Weekly Chat - Monday, November 30, 2009 through Sunday, December 6, 2009
 

Good Afternoon Chicks! I'm on my way out to shop for Christmas. I gained .6 and I think it's real. I feared it would be more.

Back to business today!

Hope you are all well.

Thanks for starting us up, Vickie.

We had a rough night here: the younger GS was sick for hours, throwing up everything and more! Poor little tyke. He is tired today, and a little slower than his usual warp speed. They are both down for their naps, and I'm headed in that direction.

He did eat lunch though. We took them to Chick Fil-A and I had the fruit salad with grilled chicken and water. I've also put a pitcher of water on the counter to remind me to drink today.

I took the dog out for a 45 minute walk/stroll this morning and did some abs work last night.

BBL,
Rhonda

...and he threw up lunch!...I think he's OK now...

We are very tired! I think 3 days might be our babysitting limit. I told DH that I had to develop enough of a relationship with his ex that I could take the kids to her if need be ;)

Ah, exended, blended and assorted families!!!

I hope all is well with everyone.

Rhonda

Just typed a cute, witty post but lost it due to spasdic fingers.

Rhonda, I'm sorry the little one is sick. I hope ya'll don't catch it. Or do you think this is what you just got over? Congratulations on getting back to exercising and to chugging the water. You get an atta-girl!

Vickie, I'm proud of you for getting back on that wagon. I'm there with you.

So? Where is everyone?

Rhonda, I hope everyone recovers at your house soon. Jim and I can only handle about 36 hours and we are done. Must be something to do with the fact that we never had any kids of our own. At least I had Nieces and Nephews around all the time when I was a teenager since they were all only 6 to about 16 years younger than me. We are hoping we don't catch what my Niece's whole family had. She personally had walking pneumonia. I swear that girl was sick for about 3 months. The cough just wouldn't go away.

Sandra, I hate when I lose a post; especially a witty one. I'm glad you're back on the wagon. I know that's where you want to be. Rhonda is an inspiration, isn't she?

Sloan, I know you and your family are going to have a wonderful holiday with your DD back at home safe and sound. Has the Ex moved on?

Where's Paula? Have we lost her again.

Any news from Mary Ann recently? I think of her often and pray for her daily.

I'm going to work on the tree today and my christmas cards when my arms get tired of working on the tree. And....I'm going to drink my water.

What are you all up to on this Tuesday?

Good morning all:

Now, DH is down with the crud. Sandra, I feel sure that I had food poisoning, not a virus. I'm not really trying to track the illness but the first person who was a little sick was my 5 year old great niece. So we don't know if DH's family had their own virus or if they picked it up here. I think they are a little sicker than my g-niece was, but who knows....

I'm back on track now with the food, no more grazing for me.

I think Maryann said that she would be back after Thanksgiving, so maybe we'll hear from her soon. Paula? Hmmmm, where is she? And then there's Coco and Tech who have been AWOL for a little while.

I'm going to get out some Christmas things while the kids play and DH sleeps. Oh boy, I don't like doing this alone. DH was a big help...more than a "help"..we were doing it together.

Later,
Rhonda

Rhonda, I am sorry so many are catching the bug. They could have gotten it anywhere. Those bugs are crawling/flying all around. Everywhere I go, I see hand sanitizers. Didn't use to be that way.

I hope you don't catch it. You've already been through enough with that food poisoning. Tell DH I hope he gets better quickly. So far, we haven't caught anything--and my hip is better so I'm waiting on my next scheduled appt with my rheumatologist in January.

Vickie, you're right. Rhonda is an inspiration. We're like you and aren't very good keeping little ones over a couple of days.

I weighed this AM and was pleasantly shocked to see I hadn't gained anything over Thanksgiving. So now I'm "off to the races."

Have a great OP day, everyone.

Glad you didn't gain anything, Sandra. I can say the same.

Now, the older boy is down with it. At least the younger one has quit vomiting and is playing nicely. The older one is just screaming "my tummy hurts" over and over. I've given him the only amount of Kaopectate a child can have, and I don't know what else to do. Plug my ears I guess!!!

DH is in bed, OK I hope...

Rhonda

Poor Rhonda!

Sandra, congratulations on not gaining.

I exercised today and finished "FLUFFING" my christmas tree. Tomorrow I'll decorate after I got to the nurse to check my BP and my monitor.

