Dragonwillow

Oh at target in their dollar spot they have a fitness journal (60days), I bought one today....it has a place to keep track of your food too! We should all go and get one. If I find i'm using mine I'm going to go back and buy a couple for later too. I'm not keeping track of mine today though, can we say peanut butter balls are evil. Melissa

Yes they do...I have the playstation 1 version that will play on your playstation 2 if you want to borrow it to give it a try. Diane, i have one non pirated copy of the xbox version if you want to borrow it. We aren't currently playing either of these versions. I'd let you guys borrow dance pads if I had an extra, but I'm sure you will love it once you get the hang of it. Its alot of fun and you don't even realize you are exercising. Diane and don't let your kids take over the ddr once you get it. LOL I can't keep my kids off it. Melissa

Denika Just wanted to give you a belated welcome, and hope you can make the 28th lunch. These ladies are alot of fun and great for the motivation. Dr. Bauman also did my surgery in September. Melissa

I have a neighbor that pays 600 dollars a year to send her son to Gaston County schools because she doesn't like our zone choice highschools. My kids are both in the language immerssion magnet here in Charlotte and I love it. My oldest who will be going to high school next year has been in the program since she started kindergarten. She is fluent in German now, and has been to Germany twice on exchange trips and we have hosted three times. She started taking Japanese last year and is trying to get inot the new Chinese class starting this next semester. My youngest is just in kindergarten this year and loves it. She is very proud that she is learning another lanaguage. The school also offeres japanese, chinese (starting in 2006-2007 school year), french immerssion. Basically the kids are taught all the normal curricullium just in the target foriegn langauge. It's been shown that kids that learn a foriegn langauge earlier tend to be better in general in other language arts and writing skills later and they also retain the langauge learned much longer. My oldest scores 4 (which is the highest) on end of grade testing. She scores in the 97%-98%. If you are considering Charlotte Mecklenburg you need to get her registered ASAP...they will be starting lottery applications this month and the magnet applications. If you are doing Charlotte mecklenburg I would defiently make sure I picked a magnet program...weather is language or otherwise. The langauge program is ranked one of the best in the country. Melissa

Hi everyone, home fromt he in laws and both kids are home sick. I got sick there. I'm very moody right now, spending time with my inlaws always does that to me. I swear my husband who is generally a great guy turns into a condecending ass around him mother. Though he claims I'm over sensitive and thats not true, he apparently acts that way all the time! LOL I made a comment at some point during the trip that I really needed to do some clothes shopping, since my pants are basically "big" on me. Later my mother in law asked my husband..."Is Melissa losing weight?" Well damn I've lost near 40lbs since she saw me last. I have special thoughts for my mother in law as you can tell. Not to mention that both christmas gifts we gave them last year were still sealed and unused! One was a teavana gift set...so hey...they aren't into tea...no biggie, I can get that. But the other was a shower head, a really nice one. We bought it because theirs SUCK. So I go to take a shower and theres is dribbling out and squirting out the wrong directions. I'm in the garage later and there sets the nice, still sealed shower head we gave them. I wanted to offer to put it up for them! LOL She also made some comment that I thought sounded rather negative about her Sisters daughter in law who had gastric bypass surgery and in her words used to be a LARGE women and is now a size 8. That just confirmed that I shouldn't tell her about my surgery. Diane they have a really nice pad at Best Buy, its really thick and padded. If we ever have to replace the metal pad we have we will probally go with it. The kids took their x box and pad to my in laws and played all weekend in the back room. Melissa

Well I baked all day...stuff to take to work and church. This is what I baked: Pfeffernuesse Cookies, Peppermint cookies, Buckeyes, Peanut butter chip cookies, pumkin white chocolate drops (the only one I've tried out so far), cafe mocha crinkles, and Chocolate Almond snow drops. They all look good, except the peppermint cookies. The look like a failure so won't be taking those anywhere lol. I'm so tired. And Karah just whined, but you didn't make surgar cookies to paint for santa. So I guess I gotta do that at some point. Sigh. Melissa

So glad you don't have to have it today. How do they check your liver function and does the gall bladder affect that? I'm sick of baking now... Melissa

Wow Kathy and Diane you guys are all full in the inn for Christmas. :eek: We are home all day Christmas. Planning to go to the Christmas eve service, but not sure I'll make it to the christmas day one...the kids will not be pleasant after no sleep ....or is that me? We are going to the inlaws new years weekend, but we are driving down Friday and coming back Sunday...yah...no long visit. I can only take so much of my mother in law....because I'm just not perfect like her. Tomorrow I'll be cooking all day...gotta make the cookies and crapola for the work gang. I'll let you know what all I manage to get made. Took the kids out to Northlake and saw Narnia today. Not really fond of the mall so far, prefer concord mills. And the theater wasn't that good as far as service goes...which is suprising since its an AMC theater. Maybe they are still learning how to be nice. I discovered I have a kinda of movable lump like ball of something on my left hand just below my wrist today. It only hurts occassionally.. or if I mess with it.....so of course I have to mess with it all of the time to make sure it still hurts when i do. LOL And as far as my appointment went...it was on my calendar...I just wrote down the wrong time...I wrote down 1 pm instead of 11 am. I was even off work and had told someone I could fill in for them because of the appointment. Just blame it on the stress of the holidays or my terrible penmanship I guess. Well I need to head to bed soon my eyes are watery I'm so tired. Melissa

Angie you should do GREAT, and you are in so much better shape physically than you were 6 months ago when you had the lapband, that recovery should be even easier! Good luck hon...I'm guessing it will be after new years? Melissa

