Apples2

My son was just telling me at dinner that he is starting the P90 workouts. He is already in good shape but said he was going to start this program. He has the knees of an 80 yr old (Iraq) and cannot do some of the workouts he used to do. He left the house with a bag a frozen meals made by momma and a huge bag of my protein bars. I'm up for the challenge also, Janet. I'm going to have to bump my cals again. My average is about 2750. Got 2770 today and was not easy cuz I had a stressful day and band tightened. Think 1/2 of my cals were either apple cider or cappacinos. Will need to switch back to my 400 cal protein bars for snacks instead of 200 cal ones. I hate to even post that kind of stuff here. Oh well, it's my dilema right now.

Cheri...wonderful song! Very inspiring.

Great...so funny...I got inspiration from you during the weight loss process as well as many on here. But, thanks for the kind words. Phyll was one that I picked out as a realistic person who told it like it was with no excuses. I appreciated that she had a medical background and was not just pulling advice out of nowhere. Janet was the kick in the butt that I needed once in awhile but she was still positive and caring at the same time. JoAnne was one that I drew to because she was a newbie and seemed so informed about LB issues long b/4 her surgery. Guess that is why I stuck to this thread...because of the positve ppl that hung here. Always knew I could get a direct answer. Guess what I am trying to say is negativity breeds negativity and I try to avoid it. Like we used to tell our DSs...You keep that bottom lip out too long and a bird is just going to come along and poop on it! I've always been a believer that our great USof A should be able to take care of our elderly without them getting to the point where they are giving up their homes, their savings, their dignity, etc. I don't care if someone has a million dollars or it's someone that has $500 in their checking account. We should be able to provide for our elderly so that it does not drain them financially and emotionally. Some may disagree with me. We have so many $$$ spent on insignificant things (spent by our government) that it could all go to take care of our elderly and people that really do need it. (I'll get off my soap box now). My "mom" was getting to the point of living from SS check to the next. She was such a giving person and I know she spent more on others than she should have and it would have gotten to the point where she would have had to go into a nursing home. (Blind in one eye and losing sight in the other). I was dreading her losing her independence and having the feeling that she was a financial burden. Luckily, she lived in an apt. building where they based her rent on her income. Maybe that is something to look into for your GM. The above was such a ramble..don't even know if it made sense but no time to reread and redo. I think all of this is finally hitting me. I am so sad and don't know what I will do once all this busyness comes to an end. Guess I'd better just buck up and face that wall when it comes. Now, I'm off....later.

Allie...if I don't catch you b/4 your PS, just want to wish you the best of luck. Will say an extra prayer for healing and good results for you. Take care.:smile2:

Sorry to hear about your gain, Arlene. Maybe it's just a fluke and you will drop again. But, you have the right idea about getting your journaling, etc. back on track. My friend gets B12 shots and she always told me that she got REALLY stiff and sore and achey from them for about a week. Does any of that happen to you????? Off to the apt for more packing today. Getting a late start. Want to be in there b/4 10am. Yesterday put another 14 hours in. Got all her 955 S&P shakers packed up and ready to travel the miles to her daughter's home. I wrapped them all in individual packages (1910 paper lunch bags). Today just organizing the small items that her family still needs to go through on TG weekend. Dropped my 4lbs that I had gained over the summer. Bummer. That may seem strange to some of you that it would upset me, but I worked hard to get them back on. Funny thing is, I did not think I was working much harder than I do at home. Must be the stress of losing her. I have been eating and doubling up on certain things (food) just to get an adequate amount of cals, if not more than I need. Even been eating lots of cookies and cakes that her little neighbor ladies have been bringing over to the apt. Oh well, holidays coming up and lots of goodies to sample. Hope you all have a good day. I have always loved Mondays (yep....I'm a bit off). Think it has something to do with the glass half full syndrome. Will check in when I get home tonight. Take care.:smile2:

BTH Great, Hope your GM loves her sweatshirt. My "mom" had quite a few like that that were revamped with a zipper and sewn on pockets and collars. She was so cute in them. Gotta stay warm, you know!

