Moms's Chat 4 All Moms

[MCmom]

All moms are to chat with us!

Hi Lee, I meant to get back sooner, but I came down with a nasty cold and didn't feel like doing much of anything for awhile.

No one seems to be as bad as me, but the kids are sniffling and sneezing a bit. Hopefully that will be the worst of it.

Our dog is a knuckle head on occasion, but she's improved alot since she was a puppy. For awhile there we were seriously considering getting rid of her (she was that naughty). We hung in there though, figuring she'd mature and settle down.

We're having the typical cool fall weather, and I'm enjoying it. I just hope we have it through the end of October, before turning colder. It makes winter seem that much longer when it starts early.

Sorry to hear about your childhood friend dying. It seems the older we get, the more we have to deal with death. Each year I think, - who will die this year? Sad, but true.

We're going for our family dental cleaning next week (9th). It's nice that we can all go together, and get it done at once. We get free cleanings which is really nice (now that we changed plans & drive further away). There was a time when we paid 20% and that could be alot, depending on what work was done.

I'm not feeling that great about my weight either. I want to be thin, but apparently not bad enough to do what it takes. <sigh> When will I get with it?????!

Sounds like your rental house is turning out to be a true nightmare! The way things are going a year is a long, long, time. Have that sink fixed yet? Did you say mold? That stuff can be terrible. We got some on our old windows, and I had to keep spraying it with a water & bleach mix to kill it.

I'm not surprised to hear about the snow. We typically get our first snowfall (actual accumulation on the ground) in December. I remember trick or treating as a kid in the snow once. That is rare though.

I didn't put a time limit on this thread, I figured if it ever gets too long, we can start another one. 5 years??! Boy does time go fast!

Bye for now!

[previously Lee A]

...I know we are a slower thread and some people need that every day response.I may be able to get in more now that my PC is closer by and also because I am unemployed LOL

Hi Mary-we always have snow for Halloween.I need to get all my leaves raked up.My rake that I had against the fence vanished(?).

My landlord's hubby stopped by to get the rent yesterday and he'd reiterated there would be a plumber by when available.He also said again that the tub always did drain slow but that the sink had never backed up into it.

I told him it was impossible that we backed it all up in the first couple days we were here.She had admitted before that it does that.I found that if I let the dishwater out slowly it doesn't happen.

I just don't like the duplicity.I'd rather they admitted it...I told him that when I put that bottle of drain opener down that first week,it brought a whole bunch of stuff up(lard,hunks of meat,gelatin).What I haven't told them is that I took pictures.The sink had grease along the outside of the pipe.There was grease on the floor near the cupboard.The oven was dirty and grease splattered and the day their dog bit Selena he was chewing a nice freshly broiled bone.

I think they broiled him bones and just rinsed the pan in the sink.I always put my grease in a jar.They told me they did no pipe work and yet before they said they'd moved the pipes indoors and I've found pipe parts about the place.it's really weird.

This place has older windows in the front room,that has mold in them too.I open them and let them air out.I think the problem is because there is no rubber lining so I have to go buy some.

But despite some of these things it is a nice place

Sorry to hear you are unwell.All my kids have colds...

My scale went up 7lbs and I freaked out and have been good for a few days and it's gone back down.I'd like to see some *real* loss though but that of course takes willpower and motivation and of course being emotionally ready.I feel depressed and it's hard to do the necessary work it takes.

Good luck

anyway I guess I should get accomplishing something.
They have a really great little library here and the kids get videos as well as books.We are currently watching all the Mary Kate and Ashley films.

TTFN

[MCmom]

Each year that I do homeschooling, I find that I'm getting better at it. The thing with that is by "getting better" that means "doing more work." Not that it's a problem, but I do find I'm spending lots more time on the computer and on-line. I have to stay a step or two ahead of Elijah, and have extra worksheets (some made by me & some printed off the internet), as well as the materials needed for projects or experiments. The good news is that I'm saving everything I do, so it will be just a matter of re-printing it for Moriah when she gets to this stage. I don't mind the work, it's challenging as well as rewarding. There's no way I'd do homeschooling if I hated it.

Leah is doing great with school. She's SO much better now with language/language comprehension then when she first started going to school over a year ago. Now she can actually tell us what she wants, instead of getting upset and crying about it. For instance, yesterday I asked her if she wanted chicken for lunch. She shook her head no and said, "I want a hamburger." (very clearly) This is one example of how much she has improved. She still has a ways to go, and still talks in gibberish sometimes, but overall she's moving in the right direction.

Lee - Remember awhile back when I talked about clearing out stuff from the house, and re-organzing it? Well, it's been a very slow process (occasionally stalled altogether), but we're back on track. Even my DH is helping in the process. Stuff that we've had for years is going bye bye (like a big stereo that was in the basement). Today my DH went through Elijah's room, and helped to throw out lots of junk, as well as put stuff in bags to give away (I joined in when I saw what he was doing). It really feels good to clear out the clutter. There's still alot to do, but every little bit is helping. It helps me to feel better overall, when my house isn't a cluttered disaster. I'm sure you understand.

