Welcome all to a thread full of wonderful women taking on the responsibilty of raising a family and trying to take care of themselves too. Please feel free to jump right in a say hello and to all you regular posters I look forward to another wonderful day with you!

I saw the little girl dolls and couldn't resist....... LOL

Good Morning Good Morning,

Spryng,
I sure hope your back is better today. OMG!!! I know I'm a little late, but CONGRATS CONGRATS!! WOOOO HOOO 2 1/2 #!!!!!!!!! How did the Clorox 2 work? I washed all my sheets yesterday also. I know what you mean about the fade. Do you dry yours?

Geri,
That is neat about the Avon Store. Congrats on getting in your exercise! I was gonna ask you and Spryng a ques? Does your little one take one nap a day? Andrew is down to one but a friend of mine, her daughter still takes two or three. I know each child is diff, but I was just curious

Leigh,
Hope you are having a wonderful time!!!!! You deserve it, Girly! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Michelle,
Get some rest you little party animal! Can't wait to hear about your weigh in! How is BFL going?

Crystal,
How are you doing girly??? How are you feeling?

Ginny,
Hope you are having a great day!

Ricci,
Get here and let us know how you are doing!

Cindi,
Congrats on the new clothes! WOO HOO!!!! I am so proud of you! You are doing awesome!!!!

Jayme,
Congrats on the two pounds down! That is awesome! Great pics! Don't you have a son also?

Tricia,
Welcome! Your job is so neat!!! A doula is a special job So when a lady calls and you gotta go right then and there, whatcha doing with the 3 yo? The oldest watch her? I know I am being nosey.... LOL

Kristin,
I don't think we've met! HI there! I think just watching portions sizing is great as long as it is working for you! I have tried ww. It is a neat program!

Di,
Hang in there girl! Thats great about the trip! When are you going? Who's watching the boys? I know how you feel being frustrated. We all get that way. My first two , just like Spryng, were one year about. I think it is just as bad as twins. A newborn and a one year old. But my sil does have twin boys (there are 5 now). My bil is in the Air Force and they were stationed in Turkey at the time. And she raised the boys all by herself. My bil had to travel most of the time and gone for weeks at a time. Anyhow, she nursed them until a year and never got a break. I promise you I don't know how she did it!!! I know it had to be hard. But like I said they are 5 now and starting school. And they get along great, but she said they don't like to venture out separately to play with other kids. They like to keep to each other. So I think they are going to separate them in school for class but they will still see each other at playtimes. Sorry to bore you...... LOL Hang in there!

Melissa,
Congrats on getting in the exercise!!! WOO HOO! AND your kiddos are tooooo cute Do you call Abigail, Abby?

Ok Ladies! I haven't weigh in a couple weeks (well since TOPS a week in a half ago) b/c I have been scared of the damage I have done to my weigh loss. Ok here it is! Here is my wake up call. Maybe if I write it really small I won't feel so bad..... LOL I gained another 5 lbs. GET MY BUTT UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!! I am so upset with myself for getting so far off track but I have no excuses. I am back on plan officially today and I promise myself I will stay on plan and get this weigh loss going again. My sig says it all. I just have to listen to it!!

I hope I got everyone addressed! If not, I am so sorry! Holler at me and let me know It has taken me 45 minutes to write this so I better get back in bed before the kids wake up and I can't! LOL

I have to work the church booth again today so I hope you all have a wonderful ON PLAN day

Morning all! I am going to try to take a nice walk OUTSIDE today after I hit the food store. My family will be heading over to my fathers house this afternoon for a bbq.

Penny, it's funny about Abigail. When I was pregnant and knew she was a girl, we called her Abby, but since her birth we call her Abigail. Patrick, who I wanted to nickname PJ....Patrick James, we call him "bugga bug" Patrick was born 6 weeks Premature and that morning Abigail was watching Dora the Explorer and the baby Bugga Buggas were on. Some how it just stuck with me. He was born 5.3oz, but when we took him home 8 days later he was 4lbs 11oz. So, he gets callled "bugs, bugga boo, bugga bug" and stuff like that. ....... Also, PJ takes a nap now only once a day. So you asked others. Hes 21m Been doing only one nap for about 3 months now.
You'll get those five lbs off ...don't worry. How are those tops meetings? I joined online in January, but have yet to go to a local meeting.

Spryng, Hope your back is better today. Be careful, a good friend of mine did damage to her back taking a Yoga class and she's a yoga instructer. SHe been in physical therepy for months.

Good morning all!!

