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Cindy, she is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I agree with Kat, do the full shot for the invites. I love both head shots so it's hard to pick. Which is more HER? Go with that one! Tracy, lots of hugs and wishes for a great night of sleep! Kat, have a nice chat with DH! Okay, new pup is re-named Paige. Here is a pic. There are more of FB.

Tracy, that's why I love this thread and everyone on it. So much support! Thank you! Suzanne, ugh w/the sis! Great job on the WL. FANTASTIC news with the scan! Hernia is no good, get it fixed! Kat, what a mess! Sorry about how you're feeling! Take care of yourself. ~~~~~ Okey dokey. Well, here is a layout of my day so far. Since it's not yet 5PM, well, there's still a lot of time left in the day! GOD help me! LOL!! Woke up this AM - no power! Dogs are up, so I get up. Power's back about noon. I called the vet this AM about "Daisy," the stray dog. No word from the owners and they called and left messages again this morning. We head in to town to run errands and grab some lunch. And make our way to the vet. Turns out the "lady" who owned her said they hadn't had her for about 6 months. Her husband gave her away and she doesn't know to who and they don't want her back. Dog is about 8 months old, so she's lying! Anyway. We brought Daisy with us and she has a new collar and we'll see about keeping her. DD has decided she's ours. DH thinks we're fostering til the ASPCA can find a new home for her. Me? I don't know! When it's just me, it's going to be tough but I like her and don't mind if she stays. We'll see. DH says we need to change her name. He hates Daisy. Oh and it's snowing now! Have a great night!

Happy night everyone! Cindy, great pics. I love strawberries too! Actually, our whole family loves them! Hi Suzanne! Tracy, thank you for that. I was reading a lot of what I've been feeling lately. We CAN do this! Kat, hang in there, Hon! This is going to be rough. You will get thru this! Hugs! How are you feeling? Better, I hope! Jenn, so glad you checked in! Sounds like everything is going well! ~~~~~ Feeling marginally better. Feels like things are getting loosened up and moving. Got a call from the hospital and I'm all admitted and paid for for my surgery. So excited! Can't wait to have all of that garbage out of me! I wish I could see it. It'd be interesting to see what they find, if anything. Storm came in and it's been raining pretty good since about 4. Hoping we get snow! We'll see in the AM! Have a great Monday!

Kat, try some Delsym Cough syrup. Usually find it in the kids section. Works wonders. The orange is a little nasty. I think it's too sweet and a friend just says it's nasty and won't touch it again! The grape flavor is a little better. Anyway. Helps a lot. Also, a teaspoonful of honey coats the throat and helps with that sometime too. Been up since 7! And we've been out and about already and it's only a little after 1 here. A small dog showed up at DH's fire station Thursday night. Has been hanging around since. Will run across the street to Rec Point every time it hears a car b/c she's looking for her people. Poor thing. So. DH and I are talking and we've got this beg snow storm coming in Sunday night into Monday. We are worried about the poor thing. So he and I talked and decided we'd bring it home til we could find a home for it. :confused: They had to take the engine in to town this AM to get fuel for the rig and they stopped by the feed store b/c they were hosting a canine adoption day with the SPCA. I, in the meantime had called out vet to see of they could look at her today b/c she wasn't coming into my house if she had something! DD and I go get the dog. Cute, sweet and a little shy at first. Loved DD. Take her to the vet. DH is at the feed store and they want to see her when we're done. Vet scanned her and she had a microchip!! AND the people are LOCAL!!!! The receptionist left messages at all of their phone numbers and they are keeping her for the weekend. They will call and let me know what happens. We told them that if the people deny her or never call back, then we will pick her up and "foster" her til we can find her a home. Ummm, yea, once the dog is here, it ain't leavin'!!!!! LOL!!! DD has already decided that she is her dog and we'll be picking her up next week b/c the people won't take her back! A friend of mine just lost his dog tragically and I'm trying to get him to foster her. I thing they both need each other. We'll see what happens. I hope that her people just lost her and they're out looking for her and worried but I really have the feeling that they dumped her. She had NO collar at all and DH's station is on the rec side of the lake. We'll see. Oh and her name is Daisy!

