Wow! What a busy few days! Glad to see everyone back.
Yesterday was also Elisabeth's birthday. She is 10. We are having her party after school starts.
Our vacation was great. Now it is time for school to start. I took the kids shopping for supplies. What a killer. Especially now that we have started to work seriously on a budget. That was one of our vacation projects. I know...it doesn't sound like a fun vacation project, but just having quiet time to sit down was helpful. Our new windows are just about finished. He is doing the trim outside today. Next week he will put in the bay window in the living room and the new front entrance door. It is so nice to have decent windows!! We are supposed to go to my brothers for a "camp-out tomorrow. There is a meteor?? shower that is supposed to last a few days, but tomorrow night is supposed to be the most visual. He recently moved to the country....waayyyy out in the country, so he has invited everyone for an all nighter. The pitch black will make anything that appears more visable. The kids are looking forward to it, but this a.m. Rick said he didn't know if he would be able to sleep on the ground. He had a appointment at Johns Hopkins spinal center on Monday. He has to go back on the 31th. It is so frustrating. There is always one more person to see or one more test to run. The exercises are helping some. He is using one of those big Pilates balls to sit on at work (it helps strengthen the lower back). He said people will come to his office just to "see his ball". lol
I took Hayley yesterday for her reading placement test. That is something new since Elisabeth started 1st grade. Then, they just used info from kindergarden. I was not allowed in the room, but they said she did"fine".
I need to go back & read all the posts. I was just excited when I saw everyone and wanted to say hello before the kids got up & I had to get off computer. Now I'll go read...
Kathy
I'll start an August thread before I respond to what I read.
DEBBIESTBS 8/10/06 6:31 P
Hi everyone, Today is Ashlyn's 9th birthday. I can't believe she is 9! I need to make her cake tonight for her slumber party tomorrow night. She is really excited. We have never done a slumber party so this will be a new experience. I hope Mark and I aren't completely crazy before its all through!
I went to the endodontist today and received bad news. I need a root canal, costing over $1000. I am not happy with this at all. We will have spent over $2800 on dental bills since February. I just want to scream. The weird thing is that the xrays don't show anything wrong, but all of my symptoms point to a root canal. I don't know what to think. And this is the 2nd opinion on this tooth.
Ok, now for the good news. Since I started jazzercise in March, I have lost 9 pounds...maybe more. I need to jump on the scale in the morning..it's been a few weeks. I know I've lost inches b/c I am currently wearing my sz 4 shorts. Yippee! I just need to keep going. Cindi, I'm right with you on losing those last 10lbs. My ediets goal was 122. I would love to be there again. :)
I have read all of your posts, but now I'm out of time. Mark just got off work and I need to make dinner. I'm glad to see more posts. "Chat" with you all later.
Debbie
JCADIZ74 8/10/06 2:32 P
Hi Skinnies,
I meant to give you the weight loss/nursing report when I was on but I got too carried away. LOL. I was wondering about you Cindi - now I see what you are up to in that department. I KNOW you already lost all the weight, UGH!!! I am still hovering at 165 lbs where I have been ever since Tommy was 2 weeks old. UGH UGH UGH. He is now 15 1/2 months old. And doens't show signs of letting up on nursing!! Its still 3-4 times a day. I am not sure how to go about it since I have never weaned a child...any advice? I figure its one time per day for awhile til thats normal, then another time til eventually he's not doing it much like Lance, and then not at all. Sigh. I am still so hungry with him nursing and I think thats why i can't budge this 165 mark. I didn't go past 170 til I stopped pumping milk for Wesley (when I signed up and found you all!) Then i was already in size 8s when Wesley was the age Tommy is now. Oh how depressing.
Well I better get T out of the tub.
TTYL Joce
LADYDREAMER 8/10/06 12:34 P
Good Morning, Skinnies!
Well, it's morning here still (just barely). Things are going pretty good here. I'm trying to get back into my water habit. I got 6 glasses in yesterday. Only 2 so far today though, but I've got the rest of the day to catch up.
Michelle~ The week we were in TX it got up to 105!!! I heard it wasn't much better here that week. It hasn't been much better since either temperature-wise anyway. Things are going pretty good other than that. I'm about to have a teenager for a son! Cody turns the big 13 on the 21st! He's already got the attitude though. :-( Poor kid has to start school on his birthday. But we're having his party the Saturday before. I just wish he'd help me plan a few more things for him & his friends to do! Knowing him they'll just all pile in his room and play video games all day!