We have a crab apple tree in our front yard (near the sidewalk), so we leave a big push broom outside all summer to clean up the constant mess. We live on a busy street too, but so far no one has taken our broom. I am leery about leaving things outside, knowing how fast things can be taken. I had 3 bikes stolen when I was a kid, which contributes to the leeriness. I'm constantly after the kids about their bikes, refusing to let anyone steal theirs.

So the house saga continues. Maybe the whole sink and mold fiasco will be the worst of it. Hopefully. At least the house is still nice.

I won't even get on the scale. I feel down enough about my weight, without making it worse. Eventually I will though.

We go to our library weekly, but it's not a very good one. I wish we lived in a city that did have a good one. I've heard/read about libraries in other cities, and it makes me envious. Maybe someday...

We're running out tomorrow to get the "Jungle Book" dvd. It was one of my DH's favorite movies when he was a kid, so he has to have it. I'm sure our kids will like it too.

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

...well a hail storm just hit...
Dayton,Scamp and I went for a walk and we went to the park.
Then I came home and made bread and cabbage rolls.The girls will be home in an hour.
It's so nice not to be working and actually have time to clean up,stay on top of laundry etc...
Wow!..you must be feeling a lot better these days to start decluttering
I move often enough that clutter isn't too much of a problem
the biggest messes I'd say is the kids papers.If they want to keep a picture they really like they have to put it in a book or else it gets thrown out.
Yeah it takes alot of discipline to HS
I have a hard enough time keeping on top of homework that's assigned from school.
We use the internet alot now for Chey's work(grade 5).
She needed a current news event last week and we opted for Run For The Cure(breast cancer)
I'm glad Leah is making some serious leaps in the language department
I'm after Dayton all the time to speak *clearly*.
I look forward to getting past the terrible 3's.We battle a bit but I know his sisters had waay better tantrums LOL
So here's what I wanted to be when I grew up-artist/author
and here's what I finally made up my mind to do now that I've grown up-small business owner
I'm going to take some business admin etc...courses.
There's a tremendous need for different aspects of business here
We'd like to open a little sports shop (bait,tackle etc...)
This is our favorite type of store and there is none around(just hardware stores)
Dh said he'd like to buy this place(not big enough I say)and then he says we should get right on this business and put off buying a house.
It's going to take time to start up but I don't want to put life on hold in the meantime so I'll be watching the real estate market.
Anyways that's my 2 cents for now...
chat soon

[MCmom]

I tried to post on Saturday but was unable to get on the boards, so here I am back again. I am SO glad our little heat wave is over with. It felt more like July than October, and with the high humidity, it was uncomfortable for a few days. I'd like cooler weather for a few weeks before the cold settles in, if possible.

We all went to our dentist appointments today, and no cavities. Moriah, however, does have a fairly serious crossbite, which will need to be fixed. She has an appointment next week with orthodontics for a consultation. My DH and I hope that we don't end up having to fork over a lot of money. We have to wait and see how much our insurance will cover.

My mom is seriously stressed with raising her out-of-control grandchildren. My older sis is back in prison for the 3rd time, so she's never really been a mom to her 2 children (3rd one was adopted by out-of-state relatives). My younger sisters's daughter has been staying with grandma too (starting this summer), so that makes 3 teens. My mom didn't want to raise children over again, but she did it b/c she had no choice. She didn't discipline them enough when they were younger, and now they are getting wilder by the day. My nephew has even been kicked out of one school, and headed towards being kicked out of a 2nd one. He was held one time by the police for a few hours. He's 14 yrs. old. His sister is 15 yrs. old. They're both smoking cigarettes, and using dope (from what I've heard). My DH and I won't let our kids go over there without us to supervise. My mom wants us to come over to visit, but I've been postphoning it. I went over there once and could feel the high stress-level in the house. It was uncomfortable to say the least. That's why I strongly believe in setting boundaries, and instilling discipline at a young age. I'm going to try everything I can to avoid having this happen to me in a few years.

Lee - Finally we can go to the park! I've been wanting to take the kids, but it was too hot & humid.

I've found that decluttering is an ongoing job, if you want to stay ahead of it. It feels great to get rid of junk that you've kept for years and years. My DH is terrible about letting papers pile up. It drives me nuts, but he doesn't seem to mind. I imagine that moving is a good way to get rid of the "extra stuff." It's alot more work than I want to do though! The housing market stinks right now anyways.

Leah's teachers are always sending home her coloring or painting projects. I keep them for a week or two, then toss them out. I feel bad for throwing them away, but I'd have tons of projects if I kept everything she's done in school, since last year. We honestly don't have the space.

My DH would like to be a small business owner, but it will probably never happen. Small businesses are a huge risk in this area, with so many places popping up and then going out of business in a year or two. Your plan sounds really good. Hopefully you'll be able to get a small business loan to get it going. I can understand about wanting to own your own home as well. We've been in our own house for 5 yrs. now, and we'll never go back to renting.

Elijah has been begging us for a chameleon (small lizard), and we'll probably end up getting him one. I had one when I was a kid, and it was one of my most favorite pets. I cried and cried when it died, it was like losing a friend. After hearing Elijah go on, now Moriah wants a pet of her own. She's thinking about a hamster. Only one new pet at a time I say. She'll have to wait until she's a little older.

