Apples2

Ummmmmmm...we will do the above on Christmas Day unless we have a TON of snow and ZERO visibility! LOL

Eva...your Christmas sounds wonderful. We have had a few years in the past where our family/friends Christmas was celebrated on a day other than Christmas which left Christmas Day open. We would call the University in our town and find out if there were any "Christmas Orphans" that could not travel to their own home. We would invite them to stay with us, make a huge Christmas dinner, have a Christmas stocking to dig into and few little gifts. Those Christmas' with those kids mean as much to our little family as all the other ones do. This year DH and I will be alone on Christmas day and are going to go into town and volunteer at our community dinner at one of the churches. Mostly elderly ppl that do not have family or do not have family travelling home for Christmas. After that we will drive the 70 miles to the threatre to catch one of the new movies.

I just want to cry both happy and sad tears thinking of all these "Christmasy" things that all our families do and have done for years. Would love to have just one more Christmas with my boys little and do it all over again!

It DOES sound like you carried your mom's tradition forward, Arlene. Chex mix and cheese balls sound great to me. That's the two things "mom" always brought to our family Christmas. Chex mix and cheese balls. I don't know if anyone will make it this year now that she is gone. I sure hope so!

Just had to do my stop on this thread to wish all the June, 2008 "Junies" a very Merry Christmas.

By the way, Lori...thank you for sharing your favorite Christmas tradition. Any more from anyone else?

Good ole' oyster stew. A PB just waiting to happen! For years we have had our Christmas Eve with "Mom's" family. We go over to their place (about two miles from here) about 11:30am on Christmas Eve. Their tradition has always been to have oyster stew. Well when our family started joining them and none of us eat oyster stew, I bring along a crockpot of potato sausage soup. But, this year was planning on bringing chili. (Funny that you do the same). I usually make a couple of loaves of homemade bread to go with the meal. In the evening we have the traditional ham, mashed potatoes, yams, creamed sliced rutabagas, etc. It is such a joy that some of the grandkids have had children and so much fun to see them in their little fluffy Christmas dresses and to see the excitement they have for Christmas. We have a live nativity at one of our churches for the kids and they always look forward to that. So much more fun shopping for little ones. This year everyone is getting keepsake globes with an angel (she collected angels) from us in remembrance of "Granny". They are beautiful and had a special plaque put on the front with her name and "Loving Mother (or granny) and Angel". They wind up and play her favorite "The Lord is My Shepard".

Good Morning, Hope everyone is having a good day. LauraK...sounds like you're making the right decision in going back for a small unfill. Does not sound like much fun not being able to eat or drink. Being tight takes the joy out of everything. I look forward to eating and when I am tight because of strees, etc. things just don't seem right. Janet...sounds like you got a good nights sleep. Better catch up b/4 you get hit with your crowd over Christmas. Had a Christmas get together at our house yesterday. Everyone arrived at 3pm and wrapped about 10pm. Was very nice and my cheeks are still sore from laughing. I made a cranberry/pineapple glazed pork loin and after all was said and done I have 1 1/2 small slices remaining in the frig. Just served it with fresh parmesan focaccia bread. Had appetizers and Christmas goodies. Not much fussing but think everyone got a tummy full. Today is being spent doing year end books and have a tax appt. Been working on it all since I got up and just fine-tuning, paying the last of the bills, putting last of the deposits in, etc. I am always so happy when it is all wrapped up and off my desk. We are expecting a pretty intense snow storm to hit us Wed night thru Friday night. I detest these storms during the holidays when everyone is travelling. Just not the same when someone cannot make it to the festivities. Hoping our family that needs to travel can hit the road early so they can make it. Such a worry with everyone on the road. Almost happy DS #2 decided not to come home. He can fly in but a 4 hour trip after he hits the airport. We will have our little Christmas with him once we get to Atlanta in about a month and fly DS #1 out to be with us also. Still without a dishwasher during this busy time of entertaining. Will do some rethinking on where to buy my appliances the next time around. It's been over a month since I've called them and check every other day on where we are on the list. Good service? I think not. You want to see me crabby, just mess with the flow of how things are to go in my kitchen. Cheri...missed your new photo and went back and looked. I can really tell a difference in this photo from the last. Also, congrats on the weightloss. Not to long now and you will be at goal. Hang in there over the holidays! I have been tight (not overly...just not what I am used to) the last couple of weeks. Everything feels fine but just no hunger. Stress will do that to me. I'm thinking I don't even need a port. Just give me year end all year round! (Honesty don't like feeling and don't like to have to force-feed). But, you will all be happy to know that I am diligent (sp?) in getting all my cals in per day. I am back to getting up at night to have my steel cut oats and dates just to keep things right. Eva...good to hear that you had a nice trip with DH and got to see some of SF. Never been there but would love to go. Maybe in our future motorhome days. OK..so around Thanksgiving we all posted what we were thankful for, etc. Soooooooooooo....when Eva was talking about making tamales (this time of year, and for Christmas???????????), I just didn't get it. Got me thinking that it would be fun to share one of your favorite Christmas traditions that you love that your family does. We are a diverse group and would be fun to hear what one of your favorite family traditions is...whether it be something you make or bake, a game that is played, etc. I'll start...our little family (DS, myself and 2 DS's) always had our own little Christmas a couple of days b/4 Christmas. When DS's we very little I asked them what mom should make for our meal. It was scrambled eggs with diced ham, homemade cinnamon rolls with icing, being able to eat their gingerbread house and cocoa. We've carried that forward all these years. I still remember their chubby little cheeks as the two of them discussed what they wanted (probably 3 and 4 yrs old). Better get back to it or I won't be ready by the time I have to leave for appt. Lori...hope things are better for you every day. Meant to get a card off to you but will have to say I just didn't get it done. Just know I think of you often and the struggles that come with knee replacement (and the drug dilema). We're so lucky to have our medical advisors (Phyll and Laura) to call on in out time of need. Will check in later.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....the fish in my dreams do the Electric Slide...

