Apples2

Great...I never take my Christmas things down until the week after NY. While growing up, the rule was Jan 6. Since we have so much to do b/4 we go south, I needed to get it organized and put away. I am so picky about the house whenever I leave it. Clean undies and a clean house should I not make it back. DS and GF will most likely be the only ones in the house but feel better leaving things in order. I am sure you are so relieved that things turned out the way they did with DD. Happy you had a nice Christmas. Your sisters not calling just reaffirm their selfish ways. Try to blow it off. Also, let this Christmas (that you did not have at your home) be the start of many great Christmas' to come. Whether it be at your home, your children's homes or relative's homes, what counts is that you were able to be together. It's tough sometimes when traditions are broken but it only opens the door for new ones to be made. If your tradition is to leave your Christmas decorations up into Jan, do it. Enjoy some evenings with DH and the Christmas tree lights. I cried when I took my trees down because I needed to do it early. But, there's next year.

Peaches....forgot to ask...where are you travelling to???? Any place exciting?????

Hey to all....went missing for a bit. Was focused on getting some things done. Got all three trees dismantled and decorations put away. Tote after tote hauled to the basement storeroom. And, as long as I was doing that, decided to give it a good cleaning and reorganization. Took me ALL day yesterday and into the evening. Got a good workout but don't notice an ache or pain today. So strange...now that I'm at a healthier weight, I could do any physical workout and not be stiff or sore. Not sure why but appreciate it. We've had some crap weather over the weekend but sunny today. Supposed to be in the 30's on Thursday. We are just hoping for a storm-free window when it comes to taking off for AZ. I am just not good at being couped up and especially in a hotel room. I spent so many nights in hotel rooms in MPLS when I had my business (training/education seminars) that I can hardly stand the thought of staying in them any more. Cheri....you have such a way with your posts in explaining your feelings. I was telling DH a couple of weeks ago. "This lady is a walking medical dictionary". Don't have to google anything that comes up on the thread...I know Cheri will pop in with the explanation. Great way to wrap-up your feeling on life with DH. My DH has absolutely no passive/aggressive tendencies and appreciate it. Not a total saint and there are a few things that drive me crazy but not going to trade him in any time soon. He has a hell of a time keeping track of things (paperwork, wallet, keys, shoes, belts) but I was able to step in and keep those things organized. I am extremely independent and did not lose the ability to keep that throughout of 31 yrs of marriage. I attribute most of being able to remain independent because of our mutual respect for the other and wanting the other to have a life with friends other than our couples friends. DH has few really good friends that he gets out with and travels with. Good for me cuz a couple of the wives are pills and it is just plain painful to sit through a dinner with them. I don't feel that way about most of the wives...just a couple and will come up with any excuse to send him on his way without me if possible. Can only beat my head against the wall so many times trying to make small talk with ppl I have nothing in common with. He feels the same way about a couple of my friends that drive him crazy. I will gladly not put him in a situation where he has to attend anything I do with those friends. And, I agree with him when he complains that they are self-centered and tough to be around. But, they have been a friend for so many years that I am used to their ways and I love them. It is tough to find "couples" friends. We feel very fortunate for the ones we have and have some great times together. I am daring and throw new couples into the mix when we have parties. Sometimes there is comfort right off the bat and other times you can sense the tension. Always worth a try. Tina...sorry for your relationship troubles. But, a person cannot live life with someone with constant conflict. There's so much more to life. You need to find peace...even if you are on your own. Do you have a therapist that you can rely on during these trying times? Might be worth a few sessions during this time and until you feel you have your feet firmly on the ground again. Hugs. On Christmas day I went shopping (internet). I got some really good deals. Found some great gifts for next Christmas and for some upcoming bridal and babies showers next spring. The Christmas gifts I found are mostly pj's, slippers, games....things like that. The extras I throw in for kids like stuffed animals. Was fun and am hoping they all show up b/4 we leave. Otherwise, DS will be left with taking care of it. Sounds like everyone had a great Christmas (Tina sorry again yours was not what you would have wanted/needed). Not sure what or if we will do for NYE. There are parties to go to an an overnight at a hotel with a bunch of lake friends but our decision will be based on the weather. Really not excited about doing anything this year. Just want to wrap up what we have to do and hit the road....looks like it will be about the 7th. Later than we wanted but cannot get our January contract corn hauled till then. Thought I had better check in b/4 you all sent someone out to look for me. Will check in later. Back to work.

That article is sooooooooooo cool, Janet. I bet it was just so great to come across that article today. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Ours was very quite but good. Love to all

I've been without a computer.....virus but got it fixed. I surprised myself that I could do it. Just want to pop on and wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Thanks to all who shared their Christmas stories with us. We had a wonderful day yesterday. Was just the best. Lori...happy to hear your DD and baby are doing better. I am sure it will be tough for you to leave her. Just enjoy the time you have and try not to worry. Love to all!