Thanks, Suzanne! I'll remember that! Kat, so sorry about son. He's being a brat! Tracy, I hope you feel better soon! Sorry I shared! ~~~~~ The doc called me yesterday and ordered some antibiotics for me. Only problem was that I was too sick to even try to get IN the truck, let alone drive it! Called DH to ask him what I should do and he said he'd call me back in a minute. He called his Chief to see if they could take the engine in to town (out of his initial response area) to go get my meds for me. Chief said go for it! That was so nice! DD was a pain in the butt! She lost 2 movies AND her DVD player! The little brat! She's usually so helpful and sweet when I'm sick. I don't know where this little monster came from. Hope it goes back home soon and my sweet baby comes back! Anyway, today I at least feel human. I probably don't look or smell human but I don't much care. I'll take a long hot shower tomorrow when DH gets home. I just can't trust DD right now, even for that! :biggrin: Well, off to catch up on FB if that's even possible! Later!

Uh-oh! Long distance cooties! Sorry about that! Tho if it's any consolation, I've lost a couple of pounds this week! Thanks, Cindy! I will follow orders, I promise. I have no desire to cause anything to go wrong with this. Just can't wait to be on the other side of all of this garbage!!

Thank you so very much, Kat! You have no idea how much I appreciate your insight and advice. I am taking it seriously even through my estatic state! LOL!! If you think of anything, please let me know. I'm open to all suggestions, ideas, hints, etc!!!! When I told my gyno of my 6 week, 10lb lifting restriction with band surgery, he was surprised at how drastic it was! My biggest thing will be getting all the church books, payroll and bills done ahead of time as much as possible. I'll just work it like I'm headed out of town and won't have my computer. That has worked in the past. I would have thought that once it sunk in I would be freaking out but I seriously just can't wait! I'm very confident and figure it's in God's hands. Just like when I had my band surgery. I've got a lot to do in the next couple of weeks! :smile2:

Thanks Ladies! I'm figuring it will be much like band surgery was in the way of restrictions and such. DD is pretty independent and even buckles herself in to her carseat now! We check if of course. She got her own breakfast this morning and tends to do the same anytime she's hungry. And she loves to help. She's going to be great! I am Blessed that Michael will be off-duty until that Thursday and he is going to see if he can take that shift off to be home with us. He also does most of the laundry and he cooks too! He also shops. He's great! I've been thinking and if MIL can take that day off, we can drop DD at their house in the AM and then pick her up when it's time to go home. They are talking about doing it all without flaying me open. I'm hoping to go home that night but I may have to stay a day or two. I am so excited! Now I just hafta get over this damn bug I've got!!! Tracy, great job on day 4!!!!

Holy Carp! Looks like my surgery will be on Monday, APRIL 26th!!! Now I gotta find someone to stay with DD! :smile2:

Hi y'all Proud of you Tracy! Cindy, it's good to see you. How's the kid doing? Suzanne, enjoy your evening. Kat, you always have such great insight and sympathy! I'm okay. Sorta. Wish DH could take tomorrow off but it's not possible. :mad: We all spent some time outside this afternoon. I sat on my butt while DD played and DH worked. Brought the dogs out with us and put Reggie on the lead line and Dakota on a long leash and looped her to a chair. They did great and enjoyed themselves. They just ate their dinner and are pooped out! LOL! It'll be so nice out there once it's all done. It's supposed to be another nice day tomorrow so I think I'll do the same thing again. All I have to do is sit and watch while the others wear themselves out! :thumbup: Have a good night.

Kat, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling a little better. Sounds like things ARE headed in the right direction. Suzanne, see? You ARE a nice person. Not everyone can handle "dealing" with a person like Daniel. Maybe he can help you in the yard when he's in the mood to hang out! And how wonderful that you could do NOTHING for a full 4 hours!! Tracy, what's hunger? Get off your butt and go for a walk! LOL!!!! You CAN resist!!!!! As for me, well saw the doc. He swabbed for Strep. I'll get results later. He sent me home with tylenol liquid w/codeine and 2 different inhalers. He wants to make sure my chest stays clear. I am tightening up a little but not real bad. So, that's it. Have a great night.