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

...well it's been a busy week.I turned 41,we had Thanksgiving and I'm up 5 lbs!Today I've resolved to get back on plan and no more fooling around,I'm talking serious Induction.I may go off next week for a glass of wine or two on DH and I's 19th anniversary.Yours is around the corner too I believe?
I remember when you were renting...My landlord actually showed up with a plumber and he found the blockage and removed it.Life is much more normal now.
I'm glad your family received the all clear at the dentist.I still have to get the older 2 girls in but I'll wait until; we resolve DH's problem first.Money is still tight as we are still recovering from the move and my loss of paycheque plus the doubling of our rent.
The school is bombarding us steady with fundraising.I wish I could do more but they have picture money due and swim lessons through school money due,all at the same time.They also want me to volunteer.I frankly am unable.I said I'll do whatever I can from home and if we get another vehicle before the year is through then I can participate.The girls joined the school choir and on occassion we may have to go to town in the evening or go out of town on weekends.
It'll be a long while before I start a business but I would like to get on some courses in the meantime.I still contemplate going to work all the time though,but DH and the kids really like me home.For some reason I can barely stay on top of housework and I go all day.I think once I'm organized it'll get better.Also a few days was dedicated to raking and some nice big winds came along and filled the yard up again.Sigh....I wanted a big yard LOL.
I wouldn't feel bad about not taking the kids to see your Mom.Would she understand or just take it personal? It's worth the risk.It's sad all the same but I guess that's what family is all about.My stepmom raised her nieces alongside us when her sister died.The eldest girl was a handful and subjected us to influence and abuse and my mom has said now that because of what it did to the family she should have let some one else raise them(a single aunt or someone).But what can you do with hindsight...
I haven't spoke with my stepDD in a year.We've tried to contact her to no avail and think that she may be back on drugs or in jail.Her older 2 boys went to live with their father and her youngest is living with his father so that is good anyway.
I'm terrified of raising teens in this world but I believe supervision is totally the key and of course staying on path with morals and expectations...
So I have boxes for the kids and I save their most special stuff from school.I want to make them school scrapbooks.I've made them all baby scrapbooks(and journals from all the years since) which I'll give them when they have
their first child.I'll give them their school scrapbooks for graduation.That's the plan anyway
I have zillions of pics sotred on the PC and I really have to deal with them as I fear they are slowing down the PC.I need to go through them,shrink them,rename them,organize them and then burn them to CD's.You can see why I haven't got around to it.
So I'm making turkey soup today.Dayton and I will have to go to the store and get flour as I'll make dumplings and maybe homemade noodles too.I never eat this stuff so that won't be a hardship for me.
Anyway I'd best get on it...TTFN
Have fun with the pet situation.My kids are hounding me too and I'm just trying to enjoy some petfree time(the dog finally is perfectly well behaved)

[previously Lee A]

...so I had an interesting weekend.
On Saturday Selena stepped on something and she said it was rusty.I cleaned it up and later when DH got home from work,he looked at it and we monitored it.She still showed no signs of infection at bedtime.Then we got up at 2am for DH to work and we woke her up and looked at it again and it was fine.So he took the car to work(I was contemplating driving him in case).

So the dog was carrying on and I let her out a couple times and tried to get back to sleep.Anyway at 6ish am the kids wake me and tell me the dog doo dood on the floor.So I cleaned that up and Selena told me to look at her foot and red streaks were shooting from the wound area.I fed them all and let Chey watch and I walked the half hour(rural roads)to our car.I came back,packed up the gang and to town to the hospital we went.So the Dr.prescribes antibiotics and then we go to the drugstore and I come out and see I have a flat tire.I look in the trunk,I have a spare but no jack or tool to remove the bolts...

So I make it over to the service station across the street.They have no jack,so I put some air in and drive a fair ways to a tire repair place and it's closed.I drove to a Canada Tire and their shop was closed and I considered buying a jack(but they were really expensive).I told the fellow at the automotive section my problem and he said he had a jack but needed someone to cover his desk.Everyone was on break and it took about an hour,then we went out and he even changed it for me.I gave him the only cash I had on hand($17)and he didn't want to accept it but I insisted.So that was nice! It was actually a very hot day and the kids were all irritable and i had to keep filling our water bottles.I was so happy to get home.

So i get in the door.The dog had been locked up in her cage and somehow she got out(?)and she'd messed the floor again.Obviously she was sick with something and then Selena told me she saw her eating another dog's doo doo when she was walking her the day before.Aaarh...

Anyway life is returning to normal Selena is doing alot better...
When I lived across the street from a hospital I went twice in 4 years.Here i am in the sticks and i've gone twice in a matter of weeks.Dayton has had a couple of choking incidents to that have put a huge scare into me.I have to really watch him when he's eating as he shovels too much in.I never had this problem with the girls.I'm sure I inherited a fem more wrinkles and gray hairs this last while.

Oh my DH is finally starting to go gray and he said he's thinking of buying Grecian formula.LOL.He's mentioned many times to me over the years about dyeing my hair and I just laugh.

