Evening Ladies,
I spent almost all day cleaning house. So I am a little tired. I didn't have time to go for a walk, bike ride or nothing in the way of excerise today. I think that is one of the reasons I was in a crappy mood all day long. My dh asked me if I wanted to go to the fairgrounds and see the horse races tonight and I told him that I didn't feel like doing anything. He finally did get me to watch a western movie with him. Then when it was over our cable was out. Thank God for VHS tapes. But he is a lost puppy without the tv and I beat him to the computer. :) :) HAHAHA
Mouse how did your dinner go the other night? Where you able to find anything on the menu to eat? and your presention?
Robyn are your computer troubles over?
Ginny glad that you could enjoy your outing yesterday and spend time with your friend. I hear you about the ball games and I have only had to do them two years. I can image what it is going to be like when the kids are older and in every season's sport.
Summer are you busy getting ready for your vacation?
Have a wonderful Sunday ladies!
Take care,
Kerry

Ginny Sorry I forgot to tell you that I do enjoy going to Curves. It is worth every penny I spend on my membership. It is nice to have that time away from family and work and just do something for myself. I think you should check into it. Kerry

The presentation went fairly well. I earned all the points that were possible for it, but and intellectually that's enough for me. But another student who has as much knowledge about assistive tech as I do and I were talking after class (we became friends during the class... we have some other stuff in common too), and noted that the instructors REALLY REALLY heavily praised those students who don't use assistive tech on a regular basis for being willing to "try new things". Its not my fault that I've been using assistive tech since I started teaching (through the auspices of one of the best SLPs I've ever met... she truly knew the difference between artic and language therapy!). Its not my fault that my mom is a computer programmer and brought one into our house when I was 8 years old. Some of the other students who were praised so heavily are nearly finished with their assistive tech program, too, so they should be familiar with the software and access methods! Okay, just being grumpy again.
I did find something to eat... I had plain pasta with feta cheese and shrimp and parmasean and tomatoes. All safe foods for me, usually. I ate about half of it at the restaurant and brought the rest home.
I finally got the records from the nasty plastic surgeon. Reading her notes didn't make me any happier, let me tell you. I told all about what she wrote over in a journal entry. I have an appointment with the surgeon that my endocrinologist found near her this coming Friday; plus I have the endoscopy on Monday. And I see the orthopedist for my ankle on Friday too.

:mouse:

Hi all....computer still acting rather funky...but I had to figure out a way to say HELLO! and to check and make sure all was well here without me! :) Seems like ya'll managed quite well in my absence! :)

I got some news on Friday that has me very very excited.....
I have an interview for a 1st grade position in the county where I live.... TOMORROW at 8 a.m.! YIKES!!!!! TOMORROW! teeehhehehehehhe....I'm so excited and nervous and EVERYTHING that I can be! Cross your fingers for me!

Other news that I'm not so excited about.....
I've been selected for Jury DUTY for the months of August and September........GROAN.... it isn't that I don't want to do my civic duty...BUT...could it be at a worse time for a teacher??? Could it come like in Feb. when I truly DONT like school?!?! I'm going to wait and see how the interview goes...perhaps changing teaching jobs is a real reason for not making me do it NOW....I'll do it ALL next summer....or alll winter or something....but not the last weeks of August and the beginning of September...dear GAWWWWWWWD! Also, child care is truly an issue with my boys out of school.........

I'm going to go back to thinking about the job interview...and calm down!
My computer is making weird noises again...I've got to go get my dh and let him get to this! Talk to you soon...I hope..
take care,
Meeeeeee

Hello my friends! I am sorry I have been AWOL so long. I have been spending a considerable amount of time with my new friend Tour Guide Mike. :cool: The perfectionist in me would not allow me to just do this halfway, so I have spent an average of 5 hours a day on his website! You probably all think I am nuts, and you are probably right! :dizzy: But, thanks to Robyn and anyone else who didn't want to see me go to Disneyworld unprepared. ;) As overwhelmed as I was when I first saw his website, I feel more confident now.

I have tons and tons of stuff to do in preparation for this trip. So, I won't be able to respond to each of your wonderful posts except to wish Robyn good luck at her interview! :lucky:

I will be leaving for the airport on Wednesday at 3:00am, yes, in the morning! So, I will say, "Goodbye!" to you now. :cool:

Gotta try to be short, which for me is easier said than done........oh well.

Summer- every minute of planning for this trip will be totally worth it!! Enjoy the trip......and think of me (for a wee minute- then go back to having fun) if you are walking around the International showcase (think that is what it is called) in Epcot in the evening....nothing more pretty than that!!!!

