Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
I hope you have had a good weekend and are not an icicle this early in the season.

 

[toystoryduo]

Sending a great big your way. I hope all is well out your way. (No more snow, right? )

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well, once again I am just not making it to my journal and all of yours and I apologize for that!

Things have been so hectic. I didn't have internet most of Thursday as we had Direct TV out here most of the day installing our new system which caused all sorts of technical diffculties off and on. But I love my new tv set up, esp the DVR.

Weighed in on Saturday morning and was down 3.6 I was VERY happy, since I had Mexican food on Thursday night and birthday cake and pizza on Friday.

DD had her "friend" party on Friday (no school that day) and I took her and several friends to see Fame. Cute movie. I resisted popcorn but did have two pieces of pizza and one piece of cake. I had the points so it was fine.

The weekend was beyond busy but we had a nice one. I did splurge a bit on Saturday night at a friend's but nothing like I wanted to so that was something.

I walked today and plan to walk tomorrow and Wednesday. I leave on Thursday. I cannot say enough that to be gone from the kids right now and all they have going on is not easy or good timing. But life seldom times things right! I just really hate to be gone right now but it can't be helped. But thank goodness I shortened the trip.

I have a lot of stress right now but I am holding my own. A week from now, I"l be back home and hopefully none worse for the wear with my weight. I can't imagine I'd do much damage from a hospital cafeteria but with me, well one never knows! Thanks for sticking with me.

Lisa: Fall is here in Colorado and hopefully winter won't show up again for a couple of months. Still in the 70's at night! I don't know what's worse!

Tracy: Thanks for the pm and always being there for me.

Tracey: BL Austrailia? I had no idea there was such a thing! Yes, the lady with the tragic family loss has my vote so far. I can't even imagine.

Julie: We got a bit of snow but nothing like they had said. Which was fine by me! It didn't even stick to anything but the grass. It was pretty at least!

 

[DisDee]

Congrats on the weight loss Amy! I'm sure that made you feel very happy!

I know you're probably going crazy getting things in order before your trip, so hang in there and don't forget to take care of yourself. I pray that everything goes well for your FIL.

Again, thanks for always being here for me! I'll add your email address to my web page.

 

[eyor44]

Congratulations on the weight loss Amy! Way to go!

We will be praying for you, DH, Dan's Aunt and of course FIL this week. I do pray everything goes well.

While I know you don't want to be away from the kids, look at the positives. You and Dan get a little one on one time and you will have plenty of time to visit with his Aunt. small things I know, but good things.

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks for the PM.

Congrats on your weight loss, Amy!!!!

We'll be praying for you and Dan as you travel to and from, for your kids while you're gone, and for your FIL as well.

Take good care of you!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you Denise, Lisa and Tracy.

Today was pretty good, I walked and did the stationary bike at the rec center, did well with food and got a few things done. I had lunch with a friend, she is my Disney Addicted Buddy, they just got back from WDW and we talked about my options for our upcoming trip to WDW (as to when to go, where to stay etc.). It was nice to not think about all the stuff in the here and now and have a Disney gab session.

And if things were already complicated enough on this upcoming trip to L.A., my arrangments for ds have completely fallen apart. Right now, as of tonight, I have no idea what to do. We leave Thursday morning. I have non refundable tickets, that I have already spent almost $100 changing, dh really does not want to go alone and this whole thing is a mess. I cannot say enough, that the circumstances of this whole thing just took on a life of their own. With what we have going on right now with ds, well, this whole thing is just so making things worse.

Stepdad was already coming over for two nights when I began to realize that the family ds was to stay with was not going to work for all four nights. Then tonight, it became obvious to Dan and I the other two nights weren't gong to work either and now we are scrambling (stepdad can't do all four nights). I don't even want to go, but Dan does not have a great relationship with his dad and he doesn't want to do this alone.

I can ask our good friends who are keeping Maria if they can keep Matthew too, and I know they will say yes and for sure that home life is better for ds anyway. But that is also a lot to ask of them. But I think that's my one and only route to take. Other friends live in areas not as near to ds' school and they work which would be a nightmare for them to get him to school those three days. I am telling you all again, the timing of this whole thing simply could not be worse.

I'll call my friend tomorrow, first thing (this all just came up tonight too late) and get verification ds can stay there. If for some reason he cannot, then I am not going to be able to go and its just that simple.