So today is day #6 of Induction.I've been rereading my Atkins book and I've sort of messed up.Apparently nuts aren't allowed in the first 2 weeks.I'm down 3lbs of the 5lbs I was up but I'm perservering.I opted to do this and TOM showed up so that's probably a factor.After the 2 weeks I have to get back exercising.It's a daily struggle but I decided I want to do this by Christmas for sure.It's been 3 years of fooling around and getting nowhere.Also my BP and varicose veins are acting up and i want relief from that.

So Mary how's things with you?
Probably buried in studies...
I had to make a poster for Cody over the weekend.
I love that now I'm getting homework LOL

anyway I guess i should endeavour to establish some order in the house.
i might pop in later
TTFN

[MCmom]

I finally got myself back on the computer. I'm actually on the computer quite a bit, but not on the internet. I don't need to get on the internet for school related work very often. Anyways, it's been a mild autumn so far. We haven't had to turn on our heat yet, even though a few nights did get cold. I heard other people turned their heat on, but our house has stayed warm thanks to the insulation we had put in 2 yrs. ago, and the new windows last year. We want to take the kids to the big Milwaukee Zoo (an hour away) tomorrow, but it might rain. It's cloudy and rainy all day today thanks to an incoming cold front. We'll see how bad tomorrow is.

I'm in control of my eating, but not down to induction level. I'm just not ready to do it yet. Probably after the holidays.

Lee - At least your "adventures" make for interesting reading! Was what Selena stepped on in the house? I don't let my kids run around outside bare foot, even though they do do it on occasion. I get after them when I catch them. Moriah got poked by a spring on our livingroom chair, and it went into her leg. I called the Dr. about it, and they said her tetanus shot she had as a baby was still effective. She still has a scar from it, years later.

A month ago our dog, Sasha, got sick from something and had major diarrhea all over her crate. It was disgusting and stunk to high heaven. My DH was at work, so I was left to clean it up. Let's just say, I hope it never happens again! Thankfully, Sasha is a mostly healthy dog and never has accidents in the house anymore.

No hair dye for me either! When I go gray, I'm staying that way. My DH did spot one gray hair on my head, but I don't see it unless it's held infront of my face. I'll be the first gray haired woman in my family, since all my other female relatives dye their hair.

We're all healthy, aside from some sniffling and sneezing thanks to allergies. Everyone in the family has to take meds for it, so whatever it is, it's bad.

Congrats on doing induction! (even if you messed up a little) Obviously, you're at a better place than me. The good news is, I'm not down on myself over it. I don't beat myself up, or feel horrible. It's like I'm accepting my larger self for the moment. Not that I want to stay this way!! No way, I'm just staying calm and eating healthy for the most part. The kids got fast food last night, and I wasn't temped a bit to finish their food when they were done.

My mom had lost a bunch of weight, and now she gained every bit back. She came over the other day, and I really noticed how much she's gained. The thing is, she's not eating healthy like me. I may be bigger then I used to be, but I'm not pigging out on junk. She likes to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants. I feel good just knowing that I can control myself.

Sorry I missed saying, - Our 13th wedding anniversary is on October 22nd.

My mom had to come and visit us, as you read earlier. I will visit her with the kids, just not on a regular basis. I don't feel comfortable explaining how I feel to her. She can be sensitive and touchy on certain subjects. I want to keep peace with this being the holiday season. There's enough stress in the family at the moment.

That's nice all the stuff you are saving and making for your children. I did make each of the kids their own photo albums, from their births to their 4th or 5th birthdays. I am big on taking pictures. Just that alone is waaaaay more than my mom did for us. I hardly have any pictures from when I was a kid. Any pictures that were taken, were dumped into a box and put in the attic. I ended up taking pictures from it.

What's the latest "adventure" you have to share!

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

Hi Mary-
LOL nothing exciting to report I'm afraid.
I used to make my coworkers *tired* with my stories.
Selena stepped on a rusty bedspring in the little forest behind our yard.
It went through her sock and shoe.Her tetanus was up to date also but I think the reason it got infected was maybe the rubber from her shoe got up inside the wound(?).
Chey stepped on a rusty nail once and it didn't get infected.
Now I'm scared to drive to town until we get a jack(must have left our other one in our last vehicle that we got rid of)..We also need the spare replaced/repaired.
So my days have a certain sameness.Clean house,cook,take kids for a walk to the mailbox/park.Then it's almost afterschool,homework,DH gets home,get ready for bed.Strange I still have a hard time finding *spare* time

Induction isn't terribly hard as I'm never too far from plan anyway hence why the need to step it up a notch.The thing about Induction is the rules,like only 3 cups salad/veggies,no hard cheese etc..I only want to kick start the fat burning process.There's nothing wrong with maintaining if one is happy but my spare tire hangs over my jeans and I have a closet full of nice clothes that I can't wear so I'm wearing DH's Tshirts as I'm not going to go out and buy clothes that fit.Also I noticed the scale steadily creeping up again and that gave me cause for concern.I think it's because I'm not working or exercising.

