Just wanted to clarify: I did not eat my placentas LMAO

Good morning, ladies...

Had bad dreams and couldn't sleep, so decided to come here for a bit. WI is today, and I'm kind of dreading that -- was a challenging week. One night I was craving Mexican food and was a bad influence and dragged Tim to Chevy's with me -- not that he was exactly kicking and screaming. I probably made better choices that I would have if I wasn't on WW, but I know it wasn't pretty. And then they had the HUGE Christmas potluck at work....yikes! I brought a giant veggie tray with fat free ranch dip, but that doesn't mean I didn't eat anything else. At least, when everyone else went back for seconds, and thirds, I loaded up a plate with veggies and munched on that. I did have dessert, though. And haven't been good about my water...*sigh* And gotta make cookies today (will send most of them with Mike, who is leaving on a plane to visit Erik in SD for a week, since Erik couldn't get leave until after Christmas), have another party tonight, and dinner plans at a restaurant with friends on the 23rd...man, if I can just make it through the holidays without gaining it all back, I guess that would be good. This is hard.

EM...you mentioned something about missing kids' programs when you homeschool. I homeschooled my kids for 7 years, co-led the homeschool support group in our area, and wrote a homeschooling newsletter. Try to find a good support group, if that's the route you decide to go. We did a lot of field trips, activities, park days, end of the year "open house" for the kids to strut their stuff, Christmas programs, cooperative classes -- I taught algebra for a mixed group of 7th-12th graders, whew, that was a bit of a challenge :) Anyway, if you get into a good support group, you are likely to find some things your kids can participate in, and will meet other like-minded families. Oh, and is placenta approved on the Atkins plan??? :rofl:

Jane, this is a new beginning for Neal! I'm 42, but there is so much more I wish I could do -- classes I want to take, places I want to see, organizations that I'd love to offer volunteer hours -- 40 hours a week that could be better spent than just making a living.

Angie, hope Tanner starts feeling better soon. The flu bugs have been bad this year. I wish your employer would give you the option of cash instead of free beer for your bonus, since you hate beer. Could be worse...suppose you worked for a dentist, and he offered you a free...root canal for Christmas? :fr: :D

Ah, just heard the alarm go off...we go to the early early WW meeting on Saturday morning. Guess I'd better bite the bullet, buck up, go face the music (ie: the scale), and assess the damage done this week.

Hi to everyone else, and will talk to you soon!

Hugs,
Katiecat

Good morning, gals!

I finished the sweater I was knitting for my DS9! and he looks so darn cute, I didn't wait for Christmas, I just gave it to him. It's the Jesse's Flames from Stitch N'***** Nation. Wish I had a good pic for you but you can go here and look through the book to see the project http://www.knithappens.com/ It's the black sweater with the flames going up the sleeves. In other news, yesterday was the holiday program at DS' school, then he had a piano recital, so we were busy! He's ready for a break. DD4 was dragged along to all of the above and was none too gracious - bleah. We all snuggled up and watched the Incredibles last night then all was well.

EM - I didn't think you ate your placenta, but I did get your point. I for one would love to see your birth photos...but some aren't into the full glory of natural birth. You would most likely find more kindred spirits up here in Portland. Lots of moms I know are into attachment parenting, naturopathy, midwifery, you know hippy stuff :cool: A good friend of mine gave birth at home with both daughters and nary an aspirin to ease her discomfort. Not my cup of tea, but then I had 10 pound babies. I admired her for doing it, and btw, the placentas were buried under a rose bush in their front yard. I think they had a birthday ritual or something like that, because she kept the placentas in the freezer for awhile and had a very amusing story about her MIL stumbling upon them one day:p
I know with the babies, there's no social interaction. I felt like my brain was turning to mush. Can you get out for a little something for yourself once in awhile? I joined a book group when DD ws born and I really counted on that meeting once a moth - for a long time it was my only non-family interaction with folks.

Susan - thanks for the card - and I was feeling very smug all day because I was able to figure out where you lived by your clues (posted a long time ago when you moved), then I saw the return and I was right! Gaby is gorgeous - thanks for the pic. Now we need to get our girls together in person...after all you practically live down the street from me!

Jane - Congrats to Neal on his retirement - Now the fun really begins! If he is at all like my inlaws he will be busier than ever and very happy. Thanks for the card, btw.

I did receive cards from Connie, MaryKate, and Cristi - thank you all! I sent my usual email greeting this year which I hope you received. IF not, I will post the link to our photo page, which was part of the email:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rosiekate37/my_photos


Sorry I am such a wash out on the snail mail cards, but when my list got to be over 100, I had to scale back my efforts. Otherwise this is what I look like:yikes:

Weightwise, I am managing to maintain, which is my usual goal this time of year. It's hard with all the treats around, but I am still hitting the gym 5 mornings a week. However, I have given away all the cookies and the house is now relatively junk food-free. We are going to sit down and plan some family outings that do not involve going to McD's or Burger King - that will help:mcd:
:hohoho: :hohoho: :hohoho: Just had to throw those in cause they're cute!

