Hi girls!

I haven't been much of a cheerleader lately and I'm sorry.

It seems like we are either wallowing in our own troubles, caring for loved ones or doing well. Which category do YOU fall into???

Personally, I've been wallowing in trying to get my mom better and trying to do my own stuff too and it's time to STOP!!! Enough giving myself permission to eat off plan or not pay any attention because THAT isn't going to help anyone, myself included.


Anyone else want to join me??? If so, sign up here. Copy/paste the list into your post and add your name. Let's see how much good we can do for ourselves this next week.

2x2 from October 9th - October 23th
ThinThinker

Talk to you all soon. Love ya bunches!!!

Hi ladies,

The weekend was exhausting. Mom's auction is over and she's left with just the stuff she will be taking to the new place. I think she made more than expected but really sad considering the cost of all the stuff over the years. I spent too much money and bought stuff I don't need but wasn't going to let it go for $1 to some old codger being cheap. I did buy a chainsaw though. Plus I kept telling myself it was helping mom and if it wasn't going to sell, I bought it even if its to go to the dump. I am SOOOO glad that this event is over for her. Now its a matter of her getting a clear from the geriatric doc and getting her remaining stuff in a trailer and taken to her new home. I'm sure that will be happening in the next two weeks.

I am not at all happy about having to go to work today. And if it wasn't quarter end close, I'd call in sick but can't. I must get moving and off to work.

2x2 from October 9th - October 16th
ThinThinker
Terri

Morning chickies!

I've been "doing well", but busy trying to stay that way. With that said, now I've gotten sick being so busy.

I think i'm game, but what's a 2x2??

Karen, the 2x2 is a commitment to try to lose 2 pounds in 2 weeks. Last time if I remember correctly I lost it... and gained it right back again. It was last spring and I was on an emotional and weight roller coaster. This time I'm READY!

THIN - You just say the word! ... on the other hand, I have a question. Do I have to relose the 2-3 pounds that just showed back up on the scale this morning? My Sunday off from exercising really shot me down, in the short run anyway.

TERRI - I know this has been a long road for you with your mom, the house and the auction. I'm glad much of it has passed now and I hope you're in for a break soon. Between your move this spring and now hers, you've been one busy camper! I hope you get some good weather and some time to play with your babies.

I spent hours yesterday at the barn. Gabe and I had some mellow play time, just grazing or whatever, and we did some lungeline work. He's getting so calm and good at it - it's amazing what they'll give you if ya just put a little time into them! He was working beautifully off of voice, and even gave me a halt from a trot, just on voice. I had him over some obstacles on the ground, too. Then we went over to the mounting block. He hasn't been really comfortable when humans get really high up, but he was better within minutes. I could hug and rub his big ol' head, and lean on the saddle, no problem. I did get a little exercise in later - I stripped 6 or 7 stalls. All in all, it was an absolutely splendid day at the barn. Very calming.

OK, but today it's back to WORK! Busy, busy, busy! See you later dear hens!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do..."
~ Mark Twain

2x2 from October 9th - October 16th
ThinThinker
Terri
Valerie

Count me in for the 2X2! X

Hi Girls!

Glad to see you all thinking it's time to get back in the saddle, so to speak.

Karen: The 2x2 is exactly what Valerie explained. It's a commitment to lose 2 pounds in 2 weeks. It's usually started with your Monday WI (not Wisconsin) and ends with WI (again, not Wisconsin) the following Monday. Anyone can start one. We don't do them on a constant basis because it gets old. Usually when someone wants to re-focus they'll start a 2x2. I've added your name to the bottom of the list.

Mother: I've added you to the list as well. I'm glad we're going for it!!!

Valerie: Sounds like you had a marvelous time at the barn! I am a bit concerned about you and Gabe "grazing". ("Gabe and I had some mellow play time, just grazing or whatever". ) The "whatever" is a bit curious as well.

Terri: I'm glad the big event is over. It is very sad when you have to see a lifetime go up at auction. I went through that as a child when we sold off the orchard. I remember dad lamenting about the $1 for this and $1 for that. Terrible. But now it's over and your mom can move on. I hope she gets some relief from the geriatric guy soon.

As far as my mom goes, we saw the surgeon this morning. He doesn't think that she'll need surgery for her adrenal gland. He's sending her to an Endocronologist (because we just really wanted to see another Dr.) because I guess the adrenal gland produces hormones and he wants her checked. She has to do a 24 hour PEE collection. FUN!!!