I was hoping to see the loss of a lb or 2 but I'm determined this time...usually I've caved by now.
Thanx for the Bday wishes
I never really celebrated either event.DH is working too much(2 weeks straight so far)...they'll keep going until it snows or rains

I hope you managed to get away to the zoo.
Chey's Bday is a week after Halloween and she wanted to go swimming but I told her there is always snow on her Bday and maybe we'll do the usual sledding party/bonfire.She wants an Ipod.Last year we got her a portable CD player and she barely uses it.

I just love the preteen stuff.I've been on her about attitude also.I won't accept any talking back...she's a smart,obedient girl but a bit of stuff does wear off on them from school.She was saying so and so gets to dye her hair and straighten it etc and I replied well so and so may be allowed to stay out late and unsupervised at a young age too,her parents may let her do lots of things like get pregnant and do drugs.Sigh....it begins

I feel for your Mom.It's funny I was talking to an elderly lady at the park yesterday and i was telling her for such a nice little community there is a lot of vandalism and destruction(someone burnt down the recycling bins).
She said everyone in town knows who it is.Some family on welfare and it's the 4th generation of them and the cycle continues.She said she'd like to see one kid break out of that family and accomplish something.I guess the one girl had a baby at 15 and is pregnant again by another father.

Honestly I think this may be my neighbours.They party all night on the weekends(and we have to be up at 2am).DH still talks about buying this place and I almost want to say no on behalf of the neighbours.

well I'd best go a small battle is breaking out over use of the one bathroom(I miss having 2)

[MCmom]

This months temps. have been up and down, up and down. Some days like summer and others like fall. I put the kids summer clothes away, only to have to drag a few things out after our recent summer-like weekend. Today it's back to fall, and the summer clothes will be put back away. By time November rolls around, the summer clothes will stay put downstairs.

My mom, who is raising 2 of her grandchildren, wants me to homeschool the 15 yr. old (Crystal), who is not doing well in school. She will buy the curriculum, and I would be the teacher. I'm not exactly comfortable with this, b/c Crystal is not my child, and she is a high schooler! It's easier working with my kids as they go slowly up higher in grades. My oldest, Elijah, is only in 4th grade. I'm re-learning some things right along with them. So I'm trying to convince my mom to try other schools in the area, that might work out better. It would be different if my mom would actually help in teaching Crystal, rather than expect me to do most (if not all) of the teaching.

Lee - Wow, the bedspring went through her shoe??! Time for some steel-bottomed shoes! Either that or no playing in the junk-filled little forest! My kids live in a small city, so no forests anywhere nearby. That actually is sad.

A lady at my church who spent $1500 dollars on a weight-loss program, is re-gaining all the weight she lost. I felt bad for not congratulating her on her weight-loss, but I knew the odds were, she would re-gain it all back. It's just so hard to lose and maintain the weight-loss, on a strict diet plan. Eventually you return to eating "normal." I wish she could have been one of the few successful losers.

No zoo trip last week, b/c it rained. We're trying again this Thursday. It doesn't matter if it's cloudy and cool, as long as it doesn't rain. It's iffy at this point.

It's great that you're so determined to lose the weight! It sounds like if your body doesn't work against you, you'll be dropping the lbs in no time! Keep me posted.

We bought Moriah a CD player for her last birthday, and she hardly uses hers either. Leah uses it alot though, so it ended up being worth it.

Speaking of presents, we're well into our Christmas shopping. Elijah has 5 presents already, and Moriah & Leah have 2 each. I just happen to see things in the sales ads, and can't resist buying them. I got Elijah 3 Nintendo DS games for only $36.00. The games were on sale, plus the store had a coupon which could be used for toys or games. The Nintendo DS games are usually $20.00 or $30.00 apiece, so it ended up being a really good deal. Hey, maybe this Christmas I'll get done shopping before Christmas Eve!

Bad neighbors are the worst. We had those when we rented, but thankfully, it's been fine since we bought our house. There have been minor things (like the people next door who used to let their little dog poop on our grass, but they've already moved). Nothing that would make us consider selling our house. We looked at one house which had a lot of rentals around it, and one evening when we were looking at the house, we heard the neighbors being loud and cursing. We didn't put an offer on that house. Are the neighbors renters? Maybe they'll move away soon.

One bathroom?! I know how hard that is. We technically have one bathroom too, but there is a working toilet in the basement. We've had to rely on that toilet many times. Elijah can take up to 30 min. going #2, and Leah's done more than her fair share of hogging the toilet (with her on-going problem with going #2). Just wait until you have several teenagers!

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

...well I hope your weather smartens up so you can make that zoo trip.
It's been raining here so DH has been off a few days and possibly some more.They can only work when the backroads are dry.

I'm surprised you've even entertained the idea of HS your niece.
I'd still be worried about her influence on your children.
I did some HS at that age and really didn't require a teacher...

So DH's aunt died of cancer and on Monday he'll go alone as it's appx an 8 hour drive.The kids have school but it would have been an opportunity to meet with the grandfolks.DH and his folks are on the outs alot and seeing them there will be uncomfortable but i can't allow myself to worry about things like that...

I told my mom recently that I'd been praying for Selena not to get an infection and she said you don't pray for any particular thing,you pray that you can cope and I replied I know I can cope,I choose to pray for a particular thing.