Melissa, I hope you get your walk in today. It's been thunderstorming here since 5 am so no going outside for me, lol. That is so cute that you call patrick Bugga-bug. My kids love that Dora episode. My dd, (my first baby) she was 5 lbs 2 oz at full term when she was born so I know how you feel about having such a tiny baby to care for. When we brought her home from the hospital she was 4 lbs 11 oz too! Preemie clothes swallowed her and nothing fit. She wore preeemies until she was 3 months old. She is still small for her age. She's 4 1/2 now and only weighs 25 lbs. She's still in 2T clothing except for pants, they have to be 3T to fit in length but then I have to pin the waist or they fall right off, lol. Tiny and petite. Is Patrick still small for his age?

Penny those dolls are cute! They are perfect for our thread. Yes my back does feel a bit better... it's still kinda sore but not like last night. I was moving slow last night because of it and today I'm fine so far. And the chlorox 2 worked great! I let them soak in it for quite some time and then washed and double rinsed them and my sheets are clean again! I mean I wash them often but they were looking dingy even after a fresh wash so I needed something more. But now they are bright looking again. And yes I dry mine in the dryer. Do you? And yes, Tanner only takes one nap a day. It's about 2 hours long. He goes down around 1:30 pm and stays there until 3:30 or so. I don't remember when he went from 2-3 naps a day to one. I guess it was so gradual I missed it! LOL. At least you caught your weight before it hit 10 lbs and then 15, etc. Most of that 5 lbs is water I bet and will come off in no time. Are you doing SB again or going to try something new this time? You and SB are like me and Atkins. I did so many rounds of atkins because it was a diet I knew worked and I knew it like the back of my hand, any other diet seemed confusing. So I kept going back to it and would lose a little and then get bored and hate what I had to eat and stray and gain. It was a battle. I only tell you this (again and again) because a diet shouldn't make you feel guilty or miserable. It should fit into your life so you really can make it a lifestyle. But I know you know yourself better than anyone else. Are you starting with phase 1 again? I do think you will suceed at this! Just think, by time fall arrives you will be ready to wear those cute thin sweaters and look HOT!

Well I know everyone will be so busy today and I hope everyone is having a wonderful day with their families and friends!
I don't have much planned for today. I'll probably take the kids outside to night and watch the neighbors shoot off their fireworks. Dinner will be grilled steak and onion soft tacos. But right now I'm working on the rest of my laundry and that is all for today. Just another leisurely day for me and my kids. I spent alot of time with them yesterday. Took Tanner outside after dinner to swim in his little pool and they all had a blast then I came inside bathed them all and played some Gamecube with the two oldest. They always love it when I play with them, lol. So it really was a nice evening yesterday and I hope for it to be the same today. TTYL!

Good morning ladies,

Cindi, I got in a 3 mi walk today (about 45 min) and may be going bike riding this afternoon if my gf didn't already go this morning. She was supposed to call me if she wanted to go.

Spryng, glad you're back is feeling better. There's nothing worse than a bad back whey you're alone!

Penny, I've been maintaining lately...thanks to the exercise. Come on girlie! Get back to it!! Love ya .

Michelle, I DON't miss those hangovers! Now I only have 1 or 2 at most.

Hi to everyone else!!

We went to Olive Garden for MIL bday dinner last night WITHOUT THE KIDS! Oh Di...even that few hours was a rejuvinator! OMG! I told Dh we were never taking them with us ever again . I don't think that's the place for little one's anyway at that time of evening. Breakfast is another story.

Today I'm taking Will to another parade and then to fireworks tonight in the town I grew up in. It rained like the dickens last night and is very humid and grey today. Hope Leigh is having a good time here! I blamed her for the rain yesterday did you hear me last night Leigh???????

Hope everyone has a great day today! Happy 4th of July I'm a little disappointed that we don't have any patriotic smilies!

TTYL

Hello again!

Geri hope your boys enjoyed that parade! Sounds like lots of fun!

I just finished 20 min of lower body work with the Firm so I feel good but boy are my legs tired. But Cindi I got my workout in today!!

Just wanted to report that. TTYL!

Hey girls!! I've still been recovering from my girls night out lol. I feel great now Anyway my weigh in .... 217.8 thats down 1.6 lbs!!! Yippee!!!

Tonight we are just going to do a few fireworks at our house we bought about 45 dollars worth, Taylor is excited!! Its thundering like crazy though so I hope its not pouring out.

Spryng way to go on getting that workout it, I think I'm going to try the firm as well and make it a daily part of my routine now that I'm a bit more advanced. Keep up the great work everyone!!

