! I had asked my parents for money a few years in a row right after college. Boston is expensive too, so I am sure he will appreciate it!

Susan - I hear you on the maintenance. I'm hoping I can do the same thing between now and the middle of next week!

Lisa - I'm still doing PT and that is why I can't exercise. The weather wouldn't be helping the situation even if I could, though. The roads are still very icy and there is still lots of snow on the ground, making the roads narrower than normal. Not even good walking conditions lately!

Hi everyone! The weather here today was unseasonably warm--40 degrees and sunny! I made Chex mix today and packed it away (this is a red light for me so out of sight/out of mind, I hope). DH and I went Christmas shopping after I picked up DS #2 from school--we timed it right--did our errands at the mall while everyone was eating dinner then we went to dinner. It worked out great because the restaurant wasn't crowded--we had a 10-minute wait.

I had my doctor's appointment today and was cleared to go back to work next Thursday. We just have a 2-day week so that'll be a good way to ease back into the work schedule. She said I don't have any restrictions. She did do a culture on the one incision where I had some redness--she wants to make sure there isn't any infection. I think it was from my jeans rubbing up against the area so she said to put a bandaid and some neosporin on it and that would help. She also did some follow up bloodwork to see how my iron levels, etc. are.

I still have a lot to do before Christmas and I know I'll get things done, I just can't stress about it.

Lori: I don't usually get a lot of scarring but then who knows. The other two incision areas have pretty much healed up but the one by my belly button is just taking a bit longer. I didn't make it to my meeting this past Wednesday but am planning on going next week to get back on track and see where I'm at. It's a rough time of year to stay on program!

I can see that everyone is busy--it's that time of year. Went to a great Christmas party last night--all of my theater friends. It was great singing carols at the piano--imagine four-part harmony and great singers.

Tonight we'll be visiting some friends of ours and have a casual dinner. They lost their son to suicide a year 1/2 ago and are so sad at this time of year. Tomorrow is more visiting to friends' homes. And you all that visiting means more food! As Lori said, no use trying right now, but get back in the groove after Christmas.

Melissa, I hope I'm done with my baking. Yesterday I made brownies and a date-nut bread. Easy stuff.

DH is still getting over bronchitis that he contracted about 10 days ago. It's been a lingering illness.

In case I can't get back here--have a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Well we are halfway through the week. No point in a new thread. I had a great Christmas Eve day even though I was feeling pretty sick. Later that night we called DH's parents and told them we were both too sick to have them come over the next day. Good thing too. I had spiked a fever over 100 and ended up going to the ER. I had to take yesterday and today off of work. I had put in for next Monday off (just to have another long weekend) and I'm trying to decide wether or not it will actually be worth it to go in tomorrow. Probably not, but I don't think I want to use anymore of my vacation time. Oh and food hasn't been an issue. I haven't been counting since Sunday, but I have barely felt like eating. On top of the virus I have, I'm still getting over some stomach bug that I caught last week. As long as I can eat and not get sick, I'm happy.

I hope you all had a great holiday (better than mine at least, although I must say I'm very thankful for those who work at the hospitals on Christmas Day)!