When I get off that plane, back at home after this whole thing is over next Monday, the sigh of relief I let out will be a big one!

 

[toystoryduo]

Praying for you, WISH sis. Please let us know how this all works out.

 

[eyor44]

I do hope you were able to find a place for DS to stay. Praying for safe flights and a safe surgery.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I got it worked out tonight, he is going to stay with a friend two nights and be here at home two nights with stepdad.

We leave tomorrow (I guess its today actually). I am still up packing our stuff and the stuff the kids take to their respective friends houses. I still need to clean my room since stepdad will be in there. Poor Dan is just downstairs crashed on the couch. I really did think I was not going to go after all and then suddenly I was.

Fil's surgery is Friday morning. I should be able to update at least once while I am gone since dh is taking his computer to work on.

I'll be home Monday and I am already ready to be home. I so hate to go off and leave the kids right now but I know they'll be fine. Dd was really excited all week to have four full nights at her best friend's house but then suddenly tonight she got very upset.

My food was simply awful today. I can't even remember what all I ate but it was quite a bit. Oh well, I always get stressed before I fly and I always eat the day before I do.

Thanks for the well wishes and prayers, I'll talk to you ladies while I am there.

 

[eyor44]

Amy
I am so glad you were able to work something out for DS. I know that is a huge relief for you. Why did DD get upset? Perhaps she was just feeling your stress? The excitement will come back.

Have a safe flight.
Lisa

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad that you were able to make arrangements for your DS. Have a safe flight! We'll see you real soon!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy,

How's it going, WISH sis? How is your FIL doing? Sending prayers out your way.....

I didn't get a chance to mail your package this weekend. I was going to go to the post office after the girls' soccer games on Saturday, but my dad took us out to lunch and by the time we were done eating, the post office was closed. Sorry about that. I'll try and send it out either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Safe travels for both you and Dan. Hope all is well!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy.

I am home and very happy to be back! Fil's surgery went well, he is still in the ICU but should be out tomorrow. Dan is still there but will be home tomorrow which is good. Dan's aunt will be there until Friday, which is when they expect fil to be released.

All in all it was fine, a friend of my fil's picked us up and ran us back and forth to the hospital which was good, its not in the best area. He also nicely took Dan and I out to Santa Monica on Saturday which was fun and a nice break. Other than that, we stayed at the hospital all day, each day. Which was fine, they had a nice waiting room and I took a lot to read. And even though it was ICU and they had these strict rules, they relaxed them quite a bit and we got to spend plenty of time in the room with fil. Which was great. He as very glad we came. And I was glad we came for Dan's aunt too. She is sort of frail these days and showing her age. She'll be on her own for two days, but she knows the routine now so it should be fine.

I did so so with food. I ate too much junk, the cafeteria was a joke, it had cold sandwiches and a lousy salad bar. But the hotel breakfast was decent and had raisin bran which I ate each day. I also had fil's friend run me to a nearby Trader Joe's so I could get some fruit, crackers and chicken breast strips for a couple of lunches. Dinner was always take out from one of the places near to the hotel. We couldn't eat out, we had no car and as I said the area was lousy. So we had two places to choose from, one Mexican place next door to the hotel and a pizza/Italian place that delivered. That was it. There was a Subway near the hospital but at night, it was too far to walk and not safe anyway. So I just did the best I could.

Tomorrow its back to the gym. I got a bit of walking in on Saturday from the parking garage to the beach (about a mile each way) but that was it. If we had been in a nicer area, I could have walked outside but the one time I did, I got tired of the panhandlers and just the weirdos in general!

At least Dh and I had some time to ourselves in the evenings.

So that's about it. I am so tired. Why I don't know, for four solid days I have done nothing but sit around and read.

The kids did fine. Ds did call me the first day, I had just landed and turned my phone on and he was locked out! So I was 1000 miles away, had just had a bumpy, turbulent flight (worst landing I have ever had) and now I have to figure out what to do! Thankfully I got a hold of a friend who had a key and she came over. Oh, and Friday night at about 8:30 (9:30 Colorado time) a neighbor of ours called dh on his cell. Daisy had been outside barking for two hours. Apparently, ds (crazy kid) had come by to feed the dogs, let them out and forgot to put them in before he bolted out the door to a football game. It was cold and dark and again, I was 1000 miles away and having this neighbor call me griping about the dog. Finally after numerous calls, I found a friend home on a FRiday night that had a key and could come over and let her in. Dh really lit into ds, it had been a long day, his dad had just had surgery and we had to deal with that!