Cindi~ Didn't get to do the marathon. I could never run more than 1/8 of a mile at a time and that was killing me. Also my friends never had time to train either. We may trying again next year though. I'll just have to start training now if I want to get anywhere near where I need to be! The marathon is in March. I think I'll try to start training now. If nothing else I'll lose some weigh. And if I'm lucking I won't have too many asthma attacks in the process. ;-) lol
To everyone else: Joce, Debbie, & Kathy, hello. Hope you are all doing well! {{{HUGS}}} to everyone! I've gotta get Cody off to a birthday party to I need to get going. Catch ya'll later!
(188/194/130) Randi
MICHELLESTBS 8/10/06 10:00 A
Good morning skinnies!
YES!! I'm ready to get back on track too. I'm pushing back up to 150. I cannot have this. I cannot let all my hard work go down the drain, or up the scale I should say. LOL
Cindi~we stayed in Montego Bay this time. We stayed at Sunset Beach Resort. The kids love to stay in hotels too.
Randi~welcome back girl! Yes, Texas is VERY hot right now. The mosquitos are terrible too. We will all get serious again. So has everything been o.k. up in Arkansas? HOpe so.
I've got laundry going already. We are supposed to be going to the pool today, but it looks like rain out.
Have a good one!
Michelle
CINDISTBS 8/9/06 11:15 A
Hi Randi!! I have been thinking about you too. I wondered what happened to you. I guess w/ school starting up soon everyone is getting back into their routines and maybe this is one of them. Well, time to get serious, right?? Are you still going to try to do the... was it a marathon or something like that? I can't remember when or what it is. Anyway, ready to get back on track?? I am. I didn't do great this summer. I did ok, but not great. So, I am ready to lose these last 10lbs. still. I just want to do it and be done w/ it. KWIM?
Have a great day!
Cindi
CINDISTBS 8/9/06 11:10 A
Hi girls! It is good to hear from you all. We had a couple mini vacations last week. I am done w/ road trips for awhile. Whew! They wore me out! THe kids had a good time though. THey like staying at hotels.
School starts next week and we have registration tonight. Daniel is starting Pre-K at Sarah's school, so that will be more convenient. Danny can take them both in the morning. Then I pick up Daniel at noon and Sarah at 2:30, but I am working on getting a carpool together, so I don't have to pick them both up every day.
I am weaning Lance. I have him down to once a day or every other day. He usually wants to b/f when he is tired or thirsty, so I have just been giving him his milk in a sippy cup or put him down for a nap when he starts pulling at my shirt. Then other times I just give in. I think it is just as hard on me as it is on him. I have a deadline though. Danny and I are going to LA/Hollywood in 2 months, so I am planning on having him weaned this month. The good thing is that it has been almost 2 yrs since I have had a period. I am not looking forward to that. Last week I went 2 days w/out feeding him when we were out of town and he was here w/ Mom and I started cramping, so I thought I would start, but then I came home and he wanted to b/f 3 times that day, so I never started. I just hate the waiting game. I don't know where I will be when it happens. Probably in LA! That is why I want to wean him now. SO, I can have my first one before we go.
Michelle~Jamaica sounds like fun. I haven't been there since our honeymoon. The resorts are such a great vacation spot. We stayed at a Sandals and loved it. Where did you all stay?
Joce~Glad you made it back. I was wondering about you and was going to email you. How do you like living in Germany? Are you there 2 years? I loved your pictures. I would like to visit there some day. Actually, there are several places in Europe I would like to visit. WIll you get to take vacations while you are there to see Italy, France or other places? I know what you mean about the cleaning thing. I am getting better at not doing it.lol It is too hard to keep up w/ this summer w/ the kids home. So, I do what I can and then when school starts I hope to get it clean again and get rid of some more stuff. I wish I could get rid of a lot of stuff, but it is hard with kids because most of it is theirs.lol
I guess we should start an August thread if we are all going to start posting again. The next person to post can start a new one if you want.
I need to hit the t/m before I go to my strength class at the gym.