I'm STARVING today. Ok not starving but pretty darned hungry. I'm making a cup of tea now to try to tide me over until dinner. I think I'm getting a migraine. Harumph.

7 glasses of water down and 2 to go.

Rhonda, I hope the bigger little one is better. Same for Doyle. Hang in there. Congratulations on not gaining.

Vickie, keep chugging that water. I need to do more of that myself.

I did well today and am looking forward to making healthy choices again tomorrow. Life is good.

Good Morning Chicks! I'm tired this morning. Maybe my walk on the treadmill in about 45 minutes will perk me up.

I did fabulous until 11:00 last night and then I ate two crackers with laughing cow light cheese on them right before I went to bed. I was starving still and
I'm hungry already now. I should have eaten an apple in the afternoon. Oh well. I'm still trying to get down to their 1500 calories but having a hard time. Talk to you all later.

Vickie, there are much worse snacks than crackers and cheese!

Everybody is better today, and so far, I'm OK. I'm doing well with the water since I started filling up a jug and leaving it on the counter to drink.

But, are you ready? It's snowing here in Denton!!!! It hadn't even snowed in Toronto by the time I left there. Boy, oh boy. The kids were delighted, went out to play..then came in shortly whining "It's colddddd..." :rofl:

OK, I admit it....five days with kids who get sick...is more than I bargained for. But, I am counting my blessings that, so far, no one has cracked their heads open on the tile floors, no one has broken anything on the swing set, etc...

BBL,
Rhonda

Hi Rhonda, Sandra and Vickie. I'm still around -- lurking and reading. I need to get back to posting more, it really does help to keep on track.

I've set a short term goal of losing 10 pounds before Christmas. I restarted Phase 1 on South Beach last Friday. Fell hard on my face over Thanksgiving. But the bruises are healing and I'm back on track. I'm really liking SBD -- its so much like core except for no fruit for the first 2 weeks and there are not WPA to allow me to eat things I need to keep away. I do love not eating any processed foods -- its helped curb my cravings. The other difference is for dairy low fat or fat free is allowed. Full fat is not -- low fat is soooooo much better than fat free.

I did make the BEST broccoli soup yesterday that you could call "core". What I did:
sauteed an onion and garlic in olive oil. Chopped up 3 heads of broccoli and add those. Then added in a box of chicken stock and cooked that for about 15 minutes until the broccoli was very soft. Added in one can evaporated skim milk -- used my emersion blender to puree. You could stop there and have core cream of broccoli soup. But I added in 2 T low fat cream cheese and let that melt in. YUM, cheesy goodness. I don't think fat free would have melted as well. I got 6 servings - so for Core the points would be just for 2T divided by 6.

Rhonda, sorry to hear you've all been sick. Hopefully it is all gone. Are you now permantly in Texas? Or are you going back to Canada soon?

Vickie -- how are you feeling? I know there were some issues with your kidney's. I hope things are working out and that you and your doctor have a good plan.

Sandra, hope things are well with you!

Well, off to get some work done. BBL

We woke up to snow, too, but none was sticking. I remember about this time back in 2000 there was an ice storm. I'm just hoping we don't have one of those now.

Paula, SBD sounds like it will work for you. That makes me smile. Get those bruises healed and lose those 10 lbs. I'm here for you--and know you're here for me, too.

Vickie, your snack doesn't sound like it was very damaging. Just think of the control you have now. You rock, girl!

I'm doing well today. So far I've been making wonderful choices. Life is good.

Hi Ladies:)

I got home yesterday evening from my sisters up in New York state. I could go to my DD this Thanksgiving as they all came down with the Swine Flu. So I'm hoping to go down to her for the Christmas/New Year Holiday instead.

I'm doing fine I have days when I just want to cry,but TG is just lasts for 5 min. Today was a month anniversary of Leo death and I was able to go to the cemetery and put some Christmas decorations on the grave site. Some people would thing I'm wacky talking to my Leo,but it feels good when I do so.


As far as weight is concerned I really blew it. I gained 10 lbs with all the restaurants my sister treated me to.Trying to keep away from bread & sugary carbs. The latter my sister served pumpkin & apple pies every night with ice cream,and the bad thing is she wouldn't take NO for an answer.


VICKIE-Thanks for your daily prayers,They must be working as I'm really fine,lonely at some times but then I start talking to him. I'm not in denial anymore, reality is setting in. You did better than me,I'm back in the 170's again.


