Hello All
I love jumping on when I've been away for a few hours.. here is my quick recap of the posts from the day:

Momjaya and Pot, Shannon's lean faced avatar, Lea Ann with hellions, Miracle Whip and Pineapple, ASHES AND FUNERALS???, Safe houses, Lasik, Lettie and Kim2 on some kind of ultra fat burner dropping MAJOR poundage, Aids, Kim is semi crippled and all of wish we could be at her office to help (laugh at) her, lemon juice and as always some SALTY TALK

For all the newcomers, big breath.. you are welcome on this board just be prepared to speed read and have a long memory.

I am doing dandy today. Made one of my South Beach recipes I must post for us to submit. It was chicken with red pepper, onion, mango and cashew..better than takeout. I added a HUGE salad to it.. I giggled today taking out a piece of celery that I was not stuck on the 1 rib+1 portion.. I had three.. waaahwaaaaaaaaahh.
I'm already jazzed about my extra dairy next week. Jillian can you transfer? If I won a lotto I would stick a Starbucks in each town and fly all the chickies and roosters to meet for java.. then maybe we could go out for liquid fruit.
Dealt with one tantrum this morning from the oldest, YDD didn't cry at dropoff at school yesterday but did have 3 intermittent crying spells in the morning.. asking for me.. but teachers said they will keep working with her (while I pace the floor and chew off my nails at home) Feeling much better about MIL too.. as in I came to realize she is nuts and it's not my problem.. DH went and talked to her and told her if she has any issues to talk to him and NOT to phone our house when she has had wine.
Lorraine it was great to hear from you, I wondered where you were.

Lastly I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for the nice congrats about stabilization.. The new binder I got has lots of good tips etc, some new recipes.. including APPLE PIE.. so I think I'll just have to start a seperate Stabilization thread so people can find it.

Hope you are all having a good day and Cassi we don't know what you did at school since the jelly beans and mashies.. please tell us!

just had a yummy snack treat

8 oz. ff milk, put in freezer for about an hour
1 T. instant espresso coffee
1 packet splenda
1 chocolate shake lite (I wanted SF chocolate syrup, but DH used it all up)

Mix it all up in a blender.
put in a glass and top with 1 T. ff cool whip

Excellent! You are a pro!

Kristen............it would be fab if you started a stabilization thread. We could keep everything organized that way.......and then you would probably get a lot fewer questions Glad DH straightened MIL out. Dr. Phil (I used to watch him, but no time anymore), says that it is the son's job to take care of his mother. I say hooray for Dr. Phil My MIL is a whack job for sure. She is a total hypochondriac. Oh well..........what's a girl to do....except sick DH on them when they get out of line. Mine doesn't drunk dial.........she doesn't drink.........she's just whacko ALL the time. I think she must have been trapped on the island with Kim's in-laws.

Oh, I have a question for all of you...........DH came home the other day and announced that he won a trip. He is a sales man for a distribution company that sells automation products to manufacturers. Anywhooo, one of the products he sells is made in a factory in Germany. Well, his boss entered him into a contest to win an all expense paid trip to Germany. He has to tour the plant, but other than that.......it is a vacation, including spending money. And those were the words he said.......i won a vacation to Germany. Now, this manufacturer gives these trips to a few distributors each year. The owners of the distributor companies have to pay for airfare...but otherwise the manufacturer pays all expenses. I asked DH if this "vacation" was for 2, and he said he wasn't sure, that his boss (the owner) was going to let him know as soon as he returned from an owner's meeting in the Cayman Islands. Why do people go there.....Oh yeah, that's right, to hide money, right? Anyway..........do you think that a manufacturing company would give a vacation for 1 to Germany as a prize to a distributor in a contest????? And, if so.........is it appropriate for me to be mad as ****???? DH says that even if the trip is for only 1, he is going to ask his boss if he will spring for airfare for me as well......but I don't know........something just seems off about this whole thing. Am I just being a jerk, or is this common? Anyone, anyone??? Sometimes I get my nose out of joint because I do sometimes feel like I have been forgotten in the world being a stay at home mom. I never used to feel that way when I was home in Wisconsin and going to school, and had friends and family all around me.......but here, it is different. It is hard for me to tell if I am taking things too personally when it comes to DH's job and my role as a stay at home mom. So, what do you all think? You guys are all out there.......interacting with other business people......well, most of you are anyway........

Hi guys! I am way, way behind, but I did read up. Great job to all of you losers, sorry to all of you finders, and a special yahoo to Kristen, and big hugs going to JM, I hope that your trip is magical!

I have been lurking mostly, and doing badly on the diet with my blood sugar being so messed up. My Dr appointment was yesterday. Turns out, I am insulin resistant. I was diagnosed with moderate insulin resistant 2 1/2 years ago. After I dropped below 200 lbs, the my GP said that I was not insulin resistant anymore. According to the specialist I saw yesterday, that is NOT true. Once AI, always AI. He said that I am really playing with fire, since most of my family is diabetic. Also, I have gained 10 lbs in the last 4 weeks. The Dr wants me to lose 40 lbs, exercise for 30 minutes 5 days per week. He said that LAWL is a great plan for people with AI, IF they do not eat the bars or do TO. He also put me on glucophage for AI, and phentramine for weight loss. He also worked me over big time for not having insurance. As you know, crap rolls downhill, so I worked DH over big time for not having insurance. Today, he filled out the insurance forms. Anyways, I am back OP today, on red with no lites.