Great...thank you for caring but I am taking good care of myself. I head out with my "green" bag full of food and am eating good. You have to know my reg job to know that what I have been doing to pack the apt is not as tough as a day around here working. In fact, DH just said to me last night "You are so bubbly when you've put in a long day's work". Sick, huh? Talk to you all tonight. Take care and have a wonderful Sunday.

Hey All...just a quick post b/4 my head hits the pillow. I am sure I will be out quickly. Was at the apt. by 7am and worked until 8pm. A lot accomplished for today. Both DH and I were too tired to go out for anniversary dinner. We decided to do it Tues night (actual anniversary). BTW...thanks for all of the congrats on that. Eva...did a job bring to you AZ or a spouse? Must like the weather to still be there 30 yrs later. Coconuts...happy to hear your surgery is behind you and you are at home. Make sure to take care, follow your doc's orders and jump on this thread with questions you may have or just to visit a bit. We tend to take care of our newbies and get them hooked on this thread. A lot of support provided here. Phyll and Janet...Oh I envy you...a LB sista shopping trip...have a great time. You deserve that Coach Phyll. Have never even seen one. Just a hillbilly hayseed here. Julie...not not a bit stiff from my fall. I lucked out on that one. I NEVER get stiff anymore. And to think, I was ALWAYS stiff and sore EVERYWHERE when I was obese. There is not an ache or pain in my body ever. Lucky. I think a lot of it is I stay pretty limber because I am extremely active. Great...good going on getting out and shopping with your cane. Hope things just get continually better for you. And, I think we talked about Sat. on TG weekend. Watertown would work best for me but can travel further if Aberdeen is better for you. Just let me know. The only thing that would prevent us meeting would be terrible roads but we can talk closer to the time. I am super excited about meeting you. Laura...I sleep naked and just run around the house in the morning in those flannel pants. DS is here early (catching momma naked would ruin him for life) and it's cold here so not running naked in the house. Good night, dear friends. My book is calling me. Most likely will not be on tomorrow. Have 955 sets of salt and pepper shakers to begin wrapping and packing. Whoohoo!

Aww...that's so nice of you to say, Balletgirl...I'm just an ordinary person who counts on my LB friends for support. I will take the compliment though LOL. :wink2:

Phyll...if you can't see me, I'm doing the happy dance and congrats on Onderland. Hope the hip is just a fluke and overcompensating because of the knee and will be fine. (Fingers crossed)....let us know what you find out. Cheri...sounds like you had quite the menagerie with all those animals. I do have my 100lb black lab in the house but we don't let him get on beds or furniture. We have the exception of him sitting on DH's lap on the recliner in the evening. Head on DH's shoulder and A$$ hanging off the end. Big dog....big baby but soooooooooooo well-behaved. When he was a puppy I was lucky enough to be home for 2 wks straight and able to train him. When I wanted him to listen to me I said A-E-I-O-U (don't ask me why...don't know why I chose that). If I want him to do something and he is defiant, I only get to "A" and he is on his way back to his bed. Good dog. Julie....good to hear that you had a few days pain free. Would be nice if that would continue. Arlene....does your pain ever subside????? You sound miserable. Porcupine...I'm doing well. Just really booked to get this apartment all packed and done. She was an organized and very clean lady but she has 89 yrs worth of "stuff" which was very important to her. Siblings have left and asked me to just make some decisions on some of it whether to keep or throw. I will get there. Have to start working on my yearend again for farm and business next week. How are you doing??????? Keeping on track? Hope things are going good for you. Hey, Lori, Janet, Meredith, Linda, Eva (I'm forgetting some) and to all the newbies I have not had the pleasure of getting to know yet. Don't ask me what I am doing up this early. Rolled out of bed at 4:15. Want to get a few things done here (house neglected for a week) and then into apt. b/4 8am and have a good day of work. DH and I talked about going out to dinner tonight to celebrate our anniversary (30 yrs that just flew by). Depends on how far behind we are dragging our butts. He and DS will be playing in the mudd again (drain tile). Hard, tough work and he may be too tired (or I will be too tired). Took a tumble down our stairs yesterday. Running around like a chix with no head. Going up and down to store room to get boxes to take with me. Half way down caught my toe in my flannel jammie pants. It was not pretty but did not get hurt. I had visions on the way down. I gotta slow down or my DH will be posting MY obit. Ok...gotta hit the road. You guys have a great weekend if I don't talk to you b/4 Monday. I do check posts on my threads the first thing when I come in the door and THEN DH gets his kiss!