Robyn- good luck on the interview!!!!!!!! You interested in 1rst grade?? You will do just fine......relax....take a deep breath.....we are all pulling for you. I was snagged with jury duty last summer (one of most beautiful weather weeks too! :( ). I know here in NY they try to fill the summer jury duty positions with teachers and education support staff.....knowing that they have the summer "off". It kind of surprises me that they would get you right at the beginning of a school year. Would you be able to defer until another time?

Mouse- keep looking foward......not behind to all the not so good medical advice you have been given. Sounds like you are in good hands now. Congrats on doing so well with your presentation!!!!! Sounds as though you did very, very well and have much to be proud of. Good luck with the endoscopy on Monday.

Kerrie- thanks for the advice on Curves. I do so little for myself.....basically am chained to work and the house...I might just try it once school begins.
Hey, weight watchers would give you an activity point or two for some rigorous house cleaning.......a major accomplishment in my book!!!!!!! Bet it feels better with a cleaner house too. But, why does it last for such a short time??????Hmmmmmmm........ :dizzy:

Softball is OVER!!!!!!!!! :D Now I get Dh back..and actually can maybe count on him sealing the driveway ( I was going to do it if he did not) and maybe some relief with the other two kids. Tomorrow we take Dd (18) off for freshman orientation.....her Bf is here now, and she seems edgy. Pick up is on Wednesday, and it will be over quickly I am sure. IRobot was great!!! A wee bit violent- but the violence was 99% amongst robots- only some minor human gore. Dd (8) had a few moments where she was a bit scared- I was able to talk her through it. It was not a great movie, but honestly, most movies we see (and that is not too many) I am looking at my watch wondering why I wasted my time and money.....wishing it was over. Not the case here.....Will Smith handled the role well- solid acting and some really well done humor. I understand that the movie really deviates from the book a lot.....but it was entertaining.

I used my new WW cookbook (Take Out Tonite) and made wonton soup. Great recipe!!!! Even Dh liked it!! When I get a chance, I will leave the recipe here.

Gotta go.....babbled enough.......see you tomorrow!
Ginny

Thanks for the advice, Ginny. I hope you're right!
Robyn, sorry about the computer, and jury duty, but GOOD LUCK!!!!!!! on the interview! My department chair at one school was given federal grand jury duty the last week of every month for the entire school year! And guess when all the incoming IEP meetings were scheduled for??? YEP! Last Thursday of the month! She couldn't get out of it: they said that since she didn't have students she was responsible for, somebody could cover her job that week.
I swam a mile and a quarter today! I could've kept going, too... I wasn't ready to stop, but I'd been in the pool for 2 hours, and was mindful of what happened LAST time I didn't want to stop (that horrible leg cramp on my bad ankle), so I left. Then I went to Trader Joes for my Hansen's Soda, and picked up some other stuff for dinner. So, I have french toast, uncured bacon, egg whites, and fresh peaches on the french toast for dinner. YUMMY, and didn't send me over my calorie limit for the day. And, since I swam so much I should be able to keep most of it down.
I've never had uncured bacon before, but this is good. Its not all salty or fatty.

:mouse:

Wonton Soup
¼ pound ground chicken breast
2 scallions finely chopped
1 tsp minced, peeled fresh ginger
1 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tsp cornstarch
¼ tsp asian (dark) sesame oil
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper (I left both the salt and the pepper out, did not miss them a bit!)
16, 3 inch square wonton wrappers

Soup
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 tbs reduced sodium soy sauce (try using a bit less at first, you can always add more)
½ pound bok choy ( I did not have this and left this out)
4 scallions cut into ½ inch pieces

1. To prepare the wontons, combine the chicken, scallions, ginger, soy sauce, cornstarch, oil and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Arrange 8 wonton wrappers on a work surface. Place 1 tsp of the chicken mixture in the center of each wrapper. Moisten the edges of a wrapper with water and pull the corners diagonally over the filling to make a triangle. Press the edges firmly to seal. Bring left and right corners together above the filling. Overlap the tips of these corners and press together. Place the completed wontons on a baking sheet lightly dusted with cornstarch and cover with damp paper towels. Repeat with the remaining filling and wrappers to make 16 wontons.
3. To prepare the soup, bring the broth and soy sauce to boil in a large sauce pan. Reduce the heat to low, and add the bok choy and the wontons. Stir and simmer (stirring occasionally) until the wontons are cooked and the bok choy is tender (about 10 minutes). Sprinkle with scallions and serve.
Makes 4 servings, 3 points per serving.

My only comment on this is that the soup (not the wontons) was awfully salty. Go sparingly with the soy sauce until it is to your taste.
Enjoy!!!!

Well....it is nearly 1 a.m. I've been to bed and I can NOT sleep! I must tho...and soon! I'm so darn nervous, excited, yadda yadda yadda about the interview!