The amount you can eat just becomes a way of life like a "normal" person. I will admit that I struggled with the 1/2cup per meal syndrome at first...took me a few months to feel that a meal was satisfying. It will come...just remember to take things day by day. Like anything in life, some days are better than others. Merry Christmas right back at ya!

I dread the thought of ever getting the stomach bug and vomiting. My doc insists on coming in for an unfill if a person gets the bug. Happy to hear you got through it without troubles. Will be anxious to hear how many miles you are putting on that pedometer! I have one but don't really need it. My treadmill keeps track. Easy to figure the miles out here in the country. Everything is set up in one mile sections!

Mornin' Deb! Sorry to hear you had a crappy day yesterday. Hope today is better. I know I do much better when we have sunlight. There wasn't any yesterday and does not look like today will be any better. I don't get down very often but I do notice about 10 dreary days will bring me down. As far as your question....I guess I would say that I have always been "wired". I didn't slow down much when I was heavy...just the last three years and I was so discouraged because there were so many things I couldn't accomplish any more. After the first 40lbs or so, I noticed I was back to moving a lot more. Living and helping on the farm can be so physically demanding and there were things I could just not do anymore and I just felt so bad about it all. My "Ah-Ha" moment came on 100 degree day in the summer when I became winded just walking about 50 feet over to my neighbor's place at our resort. I knew I could not live like that.

Hey Happy..be patient with where you lose the weight. I swear mine started at the top and work it's way down. I still had this big belly just a month away from goal. Everything eventually melts, shifts, disappears, etc. Wish only one fill you most likely are noticing that you can eat more than you think you should be eating. Talk to your doc's office and see what they recommend. Just be careful to not do too much of a fill at one time. I think most docs are conservative on the amount they give. I am always amazed when I read of someone getting more the 1cc. You will get there but just stay in contact with your doc on it. And, we are all different in the amount of fill we need. There are a couple of us that have only had two small fills and there are others that require 8-9 to get to where they need to be. On the exercise....just do ANYTHING to start. Walk, bike, run in place...any moving is better than none. I do not have the option of going to a gym but since I started this process, I told myself I had to move at least 30 minutes a day. Now if I miss some form of exercise, I feel sluggish and lazy. Sorry you had the bug. How did your band do during the time you were sick? Take care.:thumbup:

Hey Shrinkin Shan...welcome to our group. It was a pretty slow day on this thread yesterday and sorry no one caught up with your post till now. You are correct. This is a great place to fall and there's a lot of encouraging, helpful ppl on this thread. Sounds like you are doing great. And, congrats on your 18lbs lost. Also looks like you have a handle on following the LB rules your doc set up for you. Hang in there until you get the correct amount of fill in your band. This is not an easy trip but with determination you can meet your final goal. It is kind of funny how you come to realize that most things a person does are somehow connected with food. Almost all social situations have food involved. You just learn to do what is right for you in that situation....even if it means packing your own stash to avoid things you cannot eat in the beginning. I used to get flustered and in a bit of a panic thinking of social situations. Now, I don't even think about it. There's always something I can eat and just take it all as it comes. If you have any question, just ask. There's no such thing as a silly one and I am sure I asked many throughout my weightloss journey. Again, welcome and good luck!