Geri that was the first time in almost 3 years that I have had a hangover lol. The last one I had was when Taylor was 5 months old and we went out to hubbys xmas party and I had a little too much fun lol. I missed our parade but ours are nothing spectacular.

Well girls I'm gonna get ready for work I'll TTYL!! I hope you all have fun tonight~
Michelle

Hey ladies!

Just a quick fly by! It's over a 100 degrees here, and our big plans to do some work in the backyard are going to have to wait. It's just too freakin hot for words, no breeze at all just stagnant heat.

I finally finished my candle for my sis, I'll post a pic later on tomorrow. The hard part is getting the picture to stick to the candle, without melting the wax too much. If you do, it drips and it's ruined. Went through 2 candles to get the 3rd one right, but she will love it. Now that I know to take me time using that embossing gun, other candles should be easier for christmas.

Well Steve is still outside working, quick drink from me and I'll go join him.

Happy 4th to you all,
Di

Hey Everyone,

Looks like everyone is getting there exercise in but me...Cindi is going to have to crack that whip! I went food shopping for a few things to bring/make for the bbq's today and tomorrow, by the time I got back and cooked what I was to bring, it was time to leave. It is now 9pm here in NJ and I can't exercise after 5 otherwise I don't sleep all night. I am going to get up early and walk with THE BUGS. He gets up at 630, so maybe he'll enjoy the early morning walk. We'll try something new.

Spryng, glad your back is feeling better. It's nice you play with your kids and they play with you...Abigail always wants me to play, but her Idea of me playing is watching her play. that drives me crazy, B'cause I can't just sit and do nothing. I have finally got her to let me fold laundry while I WATCH her play. BUgga Bug, is no longer small He's a big boy. 27lbs and 34" He wears a size 7 shoe. It was a rough 1 1/2 years for him. Not sickly or anything, just one problem after another. Heart murmer, special shots to protect him from RSV, Eye infections for clogged tear ducts, COLIC!!!!! and so on. I nursed him for 2 months, and had to stop He is majorly Lactose intorlerant. He is pretty good now. still on LActaid milk, and still the fussiest little guy. SO cute though, especially when he's happy. Found out last week he will need glasses probably around his birthday. Following in his mothers footsteps there. I had glasses when I was 2 also.

Geri, Happy Birthday glas you had a nice dinner last night.

Michelle, congrats on another 1.6down

Anyway, Abigail needs to finish getter ready for bed and I need to give her some assistance. Daddy likes to talk to her and she is sitting with him now talking and doesn't want to go to bed. Have a good night all and Happy 4th. Hope you all enjoy those fireworks.

Good evening all!

The Fireworks in my neighborhood are so pretty this year. After Tanner crashed for the night I took the other two in the backyard and wacthed them for awhile. It was fun.
Today has been pretty mundane for me. Dinner was good. The kids ate great.

Melissa, that is so cute that your dh is just chatting with his dd. My dd is a conversation holder. She loves to go on and on about nothing. My first ds is more quiet and really has to be interested in something to talk much about it.

Di, sorry it got so hot there today! I hope it cooled down as the evening went on. I remember that dry california heat, enough to knock the breath out of you.

Michelle, you'll have to let us know how your kids enjoyed your fireworks! And I've only ever had one hangover and I'll NEVER do it again, lol. I thought I was dying, really! I really like the Firm. Did you buy it already? I like that it is a 3 dvd set, I don't have the fanny lifter, I just bought a regular step stool at walmart and placed a really thick medical book on top of it for the top step and it's the same height as the true fanny lifter and gives a great workout. Someday though I'd like to buy the actual fanny lifter when it comes down in price.

Well, I am off to bed. TTYL!

Good Morning All.
I haven't checked in all weekend. Just stayed somewhat busy. I hope everyone had a safe, and wonderful and beautiful 4th of July. We got a couple of kid packs of fireworks and then watched the neighbors and the rest of the sky. They were really pretty. We had a cookout and dh's grandparents.
I think today, I'm going to stay home and catch up on laundry and the rest of the house. I've been feeling much much better and my energy level is slowly coming back. I still take a nap and a couple more rests during the day but I am getting some things done. My appetite is slowly getting back to normal so either this week or next week I'll get back to planning my meals and counting calories, maybe I can get back walking too. My garden is starting to produce and that's keeping me busy.

Spryng, how is your back?

Mel, wow you have your hands full with your son. He might be big, but Andrew, my 19 month old is 32 lbs. and wears a shoe size 6. He's been big since he was born, coming in at 8.14 lbs. He was my biggest only by 4 oz. so I'm hoping this next one comes in at anything less than 8.8, that would be great. I think I can make that happen by walking and counting calories, I've never done that being pregnant.