TTYL, Cindi
LADYDREAMER 8/9/06 11:05 A
Good Morning, Skinnies!
Yep, I'm back. Hopefully for good this time! I miss ya'll when I leave. I just let other things get in the way of posting and even getting on the computer at all. Shame on me! ;-)
And I've gained back my weight. I'm back up to 194. :-( I have got to learn to completely change my eating habits and what I eat! I'm just having a hard time with it. There are only certain foods I like (not a lot of those, except the ones not so good for me) and only certain ones I can eat (due to my illeostomy). I just have to try harder that's all. I will get there one of these days!!!
Cindi~ I see I missed your birthday. Happy belated birthday!!! Know what I miss about eDiets? The HTML. I can't do my marquees anymore. :-( Well, you'll just have to imagine the "Happy belated birthday!!!" is bouncing back and forth across the screen in a large pink font. :-)
Michelle~ Wow! Jamaica! Sounds awesome! I was just in Hye, TX a few weeks ago and thought about you on my way. I know your no where near Fredricksburg or Hye, but on the way over I did think about you. If I had been driving myself I might have tried to contact you to meet up somewhere before I got to Hye. We have a Bible school over there every year that I go to when my in-laws have the room to take me & the boys. It was so hot this year!!!
Joce~ Hey! I have to keep trying to remember my password, because it had to be shorter than the one I used on eDiets!
Debbie~ Happy early birthday to Ashlyn! [hers would be bouncing and pink too. :-) ] Glad you had a good visit with your friends from Missouri. Hope the weather is nice for all your events!
Kathy~ How is everyone doing? Hope your vacation was great!
To anyone I may have missed: I hope everything is going well. {{{HUGS}}} to all! Well, I have to go. Need to get some things done around here. Catch ya'll later!
(188/194/130) Randi
MICHELLESTBS 8/9/06 10:00 A
Hey skinnies! I can't believe it's been so long since i've posted last. We just got back Monday from Jamaica. We had a BLAST! The boys enjoyed it too. We were gone 1 week. Good times.
Cindi~happy belated birthday!
debbie~i've babysat a kid like that before. :)
Kathy~glad Rick's doing better.
Looks like we're all back now. We need to post more. Listen to me. "we". I need to post more. LOL
Well, better get out and mow the grass before the temp reaches 100.
BBL~ Michelle
JCADIZ74 8/9/06 4:41 A
HELLO MY SKINNIES!!!!!!!!! I miss you all!!! I had to do a Google search to remember the name of this website, then have Spark send me the login and password since, silly me, didn't use my same login as at eDiets. I just got into ediets and printed up my toning exercises. It has been a pain since the printer hasn't always been printing for me. Ugh. I need it to print my exercises, my cleaning lists and my German vocab lists!! Ahh so much to do. Don't I sound the same as when I was posting last? Gotta exercise, scrapbook, learn German, be a mom, clean the house (thats a new one now that my sister isnt' around to clean it anymore and I have a massive house...ugh), and another new one...write Roland's papers for his masters he's pursuing. LOL....sigh.
Well my internet is slower than my old DSL but its not so bad that I go nuts. But, I only get 60 hrs a month and thats for 30 euro!! ahhh! thats about $40!!! DSl is only 10 euro/mo here but its not available where I live. :(
so it looks like Kathy and Cindi met up, what about debbie? Debbie did you ever get the pics from me? I need to upload our July pics soon. that I do at Roland's work because this computer takes HOURS to do it!!
well Tommy's fussing at me on my lap!! gotta go
jocelyn
DEBBIESTBS 8/1/06 8:44 P
HI everyone, Sorry I have been so absent. We have been really busy. My friend from Colorado showed up 3 days early for her visit and didn't call first. Mark was pretty upset. There are "issues" with her so it wasn't a good thing at all. She was only supposed to be here one night.
Then, our friends from Missouri came and we had a really nice visit. I used to babysit their kids when we all lived in AZ. A couple months after we moved to CO, they moved to MO. It was sooo good to see them again. I wish they lived closer.
The rest of July has been a blur. We have been swimming almost every day and the kids are doing so much better. Even Isabella can do a dive now! I'm so proud of my little peanut. :)
August 11th we are celebrating Ashlyn's 9th bday. She is having a slumber party, which is a first for her. She is really excited about it...if the weather is nice, they will all sleep outside in the tent. I hope it cools off a little by then.