The clothes are all freshly washed....even tho they were NOT dirty....pressed and arranged! The shoes, the stockings, the jewelry, the makeup, the nails, EVERYTHING is ready for the morning! I even took our kids to CampGrandma's for the night so that I didn't have anyone else to take care of in the morning.

I really, really, REALLY want this job! It is in the county where we live. It is teaching the grade that I've taught for FOREVER...well 16+ years...that is forever! :) AND I really want to leave the big huge district with all its warts and beauty marks and be part of a smaller, more rural school system!

The computer has been revived! Jury duty issues remain in my stomach! along with the interview stuff...churnnning! ARGHHH!

The soup recipie sounds interesting! Ginny, I want to talk with you about WW...It just has been crazy (with the computer 1/2 dead, etc...) around here! Which food journal are you interested in? I may have a copy!

Kerry, Sorry for your crappy mood....housework KILLS me and my good moods as well! I am very allergic to housework! Bleech! It gives me hives! And I really should do it more often and better!

Mousie, what in the world is uncured bacon? You know, I live in the land of Bacon and pork EVERYTHING...but I've never heard of it. Can not imagine having jury duty for an entire yearrrrrr.... arghh! I'm going to see how the interview thing goes...and then I may ask for a deferment....or better yet...NOT HAVING it at all! I've been asking EVERYONE if they know of some huge crimes that have happened in the last few months...we can't come up with anything! Soooo keep your fingers crossed. I would die sitting there having to listen to Bubba argue with Bubba about who moved the crab pots...oh dear! Or worse....listen to whyyyy Bubba had to drive drunk. OHHHH mannn!

Summer, dear.... Have a great trip! I sure have missed you, but, know that you and TourGuideMike's affair will end shortly! I can't wait to hear how your trip has gone! Wear SUNSCREEN! Tote around a water bottle! It will be worth it! How is your dh doing?!

I am off to go read the web site for the school where my interview is AGAIN! I just want to be sure that I know what / where I'm going tomorrow in MANY MANY ways!

Fingers crossed for me folks!
:) take care!
Robyn

Robyn:
Glad the computer is revived. That is always important. I think I'd go insane without my computer. No, wait...not think... I KNOW!!!!!
Right now you should be getting ready or maybe even at the interview. I forget what time you said it was. I hope you get it!!!!
I'm waiting for my friend from Northern VA to make it through DC traffic so she can take me to the endoscopy. Her husband called me an hour ago to tell me that she HADN'T LEFT YET! For those of you not familiar with the infamouse northern VA traffice, let's just say that a 30 mile one way drive to my school in the morning meant I had to leave by 5:15 a.m. or I wasn't getting there till AFTER my students at 7:45!
Sooo...My friend just called me. She's in Greenbelt, which isn't that far from me, on 295 North. Well, its not that CLOSE to me either, but at least she's cleared most of the traffic? Maybe? The endoscopy is at 10 a.m., and I'm not allowed to drive myself. I'm hoping she gets here or I'll have to take my car up there and leave it there and figure out how I'm getting it back later!
Going home in the afternoon, if I took 95 which I did do because it the backroads had issues too, I could count license plates. I usually counted PA plates since that's where I'm from. ;) If I hit more than 10 in the trip back, it was a long drive.
Fingers are crossed, Robyn.

:mouse:

Morning Ladies,
Robyn I wish you luck on your interview. I hope you were finally able to get some sleep last night and don't fall asleep during your interview. :) Just kidding sweetie! Good luck today. Sounds like you are ready for a change of schools.
Summer have a wonderful and safe vacation. Don't forget to wear sunscreen. It is very hot and humid in Fla. My aunt and uncle live an hour from WDW and it was a scorcher the couple of times we have been down there to visit them.
Ginny I bet you are glad to have your dh back. Does this mean some of the household chores and repairs fall on his shoulders for a while?
Mouse hope everything goes well at your appointment today! Sounds like you really enjoyed your swim yesterday. Your dinner sounded yummy last night! I just had scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast. Your's was more exciting.
Well I better go and get my shower for the day. The kiddos are over again while their mommy is at work. So I am sure they will have us running ragged.
Have a wonderful day ladies!
Take care,
Kerry

Hi!
A busy day...dropped Dd off to Adelphi for freshman orientation.....hope all goes well for her.
Robyn and Mouse- you both had big days... hope all goes well for each of you.
Summer- and now the countdown for this trip. Have a well deserved and wonderful time!
Kerry-you too had a busy day- lots of kids over, right? Hope you are not too run down from it all.....got a few moments to breathe......