Penny, glad you had a good 4th.

Hi to Michelle, Di, Cindi, Geri, Ginny, Leigh, Kristin and anyone else I missed. Hope you all are well. I'll check in later.

Good morning all!

Crystal, I am so glad you are starting to feel better. Sounds like your 4th was fun and relaxing And my back is fine. It was feeling better yesterday so I went ahead and got in a workout. Today it feels 100% normal again, thanks for asking.

Well today I'm doing what Crystal is doing, housework and laundry. I'm excited this week has finally started because this thursday I should get to go overnight with Dh in his truck! SIL will watch my kids here so I'm going to get this house spotless.

So what is for dinner tonight everyone? I'm not sure what I want to make yet. Maybe Boca Burgers tonight with fries. We'll see. TTYL!

Good morning all,

Had a great 4th... took a 20 mile bike ride with my gf yesterday afternoon..got rained on some but it felt really good. Then took Will to the fireworks. He did really good with ear mufflers on . He hid his face in my chest for most of the parade...too loud for him.

Anyway, laundry sounds like the project for today! We're having itialian sausage and peppers for dinner.

Got in a 30 minute shaper (balance) ball workout this morning so I'm done for the day.

OK, gotta run! Have a wonderful day everyone. Hugs to all!! TTYL

Hi Ladies

Melissa,
TOPS is a wonderful support group. They play games and contests as incentives to keep you on plan. They have little poems and sayings they do and you receive charms and gifts when you lose. BTW, I love the Dora episode about the bugga bugs

Spryng,
I know you are trying to help me only cuz ya' luv me Deep down inside I know you are right. This morning I am still unsure of what to do but I know you are right about it having to be a plan that I will do for life. When I am on SB I can do it but once I stray I can't get back on. So for now I am going to watch portion sizes and fat and just try to stay more towards wheat grains and such. You understand what I mean. Thanks so much for being there. I am so excited for you for getting to spend the night w/ dh in the truck. How neat! WOO HOO! BTW, What does dh haul?

Geri,
Hope you enjoyed the fireworks. I am gonna pass it on to the moderators about the smiles. Maybe they can find one!

Michelle,
CONGRATS CONGRATS ON THE LOSS!!!! WOOOO HOOOO! Have you done your measurements? You are getting so close to the other side. When are ya gonna buy some new clothes for yourself? Hope it didn't rain on ya'll last night!

Di,
How wonderful about the candle. Neat-o! Please post a pic. What I did for gifts last year is bought some 4" terra cotta pots. I went to hobby lobby and bought some different types of papers (the ones with dried flowers in them and some different prints). I modge-podged the paper all the way around the pots. Then I bought the small candle (I don't know how to make them). I put the candle in the pot with some moss or raffia around it. They came out beautiful. I tried to match the different pots to everyone's houses. I have one in the house if you want a pic of one of them. Just another Idea for you. It was a big hit and everyone loved them. Now I have to find something this year to top it...... LOL

Crystal,
Glad you are starting to feel better! Are you starting to show yet? I always did early.

Leigh,
Are you back? Hope you had a wonderful time!

Well I need to get some of this house work done. I will check in later!

Hello again!

Just had to share something with you all.... I just put on my size 8 jeans and guess what???! A PERFECT FIT!!! Not a little snug, not uncomfortable to sit in, PERFECT FIT!!!! I can't believe it! I tried them on just a few weeks ago and they were tight, I could button them but they were uncomfortable, and today it feels great! I knew all my size 10 shorts were getting so baggy, yesterday I was constantly pulling them up. But I have no size 8 shorts so that means a shopping trip soon! LOL. So today I'll wear my jeans. YAHOO!! My ultimate goal was to be a comfortable size 8! Just wanted to share that with you all.

Penny, I'm so glad you understood where I was coming from. I really do care about you and I see your picture and you are so beautiful and I know you'll be a knock out when you are at goal and I want to help you get there I think watching portions and staying away from bad carbs (like white flour and such) is a great start! Keep us updated on how you proceed! I'm excited for you! And my Dh hauls lots of different things, he has a reefer... which is a refridgerated trailer so he can haul things that need to be chilled, but he has also hauled shoes for payless, lots of things to walmart, etc. He does alot of beer and ground beef too, so it just depends.

Geri you are doing great with your exercise! 20 miles on the bike? That sounds like serious cardio, And your dinner sounds delish!

Ok, I'm dressed now and I have my mp3s playing in the living room so I can stay busy today. TTYL!