Then on Aug 14th we are having a homeschooling open house so everyone can touch base again. On Aug 16th we are leaving to go camping at Fall Creek Falls. I'm really hoping it cools off by then. We may have to have some contingency plans in place!
Right now I'm watching a freinds 2 boys. They are great kids, but the youngest (3yo) is a handful. He is very strongwilled, but he's finally learning that he is not the boss in our house. lol
Well, I can't stay on here since there are currently 5 kids in the house. Sounds like you all are having a wonderful summer.
Kathy ~ I hope Rick's hip is feeling better. I hope he doesn't have to have the surgery.
Cindi ~ Happy Belated Birthday! We will have to do lunch sometime.
Joce ~ I'll have to look for your pics. I don't remember getting any?
Michelle ~ Sounds like you have been swimming as much as us!
Debbie
CINDISTBS 7/27/06 11:36 A
hello!
Thanks Kathy for the bday wishes. We had a great time out just the 2 of us. Doesn't happen much!
Have a great and safe trip!!
Hope Rick gets better news from the second opinion.
I just got off the t/m. I dread it so much, but once it is done, it is done and I feel so much better and so happy to have it over w/ early and can go on w/ my day! I just read Bob Greene's first book, Make the Connection. I really liked it. He says to do cardio early in the morning and do it for 30 min at a fast pace. So, I have been trying that. I just can't get going as early as I would like. I really need to work on that. He says it really boosts your metabolism when you do that.
I hope everyone else is doing ok. Pop in and let us know what is up w/ your life. I miss you all! I don't have as much time to get on the puter either these days.
Take Care, Cindi
KATHYSTBS 7/26/06 8:53 A
Hello.
Happy Belated Birthday Cindi!
I've been so busy since coming back home. We leave tomorrow for vacation. I think I have everything together. I do have to get some dramamine for the drive. We give it to the kids & the dog! This will be a new experience taking him so far. The drive is about 9 hours and the ferry 2 hours.
The doctor told Rick his will most likely have to have surgery for his back. He is going for a second opinion when we get back from vacation. He is going to the spine center at Hopkins.
Better go. I have to take Elisabeth to the doctor.
CINDISTBS 7/24/06 12:53 P
Hi girls!
My birthday was over the weekend and Danny and I had a great time. I am soooo tired today. I could spend the whole day in bed. The pool is closed, so I am hoping to get my brakes fixed, get to the library and bank. But, really I just want to lie in bed.lol
Yesterday, I finally got my garage cleaned out and my van cleaned and was able to park my van in the garage. I have so many little projects I need to work on. I figure I will do it when the kids go back to school. Although, I have this little boy running around here getting into everything. Makes it hard to get much done except during nap time, when I am wanting to nap too though. Not much napping going on here these days, at least not for me.
I have gotten my office pretty clean, just need time to finish w/out my little messer upper around. I need to go finish the laundry too. So much to do, so little time. Actually, I haven't been doing a lot of cleaning this summer, just spending time w/ the kids, going to the pool, and not worrying about much else. I have been going to the gym though. Although, my scale is up after the weekend I had. It was fun though and worth it.
Kathy~It was fun to get together and go out w/ the guys. I wish we could do that more often. Too bad we live so far apart.
Debbie~We need to plan a lunch or something.
Hope everyone else is doing well.
TTYl, Cindi
KATHYSTBS 7/19/06 9:13 A
Hello.
Hope everyone is having fun! We had a great trip to KY. It was great to see Cindi & Patty. Cindi, you looked so good, you inspired me to get back on track. I have been running every day since coming home! I've been eating well & drinking lots of water.
Rick finally got a diagnosis. He has a herniated disc in his lower back. (L5) He goes Tuesday to find out what his treatment plan will be. He has been able to run with me, which is really strange. It doesn't hurt when he runs, but does when he walks.
Elisabeth & Justin had a great time at camp. They were ready to go back for another week.
Monday I took the kids & we watched the Budwiser Clydesdales come into town. There were 3 tractor trailors. It took about an hour for them to unload the wagon & horses. They groomed the horses right in front of where we were sitting, so the kids had perfect view. They had a parade thru our little town, stopping at a few restaurants for photos. Yesterday, we went to my brother's house & made use of his pool! Today, I think we'll go mow my mom's lawn & then do nothing.