Sorry for the struggles, Janet. One thing about you though...you take action immediately after a slip. Do you think that not having sugar for a few days made you want it more? Deprivation?????? I have a really strange food regamine, but it works for me. A certain amount of fiber, protein, and carbs. Each day I plan but, as we all know, well made plans can call by the wayside. I notice that when I do not get my carbs in early in the day, I am standing in the pantry b/4 bed eating high carb cereal by the handful. It's like I JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT. I think deprivation is the downfall of most "diets". (And I realize you do not see this as a diet...life change). Anyway, nice to see you jumped back one and took care of your slip-up. Icecream rinsed down the sink yet????????:thumbup:

Laura...WHAT???????????? Family dogs and cats are NOT human????????????WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok...out the door early. Want to try and get as much done as I can in apt. b/4 we start the corn harvest which most likely will be next week. No time to respond...I miss you guys!

Awww...thanks, Janet. Just checking in. Got home a bit ago. Lots sorted and packed and lots to go. Sis has to go back to work so will plug away with apt. Just nice that I know what goes to who so I can pack and label. This work has actually been very theraputic and will continue to be. Better than being home all alone with my guys gone from dusk till dawn. Popcorn time for me and the puppa. Nightly ritual. He's sitting in his popcorn position and waiting for momma to get it done. Talk to you all tomorrow. Maybe I will have time to catch up with everyone a little bit. Sending CyberHugs!

The darned walker issue...my "mom" was supposed to be using hers when she was out and about. She would use it in her apt when she felt light-headed but the pride got to her when she was out in public. You just gotta let them keep there independence as long as they can. I used to catch myself b/4 I would do the lecture. "Do you think you should go out today with this ice and snow?" I would just zip it and know what would be, would be. Janet...was reading your post last night and just about choked on my popcorn. Me? Normal? Oh Honey...once you meet me you will learn I am anything but. One of my life goals is to NEVER be normal. (Whatever normal is). I got such a kick out of it. Great....focus all your energy and time on your GM right now. Sounds like she is the glue that is keeping things together with the family. Time will come to see how things play out and how everyone reacts once GM is no longer with you. You just keep being you and treating ppl in your family the best way you know how. Don't let their ways change YOU. To me, you seem to be a very loving and caring person. What I am trying to say it is THEIR issues...not yours. OK...I am going to be saying this for awhile. Can't acknowledge every post so don't feel left out. Meredith..happy to hear you had a great trip. You were missed. I always look forward to getting up in the morning and seeing your post from the night b/4. Arlene...sorry you are having such a time with everything. Say DAMN IT!...that might help. Everyone else.....miss the talks but have soooooo much going on right now. Heading out in a couple of minutes. Doing more cards at the fam house and then heading into town for more packing. That family is the example which I wish could be set for all families at a time of loss. They are so kind to each other. Sis says to brother "Do you want this?" Brother says "Oh no, Sis, mom would want you to have it". This was all day yesterday and since she passed. She did something right with raising her two sons and her daughter. They offered to me ANYTHING I wanted of hers. I took three Icelandic lined sweaters that I had given her for Christmas....she had told me many times she wanted me to have them back. Also a marble egg, jewelry case which I had given her. The one and only item I wanted when my GM died was one of her hankies. She was one to always carry fancy hankies and always ironed them. I have it in my undie drawer and see it every day. She has been gone since 1987. Anyway, I am going to feel like she has her arms around me when I wear those sweaters. I'm out...will try to check in when I get home tonight. Take care, FOLLOW THE BAND RULES, plan your treats, drink your fluids, eat Fiber, take a walk or hit the gym (Laura...love ya).

