I am going to get a disc so I will make sure everyone can see when they get here-too cute about your little fella. It is funny what things kids get attached to growing up. Amanda has just discovered clothes and is bringing me different outfits all the time. It just amazes me how different the girls are. Dess likes hats-Amanda doesn't. Dess loves shoes-I just got amanda to wear them like two weeks ago and it is only while we are going somewhere-as soon as we are home, off they come. Amanda is a jammie gal, dess takes hers off before getting under the covers. Those are just a few of the things and it just shoes how unique we all are and formulate opinions early on. Logan just went down and hopefully he will sleep all night again. He got a bottle about 1130p last night and then I heard nothing until almost 7a this morning. I am waiting for him to sleep all night so I can move him in with the girls and get my inner sanctum back. My room is the only place off limits in the house.
Melissa

wow, i guess it has been awhile -- had to catch up on all these posts. y'all have been busy! i'm glad that everyone seems to be taking it easy on themselves around the holiday and not going ballistic over slip-ups on holiday goodies and whatnot. come the new year, we can stay op til our hearts are content!
melissa, i agree with laura -- you are a "superwoman" :) i really hope somehow you and the kids can go see narnia. i bet it is going to be so good. i love the book, even all grown up.
i can't believe that guy with the cart! what a psycho!! he really needs to learn the meaning of the words "online shopping."
well i heard about the job i applied for and so far it's not yes and not no. these government jobs!! grr. because i am 4th rank in the online exam, they have to contact everyone in the top three ranks, statewide, to see if they are interested in the job. if no one responds, i get it. well what are the chances of that.. geez. the good news is, i did get a job at starbucks. assuming i don't hear from the folks at caltrans (which i suppose is slim to none), i will don the illustrious green apron on jan 2. yay, free coffee!!
more bad news - good news: i will probably blow my dec. 19 goal of 145.. but not by a lot. i am down another pound, so i have 4 days to lose 4 pounds. but it is great to be in 140s!! whoohoo!!

:carrot: YAY cadwell in the 140s!!! That is a milestone for you, even though it's not your goal...you did come close though, so give yourself a break. Congrats on the job as well, and ya never know on the other one, it might come back to you somehow.

Melissa, good luck with the pictures on Saturday. I have an appointment for my kids to do that tomorrow but am not sure we'll make it. We got a lot of ice last night and the roads are bad today, so I am not going to go out which means I won't get outfits for the kids...or get to the grocery store we are very thin around here. Depending on how the roads are in the AM, I may just move the appointment to Sunday so steve can be here to drive us.

Kay, good luck on Saturday and if you don't pig out and feel sick consider it a success. I guess that's my plan for Christmas day. I decided to suck it up and go to MILs because that is what hubby wants and he feels it won't be Christmas to him without seeing his family. I am not sure if I have to bring something, she said "everyone is bringing a dish, unless I cater it," and since I don't talk to her I have no clue which way it is going or what to bring.

I spent yesterday at a friend's house, we are making these little books with sexy pictures of ourselves to give to our hubbies for Christmas. THey are coming out well, but I haven't taken my pics yet. I let her try the strip aerobics and she loved it, and was able to make copies of the dvd on her computer so she won't have to buy them. That is all that's up here. Diet wise, I'm just trying to do my best but it's not looking real pretty. Controlling portions, but it's not quality food these days.

Theresa

Congrats on the 140's! I can't wait to even just see the underside of 200! There is nothing wrong with working at starbucks. A job is a job and it will at least supliment you until you get the one you are wanting to really do.