My schedule for school came. The class is divided into 2 sections. The first has class from 8-12 on Monday & Wed & then clinicals 2 other days. The other section(the one I am in) has classes from 1- 5 on Monday & 2 -7 pm on Wed! I called to see if I could be switched to the other section because of the kids. She said, sure, as long as you can find someone who wants to switch. That is going to be a pain in the butt! I also signed up for weekend clinicals. It will only be 6 weekends for the first semester. The next semester I will probably do weekdays.
Well, I just got back from my run & need to go get my smelly self cleaned up.
Have a great day.
Kathy
CINDISTBS 7/12/06 3:33 P
Hi girls!
Kathy got in yesterday and we went out to dinner last night. It was nice. Rick and Danny were there too. After dinner we went to Ceasars Hotel and Casino. We didn't gamble a lot of money. Kathy and I tried the slots and lost a little money, not much, $5 or $10.
We are supposed to go to lunch tomorrow. I was wondering if Debbie could join us. Hmmm. I will try to email you.
I need to get going.
TTYL, Cindi
KATHYSTBS 7/9/06 10:23 A
Our grass has been growing like crazy! It could actually be mowed twice a week! I usually like to do it with the push mower for exercise, but I'm getting tired of it.
It is a beautiful morning. I am going to get my bike out & go for a ride. Once again, I've fallen off the wagon, put weight back on & am disgusted with myself. So, time to start kicking butt again.
MICHELLESTBS 7/8/06 6:06 P
Hey girls!
The rain finally stopped. I cleaned the garage today. It looks good. Now dh is out mowing.
Kathy & Cindi~have fun this week! I wish I could join y'all. Hopefully the doc will work a miracle on Rick's back.
BBL~ Michelle
KATHYSTBS 7/8/06 5:14 P
Hi Cindi.
If Tuesday night works for you, that would be great. Unless the doc works some miracle, Rick won't be able to do a lot of walking, so we'll have to do something that wouldn't require that. This is such a bummer. We were so looking forward to getting away. Oh well, we'll still be away... I will give you a call.
Kathy
CINDISTBS 7/7/06 6:51 P
Hi girls!! Wow, you have been chatty! I have been checking and no one for soooo long then I get what I thought was strep and have been down a few days and here you are!
Kathy~I was just thinking about you coming in next week and how I need to get a sitter if we are going out to dinner Tues. night. So, let me know if he is up for that. If not, maybe I can get a sitter and just the 2 of us go out or something.
Michelle~Sorry, for all your rain. At least today is a pretty day. The only rainy day we had lately was on the 4th of July what a day for rain!
The 4th was the day I started feeling bad, but just thought I had been doing too much and was just feeling run down and tired. I was sore from the gym and feeling achey. Then that night my throat started hurting really bad. I have had sore throats before, but nothing like this. So, I called my dr. on Wed. and he couldn't fit me in, so I went to an immediate care center, the nurse practitioner looked in my throat and said, yep, looks like strep and gives me a prescription, NO STREP TEST! So, I take them and now 3 days later my tonsils are COVERED w/ white patches and my throat is still killing me and now hurts on the outside of my neck and my glands are swollen.
So, today I took Sarah to the pediatrician because she felt bad yesterday and since today was Friday I didn't want her to go through the whole weekend feeling bad. Well, her strep test was negative, so I tell her dr. about my experience and he said my throat looked like strep, but doesn't mean it is. He said he had a viral throat infection that lasted a week and then his wife got it for a week. So, if it is viral then no antibiotic will work. So, I have 4 days to hope it goes away because he said if it isn't better after a week then go to my dr. and ask them for a MONO test!!! I don't want that. I can't have that. I am home all day w/ 3 kids. I CAN'T have that!!! UGH!
I am in so much pain I just want it to go away! I took a percocet last night and am looking for another one for tonight. It didn't take it all away, but enough that it didn't hurt everytime I swallowed. I did wake up several times to drink water and go to the bathroom because my mouth was sooo dry. But, that's better than waking up to excruciating pain!
Debbie~I hope your ankle is better. Sounds like we are all having some kind of issue.