Gotta go take Dd to basketball.....sorry this is so short! Have a great evening!
Ginny

Just wanted to drop you all a note and let you know that I'm fine. My friend got here in time (I told her I didn't want to know HOW she did, but she told me anyway: she did 85 all the way from Falls Church, Va!), and we were actually early for the appointment. The gastroenterologist is great, and just her simple chatter with me not only made me more comfortable, but had some of the other staff treat me with a bit more respect. The nurse in the prep area already knew about the endocrine disorder and didn't make any of the usual comments about my weight, or the lack of monthly cycle... And the doctor asked me if I'd been swimming recently, so I happily told her about my 1.25 miles yesterday to which the anesthesologist and a tech in the room gasped and both said, "Wow! I couldn't do that!", so again, no comments on my weight. :)
The obvious being that since the doctor knew I swam (she's a member of the same gym I am), I must be telling the truth, and therefore quite a bit of my weight has to be from causes beyond my control. Because NOBODY can swim a mile regularly and look this way!
I didn't feel a thing about the procedure at all, and the results were negative: there was nothing she could see that is causing my nausea and throwing up. That's good, although it'd be nice if there was a more clearly defined cause.
The only downer was the stupid blood pressure cuff: it didn't like me, and squeezed both my arms tight enough to pop blood vessels. So I have what look like track makes on both arms. ;)
My friend took me to lunch afterward, and I did bring it home (I wasn't hungry), but I ate it a bit okay and feel fine. I want to take a nap though!!!!!

:mouse:

Evening Ladies,
Mouse glad that your test results came back fine. It was also a blessing to hear that you were treated like a human being for a change. :) That must be a relief off your shoulders.
Ginny my dh's kids were over. Their mom drops them off during the summer while she is at work for us to watch. Someday's it feels like there is more than three little kids ages 6,6,and 8. I got a break from everyone this afternoon, when I took a 1 1/2 hour nap. My dh took them to their cousin's house to see his demo. derby car. So I enjoyed the peace and quiet. :) Do you miss your oldest dd yet?
Robyn how did your job interview go? I hope everything turns out great for you. You deserve the best!
Summer are you busy packing for your vacation and ending your TourGuideMike love affair? Have a wonderful time at WDW.
Well ladies I guess going to the nutritionist is working. I have been eating smaller meals lately. Sometimes have a hard time getting in all my carb points for the day. I guess that is not a bad thing. LOL Guess I will find out tomorrow night at TOPS.
Well I need to go to bed soon. I have to be up early to workout for an half hour in the morning and then get ready for the stepkids. I have to take them to their art lessons in the morning at 9:30. Have a great evening!
Take care,
Kerry

Just a quick hello-
Mouse- great that your test came out ok!!!!!
Kerry- sounds like another hectic day for you too... hang in there .

Off to Dm's this afternoon- she has some sort of skin cancer on her head- waiting for the biopsy results, although the Dr thinks it is very treatable and basal cell. Dm is not too clear.....her stories seem to change. While I am down there, I will be going for my annual mammo.....joy of joys.
Sorry to be so short, got a busy day.
See ya!
Ginny

HI Ladies,
Today is my weigh-in day at TOPS. I am just hoping that I have lost a pound or two. I ate out twice this past weekend. I just hope that I made good enough food choices. I know I shouldn't beat myself up over going out to eat with my family. I am just a little nervous since I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday morning with a gyno. This is the first time I have been to one. My dh just laughs at me and says I have nothing to worry about. But he is not the one who has to go through all the tests and stuff. Enough about me.
Robyn how are you doing? Have you gotten out of jury duty yet? How was your interview yesterday?
Ginny hope all goes well for you today. So how is your dd's orentation going? Does her siblings miss her yet? When does she start college?
Mouse when you went back to school today, was your class wild from not having their normal routine yesterday? How are things between your one coworker and yourself? I hope things are going better for you.
Well I need to go and get my library books gathered up and head over to the library. Talk to you all later.
Have a great evening!
Kerry

Hi, all...
Kerry: I was actually out today, too. I'd been told to take two days off for the procedure because you're not allowed to drive for 24 hours after the test. The test was at 11:00, so ... Now, I could have taken the shuttle my apartment runs and then the shuttle from the main hospital out to my school, but I decided, just this one time, that I was going to think of myself first.
Of course, per usual, that semi-blew up in my face: I'd arranged class coverage for today because my TA was out for training today, and fortunately we had two people, because one called out sick. I'm REALLY REALLY sorry she's sick, but at the same time, I hope she's REALLY REALLY sick! Aren't I awful??? :(
And Kerry, I totally understand visits to the GYN. I hate it, even though my endocrinologist is also my gynecologist and is fantastic. I still don't like it!

:mouse:

Hi! Just another quickie from me. I am down at my mother's having survived my mammogram and her medical results. Her Dr confirmed that it is basal cell- totally treatable, and it will be surgically removed (at least that is what we think for now). So that is good news.

Kerry- well, I can't say that the annual trip to my gyno is a highlight of my life, but no biggie either. The most important thing is to have a Dr that you like and respect. Then it is not bad.