Gotta run. Love ya bunches!

2x2 from October 9th - October 23th
ThinThinker
Terri
Karen
Valerie
Mother

Anyone else??? Copy/paste the list and add your name. Let's go chickies!!!

Cool, that would put me right at my mini goal!

WI this morning was 252 down 1.2 pounds.

Hi ladies,

Survived the day. And was even productive this evening.

Today is DH's 60th birthday. With being so busy this weekend, I didn't have a card or anything. And he even had to remind me this morning what day it is. Not that I forgot his birthday, just had no concept of the date. So I stopped on my way home and bought him two bunches of flowers, a sappy card and two boxes of his favorite Russell Stovers candies. Not much else I could buy him. He loved it. We're not even going out tonight and he's cool with that. He loves just being home with me and the animals.

We unloaded a big bale of hay and then I worked with Peso. I'm trying to get her ready to be sold in two weeks. So I brought her out into the yard and we walked around and introduced her to new things. She just needs to be handled a lot in this next two weeks so she's not nuts when we get to the sale. She's liable to be nuts anyway. Then I took a big blue stability ball into the round pen and kicked it at the two boys. Didn't hardly phase them at all. I ran around kicking the ball at them. They were a hoot.

For my cardio exercise, I put my walking shoes on and hit the driveway with the dog. We made one trip up and then chased each other around the house to the backyard and around again. He loved running through the leaves and playing with mom. I did two more trips and he decided he'd just lay up by the house and wait to attack me when I got back up to the yard. Wore his butt out. We both should sleep good tonight. And it felt great to get the heart rate up and work up a sweat.

Thin - Don't beat yourself up too hard because your focus has been on your mom. I can relate! However, don't let it be an excuse. You have to take care of you too in order to take care of others. Thanks for the idea of doing a challenge again.

Valerie - What a great day at the barn! Didn't you just want to jump up on Gabe and take off?! I so want to hop on Phoenix' back. Next spring/summer for both of us.

Lilion - To answer your question about why I don't ride more. I used to ride a lot when we were boarded at Trailside with Cherie. Then we moved to Richard's and he made it impossible to ride because he kept making our horses's area smaller and smaller. Then we moved the horses to DH's sons and they were too far away plus no place to ride. Then we finally got them moved here and Ginger was too pregnant. I do plan on riding Ginger soon. The other yahoo's aren't broke to ride.

I need to go order some fun shoes from Land's End and then I'm going to crash on the bed and watch TV while DH has football on the big TV. Its his birthday he can watch football if he wants to.

to everyone!

A couple of you posted while I was working on that last one.

Karen - Hope you're feeling better soon!

Thin - I don't get it about the adrenal gland. I remember you saying that what the doc saw was the adrenal gland - so what? Is it not supposed to be there? Is it enlarged? What are they thinking is wrong with it? Sorry, inquiring minds....

Terri: Yup, you actually have TWO adrenal glands. They are located in back just above your kidneys. I guess among other things they produce hormones. The surgeon said that what she has (it started with an "A", but for the life of me I can't repeat it) a 3cm, one of those "A" things in one of the glands which is enlarged and the other one is "slightly" enlarged. He said most of the time they are not cancerous and do not have to be removed AND they show up by accident when you're doing a test for something else, i.e. mom's CAT scan. He wants the endocronologist to check her hormone levels and that's part of what he ordered the 24 hour PEE collection for. So the endo guy will have results by the time we see him.

She has an appointment with the gastro guy, and an MRI scheduled next week. I'll try and get her into the endo guy as well. We're switching her over to this new GP that I like too so I've got her set up with her on the 23rd.

She is feeling much better, not perfect. So fingers crossed we're on the road to recovery.

WHAT? TERRI, I don't remember you saying anything before about Peso going to the sale! Bummer!! I hope you get not only a buyer who appreciates her lovely self, but I hope he pays through the nose for her!!! ** GREAT job wearing out the dog!

THIN, Not to worry - Gabe did the grazing, I just pointed out the sweetest looking clover. As to the 'whatever', well, that's between me & Gabe. Which reminds me... I gotta put the gloves on and clean his sheath one of these days. (That's his winky hide-away, so you don't have to guess. You wouldn't believe what they get up in there!) Oops - I forgot to give you a TMI alert - ha!