RHONDA-Sorry your family came do with a virus.That's not good especially around the holidays.I was good on Thanksgiving it was the days before and after that got me in trouble. I couldn't resist restaurant foods. I had a hard time getting in to the 3 chicks while using my sisters computer.


PAULA-I started to Look into the South Beach also,No carbs this week hope to lose the 10 from TG as I don't want to double that amount by Christmas. Hopefully the two of us will succeed.


SANDRA-Snow in Texas????????? Isn't that rare??????

Hungry going to start my supper. Have a great evening.

Maryann, it's so good to see you back here. I'm glad you had a good visit at your sister's. Pie and ice cream sound pretty good to me. If you have to gain, it should be from eating something worth the points. Usually, I gain just eating junktype foods--sometimes even WW stuff--just too much of it.

This has to be a difficult time of year for you. Just do what you need to get through them. And come here more often. We missed you!

Hi everyone:

Just checking in quickly. Good to hear from you Paula and Maryann. Just hang in and do the right thing, as soon as you can.

The holidays are hard times to control our eating. They're about excess and storing up for the winter ;)

DH's aunt died and he has gone to the visitation. I'm with the kids waiting for the parents to get them in a few hours. I'm finished!!

I think I'll have a glass of wine tonight, for sure!

Rhonda

Maryann...just put one foot in front of the other for now.

Paula, I'm here in Tx until the 6th, then have to go back to Toronto for 12 days, then I get to be here for good.

Rhonda, I'm glad Doyle was feeling well enough to go to the visitation. Now you get some wine. You've earned it.

Hey chicks. I've just gotten caught up with the posts, and it sounds like Rhonda's been busy. I've been busy with school work and helping DS put the finishing touches on his last paper of the semester. When it gets close to the end of the semester, things get pretty hectic.

Rhonda, I'm glad you dodged the bug. I don't think you should have a glass of wine; I think it should be a jug. Maybe a hot bath is in order, too!

Sandra, I can't believe it's snowing at your house! It's really cold here, too! My eating has been going better since that last piece of pie. During these last two weeks of school, we have goodies in the teachers lounge twice a week. On the first day I was able to resist!!! I was really proud of myself. We have another goodie feast tomorrow. I just hope I can resist again.

Maryann, I'm so glad to see you back! It sounds like your sister was just doing what women do....comforting you with food. It's what we do best, isn't it? Just enjoy the holidays with your family. Try not to worry about food too much. I think sometimes when we limit ourselves, it makes it worse than if we just have a little of what we want.

Paula, good luck with the SBD. It sounds like you are really workin' it!

Vickie, I agree with the other chicks. A couple of crackers with cheese is not a bad snack, a little protein, a little carb, you could do a lot worse! Thanks for asking about DD. I think she is counting the days until she can come home. Her ex has not moved on! In fact, he has another girlfriend, but thinks he still has control over Kendal. She told me, when she was home for T'giving, that she is scared of him so she is playing along until she can move home. She will not tell anyone that she is leaving. She will just pack up on the last day and leave. I really can't wait until this ordeal is over for her. It really stinks that she is the one who is leaving school, but you gotta do what ya gotta do!

I've got to get off here. I have a mountain of papers to grade, and it's getting late. Night, night!!!

Good morning -- waiting to get dd ready for school so I thought I'd jump on here quick. Thescale is moving!!! I'm thrilled. Tomorrow is my "official" wi day, I'll update my siggie then.

Maryann - I still talk to my Dad now and again. He's been gone a year and 1/2. I think its very common - gives me a closeness still. SBD is a good way to get rid of cravings and I feel very much in control. Let me know if you do decide to do it.

Slaon -- good to see you!

Well, got to run. BBL

Sloan, Rhonda got more snow than we did. However, there may be more on the way Friday. I'm subbing tomorrow so I hope it doesn't start snowing till after I get home. Or at least till after classes are over. (Don't need a stray snowball around)

That is scary about dd's ex. Do you think he might try to follow her home? I hope not.

Paula, :woohoo: on moving those scales. You go, girl!

I'm op and feeling great. I have decided to move my "official" wi to Fri AM instead of Tuesdays. Makes more sense since I'm not going to WW meetings on Tuesdays any more.

DGD has a Christmas program tonight. Life is good.