Cheri..just have mom keep a really close eye on him. We visited ER a couple of times from jumping on the bed. (The monkey song comes to mind). I am sure they left with what to watch for. Any concerns, they can always go back to doc to get him checked out. Hope everything will be OK with him. Kids!:drool:

Oh Phyll...I will think of this each time I THINK I am weak. I'm pretty sure I'm a "bean".....I once told a dr. what I had been going thru with my birth family. It was the toughest time of my life (about 15-20yrs ago). I did not want any of this negativity to affect my boys and wanted to make sure how I was handling it. Laid it all out and doc said that I had great survival instincts. Better than she had ever seen. Here I am, feeling the weakest I ever had in my life and she is saying that. She told me to take those survivor skills that I had and teach them to my sons and they could get through anything. My sons grew up to take on the world (their own little world) and never look back. Oldest saw a lot of action in Iraq...came back without three lifetime friends. I was in awe of how he dealt with all these feelings and did not push it all under the rug. (I'm getting off the subject here). Anyway, Phyll....thanks for your story. It comes at a good time for all of us. Whether we struggle with daily life, band life, food issues, family issues...we can take a look at the lesson this story provides. Janet..."mom" had been in my life for about 30 yrs. It's getting to me not being involved in this thread and missing the casual posting. I am sure I will be in and out all week. I do catch up on the reading but I feel my mind is so muddled that when I try to post I cannot keep my thoughts together. Yesterday got all the thank you's done and sure there will be more in the mail today. This lady was loved. 6 of us worked on it for 12 hours. Got home about 10:30, had time to cuddle up to DH for a bit and visit and bed at 12. Heading out this morning to start the packing of apt. Siblings need to get back to work. Have till Dec. 1 so will be in there most days till then sorting and packing. She had a salt and pepper shaker collection that goes to the "Real" daughter that is fragile and will take time to pack. 955 sets is what I think she we get. She collected angels also and I can't even begin to guess how many. She kept track of everything and who they came from. Anyway...off and running. Just know that I read the post and if I don't reply to each kind word, I am not snubbing, just hair-brained...but I do get your message and thank you. :drool:

You are so right on the way to preceive death, Eva. No regrets when you know your relationship with that person was loving and caring and you left nothing unsaid in your daily life with them. Isn't that what life should be about anyway? Respect for one another, make sure a person feels the love, etc. You would think that your company would have a way of pro-rating (not sure if that is the right term to use in this situation) for the number of years you have been with them and then distributing to the retirement fund for those that have been there the longest. If I were with a co. for 3 yrs and someone beside me had been there 30, I would have no problem with them getting their well-deserved share deposited. We often find with farming that we take a huge bite when things are tough. Gas prices go up...we get a double whammy. We pay more to the truckers to get our product to the elevator and then we pay another increased price to get it to where it is processed for food. We just have our own little pity party for awhile and avoid the coffee shops where farmers congregate to complain about it. (Not saying that you shouldn't Bi_ch about your situation...everyone needs to vent). :thumbup: OK...I really am walking out the door this time. Later:tt1:

Hey Linda....thanks so much (we must have been posting at the same time). It was difficult but I am honestly doing OK. A person just has to work through the grief (important) and work back into life. Again, thanks, Karen:wub:

An Add On....if I happened to miss a post with an acknowledement of sympathy....I am sorry. Much appreciated.