I also got an email from Joce. I emailed her back. She was so excited to get her first email on that new address she has.lol I love looking at those pictures and am thinking we def. need to go visit. I think she is only there 2 years. It would prob. take me that long to save up and then Danny prob. wouldn't want me going overseas w/out him, so there's more money!
I think I need to go feed the kids and then try to lie down. I hope Danny gets home soon. I am trying to wean Lance, but have decided not to worry about it too much this week. Right now I am working on the morning feeding so Danny can get up w/ him and I can sleep in. He just needs to be weaned and on a schedule by the time we go to LA in Oct.
Have a great evening.
CIndi
MICHELLESTBS 7/7/06 1:01 P
Hey Kathy~hate to hear Rick is in so much pain. It's sunny here today. And VERY muggy and steamy. We are going to try to get to the pool today.
Oops, dh here.
BBL
KATHYSTBS 7/7/06 9:57 A
Hi Michelle!
Sure you can't hop a plane & join us? My ticket was only $193.
The bummer is Rick is in so much pain, I'm not sure what he'll be up to! Today he is having a bone scan done that uses some type of dye injection. He already had x-rays & MRI. (hip problems) He can walk/stand for about 2 minutes and then he has so much pain he has to sit. He goes back to the orthopedic doctor on Monday. Now that all of the diagnostic tests are over, maybe a cortisone shot would take away the pain until they figure out what is going on. I hope so!
I have also be enjoying Jocelyn's pictures. Isn't that place beautiful?! We've been having rain like you mentioned. I never remember getting so much - so hard, day after day! Today is nice...so far. I'm really glad I didn't spend money on a pool membership! LOL
Better go. I need to try & get a hair appointment.
Kathy
MICHELLESTBS 7/6/06 10:31 A
Hey Cindi, Debbie, and Kathy!
I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. It has rained here everyday since this past Saturday. I like it when it rains, but this is enough. LOL The boys and I are getting cabin fever. I have let them out to play in the puddles. They can't stay cooped up too long.
I heard from Joce too. We've exchanged emails back and forth. Their house is nice. They have an AWESOME view. I need to let her know where we are so she can post. She doesn't have DSL so her computer runs pretty slow she said.
I'm supposed to go help my SIL paint her kitchen today.
Cindi and Kathy~What all do y'all have planned for next week?
Debbie~hope your ankle heals quickly for you. It's hard to stay off of it w/3 little ones.
Gotta go....
BBL~ Michelle
KATHYSTBS 7/4/06 8:50 P
Debbie - Ouch on the ankle!! Hope it feels better! Your hiking trips sound great. We had been doing a lot of biking & hiking, but that's all on hold because Rick is having a terrible time with his hip. He has had x-ray, MRI & is scheduled for a bone scan on Friday.
Cindi - that might put a damper on our trip! He can't walk at all without a lot of pain. His DR. appt is the day before we leave! Hopefully, they can give him something to take away the pain until they can figure out what is causing it.
Aaron is having a party. They are outside with a bonfire going. Seems like they are having fun.
I better go show my face. I like to keep reminding them that I am here! LOL
Kathy
DEBBIESTBS 7/4/06 12:29 P
Hi everyone, We have also had a lot going on. We went canoeing on Saturday, church picnic on Sunday, last day of swim lessons on Monday and then Mon afternoon we took off for Fall Creek Falls. We got back at midnight last night, but are planning on going back for a longer stay in the future. It is so beautiful there. We did manage to hike down to the bottom of the falls before we left. It was a lot of fun.
I'm on hold for jazzercise AGAIN. I tripped on my basement stairs and twisted my other ankle so now I'm waiting for that to heal. I may go on Wed. morning and do everything but the jumping part.
We saw some fireworks last night while driving home and pulled over to watch. It was fun for the kids. We're going to see more tonight in Franklin. I hope you all are having a great weekend. Happy 4th of July!
Debbie
KATHYSTBS 7/4/06 10:10 A
Hi. I just checked in too from being MIA.
I got an email from Joce. For some reason it went into my spam folder & I just happened to look there before everything was deleted!
Hope everyone is having a good holiday. We don't have any big plans for today.
Cindi, I will call you. I can't believe it is next week. It just hit me that I need to pack for Elisabeth & Justin going to camp! They leave on Sunday.