I hope Jenn's first week at work goes well! Kat, hope you are resting and feeling better. Suzanne, what WILL you do with yourself? Oh my!! Enjoy! Tracy, best wishes on your eating. Seeing the Doc today instead. Changed my appt last night. Every time I swallow if feels like I'm being stuck with a knife on the right side. I'm miserable! I've tried hot, cold, warm, lozenges, etc. and nothing is helping. I see him at 2 so I'll let you know what he says. Have a great day!

Kat, feel better soon! Suzanne, you are not heartless!!! Has your sis been evaluated for an addiction to pain meds? Just asking. Maybe a psych ward is the perfect place for her right now! Take care! Soup was great! Couldn't eat much. Throat is killing me! I'll see the doc on Wednesday AM. I need to get clearance from him for my surgery anyway. I'll just take care of both at the same time. 'Night!

Oh Kat! I sure hope you can get some help from the Doc and feel better soon! I'm fighting a sore throat. Hi to everyone! Have a great day!

A Blessed Easter to y'all!!! HE IS RISEN! Have a wonderful day! Off to the IL's soon.

Well, we made it outside! Whoohoo! Got the area cleared for the dog kennels. And DH is getting a bunch of tree stuff burned. Any of the small stuff that we can't put in the wood stove or fireplace. Some of it's rotten too so that's going in the burn pile. All I need to move is the potting bench. Not sure where it's going to go now. Or if we even need it anymore. It just gets piled up with junk and then I can't use it! I don't think I've ever used it to pot a plant! DH made it years ago out of redwood so the thing weighs a ton! Takes both of us to move it! Storm is coming in. Sun peeked out for a few minutes then went back to hiding. DD and I came in to get something to eat so I figured I get on the computer while I was waiting for her to finish. If I don't get on in the AM, please have a Blessed Easter!!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!

Congratulations Jenn!!!!!! Is the whole thing due to the fact that you have a relative who works there? That's what it sounds like. Kat, wow! What a lot of work! We're hoping to get back outside today to keep working on the side yard. It's looking like rain again so not sure if we're going to be able to get out there. And it's cold. I hope you're feeling better soon! Not much news here. If we're stuck inside today then it's more laundry to get done. Otherwise it's back outside. Have a great day!

A Blessed Good Friday to y'all! A sad (Jesus dies), yet Glorious (he dies for US) day. Getting some laundry done. I despise doing laundry. I guess if I want clean underwear for tomorrow, then I'd better do laundry. The 2nd load is running right now. Did all the bath/kitchen towels. Now doing a huge load of whites. Next is the darks but I'm not sure I"m going to get to those today. There are 2 loads of those. Yuck! I used to hate having my laundry in the kitchen at the old house, now I'm thinking it wasn't such a bad idea! This house the laundry is down a flight of stairs, out in the garage. It's friggin' cold out there! The soap doesn't want to come out of the bottle or out of the cup b/c it's so cold! LOL! Had our dog trainer friend over yesterday. OMG!!!! What a difference one session does. For all of us! DD did better than mama and papa combined! Dogs did fantastic! Mama and papa have a lot of homework! LOL!!! She's going to come back again in a couple of weeks. Can't wait! My mom had all of her pre-op stuff done yesterday, meeting with the team, etc. Her back surgery is scheduled for Tues. the 13th. It will be a nerve-wracking day. I wasn't going to go up b/c I have to be back on Wed so DH can go to work but I'm thinking I'm going anyway. My step-dad will be there of course but at least we can wait together! My thought is to leave everyone here at home and head up Mon PM, then head home Wed PM. We'll see what's going on by then. Tonight we're have green chili chicken enchiladas. I've grated a ton of cheese already and chopped up the olives. I'm going to go cook up the chicken and onion. Making enchiladas is a messy process so if I can get a lot of the prep done now and cleaned up, all we have to do is assemble them and pop them in the oven to heat thru. Off to get a snack then start cooking. Have a great rest of the day!

