Hi girls! Just checking in to let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the planet.....yet!

I will have to do replies later as I'm off and running again this morning. Working my little fanny off! (Yeah, right! "little" NOT terribly accurate!) Anyway, I'm working like crazy. I have 22 gas stations to audit by May 4th. Most will have to be done this week as next week I'm tied up with mom and her cataract surgery.

I did want to mention the 2x2 Challenge. I'm bringing the list over here so it's front and center as a reminder.

Updated!
Roll call for the 2x2: April 17 - May 1.
Official WI today and on May 1.

Terri
Ruth
ThinThinker
2cute
KristasMom/Sue
jps/Joan
ageoldie
Sandi D
Valerie
MTM/Charlotte

I hopped on the scale this morning for a progress report and I was down 5.9# for the week. I could actually be liking this healthy living.....as long as the scale keeps cooperating. I didn't really get totoally back OP either. But the one change I did make is having a big salad for one meal most days. I guess that really helps. I'll be stopping at the fruit market today to stock up so I can have another good week.

Well, girls, if I don't get off here, I'll never get out of the house. I'll talk with you all later, I promise. Love ya bunches!

WOW ... can't believe no one posted all day !!!!!

I can't complain when I haven't been here either.

Sorry... but I am still not going to be here now either.
DH is going back into the hospital for another heart procedure Friday.
this time they are going to burn something. Needless to say I am not happy about this. I have a Million things to do between now and then... and I just can't get my butt in gear to get them done. I just sit in la la land everytime I try to do something productive. Tuesday I do have to go to the eye doctor and I can't procrastinate on that.

Hope everyone is doing well ... and keeps it up. I will see you again when I can.

Hello Ladies
Just stopping in to say HI
I have been doing better the last few days. As some people say moving on, but to me that still hurts, I mean having to move forward without my baby RILEY with me.
But I do know that weight loss was one of my son's goals for 2006 (he had written in his journal) so in honor of him that is what I gonna do. My challenge to myself is to lose 30 pounds begining with my new years start weight which was 300.50, my current is 296.25 which means I have 25.75 pounds to reach his goal.
My son's other goals were to read his entire set of goosebumps books, but I found out from the mother of one of his classmates (Shaina) isthat she is reading the books to him (she has a shirt with his picture). So that is how one of his other goals is being met. I think this is just cute, and I am very thankful that they still think about him.
His last goal was to go to Waterworld, so my family, my sisters, nieces and nephews are planning to go sometime this summer, so that will fufill his goals/wishes for 2006.
***********
To you all, I want to thank you for all the continued thoughts and prayers, as I know that is the reason I get through the days. It helps a lot to know that others care.
I will try and post here twice a week, to check on you all and to let you know how I am doing. For now you all have good week and I'll see you lighter.
Love and Blessings
Joanne/AZ
Mom to Angel RILEY

Dear Joanne - My heart still aches for you and your angel, Riley. I don't believe it's just something anyone just "moves on" from. I think it's wonderful that you have that journal and that you and his friends can honor his memory in the ways you mention. A thousand hugs to you.

Terri - gotta love that pony!

I've got all my boys moved to the new place and settled in. I'm not sure who was happier to see whom. Steega was amazed to see friends in a strange place, and Gabe and Cody came flying from the far corner of the pasture to greet Steeg.

The phone just rang and we have to run off to someplace in Texas (gee - that narrows it down, doesn't it?) so I have to go without catching up with this thread, much less starting on the main one.

Not doing too well. I'm in that "If only such-n-such would happen, I could get totally back on track." Yeah. Right. How 'bout "If only I would just COMMIT, PLAN, and EXECUTE the eating and exercise program I had going on before?!

I was called in for a random drug and alcohol screening last Friday (which all commercial drivers are subject to) and asked to use their scale. Get this, the med ctr's scale read 7 pounds difference depending on whether you faced towards it or away from it. How accurate is THAT?

O.K. I'm outa here, but i miss you guys. Do you s'pose one of you could just ride along with me for a week and kick my butt back on program???

Jo Anne - I normally don't post on this thread, but I saw that Valerie had posted and wanted to see how she was doing (Hi Valerie!)

Grieving is such an individual process - and it true that for someone who has lost a parent or a child it never truly ends. Please don't let anyone harass you about your grieving process. If it had been 5 years, then maybe they might have a point, but it hasn't been anywhere near that long. Your grieving will take quite a lot longer and it will never quite end. I lost my mother when I was 15 and there is still a part of me that grieves. However, I now cherish that grief because it reminds me of how special she was and how wonderful a person she was. It says something about how much love was between us that part of me still hurts every time I think about her.

Hello Everyone
How was your day?
Still trying to get on track but its hard after a cheat
sandi

Michelle let me be the first to say WELCOME! New posters are always welcome here! Zelma was right about the nice people here. Its a great place to get support, encouragement or in my case to just babble about nothing!

Post often so we can get to know you and you us!

MichelleK

Good morning ladies,

I see that I did not post yesterday. It was a bad brain day. Blame it on allergies and the wet, wet weather we had yesterday. It was so gloomy! Reminded me of November weather. I was in a fog and so tired all day.

I'm not sure today will be much better. *Sigh*

Exercise yesterday was good though. I did 28 minutes on the bore-cycle in the morning and walked the dog for 30 minutes last night. Since I overslept this morning, I'm not getting anything done so I'll have to make it up tonight.

I'm not doing well on drinking my water. And its showing on the scale.