Good luck, I'm going to try to get my first fill in January. I too have no restriction most of the time. Though I just had trouble eating some green pepper in a salad. The weird things the band doesn't like LOL. Melissa

I need to make that same resolution! LOL Dr. Baumans office just called and I missed my nutritional appointment. I swear I thought it was at 1pm...nope at 11! So rescheduled for next week. Melissa

Angie, I hope you don't have to have another surgery...but if you do, I'm sure you will do great. You have had such great weight loss and are doing awesome with your band. Melissa

Will be thinking of you tomorrow. I'm actually going to Dr. Baumans office tomorrow for the nutritionist appointment. I'm actually dreading it, because the scale is NOT my friend at the moment LOL. You are in great hands with Dr. Bauman Melissa

Diane: Yeppers gift cards is what I'd do at this point. I really hope you feel better soon, keep us updated. Karen: glad to hear that the pagent went so well. I was in marathon gift making for teachers and Karah's class mates last night. I'm all clayed out now. Kathy its great to see everyone else shrinking...but can you photo edit mine...I look like I'm expanding and not shrinking like the rest of you! Kim: Yeah our dog is stupid too, we can't put any "food" type gifts under the tree or anything that is scented, he ate part of a scented candle last year. Paul went out shopping yesterday and someone hit is car in the parking lot and left...fortuantly its an old car and there wasn't that much damage. And I came out of work today only to discover that my tire on my van was COMPLETELY flat. Thankfully there is a Discount Tire Co within walking distance. They were nice enough to go out to my van and put enough air in the tire so I could drive to their garage. And then they removed the big ole nail and repaired it. And this is the best part...it was FREE. I was shocked, and I told them, but I didn't buy these tires here. They said it was a courtousy thing and that to just keep them in mind when I need tires. Wow. And looking at their prices they were good. So if anyone needs any tires, I recomend them. They were super nice. (see free = good word of mouth advertising) Oh and I also ran over part of Paul's Grizzwald christmas decorations...(he is still pouting and fussing that I can't back straight out of the driveway. LOL) Well think I'm going to hit the sack. Night. Melissa

Oh forgot, I never did explain the "legend of the pickle" . We made these in our day care program all day Friday. I want to say that I've researched it...and asked Germans about it...and there is no such thing...but Americans have taken off with it...and have decided to think its a Old world Germany tradition and families there do this. Anyway there are glass pickle ornaments you can purchase and her is the suppoused legend: Start this tradition in your home...legend says that the pickle, a symbol of good luck, was the last ornament placed on the tree. The first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning was rewarded with an extra gift left by St. Nicholas. This tradition encourages children to appreciate all the beautiful ornaments on the tree rather than rushing to see what santa has left for them" Anyway it cute, but totally not true. Melissa

Diane we went shopping in the same shopping center I think. I went to target, petco and that new music store. Karah tried to talk me into a Jr drum set there....I defiently need a bigger house before we get her a drum set. LOL And you were right....getting out of the parking lot was a pain in the keester. Hubby laughed at me when I came in so late. Karah tried to talk me into a mommy and me movie today, but we were suppouse to go that party tonight. We tried calling him all day...and then got ready and went over...house was dark, so apparently no party lol. So hubby and I went out to eat. A great mexican place on East Blvd. Figured I was already dressed up might as well stay out a while. Karah was asleep when we got home, so guess will check her head in the morning. I don't want to wake her to change the bandages now. It was great to see everyone today. Melissa

It was nice seeing everyone today. Karah loves her ornament...so much so that its not allowed on "OUR" tree LOL, she hung it on her bedroom door. Its "rich" because it has real red diamonds. Kids...lol We went to target when we left to get some supplies for school friends and I was talking to somone...Karah put her hands on her hip and says "What have I told you about talking to strangers!" Everyone within a few feet of her had to laugh. Everyone have a very Merry Christmas! Melissa

I'm not sure I'm going to make it. Karah hurt her head, and you know how bad head wounds bleed. We don't think she needs stitches but she is bing clingy. If she feels up to it I may just bring her. Not sure yet...but just giving everyone a heads up. Melissa

Does anyone coming have a listing of everyone numbers? I only have a couple numbers. Anyone heard of the "christmas pickle? They made these at the christmas party today. Melissa

I bought my ornament...it was so cute I bought two one to keep. Can't wait to see everyone Saturday. I saw the exercise guy today...he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. And he thought my routine was in good shape. Also I'm working with a friend that is a personal trainer now for my weight routine. I took off the training wheels and have moved to free weights. (where all the hot men are lol) Melissa

Congrats !!!!!! I'm stuck at the moment, and getting weak with the will power. I can eat whatever...I defiently need a fill. Going to ask for one next Tuesday when I go...maybe they can get it scheduled before i go to SF. Melissa

Me me, though still haven't gotten my ornament...lol, might be kathy's plan B, I'm working or training all week and friday I'm doing two shifts at the daycare...some one shoot me now. LOL Melissa

I wish I could stay even longer now listening to all the suggestions. If anyone would be intrested in meeting up while there, we are staying at the hotel palmino on 4th street. We are going to be there from the 8th-11th...well hubby is going to be there longer, but I'm taking a redeye back home to the kids. lunch is going to work best for me, since I will be on my own during the day, but with hubby's group at night. Melissa

Hehehe so see Kathy you are a whole step ahead of ME! LOL Melissa

la la la....All I want for christmas is my lapband date....my lapband date....la la la la la Melissa