Lori...hoping things have settled down for DD and she will be home to spend Christmas Eve with you.

Just got an email from Lori. She sounded so sad. She left the hospital to leave DD and her DS to be alone together. Was tough for her because she stated she is used to taking care of DD. Docs have changed the med because contractions are still coming. She is dialated to 1 and cervix is shortened. Lori sounds really scared. She can read our posts but cannot post. Please send out your loving messages to her and when you lay your head on the pillow tonight, throw in a couple extra prayers.

Good Evening All...OMG...so much to catch up on. Will I ever be forgiven for being so absent lately? I do read every word but have not had the opportunity lately to respond like I would like to. Cheri...all I can say keep showing the love without being too pushy. As you know, we have had our share of trying to figure out a kids for the last few months. I can tell you that backing off and respecting their wishes (short term) when they tell you they don't want to talk really does work. I respected and left ALL of the talking up to him. He couldn't stand it that momma wasn't yacking all the time when he saw me. But, I made sure he got a couple of "I love you and miss you" when I talked to him by text, phone or in person. Just back off a bit if you can and throw a love in once in awhile. A little touch or a rub on the back to DD. I know how tough this is for you and my heart breaks for you. Hang in there. For some freaking reason, I cannot get my text to be anything but a 1 or 2. I have tried everything....sorry Cheri. Had a WONDERFUL lunch with DS. Had to do a little mention of certain boundries and then things went smoothly. Spent quite a few hours with him. Got a nice hug and kiss. A person never knows how things will turn out in life and all I can do is show some love and be me. Took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to drive the 70 miles home. Deep, unplowed snow and very little visibility. I was still shaking 15 minutes after I got home. Many cars and trucks in the ditch and a came across a couple of accidents. One looked not good. Came home and made my chili and salad for tomorrow. Both turned out really good. Had to have a bowl of each and now feel like I over-did it. I spaced them out a couple of hours so know I didn't. Made the chili out of ground turkey, wild rice, black Beans, diced tomatoes, garbonzo beans, orange, red and green peppers. The salad I made is blackberries, blueberries, strawberries with SF cheesecake pudding mix, SF strawberry Jello (dry), greek yogurt, and FF Cool Whip. We have a house full of diabetics tomorrow. Tina....I feel like I have ignored you the last couple of days. Not intentional. I am usually the one hanging around and junking up the thread and getting crap about it from most. (love it). I did read all your posts and just want to let you know that I am looking forward to following you on this exciting journey as I am sure the others on the thread are also. Please stick around for support and friendship. We are a close group but a very welcoming one when it comes to newbies. Actually, to tell the truth...we are a bunch of clucking hens that just love to take ppl under our wings. TX...happy to see you sticking around also. You balance out the group. Got a text from Lori and DD is still having contractions and on labor stopping meds. Prayers said. Phyll...happy you are having a good time with family. We always missed DH's folks the couple of years they did not make it home for Christmas. Not the same. Julie...it is such a relief to read your posts and to know you are not in the kind of pain that caused you such an upset in your life. Have a wonderful Christmas and hoping it is pain free. LauraK....I am sure you are at the airport by now. Have the best time with your DD and DS. OK...time for cleaning up the kitchen. We will be gone all day tomorrow but home on Christmas day. Movie marathon for DH and I. I will check in tomorrow but just want to wish you all the best Christmas ever. May it be wonderful and peaceful and a time to share with loved ones. Take the time to let each one of them know what they mean to you. I love you all and am sending a warm HOLIDAY HUG to each and everyone of my friends. We have such a mix of personalities and I am so impressed by the acceptance and respect we show to each other on a daily basis. I wish for all of you to have peace in your hearts and to feel the love from the ones you spend these special days with. Love, Karen

Just got home and found an email Great had sent a little after 8am this morning. She asked me to send out for prayers for her DD. She went into premature labor. She is in hospital. Gosh....I feel so bad with things like this. Later.

Awwwww

Cheri...funny story about DH going to the car. I am more than happy to have a DH that is the farthest thing from passive/aggressive. But it's a well known fact in our house....he could sleep hanging on a nail. Nothing can wake him. Your DH must be a person that is on edge. Mine is the most calm person I know. Probably a good thing with me being on the other side of the scale. Somehow I just knew you would have something to add to my "Fart Flu" story. And, I must have missed Janet's post on being happy you joined the thread. Gotta tell you...me too. I have learned so much. You are a walking medical dictionary at times and I am facinated with the extent of your knowledge. Heck, I don't have to do any research...just wait for a post from Cheri. Whatever Janet said about being happy to have you on the thread...I ditto that.