Great...prayer has been said for Grandma and I hope the news today is not something that will disrupt her life. Was difficult the way "mom" died (falling) but her doc visited with the family after she passed and he made the statement that it was a good thing the way she went. She got to die with dignity and we did not have to put her in a home, etc. She was soooooooooooo independent (still walked her 2 miles a day at 89). I come away from her passing with being very thankful for every moment I had with her. She taught me a lot about life and compassion for others. I will miss her terribly but I am going to take the memories and live life. I, too, had a great relationship with my GM. She really tried to pick up where my birth mom could not. I stood on a chair at my GM's at an early age (about 3) and that's where the love to cook and bake began. Cooking and baking is my passion on life. May sound silly but it is what it is. I am so thankful that I can still cook and bake and get joy from it and not miss sitting down and having a big plate of something. I DO eat what I cook, just samples now. Eva......sorry about the job situation...that sucks after all the years. I cannot believe that you cannot take that and roll it over. You might want to check your state laws on that. 1 Day...thanks for acknowleding my loss. So sweet. Cheri...Aww nice to know I was missed. Going to head out. My guys are tiling in the fields today and have a lunch packed for them. Don't have to worry about meals. They will join me over at the family when the day is done. You all have a great day. Even if I don't post, I am reading. Life is good.

Just checking in with a thank you for the kind words, everyone. I've read each post but headed for bed and just want to acknowledge and let you all know I appreciate the luvs sent my way. Long sad day but also celebrated her life. I am still in shock over how this family has included me every step of the way. At funeral this morning it was their wish for me to walk behind casket with her only daughter. Daughter's DH and her two brothers and the rest of the family followed. I will forever be grateful for this gesture. I am still numb that they, as a family, would make the decision to place me where they did. Doing thank yous with family tomorrow. Apt. is rented till the end of the month but will be helping with some packing, etc. so will not be around much to post. Will check my threads in the evenings. I'm spent and heading to bed with a book. (Hoping I don't even get to the second page). You are all so great and I felt the love that was sent my way. For those of you who sent cards, thank you and I will PM you in the next couple of days. Good night and God Bless.

Just checking in. No time to read posts tonight. Exhausted. Up at 4:20 this morning. Baked four pies to take with me to family. Wake at 1pm (hour for family b/4 so we could be alont) until 5. Had second meal at 7pm...first was brunch this morning. (Fed out of state and family). Not at my house..."Mom's" son's house where we have all been congregating. Gotta be to church at 9:30am and funeral at 10:30. Church ladies make a meal for all attending. I have 2 large pork loins in roaster to cook over night for tomorrow night's supper. Picked up 150 buns and just doing sand's, chips and serving all the sweets that have been brought to the house. The attendence at the wake was as I though (or more). Two lines were started and they both wound way out of the door of the funeral home and out on the street. She was loved by all. Noticed a lot we thought would be were not. Am sure we will see them tomorrow. Going to hit the bed. I'm shot. Cannot acknowledge every post right now but, again, thanks for the kind words from everyone. How did I get so lucky to find a group like you guys? Oh yea (as I said b/4) I NEEDED HELP! Good Night, Dear Friends....

Sent her a message to look up your mom. I envision a park bench with the two of them feeding pigeons and squirrels!:Yawn:

Meredith..have the BEST time with your sis. Don't worry about your restriction...always time when you get home to consider whether you need a fill. Happy to hear of the extension on the first time homeowners. I heard that it would happen but just didn't hear it was April. Breath a sigh of relief and hopefully your dream house will be yours soon. Thanks for the words on my "mom". She was a saint.

Great..I almost missed your post. Just happened to page back and read. I would have felt so bad to leave you out. Thanks for the comforting words and for your sympathy. She lived the best life ever...the very best life that she could live and that makes us all happy. She's not really gone...she'll always be us. :wub:Karen