Yeah I cleaned up the junky forest and had a large garbage bag full over there and went to retrieve it today as it's garbage day tomorrow and someone had strewn it all over plus there was a quad and a dirt bike burnt on a fire heap.I called the police as I'd heard on the news that quads and bikes have been stolen(I locked our bikes up today).I imagine they'll pop by
tomorrow.

The forest belongs to a fellow up the street,most of it is fenced but he said they come in through this marsh area that isn't.Chey got her shoes stolen at school.I asked my DH if we made a wise decision moving to this place.

Oh and my weight loss is not a loss.I've been strict for over 2 weeks and I've barely lost what I put on at Thanksgiving.I'm actually incredibly surprised,so either I need to exercise or just hang in there.It may well be that menapause is a factor tho I hope not,but even Atkins says it slows your metabolism down.I need to research tubal ligation and weightloss some more as I think that may be the culprit.

I watched a documentary the other night on *Fat*
Almost everyone puts on the weight they lost because they return to the way they used to eat.I'm curious about my situation as I've been a pretty serious LC'er who put on weight to have a baby and that was 3ish years ago and it still isn't coming off.I don't eat at night,I'm conscious of everything I put in my mouth and even weigh it in my mind if it's acceptable to do so.

Good for you being on your Christmas shopping.You always are so organized there.I can barely break away alone(well i never do really)and I shop for groceries with kids and that still isn't the funnest of chores.

Anyway I should head to bed
TTFN

[MCmom]

Another warm up before another cold front tomorrow. On the news last night, they said this was the 5th warmest October recorded. No heat used as of yet, which is great. I prefer winter to arrive later, rather than earlier.

I haven't posted for awhile due to out-of-control allergies. I've been completely miserable. I had to leave 2 church services early this month, b/c of it. That is very unusual for me. I can't remember being as bad as I've been lately. Maybe it has something to do with our above average temperatures.

Lee - We ended up going to the zoo and having a good time. The weather was dry and sunny (for the most part). It's so much nicer going when it's not too warm. Leah enjoyed it so much, she was ready to go again the next day.

I'm not concerned about my 15 yr. old niece influencing my children, b/c it would be in my home, and she's not a bad kid when she's by herself. Put her around her 14 yr. old brother and 13 yr. old cousin (Brittany), and it's another story. I'm not sure it will work out anyways. She's been put into a different school this week, so we'll see how that goes.

Sorry to hear about your DH's aunt. It's nice that he's going, since some people wouldn't bother to take the time. Today's families seem to be more distant than they were in the past. My DH and I have lots of family members we rarely see, and some we'll never see again. Sad.

I pray for general things as well as particular needs. We don't always get what we want, and that's when we ask for the ability to cope with what God has decided for us.

It's hard to get away from crime altogether, as people are people no matter where you go. It's a shame what people are capable of.

That is what I am afraid of. That I'll be completely strict, and won't lost a thing. Actually, I have tried induction (or near induction) levels before, and didn't lose anything. I'm not one to restrict myself for no reason. I have to see results! That's my motivation. Now I'm just trying to focus on "eating healthy" and not obsessing. I have to eat this way for the rest of my life, so I have to be able to stick with it. I refuse to be one of those crazed-forever-dieting people.

I'm in stores several times a week, so it's easy to do my Christmas shopping. I have to go shopping tomorrow (again), and I'll look around for more stuff. I'm always keeping an eye out for good deals, refusing to pay regular price for anything. I've heard there will be lots of good deals this Christmas, due to the housing crisis.

Sounds like the junky forest will be a pleasant place when you're done! Keep up the good work, you community helper you!

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

Hi Mary-sorry to hear about your allergies,I've never been afflicted fortunately.
Well DH never went to the funeral after all.
They ended up going back to work(nightshift-yuck-trying to keep kids quiet in the day...sigh).We couldn't really afford for him to go...
I went shopping for Chey's Bday and wished I could be Christmas shopping as there was insane deals.We did get her an MP3 player,some PS2 games,IDog and some other little things.I found a 2nd hand store in town after all tho' people told me there wasn't and the phonebook doesn't list it.It's a good one too but only open 2 days a week and it's very busy.I picked up probably a dozen pairs of jeans for the kids at $1.50 each!
So it was Halloween last night.Chey was a corpse bride,Selena was Pegasus,Cody was a cat and Dayton was a bumblebee.It was their 1st Halloween ever without snow.They also got tons of candy for the first time also(because they weren't freezing LOL)

So I've fallen of plan to indulge in Halloween goodies.Also TOM is back(2 weeks after the last one!)I think that may be why I wasn't losing.I knew i was retaining water and felt bloated.I thought it was because of a potassium deficiency as I've been having leg cramps(haven't had them since my
pregnancies)and that will cause you to hold on to water.

I plan to try Induction again after all this but this time I'll start it with a fat fast.I've done that before but I wasn't aware that you had to remain under 1000 calories so this time I'll keep track of them.
I know I can eat this way for life but I really am tired of maintaining this weight so I really need the kickstart.