Have a great day! Hi to anyone I neglected...try to get to more individuals later
K

Hi Katiecat - just missed you!

Went out with my family for my birthday dinner last night. Due to the icy road condition of the back roads and not to mention our 600 foot uphill driveway we stayed close to home with a favorite Mexican restaurant--it was so good. My son tried something new and wasn't quite sure about it once he got it so I shared with him which helped since my plate was huge! I also took some home to share with my dogs, but I still ate what was probably way too many chips w/salsa and the dreaded cheese sauce while DH and I were waiting for the kids to get there. Son got me good--he got a platter that included what I think was a chili rellano(?)--he said that it reminded him of my eggplant parmesan--I asked if was hot and he said not at all--well it may have been not at all for him, but my eyes were watering and my nose running! He and DH both love hot stuff--I should have known better!
I only weigh once a week (on Tuesdays) and I am going to exercise extra and eat very healthy all the rest of the weekend. I am trying my best to even just maintain until after the holidays and have done it so far.
Got more Christmas cards..thanks Jane & Connie! EM thanks for the b-day wish!

Hey ladies...:clause:

Woke up this morning to about 2 inches of snow! Just had to get out there in it! It's so pretty...and I truly love the snow...that is...when I don't have to get out in it...driving in it that is. Before it's said and done...we are supposed to get about 6 inches.

Not much going on...been busy. Yesterday must have been mexican food day! :lol: I too had mexican! DS#1 and I ventured out to the mall to do a little bit of shopping and he went to get contacts. Then we went to have lunch and run a few more errands. Even though people were driving crazy and there were a lot of people out, I enjoyed myself. He's been working so much we haven't done lunch in a while so that was nice...spending time with him. DS#2 and I will have a couple of lunches and go to a movie or two in the next two weeks. He's been working also at the recruiting place so the first two weeks home doesn't count towards his vacation time. He will still have that vacation time. They get 28 days a year I think. So he has two more weeks home and then off he goes.

ANGIE~hope Tanner is feeling better. DD and I have come down with something also and it doesn't help that I keep going out in the cold. WTG on winning the phone and answering machine! :carrot:

EM~I am one of those people who don't care to see that kind of stuff. I do think it is a beautiful experience but I guess I think it is a personal one also. My SIL handed me a photo album once and upon opening it I saw this big picture of her private and to be honest it was not something I wanted to see. I didn't even go any further. I'm not saying anything is wrong with it, just not my thing.

JANE~here's to Neals retirement! :cheers: Hoping he has the time of his/your lives.

SUE~there was a time I was leary about shopping online but not anymore. I feel like if someone wants my info bad enough they are going to get it no matter what. But for the most part, I feel it is pretty secure. It is so much easier for sure.

KATY~guess for some reason I was looking for a Christmas picture at your link. Cute sweater!

JULES~glad you had a nice BD dinner with the family!

SUSAN~hope Rebecca gets to feeling better soon. Funny...I almost starting smoking so I could lose weight. Guess I am glad I didn't..wouldn't rather be chubby but I am glad I don't smoke. Now if I can just get DS#2 to quit.

Not much ont he agenda for today so will probably get lots of reading done. I was going to say curl up next to the fireplace but then I would have to take the stockings and Christmas cards down so too much of a hassle-I don't know though, it does sounds good and just may be worth the hassle. Curl up with my book and some hot chocolate, mmmmmm, sounds good. :coffee: :coffee2:

Have a good weekend!

Good Morning -

I had 1 cookie Angie. I bought 4 different varities. My fave is from Mothers , the white icing with raisins inside??? I forget but I bought 5 bags. We were so slow we ran out in the last hour of signing and I asked Control Freak co worker if he wanted me to run and get some more but he said "we don't want to encourage them" haha......whatever. If I was sitting there for an hour I would want a cookie!!!! lol

Nancy Drew - aka Katy. Cool - now you can come stalk me- lol.

I was meaning to say a heartfelt thank you for the Christmas cards to Connie,Jane, Cristi and Katie. Very sweet and appreciated.

Rocky sent me a heart shaped photo copy of us along with a gift card. He wants me to go buy a vacuum , because that is what I asked for - along with something for the girls.

Yikes, better go. Beck woke up in a crabby mood. Need to go spank her......when I say that they just say "oh sure mom.......kind of old for that" ........and they are.....lol

Good morning ladies!