Hi Ladies:)

Had a busy day shopping for groceries and cleaning out closets.Now it my time to relax. Have to get back to exercising again, maybe I go on the bike while watching a movie.

Thanks ladies for all your advice. I think I'm going to heal nicely from my loss of Leo. I do talk to him,and it make me feel close to him.

Still off my meal schedule didn't have my dinner until 2PM so now supper is going to be late. Have to get back to my routine of b/7AM d/12n and supper/5PM.

Thanks Sandrafor missing me,I missed your gals also,but some how couldn't get into this thread.

RHONDA-I guess that's what I have to do,Sorry about your DH aunt passing,its a hard time for everyone how losses a loved one around the holidays.


SLOANE-I know my sister really mothered me when I was down at her house. I felt almost smothered but I know she meant well.Going to take one step at a time just like Rhonda suggested. I'm lucky I have so many friends up here to count on,I shouldn't feel alone.

PAULA-I'll let you know when I start the SBD. Right now I decided to have my bread carbs but only in moderation.Congrats on the scale going downward,your doing fantastic in between holidays.


Have a great evening

Hey chicks! I made it past the goodie buffet again today!! A few people brought veggies and fruit, so I had that instead. I have been able to stay op since "the last piece of pie", and I'm still walking every weekday morning. I will weigh tomorrow for the first time since the day before T'giving.

Paula, I'm so happy for you! Any loss around the holiday is a good thing. You go girl :carrot:

Maryann, you sound like you are doing well. I think it's very therapeutic to talk to Leo. I'm glad your friends are so supportive.

Sandra, I really don't think Kendal's ex will try to follow her home, but you never know. I know that we will have him arrested for tresspassing if he comes on our property, and we will also bring charges for stalking. I'm just praying that he will finally give up, and I'm also praying for a godly man for my daughter.

I still have a mountain of papers to grade, so I've got to get off of here. I'll check back in if I have time. TTFN

Maryann, we don't eat on a very strict schedule. However, when we can, we have lunch by noon. (Then we snack around 2.) We always have an early dinner.

Sloan, sounds like ya'll are ready in case anything happens. How's your paper mountain? Did you get over it? I don't envy your grading papers. Been there done that--a lot!

Rhonda, sounds like folks south of us will get the next snow. Did you hear them talking about Houston? I think it snowed in Houston last year. It was either last year or the previous year.

I'm op. I'll have my official wi in the AM. I am subbing tomorrow, so that should be an easy day for me to stay focused on program. The challenge will be Saturday. It's both our granddaughters' piano recital then a birthday party for one of them. Cake! I'm going to try to pass on the cake but it's from a WONDERFUL BAKERY in Burleson. I've never tasted better birthday cakes than the ones from there. Do you think my 1 point WW cakes should go with me to the party? I'm seriously thinking of taking a whole box. There are 6 in it. Even if they calculate to more than 6 pts, they'll be much much lower pointwise than the alternative. :cake: I'm thinking take a box and a Diet Coke.

I'm doing well on program but I've been up all night. Not really sure why. I'll come back to catch up later. I found an awesome recipe from Mary Hunt the cheapskate. It's Core if you can find sugar free candy canes. I haven't made it yet but know I will. Jim and I love peppermint ice cream. Maybe this will help.


Peppermint Mousse

This light, refreshing dessert is a good ending to a meal. Use sugar-free peppermint candies and candy canes to add a festive garnish when you serve this dessert.

1 small box (1 ounce) sugar-free instant white chocolate pudding
2 cups fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 to 4 drops red food coloring
2 cups fat-free whipped topping
5 crushed peppermint candies (optional), regular or sugar-free

In a medium bowl, mix pudding with milk, peppermint extract and food coloring. Stir constantly with a wire whisk for 2 minutes. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.

Add whipped topping and mix well. Spoon into five parfait glasses and serve as is or topped with crushed peppermint candies or a candy cane. Serves: 5.

Serving Size: about 3/4 cup
Carb Servings: 1
Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate
Nutrient Analysis: calories 102, total fat 0g, saturated fat 0g, cholesterol 2mg, sodium 313mg, total carbohydrate 19g, dietary fiber 0g, sugars 8g, protein 3g

Hi everyone. Well, lost 4 pounds this week, I'm happy. One more week of phase 1 then I can start adding back in fruit and good carbs slowly.

