Hi there. Just wanted to see if I could build a new home with some new (and hopefully old) friends. I do not wanna be 'homeless' anymore so here I am! This is gonna be a place for friends to meet (hopefully) and talk about anything & everything.

My name is Tracy and I live in Deer Park, Texas. I have been married for 6 years. I was banded in April '07. Got 4 pounds away from goal, quit smoking and gained 46-50 pounds back so I am on my journey again. This time as a non-smoker :w00t:

This is a life change and with it comes lifelong friends...wanna come along for the ride? :blushing:

Isn't people watching the BEST? People never cease to amaze me. LOL

VERY busy day... gotta study..thanks for all the good wishes

but family first in my book

DS did something so kind yesterday, that DH and I are beyond shock. SO it shows teenager still have some brains left..lol

:tongue2: well?....inquiry minds (nosey people) want to know. What did DS do? :w00t:

Years ago when my MIL was in the hospital. My 3 SIL's and I were in the hallway right outside of ICU. There was a window sill about a foot off the ground were you could sit. One day while we were waiting the 4 of us were sitting on the sill and it just cracked us up. Non of us were saying anything but our heads were in unisons(sp?) as people walked back and forth. We never made a comment about anyone, we just sat there for about a 1/2 hour watching people.

Got up early and decided to go to the market. They are calling for snow tonight and again on Tuesday, so I thought I would avoid the rush. I got stuff to make a big pot of soup. Came home and fixed some sausage and an egg for my breakfast. The rest of the family is having donuts. :w00t:

Got to get back to my laundry. I'll check in later.

:thumbup: :wow: :woot:

How is that for Water retention?! I now only have five more to go to get back to what my ticker says!

How is everyone today?! I am bringing Macy to a b-day party @ McDonalds today (God give me strength). Other than that, I am just going to run to the grocery store for a few items then come back home and relax.

Hope you all have a very relaxing WARM peaceful day.

Jenn-how was the party?

I have a BIG pot of soup going on the stove. Several months ago, hubby and I were driving to the in-laws and we went by one of those little country stores and stopped by. They had a big display of plastic containers of soup mixes. I have never bought one before and decided to go ahead and try one. You simmer for an hour the contents and than add a few veggies and some beef. Boy, my house smells wonderful. Just hope the soup taste as good.

I have a BIG pot of soup going on the stove. Several months ago, hubby and I were driving to the in-laws and we went by one of those little country stores and stopped by. They had a big display of plastic containers of soup mixes. I have never bought one before and decided to go ahead and try one. You simmer for an hour the contents and than add a few veggies and some beef. Boy, my house smells wonderful. Just hope the soup taste as good.

Is that what I smell? yummmm :thumbup:

hi girls , sorry haven't been on but been really busy. how everyone had a nice thanksgiving . well i won't be on for about a week going for my lapband tues. the best birthday present i could get a new life. gtg tc all see u soon yweety

Brenda, Good Luck with getting you Band. I agree, it is the best present you can give yourself. Please keep us posted.

Yes Tracy, you do smell it. And it was very good. However, I think next time I will leave the cabbage out. There would still be plenty of veggies in it.

See you all tomorrow. Night.

LOL Suzanne, everytime I add cabbage to something I always say I won't the next time! I like cabbage raw---as in cole slaw, or just a wedge of cabbage. And I even like the occasional sour kraut. We do a german new years dish of pork and sour kraut that is delicious. But I don't care for egg rolls or want cabbage cooked any other way!

Nothing like being picky! LOL

Rick and I watched football, and Desperate Housewives this evening, doing nothing! Snuggling in with the fire.

The weather guy on TV is forecasting hurricane force winds and snow. Sounds lovely.....NOT!

Putting on a crock pot of Beans, at Ricks request. Then tomorrow I will make a pot of homemade red chile to go with it.

At the store today, I bought stuff to make a couple pots of soup, and some meat loaf, so if need be, I can hole up for a week or so, and eat way the hell too much!!! LOL

Well I need to go turn off our lights---will check in tomorrow, if the hurricane winds allow it! It is cold out, but nice and calm, it makes me wonder whether it will really change that drastically, or if the guy is all washed up!!! Time will tell!