Sandi...not really complaining. We have not had a virus between the two of us for such a long time. My immune system must be the best it can be cuz I think it's been 6-7 yrs since feeling anything close to having a bug. This is actually pretty mild (kind of) and just annoying. We are VERY relieved that specialist felt comfortable with just numbers recheck. With everything we have had going on lately, those high numbers just made the worries seem worse. Hey Jodi...good to hear from you and cute that Dazzi is facenated by the cards. Hey....don't worry about not sending cards. This is a guilt-free thread. Tell me.....what do you do during the Christmas holidays? Eva...unbelievable the number of cards you make and send out. I loved the one I got from you. Lots of work but doing things like that can be sooooo rewarding. I used to make all of our cards. Need to get back into that again....I truly enjoyed it. AZ is looking better every day. So much snow and cold already this winter. DS and DH spent all of yesterday morning up on the roof removing snow so that it would not do damage to our roof. Had to medicate Tanker as he thought it was thunder and went nuts. Poor baby. You are just going to fall in love with him as I am sure I will Glimmer. If it works for you, let's take a couple of days and drive out west...I'll drive. Nothing like inviting ourselves. Laura....Have the best Christmas EVER. I could hardly get through your post. I know exactly what you are thinking and feeling. Went through that with "Mom"....but you know what? She was around for quite a few more holidays. Point is...live in the moment. Be you.....that's what mom and dad are relying on. Love you. Going out for a Christmas lunch with youngest DS tomorrow and looking forward to it. Unable to be with us for Christmas so going to make the most of it. coffee with a friend early in the morning and then have about an hour drive to meet him for lunch. We spend the day with "Mom's" family on Christmas Eve. Usually get there about 11am and stay till 11pm. It's always the best day of the year. Lots of little ones and a new baby this year. They serve oyster stew for lunch (Blech) and I usually make a stew or chicken chili or something like that. My family is not into oyster stew. Anyone have a one pot wonder that I could make that would be different than what I have made in the past years? I was tempted to make my fish stew (DH says it's to die for and I really love it also). Any ideas? As you can notice, I didn't take notes and can barely remember what was said in posts the last couple of days. But, no guilt. Phyll...there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home. So happy DH made it to WA. Enjoy the family. I imagine Great has left home by now. Lori...hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family. Enjoy this special time with your pregnant DD. I am so looking forward to the day of looking forward to a grand anything. I'll even be satisfied with a grandpuppy if that's all the boys can muster. I gotta get some photos taken tomorrow of the Christmas house (mine) and share them with you. But, worries me that Laura could not post a photo and no one had advice on how to do it. I have posted since the update...have things changed????? I have a question for all......and, since we have not had a "Topic of the Day" on the thread for quite some time the question is: If you could change one thing in this world of ours, what would it be? Mine would be that there would never be a child that would ever have to suffer the affects of being born into poverty, abuse or neglect.

Gonna just post this....the reason we are so "busy" at our house is that we have some kind of bug we both came down with on the way to doctor. We couldn't get home fast enough. I think we have Cheri's "Fart Flu" that she had a few weeks ago. Not a good things. We are making sure we are nowhere close to any open flames

Hey All...no time to post tonight but just wanted to let you know we just got home from DH's appt and things are OK. Just going to follow up with re-tests. Exam showed no abnormalties like the blood work showed. So for now just going to keep an eye on it all and see how the numbers are. Thanks to all. I have been feeling so horrible lately for posting mostly the negatives in our lives right now. Well, on this thread you always know there is support no matter what and I thank you for that. Will try to get on later but lots going on tonight so maybe not. Sending the love

AFmom....first of congrats on your success. You have done an amazing job of taking the weight off. As far as not following your doc's rules all the time....none of us are perfect. We all need to have a few treats once in awhile so as to not feel deprived. The thing to keep in mind is that you can allow the treats but not let it trigger feelings of being out of control The way I see maintenance is this: Not much different than the weight loss stage...just maybe with a few more calories allowed daily. Once you get to goal you will need to adjust your calories to what you think your body will need to maintain. Good luck to you as you take off that last few lbs and slide into maintenance.

Tina...I think I get where you are coming from on beating yourself up right now. Hold onto hope that these emotions will wane once you get things rolling with having LB surgery. Once you know you will get some help with your band, you will be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that not only can you lose the weight, but the LB will help you to keep it off. But, that all comes with hard work and letting the band help you. I, too, was so angry at myself. I was an average weight and when menopause hit, I started to pile on the weight. (I was someone that would keep things in check. Gain 5lbs and immediately work at getting it off). Well, the more weight I piled on, the more defeated I felt and just gave into it. If you feel that all these emotions are affecting your relationship with your husband and children, make an appt to talk with someone. Our loved ones can handle some of that but when it starts to infiltrate into all we do, it's time to give it over to a professional. I am in hopes that you stick around here for additional support. We really can walk you through some things since we all have been through the process. Hugs.