So I need to deal with the pumpkins(I boil and freeze them for later baking)
Plus a coworker of my DH brought us 2 boxes of apples and DH told the guys I'd bake them a few pies.I need to get some pans for that.I'm looking forward to just relaxing one day....sigh

I've been to the school alot lately as they send your kids home even if they say they *feel* sick and they come home and are fine.That drives me crazy.Lice is out as well so alot of time is being invested in my 3 daughter's hair.I told the K teacher I'd volunteer in other ways from home and she asked me to make a card to thank the firestation for a field trip and I did a B+W one of an old fire truck,it was pretty cool.I have to make a card for the county office as well because they gave us a big basket of goodies welcoming us to the community.

Oh and my dog that I said was being perfect has made me out to be a liar.Her latest thing is sneaking out of the yard.It's fenced but she'll squeeze until she can work her way between the pickets.So I've resorted to placing her on a chain and I'll let her out and 2 minutes later she is barking to come in and that is maddening.Today I showed her the vaccuum when she carried on after being let out(it's the only thing I know she's afraid of).It worked tho' she was quiet after that.

It's extremely windy and all the leaves I raked up is blowing around.I'd wanted to get the kids outside while DH sleeps.I'm glad you are saving on heat and were able to make it to the zoo.We use heat at night and first thing in the morn(as it's -10c)

anyway gotta run,cody and dayton are squabbling
TTFN

[MCmom]

Hi Lee, I had to go in the basement today to pull out more winter clothes, & it jumpstarted my allergies again. Just after it was calming down too. Now I'm back to miserable for a few more days.

We haven't got down to freezing yet (0 F), but we will be by next week. That's when the heat will be turned on. Our gas & electric bill came this month, and it was real low. That was nice. Next months bill will definitely be higher.

Do we have the same dog??! Our dog has to be chained, b/c she'll get out of our fence, and she also barks like crazy after a few minutes, wanting to come back in. She only wants to be outside when someone is outside with her. We had to resort to putting her in the far back corner of our yard, to keep her from jumping on the side of the house (trying to get up by a window). After doing this a few times, she no longer jumps on the side of the house. I like our dog for the most part, but she is still a knuckle head at times.

It sounds like Chey made out like a bandit for her b-day! Now what will you think of for Christmas?? Is there anything else left to buy?! j/k, I know there are always lots of things that kids want.

I just bought Elijah a pair of jeans today at a 2nd hand store. It cost $1.75 for a brand name pair. They were in perfect condition too. I've been buying Elijah jeans there for quite some time now. I'm always amazed when I find a pair that are in perfect condition. I'm like, "Did anyone actually where these??!" Elijah has his jeans looking "worn" in only a short while it seems.

My kids got tons of candy too, but not from trick-or-treating. Their grandma gave them several bags, and I bought several more bags today on clearance. They're set until the "after Christmas clearance sale."

I never have a problem with eating sugar, it's the occasional pizza or fries that are my cheats. I'm going to cut these out for a long time, to stick with my "eating healthy" plan. I've come to realize that my occasional cheats set me back for about a week or two, causing my hunger levels to stay high during that time. I can't afford that right now. I want to be thin sooner, rather than later. From what I've heard/read, it's very hard to lose weight during peri-menopause and during menopause. We may be in for a long, hard road ahead. Let me know when you enter into full menopause, it sounds like you're getting closer and closer. I'm thinking it will happen in about 5 or 6 years for me (I'm 35).

I can understand your DH not having the money to make the trip. Money is tight at any time, but nearing winter/Christmas, every penny is needed. I still have to find Elijah a reasonably priced, pair of boots. He outgrew his ones from last year. Now he's in men sizes, which cost more than children sizes. I was able to find Moriah a name brand pair in a 2nd hand store, but the mens boots look terrible. If I can wait one more month, the boots will be on clearance.

Have fun with the fat fast! It sounds like torture to me, but hey, have fun with it anyways!

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

ok try this again.I was posting and got bumped off.I checked in the other day too and then Dayton stuck a bead up his nose.I got it out,resumed posting and was just about to submit it and he turned the PC off.Oh my does he keep me going,except now as he is the only one asleep.There's no school tomorrow and all the girls are still up.DH has to get up in a couple of hours for work so I am doing my best to stay awake.The kids all had sore throats and coughs and now my throat is getting sore.I went to the girls school this morning to watch them in choir as they had a remembrance day service.

Sorry to hear your allergies are still bothering you.I'm lucky in that regard not being similarily afflicted.Do you have an air purifier in your home.I was dusting today and was thinking thank goodness dust doesn't bother the kids as we seem to have enough of it.

Dogs eh...we have a kennel in the back of the house but I won't subject the neighbours to her complaining.I'd just have to walk all the way back there to retrieve her also.As long as she does her business I guess I can handle the annoying behaviour

Cool that you are saving on heat.We need to use the heat in the night and morning.The thermostat is set for 17f and it falls below that and kicks in.

Yeah at our old thrift store it was $4.00 for a good pair of jeans(which were hard to find),I usually had to repair the ones I bought! So this was a tremendous bargain as the jeans were immaculate.I need to go up again and get skates.I have to see who outgrew what.