Mouse-no, you are not awful....just normal!!! Glad you thought of yourself first........so important to take care of your health!
Gotta go- sorry if I missed anyone- Dm's computer is wacky, and I am unable to get to the last page. Have a great nite!
Ginny

Well Ladies,
I just got back from my TOPS meeting. I lost another pound. So far this summer that makes a total of 5 pounds. I am so happy that the numbers on the scale is finally dropping and not rising. LOL. Maybe this will help with my inches when I go get measured at Curves in the beginning of August.
Mouse I am glad that you took time for yourself. So what did you do today? Did you sleep in at all? I try to do that around here but am always setting my alarm to go to appointments, lessons for the kids or to workout with my one friend. So when I do get to sleep in the phone rings and wakes me up :(
Ginny glad to hear that everything went well for your dm and you. So what have you thought about joining the Curves near you?
Robyn we miss you honey! Where are you?
Have a great evening! I have the house to myself and I plan on reading and watching a little tv before I go to bed. Talk to you all later. Have a wonderful evening!
Kerry

Hello people! Sorry to have been missing for soooo long! Nothing too much going on....just not getting to the computer like I usually do. (Actually, I've been cleaning, reading, and exercising.....not necessarily in that order! hehe!)

The interview on Monday went well...I think! I will know by the end of the week. I've taught in the same place for sooo long...17 years! And I've been so spoiled....the room where I would be assigned is beyond teeeny with NO storage! I work in a school built in the 50s.... bookcases and cabinets EVERYWHERE! But, I will survive, if I get the job! Anyway! Thanks for all of your good wishes for me! I'm scared to death, truthfully! Enough!

I've not made any further calls about the jury duty. I wanted to wait and see about this job before I call.....I hope to be able to defer it....even if it is JUST to wait until November! No matter where I am teaching! But, changing school systems would be a better excuse! It isn't that I'm trying to "get out of it". I just don't want to do it NOW!

Glad to hear all of your good news from drs and scales! :) Has Summer gone to Florida? I'll try to get caught up with reading all of the posts since I was last here, eventually! :) Sure missed you guys!

Til next time,
take care,
Robyn

Hi!
Just a short hello- had a busy day picking up Dd from orientation.....seems as though she will be happy at college. Plus- she got to workout with her college pitching coach on her new softball field. She seemed SO happy. I am happy for her.

Robyn- so glad the interview went well.......Let us know how it all turns out!!!

Kerry- congrats on the loss!!!! 5# is just wonderful! How much more do you want to lose? Yes, I am considering joining Curves, once I see what my route will be and hours etc.......

Gotta go. Have a great nite!
Ginny

Hi all!
Okay, the person who was supposed to help out was REALLY sick, and I felt bad, because her description of her illness sure sounds like what I have! She said she spent the whole night throwing up; so of course I felt pity, because I'm all about that!
Today was my last day for physical therapy! Huzzah! I still have to get cleared from the orthopedist, but as of now my only big issue is walking up or down stairs. I'm on the main floor of our building, right near a fire exit, and there is an elevator. If the school will let me continue parking near the building, I have no problems! Our parking lots are only accessible via a rather steep hill (that is where I fell the last two times on that hill!), or stairs. So, I have to plead my case to our facilities person. Maybe I can get my supervisor to help me out... he certainly seemed like he was willing to defend me this time. Our report card administrator is not a people-person, and she REALLY doesn't like me... It seems like I always wind up with the strange situations regarding the electronic gradebooks, and make her job harder. I don't do it on purpose, but I do certainly attract them. She attacked me via email, and I had to defend myself, but surprise, surprise, my supervisor actually stood up for me! I was amazed!
Kerry: Congrats, congrats!
Ginny: Glad your mom's cancer is completely treatable! Hope it continues to go well!!!
Hey, Robyn, I just remembered... what assistive tech stuff did you need????

:mouse:

No effervescent post from me today.......got a miserable headache.

Mouse- congrats on the last day of PT. Kind of nice not to be tied into all those visits to a Dr, which become boring at best. Hope your parking situation works out ok- can't imagine how nasty it could be with an uncooperative and vindictive person in control.
Other than that.....how are you feeling?

I am outta here- have to find some way to inspire myself to do something when all I want to do is sleep or have a cup of tea. (miserable hot humid weather is probably responsible for my feeling so bad).
Have a good night. Oh, and Summer.......even though you are not here, hope you are having a wonderful time at Disneyworld!!!!!!!!
Ginny

I can't say I liked PT, but it was at least convenient... the gym that I belong to has a PT office at the gym. Its nice, I could go swimming right after!
I think I'm feeling okay; the GI doctor gave me a prescription for nausea, so I've been able to eat a little more and throw-up a little less. That's nice. I just need to remember to take it BEFORE I eat!!! And I can't take it during the day since it causes drowsiness.
Hope your head is gone, Ginny...
My DSL is down, so I'm not around as much.