 

[eyor44]

Amy
I am so glad that FIL's surgery went well. Will continue to pray for a swift recovery.
How wonderful you got to do a little sight seein while you were there. That's always fun. Glad you are back home and the kids did good.

Yeah, I've had oldest DS do some things like your DS when we have been very far away. Kids! what do you do with them. They seem like such a good idea when they are babies.

 

[toystoryduo]

Yeah, I've had oldest DS do some things like your DS when we have been very far away. Kids! what do you do with them. They seem like such a good idea when they are babies.

Lisa, you have me cracking up this morning! Too funny!

Welcome Back, Amy!!!!

I am glad to hear that your FIL's surgery went well. We're praying for a speedy and complete recovery for him.

When we went to the hospital for my grandma's procedure last week, I was kind of surprised at how yucky the food was. The food left a lot to be desired! I'm sorry to hear that it was the same way at the hospital your FIL is at.You would think that since hospitals try to get people healthy, that their food would be much healthier and much more appealing.

Sending lots of your way as you get back into your routine today. Have a wonderful day!

P.S. Sent you something in the mail yesterday...Hope you like it!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, I love it! I got it today and was so excited. As you know, my bday is Christmas Day so to get something on a different day is pretty unheard of for me! I already read some of it, it had me laughing and crying and I can tell its going to be a good read! And yes my friend and Wish Sister, someday you and I (and Lisa and Tracey and Julie and Denise) will all go to WDW and just do it right! Thank you so much sweetie, I really needed that and it meant so much.

Lisa, I am praying for you sweetie, I am so sorry about mil. Hope things are going well, I miss you and will see you when you get back. Yeah, teenagers are a far cry from the little bundles of joy we worked so hard to bring about so long ago! But they do have their good points I suppose! But man, I was ready to ring that kid's neck.


This week has just slipped away. I have so much to do and am just not making the progress I should.

Fil is home from the hospital which is good news. I am just praying that as he recovers, his quality of life kicks back into gear and that he can get out and enjoy life. Its been hard for him. I feel pretty good about things, for as sick as he's been, he did so well. He's got a lot of will and that surely helped. Thanks so much for all your prayers and well wishes.

I have been so depressed this week. I think the dreary weather (today was nice, but we had snow yesterday and snow again tomorrow) we've had at times was partly to blame but I also think seeing fil and so many other people so sick is part of it. Walking down the hall to his room in the ICU and seeing inside other people's rooms, so many of them were so sick and so many of them were always without a visitor. It was sad. It took me back to the many years of my mom's illness and how quickly life goes. And made me realize yet again, I have to get myself healthier. I am almost 45 years old, what am I waiting for?

Food has been okay until tonight when I blew it with boneless buffalo wings. I did suddenly realize, "I am full, I need to stop". But it was still not a good choice. I only walked at the rec center once all week (today). I just had a hard time getting back on track obviously.

Dan's aunt got home okay which was a huge relief. I talked with her tonight, she more or less told me they are not coming out Christmas. Too much money on airfare (they have waited way too long, its so expensive to fly into Denver at the holdiays due to the ski season) and she spent so much money going to Los Angeles (I can relate) and she's also just had a lot of health issues. Suddenly, she seems to have gotten very old. It makes me sad. And the kids, dd in particular are just crushed. They have come every year at either Thanksgiving or Christmas (mostly Christmas) since dd was born. She cried. The kids know that it will likely just be the four of us on Christmas. A far cry from the days when my mom was alive and Dan's dad would sometimes come as well. Those days are over. My sister is now Jewish and doesn't celebrate and stepdad told me he's going to his girlfriend's. I told the kids we would do our own thing and maybe see a movie. It will be fine, I mean we are lucky to have each other but it still will be a big change and a bit of a sad one. Maybe his aunt and cousin will change their minds, who knows.