Today I am home and going to try and get some things done around here. Logan is a broken record with the word Mama and I have been very occupied with him and what is left, Amanda has gotten. Friday is a haircut and small bit of shopping and then Saturday is pics and Santa so I may be a bit gone for that time. I found out there will 2 more drivers here for Christmas eve and Christmas Day. I told Maryann that if I can't open my home for the birth of Christ, there is a real issue and now it will be fine since I got that extra funding. Told her though to be prepared because I make a birthday cake and we sing happy birthday for Jesus and she thought it was neat idea. I just want the kids to know the real reason for the season.
Melissa

We are off to work for 2 days at a trade show in NJ. That's 5 meals out and then we will be back in time for a party Sat. night.
My friend is staying here with the dog so I had to clean a lot today, so at least I'll come home to a clean house. It's awful when I am away and I come home to a mess.
I'm not too worried about eating too much these next few days because I feel very in control since we set new goals. The last few days have been less than 1200 calories, including several Xmas cookies.
I hope everyone does ok and stays on the goals. I can't wait for Jan 2, when we can all get back OP.
Be back Sat or Sunday.
Laura

I am with you Laura-I just need this to get done. I got a call tonite and my daughter and her boyfriend are back in jail again....I really don't know why she keeps having the bondsman call me to bail her out. She should know that I am already on a shoestring here with all the kids. I called Michelle because obviously I won't have to take Logan for his visit on Monday now. She won't be back in court for at least two weeks now. I can't imagine being in jail for Christmas-it just breaks my heart.
Melissa

melissa, i am sorry about kate. hopefully things will work out for her and she will straighten out her life. it takes work, but it is possible. my best friend and her neighbor did it.. they quit drugs and ditched their scumbag friends and boyfriends. but that is really the key i think.. she needs to ditch the loser guy. in the meantime though, she is very blessed to have you to look after her kids. even if she is in jail for christmas, that at least is a gift. she will very thankful for that once she finally gets her act together.
have fun in nj laura! ever since i saw harold and kumar go to whitecastle i have craving a trip to nj so i could have those little whitecastle burgers. well with the diet, its probably best its way too far to visit ever. lol. i have enough trouble resisting the in 'n' out urge. even after 6 months without it, the in 'n' out fire burns within. i think that will be my one indulgence when i reach my goal. that, and one california burrito from lolita's. after that, it will be all op for life for me!! i am not going to gain all that weight back again.
thanks for the congrats on the job melissa and theresa. i am actually looking forward to starting my job even though it is not the one in planning i was hoping to get. i have applied at starbucks about 30 times over the years and now they've finally hired me. it will be nice to have something to do besides play video games for a change. i have been so bored not working that i even got sick of my pirate game and have been teaching myself korean instead.

I talked to SIL's driving partner yesterday and it looks like they will be home either late 21st or early 22nd. I think I am going to take them up on the offer to come before the holidays and I am going to a movie. I definately need some escapism. It will cost me more but I will take Joshua too so they just have the little ones. I have wanted to see it since I saw the trailer when I took Josh to see star wars. Mom said it was awesome and she is very picky about movies.
I had a hard time sleeping last night which is saying alot considering how my days go. Kate tried calling my parents last night too while they were at the store. It just amazes me the gall she has at times. She treats us all awful and then wants us to bail her out when she is in a jam. If I thought for one minute that she would go into treatment-ditch loser and get it together, I would use the Christmas money I got and bail her and bring her home. I really fear though that she hasn't gotten to the end of herself yet and I would just be enabling her and throwing money away when it could go for things for the kids. It is just so darn hard sometimes.
melissa

Hey guys, our electric was out yesterday afternoon until 1PM today...darn ice storm! We had fun sitting in the cold, dark window watching it glow on the trees. Went shopping today and it was a mess with all the trees down, electric workers blocking off roads to fix lines, and most all traffic lights out. Walmart was INSANE!

Melissa, I don't think you should bail her out, not with the Christmas money and not now. She has shown no signs of being ready to go straight, so you'll blow that money and she'll take off with loser again. It's not worth it. Incredibly heartbreaking to imagine your girl in jail for Christmas I know, but this could be the wake up call she needs. Maybe if for once no one bails her out, no one lets her off the hook, she will realize that this way of life is getting her nowhere and pushing others away. You are very right to not be her enabler anymore, so stand strong and leave her in there. Sometimes the hardest things to do to someone you love turns out to be the best thing for them. Stay open to her if she wants to go straight, but don't let her fool you just to get out of jail then take off again. Those kids deserve their Christmas money, look at all they've been through this year, esp. Logan. I say leave her in there and let her learn a lesson.