The only problem I have with Halloween is chocolate.i like the PB cups and choc covered peanuts and I'm not satified with one or two but have to eat about half a dozen or more(well they are small).Every day I say I won't have one and I cave by day's end.I'll be glad when they are gone.But I still eat LC meals so I'm not really going up on the scale as of yet.My only starch addiction is rice.i made some the other night and forced myself not to have any as i know real binge behaviour will kick in.I make bread daily and am not interested,I make homemade pizza every Friday and again I'm not interested.
My biggest problem( if Atkins were to analyze my diet) is that I snack quite a bit(those pieces of cheese and handfuls of nuts add up)and i drink waaaay too much coffee...but like you've said I need to do it this way in order to stick fairly close to plan for life.I also have to be exercising.Atkins says eating right without it is like riding a bike with flat tires...

We have tons left to buy the kids.
We have one old 13"TV(ours from 20 years ago)plus another large decrepit one in the living room which has a VCR/DVD/PS2 hooked to it.
The smaller TV in the one bedroom has a VCR and PS1 hooked to it.
So as you can see we need more plus upgrades
Chey got half her stuff,we had alittle afterschool family Bday and her party with school chums is for next weekend.

anyway i have to run,the kids are finally ready for bed.
TTFN

[MCmom]

As of early this week, we've been using our heat at night, and early in the morning. Once the sun comes in through the windows, the house warms up and the heat stays off during the day. By next month, we'll be having the heat off and on, all day and night. I have the thermostat set for 65 F (18.3 C) during the day, and 60 F (15.5 C) during the night. That is cooler than most people set it, but the heating bill is lots cheaper that way. If anyone gets cold, they just have to either bundle up or cover up. The kids have at least 4 blankets each (including a comforter), so I know they stay warm at night. At least, if they manage to keep all their blankets on.

I found both Moriah and Leah cute purses on clearance, for only a little over $2.00 at a department store. They are bigger than most girls purses, but smaller than adult purses. I don't like the tiny ones, since you can't put much in them. I found Elijah another DS game for only $10.00. Who says you can't find good prices before Thanksgiving? I'm certainly keeping my eye out.

We went to my mom's 58th b-day party last night, and it wasn't fun. There was a dispute between my 14 yr. old nephew (whom my mom is raising), and my aunt's husband (in his 50's). I thought it was going to turn into a fist fight for a few minutes there. Scary. After the offended parties left, it quieted down. My almost 16 yr. old niece (whom my mom is also raising) had her problems too, but that's nothing new. Let's just say, I'm not looking forward to going over there for Thanksgiving. I told my mom that we were, but now I don't know. My sister, her husband, and her 13 yr. old daughter, are temporarily living with my mom as well. They have plenty of problems themselves, to add to the unpleasant mix.

Anyways, everyone is healthy for the moment. My allergies have let up for now. Happy days are here again.

The scale is up (clothes tell me that, not the scale), so I've gotten way more strict with my eating. I refuse to go low-fat, I shudder at the very thought. I am, however, cutting out all the extras. That means peanuts, peanut butter, LC bread, LC crackers, sf ice cream, sf candy, etc... I need to see the scale go down. BTW, they had pizza at my mom's b-day party, and I didn't have one bite!

Speaking of low-fat dieting, I saw a special on the ION channel, which showed people going on a LF diet. They had to eat very little meat & cheese, with lots of salads & vegetables. It looked like torture to me. I'm not even going to try it, since I know for a fact that I couldn't sustain it for a lifetime. I'm not one who can go hungry for long. A full stomach is a happy stomach.

Lee - You're right about exercising, but I did read that while exercising is important for overall health, it shouldn't be relied on to maintain a healthy weight. Something could happen to a person that would cause them to have to limit, or cut out exercising. Then the weight would come right back on. Exercising should be for keeping your body healthy, while eating a healthy diet, should be for maintaining weight-loss. I know not everyone agrees, but it makes sense to me. For whatever that's worth, LOL.

I'm a big reader (if you haven't noticed already), and I read in Consumer Reports that air purifiers aren't really all that helpful. Sometimes they can even add problems of their own. They say there are cheaper, more helpful ways to improve the air quality in your home. Such as, banning indoor smoking, keeping pets out of bedrooms, cleaning carpets, opening windows whenever possible, using outdoor-venting fans in the bathroom & kitchens, and maintaining heating equipment. The carpet in our livingroom does need cleaning (there are no carpets in the bedrooms), which is something we need to have done. Other than that, we're fine with everything else. I just think that I aggravated my allergies by getting out the winter clothes from the basement, which caused me to be extra-sensitive to my other allergens. I still have allergies, but the OTC medicines are working again.

I've found that with food I have trouble controlling (the amount I eat that is), I have to stop eating it altogether. Once I do it long enough, I stop missing it. That's how it was with sugar. Now I am not tempted by anything sweet made with sugar. I'm going to do that with pizza, french fries, and peanuts/peanut butter. I don't know if it will be a "forever" thing, but it will certainly be a long while before I have them again.

Snacking can really get you. I believe that's my reason for gaining. Once I'm back in ketosi