Hi! Kat, neither!! LOL! Poured rain today. Snow expected tomorrow night with lots more rain this week and then starts up again next week. DH is mad b/c he's on vacation this week and had all these plans for stuff outside, like getting the kennels moved and set up as well as at least marking for the new fence. Ummm, yea, not happening right now. Sooooo, he and DD went with me to Fresno for my appt w/my gyno. We are going to do the full hysterectomy. Looking at within the next couple of months. I go see him again on the 20th for a good talk and a couple of exams. He's hoping the new surgery schedule will be out by then and we can go ahead and schedule it. We'll see. In the meantime, I'm going to talk to my herbalist about what I need to get on-board now for any menopausal "issues" I might have after surgery. I am NOT doing HRTs!!!! Ideally I should only be down a week or 2 after surgery but if they have to open me up, then I'm looking at 6-8 weeks of recovery. I'm going to have to find some help. DH won't be able to get any time off and I'm not waiting til the end of fire season to do this. I'm kinda thinking about having DD's babysitter (and best friend's DD) move in with us on the days DH is at work. She can keep DD occupied and we may just board the dogs with my trainer friend. Need WAY more info before I really start making plans but I'm one to always start doing that when there is a possible... whatever that might happen. LOL!! Anyway, that's where I'm at right now. Cindy, it's good to "see" you! Hi to everyone!!! Hugs!

Hi y'all! Busy day! Good one tho. We cleaned up the area where the wood lean-to is next to the wood shed. Moved my container garden to that spot. It was out front where you saw it as you walked up to the house. Not bad but it's in a chain-link dog kennel that we've had for more than 20 years. Kinda ugly but it serves it's purpose which is to keep the deer from decimating my garden!!! We're cleaning up that whole area and re-arranging it b/c the dogs' kennels are going out that way. Off of that area we are then going to fence in part of the property to make a dog/play yard. From the back to the front, along-side of the house this was the layout: wood lean-to, wood shed, potting bench, recycle cans, BBQ, table/chair set, sandbox, garden. Now it's going to be: potting bench & recycle cans, garden, wood-shed, kennels, BBQ, table/chairs, sandbox, log swing. If you are standing with your back to the house, the potting bench is to the far left with the swing to the far right. Behind that is where the yard is going to go. Part of the fencing will be the kennels. Don't know if any of that makes sense! Oh and now I've got 6 SOAKED bales of straw that we need to somehow move and dispose of! They are SO heavy. They are falling apart when we try to move them even tho they're still tied. We were going to use them for a compost pile edging but we can't now. Bummer! Supposed to get more snow and rain this week. Looking forward to it. Will be working at the yarn shop again on Wednesday. I enjoy it! Getting my teeth cleaned in the AM. I'm sore!!!! 'Night!

Hi Ladies! Sorry I haven't checked in in awhile. Things have been crazy around here. Worked this week for my friend at the yarn shop. She trained me on Sunday and Monday for all of about 3 hours total and then I was on my own starting Tuesday AM! It all went well and I was able to fake my way through things. I really enjoyed it! Too bad she can't pay me! LOL! It looks like I might get some classes and supplies out of it though and that would be totally cool! I'm tired though! Not used to HAVING to be anywhere on a regular basis and then actually having to WORK! LOL! The days are only 10-4 during the week but still. Today was CRAZY but fun. Only problem I'm having at this point is not walking out with a TON of yarn!! We got a huge shipment yesterday and restocked shelves today and I kept seeing stuff I wanted to take home with me! Like a kid in a candy store!!! Oh! BTW, I caved and activated my account at FB. I didn't realize I was signing up under my real full name when I did it, so I freaked out and suspended my account. My yarn shop friend convinced me to go for it and how to fix all of the privacy settings, so I went for it. PM me if you want my name in order to "friend" me! Seems so... I don't know... strange, I guess. Anyway. Things are fine at home. Reggie is a great dog except for a couple of things and I'm hoping my trainer friend can help us with that. I'm sure she can. Well, I'm tired and need to do some computer stiff before heading to bed. 'Night!