Cadwell, I grew up in Ohio and we had White Castles everywhere, everyone calls them "sliders" because they slide right through ya :lol: I never liked them, but my BIL has to have them at least once a week.

Theresa

Sliders ROFL!!!! Sorry to hear about your outage-what do you do for heat when that happens? I have gas for mine so although we would be in the dark, the heat would work. It has been very cold and icy here too but the sun is shining! Josh is very excited because it is a short day and he knows we get to go shopping just the two of us. He doesn't get many of those anymore with all the kids now. I totally agree about leaving her there at least the logical side of me does. The mommy side wants to rush and make it all better. It is so much harder to have adult children-you wind up standing and watching most of the time. At least Loserboyfriend is in jail too this time and not just Katy. I am also wondering how this will affect her ever getting Logan back. Michelle is out of the office today so chances are I will have to wait until Monday before I hear anything. I can't wait to see how the kids react to Santa. I think Dess will be very excited and Amanda will want to watch from afar which is fine. Not going to force anyone on Santa's lap. Josh says he wants to just stand him and talk which is also fine. He gets funny sometimes about who he will let near him which is why I was so excited when he hugged his teacher the first time we met her. Autism makes life interesting to say the least.
Glad you have electricity again!
melissa

:( We didn't have any heat at all. Ours is electric so it was gone, but we did have water, which is more than some people had. It was a cold, boring night, with nothing to do but watch out the window and sleep under 6 blankets with 3 sets of clothing on. We went shopping today mainly for warmth :lol:

I have a question about autism, Melissa. I know you're not a doctor, but there is a little boy I'm close to that I think might have autism, well everyone thinks that, but his mother refuses to even take him to be checked out for it, she just snaps and says he's normal...but really he's not. One thing is he never sits still, it's like he cannot stop moving his body he's always jumping around and telling stories, jokes, off the wall things, but he is VERY smart, he's so smart it's scary actually. He remembers everything and small details that most people don't even think about. For example, yesterday he told me a joke, and he was jumping around the room firing off one after the other (we call the person he latches onto "the chosen" because he never shuts up once he gets someone paying attention), and after one joke he said "I learned that twelve o'five in kindergarten." I said "You learned that december fifth?" and he said "No, I learned it at 12:05PM when I was in kindergarten."

He remembers things like the 12:05 all the time, and it throws us all for loops figuring out how he knows. His mom tells me that when he was just two, he would run around the house repeating commercials from the TV word for word, and he just remembers everything like that. anyway, I adore this little boy, but think he could be happier if his mother would find out if he has autism or something else, because he's definitely got something going on. He's incredibly smart, but he's going through a rough time at school because he cannot sit still and focus, he goes jumping around the classroom and gets sent to the principals office all the time. I feel sad for him because he is so smart and such a great boy.

I know I can't do anything, but just wonder if this sounds to you like autism.

Theesa

It sounds more like ADHD but she should still have him checked out. It could very well be a form of autism too but it sounds more like ADHD to me. She won't have a choice in the matter soon because the school will step in and have something to say about it. With autism too there is almost always speech problems depending on the severity of it. Joshua still sounds like a toddler most of the time when he speaks. He has been in therapy since he was 3. He was 5 and I still had to translate to people because they couldn't understand him. He could just be a hyperactive little boy too-one of my brothers was like that. Just the way I am, I was pushing drs by the time he was 2 because I knew there was something not right and he is now 9 and I finally got a dr to say autism. He wouldn't pin it down but I told the University of Washington when he was 4 that it was autism. Sometimes I feel like I live with Rainman but routine and therapy have helped although he is still very high maintenance.

Oh I got matching sweaters for the boys! They are so adorable. So the girls have matching dresses and the boys have matching sweaters. I couldn't believe I found the same sweater in 18mo and Josh's size too. I got Josh a toy cell phone and he hasn't stopped making calls since I got it LOL. Josh did an awesome job getting his haircut too and I let him tip the gal who cut his hair-she was really good with him. I am just tickled pink and can't wait to see the pics when they are done. Maryann said she would be here by 9a to help me assemble all the kids lol.