Morning all

Party was good, I'm exhausted and realized yesterday I have not taken a happy pill in 3 days. Out of site out of mind with me, well, i went to take one and that was all that was left.

Anyway, cried most of yesterday for no real reason. Ok maybe a little reason, feel fat and have family court next week. I can't wait for my fill on Thursday. I can eat and I am because I'm emotional eating

ok have a good day, i'll check in later. going to get ready to go and get kids up

hi girls , sorry haven't been on but been really busy. how everyone had a nice thanksgiving . well i won't be on for about a week going for my LAP-BAND® tues. the best birthday present i could get a new life. gtg tc all see u soon yweety

:woot: I am SO excited for you! Please stay in touch with us. Maybe you can let some of newly banded excitement trickle here to us! This is the beginning of your lifelong journey. It will not always be easy. Just remember the band is a tool to help you accomplish your goals, not a cure. It still takes alot of will power. You are going to do GREAT! We are all so happy for you!:w00t:

Brenda, Good Luck with getting you Band. I agree, it is the best present you can give yourself. Please keep us posted.

Yes Tracy, you do smell it. And it was very good. However, I think next time I will leave the cabbage out. There would still be plenty of veggies in it.

See you all tomorrow. Night.

Oh My..I love cabbage...hmmm, maybe I'll make some today :thumbup:

The weather guy on TV is forecasting hurricane force winds and snow. Sounds lovely.....NOT!

Are you SERIOUS! :wow: oooohh, stay warm!

Morning all

Party was good, I'm exhausted and realized yesterday I have not taken a happy pill in 3 days. Out of site out of mind with me, well, i went to take one and that was all that was left.

Anyway, cried most of yesterday for no real reason. Ok maybe a little reason, feel fat and have family court next week. I can't wait for my fill on Thursday. I can eat and I am because I'm emotional eating

ok have a good day, i'll check in later. going to get ready to go and get kids up

hey girl...your fill will do you lots of good I think. You are doing so well sista! You have been my encouragement. Go get you pills & fill (haha, sounds cute) and you will be right back on track. (((hugs)))

So, i made a family christmas video and am going to put it on youtube & facebook. Cute cute! I will post the link when I am done :woot:

I am staying away from the scale this morning because I feel bloated. Does chocolate chip cookies make you retain water? lol :tongue2:

Have a great day everyone. I will be back later.

How bout those Saints? :woot:

Try this link...

Loved it Tracy!!! Frank makes one tough looking elf, with his hat covering one eye, he looks like a pirate/elf!!!! What fun!!!! You all look wonderful!

Well the snow is falling, so far thank goodness, the wind is not blowing, but that is supposed to come. We are expecting anywhere from 6" to a foot of snow through tomorrow. SO glad Rick and I went to the store and bought up anything I might need. I am going to have to ask him to stop at the store tonight and buy himself some Diet Coke---we forgot it! Actually---WE did not forget it, I do not drink it, and he did not put it on the list, I went to get some to bring in the house to have handy and there sit the empty 12 pack! Grrrrrrr. So I really don't feel too bad telling him if he wants some he has to stop and get it! I seriously would not be surprised if I end up running to the store and taking either my Mom or my MIL tho----and I would much prefer taking them than them taking themselves! I can drop them at the door etc. They do not need to be rushing through slick parking lots, and driving on snow packed roads.

My inlaws are going to Denver for Christmas. Ricks brother is driving down a few days before and picking them up, then taking them home with him for a week, then will bring them back. I guess it is only fair, we have them every other year----but the Denver bunch has no reason but they NEVER come here for any holidays. They wanted us to either agree to bring them or pick them up, and Rick refused! I was shocked and PROUD! Nope if you can't do it, we'll keep them here!!! LOL Amazingly they decided to do both ways!

The brother that is doing it, is VERY conscientious with his parents, he is here often, even just overnight, with work, and he spends time with them while he is here, he talks to them and asks questions, is VERY interested in their lives. While I LOVE Rick's sister in Denver, she is not that way. When she comes, she is here for several days and has a MAJOR project----painting, building a porch, etc. everytime she is here, so the only time she is not working she is off running to town to buy materials to do the job----that my inlaws pay for, when they had no real desire for the project she is doing anyway! She means well, but they really would prefer her to sit down and talk to them.

