GOOD MORNING LADIES!!!!!!!

SUPER POSITIVE {{{{{{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}}}}}} TO ALL!!!!!!

Ok, I know I've been away for quite awhile.....and boy, have I missed everyone!

Last day I was on, I think a week ago Wed or Thurs, the monitor kept going off. Think it is dying. A spark in the center happens as it goes out. Did buy another one when we were in the Denver area yesterday so will hook it up later today.

Not much better with the server, so since we are now home I will try another one in a day or two. Anyone have any knowledge of Earthlink????

We were gone for a week with various meetings and Drs appt's for daughter. Spent all day at Childrens Hosp Monday getting her fitted for a new wheelchair, dental appt, molds made of her lower legs for supports that are used when she is standing in her stander, and schedualing a day surgury for June so she can have Botox injects into her muscles so castings can be done of her arms to keep her arms with more extention range since her body is alway flexed. Botox paralysis the muscles allowing us to get more stretch, and in order to keep that stretch after botox wears off in a few months, we put on her casts that are split in half a few times a week. Sounds confusing, I'm sure. It has been 4 years and the rehab Drs were amazed at how well we have maintained her. I'm a bit concerned about the new wheelchair fitting around the house. Guess we'll find out when it arrives at the end of summer.

One fun thing we did was go see the touring Broadway play, "The Lion King". It was WONDERFUL and what a work of artistry! The Denver 2 month run sold out in 4 days 6 months ago. I was lucky to get center lower Mezzanine seats. Because of Melissa we can't do alot of things as a family together. I went with a girlfriend Tues and DH and other DD went Wed eve.

Get a load of this Eleni and Nita.....we drove home through SNOW yesterday, not on the road, but coming down like crazy sticking on the grassy areas and trees!!!! 3-8 inches are predicted in the foothills and mountains west of Denver!!!

CONGRATS to all of you that had losses this week and I know how everyone else is feeling that is struggling. I'm still right there with you. THIS IS TOUGH!!!! .......but WE WILL SURVIVE!!!!!

Oh, in regards to the chapter that had a 'no gain year', that does not mean that each member never had a gain. It means that on their year end chart, the members all ended up in the black. They could have had gains through out the year, but at least stayed the same at the end of the year. The larger the chapter, the harder this is to accomplish.

I'm writing this just after midnight and I must get to bed. This is the only time that I can get on the net anymore, so bear with me. Just wanted you all to know that you have been in my thoughts and good wishes are sent your way. Thanks Eleni and CC {{{{Viberatos!}}}} for the messages. Will chat soon!

Have a wonderful start to the weekend, ladies!!!! Take care and don't forget to drink your wonderful water....after all, that's what our body is mostly made up of.

TOPS {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}},
Summer

good morning
hi summer glad you are hear and boy do you have your hands full. You are a wonderfull mother.
Thank you so much for the chapter information on the gains. It just had us all puzzled that a whole chapter couldn't have a least a small gain. Not that it is impossible, just hard to believe, probably would of understood it more if they would of said it that way, but what they said is no one gained for a whole year. I will let my fellow tops members know. I do appreciate the information on this.
As for me, busy. Took dad home on Wed, after their car broke down on the way. Yesterday he ran mom off, and proceeded to drive. The neighbor man saw what was going on, and luckley was watching dad till my brother got there. The man himself was about to call the cops. Well that is what we ended up doing, spent 8 hours in emergency, where they transfered him to geral physc. We are now getting ready to work on placement, and becoming his guardian. The doctors realizes finally that dad paints one picture for them and does totally different with us. He called us everything. My brother was having a had time with it until we spent 8 hours in front of people and dad doing what he was doing. He now to agrees dad cannot come home. He doesn't want to see any of us. And wants a divorce from mom. We where luckey enough that all that was going on at er, that the phys there signed the papers herself. She said she had seen enough to know the difference.
Well gotta get ready. you all take care.
and hang in there cuz we sure can get this weight off. Although i haven't been doing well with the food lately this week. Thank god I have an extra week before weigh in and maybe i can get it together sometime before than,
thinking of you all me.

(((Both of you))))

God Bless you

Debating whether I want to go for a walk today. I suppose I will b4 it starts to rain...Take care...