I finally broke out my Denise Austin tapes and gave 'em a go tonight. I was relieved to discover that she didn't have some little twiggy girlie voice. It was pretty good - I definately was feeling it after tape one, and I didn't quite make it through tape two. There were moments when I said a few rude things to her, but at least I know I got more than my money's worth in the workouts. I'll have to keep after them until I can do it all.

Evening chickies!

Just getting in from work.

Terri, Thanks, I just need some sleep and a bit of time off...Way to go on the cardio!

Valerie, EEWWWW.....Thanks for the warning... I find myself talking to the TV all the time!

Thin, so glad mom is feeling better.

Off to bed

aHello Hens, I thought I had better drop in before you forget me.

I have been waiting for some word on my MRI results and finally got it yesterday. Do you think I know any more than I did....NOOOOO! Except for the fact that the mass they saw on my ovary is much smaller than the CAT scan showed and they think it may be soft tissue, relief right? NOOOO! They want me to go to my GYN Dr. now.

Thin, I read with much interest about your Mom. They also said my adrenal glands need to be checked in six months to see if they had grown any. Seems they showed up enlarged on the CAT scan like your Moms did. When you start to age it seems everything starts to go haywire!

As for my Mom she is a little stronger, but mentally she is often confused. Her leg and foot are still swollen. They are checking her blood once a week and having the nurse check her vitals. I just hate that she is having to go through this.

Sorry hens, I don't mean to ignore you all, but replies will have to wait until another day. I read your post when I can and think of all of you daily. Hang in there with the program.

Thin, I would join the 2x2, but you know my record. LOL! I lose it the first week and gain it back with some buddies the second, so I think I will pass and hope to lose the two anyway. Take care, Ruth

Good Morning Ladies!

Wow! I haven't hardly been around this holiday weekend, huh? Sorry about that. Yesterday I was going to go to the office, but slept in instead and when I got my office work I'd taken home out I saw that I'd brought one I needed to be at the office to do! So got nothing done there. Instead I worked on Halloween costumes. I started DS's…he's going to be this video game guy …at least the costume is pretty much just a cape, a fitted cape with buckles down the front, but could be worse. I also started mine…made some black lace gloves. Ever made gloves? Pain in the tushy! It was so funny when I bought the lace the other day. The clerk was measuring it and asked what it was for. I responded "I'm going to be a widow." She got this odd look on her face for a moment and then said, very seriously "I hope you mean for Halloween." At least DH costume is going to be easy. He's going to wear a suit, I'm going to do his makeup, and he's going to be my dearly departed husband!

Food has been pretty bad this weekend, but I still think I'm doing okay WI-wise. So I'll add myself to the 2x2, but I'll have to do it by Wednesday's, starting with last Wed.'s WI.

Ruth: It's so good to see your smiling signature! I'm sorry the tests haven’t given you any relief. Are they concerned it's more than the usual ovarian cyst? My GYN said that "at a certain age" they become very common. I hope that's what yours says too! I'm glad to hear your mom is doing better and hope that she bounces back quick!

Valerie: EEWWwwwwWWW! (Note to self: Never buy a boy-horse!)

Thin: I suspect the "A" word was adenoma. That's what I have with my pituitary gland, a pituitary adenoma. Her's would be an adrenal adenoma. Yep, benign tumors that may secrete hormones or cause the gland they are attached to to secrete excess hormones. I just take a pill for mine, and the endocrinologist actually said I could quit taking that…but I figure if it ain't broke don't fix it. The pills have worked fine and I will keep taking them rather than take a chance…which he was fine with too. Sounds like the immediate problem of her being so very ill is better? I'm very glad!

Terri: It sounds like you had a great time with the dog! I wish I could let my little monsters off the leash outside…they love to run! I really need to get them to the dog park soon so they can frolic a bit before it gets too cold. I figured you didn't ride Ginger because of the now-baby…it was actually Valerie's "riding weight" goal that had gotten me wondering. That and DH and I thinking of trying to find a stable somewhere. I'm glad the sale is over. I'm sure it was hard to watch…but be glad you did. When we sold my folks stuff someone else did a lot of the packing and we couldn't find stuff and really didn't want to be there, so we gave the auctioneer a list of items NOT TO BE SOLD UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Of course, they sold them.

Karen: A big on the loss! WTG!

Mother, Celery, Mary:

Well all, I need to get moving…so before I go here's the new 2x2 list!

2x2 from October 9th - October 16th
ThinThinker
Terri
Karen
Valerie
Mother
Lilion

Have a TERRIFIC DAY LADIES!