Laura...would have been fun to chat this morning. I also had a DH sleeping in (which does not happen often with him). He must have needed to catch up. We have had a horendous schedule the last few months. It will continue for a couple of weeks as we wrap things up. I, myself, am under a considerable amount of stress and am tight. Not that it's work to eat and don't get stuck. Just not hungry. These weeks over Christmas and New Years and the week after are the most stressful for me on the farm. So much I love about the farm but weeks like this I would trade it to be a city mouse in a minute. Would not mind just having to maintain a house and a lawn and a 8-5 job for both DH and I. But, that will never be....a person can dream, right? Funny story about the black bra and panties. I always wished I would have taken the b/4 and after in the same outfit. The only b/4 photo I have is 40lbs lighter than my heaviest. I was a big time avoider of the camera. DS's GF was here last night and looking at family photos and kept saying that she did not remember me being heavy. She's been doing my hair for over 5 yrs and just cannot remember me "looking" like in the photos of me being heavy. It's only been a little over a year since I hit goal. I just hope I hold that image of me being heavy in my mind forever so that I have the fear of not going back there EVER. It snowed during the night. No footprints in the yard (now there is cuz DH is out checking bins) and just a nice beautiful layer of the white stuff and snow plow just made it's first path down our road. We are lucky to live on a paved county road. They get plowed first. Julie...your church sounds really quaint. There's still a few of them left around here. They really do make a pretty picture. My "mom" is buried in the cemetary by a small little church a mile straight from here (as the crow flies). I think I will get my snow boots on later and stop in and visit with her. Really, really missing her today and every day. I still run for the phone and look at the caller ID to see if it's her. Hard to break that habit. Christmas will be difficult without her but I am sure we will have some lighthearted stories to share about her. She was the gentlest woman and the toughest woman at the same time. I just will always miss her (crying). I think a lot about her "real" daughter and how difficult this is for her. We are close and stay in contact. They had the most special mother/daughter relationship that I have ever seen. I guess DH and I are going out for brunch this morning and then taking in a movie. (We have to travel 65-70 miles to see one). I am sitting here thinking that popping a DVD in and snacking on leftovers from last night would be even better. But, DH has not been off this farm for way too long so will do a double check with him to see if he REALLY wants to go out or if he is just thinking that I want to. DH is back in with a red nose. Later

Janet...Salsa Jack cheese is similar to Pepper Jack but more dried tomato taste to it.

Everyone was gone by 10pm..mostly a younger crowd that wanted to catch some of their friends that are in a band and playing in town tonight. Invited us along but knew that DH has some catching up to do on his sleep. I would have LOVED to dance the night away. Next time. Yep...have a group of ppl coming on Monday at 3pm. 8 couples as of now but think it will be 7 couples as one was unsure. We are pretty casual around here. Meals are served buffet style and you can pull a chair up to the table or take your plate in the livingroom to eat. Doing fancy/fussy makes me too nervous. I'd rather have the casual. I love to entertain but I want ppl to feel comfortable. You get offered your first beer and shown where it is kept so you can get the rest yourself. Looking forward to the group on Monday and to preparing the meal.

LauraK...nice avatar photo.

That's great new, Melissa. Looking forward to meeting you and your mom. I have driven the Salt Springs to Atlanta drive and it really isn't that bad. We usually can do it in 7 hours or less. It all depends on where you are from Atlanta. Further North? Janet....I had all the sweet treats except for the tarts made b/4 today. It was actually an easy party to cook for. I marinaded the chicken starting early this morning and just threw it in the oven on a baking sheet uncovered after company arrived. Turned out nice and moist. The other stuff I served really took no time at all to prepare. I actually took the easy way out with this one. Monday's party (since this has been planned for many weeks and today was a throw together quickly) will have me cooking most of the day. I will make seafood lasagna plus a few other traditional dishes we make when this group gets together. Was a very nice evening and everyone has gone home. DH's head is hanging over the arm of the recliner...pretty sure he's asleep...better go check for a pulse.:smile2:

Phyll...I have Lori's cell#. Will PM you

Think I am ready for my crowd which should show up about 5:30 (I backed it off a couple of hours..wanted to be "sane" when they showed up). On the menu: Honey mustard chicken breast (cut in chuncks) Orange glazed chicken breast (cut in chuncks) Rolled Pastrami, Virginia baked ham and Tomato Basil Turkey breast. Smoked Gouda, Applewood cheddar, Salsa Jack Homemade Honeywheat/cottage cheese rolls Iced Pumpkin/Cranberry and Iced Date Bread Peppermint White chocolate Fudge Chocolate Mint Fudge Peanut Butter Fudge Raspberry Cheesecake Tarts Coconut/Peanut Brittle pumpkin and cream cheese ginger tarts Holiday 7 layer bars oatmeal Date Bars And......a veggie tray to balance it out! Gotta hit the shower!

:smile2:Lori...I am the farthest thing from being a nurse but will speak from experience. If you are getting nauseated, probably best to back off a bit on the pain meds and see how you do with the pain. You don't want it to get to the point where they make you vomit. If you tolerated the lower doses with your first knee, maybe you can this time also. No fun to feel the way you are feeling. :wink2:

Mine is Kashi Go Lean Crunch. I HAVE TO package it into one cup sizes when I bring it home from the market or I find myself eating away on it and not getting my other nutritional foods in (like protein).

Linda...to answer your ? on DS's. Just my one son (28) with be here with his GF. Youngest (26) lives in Atlanta. Offered to fly him home but he declined. Said too cold here and can't afford to take a week off of work. He's self-employed. Started up a flight school in April. Has a number of instructors under him and now flys out of 22 airports in the area and just cannot get away. Instead, we are flying other son out of there on the 22 of Jan and we will be there already and will have a little Christmas out there. I sent is gifts a couple of weeks ago. He has not been home for 2 yrs but we have been out there. Kids grow up and it's tough on mom's when their cubs are not home for Christmas. I already shed a few tears this morning. He would think I was being just plain silly. But, I raised my boys to enjoy the holidays and get the meaning of the season. I think they do...just not as into it as females are, I believe.