Suzanne, so sorry about your cousin. I am glad that the funeral and time after was wonderful. They can be blessings or nightmares! Glad this was in the Blessing category! Sorry about the snow! Kat, your family is in my prayers. Hang in there! Suzy, are you feeling better? Jenn, so excited for you! Congrats!!! Tracy, a part time job wouldn't be bad if it can be flexible! ~~~~~ So. Checking in! Migraine tonight but it was to be expected. Yesterday was long and busy and I was actually expecting it last night. Didn't pop up til today! I was still productive today tho! Cleaned out most of my closet. All but 1 little section of long hanging stuff. I have to try stuff on and by then I was DONE and hungry! LOL! Left it for another day. I have 2 large trash bags of shoes and t-shirts to go to the dump. All stuff I should have thrown away a long time ago!!! And no, none of it I would give to charity. Not good enough! Reggie is doing well. Finding his place in the family. He is getting a little pissy with me once in awhile. He's trying to dominate me and I won't let him. We're working it out! :frown: He's really a great dog, just learnin'!! Okay, so once again I hit the low 190s. Way ticked off about it! Got an idea the other day and I'm hoping it works. I've only used it for 3 days and it seems to be helping some. I bought a small dry erase board at the store the other day. On it I write every single thing I put in my mouth. Whether it's food or drink. EVERYTHING! It's on the fridge door so I can't cheat! At night, before I go to bed, I look at it again. Every single thing on it, then I wipe it clean so when I get up in the AM, I'm starting with a "clean slate" for the new day. So. Drama in my extended life and y'all know I LOVE drama! NOT! My new friend that owns the yarn shop I go to? Well, the gal that's been working the shop on Tuesdays & Thursdays wasn't really an employee. They were exchanging services. My friend charged NOTHING for this gal to take care of the shop 2 days a week and she sold her own knitting stuff and held classes. For FOUR YEARS!!!!! There have been rumors in town for a couple of weeks that a new yarn shop was going to open! Huh?! We don't have ROOM for another one and the one we have is barely making it! The 2 days that my friend was away from the shop? Was for a part time job to help pay her bills. The shop is supporting itself but it can't support her right now!!!! So this gal WALKS OUT ON HER YESTERDAY with only a NOTE that she was leaving!!!!! Turns out this gal is the one who's opening up the new shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend is barely staying open at this point. The economy has hit her hard. I offered her my FREE services Ts & THs until she can figure out what she's going to be doing. She can't keep closing the shop or she is for sure going to end up closing! I don't care about getting paid, I'd just like to get out of the house. I can also learn from her and about yarn and stuff. And maybe, if I'm lucky, she'll offer me a bit of yarn and some classes or something. Don't care if I get anything tho. I just found her, I don't want to lose her now!!!!! I have a class with her on Sunday. I told her I can stay after everyone leaves if she wants to talk about it. We'll see. If you could put Mary in your prayers, I'd appreciate it! She's on her own and it's rough. Oh! AND she's been sicker than a dog for more than a week now! Can we say, "stress??!!!" Thanks y'all! Gotta go! Have a beautiful weekend!!!!

What a beautiful morning! Rained all night, about and inch and a quarter, then woke up to SUN this AM! So pretty with everything wet and bright. Plan on getting out for another walk today. Been doing it everyday. Reggie is getting better on the leash. Not too bad taking both dogs. DD needs some training tho! LOL! She was a pain in the butt yesterday! Counteracting EVERYTHING I was trying to do with the new dog!!! Timeouts weren't working. Finally about 7 I threatened to put her to bed b/c I was SICK OF IT!!! I had a raging headache and honestly, it was due to her! I know, it sounds horrible and I hate that I'm even saying it, but darn it!, it's true!!! UGH!!! Anyway, praying/hoping today is MUCH better! Oh! A friend of mine has a yarn shop and she was mentioning in an e-mail that she might be looking for new help. I offered. Told her to be honest if she didn't think it would be a good idea b/c I know NOTHING about yarn! But if she was willing to teach me, I'd be willing to learn. I've been thinking about and sorta/kinda but not really looking for a part time job. This would be fun. Especially since I've gotten into crocheting. Could be bad too b/c I see yarn there all the time that I want but I don't have a project for it so I make myself pass it up til I can think of something to do with it! LOL! Anyway, we'll see if something comes of it or not. Gotta go! Have a beautiful day!!!