Michelle/Mom - Welcome to the group! We're a little quiet sometimes. One of our ladies is out preparing to be off work for a few days. Another is out AT work for a while. Another is working her butt off at her work and another is preparing for her husband to have a heart procedure done on Friday. Our thread doesn't move along as fast as the original thread. But we're a great group of old and new friends.

Thin - Great job on being down 5.9#

Valerie - Good to see you checking in. I miss you too when you're out on the road. Have a safe trip (and hopefully speedy!) I'm with you on getting back to the COMMIT, COMMIT, COMMIT! I do just enough sabotage to keep me at a maintain.

Sandi - Keep working at getting back on track. Yes it is so hard but I think that comes from our not really wanting to change our habits to a healthy lifestyle. Not quite willing to give up what we know isn't going to help us reach our goal which has made me wonder if I really want to achieve the goal.

MichelleK -

Joanne - I am so sorry that you are grieving for your son. It could be very healing for you to carry out his goals in his honor. I don't think there is anyway to get over losing a child. When I lost my dad, I read something that said that God intends for us to grieve for a little while and then for us to tend to living as He is taking care of the lost loved one. Your son will always be in your heart. We're here to help encourage and cheer you on as you work towards that goal for Riley.

2Cute - How are the million things coming along? Let us know how it goes on Friday.

Joe Anne, I know it must be so very hard to loose a child, and my heart goes out for you. I have been wondering how you were doing, Keep coming back to us and let us know how you are doing.

This has been a busy week for me. My boss has been out all week on a "family-emergencty" (translated on taking care of a irresponsible son in college) and the other girl was scheduled off. so that left me to "rurn" the busisness offfice since Friday. Today it's my turn not to be there. I have another dentist appointment.

This has been a quite thread this week, but I know everyone has been as busy as I have.

Good mid-morning friends, boy I miss a couple of days and can't catch up! Yesterday I took myself on a little outing that included getting a new do for my hair.. I must have the straightest hair you can get. I have worn it straight for 4 years now, but I was getting tired of fighting with it so...I got a perm. ARRRGGGGHHH! I almost scared myself when I looked in the mirror this morning! Didn't recongnize myself.

We are looking at new cars. I want something comfortable and big enough to put a wheelchair in without having to take it apart. I don't want a full size van, but I was thinking that maybe the saturn Vue like Thin got might fit the bill. Something good on gas etc. What do you ladies drive? I have very short(fat) legs and stepping up into those big old vechicles won't cut it. I had to have a step stool to get into our Co. van. I need a two step stool to get in DHs truck. Then when I get in my car, I feel like I am stepping down. I don't know which is worse! (lose the weight...lose the problem). (I know!)
Getting DH to move on anything is the problem...he has to think it over, and over and etc. If I wait for him to decide we will still be driving what we have next year!

Joanne, You have my deepest sympathy. I wish I knew what to say to help you, but there are no words that will do that I know. Come back and let us know how things are with you.

Welcome to the newest members. Hope to get to know all of you.

I will try to do better about posting...honest! Ruth

Thank you MichelleK and Terri for your kind words and warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know all of you, and the ones that are out right now. Have a wonderful day!

Hi also to you Ruth! Nice meeting you also...

Good Afternoon Ladies!

No embellishment of this post with fancy letters or colors...I'm doing good to even type! I, who couldn't possibly need two good arms more, managed to damage my rotator cuff in the right sholder last Saturday. I didn't feel it until Sunday when I went to bed. By Monday noon at work I was in tears from the pain. After missing 2 1/2 hours of work and taking several x-rays (Thank God my friend came and took me - taking my clothes off was an adventure in pain!) and seeing the doctor he diagnosed "Rotator Cuff Tendonitis" and told me not to use my arm much. Riiiight! Don't use my RIGHT arm...I'm SO right handed that my left is practially as useful as a flipper! The naproxin he prescribed did NOTHING and I had to ask for more potent drugs yesterday. He called in Darvocet...which really only takes the edge off.

I'm being a whiner! Sorry. But this FREAKIN HURTS! I can wash my hair with one hand, but I can't dry or fix it. I can't shave my pits or put on deoderant, cause I can't raise my arm. This stinks! Today is much better than yesterday though...I managed exactly nothing yesterday.

I keep thinking about Leanne! I don't know HOW she stood that break of her arm. If a break is more painful than this...and it has to be...I'd have been begging for drugs! Leanne - if you are out there - my sympathy for you has really grown. How are you doing?

So I'm trying to get a little typing done with very little motion in the arm. Seem to be working. I just couldn't have picked a worse time for this - with all the decisions that are past due. But life goes on. On the up side - the Doctor finally noticed my weight loss! Only nearly 90 lbs later! Big dummy. And I seem to have lost my gain from last week, although I missed the WI today.

Thin - Wow! Great loss! I'm very impressed!

Michelle - the new one - Welcome! We're glad to have you here!

Joanne - So good to hear from you! My heart goes out to you! When I think of my own DS I don't know how you have been so strong. God Bless You.

Valerie - on the road again? Hope you get home soon.

Ruth - Owning two suv's I am sure that a van is better for putting a wheelchair in. With SUV's you'd have to lift it up and stick it in the cargo area. Hope you find something soon that you like.

Barbara - Hey, if you are in charge -give youreself a big raise!

MichelleK - Hey there! Good to see you again!

Terri _ Well, I WAS doing okay on the exercise - until my boo boo! And I hurt it in such a stupid way! I was stretched over a chain link fence to get a dog toy for a friend, cause I had the longest arms! Darned expensive dog toy I bought her! That has to have been it, cause it was the only thing I'd done!

Well, I've wasted precious time that I could have used on a decision...so I best go. Hope I get a chance to check in later - until then - Take care my favorite Ladies!