Keep on keepin' on everyone!

Nicole- I would be very suprised if the trip was only for 1. Who wants to go on vacation alone? I hope that it works out for you to go. SAHMs need a break!

Thanks Katie.....and glad you got things straightened out at the doctor. Well, I am back on red with no lites too......maybe we should have a red-off. I am such a dork. Anyway.....I think we all need a break from time to time......the trouble for me has been, there is just noone to pick up the slack if I do try to take a break. My cousin and I were joking around one day about how I was going to have to start an employee of the month program, and award myself employee of the month most months, and make myself a plaque, and hire a caterer to have a banquet in my honor.....LOL. It's kind of funny.....and anyone who has been a sahm or self-employed knows what I am talking about. Breaks, luches, vacations, and recognition are often taken for granted in the world of employement.........but it is funny how it really does help. And before, my mom used to take care of that for me by saying really nice things about my kids and my house and such. DH is wonderful, but he is a man of few words.....so sometimes I have to remind him that he married Ms. America. LOL. Wow, wasn't meaning to whine...........it is really so odd, isn't it? As women, in general.......with all of our different lifesyles.......we all sometimes feel unappreciated, huh? I love you guys..........you always help me realize that most of the time, this is just the way life goes.....and we all feel it somedays........and that totally helps me stay grounded. XOXO

and Katie........quit lurking......we totally miss you when you're not posting.........

Nicole- I am with Katie. It would be really odd to win a trip for just one. My DH's company has a president's club. Best of the best get together once a year. We went to the virgin islands in 2000. It was employee and a guest. They spend mucho dinero on these shindigs every year. It would be awesome to go to Germany all expenses paid, and you so totally deserve it. I was there when I was 15 and wish I could go back again now that I am older and would appreciate the culture a little more.

Hi gang.. Just checkin' in...

The day has gone well, and I've been POP.. BUT.. I got a last minute invite to a banquet tonight for the YMCA.. Never pass up free food, right?

The problem? The theme is "FIESTA", meaning there will be plenty of Mexican food there to tempt me.. The hotel we're having the banquet at is pretty posh, so I expect the food will be somewhat better than average, but I fear we'll be fed a bunch of beans (yuck), rice (uh oh!) and enchiladas.. I can pick through the corn tortillas, but the sauce will probably be pretty heavy and laden with salty goodness..

Maybe I'll luck out and it will be buffet style and I can load up on lettuce and tomatoes and fajita style chicken, which will have a lot of salt, but I can deal with that with lots of water.. Just not what I was hoping to dine on before tomorrow's weigh in..

Keep the willpower vibes comin' my way...

Here ya go Dan - hope it's not too late!

Lettie and Kim2 - great losses.
Hi Jillian - how was the workout...how many is that for the week? How's kitty (Scooter?) doing?
Katie - wow......glad you finally got to the doc and I do hope things get turned around for you. Diabetes is not to be taken lightly so follow the docs advice and hang in there. Take care of yourself. I love your "crap rolling downhill" reference...you go girl! It's not like your day wasn't tough enough, but then to have to listen to the insurance drill.....no fun!
Nicole - SAHMaya - I agree with the others that a trip like that should be for two and you should just start planning and packing! You so deserve a nice break. Hopefully your passport is up to date and if not, get working on it...it takes a while these days (like 10 weeks) and costs about $100..another $60 if you have to expedite it. That reminds me; mine is due for renewal and that costs $67!! That's insane.
Kristen - great idea on the stabilization thread, but won't you be sort of lonely over there...lol.
Kripple Kim - I just realized that you are suffering a sympathy ailment. You wanted the visiting seniors to feel young and spry compared to you!
Deb - quit posting those yummy delights..I'm starving and don't have any of those ingredients on hand.

Dan- Good luck at the dinner!

Nicole- I think that we need to come up with some "Dieter of the Month" award that we mail to each other each month. You know, we all vote, then who ever has the trophy mails it to the current winner, they keep it on display until the next month, then they mail it to the next winner, etc. Someone needs to give us awards for something, right?

Joni- SAHMaya? Too funny!

BTW, I have to go to potluck dinner meeting tonight. I am making a trifle. I bought a fat free angel food cake. I am going to cube it, put half in my trifle dish, then a layer SF vanilla pudding, then a layer of FF cool whip, then a layer of raspberries and huckleberries, then repeat. I am wondering how to count it. I am thinking 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1 dairy, 1 starch, and 1 condiment. Any thoughts?

joni--the workout was good. every time i'm done with it i'm so happy that i made myself do it and i feel better. today's was only #2 for the week..but i'm determined to get 4 in this week since i missed one last week! that's my punshiment for not making my 3/week goal.
scooter is doing great and is so much fun! he's staying the night at the vet tonight because he got declawed (front paws only) today. DH is going to pick him up tomorrow afternoon. i miss him not being here when i got home today...we've only had him a week and DH and I have both grown quite attached to him already.

ok..well, i'm off to do some laundry, talk to the kids on webcam, have dinner and spend the evening with DH. hope everyone has a good night.