Hi Ladies
I was just checking in. Have some jeans in the wash. So I decided to get on here. Have been walking again. The weather is nice now. No rain. But we are to get some again this eve. So for the last 3 days. I have walked 2 miles each day. The food plan is so-so. I really need to make myself write down what I am eating. That really does help me. So why am I not doing it. Dont really know. I guess I just dont take the time. And it really doesn't take that long. I guess I will have to start putting my food journal on the table at my place again. That way I see it all day long. And I know that I have to write in it. And then I have to move it to place my plate. Went to the store last night. Got some fruit and veggies. Now just to clean it. That is what I hate to clean all the stuff. Does anyone have big plans for the weekend. I guess we are going to cook out one day. So I have some ff hot dogs and turkey smoked sausage. Thought that would be good on the grill. Other than that nothing special going on here.

Wendy and Summer you are both in my prayers. I am sure with all the support we get here. We will all be able to get back on track. I know I havent done as well lately. I figured with the sunshining and all I would do better. But for some reason I am not. But am slowly but surely getting there. You ladies take care.

Sherri How are you doing. Hows Curves going. I am sure you are losing the inches. Just think your new pants you bought for your trip will be getting to big. Wont that be great. You are doing really well. You are an inspiration to me. Thanks.

To everyone else. I hope you are doing well. Am thinking of each of you.

Here is something else that has kinda inspired me. A friend of mine. She had the gastric bypass surgery about 1 year ago. She has lost 145-150 lbs so far. Said she would like to lose another 60 lbs. But to see her now. It is really amazing. She was doing insulin shots. She has been able to stop those now. And she was on high blood pressure med. That has been stopped. And she says she feels great. And she really looks good. She said she has been walking. We walked together the other night. And she has been riding a regular bike. Said one eve she even jogged a little. Said that she couldn't go very far. But was able to do it. And one of the things she has to do is write down what she eats. And then she has to go every couple of weeks and show her Dr what she is eating. Then they will tell her what she needs more of or less of. Said that really helps. I dont think I would be able to go this route myself. I dont think I could stand the pain. Was pretty painful operation she said. So I will just do this the way I have been doing it. And one of these days I will be a KOPS. I dont think I will make it this year. But I am trying to get there. Hopefully then by next year I will be a KOPS. I am not putting a time frame on myself. I figure if I do and I fail. Then I will eat out of control. Because I wasnt able to keep my plan. So this way I know I dont have to rush. There is no certain time that I have to lose this weight. And I know that one day I will get it off. It didnt come on overnight. Even though it seems like it. So it wont come off overnight.
I am so sorry ladies. I have written a book. I hope everyone has a good OP day. And I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. You ladies take care. WE WILL WIN THIS BATTLE OF THE BULGE!! Can we do this?? Yes we can.
A TOPS PAL

Hi Everyone,

I had a 2.5 lb. gain this morning. I knew that I would have one. I just waited too long after my brother and SIL left, to get back on track.

Coco...Do get back to keeping your food diary. I do so much better when I am keeping one and letting other people see it. I don't want others to see that I'm cheating, so I stick to a sensible diet. And you are right, we are in a war against fat and WE WILL WIN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE! Our charms are our battle medals.

Summer...Welcome back. It sounds like you had a busy week with Melissa's Dr. appointments. And "The Lion King" play does sound wonderful.
I can relate to the snowing in May. A few years ago, we were in Utah during the last two weeks in May, heading for Bryce Canyon, and ran into snow. I loved it! There was 3 or 4 inches on the road going over one of those mountains, but they had the snow plows out. Then, when we got to the Canyon, it was snowing again. My husband got sick from the high altitude, (not enough oxygen) and the park ranger gave him some oxygen and told us we should get him out of there. So I really didn't get to see much of Bryce Canyon.

Wendy.....Hang in there! I eat more when I am under stress. Stress may be why you are not doing as well with the food. I hope that things will soon settle down for you and your family. Its very hard to put a parent into a nursing home. We had to do it with DH's mother and she wasn't happy about it either. But we had to do something and that was the best choice.

Eleni..Thanks for letting us know about Betty Domenoe. I told my chapter this morning and they all wanted to send cards.

Take care everyone and TOPS (((((HUGS))))) to you all.

Nita

Hi Nita It was Ciecie whi first told us about Betty. I just got more info from my coordinator.
I have a long weekend coming up and I hope I can be good.
I am doing the other stuff I am suppose to but still have trouble with portion control. I need to stop when I am full and it is hard for me to do
Wendy We went thru the same thing with my husbands dad. We were lucky that he signed a poer of attorny for his sister{my hubby's sis} It was very hard for them to make him leave his home but it had to be done. He was moved to Richmond VA near Jan. She looked after him. But it was so sad to see he did not recognize who they were when we visited. But it was not safe for him to live alone. Hang in there. You are doing the best thing.
Hope all are doing ok. Lets all try our best over this long weekend.