:mouse:

Hey all..... just a quick check in... Cleaned the kitchen and the bathroom today. WhooHooo now THIS is summer fun! LOL I am going to clean out the linen closet tomorrow. There is BUNCH of old junk in there that I know needs to be thrown OUT! I'm also going to go to Lowe's tomorrow and get paint for the bathroom...I tore it apart at Spring Break and have waited all I'm going to for dh to fix a problem spot.....I'm just gonna use some of that "super seal and kill all paint" and paint the bathroom blue...some sort of shade that I select WHILE standing in Lowe's...I've waited long enough! ANYTHING is better than the way it looks!

I have been exercising and drinking my water and doing my points... BUT, I've not journaled...and that has made a huge difference in my life.... I need to write this stuff down...AND I know that ...THAT is the key for me...... I've been so busy with helping a friend thru a very emotional time right now.... that along with the nerves of the interview etc.... enough excuses.

gotta go...another storm is blowing in...more thunder and lightning....geesh!
take care
meeee

Hi Gals,
Well I made it through my gyno appointment today. I really love the doctor I am going to. She is very friendly and talks you through the whole exam. Thank you for all your prayers.
I went to water aerobics tonight. After I was done with the class, I just felt bluh! I wonder if the weather has anything to do with it. It was only rainy and humid outside all day long. It stopped raining about 45 minutes before my class.
Sounds like everyone is doing great. Sorry to cut this short, but I am going to bed early tonight. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

hello all...
another rainy summer day...WHAT IS UP with this? ALLLLL day!

WELL...I didn't hear a THING about the job...guess I didn't get it. ::shrug shoulders here::

Today I pretty much did whatever the heck I wanted....which was just about nothing! I've been reading, doing laundry, talking on the phone with my two dearest friends, also talking with my friend who has not been having an easy time of things lately.

I exercised earlier today.... I think I "sprung" one of my glute muscles bellydancing! My fanny is killing me! What a fun but dangerous tape THAT is! hehehehehehe

ya'll take care,
Robyn

Hi Ladies,
Unfournately yesterday was my rainy day. The kids were wild yesterday. They drove me nuts. So Robyn I know what you are going through. Sorry to hear that you haven't heard anything about your job interview. Let's keep thinking postive thoughts though.
So you were bellydancing huh? What tape did you use? Is it great excerise? I don't know if I am brave enough yet to try it. I might blacken both my eyes with my big girls. :) :)
I cheated today on my diet. We were at my mother-in-law's for dinner tonight and I saw were she had a bag of chocolate chip cookies. They are one of my favorite cookies so I had 4 cookies. Guess I will have to walk a little more at the county fair tomorrow afternoon. LOL.
Well I better go and check on my sdd. She sprained her ankle on Wednesday night riding her bike. She doesn't like to keep it evelated and it is still very swollen. But she wants to go to the fair really bad tomorrow. So I think we finally convinced her to lay down and prop it up. Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Kerry

Hi, all. It started off nice here, too, but then we had afternoon thunderstorms and lots of rain. I was down in Virginia for the appointment with the plastic surgeon. Again, the surgery is technically possible, and he thinks I'd only be out of work for 2-3 weeks, which is LOADS better than what the first surgeon told me. He also said that he uses dissolveable stitches, so that if he has to place drains (he said that was very likely), I could be in the water as soon as the drains are removed. He said I couldn't SWIM... but I could definitely walk in the water and probably do some mild water aerobics. I discovered when I had my cast on how very important the swimming has become to me. And now, hold on to your hats... I figured $6000-7500 for the surgery. That was a revised upward estimate from $3000. I'm nowhere in the ballpark! Its $12,200!!!!!! Yes, I did just type twelve thousand two hundred dollars. That is more than I paid for any car I own, and more than the first two cars combined; its more than I paid for my master's degree WITH BOOKS at Johns Hopkins; and with interest, its a little under half of my undergraduate degree after scholarships and grants.
Kerry... For the sdd ankle... as I have lots of experience here... ICE, ICE and ICE. Compress it with an ace bandage, and MAKE HER USE A CANE or crutch if she's going to the fair. I'm not a doctor or orthopedist, I know, just speak from experience. The code for ankle sprains is RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
:mouse:

Morning Ladies,
Boy am I in a bad mood today. My dh took his twin ds's to his brother's house last night to check on their cousins' derby cars. So my stepds and I went to bed early. She was asleep by 9:45 and I feel asleep at 10:30. I was woken to my stepds' knocking on the front door at 10:50. I got up and hurried to open the door. I told them to stop knocking on the door, so not to wake their sister up. They came in all worked up and excited. My nephew told me that my dh would be home in a little bit. That the boys wanted to come home. I said that was fine if I hadn't been asleep and gotten woke up. Then they wouldn't go to sleep for about an hour. So I finally got to sleep after midnight. When my dh finally came home from working on the cars this morning at 7. He had to wake me up. So needless to say Kerry is not going to be a very nice person today. He said Daniel told me how mean you were to the boys when they got home last night. I said I was asleep and how do you like being woke up and not able to go back to sleep until they are sleeping. So it is going to be a long day, I think. I will be the one watching the kids today, since my dh is sleeping now. It just ticks me off that he couldn't have called to say that he was having someone bring the kids home and to see if I was up still. But he is a man and I don't think he thinks about others at times. Sorry about my rant.
Mouse that is great news about your surgery. The cost is a little hard to swallow though. Do you have insurance through work that would cover some of the cost or all of it?
Ginny glad to hear that your oldest dd had a great time at her college orientation. When does college start for her?
Robyn how is your glute muslces today? I hope you are feeling better.
Well it is off to give the kids showers, get them dressed and do the same for me. Talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful Saturday!
Kerry

Sorry no time to get personal today. Dd and Dh are both in Attila the Hun moods.......so there is no peace here.......Kerry, sounds like your day is none too nice either....why does my family have to fall apart on weekends? Hmmmmm..........

Sorry to bellyache.......actually, I think the reason that this is all falling apart this weekend, is because Dh and Dd now face life as it normally is~ not all pumped up with softball games. The rest of us live normal lives- household chores etc....
Gotta go......hopefully I will be more cheerful later
Take care!
Ginny

Hey all....sounds like all of the men are about in the same mood....sorry to say! My oldest son went to a sleepover, came home at 9:30 and went directly to bed....
my dh has been up since 8ish....biting for "something to do"...I suggested that he measure the bathroom or do some other chores he went nuts! Guess KINGDH isn't up for chores! ARGHH!

enough...gotta go feed the crew before they turn on me further! hehe!
hang in there everyone! don't forget to take a few moments for yourself! You count!

take care
meee

Afternoon Ladies,
My day got a little better when everyone left for a little while. So I was able to talk to my best friend on the phone for a little while without being interrupted. Plus I was able to read for a little bit. I am just not happy about going to the fair tonight. I guess after the way I was treated last night has a lot to do with it. I talked to my dh after he woke up. He wanted to know why I yelled at his boys last night and got on their cases for knocking on the front door. I said that a normal person would have called to tell their spouse that the kids were on their way home and could you please stay up with them until they fall asleep. So I told him next time I will wait for everyone to come home before I fall asleep, so I can attend to everyone else's needs and then I will think about myself. He never has yet to apologize to me. He then was complaining because I didn't go to the grocery store and the bank last night. I laughed at him and told him that he said he would take care of those items and so it wasn't my fault. It is getting close to that TOM for me. My mother-in-law told me this morning, she thinks her son is on his right now. Why is it that us females have to be so strong for everyone? Why can't they look out for us sometimes? So I guess I am not the only one having a crappy weekend. Time to go fold laundry. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry
P.S. I promise I will be in a better mood the next time I post.

Ugh, Kerry! Sounds like quite a night. I overslept this morning and missed my water aerobics class, because I usually do that AND swim on Saturdays. Oh well. :shrug:
I hope your day has improved and that you got some sleep.

As far as the surgery goes, I do have insurance through work. But my insurance company apparently has a horrible reputation among plastic surgeons and has very few that they've approved. The first lady I saw was primarily because after calling 3 or 4 other places, they were the only ones that would finally give me an appointment. Most of the doctors didn't want to deal with my insurance company or didn't accept my insurance. When the first surgeon turned out to be such a goat, and wrote all that horrible stuff about me, I refused to see her. I guess its a case of biting off my nose to spite my face, but I just COULD NOT let a doctor that put lies in their report do a procedure on me. And I guess she probably wrote those things to get them approved by the insurance company, but I don't know that for sure. And I have a hard enough time dealing with this, I couldn't get treated by a doctor who thought I smelled bad, who said I had personal hygiene issues, and wouldn't talk to me. In any case, the insurance company denied the procedure saying it was for weight loss. That would be a benefit of the surgery, but isn't why I'm doing it. My endocrinologist thinks that it would make the endocrine dysfunction less severe. Two other doctors that I've spoken with agree.
The second surgeon I saw isn't on my insurance companies list. He said he tried to get added when he started his practice, but they wouldn't approve him because they already had surgeons in the area.

Although, today, I ate like a little pig. :sigh: And I feel guilty, even though I shouldn't because I still burned more calories than I ate. But it was definitely more than my usual turkey sandwich and salad.