Susan,,,that is somthing to be proud of,,,only eating one cookie when your favorite is there.
Em,,ya know my thoughts on life...to each his own. I know Im a bit too mainstream,,,and then can do a total opposite and be anythign but. It just depends on what it is. I grew up totally different than how I live now. People learn to adapt if they need to. Some don't want to.
As for the closed in feeling, Id say we have all felt that way with being at home with babies. I can't stand the music from ninja turtles from hearing it so often. But as both Katie said Katy said,,,you may have to go out there and interact. I helped oraganize a play group society. I put out word (small town) that we were in need of a place for SAHM and the kids to play. Specially in the winter. So easy to get cabin fever. Got alot of reponse,,organized a meeting. Found a community centre. And then hit up the non profit organization fund program. They gave us $500. WE put out the word we needed more toys,,,and then I went shopping,,,spending $475. Spent $25. on coffee and supplies. We brought our coffee pots to make coffee...brought juice..and after 2 months we had enough to buy a huge coffee pot and cookies,,juice. And I know even after 13 yrs they are making a profit,,,which enables them to replace toys. Cleaning supplies, and even better to give back to the community program that gave us the money in the first place. When Tanner started school there was about 40-50 moms using this with anywhere from 1-5 kids each weekly. And this all came about with the two of us,,,my friend Shelly and I talking about how depressing it is in the winter...too cold to be outside. We charged each mom a buck. If they couldn't afford it,,,that was ok too. We had a cleaning list. Each month 4 moms had to come in and bleach everything.

mmm mexican,,,did I mention I love mexican food.

well today is a quiet day,,,Tanner is still sick,,just a nasty cold is seems. But he won't be going out. My brother and SIL will be coming at 6ish..bringing their dogs,,,SKittles mom and sibling. They will rip through the house...lol
Im going to Micheals..I thought Id like to make Tanner a keepsake. I saw those memory picture frames,,and thought Id like to take his program from his one play,,and lil mementos..plus I have a thing from Universal Studios,,its a oscar. It was silver so I sprayed it gold..and a girl friend who works in engraving placey has made him,,,a small plate saying Tanner ***** Best Actor. Which will go in there too.
I went to blcokbusters last night,,,been awhile...couldn't believe how expensive it is to rent games,,,over 9 bucks. Anyways i ended up buying two movies,,,Guess who (Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher) and Coach Carter.
Well after writing this book...I should get going...have a great day ladies.

Wow - Angie. I am exhauted just reading your post. You are such an amazing person in all that you have done and continue to do. I am feeling lucky when I can get 2 lo carb beers from the Plaid Pantry and go home and veg after a day at work. lol

brrrrrrrrrrr FREEZING OUT!! Hate it. My hands are dry and my lips hurt!! I should go get Napoleon Dynamite.

K- taking the girls to the mall to spend some of their Christmas money.

Back again for just a quick minute to THANK Marti for the Christmas card. :thanks: :hohoho: :clause:

Hey Ladies :)
Cristi: I totally understand! lol No offense taken whatsoever. I think because I was a doula (birth coach) and was seriously contemplating being a mw, is why I like that kind of stuff! Wanna hear a funny story about the birth photos? I told my mw she could publish them for her clients to see. So she gave me the url they were published on, (since a couple of you are fellow weirdos and pm'ed the url is : www.midwifemama.com/darlene) and I checked it, didnt see anything objectional (just me with the baby after it was born and 1 during labor. Couldn't see anything) so, I sent it to ALL of my friends, males included!
WEELLLL- She updated with all the pictures and since it was a water birth you don't see an vaginal shots but you do see my boobs and rolls and OMG I about died! I had to send a "DONT LOOK AT THE URL!" to my guy friends or people who wouldn't want to see that. TOO LATE! LMAO I about died, seriously! Couldn't look half of them in the face when I saw them next.
Now, anytime I go to anything where her clients are they are like "Hey we know you!" I guess its a nice ice breaker! If not embarassing!

I'll write more in just a bit. Going to go get some excercise in. I hope WW weigh in treats you right :) :) :)

EM

Is it me or has pop up ads about doubled latley?

I have a pop up blocker, so I have never noticed any pop ups. I'll find out what the name of it is Azul and send it to you!

Thread Alert,Thread Alert......someone needs to start a new thread!! omg - we are going to crash. lol

I can't do it because I am on a slow MAC computer. Would take forever because of icons that I would use. Anyway.......

I wore a bra when I gave birth. I guess I am shy. Amazed that I have ever gotten pregnant. lol

THANKS for the Christmas card Marti :) A lot of pop ups on this site - especially since they upgraded a few weeks ago. Annoying.

Taking the girls to the mall. I am tired. I just want to clean my apt.