Waiting to send Christmas cards til the kids pics come in, so I can add them to some of my cards.

I have my last batch of peanuts roasting!!! YAY!! We roast about 55 pounds each year, to give to the guys Rick works with. We get these Christmas goodie bags, that are zip top, but have a handle cut out in them, and fill them, then he distributes them at work. I have been going fast and furious with them---considering they take 5 hours per batch! Trying to get them done so he can take them before he leaves for TX.

Moms on the phone----bbl

Helloooooo homeless sisters!

Sorry I’ve been out of commission for a bit… I’m always so busy on the weekends. By the time I have a few minutes in the day I either am too tired to hang at the computer or I just want to settle in and watch a little bit of TV.

Suzie, hugs and prayers! Please hang in there; you are way to sweet a lady to have to go through this.

Hey Tracy, congrats on the weight loss! Dangit if I can’t just lose a few and keep em off. I know you saw my post on Facebook that I’m getting a BodyBugg. You know if that doesn’t work (or rather if I don’t work it) then I’m just gonna give up. JK, I’ll never give up but still… sheesh!

I can’t see you tube at work… I’ll have to check it out later. All the more reason to get mini up and running. I really need to do that! It’s so cool working in an office that’s so lax. J

I got my fill on Friday and I still feel like I already need another one. I will be in a lifelong battle to find proper restriction I think. I’m just doomed.

Speaking of Anniversaries, my hubby and I will be married 14 years on Dec. 9th. That’s nothing compared to others here but wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long already. And I love him more today and everyday since. I’ve truly found the love of my life and my most bestest friend. Yay!! Congrats to all the other celebratees. LOL!

Jen, hugs girl. I hope your court date turns out well for you.

Kat, sounds like you got some good stuff going on right now! Yummy roasted p-nuts! Ohhh yummmmmm!!! Lol

TTFN ladies! Talk soon. J

Hey y'all!

Rick is not going to TX until after Christmas, looks like he will be gone right after, and miss New Years. Which is not a huge deal to us---------I will fix him all his favorites, which is what we do for NY anyway when he gets back.

He has an employee who wants to go now, does not want to miss a NYE party. So he is going to go now and let his wife get everything ready for Christmas by herself----Rick thinks the guy is ok, I think he is an alcoholic married to someone who deserves him, they are very dysfuntional. Now all that said, it would not surprise me for things to change at the last minute, but I am not worried about it. We went this weekend and pretty much finished up the shopping except for an electric skillet I want to get for his Mom at Target, and they are out of stock, so going to watch for it, or check on line---then we are done---so whenever he goes I will handle it.

The guy keeps telling Rick he needs the $$$ for Christmas. Rick has told him, it WILL be great money but it won't come in on the paycheck until AFTER Christmas, the way time goes in.....so... we'll see!

Snowed about 5 inches, and has stopped for the most part now, it is spitting slowly, but nothing to stack up. I took my Mom to look at sofas. She got rid of hers.....just got rid of her furniture! Now is wanting to just walk in and buy some, and most places have to order it, so she may be without furniture for 3 weeks! LOL leave it to my Mom! She did find a really nice leather set in the Oak Super Store place, so Dad is going to go look and see if he likes it -- and it is in stock, so maybe she will be ok!

Met Rick for lunch, ate a piece of fish----fried, but fish!!! And nothing else. I smell my chile and my beans cooking, and they smell wonderful!!

While we were in the mall we were coming out of Sears, and ran into an old neighbor. He and his former wife and 2 boys my kids age lived next door for years. Nicest guy--got great kids. Had a wild one for a wife! She is nice, but she is wild---she is teeny tiny, and thinks she is 7 foot tall in invincible! She has attitude to spare! They divorced not long after moving from here----she was messing around with one of their horse trainers. The son that is Manda's age told her about it. Anyway--we stopped and talked and caught up on the kids. He told me I looked "incredible". He said the younger son --the one Abbeys age had told him I lost a bunch of weight---but he was just shocked you could tell. Which was flattering, but yet embarrassing, to know he was thinking how fat I was.....hard to explain----I know he was being complimentary, but it is a fine line!

I let it go, and took the compliment!!! LOL

I have a nice fire going, dinner done.....think it is time to go change into some hang around the house comfy jammie pants!!!