:mouse:

Afternoon Ladies,
I finally got some much needed sleep, so I am a happy camper. I am still feeling a little tired but that is okay. My dh finally apologized after I wouldn't speak to him and he asked what was wrong. So I guess that is a good thing or he just wanted me talking to him again.
I am sorry to hear that you can't get your insurance to cover your surgery. Can they not see that you get very sick without this surgery. I can't believe people could be that cruel when it came to needed medical expenses.
Well I am off to mow the grass. That will be my excerise for the day. Talk to you all later. I think before I go mow the grass, I need to eat something first.
Take care,
Kerry

The insurance company can only respond to what the physician gave them... and the first surgeon submitted it as a weight loss procedure. They can't see why they should pay $12,000 for surgery so I could lose weight when I should first go on a diet and try exercising. And that is exactly what the insurance company said: lose weight and get some exercise.
The next obvious step is to submit to them that I am a member of a gym and do track my eating... but even then they might not pay for it because its not a medically supervised weight loss program. I'm going to try and see if they'll pay for everything but the surgical fee: IE, the hospital and anesthesia. That is less than half, because the surgeon's fee is $8500. Between myself and my mother we can probably come up with that. But I'm not sure it'll work because since this is considered "elective surgery", I have to pay the hospital fees and such in advance to the surgeon.

I dunno. I know that the computer is acting funky, its raining again, and the cat kept waking me up because he doesn't like crumbs. He is doing his bi-monthly round of Dental Diet food, and so he crunches it up and winds up with crumbs at the end of the month...and he won't eat those, so he wanted me to get up RIGHT THEN and re-fill his feeder.
So I'm grumpy, because I know I should have the surgery, but $12,200 would mean finding an extra $300/month for 5 years to pay it off. I can do that if I take a part-time job and give up on grad school for now. But I don't WANT to do that. A part-time job would also mean giving up swimming because I won't have enough energy to teach from 6:30 to 3:30, work part-time (probably till 8 or 9), and weekends, and still go to the gym. Its not possible.

:cry: :mouse:

Evening Ladies,
Ginny are you surviving the weekend with your family all being home? Hope your dd and dh aren't grumpy for you today.
Robyn are you having a better day today too? Your family didn't harm you yesterday because they were hungry did they? :)
Mouse I now fully understand what you are faced with. I will keep saying my prayers for you. Hope everything works out okay.
I mowed the yard this afternoon. So I got my excerise for the day. I might see about taking a walk here in a little bit with my dh after the kiddos go home with their mommy.
I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Thought I would share this bit of news with you. My dh must have a heart today. I was sitting on our front porch reading a book after the kids left this evening. He came outside to see what I was doing and to ask me if I wanted to go for a walk with him. Then he looked at me and said you are looking great. I am proud of you! Just think two years ago, you were around 270 pounds and now you have lost almost 70 pounds so far. I was shocked at his kind words. That made me feel really good. Especially after how my weekend had started out. Well I think it has stopped raining, so I am going to see if he still wants to go for a walk. Talk to you all later. Have a wonderful week.
Kerry

Kerry- your story about what heartfelt words your Dh had for you made me smile........
And especially how this weekend had started out for you. I hope he did go out for that walk with you. Store those kind words in your heart.......they are so hard for some to say.

Mouse- I hope you are having success resolving your medical/insurance issues. This seems so unfair....It must seem overwhelming to you. I too will keep you in my prayers.

Robyn- Hope you found some time for you too!!!!!!!!!!!!! How did your weekend end up?

Me, I am feeling kind of low key......TOM showed up today and I just feel a bit drained.
Dd is bellyachin' because we are not going away for a whole week this year (partially financial reasons, partially schedule reasons). I am at the point that I really do not care if I go or stay home, I just do not want to have to listen to any complaining or do any cooking! (am I lazy or what?).
Got called in to work today again for 2 1/2 hours......could have been worse.
Gotta go take Dd to the Dr, she has some rash on her (looks like hives, but she feels crummy and benadryl is not helping).
Hope everyone's week is starting out great!
Ginny

Hi Ladies,
My week is starting out great. I kicked it off with a trip to Curves this morning. I felt that I needed to be relaxed and ready to start another crazy week, so I went in at 8 this morning to workout.
My dh and I went for a walk last night. It was after 11 and not many people were out. So it was a nice quiet walk. Had to laugh at a guy and his dog. He saw us walking down the sidewalk towards him and he had to hurry up and go across the street. His dog was making a fuss over seeing us and the guy said don't talk to them we don't know them.
Sorry to hear that you are feeling drained, Ginny. That is what that TOM can do to a person. Hope your dd's appointment goes well at the dr.
Hope everything is going great for the rest of you. When is Summer coming back from WDW?
Have a wonderful day!
Kerry