No time to stay right now, just updating my ticker. BBL

Good Morning Ladies :)

I thought I get on the board earlier than I have,as I have another busy day ahead of me.. I have to go over to the insurance company to discuss the possibilities to up my deductible on the house. Leo never showed me how,and now I need some one to help me.

I got my shadow box for Leo folded flag but the only thing the magnet that holds the door shut is not working. Any suggestions of what to do to get the door to stay shut. I tried scotch tape but it doesn't work.

SLOANE-Some people in the work place don't think of holiday heating. glad that they had veggies & fruits for you to partake.
I find it easy to talk to him, like last night I saw a toothpick by my sofa and it was there before,so I believe Leo was there visiting me,You might think I crazy,but at least I think so.


SANDRA-I find that I won't be eating at regular time anymore now that I by myself. But I like to l keep some kind of routine.Crossing my fingers that you have a good W-I today. Do I know about cake,ms sister served cake and pie all weeks long,don't have the stuff at home that's why I gained so much,but to my surprised I lost of of the 10 lbs.


VICKIE-Thanks for sharing the peppermint mousse recipe it looks good and worth making it.


PAULA-BIG BIG congrats on your 4 lb lost and in between holidays your doing fantastic.

Have a nice morning

Hey chicks. I weighed in today, and I lost 1/2 pound. I'll take it, but I would like it to be four like Paula. Oh well, a loss is a loss. I'm really starting to feel the benefit of my daily walking. I can really tell that I have much more energy in the afternoon when I get home.

Sandra, the mountain keeps rising! I must, must, must make some headway this weekend. I am always better in the morning, so I will get up tomorrow and tackle the pile.

Maryann, I don't think you are crazy at all! What ever happens that gives you comfort when you are alone is great! I know that Leo would want you to feel safe and cozy, so who knows, maybe he is leaving you little reminders of himself.

Paula, four pounds is so awesome!! I am so happy for you! Hopefully I will follow in your footsteps. My goal is to maintain until after our trip to Disney, then I WILL get busy and get a few more pounds off.

Vickie, I'm sorry about your sleepless night. It's good that you can get on here and talk with us eventhough most of us are still sleeping. Your recipe sounds very festive!

Sandra, how did it go with the birthday cake? I like your plan to take the ww cake, but I'm not sure I would be able to resist. I have a weakness for birthday cake!! Especially with vanilla ice cream. I hope if you did have some that it was as good as you remembered it to be.

Rhonda, are you okay?

Our football team is playing in the state championship tonight (first time in 30 years), so DH and I will be watching. I'll check in on y'all later.

:carrot::cb::cp::dance::dancer::twirly::yes::whoo: :cheer3::encore::cheer2::broc::cheer::celebrate:

Our team just won the state football championship!!!

hi folks....I'm here...will catch up later. I'm just tired and slept 12 hours last night too!

It is always good to see how everyone is doing ..

Maryann..my cousin just lost her husband and she said it is helping to do the same holiday decorating with a new twist or change so that it is the same but different. She has decided to take a trip at Christmas to help her get thru
the holiday. Her mom has needed help more than normal because of a fall and I think that has helped that she is so busy caring for her.

Sloan...I kept looking for your beach picture..I like the new snowman one.

Rhonda I slept from 11 to 11 also and tried to fake it when someone called
at 11. ""NO ..I wasn't asleep ..I always have this much trouble putting complete thoughts together..." My son was sick and sleeping in so that seems like a good reason to sleep late !!
I like your "extended,blended and assorted" phrase.
I'll share a funny story about that soon...

Vickie..that sounds amazing..I may make it at Christmas...

Good Morning Ladies:)

Just called one of my friends and we told me that we are either going to have a snow or rain storm sometime today,now it depends on the temps rising or falling that will be the ??????. Hope they stay up,as i can't deal with the white stuff. We suppose to have a Christmas Parade tomorrow down Main Street,so our brunch place is out of the question so we are going to meet at the church hall instead for coffee.

Well in any case I have a date with my bathroom cabinets.Bought some small storage bins where I can put the small items in the front and then the large packages of toilet tissue in the back.

SLOANE-Thanks for understanding,my friend told me this morning that I will hurt for a year or so as we never forget our loved ones that have passed. It happens to her,and her DH is gone of several years. I'll be looking forward for other little tit bits he'll be sending me. My sister gave me a book called Small Miracles 2 [Heartwarming Gifts of Extraordinary Coincidences]and it really helps me get thought this loneliness.