I am having my sister over for her birthday tomorrow. Her real birthday is Wednesday, the same day as ds'. Given the way she has been known to act, I decided we would see her early and let ds have his own day. Didnt' go over too well with her, but you know what, she's 53, ds is 15 (or will be) and he is more my concern than she is. I am making her a nice dinner and cake and got her two DVD's she's been wanting. Beyond that, well my nephew will have to step up the plate for his mom. I just can't chance her being a pill and ruining ds' day. Its not fair. So I let him pick a restaurant (Red Lobster, smart kid!) and invited hsi best friend and Grandpa to come too. I want it to be a really nice day for him. Somehow, his day is always overshadowed by my sister's day and all her drama. Not this year!

Time to turn in, thanks for reading. My new start of two weeks ago got a bit messed up but I am still hanging in there!

Oh, and I am not weighing in again this week, too much to do and dd has a birthday party right during the meeting and I opted to work out today instead of going. So next week (I know, its always "next something" with me!).

 

[DisDee]

I'm so glad to hear your FIL is home from the hospital. I hope all goes well with his recovery.

You are really smart to celebrate your SIS and DS b-days on different days. You are so right about DS needing his own day to celebrate. I hope he has a wonderful day!

Now about your new start...everyday is a new beginning, so don't think ahead too much just think one day at a time. I'm sure you can think of one healthy and positive step that you take on each day of your journey. Celebrate that achievement and don't dwell on what you didn't accomplish.

Have a super weekend!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm so glad that you liked the book, Amy! One of these days, we will have a drink by the pool in WDW!

I hear you on the new start thing. I am so ready to get this weight off once and for all! We CAN do this, Amy!!! We just need to take each day as it comes and do the very best we can.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, one of these days for sure we'll be sitting by that pool in WDW! I say we splurge and stay at AKL when we do, it looks sooo nice!

Denise: You are so right, everyday is a new start. I just have to keep plugging away because the only alternative is to quit and I am not ever going to be ready or willing to do that. I think ds is going to really enjoy having his own day which is nothing against my sister but just something I think he's entitled to.

So I have been very busy. Somehow in the midst of the trip to Los Angeles and some other things that have been going on, Ds birthday and our trip to DL both crept up on me and up until yesterday, I had not done much for either! So I got ds' birthday presents bought and wrapped. He is so hard to buy for now, gone are the days I just went to Target and bought anything to do with Power Rangers or Pokemon. Its like pulling teeth to even get him to give me ideas. But I did go to the Army Surplus store and got him a Marines sweat jacket which I know he'll love and a Marines flag he can hang on his wall. Then some DVD's and that was it, I had to just put the rest of my birthday budget in the form of cash in his card. He's so funny, he still has about ten bucks left from Christmas last year! And since he's gotten several envelopes in the mail, he's about to add to that. Which is good. I think I may try to find a bank tha will let him open a checking account. Mine has an 18 age limit on checking accounts. Surely another one doesn't?

I also got started on preparing for DL. I went to the store to get a few things we needed, and started organizing today. So that was good, but I can't belive that I am just 9 days away and just now getting to that. I must be slipping in my old age!

I baked Ds his favorite pie for his birthday. He's going to eat it for breakfast! Then I am baking him a cake for after dinner. He picked Red Lobster and I told him he could invite his friend and Grandpa is coming too. I hope I can behave! I made a total of three cakes for dd's birthday so I figure ds is entitled to his pie and his cake on his special day. H e likes pie more than cake, but I just want him to have a cake anyway to blow out the candles on. But I'll have to deal with the temptation of leftover cake. I do know my son well enough to know that pie will be long gone in record time.

My food has been good yesterday and today (Sunday was awful) but I haven't worked out since last Friday. So I called my friend tonight and I am meeting her tomorow morning at the rec center. And I am weighing in on Friday come what may. I sometimes wonder at the logic of joining WW right before a trip that has me coming home the day before Halloween, but there never seems to be any logical formula for my successes and failures with dieting so why not give it a try? And with that free month promotion, I figure even if I do miss a few meetings at least I am not losing any money.

My goal is to lose 5-10 pounds by my birthday on December 25th. That is still almost two months away and I feel like a fairly attainable goal. Then come January, I can hopefully really hit it hard. In the meantime, I just need to survive vacation and the holidays. In some ways, even if I just maintain, that will be a victory over my normal fall/holiday routine.