It dawned on me too that the darn furnace I am sure kicks on with electricity so I would have to use my fireplace for some heat if I lost power here. I am glad that it came on soon. It would be awful if it was days.
Melissa

Okay, thanks for telling me what you think. I am hoping the school does step in because isn't doing well at all, and it's not because he's not trying. But, I'm not his mama so I can't do anything.

A few years back we had an even bigger ice storm and the power was out for almost 2 weeks. It was miserable, allie was just an infant and I was heating bottles on top of a karosene heater, thinking it would burn us all down. lots of people died because all the stations ran out of karosene and people were taking grills inside and lighting them and putting gasoline in the heaters, and the fumes killed them. It's insane what some people would do to stay warm! I couldn't even see outside that time, every single window was layered thick with ice and I had to nearly bust down the front door to get it open! I'm thankful this wasn't that bad.

Theresa

The school will-they step in alot more than they used to for hyper kids and plus they watch alot more for any type of learning disability. Back when i was a kid, they never did any of that and my poor brother who is dyslexic had a heck of a time in school. He was in jr high and still couldn't read until he had a teacher who noticed the problem and he got a tutor to help him catch up. Back then there really wasn't a such thing as a learning disability and it was largely ignored.

I can't imagine going that long without power, especially with a small baby. When Katy was small there was a couple times it went out for the night but we had so much fun. We played games together and cuddled to stay warm but they were very temporary and she was like 6 or 7 and that makes a difference too.

Tomorrow is the big day and I am sooooo excited.
Melissa

Melissa I hope you are having a great day with the pictures and all! Sounds like they are all going to be decked out and cute and handsome for their pictures. Hope it's lots of fun. I am so sorry to hear Kate is back in jail. I do hope she gets her life straightened out, but I agree that it's a choice that only she can make and you wouldn't be helping her out by bailing her out. I hope that it will wake her up and make her realize that she wants to make some changes in her life.

Theresa I'm glad your power didn't stay off too long. That would be miserable. I am so cold all the time anyway I don't know how I would deal with that. We have been fortunate so far but that is something that I worry about because we don't have a generator anymore and being out here in the country sometimes they don't get the power turned back on too quickly if it's a big area that's out. You got me thinking that we really need to look into getting one because it will be impossible to find one once it actually happens because everybody will be wanting one.

Cadwell congrats on the job and I hope you love it! Also congrats on another pound lost! You are doing great to be able to lose during this time of the year.

Laura hope you have a great trip! I agree it will be nice when January is here and the parties are all over with for the year. I absolutely love the Christmas season but food is such a big part of my family get-togethers.

I am gearing up for Christmas at my Grandma's in a few hours. I started my day with my Tae Bo cardio DVD followed by a half hour on the Nordic Track followed by 15 minutes on the stationary bike. Then I helped my mom frost and decorate sugar cut-out cookies (and I didn't even take a taste). I wrapped a few presents...VERY few since it took me an HOUR and I wasted almost a whole roll of paper. I am the absolute WORST gift wrapper ever. I just can't get the hang of it. I always have too much paper or too little paper or I rip the corners when I'm wrapping or SOMETHING always goes wrong and I usually end up ripping it back off and throwing it in the garbage and starting over. I want it to look perfect and it always looks awful. I'm making sure that I don't get too hungry today so hopefully that will help me keep a leash on my eating tonight. I just had some yogurt and some baby carrots and I think I'll have a big salad and/or some fruit right before we leave. I'm going to wear my favorite jeans and sweater tonight to remind myself how far I've come and how much I enjoy being able to wear what I want and feel comfortable and confident. Also I want to go to my little niece's Christmas program tomorrow morning so I definitely do not want to make myself sick. So...I think I'm doing all I can and now I just have to be strong and not binge tonight. I can do it. I WILL do it. Sorry for my long ramble about nothing really important. This stuff is pretty inconsequential when there are people here with real reasons to be stressed. I am nervous about tonight but I do feel strong so it'll be ok.