CONGRATS:cheer3::cheer3: on your team winning the state football Championship :cheer2: :cheer2:


NANCY-Sorry about your cousin lose,I know the feeling of loneliness and one must keep busy at those holiday times. Thanks that what I going to do getting my table tree and a few other decorations up. I going to be away at my DD from 12/21 to 1/6 so I don't want to be over powered with taking down decorations at that time.Just going to downsize this year.


Have a great morning

Mornin' chickies! I'm grading papers this morning :stress:and doing laundry :(.
Sounds like a great Saturday, huh? Oh well, I guess I should be thankful that I have a job and a home where I can wash clothes. I have a quote in my classroom that says something like: if God were to take away all of the things that I have not been thankful for, what would I have left?

Maryann, we have only a small amount of Christmas decorations out, too. I like to look at them, but I really hate to put them away at the end of the season. I'm glad you will be spending time with your daughter. Christmas is always a lot more fun when little ones are involved.

Nancy, it's good to hear from you! How are things going for you and your fam?

Rhonda, you must have really needed that rest! Good for you :)

Got to get back to grading. TTFN

Sloan, I wound up being all talk about taking my WW cake. I had the decadent cake and premium vanilla ice cream. And--the WW cake/WW fudge bar would have tasted better. Now is that justice or what!

Paula, congratulations on dropping those 4 pounds. I stayed the same this week. I'm all right with it but would have been more all right if I'd had a loss.

Sloan, I'd take half a pound, too. Congratulations on losing. Now climb that mountain. (or toss it or put check marks or....)

Vickie, thank you for the recipe. It sounds really good--and festive. I hope you get some sleep tonight.

Rhonda, I'm glad you're getting some rest.

Maryann, sounds like you're keeping really busy. Did I read correctly and you've lost 10 pounds? Congratulations, girl!

Sandra, I am almost to the top!!! One thing that is very annoying is that although I announced for two days in a row, some students failed to turn in work. I am one of those people that needs to finish a project all at once. I'm not good at going back and filling in. What I really want to do is give zeros, but if I do, the students' grades will really suffer. With layered curriculum, the only grades that are posted are unit grades. Each little assignment is included in the unit grade, so you end up with only a few grades posted in the grade book. It is really all the same, but if a student does not turn in their unit point sheet with the unit assignments, it really drops the term grade.

One thing I have discovered is that the layered curriculum method is successful. The overall understanding of the material and retention seems to be better than the method I was using, which was the way most people teach. It has been so much work, but I am very glad I have done it and will definitely continue. Sorry if I talked about this way too much, but I knew you'd understand.

Oh yes, sorry about the cake. Why would the ww cake have been better?

Sloan, I am glad the layered curriculum is working. Do the students have grace periods about turning work in after due date? Just wondering.

The ww 1 point chocolate cake/chocolate icing is really pretty good. I like to nuke it a few seconds then put a fudge bar on top and have a bowl of cake/ice cream. I use 3 cakes. They actually compute to 4 points; so with the ice cream, it's a 5 pt snack. That's a lot lower than what we had with the "high point" cake/ice cream today. Plus, the "hp" cake was dry and the frosting had too much shortening or something. Just wasn't good.

Good Morning Chicks! I had no sleep on Thursday night, but got 3 hours on Friday morning. On Friday night I got 12 hours! Last night not good again. I went to bed at midnight and woke back up at 4:00 and couldn't go back to sleep. I'm going to try to keep myself from napping later today so that I can get a full normal night sleep. Good news is that I have time to catch up with all of you!

Mary Ann, it is SO good to see you back here! I don't think it is wacky to talk to Leo. I would do the same thing. I think you should do whatever gives you comfort as long as it isn't self destructive. That's a shame about DD's family being sick. I hope they are ok. I'm sure you would have loved to have been with them. Thank God for Sisters, though. Don't worry about the 10 pound gain. Your body has had a shock. You'll focus on losing it again when you are ready. As far as the shadow box, I know they sell velcro that is sticky on both back sides. You could put it on the box and then it should stay closed. I think you could buy it at Michael's or any craft store. How was the parade and the weather?

Rhonda, I'm sorry about Doyle's Aunt. You were awesome with the kids. I don't think I could have done it. I'm sorry you have to leave Texas today but how exciting that it is only for 12 days!