Hi Ladies! Busy but taking a few minutes to check in. Things are fine here. Reggie is learning the ropes. We didn't realize, tho, how bad Dakota had gotten. At 36 lbs she's easy to manage but boy, trying to take a walk with both of them today, and other than Reggie pulling, Dakota was a pain in the butt! I did it tho! Teagan took the loop for Reggie's leash so she thought she was helping and they were on my left, stronger side, I had Dakota on my right. Felt good to get out there and walk. It's a workout with Reg pulling so hard but it's b/c he just wants to GO and no one has told him "no, he has to wait and walk with us." a VERY small part of me wishes I was a runner, he would be great to run with!!! Dropped DD off at preschool this AM and had time to kill before my hair cut. Went over to a coffehouse that's newly owned. I love that place! It's one of those places that a gang of you can go in and hang out and have coffee/eat/whatever, or go by yourself and read, play on the internet, have coffee or eat or both, or meet friends there and play some board games or knit or whatever. Anyway, hadn't been for breakfast yet. Don't do a lot for breakfast usually. It was so good. And I did nothing. Just sat and enjoyed the peace! Then went and got my hair cut and Clay always does a head/temple massage w/the wash. Ahhhhh! Then ran a couple of errands and went to wait for DD to be done as school! So nice! ~~~~~ Suzy, You are doing a great job with Gia. I think you two will be good for each other. It'd be nice if you could have her with you til she ages out of the system. In the meantime, start teaching her how to handle money and cook and pay bills, etc. These kids age out with NO help from the system and no training on how to live on their own. It's a tragedy. That would be a lasting gift you could give her. One that she'd have for the rest of her life. Have her helping in the kitchen, helping with the shopping, picking a meal a week to cook, etc. Have her watch while you pay bills. Show her your system. Budgeting, etc. Make sure she takes some classes in school. Etc. Continued best wishes! ~~~~~ Kat, so glad Rick still has a job for now! As far as sizing pics. It's easy. This is how I do it. I'm on a Mac and running Kodak so I don't know if it's different for you or your program. In Kodak, I click on the pic that I want, then I right-click with the mouse. A drop down menu shows on the pic and you can "save as," I save it to the desktop and you can rename it if you want. It will ask you in the box if you want the pic original, I pick JPEG, then "best for e-mail" then save. It saves it to my desktop as a JPEG and is resized. Then to add a pic, make a new post, in the area right at the top of your post box there is a little paperclip, click on that. It opens a new box and you can "choose file," then upload. Once it's done just click off the box. I always preview my post to make sure it's there b/c it's hard to tell with the little upload box. Avatar would be the same except you're changing your profile. But it's the same process. Good luck! ~~~~~ Tracy, glad you had a great weekend and you are "finding" yourself again! Hard to give something up that you like but know is not good for you! ~~~~~ Jenn, happy birthday! Tuesday was DH's b-day too! ~~~~~ Suzanne, I'm so glad things have freed up for you! I swear by Chia Seeds. Yes, the dumb little plant growing things you see on TV at Christmas and Easter. Comes in a tub. I add a scoop to my oatmeal, yogurt, whatever. Start gradually, you can have bad gas pains if you don't. I started with a tablespoon once a day til I got used to it, then kept adding until I got up to the scoop which is 3 tablespoons. It has kept me regular since I started it! Nothing else was working very well. Your local health food store should have it or be able to get it for you. Heck, it might be in the natural foods section at your grocery store too! Look for it. Has a lot of great things in it for you besides the needed fiber. ~~~~~ Cindy, so frightening for you! I hope things are better or getting changed so it can be better. You having to medicate before school is not right! And it's not healthy for you! Take good care and keep us updated. I worry! Hugs! ~~~~~ Okay, gotta go. It's gotten quiet. Could mean they're all asleep or they're in to something they shouldn't be! Gotta check! Lots of hugs and love to all of ya!!!

Hi! Quick check in. I've got lots of work today with a deadline. Blech! It's quiet right now. Just me and the dogs and they're out on the deck! Dakota actually PLAYED with Reggie this AM! Too funny! Shout outs later! Love ya guys!