Sandi...congrats on your certificate. So nice your trainer did that for you. I am sure it was earned by you. You have been working hard. Hugs on the dad issues and trying to coordinate care for him. Not easy.

Joyce...forgot you....I hope this is nothing major with your knee. Keep us informed. Maybe just inflamed and need to rest it????? Hugs

Good Morning... DH and DS are digging me out of the house as we speak. Lots of snow in the yard from yesterday's storm. Not sure how many inches we got but schools are 2 hours late so that ppl can did out and the buses can get to the kids. Running on plowed roads only. I never would have made my first appt this morning so was smart enough to cancel it yesterday. I have a 1:30 dental...just a check on seeing how the completed job is. Cheri...what you are getting sounds like what MPLS was getting at rush hour yesterday. Cars were crawling and just sliding into the medians and ditches on their own. Lots of accidents. I am hoping my roads are better than right now by the time I go. Good luck spending your $$$$. It really would have been nice if you could have set up some educational seminars for yourself. Do the best you can. I know that some of the tension of getting this done and purchasing appropriate items is because you love these kids and are thinking about what they can use best. TX...happy your dad is doing well. Sorry the private parts creeped you out a bit. I am sure that things like that can be overlooked by you in the future if you need to take care of your dad. Just a little tough to get used to if you've never had to do it. My poor DS would be the same. He'd have to put blinders on and care for us without seeing. Can't imagine if he ever had to change an adult diaper. Meredith....breaks my heart about your dog nephew....dogs will take themselves off somewhere. We had that happen with our precious Spotty. I am sure you are in hope that they are able to find him. So sad. Hugs. Arlene...sounds like you have really been struggling. Do what you can to not miss your WW meetings. Maybe get back into your doc and his staff for a visit to see what you can do for yourself. Hugs to you too. Hey Phyll....hope your travels go better today. I know the feeling of the confined space and wanting to throw the spouse out the window while going 75MPH....Count to ten first. LOL. Safe travels. Just wanted to say good morning. Lots going on here today with company coming to dinner and having appt so far away. Have the house spiffed up and ready. That's always my biggest worry...not the food. You all have a great day. Sending the love.

Forgot to add the gifts under the tree question. Each year (after Christmas specials) I buy three different but color coordinated rolls of wrapping paper and 3 different patterns of wide ribbon. I do not put the gifts under the tree because we have a beautiful hand crocheted tree skirt that we don't want to cover up. We place the wrapped gifts off to the side of the tree

Julie...as I have stated b/4, I have 3 Christmas trees. The large tree in the living room has all the ornaments we have collected throughout our marriage. The tree in the kitchen has a "winter" theme with colors that coordinate and the large tree in the basement is decorated with rustic type things. Pine cones picked up in our back yard, wide ribbon and twigs. I was going to take a photo of each after I saw your post but went wild with the camera yesterday and now recharging battery. Will post them later.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DEAR ARLENE AND DH HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU!!!! AND MANY MORE!!!!!!!

Tina...you've come to the right place if you are looking for support. We enjoy when new ppl pop on and stick around for support, advice or just the need to talk about their lives and life with the band. Keep us informed as to your surgery status. Don't hold back when it comes to questions you might want to ask. So sorry you did not get the support you wanted in the chat room. Maybe a little easier on a thread since you are able to explain a little more in detail Welcome and fire away with any questions you might have.

Janet....no diagnosis yet. We are going Wed to get answers on that. And as far as the "hanky panky" goes. Never even thought about that part of it. There's all kinds of lovin'. I have a great imagination...(tmi). We are ready to start a new year. The limbs are about to break on the tree and need a new start. Positive thinking. Hope you don't have 5 days of work piled into 3 but I know how that goes. Have a good one.

Great...have known for about three weeks and Wed was the firs appt with this specialist that he could get in to see him. He is my kidney stone doc and was "Mom's" specialist for her ureter cancer. He was the one that removed her kidney and we feel comfortable with him so worth a little wait. Happy to hear you are flying to Denver this time. Hope you don't get bumped....or are you booking tickets this time? Might be worth it with the holiday flying rush. We have had sooooooooooooooo much snow and bad weather already this winter. Used to it now and can't even whine about it anymore. Just or life on the prairie. My kids came up with the name of Granma Coke(was never without a bottle of Coke in her hand) for my birth mother and Granma Betty for DH's mom. My grandmother was still living when my boys were young. We called her Great Grandma Larkin. Well, they couldn't quite get it and called her "Grape Grama Walkin' "