Sloan, you sound like an awesome, caring teacher. I wish there were more teachers like you and Sandra and my Sister. It's so obvious how much you care. Is DD home yet? I'm glad she's trusting her instincts. You're right that she shouldn't be the one to have to leave school but she has to do what her gut is telling her. Congratulations on your successes with the buffet table. Calories and points can add up so quickly. I'm so proud of you for having such a nice loss despite all the holiday celebrations you've been faced with at work. I've been walking every day this week too. When is your trip to Disney?

Sandra, I'm happy for you that you are on program. You always sound so much happier when you are following a plan. I'm that way too. I think it's awesome that the cakes from the fabulous bakery don't taste as good to you anymore. It may be a sign that your tastes are changing. Have you ever tried the WW frozen desserts? Some of them are just downright sinful! Jim and I loved the chocolate chip one and the peanut butter cup. They are all about 3 or 4 points and well worth them.

Paula, HUGE congratulations on your four pound loss! That is just outstanding. I hope I can follow in your footsteps this week.

Hey Nancy! Always good to hear from you. Looking forward to hearing your funny story.

I hope you all have a beautiful Sunday. I've been walking every day this week and eating at the 1600 calories level. By all rights I should have a great loss this week. I took a peek at the scale a few minutes ago and it shows that I'm up .2. Double and triple harumph! I just don't get it.

Talk to you all later.

Hey Vickie, you are so sweet! I always love to read your posts, because they are so uplifting!!! DD will be home some time after the fifteenth. We will be so glad to have her safe and sound. As for our trip to Disney, we will leave on Christmas day and drive about half the way (it is a 10 hour trip) then check in on the 26th. We can't wait :)

Sandra, the unit I'm grading was done one week ago, so yes, there is a grace period. The problem we have right now is that we are at the end of the semester, so we are running out of time. It's too bad about the cake. I guess you can "chalk it up" to a lesson learned, and have something yummy for Christmas!

Oh Vickie, one thing I wanted to ask. What have the docs said about your kidneys? I hope things are going well in that area. Let me know.

I'm on the last stack of papers, so I've got to get to it while I'm in the mood. BBL

Thanks Sloan. I think you're pretty special too!

The Nephrologist is hopeful that we can stop further damage, except for the inevitable aging process, if I reduce salt, exercise, lose weight and lower/manage my BP. I only have 55% of my kidney function left. It's even upsetting for me to say it out loud but I try not to focus on it because all it does is raise my BP. I'm trying to be a model patient. My BP is pretty good throughout the day but is high in the morning. So I may end up on more medicine at night. I'm taking my BP about four times a day. I just went to see the nurse and turned in my readings and calibrated/tested my monitor. They'd like me to get a cuff one but they are too small. So I use a wrist one made by Oregon Scientific. Mine is measuring systolic higher than theirs and diastolic lower than theirs. They like Omron better so I've ordered a new one for myself with automatic positioning sensor. I hope it's more accurate. I go back to the Nurse practitioner for more BP monitoring, calibrating, and maybe more medicine in two weeks. I feel consumed with it even though I'm trying not to be.

Now for breakfast and the treadmill. Day 6 for me. Quite the record.

Hi Ladies:)

Sorry for late posting,after church and brunch I started writing my Christmas cards and than I had to write a little note why I was signing Maryann on the cards.

What a wild morning I had,coming down for breakfast and see ice on the pathway and on my cars window shield,Yikes winter really hit last night and into this morning. I couldn't believe I had to go out in the freezing weather and get the ice off the car windows. That was LEO'S Job and now it mine,but I got to church on time,and told my friends what happened and the laughed and said welcome to the club.We had to do that for years.

SLOANE-Was going to decorate this afternoon but I got involved my my Christmas card writing will bring the decoration up tomorrow or on Tuesday.I'm so looking forward to going down to my DD now that the family is not tackling the swine flu anymore.


SANDRA=I only wish I gained 10lbs and now I have to get the poundage off. Don't think it will be this week weel we will see this Tuesday when I get on the scale.


VICKIE-Thanks I know that I lose the 10 again,I'll just have to say a prayer that the kids don't bring something else home from school that will effect the whole family,I really would like to be there on the Christmas/New Year Holiday. Thanks about the shadow box I never thought of Velcro I tried magnets and they just don't work.

Have to go start supper so have a good evening and I'll see you tomorrow